If It Feels Like Your Parents Skipped Out On Teaching Some Crucial Life Skills, These 30 Products Can Help

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18-04-2025

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
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Buttered noodles are not a viable nutrition strategy, and you know it.
1. A versatile chop, slice, and dice unit so you can stop being embarrassed about your subpar knife skills and drastically *cut* down on food prep and cleanup time with interchangeable blades that can be popped into the dishwasher. You've been around long enough to know you never want to chop an onion by hand again.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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 $23.99+ (available in four styles and five colors).
2. A flexible drain snake if you'd like some help extracting the wet woolly mammoth living in your pipes. Skip another call to Dad and let this tool's "micro-hook" head and rotating handle achieve the 360-degree removal you're used to paying top dollar for. Just keep a barf bag nearby — you might need it.
This pack contains a reusable handle and five single-use heads that you just remove and dispose of after handling your clogged pipes.
Promising review:"Wow. Best thing ever. Seriously. I have had tweezers and sticks and plumbers and chemicals trying to get my master sink to drain. Plumber even said I need an entirely new faucet to get the drain plug part because they don't sell those separately. Well, I have two sinks, a tub, and a shower that all match, so that was not a valid solution. Doubt I can find the same model. So I bought this thing. Stuffed it down, pulled up hair, and black muck. Did it about eight times quickly, ran the water, went right down the drain. Seriously. This is the best tool ever and the best $12 I have ever spent. Everyone with a sink needs this tool. Seriously." — juliejules
Get a five-pack from Amazon for $19.99 (also available in longer lengths).
3. Plus, a heavy-duty Luigi's sink and drain plunger because you've spent more time waiting for water to go down your backed-up drain than you care to admit. This small-but-mighty helper clears blocked kitchen and bathroom sinks with 8x the air volume compared to a traditional plunger. Needless to say, it gets the job done!
Promising review:"Y'all, this thing is amazing! My kitchen sink was completely clogged for four days. I've been trying to clear the drain with a different sink plunger that I already had, and it didn't do diddly-squat. I was about to give up and call a plumber. Then I decided to order this one, and it just arrived...it completely cleared the drain in like three minutes. So then I decided to take it to the bathroom sink that had been draining extremely slowly and within a minute, I had the water running so quickly and smoothly again. I got the small one, and it's the perfect size for kitchen and bathroom sinks." — JNeen
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three sizes).
4. A beloved tub of pink cleaning paste for taking the guesswork out of choosing the best product for the job — this will perform small cleaning miracles on virtually any surface in your home without endless scrubbing. Try it out on those "forever" stains other solutions could never handle.
Promising review:"Found this product on TikTok. I don't think I've ever seen value like I do with this product! Literally, use it on EVERYTHING!! Kids and teens have dirt, grime, and grease on their walls? This will make it look like a new paint job. Baseboards need some love? A pea-sized amount of this makes them look brand new. Need a shoe cleaner? PERFECT for sneakers. I could name a million more uses, but I can ASSURE you this is worth every penny. What's more? You need so LITTLE of this product that it will last a VERY long time. Thank you, TikTok!!!" — Rachel in CLT
Get it from Amazon for $5.97.
5. A set of space-saving compression bags that'll help you finally master the art of carry-on-only travel. These significantly compress your clothes by sucking out all the air — no vacuum required! All you have to do is fill up a bag and roll it out to release air through the built-in valves.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Emma Lord has had major success with these:
"HELLO, I AM OBSESSED WITH THESE. Despite all the rave reviews, I was definitely skeptical of space-saving bags that didn't require a vacuum, and even as they were actively squishing my clothes into oblivion, I still couldn't quite believe it. I had easily two suitcases worth of clothes I wanted to pack for a three-week trip to London, and I managed to neatly pack the entirety of my wardrobe in one roller carry-on bag. Truly, all I had to do was put my clothes in the bag, push them to the bottom, and then sit on it to get the air out before sealing it up. I had tons of extra bags and made a habit of taking them with me in case other people joining me on trips needed them to be able to pack souvenirs on the way home. I'm never taking a long trip without these again — these are worth every damn penny."
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $15.88.
6. A stain remover spray to eliminate multiple wash cycles and revive fabrics you thought were a lost cause with plant-based ingredients that are safe to use on everything from clothing and car seats to bed linens and cloth diapers.
Check out our full Puracy Natural Stain Remover review.
Promising review:"This takes out everything!!!! It smells OK and works amazing! We have used this on baby blowouts and skinned knees. It all comes out so easily! I have bought this three times already!" — Kristine Danley
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in two sizes).
7. A small but well-stocked 39-piece tool set so you're always prepared to assemble furniture, fix broken eyeglasses, make bike repairs, and do any other quick-fix tasks that come up in this new adult era.
Promising review:" I live alone, and this fits all my little fix-it needs whenever they occur. I now no longer have to use my shoe as a makeshift hammer and it's amazing. I've successfully put together a table, two chairs, and a bookcase and feel very proud. It would have taken so much longer without these little things. Definitely recommend if you need just the bare basics around the house." — Rae
Get it from Amazon for $20.69+ (available in 10 colors).
8. A folding board if you've always wished your closet could look like the well-manicured aisles of your favorite clothing store, but can never seem to make it happen. Not to mention, neatly folded shirts take up a lot less space than a balled-up pile.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review:"I'll stop short of saying that this item makes folding clothes fun, but I sure like the nice results. Glad that I bought it. Especially good for folding T-shirts. Probably not so good for blue jeans." — Alamo 223
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in three colors).
9. A plant-based cooking oil solidifier because you're a lover of all things fried who knows that your current clean-up method is risking a congealed mess clogging up the pipes. Adding this powder to hot oil turns it into solid organic waste you can safely toss in the trash or compost!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
FryAway is a woman-owned small business helping fried food lovers avoid goopy cooking oil messes.
Promising review: "This stuff really worked!!! I never knew what to do with used oil, and I was watching a video about home products and saw this being used. So, I figured I would try it. I didn't really think it would work, but I was amazed at how well it did and how easy it made it to put the solid oil in the trash afterward. The seller was awesome. Not only did they send me the stuff in a super quick, timely manner, but they also sent me a PDF with directions on how to use it to get it to work properly. Really nice." — Sabrina Bax
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two styles).
10. An all-in-one hole repair tool for patching up any rogue nail holes you made installing those shelves. This makes application quick and easy, with primer-infused spackle inside, a putty knife on one end, and a sanding pad on the other.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I love how easy this little tube makes wall repair jobs. It's so nice to be able to just grab and go, and the packaging has everything needed on it to make the fix. This isn't cheap spackle either; it's nice and thick and dries quickly. The good stuff!" — Nova S.
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
11. Plus, an easy-to-use picture hanging kit that's got everything you need to bring your gallery wall to life without all the misplaced holes and lopsided frames. This gadget uses a built-in level and magnets to mark the nail hole placement with fool-proof precision and comes with 85 pieces of hanging hardware.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Go Hang it! is a small business that created this kit to help make hanging saw-tooth and wire picture frames easily with zero measuring.
You can see exactly how it works in this TikTok.
Promising review:"I moved to my apartment a few months ago and haven't hung anything because it is difficult/annoying to do it myself without it being crooked. The walls are plaster, so if I measure incorrectly and make nail holes, it is a pain to fix. I saw this product on TikTok (of all places) and immediately purchased it. The day it arrived, I hung a mirror perfectly! I love that it has the attached kit, so when I want to hang something, everything is in one place. Super easy to use and absolutely worth every dollar." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $36.99.
12. A can of fire extinguishing spray to give you (and your parents, tbh) peace of mind as you embark on this cooking-for-yourself journey. It's much easier to operate than a standard, bulky fire extinguisher and sprays for four times as long.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I bought one for beside the grill, one for beside the stove, one for the laundry room, and one for the car. I think the intuitive, easy-to-use design is fantastic. We already have the muscle memory for using a spray can. In an emergency, it's so much easier to grab this and use it and turn a small fire into a non-fire. I don't have time to remember a three-step method of fire control when my bacon has gotten out of control on the stove. I'm not a firefighter! I'd really like to have one in every room. Think about it. Isn't it better to immediately contain a small fire than deal with a big one? This could save your life and your house." — K Zander
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
13. A fully stocked emergency road kit so you're always prepared for a dead car battery or — heaven forbid — an accident. Jumper cables? ✅ Flashlight? ✅ A bunch of other stuff you'd never even think to pack? ✅
Amazon
It includes first-aid supplies, a jumper cable, a flashlight, a screwdriver, duct tape, a bungee cord, a shop cloth, six cable ties, two AA batteries, and an emergency poncho.
Promising review:"This pack came with absolutely everything needed for a good go kit on a weekend or seasonal adventure. With everything from first aid, car jumping, and a good quality light to give you a good vantage in the nighttime when jumping cars (Montana winter/spring is dark in the evenings quite quickly), this kit has helped me out personally quite a few times. For the cost of what it is, I'm surprised at the result." — Alexander
Get it from Amazon for $37.81.
14. A box of color catcher sheets if sorting laundry is your personal definition of hell. When thrown in the wash, these sheets are designed to trap any dye that leaks or bleeds before it can contaminate another piece.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I am bad about separating my colors...SEVERAL times I have dyed my white towels pink, denim pink, and much, much more when washing with reds and even after the fact...I wash once or twice more with these sheets, and it's GONE. Color bleed is most definitely reversible with these magic sheets!!" — AMAZING
Get 24 sheets from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in larger pack sizes).
15. A compact first aid kit because nothing's worse than taking a tumble or getting sick and realizing that you have no way to take care of yourself without parental help. Prepare for the worst and thank yourself later.
This kit includes adhesive fabric, plastic bandages, antibiotic ointments, BZK antiseptic towelettes, burn cream packets, Aspirin, ibuprofen, gauze roll and pads, wound closures, cold packs, and other multi-use aids for any *potential* emergency.
Promising review:"I have ordered this time and time again when I first got my car, moved into a dorm, and worked at summer camp. I could go on and on...I've probably ordered eight of them. This is my favorite first aid kit, which is a weird thing to say, but it has things that more expensive ones don't have and the organization of it is great! It fits easily into a backpack, dry bag, or glove compartment." — Mollie
Get it from Amazon for $20.58.
16. A bleach-free Wet & Forget shower cleaner for helping you keep up with a regular cleaning schedule with next to no effort. This is a great maintenance product and so easy to use: Once a week, simply give your shower a spray, let it sit overnight, rinse, and — BOOM — you're done and didn't even break a sweat.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I have been having shower draining issues, so there was a buildup of soap scum in my shower. I have a very weak stomach, and cleaning the shower makes me physically ill. I have tried several products that have claimed to be no scrub/wipe but this has been the only one that has worked. I sprayed it after my shower and left it to sit until the next night. Found that A LOT of the grime had disappeared. Now, was it perfect? No. But I think with consistent use, it will get there. Highly recommend this product." — KZ
Get it from Amazon for $19.98+ (available in two scents and two sizes).
17. A handy Thaw Claw that'll keep your dinner plans on track even when you inevitably forget to take the meat out of the freezer. This suction device keeps frozen food submerged for faster thawing without you needing to hang around to drown your chicken thighs.
www.amazon.com
Thaw Claw is a small startup behind this kitchen tool, designed to solve a seemingly universal household woe.
Promising review: "I am a stickler for properly defrosting meat after working in food service for years and this makes that process super easy and surprisingly quick! I've even convinced my father — a retired rocket scientist — that this is the best way to defrost." — Sarah
Get it from Amazon for $12.95.
18. A duo of blind-spot mirrors to give you the confidence necessary to tackle three-point turns and tight parallel parking jobs. Circle the block again? No need. The Parking Pro has got it handled.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: " The blind spot mirrors are extremely useful. The images are crisp and clear. I haven't seen a distortion of images. Been through a few car washes, and they are still there. After each wash, I have to adjust them, though. Three years and still doing its job. I've ordered a second set. Recommend it." — SAM
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $5.99 (available in seven shapes).
19. A compact Dash rapid egg cooker so you can finally make breakfast a part of your regular routine by making morning egg prep 1,000x easier. Get boiled, poached, or scrambled eggs in just a couple of minutes with the push of a button.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
This cooker includes the base, clear lid, measuring cup, poaching tray, omelet bowl, boiling tray, and a handy little recipe book!
Promising review:"Where has this gadget been all my life?! I love to cook but I always find boiling water for eggs to be annoying. It's very easy to use, and the eggs come out perfect! You just pick how you want to make your eggs, fill the cup with water to the appropriate line, pierce the egg, cover it, and turn it on. All in all, it's a great product, and I'm happy with this purchase." — Death2Barbie
In need of an egg cooker deep dive? Check out our Dash Egg Cooker review.
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in two sizes and seven colors).
20. A Mac keyboard shortcut sticker if you're interested in cutting out the extra step of googling whenever it's time to take a screenshot and you just CANNOT remember the shortcut to get 'er done (again).
Amazon
Promising review: "Literally for any new or old Mac user, or even a user that's used to any type of device other than Apple! Super helpful for how to copy and paste and do other minor tasks! I mainly use the mouse pad on the laptop, so as my hands rub or grace over the sticker, it has never come off or ripped off at any point in time. It is perfectly still down to the computer part, and I've had this for over a year now!! 10/10 recommend!🩷" — Reyn
Get it from Amazon for $6.95 (available in seven styles).
21. A small-but-mighty portable air compressor with real-time pressure monitoring for easily inflating flat car and bike tires wherever you are. It's got a built-in LED light for easy nighttime use and ultra-fast one-minute inflation to get you back on the road in practically no time at all.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Words cannot describe how much I hate dealing with gas stations — whether it's getting gas, car wash, or air for my tires, I really hate being at the gas station for any length of time. I live in the Pittsburgh area so the up-and-down weather wreaks havoc on my tire pressure and I am TRULY GRATEFUL to be able to check my tire pressure and fill them up from the comfort of my home. This device couldn't be easier to use and the fact that you can lock the nozzle in place and fill the air hands-free is just wonderful. I never leave reviews but chef's kiss on this product. Can't recommend enough." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in two sizes and four colors).
22. A magnetic digital meat thermometer that has a built-in temp chart to instantly tell you whether that meat is cooked through all the way. With this around, there's no need to poke and prod your chicken breast, wondering if it's going to give you food poisoning!
www.amazon.com
It'll auto shut off when you close the probe, so you don't have to worry about draining the battery unintentionally. On that note, it comes with a battery plus a spare!
Promising review:"This works great. Very accurate and quick read. The numbers are large, so I don't even need my readers to see it. The magnet is a great feature, and I have it stuck to my fridge for easy access. I also like that it has the recommended temps for each meat and doneness right on the front." — Lisa G
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
23. A gel toilet cleaning stamp to release cleaner into the bowl with every flush, leaving behind a fresh scent and preventing stain buildups, so when your mom drops in unexpectedly, you can dodge the "you need to be cleaning more" lecture.
Amazon
Each stamp lasts for around 12 days!
Promising review:"I love these 'stamps.' They keep your toilet clean and make the entire bathroom smell fantastic, clean, and deodorized at all times. They are very easy to use, don't over-complicate the instructions. I did, thinking there had to be more to it than that. You just stick it on the inside of the toilet and it will stay in place and clean the toilet each time it is flushed. I love these!" — J. D. Robinson
Get six stamps from Amazon for $4.34 (also available in packs of two).
24. A pack of Downy fabric spray so you can rock wrinkle-free fits even though you don't own an iron, let alone know how to use one. Just spray, give your clothes a few swipes, and watch the wrinkles rapidly fall away.
www.amazon.com
I hate wrinkles *and* am lazy — two at-odds conditions. This stuff has been a staple in my life since approximately ninth grade (thanks to my mama). As a former Catholic school uniform wearer, this stuff was VITAL to freshening up wrinkly dress shirts that spent the after-school hours stuffed in a gym bag. The scent is light and fresh, and its wrinkle-releasing powers are nearly instant. It definitely works better on some fabrics than others (great on cotton, less great on some synthetics), but it'll improve the look of most without dealing with an iron or steamer.
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $15.94.
25. A set of silicone oven rack edge protectors if you're accident-prone and need help avoiding painful wrist and knuckle burns. They're super easy to cut to size, dishwasher safe, and heat resistant up to a whopping 482 degrees.
www.amazon.com
Check them out on TikTok.
Promising review:"These things are awesome. Not only are they attractive and reasonably priced, but they are so easy to put on, and they stay on the rack. Most importantly, I find they help to protect your arm when reaching into the oven from getting any bad burns. Highly recommend these. I'm so happy with them I'm buying a set for my mom and daughters-in-law." — Sandi
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $6.98+ (available in three colors).
26. A multipurpose cleaning gel because it'll exorcise nasty stains that haunt the forgotten corners of your home. You know, the ones you've never once thought to clean, like silicone sealants in your fridge and washing machine, corner grout, and window tracks. Just apply to a dry surface, let sit for 3–5 hours, then rinse away!
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Very satisfied. I tried everything to remove black mold with no success. This product actually worked to remove the black mold. I applied the gel to the mold and left it to sit overnight. I was amazed the mold wiped off with a rag." — Robin S. Johns
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four sizes and a two-pack).
27. An easy-to-use denture cleaner you simply plop in warm water with your dentures, aligners, night guards, or retainers for a stain-fighting, odor-busting clean that's worth smiling about.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I have a TMJ mouth guard that is about 12 years old, and nothing else I've tried has managed to clean it like this stuff. It didn't take everything off the first time, but it makes a HUGE difference. Very satisfied." — Sara E
Get 120 tablets from Amazon for $21.81.
28. The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook with 150 different recipes that incorporate ~delish~ ingredients from the World's Best Grocery Store™ to help you massively expand your repertoire of easy, weeknight meal options.
Amazon
Promising review: "For Trader Joe's lovers everywhere, this is a fantastic cookbook! It is filled with hints and tips, shopping guidelines, nicely organized recipe categories, and beautiful mouth-watering pictures. I love how the recipes are noted if they are gluten-free or vegetarian, etc. I ❤ Trader Joe's and I ❤ this cookbook!" — Love My Bookish Life
Get it from Amazon for $8.54.
29. A good old-fashioned sewing kit containing everything you could possible need (and maybe even a few things you don't) to mend holes, fix tears, and replace long-lost buttons so you can get back to wearing your favorite pieces as soon as possible — without waiting for your next trip home to ask Mom to do it.
www.amazon.com
This kit includes 24 spools of thread in popular colors, measuring tape, two needle threaders, one aluminum needle threader, three white and three black buttons, a fabric pencil, seven safety pins, a seam ripper, syringes, stainless-steel scissors, tweezers, a nail clipper, 30 assorted needles in a case, six metal buttons, ten push pins, two quilting clips, two metal thimbles, and one magnet all packaged in a compact polyester case with an outer slip pocket and handle.
Promising review:"Good beginner's kit. This is perfect for what I need it for. I had a couple of holes in my shorts, and I didn't have a sewing machine, and this was just what I needed. It comes with a lot of stuff, and it's great because it's easy to pack up." — Samantha
Get it from Amazon for $17.97 (available in four colors).
30. A Shark Tank -approved timed lock box so tempting distractions are LITERALLY inaccessible for a designated amount of time — from 1 minute up to 10 days! Pre-commitment devices like this one are a proven method for combatting decision fatigue and conserving willpower so you can fly through your to-do list and still have time for that oh-so-vital R&R.
www.amazon.com
Kitchen Safe is a small business that previously appeared on Shark Tank, pitching their locked timer as an effective way to handle temptations and distractions.
Get it from Amazon for $59+ (available in three sizes and six styles).