30 Cheap Solutions To Expensive Problems

Why spend the big bucks when you don't have to?

1. A polishing kit to make your dull headlight lenses look like new again.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "This neat little kit has almost everything you need to get started on your headlights. The steps are pretty straight forward and simple. If you can apply wax to a car, you can do this. The result? Wow. I started with two 10-year-old headlight lenses that were horrible. I didn't think they would pass inspection, and they ruined the look of the vehicle. When I completed the last step, wiping on the sealant that has to dry for four hours, I was amazed. They actually looked like I had spent $200 for a new pair of headlight lenses. They were crystal clear. As it is, comparing my vehicle to a new one, you can't tell these lenses are even a year old. They really do look brand new. This kit saved me over $300 for the parts and only took a little time that I had to kill. If I need to do my other vehicles, I'm getting more of these kits and not stressing over it." —Alester Buckman

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

2. A pair of bamboo charcoal shoe deodorizers so you won't have to give up your fave flats because they became too stinky to wear.

Amazon

These can be reused for up to two years. To rejuvenate, simply place the bags in the sun once a month for at least one hour. I have these at home and swear by them! Read my review to get the deets.

Promising review: "These are magical! I have a favorite pair of shoes that got soaked in the rain. I thought the stench after that meant complete ruin and was ready to throw them away when I found these. I placed them inside the pumps for a week. And that was that. The stench is completely gone!!! Unbelievable." —Amazon Customer

Get them from Amazon for $9.95.

3. A jewelry cleaning solution that'll leave your precious stones sparkling and deliver dramatic before-and-after photos.

Amazon, amazon.com

The solution is non-toxic, and it comes with a small cleaning brush.

Promising review: "ABSOLUTELY THE BEST JEWELRY CLEANER HANDS DOWN!!! I have a ton of jewelry — a diamond tennis bracelet, 14-karat rings and earrings, precious stones, pearls, and vermeil, too. I cleaned my expensive pieces, and they sparkled like they never have, the pearls' luster was so vibrant I was in awe. The one piece that sealed the deal is a Sleeping Beauty turquoise and diamond ring I have. The diamonds are okay quality, but after cleaning it, it shimmers and twinkles like it never has. Cleans vermeil beautifully, too!" —tammy

Get it from Amazon for $7.95.

4. A pack of elastic fasteners if you have a thick mattress and don't want to replace all your current sheets with ones with extra deep pockets.

Amazon

Promising review: "These sheet straps are the best purchase I have ever made. I bought a new bed and had to put a thick mattress protector on it for the warranty to remain active, so my sheets fit very snugly. I toss and turn a lot and my dog moves around a lot, so the sheets were always coming off the corner. I bought these, and it only took a couple minutes to put on. It’s been a week and my sheets have stayed in place. This was the perfect simple and cheap solution for a major annoyance." —Shariece

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.99.

5. A scratch remover to buff out surface blemishes on your car and possibly save you a trip to the auto body shop.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "I had a few noticeable fine scratches on the hood of my truck that I tried this Trinova Scratch and Swirl Remover on, and it worked. I no longer have to be annoyed every time I approach my vehicle from the front! It didn't take a lot of effort to get it back to looking like new again. I will use it again in the future if necessary. I'm glad that I didn't pay someone at the body shop to try to buff the scratches out, I saved a bunch of money with this!" —Bonnie Walton

Get it from Amazon for $19.97.

6. A pack of self-setting rubber for mending your frayed cables so you don't have to shell out $$$ to replace them.

Sugru

It can be used to repair other things as well and works on aluminum, steel, ceramics, glass, wood and some fabrics. It's waterproof, UV-resistant, electrically insulating, and dishwasher-proof when cured. You can blend different colors together to create your own custom color.

Promising review: "I have an older GE Dryer that somehow cracked the plastic on part of the exhaust vent assembly. This was causing things to get caught in the hole as well as sucking air and lint into the dryer without going through the filter, ugh. Unfortunately, this was a large plastic part and a replacement cost $80, which is an awful lot to spend on a 10-plus-year-old dryer. I purchased Sugru on a recommendation and used it to patch up the hole in the dryer and after maybe 50 loads, it has held up perfectly. Nothing gets snagged now, and it even looks reasonably decent. Definitely recommend this stuff!" —Chad Cunningham

Get a three-pack in assorted colors from Amazon (red, white, and black) for $10.

7. A military-grade foam insert that'll completely revive a sagging couch cushion.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "Works perfect! We have 10-year-old, $6000 Ethan Allen sofas. You would think Ethan Allen would have a warranty after spending thousands of dollars on furniture, but they don't offer any. This product saved us from buying a new sofa! Absolutely restored my cushions to new! This may seem a little expensive but versus the cost of reupholstered or new, it's worth every penny. My wife and I have back problems, and these made our couch usable again." —JBlack

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in four sizes).

8. A handy purse hook so you don't accidentally ruin the bottom of your fancy tote bag by setting it down on the floor at the bar.

Amazon

Promising review: "These are awesome! I have a large heavier purse and it holds with no problem. Extremely satisfied with the look and the performance. Easily storable in purses and bags." —James B.

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $14.99.

9. A bra strap extender because your chest size might fluctuate and buying all new bras can be a lot.

amazon.com

These are also great for creating a custom fit if you have trouble finding your exact size in stores.

Promising review: "These have been amazing during my pregnancy. I really can't rave enough. When my body started changing, I went out and bought a new bra (I'm a 32 and got a 34), but soon it started feeling tight on me. I didn't need another bra because the cups still fit fine, then I found these extenders, and they made all the difference! I can extend without buying new bras! They are sooo soft and comfortable, you can't really feel or tell they are there. I've already recommended them to all of my pregnant friends!" —Mari

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $6.99 (available in five sizes).

10. A pair of high heel caps to rescue your damaged pumps — you won't need to drop them off at the shoe repair shop.

Amazon

Promising review: "I can't believe I never thought of searching for a product like this before for the twelve pairs of heels that I have sitting around waiting for shoe repair! These Quick Tips are awesome and will save me a bundle in time and money, instead of hauling my shoes to the inconvenient shoe repair shop. I am so impressed. They fit really well. For point of reference, I will say that the extra small size is a perfect fit for my Alfani Easy-Step black heels, and the small size is a perfect fit for my Nine West ones. Please try these, you will not be sorry! Also, great in those emergencies when you lose your heel tip right before an important date or job interview!" —MarisaReads

Get a four-pack (two pairs) from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four sizes and two colors).

11. A bottle of fabric dye for restoring a pair of old jeans or even a faded duvet cover to its former glory.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "Faded duvet... buy an expensive new one or risk Rit-ing it? My Anthropologie cotton voile duvet had faded to a green, dingy grey — now it's saturated, rich, deep charcoal again. Thank you, Rit!" —TheLadyA

Get it from Amazon for $2.98+ (available in 30 colors).

12. A wood polish and conditioner made of beeswax and orange oil — it can completely transform your old cabinets and tables.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "This stuff is absolutely AMAZING. My wife and I were getting tired of looking at our worn out cabinets and wood paneling and were very close to paying a professional thousands of dollars to refinish it all, but then we came across this product. Our paneling and cabinets were looking rough. We have two dogs that jumped up and scratched places, we also had an area that was damaged by water spots where our dog bowls were, and several other areas that were just worn from heavy traffic. This stuff was like a magic eraser for water spots, scratches, scuffs, and any other blemish. We simply wiped the product on with a paper towel and let it sit for 20 minutes before wiping it off with a clean towel. Everything looks brand new. I'm buying a couple more so we can finish our cabinets and wood paneling. We're so glad we found this product." —Kris

Get it from Amazon for $8.48.

13. A waterproof, zippered cover that'll protect your mattress from all kinds of fluids and pests.

Amazon

Promising review: "I bought this because I had a futon that a cat peed on. I tried everything to clean it but cat pee is impossible to completely get out. Even soaking the mattress in Odoban wouldn't do the trick. I could still smell pee. Not wanting to buy a new futon right now for a few hundred dollars, I decided to try this out. My thoughts were that if it were waterproof then perhaps it would lock IN the faint smell that is left as well as protect the futon from further mishaps. I can confirm this thing is definitely waterproof. It does NOT feel like plastic at all. It isn't noisy or uncomfortable. The bonus part is it is airtight as far as smells go. To test this out before putting it on my futon, I took a leaf from a fresh basil plant and slapped it a few times to get the aroma released. Then I put it inside this casing and zipped it up. I found where the leaf was inside and sniffed as hard as I could directly into the leaf through the casing...couldn't smell it. I unzipped the casing and an Italian dinner came wafting out, but prior to that, I could not smell the basil. I threw it on the futon mattress and try as I might, could not smell the cat pee. So I recommend this thing to prevent getting into my predicament in the first place but I also recommend if you are looking to get out of a similar predicament." —Justin Rogers

Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in sizes twin–California king and two styles).

14. A moisture absorber packet to hang in a damp closet and prevent your nice clothes from getting a musty smell.

Amazon

These last up to 60 days depending on temperature and conditions.

Promising review: "These things work like a charm. I accidentally dropped five gallons of water in the trunk of my car. I couldn't take every single particle of moisture out, and there was this musty smell in my car. Believe me when I say this — I looked into this product, I hung it in the trunk, and the next day, the sack was FULL of water. Like magic. Smell went down to 50%. I hung another one, four days later, FULL of water. Next thing I know, no more smell. This product is MAGICAL!!!" —Talha S

Get it from Amazon for $10.99 (available in two scents).

15. A pack of generic melamine sponges (that'll work just as well as the name brand ones but are a lot cheaper) — they can scrub off anything from marks on walls to soap scum, so you can actually get your security deposit back.

Tom Vellner / BuzzFeed

Read a BuzzFeeder's full review of these sponges.

Promising review: "As good as Mr. Clean Magic Erasers but half the price. They clean so many surfaces better than anything. We use them at the bar and clean our chalkboards, metal sinks and ice wells, beer coolers, FRP backsplash walls, and even graffiti in the bathrooms comes off more easily with these than other cleaning products. I took one home and cleaned my shower faster and more easily than with bottles of shower cleaner. Highly recommended." —Stephen Brandau

Get a 20-pack from Amazon for $8.95.

16. A pair of vinyl guards, if your cats enjoy using your expensive armchairs as scratching posts.

Amazon

Promising review: "My cat is part feline, part demon and every exposed corner of my EXPENSIVE couch will be clawed till I cry. I've tried everything — no spray worked, and I bought cheap plastic corner folders to try. Nothing. These things are magic. The look on his face when he couldn't sink his claws in my couch was priceless. I will definitely be buying more. If you have a demon cat like me and can deal with a little shiny vinyl on your couch, these things will save you." —Daniel Martin

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $12.80.

17. A 4-in-1 cleaning brush that'll get rid of the water and dirt marks on your Uggs (and other suede and nubuck shoes).

amazon.com

This brush has four surfaces — a welt surface used for stronger cleaning on heavier scuff marks and stains, nylon bristles used for a lighter, gentler cleaning on light scuff marks for thin fine suede/nubuck, an arched half circle brush that allows for easier cleaning on rounded corners, and a thin protruding brush that's meant for cleaning on harder to reach crevices and grooves.

Promising review: "I've never had a suede brush but for $7, I thought it was worth a try for my well-loved, $150 black suede booties. Holy shit, this thing works! There is a nubby plastic side and a bristle side. My shoes had dried splash marks and toe scuffs, nothing major, but they were starting to look worn. This brush plucked the dirt off and 'fluffed' the suede up. It did seem to maybe pull some of the fibers off, but my boots look almost brand new! They have been restored better than I could have imagined. I'm so excited and can't imagine why, at 40 years old, I've never known how well a suede brush works!" —ShoeGirl

Get it from Amazon for $6.99.

18. A pair of silicone hooks to secure your glasses in place — you shouldn't have to choose between buying new frames or pushing your current ones up every five minutes.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I have thin metal frames that were constantly sliding off or falling down if I had to pick up anything from the floor. Tightening the frames did not work for more than a day. These worked like magic. I needed only one but the twelve in the pack are most welcome! The silicone is nice and does not hurt behind the ears at all." —S.Sharp

Get 12-pairs from Amazon for $5.59. Or, if you're not a fan of bright colors, they come in a clear option as well.

19. A pair of long and narrow spatulas for getting every last bit of your foundation out of the bottle so nothing gets wasted — that stuff adds up!!!

Amazon, instagram.com

The small one (6 inches) is designed for beauty products while the large one (12 inches) is designed for household products.

Promising review: "It is amazing how much more expensive product you can get out of a bottle with this... every last drop of pricey body lotion came out of that bottle." —Smokey

Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99.

20. An electric knife sharpener so you can bring dull knives back from the brink of death.

Amazon

Promising review: "For its low price, this little tiger quickly and easily brought all of my kitchen knives back from the dead. Remember dull knives cut you faster than sharp knives." —blueridgeboy

Get it from Amazon for $20.59. Or, check out a cheaper option!

21. A re-coloring balm that'll breathe new life into old, faded pieces of leather furniture (that you probably paid good money for).

Amazon, amazon.com

It also works on leather car interiors.

Promising review: "I have a beautiful leather couch that had been in a south-facing window for 10 years. The couch was quite expensive and still perfectly comfortable. But the sun fading was so bad, I was trying to give it away for free. I didn't think there was anything I could do to fix the leather, and the color was completely uneven. My co-worker insisted it could be fixed and found a YouTube video where they were using this stuff. So I ordered it on Amazon and was seriously shocked. Super easy to use (but wear gloves) and literally magical. It restored the couch to the original color and still looks brilliant a month later. The balm hasn't rubbed off on clothes or pillows. I did have to use two jars to cover the whole couch, but it's probably one of the best things I've done with furniture. Turned something from faded, dull, and uneven back to a rich chocolate brown." —AJS

Get it from Amazon for $29.95 (available in 19 colors).

22. A terracotta bear to store with your brown sugar — it'll stay soft and moist instead of congealing into an unusable rock.

Amazon

Promising review: "If anyone claims that this product does not work, they MUST NOT be using it correctly! I was very apprehensive about this product but after tossing several bags of brown sugar because they literally were as hard as rocks, I decided to give it a try. I soaked it for about 20 minutes then dried it with a paper towel and stuck it in my brown sugar jar. I broke the 'sugar brick' into about eight chunks and stuck them in a large glass jar. After a week I was able to actually crumble some of it with my fingers. I soaked it again and two weeks later, when I was going to bake, the sugar was a lot softer and only had a few large clumps. I've had it now in the jar for almost two months and there are no clumps." —Pamela A Vazquez

Get it from Amazon for $4.98.

23. A pack of fenugreek-infused sheets for extending the shelf life of fresh produce so they won't spoil before you get a chance to eat them.

Amazon, amazon.com

Each bag contains eight sheets, which lasts approximately one to two months.

Promising review: "I love these papers! They really help keep produce fresher. I use them a lot for berries, herbs, and counter produce like apples and bananas. They really help bananas slow their ripening, extending their life, and ultimately saving you money. The papers really do have a maple syrup smell and when that smell fades, you know it’s time to change the paper." —r2rn1

Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $9.99.

24. A ring size adjuster so you don't have to send it to the jewelers for resizing until you're ready.

Amazon

Promising review: "I absolutely love these! My rings were loose but not enough to need resizing. I used the larger size coil to keep my rings in place and have had no issues getting my rings off or back on. My rings also stay in place now! I have not noticed any lotion, soap, etc getting stuck underneath either." —Amazon Customer

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $5.99.

25. A pack of leather cushion inserts for shoes that feel just a teeny bit too big (but you also can't return because you already wore them out).

Amazon

Promising review: "This thing really works! I have a pair of shoes I really like but are a little big. I think I bought it at night after I had been walking for the whole day. So it feels big now. After I put this liner on, it is a perfect fit. I would say it decreased the shoe size by a quarter of a size, like from a size 7.5 to a size between 7 and 7.5. Works very well." —Someone

Get a four-pack (two pairs) from Amazon for $9.95 (available in two sizes).

26. An essential oil stick designed to help relieve migraines in a pinch.

Katy Herman / BuzzFeed

One BuzzFeeder swears by this for headaches — read her review!

Promising review: "I have had tension and migraine headaches for around 20 years. I have tried everything. OTC medication, prescription medication, pain injections, chiropractor etc... This topical oil has given me relief for nearly six weeks now. I have only had two to three headaches in that time, and they were mild. I ordered more already so I have some in my car and at home, and I bought some for two of my friends who suffer from chronic migraines. I would recommend this product to anyone with migraines. It is phenomenal." —Mary D.

Get it from Amazon for $10.99.

27. A pack of motion-sensing LED lights for a cheap way to get fancy lighting. You don't need to get professional installation — just stick them on.

Amazon

They're battery-powered (three AAA batteries; not included) for cordless installation. They automatically turn on within 10 feet and automatically shut off after 15 seconds of no motion detected.

Promising review: "Excellent unwired lights for places that would benefit from having lights but you don’t want the hassle and expense of hiring an electrician to do the wiring for the lights. I have four of these lights inside hallway shelves. This hallway gets a lot of foot traffic. In the evening, these lights get triggered on by a passerby by at least 20 times. I’ve had these lights for two whole months, and the original batteries are still good to go. Please be advised that these white lights are rather cool temperature lights. I would estimate around 5,000K. If you’re looking for something slightly warmer (i.e. slightly more yellow) then opt for the warm white version." —H. Jonathan K. Park

Get them from Amazon: a six-pack for $19.99 (available in four colors) or a three-pack for $11.99.

28. A drain snake so you can unclog the sink without calling the plumber.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "When my wife and I moved into this new place, we noticed that there was a bit of water that just kept pooling near the drain in the shower. We tried at least two full bottles of Drano with success, but it was short-lived. A bottle of Drano costs about $6-8 for two attempts. One package of these and only ONE of the items used in this package made more short-term progress than all that Drano did. Less than $6 to save over $20 in drain cleaning products or even the prospect of hundreds from calling out a plumber? Hell yeah, I'd buy this again! Your hands will get messy but you will thank yourself for getting these. Your partner will thank you. If you have slow drains in your shower, there are only three words I can say for you to help fix that problem. Buy. This. Product." —Adam W.

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $5.99.

29. A bottle of do-it-all cleaner that can banish stains left on your cookware and sink by rust, burnt food, mineral deposits, permanent makers, and more.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "The first day I had my new stainless pans I mistakenly put one on the side burner of my grill and it discolored the inside so severely, nothing could remove the stain. I was devastated! I did some research and found out about Bar Keeper's Friend cleanser and took the chance. I wish I took a better 'before' photo to show just how much discoloration there was, but it covered a good quarter of the pan. I can't believe how wonderfully well this product worked! It did take a little scrubbing, but I am amazed by the results! Remarkable product!" —Shanalanahan

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $8.58.

30. A pack of cleaning tablets to remove the lime and mineral build-up (as well any food residue) in your dishwasher, leaving it clean and odor-free.

Amazon

The recommended usage is about once a month.

Promising review: "I use this product in my own high-end dishwasher at least once a month to prevent calcification and food build up. Think of it as an oil change for your dishwasher. Today's HE washers need regular maintenance to keep them operating at their peak. Affresh works just as well as Dishwasher Magic and costs a lot less. The latter, aforementioned product, is recommended by a number of service professionals that have worked on my appliances. Either will do the job. Lastly, I use this to maintain tenant dishwashers in a rental property. Highly recommended." —JG (Highflyer)

Get a six-pack from Amazon for $5.40.

You, counting all the money you saved:

AMC

Reviews here have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Looking for more great Amazon finds? Check out some of our favorite cheap things to buy on Amazon, some of the weirdest things on Amazon you might actually want, or read through all the rest of our incredible Amazon product recommendations.

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Allison Krausman / BuzzFeed