29 Mundane Things That'll Actually Elevate Your Life

Buzz Feed

27-01-2025

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.
Shopping
·
You've probably never been this excited to order a trash can in your life.
1. A WD-40 pen for those of you who keep being woken up by the incessant squeakiness of your door. Just use this small pen — which can reach the most hard to get to spaces — to lubricate and prevent rust buildup on your hinges. Finally, get a good night's sleep now that the sound of your partner opening the door doesn't wake you up before your alarm.
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 car trash can you can clip onto the headrest so you can throw away that Whopper wrapper properly — instead of stuffing it into the cupholder or tossing it onto the car floor and ruining your upholstery. Plus, this can help prevent ants from invading your car!
Amazon
Promising review:"This is the most useful little item I have EVER placed in my car for litter management. It's easy to use, easy to empty, AND it doubles as a spare cup holder when needed. I've ordered more for our other cars. The kids have really improved their management of basic tidiness in the car with this in our family vehicle. My husband has managed to keep the passenger seat easy for me to join him in his car, and now our teens will enjoy an uncluttered life in the 'teen mobile.'" — DW
Get it from Amazon for $5.99.
3. A ceiling fan carbon filter to help protect all you allergy-prone people out there by collecting dust, pollen, smoke, and dander as the fan spins. Just stick these unnoticeable filters onto the fans and breathe in the clean 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 $17.99.
4. A pack of towel clips so your towels don't keep falling onto the floor whenever you need them most (thanks, gravity).
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.
5. A touch-up paint pen for those little chips of paint or stains that need to be painted over in those hard-to-reach places where a large brush will absolutely not fit. Don't fret over painting the small corner of the baseboard that your child keeps somehow scratching — this pen has got you covered!
www.amazon.com
Slobproof is a woman-owned small business.
Promising review:"Works great, no mess! This was easy to use to touch up our son's bedroom corner walls." — Elizabeth
Promising review: "Love this — absolutely perfect for touchin' up little spots that need touchin' up. I have several sets filled with different paints, and so far, they've stayed usable without the paint drying out. I rinse the brush really well after each use (latex paints) and recap it. It would be nice if the manufacturer put an area on the pen where you could easily label the paint info, but I use a permanent marker, and it works okay." — Hooked on AMZN!
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $13.99.
6. Some Command cord bundlers because having a mess of wires cluttering the corner of your living room is an eyesore you don't want to subject your guests to. Keep them bound, neat, and out of the way so your little nieces and nephews don't accidentally trip on a fan wire when running around your home.
Promising review: "I've only used it on a few appliances, but the one getting the most action would be the one on our coffee maker. It can't be adhered to surfaces that get hot (like a slow cooker), so I was able to find a spot that doesn't when we use it, and it has held up great so far. I've been using it for a few months, and so far, so good. I hate having cords trailing around on the counter, and this helped fix that. Worth the investment." — TravelBuff
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $11.52.
7. An easily washable drip catcher that will stop your counters from resembling a slip-and-slide each time you wash your dishes. Plus, it prevents any water from getting trapped in those hard-to-reach areas around the faucet, so you don't have to worry about potential mold buildup.
Hustle & Sew / Etsy
Hustle & Sew is a small business based in Saint Helens, Oregon.
Promising review:"LOVE these splash catchers! They save me from having to chase the puddles that form around the base of our faucet before they start creeping over the counter. So reasonably priced, made well with neatly finished edges, and packaged with gift-ready care." — Alina
Get it from Hustle & Sew on Etsy for $13.50+ (available in four sizes and five colors).
8. Some bedsheet tags to ease the process of bed-making and sheet-storing. Instead of turning over your sheet a million times to find the bedsheet tag, you'll immediately know what corner belongs where.
Bed Corner Labels is a woman-owned small business based in Hermosa Beach, California.
These labels can be left on sheets while they're in the washer and dryer. They can also be detached and reattached a limited number of times.
Promising review: "They're easy to attach to sheets and look better than the safety pin I was using to designate the long side of my king-sized sheets." — ESimms5555
Get four labels from Bed Corner Labels on Etsy for $13.75+ (available in larger sets and eight styles).
9. A mold and mildew remover gel because the last thing you want to do on your day off is sprain a wrist trying to scrub out the pinkish mold from that long-neglected bathroom tile. Just spray, wait 15 seconds, and watch the mold disappear. Lazy cleaners everywhere rejoice!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Wow! I would give this 10 stars if I could. We've had issues for a few years with the caulking behind the handle of our kitchen faucet turning black from mildew. We've scrubbed with what seems like a million different products with no luck. We were actually just talking about ripping out the caulking and doing a total replacement. But my husband saw this online the other day and decided to order it. Almost immediately, when he applied it, you could see it was starting to work. We left it on overnight, and the black is COMPLETELY GONE! It's incredible. It's 1,000% worth the (small) investment. Seriously — just buy this. It's amazing!!" — Nicole D.
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
10. And a bleach-free, no-scrub weekly shower spray so you can continue your Love is Blind marathon without the need to set a timer and go back to man's worst enemy: scrubbing. Just spray it, literally forget about it, and rinse it the next day — no manual labor required.
Amazon
Promising review:"We cannot BEGIN to tell you what a lifesaver this is! We have two old fiberglass tubs with vinyl shower enclosures that, no matter what amount of scrubbing we have done with everything from bleach to cleanser to vinegar and baking soda, would NOT come clean. After I took my shower last night, I sprayed down the tub and walls. Within minutes, all the built-up water deposits, dirt, and grime began to melt away in front of my eyes. I left it on overnight, and when I got up this morning, it did not look like the same tub and shower. This product is a godsend, especially for old folks like us who have difficulty getting down on our hands and knees and scrubbing anything. More importantly, it performs as advertised. We plan on using it as part of our weekly cleanup routine. This is truly an overnight sensation!" — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $20.98 (available in two scents).
11. A beeswax wood polisher to bring some shine to those worn cabinets and furniture that seemingly keep fading each and every day. No, you don't need to replace your wooden dining table that has suffered numerous dings and dents over the years — simply use this polish on a regular basis.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Okay, I never really write reviews. Who has time for that? But holy cow I am AMAZED by the improvement this product gave my coffee table! I run an in-home daycare and have become disgusted at the state of our solid and expensive wooden coffee table. This product is magic! The table looks brand new! It was so easy to use, too. Thank you!" — Clinton Baker
Get it from Amazon for $7.49.
12. A pack of shelf dividers because you're tired of the uneven piles of clothes that wobble on your closet shelves. Don't risk the stack of jeans toppling over every time you try to remove one from the Leaning Tower of Denim — just use these dividers to keep your folding stacked high and neat!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"These work great! They work so well that I installed them and forgot them. My bureau is pretty deep, and my clothes would all fall on top of each other and become a big mess. Now I'm pretty organized with my T-shirts." — Pathfndr
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
13. A set of bed bands to keep your fitted sheet perfectly assembled — instead of snapping off at the slightest movement you make.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"We have a rather deep mattress and added a memory foam topper, which gave our fitted sheet a real stretch to be able to securely tuck at the corners and not slip off. It would hold some of the time, but we frequently had a corner or two slip off during the night. After giving Bed Band a try our fitted sheet slipping problem is solved! The clamp design grips like iron, but the best part is the adjustable bands that allow for a quick final fit after installing the clamps. This makes for a much simpler installation, and with a product that, by its nature, needs to be removed and re-installed repeatedly (sheet washing), ease of installation is critical. Bed Bands is the clear design winner for function and ease of installation. A stellar product design at an affordable price!" — David K
Get a pack of four bands from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in three colors, two lengths, and multi-packs).
14. A pack of double shower hooks so you're not having to disassemble your whole shower set-up just because you need to change the curtain or liner. Just slip the curtains on one side of the hooks, and attach the liner to the other. Seriously — why didn't I think of that?
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Wow. Game-changer. I have to change my shower curtain liner a lot because of a humid bathroom (yes, even with a fan on 😬). Though there are greater issues in the world, why wouldn't you want to save yourself some time with these hooks? Not having to take the curtain off each time I change the liner has really been more satisfying than I had anticipated. An added bonus is the rings themselves: The balls that were added hug the shower curtain rod, so they never pop off. Something I never knew I needed either. Love these!" — Jdbouchart
Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in 19 finishes).
15. A heavy-duty oven scrub made from natural plant-based ingredients perfect for wiping away the droplets of sauce that have been staining the inside of your oven for who-knows-how-long. No need to leave a bunch of chemicals sitting overnight — this potion-in-a-jar will simply wipe it away before your very eyes.
Everneat / Etsy
Everneat is a small business based in Fairfield, Connecticut, that specializes in natural cleaning products.
Promising review:"This product is amazing! It works fast with pretty minimal elbow grease. The stainless-steel sponge that comes with it makes it easier. And it smells great!" — Melissa C.
Get it from Amazon and Etsy for $20+ (available in three scents).
16. The Baseboard Buddy — a pain-saving gadget with 360-degree swivel so you're not getting down on your hands and knees or stretching as high as you can to reach those hard-to-clean surfaces and corners. Don't let those dust bunnies accumulate on your baseboard to the point that your home resembles a haunted house — this adjustable handle will make the chore so easy and quick to do before your aunt arrives for evening tea.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
The kit comes with one Baseboard Buddy and three reusable pads that can be used wet or dry.
Promising review: "This was so easy to put together. I sprayed it with my favorite counter spray and did all the baseboards and door and window frames on my first floor in under 15 minutes!! That's three bedrooms, three bathrooms, kitchen/dining room, living room, hallway, and mud room in under 15 minutes. It used to take me almost half a day and very sore knees and back. I even dusted the tops of some picture frames. Very easy to rinse off when I was done. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to cut time on cleaning and for people who can't/don't want to bend over, kneel down/get on a step stool or ladder." — Suziehomemaker
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
17. A pack of dishwasher cleaning tablets you can just toss into the machine to clean up all of the gunk and odor-causing residue that can buildup over the course of a few months (or years). Your dishes will come out of the wash looking much cleaner after using one of these tablets.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:" Convenient, easy, quick way to keep the dishwasher fresh and working at peak." — Amazon Customer
Get a pack of six tablets from Amazon for $8.95.
18. A Souper Cube so you can freeze up perfectly proportioned nightly dinners in bulk. Meal prep has just gotten a whole lot easier with this silicone tray, which can store soups, stews, sauces, and more. Just grab this tray and heat up a cube for a quick and easy meal!
www.amazon.com
Each tray has four fill lines — 1/2 cup, 1 cup, 125 mL, and 250 mL — which is ideal for people who like to portion their food.
You may remember Souper Cube from Shark Tank (Lori invested in the company!). This small business was started by four friends who loved soup but hated food waste.
Promising review:"So happy that I found these. I'm the only one in my household who enjoys soup year-round. Have you ever tried to make homemade soup for one? I say it's impossible! But no longer. I can brew up the stock pot with bone broth or my favorite home soup. Fill up my Souper Cubes, freeze, pop out, store my goodies in a freezer bag, and I'm ready for the next batch!" — Debbie R. Texas
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
Check out my colleague's Souper Cubes review!
19. A rechargeable electric lighter to say goodbye to the days of messy fluid lighters and hello to clean and easy technology! It's also windproof, so you can safely use this lighter no matter the weather conditions. It also has a hidden lock safety feature, so you don't have to worry as much about your little ones getting their hands on it.
Heather Braga / BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I saw this product all over TikTok and decided to buy one for myself because I hate using regular lighters. It has a very long battery life and works like a charm. 10/10 would buy again." — Abriana
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in nine colors).
20. A foldable, slip-resistant "Sink Topper" for those who desperately require extra bathroom counter space. It's heat-resistant and perfect for setting down that curling iron you refuse to go a day without using. Plus, it has a textured surface so you can place your makeup brushes without the fear of them rolling onto the floor. (But if they somehow tumble down anyways, you can also use the textured surface to clean them).
Sink Topper is a small business that specializes in household-friendly organizing mats.
Promising review:"I was introduced to this item through TikTok and they weren't joking when they place certain videos on your 'for you page,' because they knew that I NEEDED THIS. It is super helpful for small sinks and I love the material. It doesn't slide around, it's wide enough for all my (at the moment) bathroom needs and I can easily fold it up and take it anywhere with me." — Allie West
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in two sizes and seven colors).
21. A beloved tub of pink cleaning paste you'll want to keep on hand when those kiddos start scribbling all over your walls right before guests are due to arrive for a dinner party. Don't put your all into scrubbing those doors — all you need to do is coat this stuff on any stains and simply wipe it away. This works on just about everything — bathtubs, faucets, stovetops, tennis shoes, walls covered in crayon. Everything.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
A lot of people compare it to the Magic Eraser in paste form, so even your weirdest, most stubborn stains will meet their match.
Promising review:"Found this product on TikTok. I don't think I've ever seen value like I do 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 $5.29.
22. A "Cup Claw," for those of us who keep having to shove the padding back into the tiny slit in the bra after it takes a tumble in the wash. This bad boy is a huge time saver when you're trying to find a viable bra and you're already late to work. Just use the tool to grab onto the padding like scissors and slide it back into the bra — without the need to straighten them out manually, which takes foreverrrr.
The Cup Claw / Via www.tiktok.com, The Cup Claw / Via www.instagram.com
Cup Claw is a US-based, family-owned small business specializing in fashion tools.
Promising review: "After so many lost bra pads, this has been a lifesaver. Instead of feeling immense amounts of frustration, trying to get the pads back into place, this works like a breeze. It is simple to use, effective, and takes a lot of stress out of life. If you are tired of fighting with pads to get them smoothed out and back into place I highly recommend this." — Wesley I.
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
23. An exfoliating mitten to leave your skin feeling glowy and brand new as it lifts away the dead skin. Who needs a spa experience when you have this scrub at home?
www.amazon.com
Several reviewers say they just throw theirs right in the washing machine to clean it! They also make a smaller one designed for the bikini area and a long, narrow back scrubber for hard-to-reach areas.
Promising review:"MAGIC. HOLY CRAP, I LOVE THIS MIT! This cleared up 80% of the 'chicken skin' I have INSTANTLY after one use. Also, it took off way more dead skin than any scrub I've ever used. I never write reviews, so I had to when I got this and loved it." — Cheyanne
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (also available as a pair).
24. A plastic bag dispenser so your Ziplocks can be organized and readily on hand for the times you quickly need to locate the quart-sized baggie for your PB&J sandwich. Eliminate the clutter in your drawers and pantry by snagging one of these.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok of the plastic bag dispenser in action. These include optional sticker labels so you know which size bag you're grabbing!
YouCopia is a woman-owned small business that specializes in home storage solutions.
Promising review:"I like it very much. Not so large. Lightweight. Would look nice on top of the counter. What I like is that you do not have to wrangle the box into the slots. Simply pick up the roll of bags from their packaging and put them in the designated slot." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three-, four-, or five-slot models).
25. A bottle of makeup brush shampoo for those long-neglected brushes that were once white instead of bronzer-colored-brown. This shampoo will wash away all the shadow and blush from your tools, so you don't have to buy a whole new pack every six months or so.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Well, I can happily say that this cleaner does a bang-up job! My brushes were saturated with old color, to the point that I thought I might need to spring for a new set. Aside from just looking bad, though, all that old color was probably affecting pigment and application any time I used them. A little of this cleaner, a handful of seconds working it in and rinsing, and my brushes look practically as good as the day I bought them! Saved me a ton of money in new brushes, and it didn't take away from my being-lazy time!" — JD
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
26. A silverware cubby with slanted compartments to maximize the storage space and give you wayyyy more wiggle room when you have more utensils than you could possibly hope to fit. You can happily buy those teeny tiny coffee spoons that you've been eyeing at Home Goods now with all of the extra space you've managed to free up.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
I use this in my kitchen! I have to admit...it hasn't exaaactly helped with organization. What it *has* done is created a neat and orderly spot for my utensils...opening up a ton of extra drawer space for my unruly stash of pens, bouillon cubes, drink flavor packets, and the like. Long story short — I recommend this for tidy and messy folks alike!
Get it from Amazon for $10.79.
27. A magnetic microwave cover for anyone tired of wiping away the droplets of spaghetti sauce that splatter across the white surface no matter how little time you put it into the microwave. With magnets on the top, this cover easily stays out of the way (but still conveniently on hand) for the times you don't necessarily need it.
www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok of the microwave cover in action.
Promising review:"If you live in a small space like I do, this will seriously change your life. No longer do I have to struggle to find somewhere to put my cover if I'm heating up a cup of coffee. Just attach it to the roof of your microwave. Hopefully, you have a flat surface; check before you buy. There is a slight learning curve as to where to put it or the force or lack thereof needed, but after a couple of times it's second nature. Love, love, love this product. I'm probably going to get some for Christmas presents next year, it's one of those items that you wouldn't necessarily buy for yourself but it will change your life." — Rachel
Get it from Amazon for $24.94.
28. A silicone magnetic stove shelf that will free up some much-needed counter and pantry space. It'll keep all of your cooking essentials nearby, so you no longer need to dig through rows of bottles to find the same cooking oil you use daily.
www.amazon.com
29. A set of pads for your elbows and knees for the parents on bath duty who don't feel like straining their knees on those cold bathroom tiles. It also comes with four pockets, so your important bath scrubs are immediately on hand!
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Very happy with this purchase! The kneeler is quite thick, and I had no issues with pain at all! Was able to bathe three kiddos back to back!!! The elbow rest was also very thick and the extra pockets are a plus to hold toys! Each side comes with suction cups to hold it in place. When it got wet, it dried quickly." — Miranda Shepard