If You Don't Have Any Of These 34 Useful Products, You're Sincerely Missing Out
A WD-40 pen — a multi-use lubricant in a convenient pen form! This works great at stopping squeaks, protecting against corrosion, loosening rust, and removing grime!
Some Glisten garbage disposal cleaner that'll foam up and scrub your disposal, leaving a fresh scent behind instead of icky drain pipe odors.
A belted cordless vibrating heating pad for those days when period cramps are a lot to handle. You can also use it on other parts of your body — neck, back, shoulders, etc. — to help with aches and pains. It has three temperatures and three different massage modes, so you can get the customized-to-you comfort you deserve.
A shoe stretch spray to soften and stretch tight-fitting shoes as you walk in them. Or, use the spray then insert a wooden shoe stretcher so you don't have to wear them. Either way, stop going through the pain of breaking in leather boots.
A pore-blurring SPF 30 Elizabeth Mott face primer that'll help soften the appearance of fine lines while also protecting your skin against UVA/UVB rays. This lightweight formula will give you a lovely, dewy, glass-like finish. Chock-full of nutrients from shea butter, green tea, cucumber, and linseed, this primer is the holy grail you've been searching for.
The Pink Stuff cleaning paste — a miraculous problem-solver that can help you get rid of stains, streaks, gunk, and dirt from just about anything. I'm serious. That pan you don't use anymore because of all the caked-on food you couldn't remove? The Pink Stuff's got that covered. Literally. Try it on your stovetop, your sneakers, your walls, your toilet...you get the picture.
A pack of two wall outlet space heaters if your small room/office/bathroom can't handle losing any square footage to a more traditional space heater. You can adjust it to your desired temperature using its digital thermostat!
A cute and compact portable pill container that has seven compartments to house your medications, so you don't have to go rooting through the lot of pills you have to take. And it also has a dispenser lid that'll make getting to your vitamins even easier when you're traveling.
A pack of six extra-large wool dryer balls to replace dryer sheets and fabric softeners. Not only will these help you save on drying time, but they'll also help ensure your clothes are softer and have fewer wrinkles.
A pack of Affresh dishwasher cleaner tablets so you don't risk limescale and mineral buildup affecting your dishwasher's performance. If a dishwasher can't properly wash dishes...it's essentially just a wet cabinet.
A dog paw scrubber — just squeeze the bottle to unleash the antibacterial foaming formula within and get those dirty spots off Spot's paws. This is perfect for at-home and on-the-go use!
Shower curtain rings that have separate hangers for your curtain and liner, which will make taking them down and switching them out so much faster and easier. This is also just a reminder that you do, in fact, need to change your shower liner. Today.
A super effective fungal nail renewal treatment if you've been living with thick, discolored, and brittle nails. This can help improve the look of your nails in as little as two days!
A brilliant veggie chopper with a built-in tray so you don't have to deal with the mess of a cutting board. So go ahead and dice and slice veggies to your heart's content and stop wasting time (and tears) chopping onions by hand.
A pack of two flexible dryer vent cleaners because there's likely a bunch of trapped lint causing your clothes to still come out kinda damp. Use this to get all that gunk out, which will also help to prevent dryer fires!
A Pikk-it hair-removal tool that'll help you pull out all the hair and fur caught in your vacuum head. Finally, you can more effectively clean your floors without secretly wishing your fluffy pet was born hairless. Reviewers also use this to clean their hairbrushes!
An ear-washing bottle for easy removal of wax buildup. Reviewers noted that the process was not only easy but comfortable, too. If you've been having a little trouble hearing your friends' gossip (and subsequently feeling bad that all you've got to offer them in return is "uh-huh"), try this handy system!
A pet hair-removing ChomChom roller so you'll be able to reclaim your couch from the mob of fur that's been calling it home in a few quick swipes. And because it doesn't use disposable adhesive strips, you can use this thing over and over and over and over and...
A vacuum-insulated Contigo travel mug because it'll keep your hot drinks hot for up to 11 hours and your cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours. Plus, its auto-seal technology will help ensure that there's no leaking or spilling.
And add this cutesy and demure insulated lunch bag that'll make you feel both fashionable and responsible.
A new Our Place personal blender to make feeding yourself an easier and faster affair (because you can't keep having popcorn for dinner). This cutesy blender has two high-speed modes so you can make a ton of recipes! You'll also get a cup and lid that'll allow you to take your fruity (or veggie!) concoction on the go!
A super smart (and cute) humidifier tank cleaner for keeping your humidifier mold and mildew free for up to 30 days. It kills up to 99% of odor-causing bacteria, which you need if your humidifier has been spewing out some smelly smells.
A bottle of Feed-N-Wax wood polish and conditioner — not only will this enhance your floor's and furniture's glow, but it will also layer them with a protective coating of carnauba wax and beeswax, so there's less polishing for you to do in the future.
Some deep-reaching, ergonomic "flossing toothbrushes" with dual-layered flossing bristles that are designed to get deep into the grooves of your teeth and gums. Though this shouldn't replace flossing, these toothbrushes can help rid your teeth of plaque and food residue. Plus, they're designed with those who have sensitive gums in mind.
A bacteria-killing denture cleaner to remove any odors and discoloration caused by buildup. This also works on retainers, mouthguards, and Invisalign.
A chic and convenient stainless-steel Stanley flask for all your sly sipping needs. Take your fave drinking games on the go!
A two-pack of reusable mop pads so you don't have to waste money on single-use Swiffer pads for your deep cleans. Made using extra-thick microfibers, these mop pads are super absorbent!
An electric lighter because those cheap matches you've had for eons never actually catch fire. Now you can easily light your candles (and joints) without dealing with the frustration of matches literally snapping in half. It's rechargeable and has an auto-off function.
A pack of four zipper clips that'll help deter any would-be thieves from attempting to get into your backpack or luggage. Just clip either end to your zippers to make it near impossible to quickly open your bags. These can also function as zipper pull replacements!
A super fast electric milk frother to add to your Corner (of the kitchen) Café so you can add lattes to your at-home menu!
A plant-based litter box odor eliminator because as much as you love your little fur baby, the stench of their ~deposits~ can make your clean home feel filthy. These moisture-wicking granules contain a blend of essential oils, so your home can go back to smelling fresh.
A grape cutter if grapes are your tot's fave snack, but it takes you forever to cut them up by hand. This will quickly slice grapes into quarters, so they're less of a hazard for your snacking tot. It's also safe enough for your tot to use (with your supervision, of course).
The Nori Press for anyone with no space for an ironing board. No problem! Plus, no more worrying about water leakage or burn marks. The portable and ever-so-sleek Nori Press works without an ironing board and can press and steam your outfits in minutes!
A portable Bissell multi-purpose carpet cleaner to take care of the spots and stains your carpets and couches have garnered over the years. No need to go out and rent a cumbersome contraption when you've got this compact bad boy at home. It's got powerful spray and suction, so those stubborn pet messes will be gone in mere moments. Deep clean made easy!
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Fast Company
13 hours ago
- Fast Company
Robots struggle with endurance. Feeding them could help
Earlier this year, a robot completed a half-marathon in Beijing in just under 2 hours and 40 minutes. That's slower than the human winner, who clocked in at just over an hour—but it's still a remarkable feat. Many recreational runners would be proud of that time. The robot kept its pace for more than 13 miles (21 kilometers). But it didn't do so on a single charge. Along the way, the robot had to stop and have its batteries swapped three times. That detail, while easy to overlook, speaks volumes about a deeper challenge in robotics: energy. Modern robots can move with incredible agility, mimicking animal locomotion and executing complex tasks with mechanical precision. In many ways, they rival biology in coordination and efficiency. But when it comes to endurance, robots still fall short. They don't tire from exertion—they simply run out of power. As a robotics researcher focused on energy systems, I study this challenge closely. How can researchers give robots the staying power of living creatures—and why are we still so far from that goal? Though most robotics research into the energy problem has focused on better batteries, there is another possibility: Build robots that eat. Robots move well but run out of steam Modern robots are remarkably good at moving. Thanks to decades of research in biomechanics, motor control, and actuation, machines such as Boston Dynamics' Spot and Atlas can walk, run, and climb with an agility that once seemed out of reach. In some cases, their motors are even more efficient than animal muscles. But endurance is another matter. Spot, for example, can operate for just 90 minutes on a full charge. After that, it needs nearly an hour to recharge. These runtimes are a far cry from the eight- to 12-hour shifts expected of human workers—or the multiday endurance of sled dogs. The issue isn't how robots move—it's how they store energy. Most mobile robots today use lithium-ion batteries, the same type found in smartphones and electric cars. These batteries are reliable and widely available, but their performance improves at a slow pace: Each year new lithium-ion batteries are about 7% better than the previous generation. At that rate, it would take a full decade to merely double a robot's runtime. Animals store energy in fat, which is extraordinarily energy dense: nearly 9 kilowatt-hours per kilogram. That's about 68 kWh total in a sled dog, similar to the energy in a fully charged Tesla Model 3. Lithium-ion batteries, by contrast, store just a fraction of that, about 0.25 kilowatt-hours per kilogram. Even with highly efficient motors, a robot like Spot would need a battery dozens of times more powerful than today's to match the endurance of a sled dog. And recharging isn't always an option. In disaster zones or remote fields, or on long-duration missions, a wall outlet or a spare battery might be nowhere in sight. In some cases, robot designers can add more batteries. But more batteries mean more weight, which increases the energy required to move. In highly mobile robots, there's a careful balance between payload, performance, and endurance. For Spot, for example, the battery already makes up 16% of its weight. Some robots have used solar panels, and in theory these could extend runtime, especially for low-power tasks or in bright, sunny environments. But in practice, solar power delivers very little power relative to what mobile robots need to walk, run, or fly at practical speeds. That's why energy harvesting like solar panels remains a niche solution today, better suited for stationary or ultra-low-power robots. Why it matters These aren't just technical limitations. They define what robots can do. A rescue robot with a 45-minute battery might not last long enough to complete a search. A farm robot that pauses to recharge every hour can't harvest crops in time. Even in warehouses or hospitals, short runtimes add complexity and cost. If robots are to play meaningful roles in society assisting the elderly, exploring hazardous environments, and working alongside humans, they need the endurance to stay active for hours, not minutes. New battery chemistries such as lithium-sulfur and metal-air offer a more promising path forward. These systems have much higher theoretical energy densities than today's lithium-ion cells. Some approach levels seen in animal fat. When paired with actuators that efficiently convert electrical energy from the battery to mechanical work, they could enable robots to match or even exceed the endurance of animals with low body fat. But even these next-generation batteries have limitations. Many are difficult to recharge, degrade over time, or face engineering hurdles in real-world systems. Fast charging can help reduce downtime. Some emerging batteries can recharge in minutes rather than hours. But there are trade-offs. Fast charging strains battery life, increases heat, and often requires heavy, high-power charging infrastructure. Even with improvements, a fast-charging robot still needs to stop frequently. In environments without access to grid power, this doesn't solve the core problem of limited onboard energy. That's why researchers are exploring alternatives such as 'refueling' robots with metal or chemical fuels—much like animals eat—to bypass the limits of electrical charging altogether. An alternative: Robotic metabolism In nature, animals don't recharge; they eat. Food is converted into energy through digestion, circulation, and respiration. Fat stores that energy, blood moves it, and muscles use it. Future robots could follow a similar blueprint with synthetic metabolisms. Some researchers are building systems that let robots 'digest' metal or chemical fuels and breathe oxygen. For example, synthetic stomach-like chemical reactors could convert high-energy materials such as aluminum into electricity. This builds on the many advances in robot autonomy, where robots can sense objects in a room and navigate to pick them up, but here they would be picking up energy sources. Other researchers are developing fluid-based energy systems that circulate like blood. One early example, a robotic fish, tripled its energy density by using a multifunctional fluid instead of a standard lithium-ion battery. That single design shift delivered the equivalent of 16 years of battery improvements, not through new chemistry but through a more bioinspired approach. These systems could allow robots to operate for much longer stretches of time, drawing energy from materials that store far more energy than today's batteries. In animals, the energy system does more than just provide energy. Blood helps regulate temperature, deliver hormones, fight infections, and repair wounds. Synthetic metabolisms could do the same. Future robots might manage heat using circulating fluids or might heal themselves using stored or digested materials. Instead of a central battery pack, energy could be stored throughout the body in limbs, joints and soft, tissue-like components. This approach could lead to machines that aren't just longer-lasting but are more adaptable, resilient, and lifelike. The bottom line Today's robots can leap and sprint like animals, but they can't go the distance. Their bodies are fast and their minds are improving, but their energy systems haven't caught up. If robots are going to work alongside humans in meaningful ways, we'll need to give them more than intelligence and agility. We'll need to give them endurance.
Buzz Feed
24-05-2025
- Buzz Feed
25 Must-Haves To Repair Your Wardrobe
The Pink Stuff can do just about anything cleaning-wise, including getting rid of grime and dirt on your beloved Crocs! A portable fabric shaver to defuzz sweatpants, coats, all kinds of garments that have started to pill because they're worse for wear! Just be sure to test a small, hidden part before going whole hog on that midi overcoat. I did that to my actual midi coat I've had for ~7 years, as you can see/learn about below. And a cashmere comb that'll work on a variety of sweater materials (not just cashmere!) because you CAN take a fabric shaver to sweaters but you SHOULD use a gentler method. Leather Honey conditioner will breathe new life into all kinds of tired-looking leather, like on boots, purses, and more. It's nontoxic, non-oily, and will help your leather goods look and FEEL much better. Oh, and it's water-repellent! It might even have you doing double-takes at those looked-over boots from the back of your closet A jewelry cleaning kit that reviewers say give them a professional-level on the stuff they wear on the reg like wedding bands. It comes with a silver polishing cloth, a stone cleaner, and a detail brush. A specific ink remover to transform hand-me-downs that have been etched with Sharpie pens. And you can use that mighty lil' ink stain remover on pen stains, too! Promising review: "I don't normally write reviews, but this product has worked amazing. From Sharpie marker on the upholstery to, most recently, ink from an ink pen my 3-year-old daughter got ahold of and decided to draw on my Lululemon bag. Within seconds, the ink was gone!" —Amazon CustomerReviewers say this stuff has also worked on lightening pen stains on a Dooney & Bourke leather purse, ink smeared on a corduroy sofa, ballpoint pen on a movie screen, pen scribbles on a white leather couch, lipstick on a rug, and more. A $5 brass cleaner potion can bring some shine back to your designer bag's hardware (without a trip to the Louis Vuitton store). It just takes a tiny bit and some patient work with a cotton swab! A leather stain remover spray that'll turn back time on your leather couch, purse, boots, basically whatever that, despite leather usually withstanding most stains, is really showing its wear. This stuff is transformative! And clean up leather jackets with a microfiber cloth and this leather cleaner. Cue to you scrounging in the back of your coat closets for the jackets you haven't worn in ages but still haven't had the heart to declutter. It's their time to shine! Promising review: "This weekend, we cleaned five leather jackets that were completely covered with white mold. We used microfiber cloths and sprayed the leather cleaner on them, and followed the instructions, and we got wonderful results. We could see the leather really getting clean, and the cleaner also gave the leather a soft feel and a nice shine (we like it because it's not too shiny but looks great). It's GREAT!!" —Sandy Z A shoe stretch spray so you can make those go-go boots you scored at an estate sale or the thrift for criminally cheap work for all your fun ensembles. They used to fit and now they can again! Some leather zipper boot inserts with eyelets so you'll lace 'em into your Docs you don't wear as often as you should because you hate lacing 'em up when you're just trying to get out the door. Let's get your money's worth out of those boots and make getting dressed so much easier! (Psst, they're made to work with *all* brands.) Boot-Fix Glue so you can avoid going to the shoe-repair store because it always ends up being MUCH more expensive than you assumed. The only problem with your sole is that it's become detached. Give this a go first. A handbag organizer with LOTS of pockets that'll help you make the most of that tote you ADORE but REALLY needs far more organization. Or maybe it just (embarrassingly) has pen marks all over inside of it and you're trying to cover it up? Talk about a win-win. A pack of dual-sided SneakErasers to do nearly everything that pair of Sambas you've been wearing for the past six months need for zhuzhing up. One side will clean soles of scuffs, dirt stains, and grime, and the other side whitens them. Some liquid fabric dye can give your canvas sneakers a new life. The Rit website has a TON of official tutorials! And a powder fabric dye could be just the fix for anything whose color you're feeling a little meh about, is a little *too* faded, or would serve you better in a different hue. Grandma's Secret, an under-the-radar solution with serious stain-removing prowess — like, cleaning grease from denim. (Kinda seems like sorcery!) A jean button replacement kit in case the problem with your go-to pair is actually the hardware. Yes, $9 for a one-time fix can feel steep. But y'know what's steeper? Finding another pair and then paying for 'em. Oh, and there are MANY replacement buttons in this kit. Some bra bands that can easily add some extra space to your trusty underthing you aren't quite ready to part with. Bras are incredibly expensive, and these aren't! A puffer jacket repair kit to work around small rips and tears without having to toss a whole item of outerwear. A tie-dye kit for a fun solution as an afternoon activity that'll make you wanna wear the piece of clothing for years to come! Psst, this might be perfect for those white T-shirts that have pit or neck stains. A waist extender that'll help you get FAR more use out of those pants you're nervous about wearing to dinner because they're right on the cusp of being hard to button up. No need to replace! Be free! Use a waist extender! And on the flip side, a set of jean button pins to save the day when you're in between sizes on jeans you love — with this pin you can tighten up a waist gap on top by using this pin to latch it around the button hole and get a snugger fit without bothering with a belt. Bonus — installation is as easy as pressing it in, no sewing or hammering required! A four-way cleaning brush will make big moves on those black suede (or nubuck!) boots you decided to shuffle around in the dirt while wearing last weekend. Their days are no longer numbered. And the same brush can eliminate the evidence of last summer's wear on your suede-footbed sandals. (Cue to you learning this is a fix you can easily make! We're all learning something here.) Promising review: "So easy and quick. I had no idea I could get these this clean!" —tammi p. Bright shoelaces that come in a set of 15 colors so you can switch it up depending on that day's whims. And if you're REALLY into putting in some effort, a leather paint set will help you get creative with some leather shoes and accessories. Sometimes you just need to breathe some new life into a new-to-you accessory. There are LOTS of creative options!
Business Upturn
20-05-2025
- Business Upturn
Seattle Humane Brings Community Together for Tuxes & Tails 2025
By GlobeNewswire Published on May 21, 2025, 00:48 IST Bellevue, Washington, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Seattle Humane highlighted their lifesaving work once again during their annual Tuxes & Tails fundraising gala on Saturday, May 17, and the community responded generously by pushing the nonprofit pet resource and adoption center past their $1.5 million goal. The outpouring of support comes at a critical time as Seattle Humane gears up for a long kitten season and an increase in requests for assistance from pet owners that occur every summer. Following a year of transition and new leadership in 2024, Seattle Humane has come out more capable of strengthening the human-animal bond than ever before. Seattle Humane has evolved over the past decade into more than just an animal shelter, but also a resource center that serves nearly 100,000 pets and the people who love them every year. They provide lifesaving rescue transfers of pets from overcrowded and disaster-struck shelters and rescues, thousands of low-cost public spay/neuter surgeries through their Schuler Family Medical Center, temporary foster through the SPOT program for pet owners experiencing life emergencies, a Pet Food Bank that provides roughly one million meals each year and dedicated funds established to support pet owners facing financial hardship. 'Tuxes & Tails is an amazing opportunity for Seattle Humane to bring supporters together every year and show them how their gifts are making an incredible impact on pets here in the shelter and out in the community,' said Seattle Humane Executive Director Jessie Swisher Spiers. 'In one night, our guests get a glimpse of the exceptional care and services our brilliant staff and dedicated volunteers provide for tens of thousands of animals each year. To see this work in action every day at the shelter is truly incredible and the best part of my job!' Nearly 80 percent of Seattle Humane's $15 million operating budget comes directly from donations, and the Tuxes & Tails gala is their largest fundraising event of the year. The organization is continuing to diversify and grow their programs and services to increase revenue after several years of operating costs outpacing donations. 'With so much economic uncertainty in the world right now, it is even more inspiring that this group of donors gave so generously to ensure Seattle Humane has the resources to keep answering those calls for help from our most vulnerable populations. We are deeply grateful,' Swisher Spiers said. PHOTOS: Attachment Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
