13 Cheap Home Repair Products You Never Knew You Needed

Being a homeowner comes with a seemingly never-ending to-do list of home maintenance tasks. Before hiring a professional to clean your roof, test for mold, or fix clogged plumbing, consider checking whether there’s a product out there that might be just as effective—and cost a lot less. These 13 home repair products may not be glamorous, but they get the job done.

While some types of mold are easily visible to the naked eye, others are more insidious. If you want to ensure that your home is mold-free but aren’t willing to spend money on hiring a professional, consider a mold test kit like this one from Mold Armor. Each kit contains a petri dish, a swab, and a mold growth medium. It works indoors and outdoors and gives you reliable results in as little as 48 hours. 

Get the Mold Armor Do-it-Yourself Mold Test Kit at Amazon for $8.97

If your house runs on a septic system, you probably already know that maintenance can be expensive. But did you know there are inexpensive sachets to help maintain your system and prevent backups? Simply flush one of the packets down the toilet each month. They also work to eliminate odors and work well in RVs, campers, and boats as well as home systems. This set includes 12 bacteria packets, which typically last the average household one year. 

Get the Cabin Obsession Septic Treatment at Amazon for $21.97

Having a tube of super glue on hand for quick fixes can be very helpful. Gorilla’s Super Glue is one of the most well-reputed products on the market because of its strong adherence and easy-to-use control nozzle. The possibilities are endless with super glue: fix footwear, prevent runs in your stockings, seal holes in hoses, and use it for your next creative crafting project.

Get the Gorilla Super Glue at Amazon for $1.87

Did you know that you need to clean your washing machine? If you’ve never cleaned it, don’t feel bad; you’re not alone. This box of OxiClean Washing Machine Cleaner includes four pouches of cleaner that help your washer look and smell clean. Simply run a standard wash cycle, throw in an OxiClean pouch, and repeat once a month. It’s safe to use on both top-loader and front-loader machines. 

Get the OxiClean Washing Machine Cleaner at Amazon for $7.49

Seal the joints between concrete slabs using a concrete sealant like this one from QUIKRETE. There are no additional tools required: simply apply the product into cracks and joints up to 1 inch wide and allow it time to cure. It’s convenient for both residential and commercial properties for use on driveways, sidewalks, balconies, terraces, and more. After curing, the sealant is waterproof and resistant to aging and weathering.

Get the QUIKRETE Advanced Polymer Self-Leveling Sealant at The Home Depot for $7.78

Clogged drains are a nuisance, but they happen to many of us. Be prepared for your next clog with a specially formulated clog remover like this one by Green Gobbler. Its chemical formula dissolves grease, dirt, hair, soap, and other organic matter that’s stuck in your pipes so you don’t have to plunge them. It’s safe to use in toilets, sinks, tubs, and showers and is appropriate for both septic and sewer systems. 

Get the Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver at Amazon for $19.99

While you can repair shoes with super glue, why not try a product that’s specifically designed for the job? Shoe-Fix Glue is a professional-strength adhesive that bonds material together in seconds. It’s flexible and doesn’t expand, so your footwear will look as good as new. Use this product to fix the soles on your work boots, dress shoes, sandals, and sneakers.

Get the Shoe-Fix Glue at Amazon for $14.45

Need to get rid of damp, musty smells in your basement or garage? Try DampRid’s Moisture Absorber, a product designed to draw in excess moisture from the air. Simply take off the plastic lid to expose the sealed safety cover underneath. This 10.5-ounce bucket usually lasts up to 2 months before it needs to be replaced. You’ll know it’s time to get a new one when the moisture-absorbing crystals have fully dissolved. 

Get the DampRid Unscented Moisture Absorber at Amazon for $5.94

In cold climates, homes can hemorrhage heat through the garage door all winter long. Luckily there’s a simple—and affordable—solution. A garage door insulation kit, like this one from Reach Barrier, blocks up to 95 percent of radiant heat from being lost through your garage door, saving both money and energy in the process. The kit includes eight panels, each of which features a layer of Barrier Bubble between two layers of reflective polyethylene. 

Get the Reach Barrier Garage Door Insulation Kit at Amazon for $40.13

Cracked concrete on a driveway, patio, or walkway looks unsightly and can even become dangerous. Quickly fix the problem with a quart of QUIKRETE’s Concrete Patching Compound, which features a pre-mixed formula that’s easy to apply. The product can be used either indoors or outdoors, and dries to a durable and flexible finish.

Get the QUIKRETE Concrete Patching Compound at The Home Depot for $8.17

When a rock chips a car windshield, the first instinct may be to make an appointment with a mechanic. It turns out, however, that with the right supplies you may be able to fix the problem yourself. This Windshield Repair Kit by Rain-X works on any laminated windshield and minimizes the appearance of cracks and chips while simultaneously preventing them from spreading.

Get the Rain-X Windshield Repair Kit at Amazon for $9.99

A plunger is a must-have in every home, but most of the basic models aren’t actually designed to get the job done. A beehive-shaped plunger like the one from Korky works well with both round and oval toilets and has a T-shaped handle to provide the ideal grip. Because it has a telescoping handle, it can be discreetly stored under the sink so that it’s out of sight. 

Get the Korky Telescoping Plunger at Amazon for $15.98

If it’s hard to remember the last time you cleaned your roof or home’s siding, it may be time to add this task to your DIY to-do list. This product by Wet & Forget attaches to a garden hose so it can be applied to a roof without climbing a ladder. It’s free of bleach and is formulated to remove mold, mildew, and algae from your home’s exterior surfaces. 

Get the Wet & Forget Roof and Siding Cleaner at Amazon for $28.99