There are ways to make common household items last a little longer and if you extend their life you might not need to buy them as often, thus saving you money.
We all have items in our kitchens and living rooms that could do with a freshen up every now and then but there are some tried and tested methods of delaying the spend.
Worn out containers, candles and soaps have made a list of items we replace or run out of quickly and we have found the experts who know how to help.
They have made suggestions of small changes we can make to our lifestyles that can have a positive impact on our regular spending.
Plastic containers
This is a staple household buy and its essential for most of us to take packed lunches, batch cooking, meal preps or storing things in freezers.
They are long-lasting but they come with the downside of getting stained and smelling like the last thing it contained- we all know what a nice clear tub looks like after a spag bol night.
The Plastic Box Shop has said rather than throwing out or replacing the tups we should try washing them with a baking soda paste to remove the smell and stain.
Leftover citrus fruit can help too and you could also try leaving your tubs out in the sun for three to four hours so the ultraviolet radiation breaks down the stains.
Candles
Candles can cost anywhere from £1 to £330 (Joe Malone) and because they are wonderful at adding some atmospheric ambience we will keep buying them.
Home blog OneGoodThing suggested making your candles last longer by placing them in the freezer before using them.
It’s an easy way to harden the wax so that the candle burns down more slowly.
Soaps
Whether it's hand soaps or dish soap they often last longer when put in different containers.
OneGoodThing also suggests putting dish soap in olive oil or vinegar pourers so you don't dispense any more than you need.
You can also put hand soap in a foaming hand soap bottle which again dispenses less and makes what you have last longer.
Mascara
Adding saline solution to your expensive mascara can not only make what you have last longer but it cal also delay you having to spend until your next payday.
The Frugal Girl blog suggests two to three drops and said: "My tube is now giving me clump-free lashes whereas before I was getting lumps of mascara."
Store cans and jars upside down
This is an unusual tip but it was mentioned by more than one expert and it involves storing jars in fridges upside down and doing the same for tind of paint.
OneGoodThing says that keeping jam and sauces upside-down creates a partial vacuum inside the container, which will help prevent mould growth.
The same can be said for paint as recommended by Family Handyman who said: "When a paint can is stored upside down, the paint creates an absolutely airtight seal, which will make your paint last longer.
"The obvious caveat to this tip is to make sure the lids are sealed tightly."
This means that the next time you go to touch up a painted wall the tin you haven't touched in a few months will still be useable and you won't need to buy more.
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