DIY (Do It Yourself) means being able to meet your own needs without relying on external help. That can include growing your own food, making your own cleaning products, or anything you can do in place of buying products, or having professionals do the work for you.

Save money and get off the supply chain hamster wheel with some of these easy to implement options. We are not affiliated with any of the products listed here and do not make money off of them. They're just the products that we use personally and really like.

USE REUSABLES, NOT DISPOSABLES

New Moon Pads, for example, will last you 200 launderings per pad. That's a lot of pads that you don't have to rely on supply chains for. Buy once, and you don't need to buy again for approximately 10 years. More reusable products that you can replace disposables with are washable cloth sponges, cloth unpaper towels, bidet cloths, and baby wipes, to mention just a few. If you do an internet search, you would be amazed at how many options are out there.

MAKE YOUR OWN "NO SEW" WIPES

Shop thrift stores for old terry towels or flannel shirts (or anything flannel) and cut them into 8" squares. The edges will fray after the first one or two launderings, but that won't affect their function. Just snip off any stray threads that bug you.

MAKE YOUR OWN REUSABLE KITCHEN SPONGES

Again, shop thrift stores for old terry towels. These do take a bit of sewing but are easy to make. If you don't have a sewing machine you can easily sew them by hand. Cut the terry into 4" x 6" rectangles (or whichever size you prefer). Layer 2 or 3 rectangles together and stitch around the outside edges 1/4" to 1/2" in from the edge. Leaving the edges rough like this makes for a better scrubbing action.

DON'T BUY BOTTLED WATER

Buy vinegar in 4 L (1 gallon) jugs, and when you've used up the vinegar, fill the jug with clean potable water and put it away for emergencies. Vinegar jugs are food grade and can safely be used to store water. We currently have about 20 water-filled vinegar jugs put away, which we rotate through to keep them fresh. 

VINEGAR INSTEAD OF CHEMICAL CLEANERS

Vinegar kills 99% of germs and is non-toxic. You can use it for cleaning grease and grime, as well as to soften clothes by adding a cup to the washing machine. It's also excellent for calming itchy skin, rinsing hair, deodorizing, washing windows, cooking, etc. Due to its high acidity, vinegar has an almost indefinite shelf life. We don't use any cleaning chemicals in our home, just vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.

INVEST IN GLASS CANNING JARS

Canning jars aren't just for canning (but of course canned foods are the perfect way to help with self-sustainability). They're also excellent for all sorts of other uses. When used with reusable lids, they're great for leftovers (either in the fridge or freezer) or short-term pantry staples. When used with a rechargeable vacuum sealer, they're amazing for long-term pantry storage or freezing. When I freeze food in canning jars I put it in the freezer with the reusable lid (because the food will expand when frozen), then when the food is frozen I take it out and seal it with the vacuum sealer to remove any remaining air, then put it back in the freezer. They're also a good alternative for drinking glasses. I like to put salads in them with a little bit of dressing and shake. You use far less dressing and all of your salad gets coated. Canning jars have a long life use and are better for the environment, not like plastic containers and disposable storage options.

GROW SOME OF YOUR OWN FOOD

You don't need to grow a whole garden to gain the benefits of growing food. Whether you're in an apartment or a home with a yard, you can help offset food costs by growing some of your own food. Even if you're in an apartment with no balcony, you can grow herbs in a sunny window. Vertical vegetable gardens are a great way to grow things like tomatoes, peas, beans, squash, cucumbers, and more on a patio, balcony, or small yard. If your area doesn't get full sun, you can grow lettuce, Swiss chard, spinach, kale, etc. If you're lucky enough to have a yard, square foot gardening is a great option to maximize small spaces for a variety of vegetables and fruits. Strawberries, for example, are amazing for the patio, balcony, or yard and produce year after year.

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT

1 cup liquid castile soap

1 cup washing soda

1 cup borax

6 cups boiling water

9 cups cold water

1/2 tsp esssential oil (optional)

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Remove from the burner and add in the washing soda and borax and mix until dissolved. Add castile soap and stir. Add the 9 cups of cold water and stir. Let sit until cool. If adding essential oil, add it at this stage, after it has all cooled (heat will evaporate essential oil). Stir again and pour into containers. Old liquid laundry detergent or vinegar containers work great.

Small Batch:

1/3 cup liquid castile soap

1/3 cup washing soda

1/3 cup borax

2 cups boiling water

3 cups cold water

20 drops essential oil (optional)

To Use:

Top loading machines: 1/8 to 1/4 cup (use the lesser amount if it's an HD machine)

Front loading machines: 1 to 2 tablespoons

HOMEMADE DISHWASHER POWDER

3 cups citric acid

3 cups washing soda

1 cup baking soda

1 cup coarse salt (sea, kosher, or pickling)

1/4 tsp any citrus essential oil (optional)

To Use:

Mix all ingredients until well blended. Keep in an airtight glass container. Use 1/2 to 1 tbsp in the dishwasher detergent cup.

HOMEMADE DRY CARPET CLEANER

2 cups baking soda

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup cornmeal

1 tablespoon Borax

30 drops of essential oil for fragrance (optional)

To Use:

Mix all ingredients into a food processor and blend together until powdered. Let it sit until the dust in the processor settled. Fill a shaker bottle with the cleaner and sprinkle all over the carpet. Evenly distribute using a brush to brush it into the carpet fibres. To clean, brighten, and deodorize, let it sit for a few hours, or overnight, then vacuum thoroughly.