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    30 Products That Help Turn Expensive Issues Into Affordable Ones

    If you hate saving money, you *shouldn't* read this post.

    1. A headlight restoration kit that attaches to an electric drill so you can easily clear up cloudy headlights at home *without* calling in a professional for an expensive repair. Your lights will look brand-new when you're done!

    Promising review: "I tried another kit once before about 1.5 years ago and got poor results. I was pleasantly surprised when this kit did the job so well! I used a cordless drill that was slightly faster than recommended at full speed. The instructions are easy to follow and I could tell the major difference at the final cleaning. I finished the job with Meguiar's coating and the lenses on my 2002 Honda CR-V are crystal clear again. This saved me about five to six times the money and I'm removing 'new lenses' from my wish list!" —Julymorning

    Get it from Amazon for $12.06+ (available in two styles). 

    2. A soft-chew allergy supplement for itchy doggos — it can help boost the immune system and relieve allergies and skin sensitivities.

    Before photo of a dog with a red, irritated belly
    Same reviewer's dog after taking the allergy supplements, which calmed the dog's skin and made it less red

    Promising review: "Receive these about a week ago and WOW! My baby girl has been suffering with itchy, red skin for months; she’s eaten her feet and licked herself practically raw. Obviously Benadryl wasn’t working so I tried these after seeing a video review on TikTok. I am extremely excited to say that we are completely satisfied, and that our baby girl no longer has the itching and redness. She’s not licked or touched her feet since giving them to her once a day every day. I’m shook." —Erica L. Robertson

    Get 50 chews from Amazon for $19.97 (available in different styles).

    3. A wood polish with beeswax and orange oil that'll impressively hide those nicks and scratches making your floors, doors, furniture, and other wood surfaces look old and dingy. Now you can put off replacing them and save some $$$!

    A wooden table with mysterious discoloration.
    The same wooden table looking shiny with no discoloration.

    Promising review: "This product is a MIRACLE! I can't believe how well it worked. Seriously unbelievable. One application and my coffee table looks great again. EASY to use, nothing special required. While I was watching TV, I used an old cloth/rag and spread it on. As easy as that. Nothing else worked on my abused coffee table, this stuff did. I HIGHLY recommend this product." —Carol L. Hill

    Get it from Amazon for $9.98.

    4. A bottle of Elizavecca Hair Treatment to help magically bring your damaged hair back to life with all the body and silky softness you could possibly imagine! If you're looking for salon-worthy results for less than $10, don't sleep on this product that reviewers are comparing to Olaplex, which costs over *three* times more!

    Reviewer with curly hair holding a strand of it out
    Reviewer with straight blow dried hair

    Reviewers with everything from thin, fine hair to 4c curls have reported positive results from this moisturizing formula, which is particularly recommended for folks whose hair is damaged from using hot tools, bleach, and the like.

    Promising review: "Like many others, I tried this as a replacement for Olaplex. Honestly, Olaplex never had a great effect on my hair and certainly wasn’t worth the price. This did an unreal job on my hair!! I was skeptical (tried a little bit first because I was petrified it would burn off my hair and I would end up bald!) but, lo and behold, it was magic! My hair is so strong, silky, and healthy looking after just one use. Plus you can’t beat the price! Have already ordered another box. I should also add I have curly/wavy hair that’s been colored to a light brown. Buy it!!" —BB

    Get it from Amazon for $8.40 (available in two sizes).

    5. A set of reusable microfiber mop pads for anyone who's sick of repeatedly wasting money on single-use, disposable pads. Plus, they're made with extra-thick microfiber, making them even more absorbent than the disposable ones so you can get the job done faster!

    the pad on a reviewer's swiffer
    a different reviewer's mop pad covered in dust

    They can be used wet or dry and on basically every type of flooring and even drywall if you're so inclined. Since they can be thrown in the wash, one microfiber pad can replace up 100 single-use pads. 

    Promising review: "Just used these for the first time with my Swiffer WetJet and I gotta say I am impressed! Went on easily and cleaned the floors easily! I always hated the one-time use pads and never felt like they got my floor clean. This review is NOT sponsored, I bought these with my own money because I’m sick of single-use products. Seriously, buy these now!!!" —AKGross

    Get a set of two from Amazon for $11.49

    6. A peel-and-stick tile backsplash that'll trick visitors into thinking you hired a pro to give your walls a fancy makeover.

    Promising review: "This brought new life to my super boring kitchen! This was much easier than I thought. I was really worried about taking on this project, but I'm glad I did. Took me over three hours from start to finish." —Blood Agent

    Read the rest of this customer's in-depth review for some handy tips and tricks.

    Get six tiles from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in five color schemes).

    7. And a grout paint pen you can use just like a regular marker to easily cover up the years and years of dirt and grime that are keeping your tile floors from ever looking truly clean.

    DIrty tile floor before using the pen
    Clean tile floor after using the pen

    Promising review: "This stuff is amazing! After over 10 years of the grout not being cleaned, and a botched repair job, the bathroom floor in this house looked horrendous. Two pens covered the entire bathroom floor, with plenty left over in the second pen, even with applying two to three layers (which you will definitely need as the paint is a bit thin and also absorbs into the grout). Super easy to apply, works exactly like a regular paint marker. Be sure to press the pen tip on a separate (thick) cloth to activate it before actually using on the grout so you don't end up with a huge mess on the tile when the paint floods out at first. If you see the first side of the tip is getting frayed, just pull it out and turn it around to the other side." —regalle

    Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes).

    8. The famous Little Green upholstery cleaner designed to make removing tough pet stains no big deal thanks to its super strong spray and suction capabilities. If your pets are reigning destruction upon your carpets, household fabrics, furniture, and car interiors — this was made for you.

    Promising review: "Two months ago we got a six-month-old puppy who has needed some time to get adjusted. That included more than a few accidents in our living room and on his bed. This machine has made cleanup of everything so much simpler, and I love that it's deep cleaning and has a nontoxic pet cleaner so that our not-so-little puppy isn't harmed through exposure or smells. Also helpful since my teenage sons like to camp out on the couch with their friends on long weekends, and our couch gets that fresh clean smell in an hour." —Kindle Customer

    Get it from Amazon for $123.59.

    9. Plus, a carpet shampoo solution that makes it easy to banish discoloration and get your carpet back to looking like the day it was installed — *without* spending money on pricey carpet cleaning services. 

    A vacuum using the cleaner and the carpet is drastically cleaner where the vacuum just cleaned
    A person's carpet looking progressively cleaner

    Sunny & Honey is a family-run small biz that makes cleaning solutions with your kids, pets, and the planet in mind. Their products are made in the USA and they donate 10% of all profits to animal shelters and rescue groups.

    FYI: This cleaner is only for use in carpet cleaning machines. Here's the one they are using in the review photo!

    Promising review: "This product works so well that I’ve purchased it more than once. We have two dogs and the older one sometimes has accidents. This cleans up all stains and odors. It even got up some older stains from a wine spill. I use it with my carpet shampooing machine and save money by doing it myself rather than hiring someone." —Niki D.

    Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two scents and sizes).

    10. Schick Hydro Silk dermaplaning tool so you don't have to make an appointment and spend more money to remove peach fuzz. Plus, it works painlessly and precisely, leaving your face oh-so smooth without the irritation marks that most threading or razors leave behind.

    a reviewer photo of the razor with shaved peach fuzz attached
    a gif of a reviewer using the razor on their face

    Promising review: "I used to pay to get my eyebrows, lower face, and upper lip threaded but after finding this five years ago, I gave it a try and absolutely love it. Not only has it saved me money but I also get better results as threading salons often times overdid it with my eyebrows and left them very thin. For those who don’t know, this product does the same thing as the dermaplane or dermablade treatments that spas and salons charge a lot of money for." —Diana 

    Get a three-pack from Amazon for $5.67 (also available as a pack of nine).

    11. A TikTok-famous pink cleaning paste, which is beloved by the Internet for being great at quickly and easily removing stains, rust, discoloration, and other stubborn marks from metal, ceramic tiles, saucepans, barbecues, and much more without leaving behind any scratches!

    A reviewer's before photo which shows a white wall covered in crayon scribbles
    The reviewer's after photo which shows all crayon scribbles are completely gone

    It's made up of cleaning beads suspended in a gel, so it'll grind away at tough stains without damaging the surface beneath. It's suitable for use on most hard surfaces like ceramic tiles, barbecues, pots, pans, and more!

    Promising review: "I was considering buying another stove because I could not clean my glass cooktop. This tub of pink awesomeness saved me a ton of money and hours of frustration. I have tried everything: baking soda, vinegar, glass cleaners, degreasers, glass cooktop solutions — you name it. This is the only product that actually works." —MKBrown

    Get it from Amazon for $5.97.

    12. A stick-anywhere motion sensor light bar so you won't have to pay an electrician to install extra lighting in dark closets and pantries — no tools required!

    a reviewer photo of a closet with one of the light installed under the shelf
    a reviewer photo of the light

    These ingenious little lights are magnetic, so they can stick directly onto any magnetic surface. They can also be installed using the included adhesive magnetic strip. Plus, batteries are included!

    Promising review: "I LOVE these! The magnet is a great way to install these, but I rent so Command strips are working very well for me. I have one over the bedroom door (in a dark hallway) and another in my closet. The motion detection is so convenient and works perfectly. Everything about these is designed so perfectly, from installation to their perfect size for any location. the best part, though? They're rechargeable! Couldn't be better designed or more perfect!" —Sibelius

    Get a three-pack from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in warm and pure white).

    13. A pack of two painless, mint-flavored Venus Visage teeth whitening pens designed to give you quick results with just 30 seconds (!) of daily use. Even *years* of stains from things like coffee, tea, wine, soda, and more are no match for this thing, and thankfully it's cheaper than a trip to the dentist or pricier whitening products like Crest Whitestrips.

    Promising reviews: "Throw your expensive Crest Whitestrips away! Being the son of a dental hygienist, clean bright white teeth have always been important to me. Though I had my reservations about the whitening pen, it certainly didn't disappoint and works far better than the Whitestrips I've been using for the last several years, not to mention it's a much better deal for your money. I'm a total coffee connoisseur, which has always made having a bright white smile all the more challenging, but the Pen is giving me the upper hand." —Franknsd

    "We like these better than Crest Whitestrips and for a fraction of the price! The Crest Whitestrips make my teeth way too sensitive, these work JUST AS WELL and no tooth sensitivity." —Travis Sheveland

    Get a pack of two pens from Amazon for $15.95.

    14. A pack of AirPods cleaning putty because no one wants a disgusting amount of earwax muffling their favorite songs. Simply squish the flexible square into the speaker, peel it off, and try not to gag when you see how much grossness has just been living in your AirPods rent free.

    Promising review: "For the past few months my right AirPod has been much quieter than it used to be, much quieter than the left still was. I thought I was going to need to replace it. Not wanting to spend that money if I didn't need to, I looked around to see what I could find. I stumbled upon this product and I am psyched that I did. I thought this putty may help, but it absolutely fixed the problem. My right AirPod now sounds exactly the way it should. I was shocked. I used one square to clean both AirPods very well, plus some of the AirPods case. I still have 23 squares left, which should last me for at least a couple of years. Definitely worth the purchase." —Chris Reed

    Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $12.99.

    15. A jewelry cleaning stick designed to clean out the tough-to-reach nooks and crannies of your favorite jewels so they can sparkle and shine once again.

    reviewer image of the brush stick next to a clean ring
    reviewer image of a before and after on a dirty/clean ring

    Promising review: "I use this to clean my engagement ring every week — sometimes every two weeks so I can REALLY see the difference, lol. It does a better job than the expensive liquid cleaner I bought from a high-end jeweler and it’s much easier and faster to use. Can’t recommend enough!" —Amazon Customer

    Get it from Amazon for $9.48.

    16. A reusable pumice stone — if your toilets, sinks, and tubs are so stained that you're thinking of calling in a professional or replacing them altogether, try this powerful tool first! 

    a reviewer image of a toilet bowl with a dark brown ring
    a reviewer photo of the same toilet now clean

    Promising review: "We had the worst hard water rings in out toilets. I tried bleach, vinegar, scrubbing bubbles, CLR, Like Away....nothing would take them off. I thought we would have to buy new toilets to save ourselves from the embarrassment...this was my last hope. It worked great! I was cautious at first, but once I gave it a good scrub, it erased the stains that had built up for too long. Definitely worth the money, to save your toilet!" —A. Schooley

    Get it from Amazon for $11.90.

    17. drain clog remover that makes it super easy to clear your drain in mere seconds! No plumbing skills (or expensive plumber visit) required whatsoever.

    before photo of the drain snake sitting inside a drain
    Reviewer holding the snake, which has grabbed a massive chunk of hair from the drain

    Promising review: "When I pulled the orange plastic spiked strip from the package, I was immediately skeptical and felt like all those 5-star reviews were from people who exist in an alternate universe. I was tempted to initiate a return on Amazon but decided that I might as well gamble on a piece of $9 plastic before gambling $200 on a plumber. I slipped the plastic strip down my shower drain and literally FIVE SECONDS LATER I was pulling up gobs and gobs and gobs of hair. HOLY COW!!!!!!!! OHMYGOSH. I can't believe I still have any hair left on my head. SO MUCH REPULSIVE GUNK!!!! It's a grisly, messy, smelly, and oh so rewarding job." —Chocolate and Chips

    Get a six-pack from Amazon for $9.88 (available in two colors and packs of four).

    18. A customizable door draft stopper — it'll keep stealthy and, quite frankly, uninvited cold air from sneaking in under you door. It's easy to install and will probably help keep your utilities bill from going through the roof when the weather's chilly.

    a reviewer photo of the under draft stopper installed on a door
    a reviewer installing the door draft stopper

    Promising review: "It’s saved us so much money on our energy bill. We’re definitely buying more and I encourage you to buy more if you want to save on your energy bills." —Kellykelly

    Get it from Amazon for $24.99

    19. An adjustable recessed light converter kit to upgrade your unexciting lights into something with a little more character — no electrical re-wiring required! 

    Promising review: "I love this thing. It took me about 15 minutes to install this. Note: Don't try to directly drill the screws through the can. You will likely need to pre-drill holes in the can for the screws. I converted a recessed light into a three-light unit that hangs above my kitchen island. The unit weighs 20 pounds, and the conversion kit handles it easily. This saves so much money instead of having to convert the recessed light to a traditional electrical box. Very simple, yet wonderful product." —Pete I.

    Get it from Amazon for $18.11.

    20. A compact knife sharpener — now you can stop struggling to get your ancient dull blades to be the faithful collaborators they once were. This will bring 'em back to life so you can stop struggling to slice through your ingredients and considering spending money on new knives.

    A hand swiping a knife through the black knife sharpener
    Amazon

    This teeny-tiny knife sharpener features two slots with carbide blades on one side to provide quick edge setting capabilities, and ceramic rods on the other for the final edge honing. Plus, there is a nonslip base for added stability and control.

    Promising review: "I was about to buy a new set of knives until I saw this on TikTok. Works perfectly." —D’Sons&co.

    Check out my colleague's KitchenIQ knife sharpener review to learn more!

    Get it from Amazon for $10.73.

    21. A set of Wad-Free pads brilliantly designed to help prevent your sheets from getting all tangled, twisted, and balled up every time you wash them. It'll also help them dry faster with fewer wrinkles so you can stop paying for extra cycles.

    Wad-Free is a woman-owned small business! After wasting time and energy on wadding problems, Cyndi Bray invented Wad-Free for bedsheets.

    Promising reviews: "It's a miracle product! Oh my gosh, I only had to run the dryer one time to dry the sheets instead of my usual four times. They looked cleaner too!" —Bonnie

    "I was mildly skeptical, but it works exactly as promoted! I've used it five times and each time there's been no twisting of the sheets and no pillowcases balled up and still wet when the dryer goes off. Super helpful that it comes with two units, one for the top sheet and one for the fitted sheet so I don't have to split them into separate loads. I no longer dread washing sheets and plan to buy some of these as gifts. LOVE it!" —Amazon Customer

    Get a two-pack from Amazon for $19.99.

    22. A pack of dishwasher cleaning tablets you should try before giving up on your machine altogether. If your dishes are coming out of the wash still dirty, or you're noticing an unpleasant odor, these might be all you need to fix the problem!

    reviewer pic of residue coated dishwasher insides
    same reviewer's pic of the dishwasher insides looking super clean

    These tablets are designed to penetrate, dissolve, and remove odor-causing residue that accumulates inside your dishwasher over time, as well as remove lime and mineral build-up. Using Affresh tablets once a month can prolong the life of your dishwasher and make it more effective at doing its job: cleaning your dishes.

    Promising review: "Works extremely well. We haven't done any cleaning on our dishwasher in five years, and the sliding dish trays were tough to pull out or push in, there was detergent build up all over the inside, and there was a milky film on all our cups. I bought Affresh, ran the dishwasher with two tablets while it was empty, and the difference was astounding. There was still some build up and I figured it would require another cycle, so I popped another two tablets in, ran the machine a second time, and now it looks and sounds brand new. No more film on the glasses, no more dirty dishes from clogged sprayers, no more odors, or build up around the door seals. I'm going to be buying Affresh from now on, and hopefully it will extend the life of my dishwasher." —Martoune

    Get a pack of six from Amazon for $8.99.

    23. A pack of stretchy cord protectors because there's nothing more annoying than noticing that your charging cable is already fraying even though you JUST bought it like two weeks ago. Think of how many replacement chargers you wouldn't have had to shell out for if you'd gotten these earlier.

    The plier-like contraption in the photo is an included applicator tool for help getting these stretchy collars on your cords. 

    Promising review: "I drive a LOT and seem to go through far too many phone cords. I even buy the 'premium' cords yet end up replacing them far too quickly, even when I'm trying to be careful. I used these on a couple of 'dead' cords and they work again! I have put these on new cords as well to keep damage from starting. The included tool is a big help." —Angela G

    Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $4.98 (available in black, blue, and multicolor). 

    24. suede-and-nubuck-cleaning brush capable of fighting stains from water, snow, dirt, salt, slush, and more all on its own so you can breathe a sigh of relief if your favorite shoes are having a rough winter.

    a reviewer photo of a pair of black suede boots covered in dirt
    a reviewer photo of the same boots now clean

    Shacke is a small manufacturer based in Baldwin Park, California creating useful travel products like packing cubes and luggage tags.

    You can totally use it with another cleaner or spray if you want, but it seems like reviewers have success without! It just takes some elbow grease.

    Promising review: "I am very impressed with this product. I was new to suede shoes and instantly regretted buying a gray-colored shoed once I got them dirty. Luckily I found this lovely thing. Very easy to use, straightforward packet comes with it that tells you which sides to use and when. I would definitely recommend this since you invest so much in those shoes you might as well keep them nice and clean!" —Celeste

    Get it from Amazon for $6.99.

    25. A pack of moldable glue that turns into a seriously strong adhesive rubber you can use to fix frayed cables, hang pictures without a nail, repair household items, make pot handles heat resistant, restore the seal on refrigerators and dishwashers, do all kinds of arts and crafts, and much much more!

    a reviewer photo of gray molded glue being used to repair a wagon
    a reviewer photo of blue molded glue on a mac laptop charging cord

    Sugru is waterproof, heat- and cold-resistant, durable, flexible, shock-resistant and electrically insulating up to 24 volts. It bonds to glass, ceramic, wood, metal, and most plastics. It can also bond to walls and safely hold 4.4 pounds.

    Promising review: "I originally bought Sugru to repair some broken phone chords, but quickly found a ton of other uses! The most unique so far was repairing my 20-year-old violin grip. The old rubber grips had rotted away, and I was not about to damage my violin's finish with exposed sharp metal. I easily created new little silicone covers for the ends and I'm back to playing without concerns! I also fixed my PlayStation 4 controller analog sticks that were peeling. Thank you so much for your amazing product. I'm hooked!" —isomoART

    Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $19.99 (available in different color combinations).

    26. A bottle of Fanola purple shampoo designed to neutralize yellow tones so you can achieve the vibrant platinum hair you've been dreaming of — all without an expensive salon visit! 

    A reviewer with yellow-tone blonde hair
    Same reviewer with platinum blonde hair

    Promising review: "I LOVE THIS!!! I saw it all over TikTok and it makes my blonde hair so white!!! It does stain my hands but as long as you wash your hands right away or use gloves it is fine! I have used many purple shampoos and this is by far the most affordable and best I’ve used! It is a bit drying but all purple shampoos I used are drying. I love this stuff!" —Jasmine 

    Get it from Amazon for $16.99

    27. A pair of charcoal shoe deodorizers because no one wants smelly, sweaty shoes after long days on your feet or in the gym. If you can't seem to get the stink out of your kicks and are considering replacing them, you might wanna give this a try first.

    You can reuse them for up to two years! Set them out in the sun for an hour to re-activate the charcoal.

    Promising review: "I have a pair of black leather flats that stank so badly my husband would yell at me if I took them off anywhere near him. But I love the shoes!!! So I had to find something to make the stench go away without leaving me with an allergic reaction. This was the answer. I honestly couldn’t believe it. A few days after placing them in my prized off shoes I took a whiff from about a foot away. Nothing. I got closer. Nothing. I stuck my nose practically in the shoe. Ok, maybe that’s pushing things, but I’ve got to tell you that 95% of the broken-in leather grossness was gone. So happy!!!" —Erin 

    Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.95.

    28. A peel-and-stick faux marble adhesive paper for adding a glossy finish and extra character to surfaces, photo frames, and more that'll make them look way more expensive than they actually are.

    a reviewer photo of a gray kitchen countertop labeled
    a reviewer photo of the same countertop covered in the marble adhesive paper labeled

    Promising review: "I took a chance and bought this originally as a 'Band-Aid fix' to refinish a desk. I had looked in stores in the contact paper aisles, but all of them were just that...paper. THIS item is actually a thin sheet of vinyl with adhesive, and I ended up liking it so much I bought more and refinished my kitchen countertop with it as well! Highly recommended if you want to change the look of your counters but you don't have the money for a full remodel just yet. It can be cleaned with dish soap and water just like a real countertop." —Z

    Get it from Amazon for $6.49+ (available in five sizes).

    29. Some nontoxic liquid fabric dye — it'll seriously rejuvenate faded or stained clothes, towels, furniture, and more!

    Promising review: "Love it! I just saved lots of money by dyeing my expensive white towels that were pure white but turning gray even with bleaching and Clorox." —A in FL

    Get it from Amazon for $3.37+ (available in a variety of colors). 

    30. And finally, a honey leather cleaner designed to quickly and gently remove dirt, oil, tough stains, and other grime from leather *and* faux-leather goods, so you can get your furniture back to looking nice and spiffy!! Just grab a bottle of this stuff and a scrubbing brush to get started.

    reviewer photo showing the stark difference on their leather sofa after using the leather honey
    reviewer photo showing their white sectional half dirty, half cleaning restored after using the leather honey

    It also works great for cleaning leather handbags, shoes, jackets, and more!

    Promising review: "This cleaner really does only require a small amount to clean the leather. The small bottle at first had me thinking I was going to end up having to buy three bottles before it was all said and done, but that wasn’t the case surprisingly. Follow the directions exactly and it works beautifully. I do suggest conditioning after the cleaning as leather does need moisture to retain its beauty. The leather cleaner is an excellent product and don’t be afraid of the small bottle, a little goes a long way. 10 out of 10 will buy again and recommend." —Dorothy I.

    Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in three sizes).

    Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.