15 Must-Have Items For Better Child Nap Times
Promising review: "My newborn would not go down for naps during the day. I was skeptical that this would help with my baby's naps, but I bought this out of desperation. My baby loves it and, after a few weeks, is now falling asleep almost instantly for naps! My only resentment is that you don't have a lot of noise options to choose from unless you pay for the app subscription. It's OK, though my baby loves the standard brown noise setting." —NicoleGet it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in two colors).
A Baby Shusher that you would have mocked in your pre-baby life, but now you know what it's like to manually shush a newborn to sleep for what feels like hours. Save your energy and just place this near the crib or throw it in a stroller.
Promising review: "My baby hated napping. Great sleeper, terrible napper. I heard about this baby shusher and thought it would be the dumbest thing I've ever bought, but I bought it anyway, and wow, am I glad I did. I used to have to rock my baby to sleep, but not anymore. I just wrap her up in a swaddle sack, turn on the baby shusher, put a pacifier in her mouth, and plop her down in the bassinet. Then within SECONDS, she is asleep. I know that's a lot of factors, but the shusher made the difference. She is the best napper in the world, and I typically get more than 30+ minutes out of her. I highly recommend this product in addition to other elements that help your baby sleep!" —New MomGet it from Amazon for $34.99.
A travel crib because nothing ruins a relaxing afternoon on the beach like an overtired kid. This portable crib can come with you literally anywhere, and is compact enough to use as a carry on.
Promising review: The Guava Lotus Travel Crib is like the Mary Poppins of baby beds —practically perfect in every way! I just got it, so I can't promise it'll solve all my sleep-deprived woes, but it's already been a lifesaver for nap time. The setup is so easy that even a parent running on fumes can manage it without turning it into a circus act.I bought this crib hoping it would help with my toddler's travel-induced meltdowns, and while we haven't taken it on a plane yet, the backpack-style carry bag makes me feel like I'm ready for a grand adventure. The crib's pleasant smell is an unexpected bonus — no odd plastic odors here!It's cozy enough to make my little one feel at home anywhere, and the side zipper door is perfect for sneaking in some extra cuddles. If this crib were a person, I'd take it out for a celebratory ice cream for making my life a bit easier. Here's to many more adventures with the Lotus! —MarleeGet it from Amazon for $299.99.
Pair it with a SlumberPod so your little one can nap in the hotel room while you still get to enjoy the afternoon sun. This blackout tent has room for you to add your own fan (it runs hot) and a camera so you can still keep an eye on your baby. This is also a great accessory to have for naps at Grandma's house and beyond.
Promising review: "I discovered this fantastic thing from a mom friend. I was visiting her and her kids with my 18-month-old son, and it was time for a nap by the time I got to her, but I doubted he would nap since it was a foreign space to him. She had the SlumberPod and encouraged me to just try putting him down for a nap. I did, but I felt bad because he immediately started crying and seemed scared. But…five minutes later, he stopped crying and fell asleep for his full two-hour nap. I was AMAZED!I ended up renting the SlumberPod for a trip after this, and again it worked for both naps and bedtime!! Finally, I bought one and used it this past weekend on another trip, and he slept so well in it! It's needed at this age because without it, he'd be standing up and able to see everything. The blackout really allows him to feel safe, in his own private space, and to sleep well!" —SharonGet it from Amazon for $199.99.
A nap mat with a built-in pillow and blanket for an easy sleep solution for your little one at daycare. Reviewers love that this is also easy to wash!
Promising review: "We bought this Nap Mat for our daughter to take naps in at daycare. The quality and make are as described. We are very happy with the product. My daughter transitioned really well into this from a crib. She loved being covered up, so the built-in blanket is a plus. It is also so easy to wash. Each week, we throw it in the washer and then hang it to dry. I have dried in the dryer as well on occasion, and that worked just fine too." —ENPhippsGet it from Amazon for $26.98+ (available in eight patterns).
A portable sound machine we used for on-the-go naps for our baby. Attach it to your car seat, throw it on your stroller, or put it in your travel crib so you can live your life without stressing about rushing home.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this Hatch sound machine — it's a game changer for on-the-go naps. It offers a great variety of soothing sounds and has easy volume control. My baby sleeps so well whenever we're out, thanks to this little device. The battery life is impressive, holding a charge for a long time. It's compact, reliable, and an excellent value for the price!" —Alli AGet it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in five colors).
A blackout curtain that attaches to the window directly so it stops any beams of sun from creeping in through the top of your curtain. These temporary, portable curtains fit in a suitcase or you can do what we did and send them ahead of time to Grandma and Grandpa's or any house you might be staying in regularly.
Promising review: "These portable blackout curtains have been a game changer for helping my baby nap during the day. They block out light really well, creating a dark, calming environment even in the middle of the afternoon. I also love that they're easy to pack and set up, making them perfect for travel or visiting family. A must-have for any parent trying to keep naps on track!" —lanie terharkGet it from Amazon for $20.98+ for one (available in four colors and as a pack of two).
A set of sleep sacks because if your child is like mine, a soft, warm sleep sack makes things extra cozy and is a requirement for any hope of daytime (or nighttime for that matter!) sleep.
Promising review: "Best sleep sacks for my toddler. I use these every nap and nighttime! Best value also, and was nervous these wouldn't work, but I've been buying these for several months, and he is now almost 2 years old. I definitely recommend and best value!" —AlyssaGet it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in four sizes and 17 patterns).
A soothing otter that will lull your baby to sleep with music, repetitive motion, and lights while you hover over them taking pictures because is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen?
Promising review: "My daughter and everyone who sees this toy fall in love. The music is soothing, as well as the belly going up and down. The motor to make the belly go up and down makes a weird noise at times and can be heard more loudly when the volume of the music is at a lower setting. This otter made a trip on an airplane and a few long car rides, otherwise he is used prior to nap to calm our little one down and get her ready for sleeping — she loves snuggling him and laying her head on his belly." —Courtney SchendelGet it from Amazon for $42.99.
A pair of baby earmuffs for those days when naptime has to happen in the middle of a wedding reception, or at a baseball game (been there!) or anywhere it might be loud and they'll need a little extra protection.
Promising review: "Originally purchased to help protect my baby's ears during a wedding. After a few attempts adjusting to fit her head comfortably, they worked well enough for her to have a few good naps during the party, and it was a bonus that the color and design were cute. They are lightweight and easy enough to keep in her diaper bag for when we find ourselves near loud music, and they have definitely come in handy!" —RachaelGet it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in five colors).
A sea-life soother that seems counterintuitive (bright lights? music?) but that thousands of parents swear by to mesmerize their little mermaids and mermen into falling asleep quickly during the day.
Promising review: "I have a FOMO (fear of missing out) baby who does not like to nap ever. A family member had this at her house, and my daughter fell asleep instantly. I thought it was a fluke, but it happened again, so of course I bought one. It plays music and white noise with and without lights, has a remote, and can be mounted to the crib. Plus, it times out in 20 minutes, and the critters are cute! My baby loves i,t and it's been a nap time saver. Only downside is it is kind of heavy and takes 4 'C' batteries, which can be expensive and kinda hard to find." —MalloryGet it from Amazon for $34.92+ (available in two styles).
A swaddle we used almost exclusively when my toddler was a baby because she absolutely hated having her arms confined.
Promising review: "Since before he was born, my little guy has been obsessed with his hands and always wanting them near his face or keeping his arms up like a goalpost. With a regular swaddle, he fought so hard to get his arms upright that he'd 1) wake himself up fighting it, and 2) unravel the swaddle. This has provided the perfect solution and he goes down so much faster, especially for naps." —Lindsay LittlejohnGet it from Amazon for $34.95+ (available in up to eight colors and three sizes).
A Snoo smart bassinet, which was designed by a pediatrician and will quite literally rock your baby to sleep for you. It's an investment, but for many parents, extra time to recharge (or take a nap yourself!) is priceless.
Promising review: "Once our baby turned 4 weeks old, he would immediately wake up once we set him down. For naps, we were putting him in a normal play yard, and he would wake up and stay up and fuss because he was overtired. Now we use the Snoo for naps — with the Snoo, we can set him down, and although he wakes up initially, the Snoo immediately rocks him back to sleep. This same thing happens at night, too. Instead of spending lots of time rocking him back to sleep, I just immediately set him down in the Snoo after feeding and let the Snoo rock him back to sleep." —TaylorGet it from Happiest Baby for $1,695.
A naptime book because sometimes establishing a good routine is the secret to getting your little one on board for a nap. Also sometimes toddlers just need to be in the know, and this takes them through why they need the rest!
Promising review: "I ordered this book for our two-year-old granddaughter who had suddenly begun protesting taking a nap, even though it's quite evident that she's very tired in the middle of the day and really needs a nap. I searched EVERYWHERE for a book that specifically addresses naps, and not going to bed at night, and this is the only one I found! Even so, this is the ABSOLUTE PERFECT book for our purpose!! It talks about how the little boy in the book still wants it to be play time when his Mommy tells him it's nap time. Then the mommy talks to the little boy about why taking a nap is a good thing, saying cute little phrases like, 'I take a little rest, so I can feel my best!' The little boy ends up deciding he can be (and wants to be) A Happy Napper! The book is the perfect length for a 2–4 year old, and uses language that they love and say along with you after they've heard the book a time or two. Our little Sam likes us to read it a couple of times just before her nap, and then she 'reads' the book to her animals after we leave the room. As we go out the door and turn out the light, we say, 'Night, Night, Happy Napper!' And she says it right back to us. This book has made a world of difference in helping Sam to understand why she takes a nap, and to be happy to do it on most days. It's simply irreplaceable, and PERFECT for creating your own Happy Napper!!" —Sam's NanaGet it from Amazon for $9.29.
A sleep training clock you can use once your child knows their colors: Red means it's still time for sleep, green means it's okay to wake up. We started using this system with our 2-year-old and it has worked really well to curb early morning wake-ups and prevent prolonged nap time struggles.
Promising review: "This has been the perfect clock for our two-year-old who is learning how to stay in his room even if he wakes up before 7 a.m. Also super helpful for nap as it has a nap time mode that can be set for a certain time. Because it has a cute little face, it has become personified, which is perfect for toddlers. Ours is named 'Clock Bot' and is very beloved. The many light options are fun, and the red light is perfect for sleeping. Definitely recommend!" —The Smith FamilyGet it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in four colors).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
18 hours ago
- Forbes
The Best Lunch Boxes For Kids, According To Editors Who've Packed Them For Years
Packing lunches for my kids is a task I don't always look forward to. After packing hundreds of lunches over the years, I've found that the best lunch box for kids can actually simplify the whole process. The best options are appropriately sized, easy for kids to open and well insulated to help keep their food at the proper temperature. My top pick, the PackIt Freezable Classic Lunch Box , has built-in ice packs, opens with a zipper little fingers can grasp easily and is available in lots of kid-friendly designs. Here are the best lunch boxes for kids that are cute and easy to use. ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS Other top picks include the Bentgo Kids bento box, which is durable and has leak-proof compartments, and the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie , a classic option that's easy to clean and available in a variety of fun prints and colors. Check out more of our top picks for the best lunch boxes for kids. Our Top Recommendations Best Overall Lunch Box For Kids: PackIt Freezable Classic Lunch Box Best Value Lunch Box For Kids: Thermos Upright Lunch Box Most Durable Lunch Box For Kids: L.L. Bean Lunch Box Best Bento Lunch Box For Kids: Bentgo Kids Lunch Box Best Stainless Steel Lunch Box For Kids: PlanetBox Rover Best Lunch Box For Kids For Hot Foods: Omiebox Up Best Lunch Box For Kids In Preschool: Wildkin Kids Insulated Lunch Box Best Personalized Lunch Box For Kids: Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Lunch Box Amazon PackIt Freezable Classic Lunch Box Keeping your child's lunch at the proper temperature is important for food safety, and this can be difficult especially if your child has a late lunch or they're storing their lunch box in a warm area. The built-in ice packs in the PackIt Freezable Classic Lunch Box solve this problem. 'What I really like about it and why I keep buying these year after year for my three school-age kids—since their preschool days—is that it actually keeps food cold all day even on hot summer camp or classroom days,' says Forbes Vetted deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala . After years of use, she has also found this lunch box to be durable. The size is generous, especially when you consider that you don't need to add any ice packs. It has a front zipper pocket for napkins or small items as well as a buckle handle so you can clip it to your child's backpack. It's available in lots of fun colors and designs, which is important to kids of all ages. The biggest drawback of this lunch box is that you have to remember to put it in the freezer the night before. If you forget to clean out your child's lunch box until the next morning, it won't be ready to go. You can still use it, of course, but you'll have to add ice packs. Thermos Brand Thermos Upright Lunch Box I've been really impressed with the Thermos Upright Lunch Box after testing it out recently. There's enough room to pack a well-portioned lunch, and the water bottle holder and zipper pocket are nice touches. It's easy to fit and organize everything I need in my daughter's lunch, including her drink and napkins. It's an insulated box that also has a hard liner. As a busy mom who cleans out lunch boxes every day, the hard liner makes it so much quicker to wipe, clean and clear out any crumbs. It also has a buckle handle, so you can attach it to your child's backpack. The only major drawback is that it's only available in six colors, but many of these include fun and bright prints that kids like, such as Black Sport Web and Teal Marble. The L.L. Bean Lunch Box is a staple in many homes, and that's largely because it lasts for years. Part of what makes it so durable is the quality construction and the strong outer material that you'll also find on L.L. Bean backpacks . It has a top carry strap making it easy for your child to grab if it doesn't fit in their backpack. With a front zipper pocket and an interior mesh pocket, there are plenty of spaces to store extras like napkins, cutlery and a special note for your child. You can also use the internal mesh pocket to store an ice pack. It's pretty spacious inside and has an easily wipeable interior liner. Available in 11 colors, the insulated box can also be personalized with your child's monogram. Amazon Bentgo Kids Lunch Box With five leak-proof sections, the Bentgo Kids lunch box makes it easy to add some variety into your child's lunch. My daughter used this lunch box often when she was in kindergarten, and it has held up so well that it hardly looks like it's been used. It has definitely been dropped multiple times, and it never popped open or leaked food from one compartment to the next. I like to pair it with the Bentgo Kids Lunch Bag , which makes it easy for kids to carry to school thanks to multiple straps and clips. The bento box itself has a removable tray that's dishwasher and microwave safe. My daughter has no problem opening and closing the latches on it, though I would definitely recommend practicing with your child before sending them to school with it for the first time. As a 6-year-old, this lunch box held enough food for my daughter, but I doubt it will be large enough for much longer. For older kids, check out the Bentgo Pop , which allows for larger portion sizes. I love using stainless steel lunch boxes because I prefer to stay away from plastic when I can, which is why the PlanetBox Rover is one of my favorite options. It has five compartments and I've found that the largest compartment is big enough to hold a sandwich. Even though it's stainless steel, kids can still customize the look by choosing a magnet set they like as well as a carry bag (sold separately). While it's not a leak-proof option, the box does come with two stainless steel containers with lids, so you can pack dips or sauces that won't spill. Practice opening the box and the containers with younger kids before sending them off to school to make sure they can open them. The dishwasher safe box is sturdy, and I've never had it pop open when I dropped it. Forbes Vetted editor Esther Carlstone likes the Rover because it's so durable and easy to clean. 'All three of my kids have their own Rover and it's their go-to lunch box. One box we've used for 10 straight years and it still looks and acts good as new,' she says. 'Cleaning them is also super easy, we even toss them into the dishwasher.' The Omiebox Up is a bento-style lunch box that's a great option for hot foods because it includes a 12-ounce thermos. It also has another compartment with an ice pack that fits right in the box, so you can pack some cold food, too. The cold side includes a removable divider, allowing you to pack two different options. While the lunch box as a whole is leak-proof, the divider is not. 'I like that it's all-in-one so you're not packing several different containers for one lunch,' says Carlstone, who uses this lunch box to pack items like pasta and soup. The container is easy for kids to open and close, just be careful not to shut the thermos too tight, especially for younger kids. It's available in a few different colors, including Cherry Pink and Cosmic Blue. My daughter used the smaller Omiebox to bring mac and cheese or tortellini to kindergarten, and it was a great size for that age. Older kids will definitely want the larger Omiebox Up, though. Amazon Wildkin Kids Insulated Lunch Box When choosing a lunch box for your preschooler, think simple. 'Give them practice opening and closing their lunchboxes independently. Find out how long the lunch period is and practice eating in that amount of time, including the amount of time needed to open and close it,' says registered dietitian Jennifer Anderson. As long as they can open a zipper, they should be good to go with the Wildkin Kids Insulated Lunch Box. There are over 50 fun prints to choose from, helping preschoolers get excited about their first packed lunch experience ( shop other print options here ). My kids have used this lunch box a lot, and it's a great basic option. A front zipper pocket and interior mesh pocket provide plenty of room for packing extras. It also has a top handle to make it easy to grab. The lunch box is the ideal size for preschoolers, and though it's on the smaller side, it can fit some bento boxes. Personalizing school supplies is incredibly exciting, particularly for the elementary crowd. The Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie is available in so many adorable prints, like Iridescent Hearts and Lego, and kids can add their name or initials in a variety of fonts. The insulated bag has a molded liner that makes it easy to wipe clean of crumbs and spills. It also includes an interior pocket, an exterior pocket and a water bottle holder. The top strap is padded, making it comfortable for their little hands to carry to and from school. While the Mackenzie lunch box is ideal for younger kids, older kids might like the more subdued Colby Lunch Box . Sala's tweens prefer this cold pack style over the more cutesy Mackenzie styles. At Forbes Vetted, the baby and kids gear team has decades of experience covering baby and kid topics, testing products and packing lunches for our kids. The author of this article, Alicia Betz , has been testing kids lunch boxes for over five years. She's also a mom to three and frequently tests and reports on kids products, including the best kids luggage and the best kids water shoes . , has been testing kids lunch boxes for over five years. She's also a mom to three and frequently tests and reports on kids products, including the and the . The editor of this article, Esther Carlstone , is an experienced parenting editor and writer. She's also a mom to three and has over a decade of experience packing lunches for her kids in many of the lunch boxes on this list. , is an experienced parenting editor and writer. She's also a mom to three and has over a decade of experience packing lunches for her kids in many of the lunch boxes on this list. I interviewed registered dietitian and founder of Kids Eat In Color, Jennifer Anderson . To choose the best lunch boxes for kids, I relied on expert advice, personal experience and product research. Here's a peek into my process. I've been using lunch boxes for years, including many of the ones on the list. I've seen how they hold up over time and how well they function in the real world, being carted to school, sports, activities and back. I considered input from parenting editors Sala and Carlstone, two moms who have used many of the lunch boxes on the list as well. Anderson provided insight on what makes a good lunch box as well as which ones she has used and found helpful. I compared features of various lunch boxes, considering size, pockets, insulation and more. To cater to a variety of needs and types of families, I included different types of lunch boxes, including bento style boxes and traditional lunch boxes. Your lunch box should be the right size for your child. Some smaller lunch boxes, especially bento boxes, can have a smaller capacity that may not be appropriate for older kids. Age recommendations on lunch boxes are helpful, but consider your child's appetite as well when deciding what size is best for them. Consider how you'll keep your child's lunch cold, too. 'Send packed lunches with two ice packs, one on the top and one on the bottom, inside a sleeve or insulated lunchbag,' says Anderson. Make sure the bag is large enough to include ice packs along with the lunch. Material 'Lunch boxes are typically made from stainless steel, BPA-free plastic and silicone—all excellent options that hold up well,' says Anderson. While plastic tends to be more lightweight, it can be a bit more difficult to clean compared to stainless steel. Many fabric lunch bags are made of polyester or a similar material with a wipeable inner lining. Ease Of Use The biggest consideration when it comes to ease of use is how easily your child can open and close their lunch box. Particularly for younger kids, taking time to make sure they can open their lunch box is very important. You don't want them to struggle to get to their food when they're hungry. Most preschoolers and young elementary schoolers do fine with zippers on traditional lunch boxes, but bento boxes can be more difficult to open. Ease Of Cleaning Packing, unpacking and cleaning lunch boxes can feel relentless. Having a lunch box (or two) that's easy to clean makes life much easier. Some bento boxes are dishwasher safe or have removable compartments that can go in the dishwasher. For lunch bags, look for options that are easily wipeable. What Are The Best Lunch Boxes For Kids? Our top picks for the best lunch boxes for kids include the PackIt Freezable Classic Lunch Box, Thermos Upright Lunch Box and L.L. Bean Lunch Box. All three options are sized well for kids, easy for kids to open and insulated. What Is The Best Material For A Kids Lunch Box? The best material for kids lunch boxes is easy to clean. Plastic, stainless steel and fabric options are all great. When shopping for bento boxes, look for options that are dishwasher-safe. What Is A Good Packed Lunch For Kids? A good packed lunch for kids is balanced, including protein, fruit, vegetables, grains and dairy. However, it's also important to pack things your child will actually eat so they have sustenance to carry them through the day. It's best to pack safe foods in their lunch and save new or adventurous foods for another time.
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Buzz Feed
27 Easy Kitchen Items If You Are Overwhelmingly Busy
An Instant Pot, because it is the epitome of "set it and forget it." (Though who can ever really forget a delicious-smelling dinner?) This friendly robot can help you whip up everything from soups and stews to a whole chicken (!!) — just find your new favorite Instant Pot recipe online, pop in your ingredients, set the timer, and voila! It's kinda like takeout... except it came from your kitchen?? Promising review: "This product is my best friend and I would marry it and grow old with it if I could. I've put pork loins, potatoes, yellow bundt cakes, rice, corn on the cob (look up INSTANT POT MILK CORN ON COB and you will never eat it any other way again!). I've made pierogies, lasagna, apple dump cake, a whole chicken, bone broth, chicken noodle soup... and more. This is all in less than a month. I'm eating healthier. Eating out less. Cleanup is easy. The food tastes awesome. The pork loin never dried out after it sat on the serving tray." —sugabugaGet it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in three sizes). An herb stripper, so you can stop living the dinner prep nightmare of stripping a serving of kale or other greens by hand. You're peeling, you're ripping, you're getting so bored that you try to remember every Gossip Girl character by memory. With this, make quick work of the prep so you can get to the good part (cooking your kale in various sauces until it no longer tastes like kale). A veggie chopper because, not to be overly dramatic, but cutting vegetables up with a knife and a cutting board takes roughly 1,000 hours, and you will always have a few pieces that go rogue and end up hiding behind your radiator. But not with this chopper! Dicing and chopping peppers, onions, tomatoes, or any other fruit or veg is done in seconds — and it also protects your fingers from dinner-ruining cuts. An electric potato peeler that can peel any fruit or veggie with a tough outer skin. Because there's nothing more relaxing than some delicious mashed potatoes at the end of a long day, but messing around with a traditional peeler? Waaaaay too much to deal with. A rice cooker because rice always seems like it should be a simple, easy thing to whip up... until you accidentally burn it and end up with half of your rice stuck to the bottom of your pot. With this basic cooker, your days of scorching half of your starch on the stove are gone. It cooks up fluffy rice in just a few minutes and has a "warmer" feature to keep it hot and tasty until you're ready to chow down. A two-tier stackable steamer for anyone who wants to start eating more veggies... but not badly enough to boil a pot of water, get out a steamer basket, and keep checking on it to make sure you didn't oversteam. Just plug this baby in, add water and your food, and wander away to live your best life while it makes your meal for you. A silicone snap-on pasta strainer because you are here to carbo-load, not to poke through all your cupboards for your strainer and then accidentally scald your hand with hot pasta water! This attaches directly to the pot, so just snap it on, lean your pot over the sink, and commence snacking. A "Gracula" garlic crusher that quickly and easily accomplishes two key dinnertime goals: 1. it produces finely crushed garlic with almost no effort from you, and 2. it gives you a lil' giggle. You work hard — let Vlad here be your sous chef and the entertainment at the end of the day. Plus, reviewers say it works for crushing nuts, too! A Beautiful by Drew Barrymore dual-compartment air fryer, because yes, that means that you can cook two different foods at the same time. And not only that — you can cook them at different temperatures. The future is now, my friend! Plus, if needed, you can remove the divider to give yourself a single compartment with nine quarts (!!) of cooking review: "Absolutely fantastic air fryer - makes my counter look gorgeous too! Love the colors, the design and the extra room it makes it so easy to cook for my entire family! Dual zones so you can cook two different things at once, a broil setting baking setting, reheating setting and even dehydrate setting!! Best appliance I've ever bought!" —StaceyGet it from Walmart for $139 (available in seven colors). A Chopula cooking tool that is (infomercial voice) two, two, two kitchen tools in one! But seriously, what could be simpler than no longer having to switch between a ton of different kitchen implements? The Chopula is a flexible spatula to loosen whatever food has decided that the surface of your pan is its new home; it's also a chopping tool that can even cut meat! Plus, it has a curved design that will keep it from dripping food all over your counters. That's also one less utensil to wash (and one less counter to wash). A hands-free pot stirrer because sometimes, dreams really do come true (soup-based dreams, anyway). All you have to do is clamp it to the side of your pot, set the speed, and let it get to work while you do something more fun than stirring, which could be... literally anything. A set of toss-and-chop salad tongs, aka "salad scissors," so you can make restaurant-quality salads at home quickly and easily, instead of putting in tons of effort and just ending up with a weird, sad pile of spinach and croutons. These scissors will chop any veg or protein you throw into them while also mixing up the ingredients better than you would with big, clunky salad tongs. And you can chop right in the bowl — so that's one less cutting board to clean. (And truly, is there anything worse than washing a cutting board?) A stainless-steel avocado tool because trying to get that pit out with just whatever knives you have lying around the house is a fool's errand — and attacking the skin with spoons and knives to scrape out those last dregs of 'cado is even worse. This tool will help you remove the avocado's skin and pit and then slice it for a visually appealing smash it up to make some delish guac. Promising review: "Avocado? Yes, Please! This tool is awesome. Easy to cut open the fruit. Pit remover works well, just push onto the pit and give it a twist, and the pit pops right out. The best part is the slicer. Makes beautiful slices for a great presentation. The tool can then be used to scrape any remaining fruit out of the skin. Really happy I bought this!" —NPR ManGet it from Amazon for $9.99. A microwave pasta maker, so if you get into that "too exhausted to even deal with bringing a pot of water to boil" headspace, you'll have options. Just put your pasta in the container, add water, pop it into the microwave, and when it's done, use the container to strain it. No mess, no extra cookware — just you, chowing down on spaghetti in less than 10 minutes, like the universe intended. A microwave potato cooker because a baked potato should be the perfect convenience food (tasty, good excuse to eat sour cream, etc). The only flaw? It takes a very inconvenient 45 minutes to an hour to bake them. But no longer! With this handy-dandy sleeve, you can have a baked potato in 2–4 minutes, aka the exact correct time frame. Simplicity itself! Plus, it can bake up to four potatoes at once and make corn on the cob! A breakfast sandwich maker so your stomach can have a new best friend. This miracle machine cooks every element of a breakfast sandwich in a single place, all at once. So no more "eggs in one pan, bacon in another pan, bread in the toaster, oh my god, what's that burning smell??" — only morning deliciousness. A rapid defrosting tray because your whole dinner plan shouldn't have to be overhauled just because you forgot you were supposed to take the chicken out of the freezer three hours ago. Don't fear! This tray uses natural aluminum to defrost your frozen goods way faster than just leaving them out on the counter. I don't understand how it works! I just know I don't have to wait until 10 p.m. to have dinner now, and that's good enough for me! A set of four nonstick, heat-safe sheet pan dividers so you no longer have to figure out how to cook your main and sides all on a single pan. Stop wasting valuable time worrying, "Will the rosemary chicken get covered in asparagus juice? Will the asparagus get covered in rosemary chicken juice?" Instead, just pop it in the oven, and brace yourself for deliciousness. A Dash rapid egg cooker because, honestly, is there such a thing as a time of day that isn't right for an egg-based snack? (I swear, an egg did not pay me to say that.) This handy kitchen buddy can hard boil, soft boil, poach, or scramble up to six eggs — it can even whip up omelets! All you have to do is add as much water as instructed, add in all the eggs you want cooked, and, bam! Your fave protein, cooked your fave way. The internet-beloved ceramic Always Pan from Our Place that basically does it all: it steams, sautés, fries, and braises, all with one pan. That means fewer pans to clean, fewer pans to store... just fewer pans to deal with. A Beautiful by Drew Barrymore electric griddle with a removable stainless-steel backsplash because it will ensure that you have an easy-breezy morning cooking experience, instead of starting your day with a cooking accident where an egg or sausage takes a swan dive onto your stovetop or (gulp) floor. Plus, reviewers say it's easier to cook (and clean up) different foods on this griddle than using several pans. Promising review: "10/10 will repurchase if needed or to gift someone. It's easy to use, clean and make any type of foods like breakfast and hibachi. This is perfect if you just want to make 2–3 things at the same time instead of using pans. Looks just like picture. Highly recommend buying this product and trying it out. It will not disappoint you." —anonymousGet it from Walmart for $49.96+ (available in eight colors). A hands-free plastic bag holder that will vastly simplify your life if you're cooking a stir fry or any other multi-ingredient dish. Just pop those bags open with these, and you won't have to worry about cross-contamination — or having the outside of the bag get all slippery because you touched it with olive oil hands. Promising review: "I used three of these to help me make freezer meals for after I have a baby. I can honestly say I don't know how I would have filled the freezer bags without these ingenious baggy holders. I was able to dump veggies, spices, meat, and cans of heavy beans and tomatoes into the bags, and they stood up the entire time without sliding or spilling. One of the bags I stuffed literally to the brim, as full as it could go, and the bag did not fall down. I would definitely recommend these." —Grace a pack of two from Amazon for $11.99+ (also available in packs of four and six, as well as individually). A microwavable sandwich press, because you want a nice, crisp grilled cheese, but you don't want to deal with a big, heavy, hard-to-clean electric sandwich press, or go the traditional route (i.e. butter up a pan, flip the sandwich with a spatula, accidentally burn your first attempt at a sandwich, etc). Reviewers say this tool can whip up a crispy grilled cheese or other hot sandwich in the microwave in minutes, no spatula or tears required. Promising reviews: 'I was unsure how well this would work, when I first saw it. However it works great. I made crispy on the outside and gooey cheese inside sandwiches. I am going to try it with other ingredients. I put it in the top rack of our dishwasher and it cleans beautifully." —M Smith"Just enter the time and that's it. Doesn't get any easier for consistently good sandwiches. What's not to love? I definitely would recommend this product." —BobGet it from Amazon for $23.99. A spill stopper that does exactly what it says — place it on top of your pot, and if any water happens to boil over while you're not looking, this device will catch it. What a relief to no longer have to babysit that pot of ravioli. A bagel guillotine because bagels are delicious and fun — but sawing one in half with the pathetic little bread knife you have at home? Way less fun. Pros use a bagel guillotine like this, which will cut your bagel into perfectly even halves in an instant, so you can get to the important part (simply drowning both halves in scallion cream cheese). An egg separator for anyone who's ever emitted an actual groan when a recipe called for separating an egg white from a yolk. Well, groan no more! This tool makes it easy to remove the yolk, without accidentally popping the yolk or getting a million little shell pieces stuck in your egg. Promising review: 'Love, love, love! In the fall of 2020, I made macarons every Friday. So, I needed to separate four eggs per week. Using this device has made that process much easier. Simply place an egg in the device, swirl it around a little, and ta-da! The only time I have ever had a broken yolk while using this device is if the yolk broke when I cracked the egg before I put it in the device. Reliable, easy, and worth every cent.' —Marielle DurrettGet it from Amazon for $7.95+ (available in one or two packs). A microwave bacon cooker because for such a simple, delicious treat, cooking bacon is messy and complicated. Avoid that splashing grease! Make sure you remember to flip! Ugh, forget it. But with this simple tool, you just set the microwave for 30–60 seconds per strip and you're on your way to Breakfast Happiness. Promising review: "I absolutely love this. Makes breakfast so easy . Bacon always crisp and after I take bacon out I crack an egg or two in the tray . The eggs are delicious dont taste greasy. Use it almost every morning." —REGINA PELLMANGet it from Amazon for $16.49.
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Buzz Feed
30 Products For When You Get The Urge To Deep Clean
A set of cleaning gloves because nothing says "I'm about to do work" like suiting up for the job. Cleaning gloves are great because you never know what you'll find when you start to get in those nooks and crannies. And this way, you won't have to touch any nasties with your bare hands or get any harsh chemicals on them. Promising review: "Out of the package, I was concerned these were too thin. After using them for a week, the thinness makes them better. My hands don't get too hot like in other gloves. The grip is wonderful. My hand is about 3.25" wide, so I bought a small. Great fit. They aren't skin tight, but they are tight enough and thin enough that I have good dexterity. So happy I bought them! Update: The first pair lasted about 4 months." —Amazon CustomerGet a set of three from Amazon for $11.19 (available in three sizes and also in packs of one or two). Windex glass cleaner, a classic glass-cleaning formula, but this time with no ammonia! You can get a streak-free shine without feeling lightheaded while wiping away the fingerprints of yesterday. Now the sun can really shine through. Promising reviews: "Windex, we all know what it does and how effective it is. Great product and great price. Will buy again. Have this item on auto buy every month." —Jason"Smells nice, works good, and leaves no streaks. Spray bottle is durable and I have had no issues with leaking so far." —Haley it from Amazon for $3.35+ (available in two sizes and a two-pack). An ice machine cleaner because it's been HOT! And, while we've been enjoying the benefits of 24/7 ice, we may not always remember to clean it. If you have a countertop or standalone ice-making machine, this cleaner and descaler will restore that ice to its best-tasting glory. Promising review: "Incredible Product! The photos and video speak for themselves. My ice maker was NASTY, and I was planning on throwing it out. I decided to give this cleaner a try as a last resort. It's SO much cleaner! My ice maker looks almost brand new! I definitely recommend this cleaner!" —LisaGet it from Amazon for $15.95. A pack of wood wipes designed specifically to spruce up your wood furniture. Reviewers love the convenience of the pre-moistened wipe and say that it not only handles the job, but it leaves their furniture looking and smelling great. Promising review: "I enjoy these much better than a can of spray and a rag to wipe. The convenience is key with these wipes. It's the best part. They work just as well as the alternative. Each wipe is well moisturized to do the job, and the pouch reseals so it stays that way. It cleans the area well, leaves no streaks, residue or dust specks. It smells good too." —SalGet it from Amazon for $3.98 (available in other pack quantities) A plant-based all-purpose cleaner because you're not the type of tidier who'll switch between cleaning products per surface you clean. You like a no-muss, no-fuss approach because the quicker you clean, the quicker you can be finished. This is the cleaner for you *and* as an added bonus, reviewers say it smells AMAZING. Promising review: "This is one of the few natural cleaners that actually works! I can't find this particular type, the geranium scent, in my store so I was happy to find it online. I would definitely recommend it." —Christine it from Amazon for $4.88+ (available in eight scents). A verbena and lemon zest granite and stainless steal cleaner because perhaps you weren't totally clear on the fact that sometimes different surfaces need a different type of love and attention. And, perhaps, you found that out the hard way. To preserve what's left of your countertop, use this instead! Promising review: "I love this cleaner for my black granite and stainless steel appliances. It's my go-to!" —emilyGet it from Thrive Market for $5.99. A pack of duster sponges because who knows what to use to collect all of the dust, hair, and other miscellaneous items that accumulate on your baseboards or corners? Just dampen and wipe — anyone can do that. When you're done, rinse it off, and you're ready to use it again. A set of six microfiber cleaning cloths in different textures that are cost-effective because you can use them, wash them, and reuse them again. They're great for cleaning many surfaces for a streak-free shine. And they are particularly good for electronics, glass, and windows. Promising review: "We use these every day for cleaning! We have about three packs worth! Amazing quality comes with variety, and can't beat the price!" —LpGet it from Target for $10.49. A tub of 60 electronic wipes that's basically like waving a magic wand over your TV or computer screen so you can see the true colors of every outfit during your weekly Stranger Things rewatch with the besties. Promising reviews: "Great product. I was concerned at first because my TV was really bad. It cleaned it very well with just one wipe. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a great fast cleaner for electronics." —rhonda hanft"MiracleWipes for Electronics Cleaning of TV Monitors and Computer Screens work really well. I will definitely buy more in the future. I've been looking for something like this for over a year. They are very easy to use and gave me a new flat panel 65" TV screen — I can actually see the movies now. I highly recommend this product." —J.P. LawrenceGet it from Amazon for $12.77. A bottle of Hope's Perfect Sink Cleaner and Polish, made to clean, polish, and restore brushed stainless steel, porcelain, cast iron, and other surfaces to their like-new appearance. Great for renters who aren't able to replace the dingy sink and people who have an aversion to cleaning. A stainless steel cleaner made with natural essential oils to safely remove watermarks, residue, and grease from your steel sinks and appliances. A couple of sprays and wipes, and it's back to looking model-home new — no skill required. A microfiber window blind cleaner just begging to ~wow~ the crowd by showing you how disgusting the in-between crevices of your blinds can be (no judgments). This task probably *seemed* like something better left to the professionals, but with this handy tool, anyone can do it. (Even you!) A Pikk-it tool because you were finally on a roll and deep into your cleaning mode when all of a sudden hair gets tangled in the vacuum, stopping your mojo. You can use this brush to safely remove it from your vacuum and also your hairbrush. A pack of Bissell Stomp 'N Go pads so easy to use, you'll wish you'd thought of them sooner. All you have to do is set the pad down, stomp on it, then toss it. It works on both fresh and set-in stains! A box of Dropps detergent to zero in on odors and stains lingering on your clothes. While you're taking care of the other messes of the home, you might as well work on the laundry pile. This *drop* of detergent packs a punch and does so without the use of dyes, phosphates, phthalates, and parabens. Oh! And it just *dropped* a new mesmerizing scent — orange blossom. Don't be surprised if your friends think you've stumbled upon a new perfume. Promising reviews: "Fresh Scent, our favorite orange blossom, does a great job cleaning work clothes. Bath towels, especially in the summer humidity, can get less than fresh smelling but the Dropps are more than up for that challenge." —Plain J"Love these pods! They easily tackle smelly boy clothes and stinky workout gear. The orange blossom scent isn't overpowering, just subtle enough to smell when I pull them out of the dryer." —AHGet a box of 64 from Dropps for $ shop the brand including other scents on Amazon. A far-reaching dryer vent lint brush ensuring you can get down and dirty with all that lint clogging those vents. An enormous amount of lint might be congregating in the deep, making this far-reaching brush exceptionally useful. It'll reduce fire risk and ensure your dryer is more efficient. A jar of The Pink Stuff, which hardly needs an introduction unless you've quite literally been living under a rock. This stuff is the secret weapon to tackling all of your most difficult cleaning projects easily and quickly. And because you're not the label reader your roommates are, you'll be happy to know that you can use this stuff on everything. Promising reviews: "Pretty powerful with zero elbow grease required. Before and after of a shower drain." —Christina"This tub of magic is a staple in our house. I use it on everything! It's the best cleaning paste I have ever used. It's nonabrasive yet very powerful. Works great on scratches in the kitchen sink, pots, pans, stovetops, etc. This summer, I used it on our boat upholstery and was blown away by the results." —Amy it from Amazon for $5.97. A pack of Keurig cleaner pods that makes cleaning the inside of your machine as easy as brewing a cup of coffee. After a good cleaning, your morning ✨cup of joe✨ will go back to being the best part of waking up. Brace yourself for what might be hiding in your Keurig machine in this TikTok review: "I bought this product because the needle in my Keurig 2.0 keeps clogging, causing inconsistent brew and taste. These cleaning cups fixed both of my issues, and I especially liked that it was really quick and easy to use…I put the cleaning pod in and ran one cycle, then took the pod out and ran a rinse cycle to clean out any leftover grinds. FAST, EASY, and GREAT results…VERY HAPPY!!" —Corey WestGet it from Amazon for $9.95 for a pack of six (available in three pack sizes). A tub of heavy-duty cleaning wipes that won't break apart when you're using them to tackle big jobs. The wipes are soaked in an industrial-strength formula, which helps them to break down tough stains like grease, ink, marker, wine, and more. Working with that formula is aloe, vitamin E, and lanolin to keep your hands protected, too. A Baseboard Buddy — a genius device that'll make cleaning your baseboards a breeze. What used to take hours and involved you getting down on your hands and knees with lackluster results can now take mere minutes. It'll save your back from extra strain, too. Rubbermaid's power scrubbing brush reviewers say will get the dirt out of your nooks and crannies quick, and with great results. You can finally scrub out that old conditioner that's chilling in the corner of your shower. Promising review: "I bought this because I saw a TikTok video — glad I bought it! I use it in the bathrooms, outside on the grill, pretty much anywhere, and it works!!!! It looked like an electric toothbrush, so I was skeptical, but it's way more powerful. Definitely use it with The Pink Stuff cleaner. It works great and doesn't scratch." —Margaret LewisPromising review: "The Power Scrubber is life-changing. I bought it several weeks ago with the intention of doing a deep clean 'sometime soon.' After an overflowing toilet incident, I had to make sure it got done right away. MY GROUT HAS NEVER BEEN CLEANER. I used some Comet and spray cleaner to get the job done, but this made short work for what typically requires 'a lot of elbow grease' and a spent toothbrush. With this tool, you really know you're getting in there and it's clean. I can't recommend this enough — I've already mentioned it to a neighbor, and a few friends, including one fanatical cleaner. We all agreed, it's such a necessary, perfect product." —JojoGet it from Amazon for $ learn why my BuzzFeed Shopping colleague loves this, check out our full Rubbermaid Power Scrubber review. A dishwashing spray because scrubbing dishes for a long time after meals is not ideal for you. This cleaning gem makes it easy: spray it on dirty pots or plates, let it sit for a bit, and wipe away stubborn grease and grime with minimal effort. Some Rain-X shower door cleaner ready to tackle those hard water stains and soap scum build-up plaguing your shower door. You'll be able to shower with confidence now that you can see that there's no one lurking on the other side of the steam. A ChomChom pet hair roller because your pets love to roll around the loveseat when you're not home and leave tiny piles of hair so you'll know they've been there. The ChomChom has a reusable brush that grabs every strand of hair and lint as you clean. Once you're done, empty it, and you're good to go. A bottle of Angry Orange citrus deodorizer for those pet odors that keep visitors at bay. No more being embarrassed by that super strong smell, this deodorizer is made for TOUGH JOBS. Added bonus: your cat or dog might hate the smell so bad that they'll STOP peeing on your stuff. A garbage disposal cleansing tablet because that odor that you can find in your kitchen is probably coming from the drain. If you're a fan of horror films, you probably have no interest in reaching your hand into the beyond in order to scrub it. This cleaning packet will do ALL the work for you. Just sit back and marvel. Watch this cleaner in action in this TikTok video. Promising review: "Holy cow I didn't realize how easy and quick it was to clean a garbage disposal until I bought this product! Typically, in my naïve thinking, I'd just use vinegar and baking soda down the drain and call it good. Little did I know that there was an actual cleaning product available until I stumbled across it through a BuzzFeed article. So of course, I had to try it. Very simple instructions: it literally takes five minutes and some hot water and VOILÀ! You have a clean, no-longer-stinky garbage disposal. Let me say that anytime I got a whiff of an odor, all I did was drop one of those packs in the disposal and the smell was GONE! Plus the blue foam bubbling through the sink was amusing to watch ;-). Worth every penny!" —VadersGirlGet four from Amazon for $3.78+ (available in four pack sizes). A concentrated leather cleaner you can use to fool your family into thinking you went out and bought a new couch in the middle of the night. Yeah, that's not a pattern on your couch; it's chocolate drizzle from that sundae you got in '07. A cleaner and deodorizer so you can revive your old carpet or dingy white area rug. You thought you'd need a professional carpet cleaner for this job, but nope! Just give this nontoxic, cruelty-free formula a chance and make your carpet look ~like new~ again — no scrubbing or expertise needed. A slim microfiber duster you can slide into those hard-to-reach areas. It's almost like a magnet, attracting dust to the duster as you wipe the surface. It's easy to clean, just pop it off and toss it in the washing machine and you're ready to bust some dust again. A 20-pack (!) of extra-thick magic cleaning pads that reviewers agree is a great swap for the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. These durable cleaning pads put in the extra work so your body doesn't have to. They literally take your dirty jobs and make them disappear. Oh, oh, oh, it's magic, you know. 🎵✨ When cleaning becomes your happy place: Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
