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These 30 Products May Be Unexciting, Ordinary, Or Just Plain Mundane — But Somehow They’re Still Life Changing
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We hope you love our recommendations! While every product is independently chosen by our editors, BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. You can read more about how our affiliate partnerships work in our Editorial Standards & Ethics Guide. It all started with one bag of birthday cake–flavored Drizzilicious — now four bags magically show up at my front door every two weeks. BuzzFeed Shopping editor Melanie Aman loves these: "I recently received a pack to try and was surprised at how often I found myself reaching for them. While they can't replace a sponge (at least not in my cleaning routine because they're not as abrasive as a sponge), they are a fantastic paper towel replacement in most scenarios. I keep one in my kitchen and bathroom to deal with puddles on the counter and by the faucet, spills, and crumbs. As someone who buys sponges in bulk, I usually forget which sponge is the dish sponge and which is the cleaning sponge. Now that I have these dishcloths to handle easy messes, I don't have to worry about accidentally washing my dishes with the sponge that has bleach and harsh chemicals on it." Promising review: "I heard about these on TikTok. I wanted something that simply absorbs my cleaner and what’s wet off the counter without streaking crap like most washcloths and sponges do. These showed up today sturdy and kinda weird. I sprayed my dirty, oily stovetop with cleaner, got one of the square sponges wet, and started wiping up the counters and stove. Hot diggity dog! I love this sponge already! Cleaned up completely and didn’t require repeated passes. When you use it, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Great product!!!!" —Julie Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 10 color combos). Promising review: "I was thoroughly impressed with this dry shampoo. It's affordable, effective, and everyone compliments how great I smell when I use it. Two bottles lasted me a few months. It does have a white cast, but that can easily be worked into the hair to become undetectable." —Meg B. Promising review: "This stuff works like magic. I’m 33 and I’ve dealt with bad back acne since I was a teenager. After one week of using this, my back is night and day different. Just remember to not wash it off immediately. Let it sit on your skin for about two minutes for it to work. —Filburt_Turtle Just a heads-up: It might not play nice with makeup and could leave a mark, so keep that in mind when you're getting dolled up! Nerdwax is a US-based small business that specializes in all-natural anti-slip eyewear products. Promising review: "I can see why it's one of the most successful products seen on Shark Tank. Truly a game changer. I thought I would forever struggle with my glasses moving down my nose all day long, but this really keeps them put! One less annoyance to deal with while wearing glasses. I already know I'll be a lifelong customer for this product." —M.L. Gomez Promising review: "For anyone who might be a skeptic, please allow me to put you at ease. If you have hyperhidrosis, meaning it can be 9 degrees outside and you're still sweating under your arms, this product has the potential to change your life. I would sweat THROUGH a sport coat before noon. Enter the Sweat Block product. I've had it for three weeks, and it is life-changing. I DO NOT sweat under my arms anymore. I'm still on the original box that I bought three weeks ago. I had to write a review after I was cleaning the garage today in 85-degree heat...I was sweating through my shirt on my back...BUT NOT MY UNDERARMS. It is amazing!" —Frosty McGee Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $19.97 (also available in packs of two or three boxes). Promising review: "GO BUY THIS NOWWWWW!!! My room has been hot for over FIVE months now with no AC. Especially now with summer, I almost feel like I want to pass out. I’m so glad I got this. It’s been two hours now since we got it in the mail and our room has completely turned around from hot to freezing cold. I can’t believe I’m saying this. I have purchased over three fans the past few months and this one tops it all." —Inca Get it from Amazon for $89.97+ (available in two colors and also a smart Wi-Fi version). Promising review: "This made my life so much better with chopping onions and other veggies! It’s so quick and easy. One tip is to make sure you cut your veggie small enough so that it’s easy to push down the handle. Big chunks are a little harder to chop. Please be careful with cleaning; the blades are super sharp." —Tasha Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in five colors and six sizes). Promising review: "You know when your life gets better after you purchase a specific product? Well, this is that product. With this Texas summer weather approaching, wearing a bra is like sticking your breasts in a straitjacket! I slapped these bad boys on today and went braless in a white tank top! I'm a happy woman!" —Amazon Customer BuzzFeed Shopping editor Natalie Brown swears by these pasties too! Check out her Nippies review to learn more. Get a pair from Amazon for $28.50+ (available in three sizes, five shades, and a version that provides lift). I know what you're thinking: "Amber, how can rice cakes possibly be that good?" I thought the same thing before trying these. These snacks are so delicious that they’re literally the first product I ever put on subscription with Amazon. I'm the type of snacker who reaches for something just out of boredom, and with these, I love the crunch and how it doesn't take much to make me feel full. Plus, there are only 90 calories in 21 pieces! Promising reviews: "These things are fantastic. As someone who is both gluten-free and vegan, I cannot sing their praises enough. They are sweet without being overpowering, but still satisfying (especially if you are in a caloric deficit). If you’re a snacker, these hit all the marks." —Autumn Wilson "Honestly, I wasn't sure bout these. Scared they were going to be hard, dry. I was pleasantly surprised. There is a nice crunch, but it's a soft crunch. They almost melt in your mouth. So good." —Nicole Get a two-pack from Amazon for $13.60+ (available in eight flavors, and each pack contains around 105 pieces). The firmness of the "Sqeezy" sponge changes depending on your water temp — you can use cold water for a firmer sponge or warm water to soften it up! In case you're not familiar with The Pink Stuff paste, this non-abrasive formula works on walls, grout, kitchen counters, sinks, stovetops, ceramic tile, metal, appliances, outdoor furniture...basically anything you can think of. Promising review: "The 'abrasive sponge when cold' or 'squishy when hot' is an awesome feature for the type of scrubbing you want to do. The Pink Stuff with the sponge does wonders! We have a hideous 30-year-old shower and although it doesn’t look brand-new like I was hoping, it’s 10 times better!! This product really does work!" —GreenGoddess Get the set (one Pink Stuff jar and a "Sqeezy") from Amazon for $7.93. Promising review: "This is one of those items you didn’t know you needed, and once you get it, you can’t help but wonder how you ever managed before. I absolutely hate taking the shower curtains off because of the whole open and close for several shower curtains. I know you’re like, ‘It’s just shower curtain hooks.’ And it is. But when you have to change out the creepy shower liner that likes to attack you, and you dread doing so, this just adds seconds to your life. No more unsnapping. Simply take out the liner, place the liner on the appropriate hook, and presto." —Nardsbaby Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 22 colors). Promising review: "If you have night sweats, you need to buy these sheets. I do and I bought a set. Oh my, I just love them. Not only are they soft, but they also seem to be cooling too. No more night sweats for me." —Linda Leynes Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in sizes twin–Cal. king and 25 colors). Promising review: "I have used it for a few weeks now. As a side sleeper, this pillow has the perfect amount of support for me. Great filling, not lumpy. The cooling material means you’ve always got the cold side of the pillow." —Stephbot2000 Get a set of two down-alternative pillows from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in three sizes). Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS, that specializes in antimicrobial toothbrushes designed to get deeper cleans even patients with "great" dental hygiene might miss with traditional brush and floss routines. BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord loves these: "I use an electric toothbrush usually, but I feel like I'm getting a much more satisfying clean from these?? Especially because I tend to get yellow stains between my teeth no matter *how* much I floss, and these bristles seem to actually target that a lot more effectively." Promising review: "I absolutely love this toothbrush!! TikTok made me buy it and I will never own anything else again. My teeth feel clean all day long like I went to the dentist but better. I even have a sonic toothbrush and this blows it out of the water. Don’t hesitate…buy this for your teeth!" —Amy Get a pair from Amazon for $9.99 (also available as a four-pack). I've been using this mouthwash for years and it's the only brand I will ever use from here on out. I can confidently say it changed my dental hygiene for the better. Morning breath? I don't know her. It also helped with my super sensitive gums that used to get irritated just from flossing. Promising review: "I had previously used some different rinses, but not often. I didn’t believe there was much point to them. At one of my dentist appointments, they suggested using this. I figured I may as well; it couldn’t hurt. TBH I was surprised at the price, but ordered it anyway. My next dentist visit went so much better than in the past! It helped prevent pain and saved me money. I credit Therabreath as I did nothing else different in my routine. Definitely something I use every day." —Zookeeper Check out a TikTok of the plug-in fly trap in action. Promising review: "I can’t say enough wonderful things about these handy little bug catchers! They are simple to use, cheap to refill, and catch a ton of small bugs and flies. I have eight of them now, all around my house! It’s a little gross how many tiny flying insects are around…but it makes me feel a lot better now that I have these!" —Chris H. Get it from Amazon for $6.97 (comes with the device and two glue cards; also available in larger packs). The notepad — from woman-owned small biz Bloom Daily Planners — features one side for your meal plan and another side that's a perforated "shopping list" you can tear off and take with you! Promising review: "I love this meal planner! I have found it very useful. I usually use a grocery list app but have wanted to use paper lately, so this is perfect for meal planning, and has a paper list." —Veronica Get it from Amazon for $9.95 (available in five designs). You can also microwave them for all your reheating needs (just don't microwave on high for more than three minutes). Promising review: "These are microwaveable and light to carry. Love the colors. Wish they were available in one color only, but I can’t complain. I primarily bought these for microwave purposes. But can be used for salads, hot soup, etc. Also it’s an in-between size like a medium. Just right for me." —M. Zolnosky Get a set of four from Amazon for $9.95 (also available as bowls). Promising review: "I am in my 40s and was recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hands and feet. Total bummer. I don’t want to take medication unless absolutely necessary, so I have been searching out other forms of relief from the pain and stiffness. I added these compression gloves to the mix, and they are very helpful. The gloves have a good range of motion and provide great compression support. They have been especially helpful when I do yard work, and I also plan to use them for an interior painting project. It’s very hot where I live, so I don’t currently wear them every day. However, I know I will wear them frequently during fall and winter. Highly recommend for anyone looking for medication alternatives to arthritis!" —cb4iast8 Get a pair from Amazon for $21.97 (available in four sizes). Promising review: "I kept seeing this product on social media and finally decided to give it a try. I use this twice daily, and it’s been a couple of weeks, and I definitely noticed my pores have shrunk. I even apply it to my neck and chest area. Product is soothing, gentle on my skin (have extremely sensitive skin), no strong smell, cottons are soft, and did not cause any breakouts! It’s great for the value, and I’ll definitely be repurchasing these." —Ee El Get a pack of 70 from Amazon for $18.90 (available in six other formulas and two sizes). Promising reviews: "You need this. This is a lifesaver. The amount of time I used to spend cutting out hair from my vacuum brush/roller has been cut by a fraction with this little tool. Wow!" —Holly Hendrickson "Between myself (medium long hair) and my overly fluffy cat, a lot of hair and fluff was continually getting caught up on the roller brush of my vacuum. I dreaded vacuuming because it took so long to pull and snip the hairs wrapped up on the roller brush out with scissors. Not anymore! This silly, little, inexpensive thing works great! Super quick to remove all the hair/fur — in virtually a minute, then back to vacuuming with my lovely Miele vacuum." —MKS Snug Plugs is a small business that specializes in home improvement products. Promising review: "These are SUCH a game-changer. We rent, so I can't do much about the loose outlets around the house. These have made several outlets usable again!" —Minerva G. Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $10.99. Promising reviews: "What a lovely product. It is a totally feel-good way to help dry one's clothes. I just wish that I knew about these wool balls sooner. I would die of fright if I took the time to add up how much money I have thrown away on using the more well-known dryer sheets. A funny thing, though, my clothes still smell nice and fresh even though I don't put in any fragrance. Heck, when they wear out, they are biodegradable too." —William J. Long "Drying time was reduced. The wool easily absorbed the essential oil I used, spreading a light scent through the entire load of clothes. A few drops of scent and three loads later, still working. No staining or oil spots on clothes." —Paul Stanfield Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in grey and white). This handy spray is a wrinkle remover, static remover, odor eliminator, fabric refresher, and an ironing aid. All you have to do is spray it on the garment, tug it a bit, smooth it out, and hang it up. Within minutes, it should be good to go! Promising review: "As a college student with a full course load, I'm in and out of my room all the time. This helps me keep my clothes wrinkle free without having to waste time ironing them. It's also great as it leaves a VERY nice smell on my clothes." —Seth Get a two-pack and travel size from Amazon for $18.99. Promising review: "I have a pair of high heels that I rarely wear because they are so slippery. I bought these and I'm very happy. The soles of my shoes are black, so I bought the black ones and they are barely noticeable. The adhesive is very strong. Once you place them on the sole, it's there for good, so place it carefully. I walked around my hardwood floors and then tile. I'm much more confident in my shoes now. Smooth floors don't scare me like they used to." —Mathilde Get five pairs from Amazon for $6.99 (available in 11 colors and smaller packs). Check out a TikTok of the bath toy storage bag in action. Promising review: "Game changer for the busy mom. As a busy Mom of two under 4 I am always looking for devices that can simplify my life, and this is one of them! Not only can I scoop up all of their toys quickly and easily, but it’s a great storage container as well. It’s a nice size so it holds a lot, and I love that the toys are still able to air dry in the mesh pocket. No more spending 5–10 minutes lining up dinosaurs along the edge of the bathtub! 😃 It’s funny how the simplest things can make life so much easier!" —Julie Promising reviews: "This is the SMARTEST thing I have ever bought! I LOVE THESE HOOKS for putting my purse in the copilot seat, and also to hang shopping bags behind me." —Diego Pineda "This product has been so awesome for helmets and baseball bags this season! It keeps our car organized, and they are super sturdy. I’m sure I’ll find many more uses for them, but they definitely were a great find and I’d buy them again!" —Casey Schoening Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in 14 colors). ChooMee is a small biz based in Northern California that specializes in innovative products to solve everyday feeding challenges. Promising review: "It's made my life better. I can hand over a pouch to my screaming 1.5-year-old in the carseat while driving and not worry about puree getting everywhere!" —Puking Kitty Gravy Boat Get a pack of two from Amazon for $8.99 (available in five color combos). Promising review: "I live in a city neighborhood where all the gas stations have broken air pumps. This product has made my life so much better. It is quick and easy to use. Very portable. It also works on bicycles, but I have not tried that yet." —planetmom Get it from Amazon for $28.79+ (available in two sizes and four colors). People also swear by this for long car rides! Promising review: "ABSOLUTELY best support cushion I've used! We have so many aids/cushions/creams/new beds every three years, and an endless amount of physical therapy devices I've purchased online or even online with a prescription and nothing I've got has ever just, 'WORKED!' right out if the box. It wasn't a cushion that sat awkward in the chair, I didn't feel like I was 40-something going on 90, and it didn't feel like 'it will probably keep my tailbone part from not feeling as bad' — NOPE, THIS CUSHION INSTANTLY CRADLED MY BODY IN A WAY THAT SUPPORTED FAR MORE THAN MY TAILBONE!! I always have to get up so careful to lean forward and release my coccyx pressure first, before I can even get up. THIS PILLOW TRULY KEEPS ALL PRESSURE OFF MY COCCYX AND SPINE. I plan on getting a few more to have several places. This is truly an item worth far more than its retail price The science in the design, material, and shape are stellar!" —J-licious Get it from Amazon for $45.95+ (available in seven colors). BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.
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