Instead Of Saying, 'Welp, What Can You Do,' Try These 24 Problem-Solvers
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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This — this is what you can do instead of living with those annoyances.
1. A WD-40 pen (A pen! Genius!) to enjoy the squeak-quieting, hinge-lubricating, rust-preventing powers that you know and love from traditional WD-40 but in an easy-to-maneuver precise pen tip.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I love WD-40 products and use them for everything. I spray on shovels to keep dirt or snow from sticking, spray around windows and thresholds to deter bugs, clean Sharpies off wood and walls, and, of course, stop squeaky doors. These small direct-point application pens are great. Keep one in the glove box, my kitchen 'junk' drawer, and the house toolbox." — BBP623
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $12.99.
2. A ceiling fan carbon filter for grabbing dust, pollen, smoke, dander, and other allergens as the fan spins. It sticks to the fan blade and is unnoticeable — but you may notice the difference in the air!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I wasn't sure what to expect when purchasing these, but now they are a staple in every room of our house. Within three days the air smelled more crisp and was easier to breathe in our home. So simple and effective!" — Haylee Marez
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $19.79.
3. A pack of towel clips that'll prevent kids and pets from pulling down the towel. Or, maybe you have neither of those things, yet your hand and kitchen towels always end up on the ground.
Amazon
Promising review: "This clip is amazing. No more towels falling on the floor. It was becoming a routine thing since my cat thinks it's fun to pull the kitchen towels off the oven. Not now, bad kitty! Great product...wish I had bought one sooner!" — Joanna
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $12.99.
4. A Soft Services buffing bar — combined with the heavenly scent of D.S. & Durga's "Debaser" fragrance — so you can target not only KP but also any rough or dry patches and areas prone to ingrowns. But that's not all! You can also use it to remove stubborn waterproof sunscreen or prep your skin for tanning products.
Soft Services
Soft Services is a woman-owned small business started by two friends and Glossier alumni, Annie Kreighbaum and Rebecca Zhou.
Get two bars from Soft Services for $28.
5. A time-saving fruit and veggie divider because quartering grapes by hand...yeah no thank you!! Parents swear this thing is so convenient because it easy enough and safe enough for their kiddos to use — and the little ones find it fun to use too!
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Check out a TikTok of the fruit and veggie divider in action.
Promising review: "If you have toddlers, get it — especially if you're on the fence. I needed something for grapes, blueberries, blackberries, and other small fruits and veggies we go through so much. My breakfast was getting cold long before I was done cutting fruit for two toddlers. Most cutters only do one grape or berry, but this one can do several grapes and a small handful of blueberries. We will definitely be getting a lot of use out of it in this house." — Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $9.95.
6. A set of portable suction cup blackout curtain shades if you're on vacation and wistfully longing for the blackout curtains you have at home — or if you just don't want to commit to installing blackout curtains but still need total darkness to sleep.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: "This has been a game changer when we travel. It is perfect for covering big and small windows. The only downside comes from the actual windows. Weird designs and large borders allows for a little light to shine through. Overall, I'm very satisfied with this product and how it works. Suction is great!" — Lisete G.
Get it from Amazon for $23.61+ (available in three styles and in two-packs).
7. A nail concealer to subtly hide yellowing and staining on your nails.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "As a 62-year-old woman who gardens, cleans house, etc., I needed something that improved the look of my nails without looking cheap or crappy. This was more than I wanted to spend on nail polish...but totally worth it. Two coats showed NO ridges and looks better than natural nails without looking fake or cheap. Totally worth it!" — Unbiased Independent Reviewer
Get it from Amazon for $17 (available in five shades).
Check out our Londontown Illuminating Nail Concealer review for more deets!
8. A lip balm keychain cap that'll save you from misplacing that $24 lip balm before you can even use it. Each cap is designed to replace the original packaging and conveniently attaches to your keychain, purse strap, etc.
Foundry Prints Co. is a small business based in Ocala, Florida.
Caps are available for a variety of popular lip balms, including Aquaphor Lip Repair, ChapStick, Glossier Balm Dotcom, Laneige Lip Glowy Balm, Lanolips Tinted Lip Balm, Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Lip Treatment, Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, Topicals Lip Salve, and Vaseline Lip Therapy.
Get it from Foundry Prints Co. on Etsy for $5 (available in 10 styles and 11 colors).
9. A waterless and instant makeup brush cleaner so you can skip the hours-long process of washing and drying your makeup brushes. This spray penetrates the brush hairs and melts oils and pigments fast while drying pretty much instantly. Wow!
Amazon
Promising review: "This spray is such an easy way to clean your makeup brushes. All you have to do is spray your brush until it is saturated, then rub it on a clean cloth. Makeup comes out of the brush like magic and the brush is dry enough to use immediately. I like to use the spray on my eye shadow brushes if I want to apply a light color. I can get any dark color out of my brush easily and have a dry brush ready to use." — OC Mom
Get it from Amazon for $16.
10. A beloved tightening cream because the 35,000+ reviewers who rated it 5 stars is all the proof you need. It's infused with caffeine, coconut oil, and guarana extract to firm, smooth, and add shimmer to the skin. Plus, the vanilla, salted caramel, and pistachio scent is better than any perfume out there.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I am 60, and I could not get rid of the cellulite on my legs. I started using this product six weeks ago and can noticeably see a difference. I apply morning and evening before bed for optimal results. It goes on smooth and has a creamy, nonsticky feel. The smell is dreamy, and even my husband has commented on the improvement. Make sure you apply in a circular motion for optimal coverage, absorption, and circulation." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $24+ (available in three sizes).
11. A pre-swim hair cream if you plan to be in your pool but don't want your mane to look like a dry, tangled mess. This cream protects your tresses from chlorine and can help prevent blonde hair from turning green.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I am 70 years old and have been coloring my gray for some time now. Since going gray, my hair has been getting frizzy, so I have used a number of products to try to control that. Additionally, I started swimming laps again recently and tried to protect my hair and my color from the chlorine in the pool. I was wetting my hair and adding lots of coconut oil and castor oil to my hair under my swim cap. It was effective at protecting my color but I decided to look online to see what was out there for chlorine damage prevention and found this product. One reviewer said that it was like having a hair treatment while swimming, and I totally agree! My hair looks like it did 15 years ago and has been so much more manageable even than it was before I started swimming! I can't recommend this product enough!! Love it, love it, love it!!!" — Barb K.
Get it from Amazon for $21.99.
12. A clip-on cubicle mirror to spare you the embarrassment and mini heart attack when someone enters your cubicle and you scream in fright because you weren't expecting them. If your back faces the entrance to your office = you *need* this!
Promising review: "I have sensitive customer information on my screen, so I use this to make sure that private information can be quickly minimized if someone walks up behind me. Sturdy, stays in place, good quality, easy to use and move around as needed." — Andrea Walker
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
13. And on the topic of office products, a keyboard cover for long nails for anyone whose WPM goes way, way, wayyy down when their nails are long. The keys are raised to allow for a more natural hand curvature and are made of soft silicone to prevent damaging your nails.
Tippy Type
Promising review: "I'm a nail artist who loves to rock medium stiletto Gel-X nails, and this keyboard has increased my productivity by 120%. It's intuitive, and it's so fun to type on! It takes some getting used to a couple of small typos, but I know that will only improve the more I use it! I've been showing all my clients!" — Sarah O.
Get it from Tippy Type for $45 (available in four styles and three colors).
14. A Swizzle Stick — yep — an absorbent post-sex sponge that deals with the often ~un-cum-fortable~ problem of leaking fluids. Leave it in for a few seconds after you've done the deed, let it do its thang, toss it, and then enjoy the feeling of dry underwear as you drift off to sleep.
They're individually packaged, so you can easily toss some into your bag if you're spending the night with someone.
Promising review: "Do you love the feeling of your underwear getting damp hours after adult time? That surprise wetness just as you're about to step into a meeting where you'll be presenting in front of your boss as well add their boss? If so, this is not for you. For the rest of us, these are amazing. Just slip in one of these, let set while you check your phone, then remove and toss. The package says a few seconds, but my first time using it didn't work, so I do a full minute, and it works every time. No more wet spots to try to sleep in. No more wearing liners after fun time when you have to go to work. I will be a lifelong customer (well, sex life long anyway)." — Monica K. Jones
Get 25 wands from Amazon for $23.39.
15. And on the topic of catching drips, a set of refrigerator drip catchers so there isn't always a puddle in the water tray...and the floor in front of your fridge. They sit securely in the tray thanks to their magnetic design.
Promising review: "This pad fits perfectly in our Samsung four-door in-door ice/water dispenser. Catches the occasional drips and matches the color of the dispenser perfectly. The four-pack lets you wash one and place another one into service immediately." — Amazon Customer
Get a two-pack for $7.93+ (available in five colors and packs of four).
16. A Tub Topper because parents everywhere, bathtime is about to change forever. It attaches with suction cups to the lip of the tub and acts as a splash guard, toy tray, and a fun zone thanks to the flat surface, which allows for play.
Amazon
Promising review: "Like you, when I first came across this, I was hesitant because of the price. It's a bit steep, I thought to myself. But then, after another night of bathtime with two towels on the ground to soak up the water my child had splashed all over, I took the plunge and bought it. And definitely worth it a million times over. My child LOVES the extra space for toys and I love the water staying in the tub. I definitely and highly suggest buying it. You won't be disappointed! Or your child!!" — Brianna
Get it from Amazon for $59.95 (available in three colors).
17. An equal parts hilarious and genius sleep sack if your bedsheets are all stained with self-tanner. Keep your white sheets white and leave the beach towels in the closet! Slide yourself into the silky-feeling sack — there's even a foot opening to allow for airflow — and let any self-tanner stick to the sack and not your sheets.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I debated over buying this for a long time. I'm so glad I went with this product over the cheaper ones. Not only does it save my white sheets, but it's so comfortable! The fabric is top-quality and breathable! Easy to wash and store in your nightstand when not using it. Except I rarely store it because I love sleeping with it even when I don't have tanner on." — Barry Engelbrecht
Get it from Amazon for $46 (available in two colors).
18. A tub of Clorox bleach pods to make laundry day just that much easier. No more splashes and spills like with liquid bleach, which inevitably lands on some item of clothing that you did not want to be bleached.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I love this product! I usually put two in the laundry when I'm washing my whites. There is no foul smell like normal Clorox bleach, and it gets all the stains out. Keeps everything bright white! I put them in the small glass container that sits above my laundry to be a little bit more aesthetically pleasing. This is on my re-order list." — Ashley
Get a four-pack (48 pods total) for $23.92.
19. An onion holder for a more secure grip and more evenly sized slices of onions, tomatoes, lemons, eggs, potatoes, and fruits. You can even use it as a meat tenderizer!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
20. A no-drip wart-removing gel with a powerful salicylic acid formula that softens the wart until it eventually peels away. Simply apply a drop of solution to the wart, cover it with the waterproof bandage (which will hide your friend and prevent him from spreading), and let it do its thang.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:" I had five awfully painful plantar warts on my foot for about four months. They were all about a 1/4 inch apart on the ball of my foot, and I had a massive one under my second toe. It was becoming hard to walk with how painful they were. This was a Hail Mary, and it worked phenomenally. The gel coats well right where you apply it. It doesn't have an awful stench. I applied it every three to four days for a couple of weeks. I noticed the pain was less and less until I didn't notice any. Last night, I was actually able to pull and peel the remains of the dead warts out!! Kinda gross but kind of cool. Seriously, this product works. If you have annoying warts...this is the answer!!!" — CJ805
Get a kit with the gel and 12 patches from Amazon for $13.99 (available in three styles and in a two-pack).
21. A piercing bump solution because you got a cute new piercing (yay!), but it developed a dreaded keloid (boo!). It's made with a moisturizing blend of jojoba, grape seed, rose, and essential oils, and may help flatten those annoying bumps with consistent use.
www.amazon.com
This product does not promise to work overnight. Apply this daily 2–3 times a day as long as needed. Be sure to be patient as the healing process takes time!
Talk to your doctor before attempting to treat your keloid on your own, and learn more about keloids from Cleveland Clinic.
BuzzFeed writer Jordan Grigsby has tested this herself! In her own words, "Last year I got a dermal piercing on my chest, and since literally just about every piercing I've ever gotten has grown a keloid on it, I should have known my dermal would eventually, too. I got the piercing in February of 2023, and around May, I noticed a nasty, stubborn little bump making a guest appearance on my piercing. 🙄 I had written about this stuff a few times, so the light bulb went off, and I immediately bought it. I consistently used it twice a day, and it gradually disappeared, literally like magic, within a month. Keloids are a serious nightmare, and I'm so glad that I found this stuff. I even *accidentally* ripped it out in November and immediately grabbed this to prevent a keloid from forming cuz I just knew it'd get infected. To my surprise, no keloid, nada. You do have to be patient and consistent, this is NOT an overnight miracle but it's worth it. I also suggest that you continue to use it for like another week or two even after your keloid goes away juuust in case it tries to sneak back into your life. I haven't had issues with my piercing since, and no more have grown."
Get it from Amazon for $12.85+ (also available in multipacks).
22. A hydrocolloid nose patch for targeting the oily pores and slurping out the gunk in the zits around your nose and on your nose bridge. If you're familiar with the small circular pimple patches, know that this is pretty much the same thing but it'll cover a larger surface area.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: " It's gross in the most spectacular way. The amount of disgusting gunk that came out of my face was appalling, and I instantly gagged. However, my nose has never felt so clean and smooth for consecutive days. If you have oily skin, I definitely recommend washing your face first and applying it to the nose before moisturizing the rest of your face. If I could give this 10 stars, I would. Everyone is getting this for Christmas...maybe because it's not cheap." — Justina
Get 10 patches from Amazon for $16.55.
23. Some travel-friendly Olay facial cleansing wipes so you can skip checking a bag just to bring your bulky cleanser bottle on vacation. These dry cloths are water activated and suds up in the sink to function as a makeup remover, cleanser, toner, a scrub, and a mask. Bonus: With these you won't have to worry about cleanser leaking all over your toiletry bag!
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "These take the place of several cleansing products. I have very dry skin and these leave it soft, and not feeling dry at all. Bought for travel and to eliminate liquid items. VERY satisfied. I also cut them in half. Using one piece for the first 'cleanse' and the second half for the finishing cleanse. With a little night cream. I'm ready for bed. This is a quick effective product, and super convenient." — PJ
Get 66 cloths from Amazon for $12.94 (available in three styles).
24. A natural shoe deodorizer spray so you don't have to wash your feet the minute you get home to get rid of the funk from your work flats. It's made with essential oils and smells like lemon and eucalyptus so you'll probably want to spray it around the rest of your house, too.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"My shoes always tend to smell after time. Especially my Vans, they get the same smell after a while and it gets pretty overwhelming. It got to the point that I needed to wash my feet if I was at any gathering where shoes got taken off. So embarrassing. Anyway, I have tried the deodorizing balls and they were great, but they just mask the smell, they don't actually eliminate it. This is awesome! I sprayed my shoes the night I received it, and I haven't had to use it again on the same pair of shoes. The eucalyptus scent gives a clean, fresh scent that isn't overwhelming. For the price, I think it was well worth the try and I'm completely satisfied." — Grandmama
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I was the only girl who gave him a chance. And I won the jackpot! He's caring, romantic, respects me, takes great care of me and our home, and he's wicked smart. Sure, he's quirky. Sure, he doesn't have typical 'masculine' hobbies. But he's a great guy, and I wish more people saw more for him than his quirks." "Not doing surprise gifts, dates, etc. Spontaneity and big gestures are highly romanticized, but they can often set both parties up for disappointment or unrealistic expectations. Communicating and involving your partner instead is a green flag for me. My partner and I like to discuss and plan fun ideas together. We go shopping for gifts together as well, so we get to pick out exactly what we like. It's so much more fun, and there is less pressure to like a gift or hope they like a gift. (And wastes less money)." —Anonymous, 30; Canada "Inserting himself into my college life. We currently go to different colleges, but he makes the effort to see me at my college because he wants to get to know my friends and new interests I've picked up. It's so, when I talk, he knows how to contribute to our conversations in a way that he understands what and who I'm talking about. Some people may see it as signs of insecurity or jealousy, but he truly wants to see the way I've been growing as a person now that I'm in college." "Online gaming. I've dated a couple of people I've met through online gaming. I know people tend to think that's a bad thing (to game a lot), but it requires communication and planning skills, especially when their gaming group includes people around the world." —Anonymous, 39; Phoenix, AZ "Not being close to their parents. It's great if your family is close. It's also absolutely okay if it's complicated, but sometimes it is better to cut ties with abusers or toxic people. I think it can be healthy to be no or low-contact, and it can protect partners and future children. It takes a lot of strength to break cycles." "It's not toxic to have never dated someone before. Like, they're waiting for the truly right person to date." —Anonymous, 20; South Carolina "When people always respond with 'What do YOU want to do?' People find it weirdly annoying, but I think it just means they care about how you feel. I don't like it when people are like, 'What do you want to do?' 'Oh, I was thinking ice skating, then lunch at this restaurant, then a museum…' That just feels like they've been creepily putting this whole date together for months. No, thank you." "Not responding to texts quickly. My bf was sooooo slow to respond to texts when we first exchanged numbers. I thought he wasn't interested, but it turned out that he was not a very tech-savvy guy and had no interest in his phone. This makes dates great as we can converse for hours on end and away from screens. Our interactions are always genuine, and he's so thoughtful!" —Anonymous, 16; Oklahoma "Having girl friends as a man. It's not a red flag. It actually tells me women feel safe around you, and you can build a relationship with a woman other than a romantic one. So that means you don't see women only as objects for your pleasure. You actually see them as human beings you can interact with just like you do with other men." "Not telling someone their WHOLE life story. The older I get, there are things people keep to themselves for a reason. Doesn't mean they don't trust you or you can't trust them. If it's significant enough, it will reveal itself. I am not going to force someone I am with to tell me everything if they're not comfortable doing so. That being said, if you don't communicate what is important to you for them to share about themselves, that is all on you." —witchysorcerer621 "Not being a self-proclaimed nice guy. This might be specific to my relationship, but he straight up told me he was 'kind of an a**hole' on our first date and said he wasn't good with emotions. It was refreshing as hell, coming from seemingly endless dates with self-professed 'nice guys' who were anything but. Turns out he's not an asshole at all, and he's pretty damn good with emotions now. That first date was 15 years ago." "A guy cooking, cleaning, and being able to do stereotypically 'female' stuff." —Anonymous, Maddi, USA 26 "Being upfront about dating other people. It might seem like a red flag at first, but it's actually a green one. Honesty about where you stand shows emotional maturity and respect. It also sets the stage for clear communication when the time comes to discuss exclusivity — if and when both people are ready for that step." Finally, "On a blind or first date: I am totally OJ with small talk. People have all sorts of different levels and experiences when it comes to meeting with a person for the first time. Being nervous is OK, and not knowing what to say is OK." —sparklysalt40 Have examples of your own where a perceived red flag is actually a green flag? Let us know in the comments or through the anonymous form below!
