Zero Waste DIY Projects You Can Make To Save Money

We are all looking for easy ways to save a few pennies, right? And if you are tightening your belt money-wise then here are some Zero Waste DIY projects you can make at home to save money. By making some these money saving ideas it could mean that you can stop buying certain items forever! 

Zero Waste DIY Projects You Can Make To Save Money

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Are you tired of wasting your money on certain items? Well, by making even just a few of the following ideas, you may be able to save a whole load of money, which I am sure you will put to better use.

Plus, a lot of these items can reuse and upcycle the cloth and ingredients that you would normally have around the home anyway. Meaning that you can make them for free, or very cheaply. Save money and the planet at the same time. 

So read on to find out what you could be making instead of buying!

Don’t buy paper kitchen roll – instead make….

Kitchen UnPaper Towels

You could repurpose old towels, terry cloths and old tea towels into these handy cloths. I made mine into a roll by adding snaps, but you could just make cloths and have them folded in a container in your kitchen. Plus, they can be made in a colour to coordinate with your decor! when you are done with one, just throw it into your usual wash cycle. Never buy expensive paper towels again!

See this tutorial to find out how to make them

Don’t buy washing up sponges and scrubbers – instead make….

Unsponges

Normal plastic washing up sponges are really bad for the planet. As well as being bacteria breeding havens. These cloth unsponges can be made from scraps of fabric, old towels and even old burlap/hessian sacks. Again, once they get too grubby, throw them in your washing machine. And if they wear out, if you have made them from cotton material, just cut up and compost. 

See here how they can be made with this easy tutorial.

Don’t buy plastic sandwich bags – instead make….

Reusable Sandwich Wraps

Ziplock or other plastic sandwich bags cost a pretty penny, and once thrown away never degrade. So why not make these reusable wraps for your sandwich instead? I used a food grade layer of material as my inner, but you could reuse an old plastic shower curtain or other fabric.

Find out how they are made here.

Don’t buy disposable sanitary pads – instead make….

Reusable Sanitary Towels

As women, we spend a fortune over a lifetime on period products. And disposable sanitary pads can contain chemicals that irritate your delicate skin. So why not make these reusable sanitary towels? This tutorial shows you what layers to be using and how you can make you’re own. Stop spending money on unenvironmentally friendly plastic period products!

Don’t buy cotton wool pads or cleansing wipes – instead make….

Reusable Make Up Remover Pads

These are another great way of recycling old towelling and using up fabric scraps. Make a whole load of these, and once used, throw them into your washing machine and reuse! Plus, they make great presents – make a few in coordinating colours and tie a pretty ribbon around them. 

See the tutorial on how to make these pretty hexagonal versions. 

Don’t buy toilet roll – instead make….

Family Cloth

This idea may not be for everyone. But earlier this year toilet roll became a rare commodity, so it is always good to have these in reserve. Have a stack of these by the loo, and a bin to keep them in once used. Throw the used ones in your washing machine on a hot wash, and you are good to go again. They can save you a fortune in loo roll costs! 

See how family cloth could work in your home.

Don’t buy disposable swiffer mop wipes – instead make….

Reusable Swiffer Mop Cloths

I love my swiffer mop. But I really don’t want to be buying the disposable wipes that fit the mop head. They cost so much money! So I made some reusable mop covers that you can wash and reuse instead. And this means that not only am I saving money, I’m saving the planet from all the plastic in those disposable wipes. 

See how you can make these too.

Don’t buy plastic shower poufs – instead make….

Hessian Or Towelling Shower Poufs

Those plastic shower poufs do tend to come as freebies. But they are horrible bacteria breeding things that are so bad for the planet! So why not make these bath scrubbers by up cycling burlap sacks or old towels? They are so cheap to make and work just as well. Plus, they can be composted when they are worn out.

Here is how to make the hessian version. And find out here how to make the towelling ones.

Don’t buy Wrapping Paper – instead make….

Drawstring Bags

These bags can be made for birthdays, Christmas, and every other occasion. Why not make them and request that the recipient return them with your present next year? I make these in a variety of shapes and sizes so that anything can be wrapped inside them. Plus, they can be used around the home for such an amazing array of uses, that they are part of the present!

Here is how to make them in 2 different ways.

Don’t buy kitchen, bathroom and floor cleaners – instead….

Make Your Own Cleaning Solutions

By making your own cleaning solutions, you can save a heap of money. Plus these cleaning solutions have no nasty chemicals, so they are perfect for when you have pets or children. And lastly, you can reuse all your old cleaning containers, so you are wasting less plastic, and thus helping save the planet. Every one wins, but especially your purse!

How to make a natural ecofriendly kitchen and bathroom cleaner.

How to make a great natural floor cleaner.

Don’t buy toilet cleaner – instead….

Use This Amazing Toilet Cleaning Ingredient

Toilet cleaners are expensive and so full of nasty chemicals. So imagine my surprise when I found this one simple ingredient that totally cleaned my loo. Plus it got rid of some incredibly stubborn limescale! It comes in a cardboard box too, so it is so much better for the environment than all those plastic bottles!

See what I used here.

Don’t buy laundry powder or liquid – instead make….

Horse Chestnut Washing Liquid

Yes, you could buy soap nuts. But these may have been transported around the world (think of how bad their carbon footprint is) and they cost quite a lot too. So why not utilise the buckeyes/conkers/horse chestnuts that are in abundance in the fall? These just need to be prepared a little and they make a great natural and ecofriendly laundry powder substitute.

Find out how you make this in this article.

Don’t buy Christmas Crackers – instead make….

Reusable Christmas Crackers

Is it me, or are Christmas crackers one of the most expensive anticlimaxes of the whole holiday? One pull and they are gone, and all that waste! So why not make your own by following this tutorial? These make great decorations leading up to the day itself. They look great on your festive table. They make a great packaging for a Christmas present. And finally they are a great money saver, as they can be reused year after year!

Don’t buy Advent calendars – instead make….

Advent Calendar Treat Bags

Advent calendars can cost very little. Or some of the beauty ones can set you back a fortune! So why not make these Advent Calendar Gift Bags and fill them with a cheaper alternative to count the days down to the big one? They can be reused year after year, and filled with so many different items. 

So – as you can see there are tonnes of things you can create to use around the home instead of buying disposable items. Which is your favourite?

Love these ideas? Why not see my post on how to use up all your fabric scraps

Will you be making any of these Zero Waste DIY projects to save money? I would love to know if you have used any of these ideas. Write me a comment below, or get in contact on my social media channels.

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