31 Useful Things To Buy To Help You Get Stuff Done

Aug 14, 2023

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Zoom through your to-do list in practically no time at all.

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Promising review: "I love it!! I don't have to clean daily, it's quiet, and my kitty learned to use it from day one. I love how much easier it has made my life. I do have to check it weekly to make sure poop hasn't stuck to the metal comb and spread the crystals around if she's only peeing in one spot. Small parts of the crystals do come on the carpet but I just vacuum it up when I vacuum my room. It keeps the smell minimal." —Maritza I. Mar

Get it from Amazon for $199.95+ (available in three configurations).

Promising review: "Oh my gosh — this stuff is a life changer! Used it to get my fiberglass shower totally clean. Nothing else would get it done and this stuff brought my shower back to near new in one use. We’ve since cleaned a weird chalky film off our garage door, removed wall markings, and cleaned my storm door. We’ll never be without a jar (or three) of this stuff. Worth every penny." —Nancy F.

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $19.99.

Here's what you do: Run some hot water, pop one of the packets in your disposer, let it foam, then wait for the foam to fully disappear. Garbage disposer = clean and ickiness free.

Promising review: "WHERE HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE???! Holy cow, I didn't realize how easy and quick it was to clean a garbage disposal until I bought this product! Typically, I'd just use vinegar and baking soda down the drain and call it good. I didn't know that there was an actual disposal cleaning product available until I stumbled across it through a BuzzFeed article. I had to try it. The instructions are very simple. It literally takes five minutes and some hot water and VOILA! you have a clean, no-longer-stinky garbage disposal. Any time I got a whiff of an odor, all I did was drop one of these packs in the disposal and the smell was GONE! Plus, the blue foam bubbling in the sink was amusing to watch. Worth every penny!!" —VadersGirl

Get two packs of four from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in four sizes).

Read our review of Affresh cleaning tablets!

Promising review: "After using this product, I am happy to report that my $5 investment saved me over $500. I was ready to replace my dishwasher, due to super cloudy glasses, residue, and just not getting clean. Then, I became aware that the water softener no longer was doing its job, so I had the rental company replace it. Dishwasher performance improved somewhat. I decided to do two more loads before deciding to purchase a new one. Then I saw a product test review for Affresh in Good Housekeeping magazine. I was ordering some stuff from Amazon anyway, so I added that to my order. When it came, I tossed one of the tablets into the bottom of the full machine, per instructions, and ran the regular cycle. I did not expect the results I got! The glassware that I thought was permanently etched and ruined came out like new. Same with cutlery. The difference is unbelievable. I will use this faithfully on a monthly basis, as recommended. I am amazed!" —Sheila

Get a six-pack from Amazon for $8.99.

Get it from Amazon for $5.95.

Plus, this is shatter-resistant, dishwasher-safe, and comes with an ice cube tray and funnel! ANDDD it's quiet, so you'll feel comfortable making your smoothie at work.

Promising review: "This blender is amazing! I am a yoga teacher and always on the run, which sometimes makes it hard to eat well. I bought this after reviewing quite a few different options and I am SO glad I did. It fits well into my gym bag, is surprisingly quiet when in use, and holds a charge really well. The blades are very efficient and I’ve had no trouble blending up ice or frozen fruit. Seriously cannot recommend it enough." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $36.99+ (available in six colors).

It heats up in 90 seconds so this thing is FAST!

Promising review: "This product has changed my daily routine in THE most positive way!! I don't go ANYWHERE in clothing that is not crisp, clean and professional looking, but the time, and money, that I have to invest to look this way can be VERY time consuming and costly. NOT ANY MORE!!! I love the size, portability and ease of use. I can now lessen my trips to the dry cleaner (and the requisite hunting for dry cleaner coupons). If this pup even acts like it's getting ready to stop working, I'll be online ordering a new one to be delivered STAT!!" —Snowdenr

Get it from Amazon for $24.97.

Read our review for all the details!

Promising review: "This stuff is the bomb dot com. You just spray it on your clothes, smooth out the clothes with your hands quickly, wait a few minutes and the clothes are wrinkle-free! I hate ironing, so this is magic. Obviously, it won't work on hard creases but wrinkles from the dryer, for example, it will get rid of." —J. Larsen

Get two bottles from Amazon for $15.94.

It's by Yumi Sakugawa, who you might know from this really cute comic about having a platonic crush on someone.

Promising review: "This book is like a cool, comforting breeze. Not only is it packed with tons of useful advice for living an authentic, stress-free, and magical life, the artwork is dreamy and beautiful. I've long been an admirer of Yumi Sakugawa's art, and this book is a must for any of her fans. As someone who has struggled with a poor self image, Yumi's section on fashion and dressing to please yourself is so incredibly helpful to me. Whenever I feel down about myself, all I have to do is see her gorgeous drawings of women of all shapes, expressions, colors, etc. (bunny women!), I feel so much more empowered and, yes, beautiful. I also love her section on decorating your home, since I've recently downsized to a very small apartment. I've added every single one of her other books to my wish list and can't wait to read them all...but this book will always remain a particular treasure." —Echo

Get it from Amazon for $13.76.

Promising review: "My husband can not stop folding T-shirts! He looks forward to doing laundry now. It's a great product and so easy to store and use!" —Krista

Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "So cute, and helpful to keep on track with meal planning. I liked it so much that I just ordered a second one. I love that it has magnets on the back so that I can put it on my fridge and the whole family can see what's for dinner each night. Perforated for easy list removal that doesn't affect the menu side." —Elizabeth Jeter

Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in five colors).

It comes with a lid to help maintain freshness and keep out odors. It's made of food-safe silicone that's BPA-free and dishwasher-safe. It's great for little sides of beans, sauces, soups, and more.

Promising review: "This is the best invention since sliced bread! How many times have you thrown out soup that you forgot about in your fridge??? Well, say goodbye to spoiled soup! Finally, a way to store measured quantities of broth, but I love to use mine for soup and...wait for it...SMOOTHIES! These cubes are the best for freezing measured quantities of smoothies, simply throw one in the Vitamix, and boom! You have a fresh, already icy cold smoothie for breakfast or a snack! For anyone with limited freezer space which, let's face it, is most of us, this is a real gem. I was a bit worried about how easily the cubes would slide out, but no problems at all! The best part is how easy the cubes store in a gallon sized ziplock bag so you can reuse the cubes. AND they are dishwasher safe??? Souper Cubes, why did you take so long to come into my life!??! I can't wait until the holiday season so I can gift these as stocking stuffers — to anyone I know, you now know your gift." —jane s. catalano

Get it from Amazon for $19.95.

Promising review: "Just drop this in your humidifier and it keeps the water pretty darn mildew and mold free. Super easy to use, no smell, and safe. I have already repurchased and given a few to other people as well." —Kristine

Get it from Amazon for $6.99.

Promising review: "We love our new sandwich maker. This is the first sandwich I made. Used egg whites, cheese, and turkey breast, I cooked it for five minutes. It was so easy, no mess, and tasted yummy! I can't wait to try other recipes. The mini pizzas look amazing on the recipe guide. What's great with this, you can create your own food." —J H

Get it from Amazon for $29.98+ (available in five colors).

Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE ice cubes in my drinks, and it's so annoying to have ice cube problems. I really researched ice cube trays and read a lot of reviews until I found these trays. It's so nice not to have to worry about spilling water just trying to get them in there. Also, they come out of the tray so easily! No more fighting to get the cubes out. These just kind of pop out when you press down on one side." —Kalisa

Get it from Amazon for $10.95.

The top can be used to measure out popcorn kernels and hold a chunk of butter when cooking.

Promising review: "This is the best popcorn popper we've ever had — and we've tried several different kinds. Just be sure to keep an eye on it and pull it from the microwave as soon as the popping slows down. This will vary depending on the microwave and the type of popcorn. We find that regular Jiffy does great." —Paul

Get it from Amazon for $9.77+ (available in six sizes).

Just drop in a tablet with warm water and wait 15–30 minutes. Wash out and admire your sparkling container!

Promising review: "I actually found this product on a BuzzFeed article on things that you can't believe you don't already own. I figured I’d give it a shot as we have plenty of gross looking travel coffee mugs. I was not disappointed, in fact, I was blown away. I was amazed and even a tad disgusted at how gross they truly were." —Nanners1010

Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $8+ (also available in counts of 36 and 78).

The set comes with a 2-inch flat brush, a 4-inch flat brush, and a round brush. The drill isn't included, but you can grab a basic Black and Decker one ($35.86 on Amazon) that'll do the trick.

Promising review: "I thought my hard water stains would never come off my shower doors, but I bought this awesome brush set, and it's amazing! I’ve tried all the hacks — drier sheets, clean erasers, lemon, vinegar — nothing works like this brush! I used Zep shower cleaner with it! In the picture, the side on the right is the part of the door I cleaned, and I still have to clean the left side." —Traci D.

Get it from Amazon for $18.95+ (available in six colors and stiffness levels).

Promising review: "I have used every product that you can find on the shelves of your local store. When I sprayed the cleaner on the light beige interior of a 25+ year-old car, the interior turned to its original color. After years of detailing, I had assumed at this point, the color was set and that's it, not with this stuff. While cleaning it I literally said out loud, 'No way, no way,' because I was in disbelief at how amazing it worked, and the results are in the compliments I receive from friends." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $16.97.

The solution is biodegradable, which means your pets and kids can roll around on it as soon as you finish cleaning!

Promising review: "This is a wonderful product. I have an older dog who can't always wait until I get home from work so accidents occasionally happen. I have a Hoover Rug Scrubber and this product is very easy to use with my machine. Carpet Miracle works amazingly well on stains and odors, even those that have set for a while. I did the carpet in the 'room of shame' twice just to be sure, although for normal soil and odors once should be more than enough. It leaves behind a wonderful clean, fresh scent, and the carpet feels and looks wonderful. I plan on continuing to use this product to keep my carpets clean and my home smelling fresh." —Vicky Faurot

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes).

You get two dual-sided pens: one each with the left and right wings. The other sides have straight eyeliner.

Promising review: "I haven't been a felt tip liner girl in years. I’ve been using the angled brush and shadow. I’ve been trying to find a replacement for MAC brush that's been long discontinued and haven't had any luck! After many wasted dollars and hopes I found the flick stick and took a chance. I was beyond impressed and actually extremely excited at how well this works. It gave me a flawless wing and I love it!! I love that there are two pens (one for each eye)." —Mandyyruss

Get the set of two pens on Amazon for $14.97.

Promising review: "I buy mopping slippers. Yup, that's right. This isn't my first pair. So why do I like mopping slippers? I have a 2-year-old, and they're great for mopping up little splashes. Drops of water from doing dishes and the extra padding is nice. No paper towels wasted and it's immediate. Plus these are cute. You have to have a sense of whimsy for this functional novelty item. My last pair did not have this detachable mopping bottom. I enjoy washing both parts because I think it's cleaner but it's a nice feature." —G. Kim

Get them from Amazon for $13.59+ (available in sizes 4–10 and 17 styles).

Promising review: "I have a 2.5 carat wedding ring and have a hard time really finding anything that gets that 'first day' sparkle back. With the Dazzle Stik, it shines again. Thank you so much!" —C.Skinner

Get it from Amazon for $8.88.

Promising review: "My kids always want cereal in the morning but they move slower than a snail in molasses. I bought this and loved it so much I bought a second one. They eat on the way to school so they are happy and I don't have to yell at them quite so much to hurry up so I’m happy too. Highly recommend!!" —Megan Twiddy

Get it from Amazon for $29.95 (available in five colors).

Promising review: "I love how easily I can organize everything in my purse! And then if I want to swap purses I can do it in seconds! Only thing I would change is the sections to the left and right from the very middle section are not completely sectioned off, so things slide back and fourth from each side under the middle section. It doesn't really bother me but it would be more convenient if they were completely closed and sectioned off." —Marina

Get it from Amazon for $15.88+ (available in six sizes and 23 colors).

Promising review: "I expected to be happy, but I'm thrilled! Each mat is pliable and fits the entire width of my standard oven. When the mat is against the back wall, it extends up to but not over the front lip of the floor. On first use, pizza cheese and sauce dripped onto the front edge of the mat and onto that uncovered lip. The baked-on cheese and sauce slid right off the mat! Effortlessly! After I cleaned up the lip, I layered a second mat to cover the lip. These mats are so great that I almost want food to drip on them so I can show off how wonderful they are." —Artset Outset

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $11.99.

Promising review: "You will never regret buying this journal. I have always been a huge proponent of journaling. I journal everyday. I reread my old journals weekly. I love writing. This journal is a great way to ease yourself into journaling if it is an idea you’re exploring but are nervous to completely delve in. It is a huge commitment; I won't lie, I occasionally go a few days without writing a few words. But being able to compare the years throughout your life is amazing. I wish I’d been doing this since I learned to write. If you’re thinking about getting this journal, do. It is my most prized material possession." —Samantha Bone

Get it from Amazon for $15.26.

Promising review: "This coffee maker is my BEST FRIEND! I use this every day, it's so easy to use! My coffee comes out perfect every time. I'm a cold coffee drinker and I put about 8–10 scoops of freshly ground coffee into the filter. I let it sit overnight and the next morning, I remove the filter and dump the grounds. It makes four days' worth of coffee and I love that it's ready to go for me, especially since I wake up at 4:50 a.m. and I need to make my coffee quickly! It's very easy to clean as well." —Panda

Get it from Amazon for $27.99.

Promising review: "I love these things! I had curls that lasted the entire day!! My hair dries straight, it's thin and doesn't typically hold curls for more than an hour or two. But when I used these, I only had them in for four hours and they still held the curls until I went to bed that night — they survived a day at Disneyland! I didn't even use hair spray or any type of holding product for that matter. I need to keep these babies in all night and see how they hold!" —Sarah Savin

Get a 42-pack from Amazon for $11.99.

Promising review: "NEVER GETTING MY NAILS PROFESSIONALLY DONE AGAIN. I love having long nails. I do not like spending fifty bucks just to get them painted. I tried the gel polish, with gel top coat; I tried the gel system with the lamps; I tried every polish out there. My hands get washed hundreds of times daily. This stuff is unbelievable. It really works the way they say it does. I applied it about one or two minutes after finishing a second coat of color and within minutes it had bonded and set and my nails stay shiny and polished for over a week. That is not the full two weeks claimed, but I am unusually hard on my nails so over a week is AWESOME. I immediately ordered several more." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $8.35.

Check out a TikTok of the veggie chopper in action.

Promising review: "Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. We used to have a Prepworks chopper which was a similar idea, but you had to press so hard to chop, and it broke after not too long. This one requires very little effort to cut through the food and it has a generous container." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.