44 Simple Things That’ll Have A Meaningful Impact On Your Day-To-Day – BuzzFeed
Turns out that scented trash bag will lighten your chore load and far less annoyed by your roommate who seems to generate lots and lots of garbage.
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. Small cable clip organizers you can stick on as you please because there’s no need to see OR trip over the your phone charger cord every time you stand up to fill up your glass of water.
Amazon
Promising review: “The perfect solution for the wire clutter on my home office desk. I have quite a bit of computer peripherals and other electronics and heretofore, I had no effective wire and cable management system…that is, until I discovered these little beauties. Did not have high expectations because of disappointments with similar products in the past. I was pleasantly surprised at the difference these made in my home office. All my wires are neatly organized and tucked away out of sight. No more mess. It now looks organized and more productive.” —Big E
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $6.95.
2. Light-blocking curtains that’ll keep your bedroom (or any other room!) as dark as you want. Plus they’ll help maintain your ideal indoor temp!
Amazon
Promising review: “Once you put these bad boys on your window, the room will turn into a black hole of darkness that will engulf both soul and body. I cannot even describe the room I was in as black, it was a much deeper, almost boundless effect. Sensory deprivation will set in within minutes. You will lose all sense of what is up and down and feel like you are floating in deep space.” —The Raccoon
Get them from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in six sizes and nine colors).
3. And a ~streamlined~ door draft stopper to keep gusts from coming in under the door. It’ll just look like a natural part of your door so other decor design choices (like that cute welcome mat) can shine!
Promising review: “So easy to set up! All you do is peel tape and adhere to a CLEAN and DRY door. Also looks great, I don’t even notice it. I had a huge gap under my door. I could smell and hear everything from the hallway. Smells, drafts, and sound all are less of an issue now.” —Brit B.
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four colors).
4. A memory-foam cushion for anyone whose rear could use a real treat. So, arguably, everyone.
Promising review: “Thanks to this cushion, the second I get out of my chair or turn my back my cat jumps in my seat. He looks too cute to kick him out so I may have to buy a separate cushion for him. A+++ best cushion I’ve ever bought and cat-approved.” —Thetortagirl
Get it from Amazon for $39.95 (available in five colors).
5. A over-the-door laundry hamper to get those discarded PJs and undies off the bathroom floor. Raise your hand if you’ve ever tripped on your or a loved one’s dirty underwear ::raises both hands::
Amazon
You can love someone and still not want to come in touch with their freshly used undies.
Get it from Amazon for $14.95 (available in eight colors).
6. A set of stove burner covers to help you catch the mess right away on gas stovetops. Or just cover up some chipped or sorry-looking stovetops. (I live in a rental with a white gas stovetop that def has some unsightly chips on it, so I can relate!)
amazon.com, Amazon
Psst, as you can see above, this set also comes with a crumb catcher where your stovetop meets your countertop!
Promising review: “I’ve been using the foil ones and while they do the job, they’re not so nice to look at. I like that this is black so it matches the original color of the appliances, but more importantly I like that this has a larger surface area to catch the drips that the foil ones never could before. They’re also trim to fit, so they get right up into each burner without leaving gaps where drips can burn where it’s hardest to clean. Overall recommended.” —Michael
Get an 8-pack from Amazon for $12.99+ (also available in silver).
7. A nine-pack of reliable nonscratch sponges — they’ll make serious work on your nonstick pans with coating you don’t wanna compromise. Stuck-on messes, be gone!
Promising reviews: “This is pretty much all I use with dishes. I find that this sponge is usually the perfect gentleness/roughness for washing dishes by hand. It’s always an exciting day when I can pull out a new sponge from the Scotch-Brite sponge bag and throw away the old one. It would be nice to have a dishwasher, but these sponges are less expensive and more fun!” —MAW
Get it from Amazon for $6.92.
8. A pack of lemon-scented toilet bombs you simply drop into the towel bowl, wait for it to dissolve, then just give a lil’ scrub with your toilet brush.
Jialiving / Etsy
Jialiving is a Los Angeles-based Etsy shop that specializes in handmade items made of all-natural and earth-friendly ingredients.
Promising review: “What a great product! You just drop it in, let it dissolve, and that pretty much cleans your toilet. No toxic ingredients so good for the environment as well.” —Maureen Tully
9. An over-the-door cabinet organizer so you won’t have to stare at a pile of hairstyling tools every time you go to brush your teeth. You’ll be locating your hair dryer in record time!
Promising review: “This product did exactly what I needed it to. Before all my items were in a drawer and the cords were a pain, but with this metal basket it minimized clutter, keeps things organized and separate, and it also looks nice. It fits two of my blow-dryers, a flat iron, and curling wand. The bars are adjustable, as well (just use the twisties it came with to secure them in place). Worth the buy!” —Alyssa Jewell
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in seven finishes).
10. A silicone soap tray with plenty of ~tasteful~ draining space so the bottom half of that fancy soap your aunt gave you for Secret Santa that you’re finally using won’t become useless goo.
Amazon
Dishwasher-safe so it’s easy to clean the thing that holds the cleaning thing.
Get it from Amazon for $8.80 (available in three colors).
11. A broom and mop organizer you can mount on a closet wall for a tidy “after” so you won’t worry about an avalanche when you open that door. You know what I’m talking about. Ok it doesn’t look simple with everything on it. But that mere row of hooks is ~magical~.
Promising review: “Hard to get a good picture in my very small pantry area, but this hanger works great for keeping my cleaning tools at hand yet off the floor. Mounting template worked great and it came with a couple bags of screws and anchors so I had the right ones for my wall. I would buy this again.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $13.97.
12. Odor-blocking trash bags to buy another day here or there before you take out the trash. Take it from me, a lazy person. These work.
Amazon
I’ve used these before and they def do a better job at odor-blocking than regular trash bags!
Get a box of 80 from Amazon for $14.12.
13. A wood scratch cover you can use to help cover up dings and discoloration on door frames and molding so everything will blend in like normal. Also, it requires no sanding or refinishing! Cue to you on the prowl for more wood surfaces you can fix up.
Promising review: “I can’t believe how well Old English works! I recently purchased a home where a dog previously lived and had horribly scratched the woodwork. I thought I may have to sand and refinish the woodwork around two doors. Old English saved me a lot of work! ” —Behold Behold!
Get it from Amazon for $4.82 (also available for light woods).
14. And wood repair markers to hide smaller scratches on your fave furniture. We love a repair instead of a replacement product!
Amazon, amazon.com
Promising review: “I can’t believe how well these work! Much better than I was expecting. I just had my home interior painted and the painters damaged a fiberboard medicine cabinet when they removed the masking tape. It ripped off the fake wood veneer. These markers completely filled in the ugly spots and the colors blended well. I love that it appears to have some clear coat in it too as it dries with a slight shine that makes it look more like wood stain rather than marker. I also used them to stain wood filler in two spots in my maple kitchen cabinets where a previous home owner had hung a paper towel holder and I really struggle to see the hole! It looks fantastic. I highly recommend this set. It’s a good value and works very well.” —Shane
Get a set of 13 from Amazon for $9.99.
15. A laundry-detergent drip catcher to help salvage some of that precious goo, so you can go a tad bit longer in between shopping trips.
Amazon
Promising review: “Holy cow! Why didn’t I think to make this!? This thing is probably the most helpful thing I own! I despise how liquid detergent is in these huge tubs with a spigot. It has to lay on its side and it ALWAYS drips down on to whatever is underneath. It’s so frustrating! However, this fixes that problem! It easily just slides on the tub and holds firm. I use it on the All tub, but I would imagine it would work with any standard size tub. I keep the cup sitting on the little shelf and it catches any drips. So no waste!” —Rachel L. White
Get it from Amazon for $12.44.
16. Pimple patches that’ll attack blemishes that pop up by sucking out the gunk without irritating your skin around the blemish like drying treatments. Keep a pack of these in your bathroom and you’ll be set!
I’ve used these and can confirm that they WORK. I had a lot of acne before taking Accutane at age 15, and if these were around back then during ancient times I would’ve bought them by the truckload!
Promising review: “Omg, where has this been my whole life? Why did nobody talk about hydrocolloid patches when I was a teen? These truly do shrink your pimples (as long as it is an open or popped one). I just put one on before bed and by morning, voilà! All that’s left is a small bump, if anything at all. I seriously couldn’t believe my eyes. (All those years of suffering from acne! I’m in my 30s now with hormonal acne, btw.) These are magic!” —Julie W.
Get a four-pack of 24 patches each from Amazon for $15.
Check out our full Cosrx Acne Pimple Patches review!
17. A luxe-looking mousepad with a metal finish for smooth movement that’ll perk up a lackluster home office — even if that home office is the couch or your bed.
Amazon
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two sizes).
18. An eye compression mask to block out every last bit of light in your bedroom while feeling soft against your skin. (BTW, it was designed by an orthopedic surgeon to help relieve migraines, tension headaches, sinus pain, and eye strain.)
Amazon
Promising review: “The material of this product is very soft. The beads inside add the right amount of pressure on my eyes in order to feel comfort and relief after a hard day of work. It forms itself to my face, providing excellent coverage and comfort. This is a very well-done sleep mask that I would recommend with my eyes closed (no pun intended). But, in all seriousness, this masks helps me sleep better, and I am very satisfied with my results. This is my second purchase.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $13.54.
19. A set of satin pillowcases I personally swear by for keeping my hair and skin moisturized (vs. cotton pillowcases). Plus! They’re super soft and look glam.
Amazon
Plus they’re super cooling in the summer!
Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 23 colors and 3 sizes).
Amazon
BTW, Grace Eleyae is a Black woman-owned company!
Promising review: “These sleep caps are great! Super soft satin lining to protect natural textured hair and never having to worry about it sliding off while you are sleeping. Ended up buying three more for family members.” —TeeWill
Get them from Grace Eleyae on Amazon for $19.99.
21. A set of wool dryer balls that’ll be a wonderful effective alternative to fabric softener sheets or liquid that can cause some serious buildup on machines.
Amazon
Promising review: “I have been using these for over year now and I absolutely love them. I only use four in my dryer and they have reduced the time it takes to dry clothes. I did not add a scent to the balls so I sometimes throw a dryer sheet in with the balls. They make a soft thud sound while drying. I have given them as gifts to all of my sisters-in-law and they love them.” —P. King
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $8.99.
22. A cushy lumbar pillow you can position as its name implies or use to elevate your knees or feet. TV watching just leveled up.
Amazon
23. A wooden lap desk you can use for inhaling some pancakes, reading, or binge-watching on your laptop. I own this and it was my 2020 *and* 2021 WFH MVP, hands down.
Amazon
I use this desk on my couch, bed, floor…wherever!
Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in three colors).
24. Suspenders for your sheets that are exactly how they sound so no matter how much you toss and turn, your fitted sheet won’t pop you in the face in the middle of the night when it comes loose. It happens! I know!
25. A brown sugar saver disguised as an adorable terra-cotta bear that baking fiends *might* be sad they didn’t know was a thing ’til now.
Amazon
Promising review: “Had a large amount of brown sugar and couldn’t keep it soft, even in a tight container. I purchased new 5-quart jars for my flour, sugar, and so forth, and quickly realized my brown sugar was a ROCK! I purchased this, soaked it, and placed it in the sugar as instructed. Within hours it was soft again! I have about 2 lbs. of sugar in the 5-quart jar currently. The jar is sealed with a gasket but I haven’t had to re-soak the bear yet (only a month in use currently). Would recommend to anyone at this point, just mad I have wasted so much brown sugar over the years. I have not used it for any of the other uses, like cookies or bread, but will probably purchase more in the future since this little bear is dedicated to my brown sugar.” —diosa
Get two from Amazon for $9.96.
26. A dishwasher magnet so everyone in the house is on the same page about whether it’s OK to eat off a plate that’s in the dishwasher.
amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: “I got this because my mother has dementia and she kept putting away dirty dishes 🤦🏽♀️. And believe it or not she has actually been using it and it definitely has been working! So I highly suggest buying this for parents or someone you know who has a similar problem!” —Raquel
Get it from Amazon for $6.92 (also available in black).
Also check out a version that’s completely silver without the red or green for $19.95.
27. A Squatty Potty which, if you don’t already know what it does, helps position your body in a way that’ll feel more natural for your colon and, therefore, make going no. 2 easier. (More or less.)
Amazon
Promising review: “I’ve struggled with the #2 for the last couple years. I’ve gone from Defecating Toxic Avenger to ‘Dear GOD! I feel like I’m passing the Twin King Guardian Statues.’ It’s been a sphincter nightmare. No matter what I tried: prunes, more water, high fiber, Taco Bell, even White Castle — nothing was working. Usually, in a three-week interval, I’d get very sick and spend three to four hours going to the bathroom nine or ten times. After my sphincter would be tender and I’m damn near positive if this had gone on, it would be the end of me. Then I saw this. Decided to go ahead and plunk down the $25. By day two of using it I started to feel better and my cramps were gone. I swear to god, when I go on my next road trip, I’m taking the damn thing with me, and IDGAF if my friends laugh at me. This damn thing may have saved my health and possibly my life.” —DJ_Malsidious
Get it from Amazon for $24.99. Not into the white plastic look? Check out a ghost acrylic version.
28. A Beard King trimmings catcher that’ll make cleaning the bathroom sink SO much easier if you can convince your currently bearded bae to actually use it.
Promising review: “My girlfriend bought this for me as a present. At first I was skeptical to use, but once I got my hands out it there was no going back. I use my Beard Bib anywhere two to four times a week and cannot live without it. Not only does this serve a big purpose in my trimming routine but now I no longer have to argue with my girlfriend about all the mess that I USED to create. Also, we ordered a beard oil recently and reached out to customer support about the different scents they offer, they were super helpful! Overall it has been an awesome experience and they’ve truly made me feel like a King!” —Timur
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
29. Safe grabs silicone mats for putting a safe barrier between hot things and important stuff, like your hands, in so many situations.
Amazon
Promising review: “Okay, so I am a sucker for innovations that I see on Shark Tank so bought this without giving it much thought. When it arrived I thought I had probably made a mistake, but turns out I use them all the time. I keep one in the microwave, which makes clean-up easier but also allows me to use it as a potholder. I keep the other in a drawer and use it as a trivet to protect my counters and table. Stores easily, has lots of uses, cleans in a flash. Pretty cool.” —Kathy, Avid Reader
Get a pack of two Amazon for $27.95 (available in six colors).
30. Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo that’ll target residue from all that dry shampoo you have built up in your hair so your scalp with truly feel clean. I get it. Really.
Amazon
Promising review: “I love this shampoo for once-a-month use to remove excess products such as leave-on conditioners etc. I have dry, curly hair and need very moisturizing conditioners and leave-on products, but those can build up over time (even washing hair three times a week). This anti-residue shampoo resets the hair and makes it feel so light and clean. I’ve been using it for over two decades. Unfortunately it’s really hard to find this in brick-and-mortar stores nowadays for some strange reason (and I live in a big-ish city) so I’m happy to find it on Amazon at a great price.” —Dumpling
Get it from Amazon Fresh for $7.29.
31. A sharp bed skirt to coordinate with your bedding while masking the horror show underneath your bed. Trust me! I use one to mask my own underbed storage area.
Amazon
Even the minimalists should get on board with this. Just go for one with clean lines like this one! I went a few years without one and then was floored by the difference it made in hiding all the stuff I shove under my bed. And I store A LOT of stuff under my bed!
Promising review: “I could not get it to fit right at first for some reason. Probably because I was having a bad week and wanted something to be angry about. When I was in a better state of mind I got it and laughed at how simple it was. Fits well and covers the mess I am hiding now that I went up to a king.” —Dennis E. Marquardt
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in four colors, sizes twin–king).
32. Plus some adjustable bed risers that’ll buy you 3, 5, or 8 inches of extra space for stashing all sorts of stuff under that bed.
Amazon
Again, a dust ruffle will hide these bad boys if you’re worried about optics. And they’ll also work with couches or futons.
Promising review: “These blow my mind. They’ve added so much storage under our bed. I worried about them being durable enough to withstand our weight but there was no need to worry. Just this past weekend, both my husband and I were on the bed when two of our teenage sons ran and jumped on the bed with us. I didn’t even hear a creak from these bed risers. There must have been close to 800 lbs. on our bed at that point and these risers held up like champs.” —Kelly McHone
Get them from Amazon for $16.99+ (also available in white).
Here are some handy under-bed storage ideas.
33. A boot tray to help bring some order to your entryway where your family kicks off their muddy, dirty shoes as soon as they walk in the door. *Or* you can use it to contain the mess of pets’ food andwater bowls!
Amazon
Promising review: “Excellent quality! Perfect for rainy days. I no longer have to worry about my family leaving mud and getting my floor wet.” —Sibel batca
Get it from Amazon for $9.67.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
