Never Pay for Hand Sanitizer Again

 Starting this week, we will feature a weekly column giving Grafton residents clever ways to save money. Which is important to all of us these days:

A little savings can really add up when you are watching your money. Sometimes saving can mean thinking outside the box. Here are some quick and easy DIY ideas that may mean you no longer buy hand sanitizer, exfoliating scrubs or plant fertilizer.

Pristine Palms: We’re all concerned about germs and illness and using hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available is a great way to keep you and your family healthy. Mix equal parts rubbing alcohol and aloe vera gel and shake it up in a pump bottle. That’s it. No need to buy hand sanitizer at the store. Use the pump to dispense the hand sanitizer into smaller bottles for your car, purse and office.

Multigrain solution: Exfoliating skin on your face means moisturizers can better do their job. Scrubs also work great on heels and elbows. Forget about buying them, though. Just mix some sugar with your facial cleanser or body wash and rub gently. The sugar grains will slough off dead skin. Bonus tip: Sugar packets such as restaurants offer are easy to pack when traveling.

Love your leaves: Used coffee grounds can be mixed into the top of the soil in potted plants to give them a boost. When you water the plant, the nutrients from the coffee grounds get carried down to the roots. Check with your local garden expert, such as Perrault Nurseries, to be sure fertilization using this natural technique is right for your particular plants. Outdoor shrubs such as azaleas and rhododendrons benefit from coffee grounds sprinkled around their base, too.