We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Advice, staff picks, mythbusting, and more. Let us help you.

Here at Wirecutter, we aim to provide quality recommendations of products worth spending your money on. But our knowledge goes well beyond items you can purchase. Wirecutter’s experts are well versed in hacks that transform everyday items you likely already have sitting around—no purchase necessary.

Whether you’re in need of a cat bed or a bottle warmer, these DIY alternatives will save you money while revealing some unexpected uses for common household items.

Spoiling yourself with an at-home pedicure doesn’t have to cost a lot. Wirecutter research editor Christina Colizza says that some of the best pedicures start with a bucket of soapy water rather than a dedicated footbath. Simple, cheap, and easy to set up, a bucket offers an easy way to pamper your feet.

If you don’t want to deal with the maintenance of a store-bought humidifier, you can place a pot on top of a radiator (if your place has one) instead. The water will heat up, steam, and efficiently produce humidity, says staff writer Thom Dunn. And although this hack doesn’t work as well as an actual humidifier, it’s still a good option if you’re looking to save or if you need a quick solution and can’t wait for delivery.

Positioning your laptop higher can help you maintain proper posture and avoid back and neck pain while you’re sitting or standing at your desk. Instead of buying an expensive laptop stand, consider stacking a pile of books at a height that makes you look camera-ready and professional. Our experts recommend keeping your eye level at 1 to 2 inches below your screen. And using flat, wide books is great for maintaining stability and changing the height of your homemade stand.

For many people, a scanner isn’t the most necessary purchase, especially if you’re using it to scan documents just a few times a year. Instead, most smartphones and tablets can meet your scanning needs. On an iPhone, you can scan documents by opening the Notes app, taking a picture, and tapping Scan Documents. On Android devices, all you have to do is open Google Drive, tap Add, and tap Scan. You can also download one of our recommended mobile scanning apps if you prefer to use a standalone app over your phone camera. Even though some of those apps are not entirely free, they’re still great options compared with the cost of a traditional scanner.

If you’re looking to save on a cat bed, a cardboard box works just as well as a more expensive cat bed. Cats typically love boxes—all you have to do is add a comfy blanket to fit their fancy. And be sure to fold the flaps down into the box to reinforce its walls and make it last as long as possible.

Instead of using a bottle warmer to get a baby’s bottle to the right temperature, place it in a bowl of hot water. Our experts recommend heating up to 3 cups of water to about 150 degrees Fahrenheit before placing the bottle in the bowl. It takes only about seven minutes to warm an 8-ounce bottle. And you’ll be happy to know that this technique is much more efficient, uses less water, and takes a lot less effort than using most electric bottle warmers.

In a pinch, you can improve the air quality in your home with a simple box fan. To start, just place an HVAC filter over your fan to create an efficient purifier. Make sure to seal the filter against the fan with tape around the perimeter; if you don’t, unfiltered air will pass through. When Wirecutter senior staff writer Tim Heffernan tested the DIY-purifier hack, he got pretty good results, with the machine cutting 87% of the initial particulate load over 30 minutes. “That’s nothing like the 99% reductions our top picks achieved on their high settings, but the results were better than one might expect,” Tim writes.

This article was edited by Treye Green and Annemarie Conte.

by Tim Heffernan and Liam McCabe

You can send us a note too.

© 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company