At Home Buddies, we aren’t just about the estetik budol life. We’re also a community that comes together to share our homemaking (and life!) tips so our fellow Kapitbahays can plan and achieve the house of their dreams alongside us. 

Here’s a roundup of some of the many home improvement hacks we’ve been loving from our incredible community. 

DIY Decor

A home that truly feels like you is essential for making our everyday lives brighter. That’s why these DIY home improvement hacks are just what you need to make your space feel yours — minus the hefty gastos. 

Just take a look at how Kapitbahay Tin created her DIY wall accent.

If you want that #TeamKahoy aesthetic without having to reconstruct your walls, this PVC wall accent is the one for you. Tintin bought five panels from Wilcon (only P360 per panel!) and had it cut in the store before bringing it home. To attach, Tintin used Bostik No More Nails. O diba? Laki ng tipid! 

You can also take inspiration from Kapitbahay ろん しゃ if you want a cute, minimalist headboard without buying an entirely new bedframe.

For this DIY project, they simply put together Woodtek planks from CitiHardware with baby bumper strips and adhesive mirror strips found online to create a lovely, wallet-friendly, queen-sized headboard. 

Your Kitchen Needs

If you have ample cupboards but need more shelving space, this Kapitbahay Kevin hack is perfect for you. No need for drilling or calling the handyman — this adjustable shelf is just what you need for fuss-free organization.

You’ll need to tighten and secure the clapboard into place, and voila! Now, you have so much more space for your kitchen supplies. The best part is that these clapboards can extend to fit more prominent areas and can be used for organizing any room, like bathrooms or closets, so you won’t have to worry about insufficient shelving anywhere. 

Those who love cooking will know how tedious chopping and slicing can be, especially when preparing large amounts of food. Skip the sore muscles with the life hack from Kapitbahay Leah.

This Edmark drum set can save you arm strain as it comes with three blades for slicing various sizes — itago na ang efficascent oil! 

This next tip from Kapitbahay Rossann is simple yet incredibly useful for those who love cooking up a storm but hate the mess that comes with it.

These convenient kitchen trash bag holders slip onto your kitchen cabinet doors, so setting it up is a breeze. You can keep it right where you’re constantly chopping and simply slide your garbage into the bag for quick and easy cleanup. Plus, it’s a great way to reuse plastic bags we get from shopping. 

For Personal Care

We all dread the day our pristine white clothing turns yellow, especially when they’re kept in storage for so long. Luckily, Kapitbahay Tin’s tried-and-tested, bleach-free tip works wonders for making clothes look brand new.

As Tin mentioned in their post, they used a solution of vinegar and hot water to lift the yellow stains off baby clothes that had been stored for seven years. To try this hack, Real Simple suggests adding one cup of vinegar to one gallon of hot water, submerging the fabrics fully, then allowing the white clothes to soak in the mixture overnight. Afterward, you can launder as usual.  

ICYMI, we also have some hacks on removing common stains around the home. Take a look at our blog for more Kapitbahay-approved tips!

This next life tip may be a little pricey, but it comes highly recommended by Kapitbahay Jillian. If you need a boost in your home dental care, this Waterpik water flosser might be for you.

Great for lifting away stubborn grime and plaque, this hygiene tool is perfect for those with braces, veneers, crowns, bridges, or implants for that fresh-from-the-dentist feel.  

Tipid Tips

Our electricity bills can run high, especially when we constantly reach for our airconditioners to stave away the heat during the tag-init season. Kapitbahay Angelito shared plenty of insights on how to use your AC efficiently. While we highly recommend checking their original post for full details, here are some generalized tips we picked up.

Firstly, consider the overall heat load of your home by checking the rated wattages of your electronics and the number of people in your household. Use this estimate to gauge whether or not your AC unit has ample cooling capacity for your home. Using an AC unit at or near its maximum capacity for extended periods can shorten its lifespan, so getting a unit with a slightly higher power may be better to reduce wear and tear. 

Secondly, ensure that you’re retaining cold air by insulating your home in essential areas, such as your roof, ceiling, and walls, and checking that your windows and doors are properly sealed.

Thirdly, clean your unit regularly to keep it running smoothly — ‘wag tamarin!

Lastly, Angelito emphasizes the need to follow the “20-degree rule”, which means that we should never set our AC temperature above 20 degrees Fahrenheit (or approximately 11 degrees Celsius) lower than the temperature outdoors. For example, suppose the temperature outside is 38 degrees Celsius. In that case, it’s recommended that we don’t go below 26 degrees Celsius to keep our electricity expenses down while maintaining the quality of our units. 

Are you looking for more tips to level up your living space? Find more home improvement hacks on our blog!