Top 5 Time-Saving Tools Every DIY Cleaner & Skincare Maker Should Own
These are my top 5 DIY accessories you didn’t know you needed (But Will Use Every Time)!
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When I first started making my own DIY cleaning, bath, or body products, my focus was all on the ingredients and ratios. Vinegar vs. citric acid. Shea butter vs. cocoa butter. Essential oils, herbs, powders.
But here is the quiet truth I learned that most tutorials skip: your tools matter just as much as your recipes.
The right accessories reduce cleanup, improve consistency, and eliminate the small frustrations that quietly steal your time. These are not flashy tools. They are the kind you do not realize you need until you use them once and wonder how you ever managed without them.
Of course none of these are required to make any product, but when you are making your own products (especially as a busy mom) every little thing you can do that will save a few minutes is huge.
So here are my top five often-overlooked tools that I believe are true time savers and deserve a permanent spot in any DIY setup. None of them are that expensive, so are worth the investment in my opinion.
#1. Kitchen Scale (Instead of Measuring Cups)
A digital kitchen scale is one of the biggest upgrades you can make to your DIY process. Measuring by weight is faster, more accurate, and far more consistent than using cups and spoons.
When working with powders, waxes, butters, and even liquids, volume measurements can vary wildly. One packed cup of baking soda is not the same as another. A scale removes all guesswork and ensures your recipes turn out the same every single time.
Using a scale also means fewer dishes. Instead of dirtying multiple measuring cups, you can place one container on the scale, tare it, and add each ingredient directly. Less cleanup, less mess, and fewer mistakes.
Once I switch from using measuring cups and tablespoons, to a digital scale, I couldn’t believe how much easier and faster it was to make products. It can easily cut your prep time in half.
Why it earns a top-5 spot:
• Precision and consistency
• Faster measuring
• Minimal cleanup
• Essential for scaling recipes up or down
#2. Niimbot B1 Label Printer
Ok, this one was a complete game changer for me! Labeling is one of those tasks people often skip or rush, thinking they’ll just remember what everything is. Then, out of no where, bottles start multiplying and no one remembers what is inside them. A label printer completely changes this experience.
In fact, this printer is so great that when my daughter asked to take it to school for her entrepreneur class to label the hot chocolate jars they were selling, it ended up being a huge hit. Her teacher loved it so much she wanted to get one for the class to use going forward, and all the other groups were suddenly jealous of how professional my daughter’s products looked, just because of the labels.
I can honestly say I haven’t found an easier way to label my products than with the Niimbot B1 label printer. It has an easy to use app for creating and customizing your labels and makes it easy to print clean, professional-looking labels in seconds, right from your phone. Whether you are labeling cleaning sprays, salves, creams, or storage jars, having clear labels saves time later and prevents wasted products.
This is especially valuable if you make multiple variations of the same recipe or if you gift or sell your DIY products. No handwriting. No smudging. No confusion.
Why it earns a top-5 spot:
• Instant, waterproof labeling
• Easy to use app for customized labels with having to replace ink
• Prevents mix-ups and wasted products
• Makes homemade products look polished
#3. Stainless Steel Melting Pot (for a Double Boiler)
If you work with beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter, or oils, a stainless steel melting pot is a game changer. Designed specifically for double-boiler use, these pots heat ingredients gently and evenly without the risk of scorching.
Unlike glass jars or makeshift setups, a melting pot often includes a spout, making it much easier to pour hot mixtures into molds or containers without spills. The controlled heat helps protect delicate ingredients and reduces the chance of overheating.
This tool speeds up melting, improves safety, and cuts down on cleanup.
Why it earns a top-5 spot:
• Even, gentle heating
• Easier and safer pouring
• Ideal for waxes and butters
• Less mess and better control
#4. Microfiber Cloths
Ok, so these aren’t a tool for making the product. But they are an often missed accessory for using with your cleaning products, and will increase the effectiveness hundredfold of any cleaning product you make.
Microfiber clothes could be considered the DIY cleaning product in themselves. Talk about time savings, you don’t have to make anything at all! Depending on the job they can work with just water (reducing chemicals). They absorb many times their weight in liquid, and leave no lint or streaks, making them perfect for dusting, polishing glass, and general surface cleaning.
From wiping down counters and cleaning spills to polishing jars and bottles before labeling, microfiber cloths make everything quicker and easier. They trap fine powders, absorb oils, and clean up wax residue far better than paper towels.
Reusable and durable, they also reduce waste and save money over time.
Why it earns a top-5 spot:
• Fast, effective cleanup
• Handles oils, powders, and waxes well
• Reusable and eco-friendly
• Trap dust, dirt, and bacteria like magnets
#5. Glass Pyrex Measuring Cups
Glass measuring cups may seem basic, but they outperform plastic in almost every way when it comes to DIY products.
They are heat-safe, stain-resistant, and do not hold onto odors. You can melt ingredients, pour boiling water, and mix recipes without worrying about warping or chemical leaching. Clear markings make measuring quick and accurate, and they clean up easily.
Having multiple sizes on hand allows you to move through recipes smoothly without constant washing in between steps.
I found them especially helpful when I started making tinctures, and doing herbal infused oils and vinegar. They are perfect for straining your mixture, providing a nice pouring spout to put the product back into a jar for storage.
Why it earns a top-5 spot:
• Safe for hot liquids and melting
• Accurate, easy-to-read measurements
• Easy to pour from without spilling
• No stains or lingering smells
Final Thoughts
DIY does not have to be messy, chaotic, or time-consuming. Most of us are busy moms, who don’t have time to be spending all day making products. The right tools quietly do the heavy lifting in the background, helping you move faster, stay organized, and actually enjoy the process.
If you are serious about making your own cleaning, bath, or body products on a regular basis, these five accessories are not just nice to have. They are time-saving essentials that pay for themselves in ease, consistency, and sanity.
Small upgrades. Big difference.
If you’re ready to start making your own bath, beauty, and home products safely and confidently, download my Free Getting Started Guide — it includes 4 beginner recipes I’d suggest starting with, an ingredient checklist with the only ingredients you need, and step-by-step instructions to make your very first product!
