Whats Worth It?

Not Worth It:

Brand names. "Dishwashing liquid can always be purchased generic," advises Real Simple deputy editor Rachel Hardage. "Just make sure the label has the words 'gentle' and 'mild'--these terms are regulated by the soap and detergent industry and indicate that the soap is safe on most surfaces." Beyond buying generic, Good Housekeeping Research Institute director Miriam Arond suggests grocery shopping on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, historically slow days for retailers. Most of all, she says, "Being a savvy shopper is a habit that you need to cultivate."

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Worth It:

Prefinished Wood. Bob Markovich, the home and yard editor at Consumer Reports, advises homeowners to opt for prefinished wood flooring. "Our experience shows that prefinished products last longer than if you installed it and then finished it. You'll pay a little extra upfront but wind up saving in long run."

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Not Worth It:

Expensive cleaning products. People in the know rely on simple top-shelf ingredients, rather than those under-the-counter compounds. "Club soda on a microfiber cloth is a good quick fix on indoor windows and mirrors," says Dr. Elizabeth Goldsmith, a consumer sciences professor at Florida State University and the co-author of Green Cleaning for Dummies. Goldsmith says you can cook up even more than window cleaner. "A mild all purpose cleaner can be made with 4 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart of water in a squirt bottle, and for counters and fixtures, add ¼ to ½ cup vinegar in 1 quart of water."

Neil Wertheimer, the editor-in-chief of the new magazine, Fresh Home, published by Reader's Digest, seconds that. "Amazingly, the average American household spends over $600 a year on home maintenance gear. Make your own, and cut that bill by a nice chunk."

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Worth It:

Front-load washing machine. According to Consumer Reports, a front-load washer costs more initially, but makes up for its price with higher quality performance.

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Not Worth It:

Too many products. Anne-Marie O'Neill, the deputy editor at Real Simple, knows that many products can serve multiple purposes. One of them is olive oil. "Cleaning staples like ammonia can corrode or dull stainless steel surfaces like your fridge or oven. But olive oil cleans gently and gives an effective shine every time." It's also an effective furniture polish.

Her colleague at Real Simple, deputy editor Rachel Hardage, has a secret weapon of her own: lemon. She suggests using half a lemon to sanitize cutting boards and clean graters, and adding ½ cup of lemon juice to the laundry to brighten whites. She even found a use for lemonade! "Dump a pack of powdered lemonade into the detergent cup and run your dishwasher empty. The citric acid in the lemonade will break up lime deposits," Hardage says.

In other cases, you can rely on inexpensive dishwashing detergent to clean fine fabrics or carpet stains, according to Miriam Arond, director of the Good Housekeeping Research Institute.

Check out more recipes for homemade cleaning products in Consumer Reports.

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Worth It:

Paint tints. "We all have leftover paint sitting in our basements," says Neil Wertheimer, the editor-in-chief of Fresh Home. "With small bottles or cans of tint or primary colors, you can change the hue of the paint any way you wish. Then use it on a wall, a piece of furniture, a fence, or anywhere you want a design transformation."

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Not Worth It:

Granite countertops. "People think to get high end you have to get granite, but guess what? Quartz does better in our tests than granite," according to Bob Markovich, the home and yard editor at Consumer Reports. Quartz, Markovich says, can sometimes be had for half the price of granite, and is a top-performer when it comes to stain, heat, and knife resistance. "Quartz is definitely your best bet." Beyond that, Laminate is another strong option that's even cheaper.

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Worth It:

Programmable thermostat. Upgrade to a programmable thermostat and you could see energy savings of up to 20 percent, according to Consumer Reports. There are several kinds available to help you decide whether to slash temperatures during the workday, at night, or over the weekends.

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Not Worth It:

Extended warranties. "Why buy an unreliable brand?" asks Consumer Reports's Bob Markovich. He says extended warranties are not a good deal. "Surveys show that fewer than one in five people have a problem in the first three years of owning a product, and that's the typical warranty." Instead, he suggests scouring the web for deals on brands you trust. Search for the manufacturer's name and "rebate" and check retailer sites for discounts. "They're hungry for business," he says, so don't be afraid to ask for perks like free pickup and delivery.

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Worth It:

Smart appliance upgrades. Neil Wertheimer from Fresh Home recommends some appliance updates that do more for you than impress the neighbors. He suggests choosing a rolling air conditioner, which can "save a lot by keeping cool only the room everyone is hanging out in this summer." Other favorites include electric water kettles, which boil water faster and more cheaply than the gas stove, and power strips with surge protection, which Wertheimer says help you save money by not powering appliances like the toaster, blender, and coffee maker even when they're turned off. Why pay for what you're not using?

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