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Buzz Feed
07-05-2025
- General
- Buzz Feed
32 Products To Solve All Your Annoying, Loud, Ugly, And/Or Furry Home Issues
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 · Turns out your idea of an oasis does not include banging cabinet doors and being perpetually covered in pet hair. 1. A fast-acting plug-in fly trap so you can lure in pests to meet their sticky demise without being forced to witness a gross bug graveyard like other less discreet traps. Promising review:"I can't say enough wonderful things about these handy little bug catchers! They are simple to use, cheap to refill, and catch a ton of small bugs and flies. I have eight of them now, all around my house! It's a little gross how many tiny flying insects are around…but it makes me feel a lot better now that I have these!" — Chris H. Get it from Amazon for $14.97+ (available in five pack sizes). 2. A set of sound-dampening bumpers because you're one more slammed door away from a casual meltdown. Slap these on everything— cabinet doors, drawers, headboards, etc. — to prevent unwanted banging and restore peace to the land. I put these on my kitchen cabinet doors and sliding closet doors. They're fantastic! Promising review: "So my parents' bathroom cabinets make a lot of noise and are all missing bumpers in the corners of the doors and on the frames. I put these on the other day, and life is sweeter without having to hear the cabinet doors slamming or closing each time they're opened. With the bumpers being clear and not of color, it's also aesthetically pleasing." — Jose Get a 300-pack from Amazon for $9.99. 3. A variety pack of LED light–blocking stickers if your alarm clock isn't just waking you up but keeping you up. These peel-and-stick dimmers are great for reducing harsh light from digital clocks, routers, chargers, and more! Amazon, Promising review:"Simple but perfect. I recently mounted my TV to the wall, and now, directly below it, is my TiVo box. The red and green lights are bright and occasionally distracting. After applying these, I can still see the lights (so I know when it is recording,) but they are a lot dimmer now and way less distracting. Thanks for a great product. I've also used these on a bedroom TV that had a bright red light when it was off. Couldn't sleep because it bothered me. LightDims saved the day there, too." — RandomReviewer Get 100 stickers from Amazon for $3.99. 4. A length-adjustable pet hair broom with rubber bristles for wrangling all the fur trapped in your carpet that your vacuum couldn't handle. If that's not enough to have you reaching for this broom constantly, there's also a built-in squeegee for corralling spilled liquids and cleaning glass. Promising review:"I have two corgis. Anyone who has ever been around a corgi knows they shed a ridiculous amount. This tool is literally the best thing ever. I use it before I vacuum or mop, and it's honestly disgusting how much stuff/corgi hair it gets up off my hardwood floors or carpet. WAY better than a normal broom. Lightweight and durable. Easy to store and clean. Does not leave any marks on my flooring. Cannot recommend this enough!!" — Kindle Customer Check out my coworker's FURemover Evrilholder broom review for more deets and some very satisfying hair removal photos! Get it from Amazon for $16.27+ (available in three styles). 5. A genius WD-40 pen that packs all the squeak-quieting, lubricating powers of the tried-and-true formula into a precision-tip pen that's much easier to use and even easier to keep on hand for quick fixes, so you don't let that squeaky door live on for far too long. 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 $12.86. 6. An oh-so-smart Pikk-it tool if shredding your fingers trying to rip the hair out of a clogged vacuum head is not exactly your idea of a good time. The pick end works wonders to untangle knots and can be used to clean out hairbrush bristles, too. Promising review: "Between myself (medium long hair) and my overly fluffy cat, a lot of hair and fluff was continually getting caught up on the roller brush of my vacuum. I dreaded vacuuming because it took so long to pull and snip the hairs wrapped up on the roller brush out with scissors. Not anymore! This silly, little, inexpensive thing works great! Super quick to remove all the hair/fur — in virtually a minute, then back to vacuuming with my lovely Miele vacuum." — MKS Get it from Amazon for $8.99. 7. A reusable pumice stone so you can quickly take care of those unsightly rings and hard water stains that you've been scrubbing at in vain since forever. Promising review:"My toilets had a few stains that no matter what cleaner bleach, scrubbing I used, I couldn't get them off…until this. A bit of hard scrubbing and my toilets are back white like new! Very easy and effective!" — Jennifer McCutchon Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (also available in multipacks). 8. An ultra-thin socket cover with an attached six-plug power strip if you're tired of bulky plugs and tangled cords being a big eyesore and preventing you from actually pushing furniture flush up against the wall. Promising review:"This product is awesome! We bought one in the office to stop a nearby chair from continuously hitting the outlet plugs. It solved the problem right away. So we ordered three more to use anywhere there is bulk on the wall. It saves space, makes arranging furniture and desks easy, and is clean-looking. Someone is a genius. Thanks so much!" — Jay Get it from Amazon for $21.95+ (available in four sizes and two styles). 9. And a TV cord cover because what's the point of having a mounted screen if power cords are just going to ruin the whole sleek aesthetic anyway? This self-adhesive channel tucks cords away, so you don't have to compromise your minimalist vision. Promising review: "These look great and are super easy to apply. This is the perfect solution for hiding a cord! It looks like it is just a part of the baseboard. Mine is covering a cable wire only, but I think they are big enough to hide more than one cord if needed. I didn't cut mine, and I bought two. You can tell where the two meet if you look closely. However, I do not think anyone would notice. I can't believe I let our cable cord sit across the floor for this long. I wish I would have found these sooner!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $18.79+ (available in three sizes, five colors, and in multipacks). 10. A Hear Doggy alligator toy that'll spare your ears from incessant high-pitched speaking. This toy is equipped with an ultrasonic squeaker only dogs can hear, so they don't miss out on an ounce of fun and you can protect your peace. Promising review:"When you squeeze this toy, the sound is just a faint air puff. Apparently, it sounds different to a dog. We can squeeze it when our puppy is in another room, and she will come running to inspect. She likes to tug at the felt pieces on the toy and incessantly bite the 'squeaker.' It's so nice to have a toy like this because I don't like the noisy ones." — tee Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in ten other styles and two sizes). 11. A pack of biodegradable foaming drain-cleaning pouches to effortlessly take care of all the out-of-sight grime clogging (and stinking) up your garbage disposal. Promising review:"My disposal developed a bad odor, and all the usual remedies failed to eliminate it. I bought the Glisten disposal cleaner without expecting it to work. It worked exactly as shown in the video, and the bad odor disappeared after one application. I intend to use it once every two weeks in the future. I am very pleased to have found this product. I was on the verge of replacing the disposal, which was otherwise working fine." — Errol Levine Get a four-pack from Amazon for $7.60. 12. A magnetic insulated door curtain so you aren't assaulted with a bone-chilling draft every time you walk past your exterior garage or patio doorways. Promising review: "I actually bought two. One on each side of the doorway. The doorway in my laundry room doesn't actually have a door, and the other side of the doorway can get to be at the same temperature as the outside. Having two makes it even easier to keep the heat in and the cold out. When picking out the dimensions, get bigger than you need so there is some overlap. Sometimes you have to give the bottom a little kick to make sure the magnets engage." — Michael Ciliberto Get it from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in 17 sizes and three colors). 13. A powerful mold and mildew stain cleaner because it'll lift the most terrifying grout and caulking stains without the back-breaking scrubbing. Just apply the concentrated gel formula, wait six to eight hours, and watch your stains (and your worries) wash down the drain. Promising review:" We moved into a new apartment, and the mold was out of control, and it was disgusting. We tried so many products to get it out until we found this one and decided to try it as we didn't have anything to lose. I'm so happy we bought this! This is basically concentrated Clorox as a gel, so it's so much easier to apply than the liquid, and it kind of stays in place. You just have to apply it, wait a few hours, and remove it (no scrubbing required). Just make sure your shower is dry when you apply it, and you'll be good to go. Definitely worth buying if you have the same problem and nothing has worked." — Chris Check out our Skylarlife mold and mildew removal gel review to learn more. Get it from Amazon for $14.99. 14. A patented ChomChom pet hair remover if Fido's shedding is taking over your home and you're sick of lugging out the vacuum every three seconds. This reusable option uses a bit of pressure, back-and-forth motion, and bristles to catch lint, and reviewers love it for quickly lifting hair from large hairy surfaces like couch cushions and blankets. ChomChom Roller is a Massachusetts-based small biz creating an eco-friendly, reusable alternative to sticky lint rollers. Promising reviews:" TikTok made me buy this, and it is money well spent!! I'm convinced my beagle sheds a full coat of hair and regrows it daily! I use this on my bed every single day, and it blows my mind how well it works. Before this, I was going through 4–5 disposable sticky rollers a month and spending three times longer to remove dog hair. I am buying these for everyone in my family as Christmas gifts this year! ❤️" — tiff4short Check out our ChomChom pet hair remover review for more deets! Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in four colors). 15. Plus, a portable gel lint roller for handling the never-ending supply of lint and pet hair that makes its way onto your clothes. Though the ChomChom rocks at furniture clean-up, reviewers note it falls short on last-minute clothing touch-ups. With this, you'll have a reusable option for any situation since it'll regain its stickiness once you rinse out the interior ball. Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok a bunch of times and finally decided to get it. I hate the paper lint rollers; they never seem to work that well, and I hate that I have to throw them away. This is awesome because it fits right in my bag, and I'm able to reuse it over and over. It's super sticky and works great!" — Ella Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in four colors and larger multipacks). 16. A four-pack of noise-dampening pads that just slide under your washing machine or dryer to absorb vibration and prevent laundry day from sounding like a full-scale demolition derby from the floor below. Amazon, IdeaWorks is a small biz specializing in problem-solving home products. Promising review: "Looked at all the reviews and decided the crack in my ceiling in the dining room was still worth them to try. Totally happy. The noise level from an upstairs front loader washer and minimal noise from the dryer is vanquished. The washer is in an overflow pan, but for the past six years, it has sounded and felt like it was going to come right into the dining room; it was so noisy." — SKRATCH Get them from Amazon for $8.01+ (available in packs of four and eight). 17. A pack of ceiling fan carbon filters to trap dust, pollen, dander, and other allergens with adhesive pads that stick right to the top of each fan blade. Now, you can breathe easy knowing there's an in-home filtration system working silently behind the scenes for you. 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 $21.99. 18. A pack of discreet towel clips so you can experience a world where your hand and kitchen towels don't spend more time balled up on the floor than they do hanging where they belong. 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 I had bought one sooner!" — Joanna Get a three-pack from Amazon for $12.99. 19. A customizable door draft stopper because you're paying top dollar for heat and not about to let any of that money go to waste. This works to plug up gaps that let in ambient noise and prevent your home from being cooled or heated with max efficiency. Simply cut to size, slide under your door, and enjoy a little extra $$$ in your pocket. Promising review:" It's saved us so much money on our energy bill we're definitely buying more and I encourage you to buy more if you want to save on your energy bills." — Kellykelly Get it from Amazon for $23.99 (available in larger multipacks). 20. Plus, some self-adhesive insulating weather strips for applying to the edges of drafty windows and doors to help keep cold air in, hot air out, and even dampen the sound of your roommate's three-hour-long Zoom meeting. Promising review:"Can't beat the price! Great adhesive strength. Using in Texas weather on doors to seal air leaks. The weatherproofing material itself is very pliable and soft, presuming it weathers the heat and humidity. Can split a roll into two thinner strips doubling your coverage or can double insulate using the entire roll offering a lot of flexibility." — Paul K. Get it from Amazon for $7.97+ (available in two sizes and four colors). 21. A bottle of Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator if you're going to war against lingering stinks that just won't go away. This pet-safe formula was designed for use in boarding kennels and feedlots, so you can rest assured that the one corner your cat likes to pee in won't be too big of a job. Promising review:"This product is amazing!!!! We have a Rottweiler pup and a bichon pup, and our house was feeling the PAIN! I tried everything and used to tell my wife, 'With all the science and technology in the world, we still can't come up with something that gets rid of the dog mark smell!' This product does everything and more. Just ordered another round. We were about to throw away some furniture due to the smell, and now, after use, we can keep it. Saved me hundreds. Well worth the money." — clayton s tonkin Get it from Amazon for $17.96+ (available in two sizes). 22. A pair of noise-reduction earplugs for taking the edge off of overwhelming noise pollution by quieting surrounding noises without fully blocking them out. It's a great option for anyone with auditory sensitivities that make sustained focus or relaxation difficult. The earplugs also come with a carrying case and eight different ear tips (XS–L) to ensure the perfect fit. Promising review:"You can hear people talk and hear music playing when wearing them. I took them with me to a concert, and they were so nice to use. Unlike most headphones, these don't become uncomfortable after an hour or two. They're a wonderful mix of hearing protection and focal listening." — ricky Get it from Amazon for $38.95 (available in four colors). A super-soft silicone version is also available for $19.95+ (available in eight colors). 23. A *self-cleaning* grooming brush to spend more time enjoying your pet and less time cleaning up all their hair. This multitasking tool helps manage shedding by reaching deep into the undercoat, and trapped hair can be cleaned from the brush with the simple push of a button. Promising reviews: "A dog brush that I don't have to pick dog hair out first, I thought this was some form of dark wizardry. But I don't care because this is awesome!" — "I've spent hundreds of dollars on toys, treats, houses, scratchers, etc for my cats. This is, hands down, not even close, the best money I've ever spent! I got so much fur off them, and they loved it! They look so sleek and shiny, and they are rolling around like kittens. They feel so fresh and happy. My cats are still young (all ages 4 and under) so they were pretty well groomed to begin with. I couldn't believe how many knots and snags were hiding in their fur. The whole time I was brushing them, they were purring and rubbing all over me, trying to get more. The self-cleaning feature is so easy!! A click of a button and all the hair falls off. The brush itself is bigger than what I anticipated. I thought my cats would be afraid of it, but once they figured out what was happening, they weren't at all. I got the original brush, which I thought would probably feel good (like a good back scratch!) And I was right. They loved it." — Samantha Get it from Amazon for $14.99. 24. Or a splurgeworthy, all-in-one vacuum pet grooming kit that combines a mix of de-shedding and grooming attachments with vacuum suction so you can easily manage your pet's coat at home without the usual (hairy) mess. The kit includes five attachments: a grooming brush, a de-shedding brush, an electric clipper with four comb attachments (6mm/12mm/18mm/24mm), a nozzle head, and a cleaning brush for collecting any fallen pet hair. Promising review:"I have two cats (who I found I'm allergic to) and two dogs. They need frequent brushing to ensure that I'm not going into an allergy fit due to the insurmountable hair everywhere. This thing is a beast and has helped so much when it comes to keeping up with some of the shedding that goes around here." — Messer Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (clip the $10 off coupon on the product page to get this price). 25. A secret litter box enclosure so you can hide away the single worst thing about owning a cat and pass it off as a flourishing (faux) plant. Promising review: "After four different styles of litter boxes, this one is the winner! More space than most standard boxes and is super easy to take apart and clean. The plant is realistic, and the pebbles it comes with weigh down the top fairly well. Great find, great price." — Tyler Cutro Get it from Amazon for $89.95+ (available in three colors). 26. Some magnetic air vent deflectors because the air is acting drunk and seems to be blowing straight at the wall instead of toward the center of the room. Ya know, where people actually hang out??? Promising review: "Such a great and simple solution to help redirect AC and heat. Super simple and easy to install. Universal fit makes it a cinch to work with any vents within the size range." — Heydaddy Get a pack of two from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in a pack of four and six). 27. A reversible water-resistant slipcover if there's a 0% chance you'll forbid your pups from snuggling with you on the couch, but you also don't want to risk any undue wear and tear on your cushions, especially this time of year. Promising review:"I don't usually write reviews (although, of course, I read them for every item I buy). Let me tell you, this is the best investment for our couches. We bought light grey couches even though we have two giant dogs and we foster dogs, so we needed to find a way to keep the couches in decent shape. These covers have paid for themselves and more. They have kept our couches in almost brand-new shape for close to two years. Dogs have peed on the covers and zero pee has leaked through to the couches. I have spilled water on it as well (and not just a little bit), and the cushion underneath is still dry. We will be buying a new set since they are two years old. But this is the best thing to keep your couches like new." — Maria A. Rojas Get it from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in 13 sizes and 35 colors). 28. A 12-pack of adhesive sound-dampening panels that won't make your living room feel like you're walking into a recording studio since the neutral design blends seamlessly with all kinds of decor. Promising review: "The lower entryway of our townhome is not ventilated to the best of its ability, and we don't have the most considerate neighbors, so I took a chance and bought these foam boards, and I am so thankful. They don't completely get rid of the sound, but they muffle and cancel out the majority of the noise, which gives us peace of mind. In total, I bought two packs, but I will purchase one more to fill in a little row of the top and the little section behind the mirror. Definitely a great buy!!!" — Gwen Edwards Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three colors). Also, check out similar panels that look like subway tiles and brick. 29. Or a customizable felt tile mosaic for a renter-friendly way to add some colorful pizzazz to your plain white walls while dampening sounds at the same time. They're made from recycled water bottles (a win for the planet!) and can even double as a too-cute pinboard for photos and keepsakes. Felt Right is a small biz transforming single-use plastic water bottles into felt tiles that look great and dampen sound. BuzzFeed Shopping writer Taylor Steele picked these for her home: "I chose a simple design because I know myself, and anything with several angles to contend with will make my brain hurt. But I love my felted wall! It adds much-needed color and texture to my living space. What was once a dull beige wall is now a colorful mosaic! And it's super easy to install, too. Though having a friend around to help you put adhesive tabs on the backs of each felt tile is great, too." Get it from Felt Right starting at $31.83+ (available in dozens of shapes/styles). 30. A battery-operated fabric shaver to help get rid of all those snags and pills making your furniture look tired and worn. It's like a tiny vacuum; just empty the detachable lint catcher when you're done and enjoy your revitalized sofa. Also, be sure to pick up two AA batteries! They're not included. It kills me inside when I see a favorite sweater start to pill, so I bought this exact shaver to spruce up some of my older knits. It's great and weirdly relaxing. When I first got it, I was de-pilling everything, from the intended sweaters to the throw pillows on our couch. It's a little loud, so your roommates may or may not come out of their rooms to see what you're it's totally worth it to make any pilled fabric look years younger. Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two colors and two styles). 31. A double-layer cat litter-trapping mat since you're tired of constantly getting litter stuck to your feet. The water-resistant mat features a honeycomb design that traps litter between layers so you can dump it back into your bin later. Promising review:"This litter mat is a lifesaver. I was facing a real issue with my two new kittens tracking litter EVERYWHER E, so much so that I was considering switching from the litter that I love to something non-tracking because there were no good alternatives. Much research later, I come across this mat. I will say it was bigger and more square than I thought, but I think that is a good thing! It is so large and covers the area well. Now, the litter tracking is 99% contained! Best litter mat I have ever had!" — Rachel Ray Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors). 32. A simple-to-use drain clog remover for helping you handle the wet, hairy monster living in your pipes without calling up your plumber. Barf bag not included. Promising review:"OMG!! I'm just speechless. The tub drain was a bit slow so, I decided to try this thing without much expectation. Stuck the plastic all the way down, moved the thing a little, and pulled it out. And I was so shocked at how much hair came out. It's probably all the hair that went down the drain over the seven you could make a wig out of it! Surprised I am not bald! So worth the money!!! Definitely recommend to everyone." — Kelly Get a six-pack from Amazon for $8.49+ (available in orange and green; also available in packs of four and twelve).
Buzz Feed
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Hide And Chic: 31 Products That Will Transform Those Eyesores Around Your Home
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. The IRL equivalent of waving a wand and shouting, "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Shoo" at messy cords, cracked tiles, and the mountain of shoes by the door. 1. A slender storage cabinet to transform that dead space in the corner into an aesthetic home for all the extra TP, cleaning supplies, and tissues that make your space feel cluttered. Promising review:"So easy to put together, I could put it together with my eyes closed. Fit amazingly perfectly between the tub and the toilet, and it has created so much more space, and my bathroom is no longer cluttered because of this product." — COS45B Get it from Amazon for $18.98+ (available in four sizes and 11 colors). 2. A fast-acting plug-in fly trap so you can lure in pests to meet their sticky demise without being forced to witness a gross bug graveyard like other, less discreet traps. Promising review:"I can't say enough wonderful things about these handy little bug catchers! They are simple to use, cheap to refill, and catch a ton of small bugs and flies. I have eight of them now, all around my house! It's a little gross how many tiny flying insects are around…but it makes me feel a lot better now that I have these!" — Chris H. Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (also available in larger pack sizes). 3. A set of shoe stackers because you've got 99 pairs of shoes and only one teeny tiny closet to store them in. These will practically double your shelf space by stacking your shoes one on top of the other, so you can clear away the perma-pile that's taken up residence by your front door. Promising review:"Confession time. I am a bit of a shoe fiend. These little shoe slots have allowed me to fit way more shoes in my closet shelving (yay!) AND having them organized like this keeps my shoes much nicer, since they aren't all scraping against each other. It also helps me remember which shoes I have, since they are all visible. :) The little heel stoppers pop out every so often when I am getting shoes, which is sort of annoying, but still a 5-star purchase." — MoniqueRamsey Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $39.99 (also available in a pack of 20 and 40). 4. A ventilated cable management box if you're tired of tangled cords trapping your feet and offending your eyes. Amazon Promising review:" A must-buy product for your messy home or office. Exactly what I was looking for to help save space and hide my cable cords." — Andrew Olson Get it from Amazon for $15.99. 5. Plus, an ultra-thin socket cover with an attached six-plug power strip for preventing bulky plugs and tangled cords from being a big eyesore that prevents you from actually pushing furniture flush up against the wall. Promising review:"This product is awesome! We bought one in the office to stop a nearby chair from continuously hitting the outlet plugs. It solved the problem right away. So we ordered three more to use anywhere there is bulk on the wall. It saves space, makes arranging furniture and desks easy, and is clean-looking. Someone is a genius. Thanks so much!" — Jay Get it from Amazon for $23.95+ (available in two styles and four sizes). 6. And a TV cord cover because what's the point of having a mounted screen if power cords are just going to ruin the whole sleek aesthetic anyway? This self-adhesive channel tucks cords away, so you don't have to compromise your minimalist vision. Promising review: "These look great and are super easy to apply. This is the perfect solution for hiding a cord! It looks like it is just a part of the baseboard. Mine is covering a cable wire only, but I think they are big enough to hide more than one cord if needed. I didn't cut mine, and I bought two. You can tell where the two meet if you look closely. However, I do not think anyone would notice. I can't believe I let our cable cord sit across the floor for this long. I wish I had found these sooner!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three sizes, five colors, and in multipacks). 7. A reusable pumice stone that'll quickly take care of those unsightly rings and hard water stains that you've been scrubbing at in vain since forever. Promising review:"My toilets had a few stains that no matter what cleaner, bleach, or scrubbing I used, I couldn't get them off…until this. I bit of hard scrubbing and my toilets are back white like new! Very easy and effective!" — Jennifer McCutchon Get it from Amazon for $13.99. 8. Wood polish and conditioner to turn back the clock on worn-out furniture with a combination of beeswax and orange oil that conditions and protects wood while also hiding dings and scratches. It enhances the natural beauty and depth of grain on finished *and* unfinished wood. Use it on antiques, dining tables, kitchen cabinets, wood doors and trim, etc. Promising review:"I'm not able to sand and stain my floors until spring, but they are so dry and worn. I bought this hoping to keep them moisturized until we can refinish, and I am amazed with this product." — nicole feather Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in three sizes). 9. Plus, a set of furniture repair markers and wax sticks, because a little wear and tear shouldn't mean a full-scale replacement. Find the right color, give any scratches a few swipes, and your worn-out wares will be looking good as new. They're designed for smaller scratches on wood furniture, wood laminate furniture (like the stuff from Ikea), and wood or wood-like floors. The kit includes markers *and* wax sticks in six colors: maple, oak, cherry, walnut, mahogany, and black. And yes, the sharpener for the wax sticks is included, too. Promising review:"These worked great. I had a bathroom vanity that had a few scratches on it. The markers covered them up beautifully and matched very well. There are a few color options to likely match whatever furniture you're trying to patch up." — Bri D Get them from Amazon for $8.99. 10. A mesh screen-cleaning brush so you can actually see through your windows instead of staring into an abyss of years-old slime and dead bug carcasses. Promising review: "Our screens are on a second-floor balcony. There really isn't any good way to clean the outside of the screens. Luckily, the fibers on this screen cleaner are small enough that they seem to fit through the screen and clean both sides. I'm sure it doesn't clean the outside as well as it does the inside, but any help is always appreciated. I was actually shocked at how much dirt came off the screens with this very simple tool. I used it wet with a small amount of dish soap, and it worked really well. I also appreciated that after I was finished, I was just easily able to rinse and dry the screen cleaner for future use. A simple tool at an excellent price." — BonjourBeautyByAmy 11. A variety pack of LED light–blocking stickers if your alarm clock isn't just waking you up, but keeping you up. These peel-and-stick dimmers are great for reducing harsh light from digital clocks, routers, chargers, and more! Amazon, Promising review:"Simple but perfect. I recently mounted my TV to the wall, and now, directly below it, is my TiVo box. The red and green lights are bright and occasionally distracting. After applying these, I can still see the lights (so I know when it is recording), but they are a lot dimmer now and way less distracting. Thanks for a great product. I've also used these on a bedroom TV that had a bright red light when it was off. Couldn't sleep because it bothered me. LightDims saved the day there, too." — RandomReviewer Get 100 stickers from Amazon for $1.59. 12. Some nonslip velvet hangers for transforming your closet full of chunky, mismatched plastic hangers into a cohesive realm where the hangers are slim, matching, and fit together SO much nicer. Promising review:"These hangers are amazing. They take up minimal space, are sturdy, and, best of all, the clothes don't fall down from them, so they keep everything looking neat. I have replaced all of the hangers in my closet with these hangers, and I couldn't be happier. I am pretty sure I now have double the amount of space. I love this product and would buy it again." — Vida Maars Get a 50-pack from Amazon for $22.99 (available in eight colors). 13. Plus, a set of legging-organizing hangers that are major space savers for any fitness and/or loungewear lover with an extensive legging collection that's quickly outgrowing their drawer space. Each hanger holds 10 pairs of leggings. Promising review:"Yes...I have too many clothes. I LOVE my leggings. These saved me soooo much room! Now I have much more space, AND I can see them all easier." — Larry Seymour Get a pair from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in three colors; sold individually or in multipacks). 14. A sturdy, lockable storage box to hide away miscellaneous clutter like pool toys, yard tools, and patio cushions in secure, weatherproofed protection. Plenty of reviewers also use it on their front porches to protect packages! Promising review:"Was really easy to assemble, looks exactly as advertised. Looks more expensive than it is. I bought this to put by the front door and instruct Amazon and deliveries to be put inside it so they don't sit at my door all day. Works great." — Nancy Novotny Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in six sizes, three styles, and nine colors). 15. A set of two adhesive shower shelves so you can replace your college caddy with a renter-friendly solution that has enough space to handle every body wash, hair mask, and bubble bath in your arsenal. Get a closer look on TikTok. Promising review:"I saw these shelves on TikTok and really wanted to try them out, as I have no shelves in my shower. The adhesion is impressive — they've stayed sticking for the past two weeks with no sign of letting up and are holding about four bottles of products on each of the two racks I have hanging. I thought for sure they would fall after showering or something, but they have stayed strong and held up. I'm so impressed! I'm sure I will purchase more in the future. Super duper easy to install. They look beautiful and modern and give my bathroom a totally different vibe. It's so nice to have a product like this available!! Thank you!" — Sara B Get it from Amazon for $28.79+ (available in two styles and four finishes). 16. An adjustable cabinet door organizer because now the pile of cutting boards permanently hanging out on your countertops will finally have an out-of-sight home where they're organized, on hand, and, most importantly, out of sight. It doubles as a two-tiered towel rack on the outside. Promising reviews:"This works great for my little kitchen. I put cutting boards and smaller cookie sheets in one and baggies of all sizes in the other. Easy extra space." — keldasings "I absolutely love this cutting board organizer! This holds all of my cutting boards with more than enough room and even makes for cute decor in the kitchen with the external towel racks. The height of the basket is adjustable, which helps make it easier to fit in a variety of different spaces! I may buy another one for cookbooks. :)" — Carly Mabli Get a set of two from Amazon for $29.99. 17. A nonslip slatted bath mat if your fluffy bath mat is looking (and smelling) a little worse for wear. This one gives your bathroom an instant spa-like feel with an easy-to-clean renewable bamboo, which naturally repels water. Promising review:"The material is great. It's soft but flexible, so it feels comfortable to step on but also sturdy beneath your feet. I got a bigger size, and it actually pulls the room together, making my tiny bathroom look rather chic. Honestly, I think it's great and better for the environment because I don't have to launder it every week." — JamieJo Get it from Amazon for $35.99+ (available in six sizes and three colors). 18. A pack of refillable multi-surface paint pens you simply fill with the paint of your choice for a quick and mess-free way to touch up chips on your walls or cabinets. Slobproof is a small business that makes paint touch-up pens. Promising review:"I keep these in my kitchen drawer and it's SO convenient for my painted cabinets! I moved into a house with older wood cabinets, and because it's such a small kitchen, I knew that painting the cabinets white (actually went with cream!) would make it feel so much larger! I LOVE the way they look, but inevitably (even though I sanded and prepped), I'll get little chips in the paint. These touch-up pens stay in my junk drawer full of paint at all times. The cap makes it so it never dries out and stays super clean. But I'm able to grab them any time and just touch things up so my cabinets ALWAYS look fresh." — Claire Flores Get a five-pack from Amazon for $24.99. 19. A roll of self-adhesive toilet sealant tape that'll tidy up that worn-out caulking in any room with all the DIY ease of a Command strip, so you can stop procrastinating and finally cross this chore off the list. Promising review:"Went on easily around the toilet; [it] looks so much better. Covered discoloration around the base, highly recommend." — Jerry Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in five sizes/styles). 20. Plus, an adhesive vinyl transition floor strip if there's a small cavern occupying the space where two rooms meet. This will cover the gap and give your floors a professional, polished finish. Promising review: "I have a weirdly tall transition to my bathrooms and struggled with getting a normal threshold to stay in the entrance to my other bathroom after laying vinyl tile, so I hesitated on doing the hall bath until I found this product. Problem solved! Looks great and doesn't budge! And affordable! I will definitely be ordering more for the long gap between my laminate and marble flooring in another area that I have hated for years." — m. white Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes and six colors). 21. A secret litter box enclosure to hide away the single worst thing about owning a cat and pass it off as a flourishing (faux) plant. Promising review: "After four different styles of litter boxes, this one is the winner! More space than most standard boxes and is super easy to take apart and clean. The plant is realistic, and the pebbles it comes with weigh down the top fairly well. Great find, great price." — Tyler Cutro Get it from Amazon for $89.95+ (available in three colors). 22. A toothbrush station so you can clear counter clutter and prevent goopy messes with a wall-mounted unit that stores and dispenses the perfect amount of toothpaste on your brushes every time. It's much more sanitary than leaving out uncovered brushes *AND* it conveniently holds four rinse cups. It holds five toothbrushes, and the two toothpaste dispensers use vacuum tech to get every last drop out of the tube. See it in on TikTok. Promising review:"I am SO happy I bought this for my bathroom! It looks so clean, it is easy to install, and it is easy to clean when toothpaste gets on it! The design is simple yet genius! My 5-year-old uses it with ease and she doesn't make a mess with the toothpaste tube anymore! I am extremely satisfied, and I have had it for three months now. TIKTOK made me buy it LOL!" — Stephanie Mendoza Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in four colors). 23. A pre-colored tile crack repair kit that even the most inexperienced DIY-er can handle. Simply find the right color (or mix kits if you need to), apply the liquid sealant to any cracks or chips, and use the built-in leveling tool on the end of the tube to finish the job. Promising review: "We have several long cracks in our ceramic tile floor, and I used this repair kit and was very surprised at how it filled the cracks and pretty much made them disappear. We are thrilled with the results." — Timothy G. Get it from Amazon for $18.49+ (available in 24 colors). 24. An expandable U-shaped shelf organizer because tiny cabinets shouldn't keep you from adding more spices to your already substantial collection. Now, you can actually see what you have before accidentally buying a third bottle of coriander. You can get several if needed, arranging them side by side if your shelf is wide enough or stacking them if you have a tall cabinet. Promising review:"Product is perfect for what I need it to do. Fits just right, is more than sturdy enough, and has made my absolutely nightmarish spice cabinet look awesome. No more duplicate spices going bad in the back of the cabinet! It's not at all difficult to assemble. Watch the assembly videos (they're short) before you start opening the parts bags. Otherwise, it's easy to get intimidated by all of the extra pieces." — Congaree Get it from Amazon for $29.99. 25. A decorative air vent cover if your old built-in registers lack a certain je ne sais quoi, and you're not about to let that stand. Promising review:"I bought these to replace the ugly, plain registers that were on my ceiling. Installed in less than 10 minutes, and they look beautiful. I ordered white grates and spray-painted them nickel to match my ceiling fan. Couldn't be happier." — AsMeow Get it from Amazon for $18.01+ (available in nickel and brass finishes). 26. A large-capacity rotating makeup organizer for turning that sprawling mess of lip balms and makeup brushes into a space-saving display fit for any department store. Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two sizes). 27. A wall-mount grocery bag dispenser to finally consolidate the overflowing bag of bags that has overtaken your cabinet. Promising review:"I had a handmade bag to hold my plastic grocery bags FOR YEARS!! When it finally tore so badly that I could no longer use it, I found this item. It's perfect! It's well-made, has a stainless finish, and has no sharp edges. It's mounted on the inside of my cabinet door, making it very convenient and freeing up some space in my cabinet. It holds 25–30 bags, probably more if you really stuff them in. I really like this dispenser." — Cubby Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 28. A faux book display made out of reclaimed materials that's sneakily hollowed out so you can transform rather-ignore eyesores like your Wi-Fi router into look-I-read decor. Covogoods / Etsy Covogoods is a Utah-based, woman-founded small business that specializes in storage solutions crafted from up-cycled books. Promising review: "We absolutely love our CovoBox. It fits perfectly into our cabinet, and the cable modem/router, AppleTV, and external hard drive, and their various cables are now cleverly disguised as Harry Potter books 1–7. Great customer service, quick delivery, and a fabulous product. Two thumbs way, way up!" — John Grace Get it from Covogoods on Etsy for $19.80+ (originally $33+; available in various customizations and sizes) OR from Amazon Handmade for $29+ (you'll choose customizations before adding to your cart). 29. A two-tier drawer organizer because it creates functional storage out of the overcrowded abyss residing under your sink. Welcome to a whole new world where opening a cabinet doesn't trigger an avalanche of half-empty shampoo bottles and cleaning supplies. Promising review: "I saw great reviews on this item, so I took the plunge and ordered two sets of them. They were a little pricey, but I am so happy with the product that I think the price was completely worth it! These organizers are much better than other plastic drawers I have used in the past. With the way they are designed, items don't get stuck in the drawers, they are easy to slide, they are spacious, and they have little removable 'sections' that you can use to organize the inside of the drawers. All in all, this was a great purchase, and I would make it again in a heartbeat." — Tess HDP Get it from Amazon for $18.83+ (available in three colors and with dividers). 30. A panel of faux ivy vines for bringing privacy and shade to your outdoor space with a more au natural look and feel. That chain-link fence you despise? The perfect canvas for some sprawling greenery. Snag some green zip ties, and you're ready for easy, tool-free installation! Promising review:"I ordered two of these faux-ivy panels to cover up the large wooden fence surrounding my patio. I needed some greenery to balance all the industrial materials and urban landscape. I am very pleased with the outcome!! The panels have been up for a few weeks and have withstood several rain showers and some harsh winds with no problems. Great purchase!" — Myia E. Get it from Amazon for $31.99+ (available in three sizes). 31. A set of glass jars with bamboo lids that include pre-printed labels and will house countertop chaos like cotton swabs, hair ties, and floss picks in impeccable style. Is this your bathroom or a B&B suite? Tough to say. The set of 12 labels includes six blank ones so you can write your own and six pre-written ones with various bathroom needs (Cotton Balls, Cotton Swabs, Cotton Pads, Hair Ties, Floss Picks, Bath Salt). Promising review:"These are actually cuter than I expected! They are a tad smaller than some I've seen, but they actually looked great and can hold plenty of cotton swabs and cotton balls in the spare bathrooms. I have mine on a serving tray with a candle and vase, and they look great without taking up too much space!" — tara savage Get the set of four jars from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in packs of two and three).
Buzz Feed
08-04-2025
- General
- Buzz Feed
33 Products To Help You With Some Of The Problems Currently Plaguing Your Home
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. Cross perma-furry carpets, drafty doors, and cord clutter off your list of household woes. 1. A fast-acting plug-in fly trap so you can lure in pests to meet their sticky demise without being forced to witness a gross bug graveyard like other less discreet traps. Promising review:"I can't say enough wonderful things about these handy little bug catchers! They are simple to use, cheap to refill, and catch a ton of small bugs and flies. I have eight of them now, all around my house! It's a little gross how many tiny flying insects are around…but it makes me feel a lot better now that I have these!" — Chris H. Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in five pack sizes). 2. A set of sound-dampening bumpers because you're one more slammed door away from a casual meltdown. Slap these on everything— cabinet doors, drawers, headboards, etc. — to prevent unwanted banging and restore peace to the land. I put these on my kitchen cabinet doors and sliding closet doors. They're fantastic! Promising review: "So my parents' bathroom cabinets make a lot of noise and are all missing bumpers in the corners of the doors and on the frames. I put these on the other day, and life is sweeter without having to hear the cabinet doors slamming or closing each time they're opened. With the bumpers being clear and not of color, it's also aesthetically pleasing." — Jose Get a 300-pack from Amazon for $9.99. 3. A variety pack of LED light–blocking stickers if your alarm clock isn't just waking you up but keeping you up. These peel-and-stick dimmers are great for reducing harsh light from digital clocks, routers, chargers, and more! Amazon, Promising review:"Simple but perfect. I recently mounted my TV to the wall, and now, directly below it, is my TiVo box. The red and green lights are bright and occasionally distracting. After applying these, I can still see the lights (so I know when it is recording,) but they are a lot dimmer now and way less distracting. Thanks for a great product. I've also used these on a bedroom TV that had a bright red light when it was off. Couldn't sleep because it bothered me. LightDims saved the day there, too." — RandomReviewer Get 100 stickers from Amazon for $1.59. 4. A length-adjustable pet hair broom with rubber bristles for wrangling all the fur trapped in your carpet that your vacuum couldn't handle. If that's not enough to have you reaching for this broom constantly, there's also a built-in squeegee for corralling spilled liquids and cleaning glass. Promising review:"I have two corgis. Anyone who has ever been around a corgi knows they shed a ridiculous amount. This tool is literally the best thing ever. I use it before I vacuum or mop, and it's honestly disgusting how much stuff/corgi hair it gets up off my hardwood floors or carpet. WAY better than a normal broom. Lightweight and durable. Easy to store and clean. Does not leave any marks on my flooring. Cannot recommend this enough!!" — Kindle Customer Check out my coworker's FURemover Evrilholder broom review for more deets and some very satisfying hair removal photos! Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in three styles). 5. A genius WD-40 pen that packs all the squeak-quieting, lubricating powers of the tried-and-true formula into a precision-tip pen that's much easier to use and even easier to keep on hand for quick fixes, so you don't let that squeaky door live on for far too long. 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 $14.99. 6. An oh-so-smart Pikk-it tool if shredding your fingers trying to rip the hair out of a clogged vacuum head is not exactly your idea of a good time. The pick end works wonders to untangle knots and can be used to clean out hairbrush bristles, too. Amazon, Promising review: "Between myself (medium long hair) and my overly fluffy cat, a lot of hair and fluff was continually getting caught up on the roller brush of my vacuum. I dreaded vacuuming because it took so long to pull and snip the hairs wrapped up on the roller brush out with scissors. Not anymore! This silly, little, inexpensive thing works great! Super quick to remove all the hair/fur — in virtually a minute, then back to vacuuming with my lovely Miele vacuum." — MKS Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 7. A reusable pumice stone so you can quickly take care of those unsightly rings and hard water stains that you've been scrubbing at in vain since forever. Promising review:"My toilets had a few stains that no matter what cleaner bleach, scrubbing I used, I couldn't get them off…until this. A bit of hard scrubbing and my toilets are back white like new! Very easy and effective!" — Jennifer McCutchon Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (also available in multipacks). 8. An ultra-thin socket cover with an attached six-plug power strip if you're tired of bulky plugs and tangled cords being a big eyesore and preventing you from actually pushing furniture flush up against the wall. Promising review:"This product is awesome! We bought one in the office to stop a nearby chair from continuously hitting the outlet plugs. It solved the problem right away. So we ordered three more to use anywhere there is bulk on the wall. It saves space, makes arranging furniture and desks easy, and is clean-looking. Someone is a genius. Thanks so much!" — Jay Get it from Amazon for $23.95+ (available in four sizes and two styles). 9. And a TV cord cover because what's the point of having a mounted screen if power cords are just going to ruin the whole sleek aesthetic anyway? This self-adhesive channel tucks cords away, so you don't have to compromise your minimalist vision. Chelsea Stuart / BuzzFeed Promising review: "These look great and are super easy to apply. This is the perfect solution for hiding a cord! It looks like it is just a part of the baseboard. Mine is covering a cable wire only, but I think they are big enough to hide more than one cord if needed. I didn't cut mine, and I bought two. You can tell where the two meet if you look closely. However, I do not think anyone would notice. I can't believe I let our cable cord sit across the floor for this long. I wish I would have found these sooner!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three sizes, five colors, and in multipacks). 10. A splurge-worthy Dyson V8 cordless stick vacuum for accidentally turning floor cleaning into a chore you don't quite despise. It's got all the sucking power of your big behemoth in an easy-to-maneuver, cordless design that stores neatly in tight spaces. There's even an attachment specifically designed to trap hair effectively since I know that's why 90% of you are here. This vacuum also comes with a wall dock, charger, and five interchangeable heads: a hair screw tool, a classic cleaning head, a combination tool, and a crevice tool! BuzzFeed Shopping writer Negesti Kaudo (owner of a very cute and floofy chow chow) is a big fan: "I have this vacuum (technically my second), and it's my favorite cleaning tool that I own, and I hate to clean. This thing works on hardwood floors, tile, linoleum, and carpet (stone, too, if you have it)! It vacuums up dog hair like no other and also works on thicker rugs, if necessary. IMO, it's absolutely worth it, but definitely check out our review of the Dyson V7 motorhead cordless stick vacuum if you don't mind an older model." Get it from Amazon for $429 and Wayfair for $469.99. 11. A Hear Doggy alligator toy that'll spare your ears from incessant high-pitched speaking. This toy is equipped with an ultrasonic squeaker only dogs can hear, so they don't miss out on an ounce of fun and you can protect your peace. Promising review:"When you squeeze this toy, the sound is just a faint air puff. Apparently, it sounds different to a dog. We can squeeze it when our puppy is in another room, and she will come running to inspect. She likes to tug at the felt pieces on the toy and incessantly bite the 'squeaker.' It's so nice to have a toy like this because I don't like the noisy ones." — tee Get it from Amazon for $15.72+ (available in six other styles). 12. A pack of biodegradable foaming drain-cleaning pouches to effortlessly take care of all the out-of-sight grime clogging (and stinking) up your garbage disposal. Amazon, Promising review:"My disposal developed a bad odor, and all the usual remedies failed to eliminate it. I bought the Glisten disposal cleaner without expecting it to work. It worked exactly as shown in the video, and the bad odor disappeared after one application. I intend to use it once every two weeks in the future. I am very pleased to have found this product. I was on the verge of replacing the disposal, which was otherwise working fine." — Errol Levine Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.99. 13. A magnetic insulated door curtain so you aren't assaulted with a bone-chilling draft every time you walk past your exterior garage or patio doorways. Promising review: "I actually bought two. One on each side of the doorway. The doorway in my laundry room doesn't actually have a door, and the other side of the doorway can get to be at the same temperature as the outside. Having two makes it even easier to keep the heat in and the cold out. When picking out the dimensions, get bigger than you need so there is some overlap. Sometimes you have to give the bottom a little kick to make sure the magnets engage." — Michael Ciliberto Get it from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in 18 sizes and three colors). 14. A powerful mold and mildew stain cleaner because it'll lift the most terrifying grout and caulking stains without the back-breaking scrubbing. Just apply the concentrated gel formula, wait six to eight hours, and watch your stains (and your worries) wash down the drain. Promising review:" We moved into a new apartment, and the mold was out of control, and it was disgusting. We tried so many products to get it out until we found this one and decided to try it as we didn't have anything to lose. I'm so happy we bought this! This is basically concentrated Clorox as a gel, so it's so much easier to apply than the liquid, and it kind of stays in place. You just have to apply it, wait a few hours, and remove it (no scrubbing required). Just make sure your shower is dry when you apply it, and you'll be good to go. Definitely worth buying if you have the same problem and nothing has worked." — Chris Check out our Skylarlife mold and mildew removal gel review to learn more. Get it from Amazon for $14.99. 15. A patented ChomChom pet hair remover if Fido's shedding is taking over your home and you're sick of lugging out the vacuum every three seconds. This reusable option uses a bit of pressure, back-and-forth motion, and bristles to catch lint, and reviewers love it for quickly lifting hair from large hairy surfaces like couch cushions and blankets. ChomChom Roller is a Massachusetts-based small biz creating an eco-friendly, reusable alternative to sticky lint rollers. Promising reviews:" TikTok made me buy this, and it is money well spent!! I'm convinced my beagle sheds a full coat of hair and regrows it daily! I use this on my bed every single day, and it blows my mind how well it works. Before this, I was going through 4–5 disposable sticky rollers a month and spending three times longer to remove dog hair. I am buying these for everyone in my family as Christmas gifts this year! ❤️" — tiff4short Check out our ChomChom pet hair remover review for more deets! Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in three colors). 16. Plus, a portable gel lint roller for handling the never-ending supply of lint and pet hair that makes its way onto your clothes. Though the ChomChom rocks at furniture clean-up, reviewers note it falls short on last-minute clothing touch-ups. With this, you'll have a reusable option for any situation since it'll regain its stickiness once you rinse out the interior ball. Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok a bunch of times and finally decided to get it. I hate the paper lint rollers; they never seem to work that well, and I hate that I have to throw them away. This is awesome because it fits right in my bag, and I'm able to reuse it over and over. It's super sticky and works great!" — Ella Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in four colors and larger multipacks). 17. A four-pack of noise-dampening pads that just slide under your washing machine or dryer to absorb vibration and prevent laundry day from sounding like a full-scale demolition derby from the floor below. Amazon, IdeaWorks is a small biz specializing in problem-solving home products. Promising review: "Looked at all the reviews and decided the crack in my ceiling in the dining room was still worth them to try. Totally happy. The noise level from an upstairs front loader washer and minimal noise from the dryer is vanquished. The washer is in an overflow pan, but for the past six years, it has sounded and felt like it was going to come right into the dining room; it was so noisy." — SKRATCH Get them from Amazon for $6.90+ (available in packs of four and eight). 18. A pack of ceiling fan carbon filters to trap dust, pollen, dander, and other allergens with adhesive pads that stick right to the top of each fan blade. Now, you can breathe easy knowing there's an in-home filtration system working silently behind the scenes for you. 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 $21.99. 19. A pack of discreet towel clips so you can experience a world where your hand and kitchen towels don't spend more time balled up on the floor than they do hanging where they belong. 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 I had bought one sooner!" — Joanna Get a three-pack from Amazon for $12.99. 20. A customizable door draft stopper because you're paying top dollar for heat and not about to let any of that money go to waste. This works to plug up gaps that let in ambient noise and prevent your home from being cooled or heated with max efficiency. Simply cut to size, slide under your door, and enjoy a little extra $$$ in your pocket. 21. Plus, some self-adhesive insulating weather strips for applying to the edges of drafty windows and doors to help keep cold air in, hot air out, and even dampen the sound of your roommate's three-hour-long Zoom meeting. Promising review:"Can't beat the price! Great adhesive strength. Using in Texas weather on doors to seal air leaks. The weatherproofing material itself is very pliable and soft, presuming it weathers the heat and humidity. Can split a roll into two thinner strips doubling your coverage or can double insulate using the entire roll offering a lot of flexibility." — Paul K. Get it from Amazon for $8.57+ (available in two sizes and four colors). 22. A bottle of Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator if you're going to war against lingering stinks that just won't go away. This pet-safe formula was designed for use in boarding kennels and feedlots, so you can rest assured that the one corner your cat likes to pee in won't be too big of a job. Promising review:"This product is amazing!!!! We have a Rottweiler pup and a bichon pup, and our house was feeling the PAIN! I tried everything and used to tell my wife, 'With all the science and technology in the world, we still can't come up with something that gets rid of the dog mark smell!' This product does everything and more. Just ordered another round. We were about to throw away some furniture due to the smell, and now, after use, we can keep it. Saved me hundreds. Well worth the money." — clayton s tonkin Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two sizes). 23. A pair of noise-reduction earplugs for taking the edge off of overwhelming noise pollution by quieting surrounding noises without fully blocking them out. It's a great option for anyone with auditory sensitivities that make sustained focus or relaxation difficult. The earplugs also come with a carrying case and eight different ear tips (XS–L) to ensure the perfect fit. Promising review:"You can hear people talk and hear music playing when wearing them. I took them with me to a concert, and they were so nice to use. Unlike most headphones, these don't become uncomfortable after an hour or two. They're a wonderful mix of hearing protection and focal listening." — ricky Get it from Amazon for $34.95 (available in six colors). A super-soft silicone version is also available for $27.95 (available in eight colors). 24. A *self-cleaning* grooming brush to spend more time enjoying your pet and less time cleaning up all their hair. This multitasking tool helps manage shedding by reaching deep into the undercoat, and trapped hair can be cleaned from the brush with the simple push of a button. Promising reviews: "A dog brush that I don't have to pick dog hair out first, I thought this was some form of dark wizardry. But I don't care because this is awesome!" — "I've spent hundreds of dollars on toys, treats, houses, scratchers, etc for my cats. This is, hands down, not even close, the best money I've ever spent! I got so much fur off them, and they loved it! They look so sleek and shiny, and they are rolling around like kittens. They feel so fresh and happy. My cats are still young (all ages 4 and under) so they were pretty well groomed to begin with. I couldn't believe how many knots and snags were hiding in their fur. The whole time I was brushing them, they were purring and rubbing all over me, trying to get more. The self-cleaning feature is so easy!! A click of a button and all the hair falls off. The brush itself is bigger than what I anticipated. I thought my cats would be afraid of it, but once they figured out what was happening, they weren't at all. I got the original brush, which I thought would probably feel good (like a good back scratch!) And I was right. They loved it." — Samantha Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two colors). 25. Or a splurgeworthy, all-in-one vacuum pet grooming kit that combines a mix of de-shedding and grooming attachments with vacuum suction so you can easily manage your pet's coat at home without the usual (hairy) mess. The kit includes five attachments: a grooming brush, a de-shedding brush, an electric clipper with four comb attachments (6mm/12mm/18mm/24mm), a nozzle head, and a cleaning brush for collecting any fallen pet hair. Promising review:"I have two cats (who I found I'm allergic to) and two dogs. They need frequent brushing to ensure that I'm not going into an allergy fit due to the insurmountable hair everywhere. This thing is a beast and has helped so much when it comes to keeping up with some of the shedding that goes around here." — Messer Get it from Amazon for $99.99. 26. A secret litter box enclosure so you can hide away the single worst thing about owning a cat and pass it off as a flourishing (faux) plant. Promising review: "After four different styles of litter boxes, this one is the winner! More space than most standard boxes and is super easy to take apart and clean. The plant is realistic, and the pebbles it comes with weigh down the top fairly well. Great find, great price." — Tyler Cutro Get it from Amazon for $89.95+ (available in three colors). 27. Some magnetic air vent deflectors because the heat is acting drunk and seems to be blowing straight at the wall instead of toward the center of the room. Ya know, where people actually hang out??? Promising review: "Such a great and simple solution to help redirect AC and heat. Super simple and easy to install. Universal fit makes it a cinch to work with any vents within the size range." — Heydaddy Get a pack of two from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in a pack of four). 28. A reversible water-resistant slipcover if there's a 0% chance you'll forbid your pups from snuggling with you on the couch, but you also don't want to risk any undue wear and tear on your cushions. Promising review:"I don't usually write reviews (although, of course, I read them for every item I buy). Let me tell you, this is the best investment for our couches. We bought light grey couches even though we have two giant dogs and we foster dogs, so we needed to find a way to keep the couches in decent shape. These covers have paid for themselves and more. They have kept our couches in almost brand-new shape for close to two years. Dogs have peed on the covers and zero pee has leaked through to the couches. I have spilled water on it as well (and not just a little bit), and the cushion underneath is still dry. We will be buying a new set since they are two years old. But this is the best thing to keep your couches like new." — Maria A. Rojas Get it from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in 13 sizes and 36 colors). 29. A 12-pack of adhesive sound-dampening panels that won't make your living room feel like you're walking into a recording studio since the neutral design blends seamlessly with all kinds of decor. Promising review: "The lower entryway of our townhome is not ventilated to the best of its ability, and we don't have the most considerate neighbors, so I took a chance and bought these foam boards, and I am so thankful. They don't completely get rid of the sound, but they muffle and cancel out the majority of the noise, which gives us peace of mind. In total, I bought two packs, but I will purchase one more to fill in a little row of the top and the little section behind the mirror. Definitely a great buy!!!" — Gwen Edwards Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in four colors). Also, check out similar panels that look like subway tiles and brick. 30. Or a customizable felt tile mosaic for a renter-friendly way to add some colorful pizzazz to your plain white walls while dampening sounds at the same time. They're made from recycled water bottles (a win for the planet!) and can even double as a too-cute pinboard for photos and keepsakes. Taylor Steele / BuzzFeed, Felt Right Felt Right is a small biz transforming single-use plastic water bottles into felt tiles that look great and dampen sound. BuzzFeed Shopping writer Taylor Steele picked these for her home: "I chose a simple design because I know myself, and anything with several angles to contend with will make my brain hurt. But I love my felted wall! It adds much-needed color and texture to my living space. What was once a dull beige wall is now a colorful mosaic! And it's super easy to install, too. Though having a friend around to help you put adhesive tabs on the backs of each felt tile is great, too." Get it from Felt Right starting at $31.83+ (available in dozens of shapes/styles). 31. A battery-operated fabric shaver to help get rid of all those snags and pills making your furniture look tired and worn. It's like a tiny vacuum; just empty the detachable lint catcher when you're done and enjoy your revitalized sofa. Also, be sure to pick up two AA batteries! They're not included. It kills me inside when I see a favorite sweater start to pill, so I bought this exact shaver to spruce up some of my older knits. It's great and weirdly relaxing. When I first got it, I was de-pilling everything, from the intended sweaters to the throw pillows on our couch. It's a little loud, so your roommates may or may not come out of their rooms to see what you're it's totally worth it to make any pilled fabric look years younger. Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in five colors and two styles). 32. A double-layer cat litter-trapping mat since you're tired of constantly getting litter stuck to your feet. The water-resistant mat features a honeycomb design that traps litter between layers so you can dump it back into your bin later. Promising review:"This litter mat is a lifesaver. I was facing a real issue with my two new kittens tracking litter EVERYWHER E, so much so that I was considering switching from the litter that I love to something non-tracking because there were no good alternatives. Much research later, I come across this mat. I will say it was bigger and more square than I thought, but I think that is a good thing! It is so large and covers the area well. Now, the litter tracking is 99% contained! Best litter mat I have ever had!" — Rachel Ray Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors). 33. A simple-to-use drain clog remover for helping you handle the wet, hairy monster living in your pipes without calling up your plumber. Barf bag not included. Promising review:"OMG!! I'm just speechless. The tub drain was a bit slow so, I decided to try this thing without much expectation. Stuck the plastic all the way down, moved the thing a little, and pulled it out. And I was so shocked at how much hair came out. It's probably all the hair that went down the drain over the seven you could make a wig out of it! Surprised I am not bald! So worth the money!!! Definitely recommend to everyone." — Kelly Get a six-pack from Amazon for $8.99 (available in orange and green).
Buzz Feed
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
51 Products So Revolutionary, You'll Call Them Paul Revere
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 · There's a gasoline-scented perfume in this post that's about to completely change the game. 1. A Java Sock that'll do the two most important things for your beloved iced coffees ( drinks. I know people drink other drinks!) 1) It'll keep that caramel almond milk cold brew cold for ages — hours, according to reviewers — and 2) It'll keep your drink from sweating into your cupholder or all over your desk. It's a cruel twist of fate that iced coffee sweats as much as we do in the spring and summer. Promising review:"I was hesitant to buy this, but I absolutely love it! It keeps my drinks cold for hours, the ice stays solid without watering the drinks down, and it prevents condensation. Perfect for iced coffee, soda, or any glass cup. The patterns are adorable as well. I loved it so much I had to order another for my other car!" — Marta Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in three sizes and several styles). 2. A hidden fly trap you plug into an outlet when you have house flies, fruit flies, moths, or gnats crawling around. The little light lures bugs by up to 400 feet (!!!), and the sneaky design means this thing'll be blastin' bugs by the dozen without ruining your room's clean aesthetic. Check out a TikTok of the plug-in fly trap in action. Promising review:"I can't say enough wonderful things about these handy little bug catchers! They are simple to use, cheap to refill, and catch a ton of small bugs and flies. I have eight of them now, all around my house! It's a little gross how many tiny flying insects are around…but it makes me feel a lot better now that I have these!" — Chris H. Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.97 (available in multiple pack sizes). 3. Snif's Dead Dinosaur perfume for anyone who loves the smell of gas stations so much they dream of a world where they can shower under the gas nozzle like it's gosh darn body wash. This body spray really does have notes of gasoline along with pink pepper, ginger, cedar wood, and magnolia flower. Snif Promising review: "I don't know what it is about this fragrance but I love it so much! It is unique for sure but it reminds me of summer days in a garage, which sounds weird, but that's what it makes me think of. But then, as that begins to fade, it turns into a great, clean scent. It is the most unique perfume I own, and I own a lot of perfumes (over 100). Snif is an amazing brand!" — Jill T Get it from Snif for $25+ (available in two sizes). 4. A Shark Tank -favorite Click & Carry Grocery Bag Carrier that'll give you Herculean strength in an instant. Hook your bags to the clip, place it around your shoulder, and lift up to *80 pounds!!!* without bag straps literally breaking your back. Amazon, Click & Carry is a Shark Tank and QVC-featured small business that specializes in easy carry accessories. Promising review: "TikTok made me buy it. This is great when you have a few bags and a box — for example, if you balance the bags, you can throw it over your shoulder and walk inside and have two free hands to carry the box, which is great. Product seems well built, and is comfortable on your shoulder or hand because of the padding." — Hung Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in six colors). 5. A ChomChom pet hair remover roller — this is gonna pick up fur and lock it inside the roller, making cleanup a breeze. Plus, it doesn't lose its effectiveness with heavy use. We love our pets but woof, shedding in the springtime is their greatest skill. Promising review:"I have a golden retriever and the shedding is out of control. My fabric sofa is constantly covered in hair and I finally decided to try this after reading an article about popular TikTok products. The reviews do not lie, this thing works magic!! I wish I had taken a before and after picture because the difference is noticeable. I watched the video tutorial before I tried it to ensure I was using it properly and everything he says is true, you do really have to put your arm to work with vigorous back and forth movement! However I find it's a great arm workout and it works wonders." — Joanne Ertel Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in three colors). 6. A set of hidden magnetic locks to keep your pint-sized cat burglar (i.e. toddler) from breaking into your secret candy stash. Amazon, The set comes with 12 locks (with strong 3M double-sided tape on the back) and two keys. Promising review:"These are awesome! I spent hours with a drill and screwdriver installing push down locks on cupboards five years ago. I now have another crawling baby, and those ones are all broken. I was dreading installing new ones and saw these. They literally go on in seconds, the bracket means it lines up perfectly, and the adhesive is strong! My older kids think the magnet key is super fun. Baby stays out of the chemicals, and I put one on the trash door, so the dog stays out of the trash so everyone gets to live longer. Win-win. I also love that you can 'turn' them off and on, so when my kids are bigger, we can flip the switch, but if little kids were visiting, we could put them back on." — Joseph J. Krakker Get a set of 12 from Amazon for $29.99 (available in multiple pack styles). 7. A can of fire extinguishing spray designed for sparking your muscle memory because nothing sounds scarier than not knowing how to use an extinguisher when you notice a fire start to spark. Promising review:"I bought one for beside the grill, one for beside the stove, one for the laundry room, and one for the car. I think the intuitive, easy to use design is fantastic. We already have the muscle memory for using a spray can. In an emergency, it's so much easier to grab this and use it, and turn a small fire into a non-fire. I don't have time to remember a three step method of fire control when my bacon has gotten out of control on the stove. I'm not a firefighter! I'd really like to have one in every room. Think about it. Isn't it better to immediately contain a small fire than deal with a big one? This could save your life, and your house." — K. Zander Get it from Amazon for $11.99. 8. A touchless vacuum — go ahead and throw that dustpan in the GARBAGE where it belongs. With this, you'll no longer have to bend and snap every time you sweep. Promising review:" 10/10, would recommend. Got this initially for cleaning up the hair in my salon. It works perfectly! I love it. It's so easy. This is AMAZING!!" — Alyssa Get it from Amazon for $199 (available in five colors). 9. An ingenious sandwich cutter and sealer for making crust-free sandwiches in a cinch. As all toddlers know (and I still can't figure out why), crusts are the enemy. Promising review:" These have been a GAME-CHANGER in this house!! My son has always begged me for Uncrustables, but my wallet didn't agree with them. I LOVE being able to make them at home and customize them to exactly what they would like them filled with! I make two weeks' worth of sandwiches at a time and store them in sandwich bags in the freezer, so in the morning during the school year, we can just grab and go! Love them!" — Katherine Smaczniak Get it from Amazon for $16.97. 10. And a much-needed peanut butter knife with a brilliantly shaped blade that'll guarantee not a *drop* of your perfect peanut putty goes to waste. Hate getting peanut butter all over your knuckles when scraping out the container with a standard knife? Get this in your life. Promising reviews: " I love this knife. You couldn't design a better knife for peanut butter if you tried. I bought a less expensive one but returned it because the design was poor. There's no substitution for this quality product. Spend a couple dollars more, and get the best." — Beck "You can use it for many things. It is strong and can get things out of deep blenders, like a Vitamix. You could even use it to spread icing on a cake! Best of all, it is perfect for stirring those large nut butter containers you get from the warehouse stores." — Neaner Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in two colors and multipacks). 11. A pack of "Food Cubby" dividers designed for picky eaters of all ages. These suction to your plate, preventing foods and sauces from intermingling while you eat. Amazon Check out a TikTok of the food cubby in action. Food Cubby is a small business specializing in family-friendly kitchen accessories. Promising review:"I love these! Even as an adult, I hate my food touching. Thought they might keep things apart but not juices or things, but they really stick to the plate, and the meat juice doesn't run into the salad. It saves me from having different plates for each food. I wish I had these a long time ago." — Superbeckee Get a two-pack from Amazon for $14.99 (available in two colors). 12. A stick of NerdWax to keep your glasses on your face no matter how much you move. Well, my four-eyed face is gonna love this stuff. Amazon Promising review:"These help to keep my glasses from slipping, even in 90°+. It's such a bother when I'm working & looking down & my glasses keep slipping. No more. Just make sure you use enough. Easy to use, no odor. This is my second order, as the 4 pack allowed me to give some to friends." — Neon Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 13. A soothing behavioral aid toy with a faux heartbeat that'll be your puppy's ~dream~ toy and help *you* finally get to sleep while crate training. Amazon Promising review:"My partner and I recently got a 4-month-old Italian greyhound puppy and this has been great. We slept with the stuffed animal a few nights before picking up our puppy and placing it in his crate before he arrived. After playing with us and exploring his new home, he walked into his crate and curled up against it and went right to sleep. He slept right through the first night with no issue. Today is week two and the batteries are still going strong. I plan on buying one for my sister, who will be getting a puppy in the next few months. This is cute and functional." — Jeb Get it from Amazon for $39.95 (available in seven colors). 14. A set of wad-free pads for keeping your bedsheets from tangling in the wash. Get this and keep those laundry clods from wasting precious drying time! Amazon Wad-Free is a small biz that was launched during the pandemic. Cyndi, the founder, learned CAD (computer-aided design) to create the pads. And 5% of profits are donated to the American Brain Tumor Association. Promising review:"Wow!!! You wonder if things like this really work and well, I can absolutely confirm it does! First, I was impressed that the package came with two of the devices because I was only expecting one. So there was one for the fitted sheet, and the flat sheet. Finally, I tried it out and my sheets not only did NOT wad up, they came out of the dryer feeling fresher, feeling more dry, and unwrinkled! I will be buying a set of these for each of my immediate family members and close friends! What a great gift!!!" — katy Get a two-pack from Amazon for $19.99 (also available in a four-pack). 15. A smudge-correcting clear nail polish to basically turn back time and save your freshly-painted fingers from the smudge you caused by scratching that itch you shouldn't have scratched. Put this polish on top and roll back the clock! Amazon Promising review:"This refreshes my worn-out manicure very well. I apply this as a topcoat over my old manicure. It respreads and smooths out the polish and leaves it fresh and shiny. It's a bit pricey, but it does save me a lot of time and trouble not having to repolish my nails." — SoniaSophia Get it from Amazon for $17. 16. A magnetic cat-eye gel nail polish kit for anyone who knows all things can be fixed with a killer manicure. Not only will you get an onslaught of compliments, but you'll also be able to say, "Why thank you, I did them myself!" to boost your cool kid ego even higher. To get the cat eye effect, apply one layer, cure with a UV light for one minute, add a second layer, and use the included magnet to move the glitter into the desired formation. A few reviewers didn't find the magnet to be strong enough, so you might want to grab this magnet kit as well. Promising review: "I've been doing my nails for years, and this was so fast and fun to use. I always wanted cat eye polishes in my collection and this was perfect! Especially for Christmas time! I will say they are thick, and I'm guessing that's because they're pigmented and packed with the little magnetic bits for maximum shine and glimmer. I feel like I have the northern lights on my nails! I would recommend playing on a few test nails beforehand to get a handle on the different patterns you can make with the magnet. Overall, would recommend it for anyone wanting something easy and fun!" — Hailey Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in various set and color options). 17. A computer shade, because as much as we may love working outside on a sunny day, our screens are basically impossible to see when daylight hits them. Use this clever laptop accessory and get your tan going strong *while* organizing Google docs to your heart's content. Promising review: "This is worth the price!! I can actually see my screen while working outside now. It's awesome for outdoor WFH. I love it!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $67.99+ (available in three colors and sizes). 18. A "Shower Cat" for folks who spend half their time in the shower making hair art on the walls, which inevitably ends up clogging the drain. TMI? This makes catching your hair *much* easier and gives it a proper place while you finish sudsing up. Shower Cat is a small business established in 2021 specializing in products to prevent shower clogs. Promising review: "I first saw this product on TikTok and I knew immediately that I needed it. I just moved into a new apartment and I didn't want to be how I used to be, where I'd just let hair go down the drain and plug it eventually, or peel it off of the drain after each shower. It works great but I probably need some practice with it. I currently just floss my hair through it so it will hold them and there are a few stray hairs that don't stick. I would recommend to anyone who is tired of putting your loose strands of hair on the shower wall." — Cari Schwartzkopf Get it from Amazon for $14.95 (available in two colors). 19. A fleece-lined pouch hoodie that'll be so darn cozy even your surliest cat won't be able to resist snuggling the day away with you! FINALLY. The seller recommends going up one or two sizes if you want a looser fit. Sizing up is also a good idea if your cat is a chonky one. Promising review:" Sometimes I have to call in sick to my job because the cat won't let me change out of the room. It's not forbidden to wear a roo to work, but it might make people not take me very seriously, so I only go to work on the days the cat says I can. Seriously, this is the dorkiest thing ever, and I look really stupid in it, but I love it for real." — Kindle Customer Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in sizes S–XXXL and four colors). 20. A "Door-Doc" so you can prop open front load washers and prevent mold and mildew without taking the time to actually switch the Check out a TikTok of the Door-Doc in action. Door-Doc is a small business specializing in home laundry solutions. Promising review:"I'd never had any issues with mold or any nastiness accruing inside my washer, until I did. I read a bunch of reviews and convinced myself I didn't need such an item — after all, I could just prop the door open after every wash. The thing is, the way the washer is positioned in the laundry room, I'd hit the washer door every time I went in there. I gave in and made the purchase. Sooooo worth it! Easy to maneuver around and it's a sturdy little gadget. Highly recommend!!!" — painter Jane Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in two colors). 21. The Car Seat Key for parents and guardians who have had one too many manicures ruined by car seat clips. This makes buckling and unbuckling your little one *super* easy, and it even hooks onto your keychain, so you've always got it with you when getting in the car. Promising review:"After I had my first child almost a year ago, I stopped getting acrylic nails because I couldn't get him out of his car seat without struggling or breaking a nail. I'd have to get them as an overlay or extra short. But I saw this product on TikTok and had to try it out, and OMG!! It works! It took me a while to figure out the best angle to get him out with it, but once I did, I went to the nail shop expeditiously!! LOL, if you've been thinking about this for a while, GET IT! It's worth it!" — Tora318 Get it from Amazon for $14.99. 22. A water bottle *bag* that'll hook comfortably snug around your beloved tumbler so you can carry it like a crossbody bag. This has room for your phone, chapstick, cards, and even includes a clip to hang your keys from. You know you'll always have your water bottle by your side, and thanks to this, you'll *also* remember all your other essentials too. Amazon Promising review:"I love this water bottle carrier! It's so handy for keeping my drink close by, whether I'm out hiking or just running errands. The phone pocket is a nice bonus and the adjustable strap makes it super convenient to carry. Definitely a must-have accessory for my Stanley tumbler!" — M Get it from Amazon for $11.80. 23. A touchless paper towel dispenser — reviewers rave about how much less messy this makes grabbing a paper towel when they're covered in cake batter, sauce, and such. If you're looking to add a useful, futuristic touch to your classic farmhouse kitchen, look no further than this! Check out a TikTok of the touchless paper towel dispenser in action. Bonus: if you don't grab the paper towel, it sucks it back up for safekeeping! Promising review: "Do we need it? No. But it might be my favorite unnecessary gadget purchase of all time. It leaves our counter tops uncluttered, the no touch sensor lets me grab a paper towel with dirty hands, and I feel like we use less paper towels overall. It's easy to install, easy to program, and easy to replace the roll." — Mlc Get it from Amazon for $99.99 (available in three colors). 24. An adjustable duster brush that'll spruce up your window shades so well while spring cleaning, you just might notice you actually do have a view through those dust bunnies. Promising review:"This product is AMAZING! You can clean both sides of two blinds at once and grip them firmly to get ALL of the dust off. Plus, it comes with five covers, so that no matter how dirty your blinds are, you'll be able to finish dusting your whole house! I also love that you can wash the covers and don't have to waste money on refills." — Sarah Get it from Amazon for $6.99. 25. A pickle keeper and juice strainer so you can snack until your heart's content *without* getting pickle juice all over the place. Promising review:"I love pickles and olives but hate the mess and pain of pickle/olive brine. I've been known to just drain it out of a jar immediately, even if that means having to throw away the pickles or olives sooner. I randomly discovered these containers from some online article, and knew right away I would be getting one. I now have two but plan on buying more. They're just great. The only thing is, you need to be 100% sure you've got the lids on completely or you will have a disaster on your hands. Check and double check each time you are securing them. The tongs are useful just to have around for anything, too." — Nick Get it from Amazon for $13.90. 26. A silicone clip-on strainer that's dishwasher-safe, attaches to any size pot or pan, and is designed to save a bunch of space in your kitchen cupboards. Promising review: "This is easy to use and now that I've had it a few weeks, I don't know how I have lived without. Makes draining anything in water so much easier! Highly recommend." — Melissa L. Get it from Amazon for $9.48+ (available in 17 colors). 27. A Baseboard Buddy that'll basically work like an eraser. This has an extendable handle that'll make cleaning tiny corners and often-ignored areas not just simple, but suuuper satisfying. Promising review:" Buy it NOW. Honestly, I had huge reservations for this thing. Yet another miracle cleaning tool that will break or bend or something. I was so wrong. It was easy to put together and I sprayed it with Mean Green and went to the baseboards. No more kneeling and no broken back. This thing is amazing. It is durable and the pad is super absorbent. I am so happy. I can't wait to do the rest of the house!" — artgirl Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 28. A rolling egg dispenser sure to become the practical purchase you didn't know you needed. This saves a surprising amount of space in your fridge *and* makes snatching an egg a cinch, thanks to, weirdly enough, gravity. Check out a TikTok of the egg storage roller in action. YouCopia is a woman-owned small business that specializes in home storage solutions. Promising review: " Here it is! The best egg container on Amazon! How can I say that? Easy! Engineering! The slight tilt angle on the bottom of the container that the egg drawer sits on forces eggs to lightly roll forward, keeping all your eggs in the front, and never in the back, where you don't need them. It's super easy to use, so easy to clean, comes apart and can hold a full can organizer on top without issue, so no issues with sturdiness. It can easily hold 14 large size eggs. Easily one of my favorite purchases." — Karingan Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in two styles). 29. A PhoneSoap cell sanitizer that'll disinfect your device (or glasses/anything that'll fit inside) in just 10 minutes. Sleep soundly with this beside you as it kills the germs your phone has gathered while roaming around with you through public transit and bathroom get it. I mean, just check out the reviewer's "before and after" bacterial test below! Promising review:"What a perfect gadget for getting your phone clean. After touching who knows what while commuting to work, and it being that time of year when everyone around you gets sick, this comes in handy. After the first use, it looked great, and then I wiped it down with the sponge that came with it. I feel so much better about using my phone now." — Daily Ritual Boutique Get it from Amazon for $79.95 (available in five colors). 30. A self-closing, mess-free toothpaste cap to help save toothpaste in your household, even if your kids are rather enthusiastic when squeezing goop from the tube. Plus, this prevents crusty toothpaste buildup! Promising review: "I saw these on an Amazon review video on YouTube and figured I'd give them a try because my boyfriend tends to leave the toothpaste bottle a complete mess and I can't stand it! These things have a great seal and give out a good amount of toothpaste when you squeeze it. It wipes clean very easily. So glad they come with more than one but not sure what I'll use the other ones on yet." — Kimberly C. Get a set of three from Amazon for $6.75+ (available in two styles). 31. A Cruiser City from Veer designed with swivel wheels furthest from the handle, so you'll be able to push it like a stroller while still getting all the benefits of a ride-on wagon! If you love wagons but find navigating them through grocery isles and sidewalks a chore, this is for you. Push it through the city, then pull it if you're heading uphill or on rockier roads. This is a truly game-changing way to explore the world with your kids. Plus, it has cup holders. I have never seen my husband gush over a product for our daughter more than he has with this wagon. And I'm just as big of a fan! There are *so* many useful accessories you can get to customize your ride specifically to your family's needs. We have a canopy, a cushioned toddler seat, extra storage nets, a cooler, and more. There are different attachments for season changes and a range of ages — so this truly grows with your child. It is easy to get through doors, swivel around pedestrians, and roam around uneven surfaces at the park. I can't think of a more useful product for parents in a city, or families who are often out and about. And most important: my daughter *adores* it. She laughs, cheers, and giggles the whole ride (plus the cup tray attachment means she can snack on her own while we're on the move). This wagon is the sort of thing that makes me glad I'm a parent in 2024. Parenting products have come a *long* way! Get it from Veer for $699+ (available in two sizes). 32. And a playmat shirt with roads connecting a small city together — perfectly sized for your kiddo's toy cars! You can "actively" play with your kids simply by lying down while they race cars on your back for ages! Enjoy that back scratch and nap. You deserve it. Back Street's Promising review: "My husband and sons (ages four and two) love it! Dad gets a back massage, the kids get to play. Even if Daddy is not wearing it, they lay the shirt on the carpet and play with it. We have a big kiddie carpet with roads and tracks but it seems the kids like the shirt more! It came with a small green car and a certificate." — Zing Get it from Amazon for $18.49+ (available in sizes S–5XL and four colors). 33. A 360-degree spill-proof cup designed with a game-changing silicone top that can be sipped from any spot (hence the 360 name). The sealed top is non-spill on its own, unlike pop-lid sippy cups. The water comes out from the very edge and only when sucked. This teaches your kiddo how to drink from a traditionally shaped cup very early and without the need for a straw. Sip, sip, hooray! Finding this cup makes me feel *very in* the know, and I can't believe it's not yet a classic infant cup. Because it's absolute Glinda the Good Witch witchcraft. We originally got our baby an infant cup with a straw, but she was more interested in playing with the lid and would rarely drink from it. The day we got this she caught on instantly — her bottles were gone the same week with no tears and a healthily hydrated baby! I love that it gives her the confidence to drink from regular cups and water bottles because she now knows how to gulp. Plus, I can just throw this in a bag and go — no drips, ever! This has made our life SO easy. Get two from Amazon for $14.01. 35. A fire and ice candle kit that'll transform from a ring of ice into a mini serenity pool as the tea candle inside melts the ice around it. Replace your winter candles with this cool option if you love candles year-round — this'll be the spring and summer solution you've been looking for! Uncommon Goods The kit includes a colored concrete base, silicone ice mold, and beeswax tea candle. To create the look above, freeze tap water in the mold and (once frozen) place the ice over a lit candle – then enjoy watching the water cast unique shadows through the ice until it melts, the water perfectly sized to pool inside the base without disturbing the fire. Promising review:"Super cool! Excellent quality and such an innovative idea. Can't wait to use this at my next dinner party!" — MartyH Get it from Uncommon Goods for $38. 36. A pack of Elephant Trax labels to make storing (and finding!) things you've packed easier than ever. Attach a sticker to the box, take photos of everything inside, and you're all set! You now have a visual inventory! Never confuse your Halloween and Christmas storage again. The Nightmare Before Christmas vibe isn't really your thing anyway. Amazon Promising review: "I am so glad I ordered an extra pack of these. My goal for January was to organize the basement. I have TONS of plastic bins and whenever I need something, I have to open each to find what I'm looking for. I took a few hours the first weekend cleaning out and organizing everything and the bins. I took pictures of the contents of each bin, put one of these stickers on each bin then associated the pics with the sticker's QR code and voila, done. IF YOU LIKE TO BE ORGANIZED, GET THESE STICKERS!" — Fred Labro Get a pack of 40 from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three pack sizes). 37. A window-installed pet door so your pet can easily get in and out of the house, even if you have a rental. No more destroying doors by making tinier doors! Promising review:"I love this! We didn't have a good place to make a hole in the wall to our backyard but we do have low windows next to our fireplace, so it was a match to get this window door. It was super easy to install and we love the locking feature. We got a snow storm and it took a while for our garden beds to stop being muddy. We locked the door so kitty wouldn't bring in mud. I will say it is a bit drafty, so we got an extra weather strip to secure the draftiness. Our kitty only took a couple of days to get used to it too. We put his food just outside the window and he had to get used to going out there to get his food. All in all it was a great buy!" — AlyHowell Get it from Amazon for $134.53+ (available in a handful of shapes/sizes). 38. A sleep-training alarm clock to make rule-following seem positively perky! This displays darling tiny robot facial expressions and glowing colors to let your kids know when it's time to sleep and when it's okay to get up the parents. Amazon Promising review:"This was a lifesaver!!! My 4-year-old was getting up at 5:30 :( and we could not convince him to go back to bed. We found this clock and we're amazed at the results. My son loves it! He gets so excited when it turns green and he can get out of bed, or when he wakes up and it is green. It seems to have helped train him to sleep in longer. It is easy to set up. Our only complaint is the light from the indicator (red, yellow, green) is soooo bright. We tip the clock on its face so his room does not light up. He can still see the color, so it's fine. But I do wish we could dim it. Don't let this stop you from getting it though, it was worth every penny!" — JW Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in four colors). 39. An LED fog-less mirror for couples who are one "get your beard hair out of the sink!" fight away from someone sleeping on the couch for good. Reviewers love using this in the shower as it prevents that very mess from ending up in the sink. Genius. Promising review:"This deluxe shaving mirror saves me about 15 minutes in the morning. If you're anything like me, 15 minutes in the morning is like an hour in daytime hours. I really like not having to keep up with and apply the anti-fog sprays to the mirror, which only temporarily work (so I hear). Filling the back with water that goes in the back of the mirror only takes about 10 seconds and discarding the water after shaving takes about five seconds. Shaving in the shower with all the steam makes your shaving experience much closer and comfortable, I find." — Nicholas Get it from Amazon for $29.95. 40. A MacBook shortcut keyboard cover that'll be your own personal Genius Bar assistant if you don't quite know all the MacBook shortcuts off the top of your head. Use this and you'll easily be able to open search bars, minimize and open windows, take screenshots with your know, genius stuff. Promising review:"This keyboard cover is amazing! The colors are bright and the design is cute. The quick key cheat sheet (as I like to call it) is a lifesaver! All of my coworkers ask me where'd I get it and always are impressed by the cheat sheet's detail. I chose this product only because the color scheme would look good with the pack of stickers I selected to sticker bomb my laptop, but it turned out to be a much more valuable asset to a new Apple user like myself!" — Bee Get it from Amazon for $7.99. 41. An Air Fort you can store flat (it's about the size of a sweatshirt when folded) and then inflate with any regular ol' box fan when your kids want to play! Amazon In the market for a new box fan? Promising review:"This is the best gift ever. High impact, easy to set up, so exciting for kids, but folds up SO SMALL. It's maybe the size of a folded sweatshirt when it's packed up? Honestly it's a parent's dream to have a fun activity that doesn't require a ton of storage. I will keep this on my list of gift ideas for the future for other kids in my life!" — Lindsay W. Get it from Amazon for $49.95+ (available in 16 styles). 42. Cloning paste — if you've found that your houseplants are standing around stagnant, you're gonna *love* this stuff! This little formula helps encourage new growth and buds. It's technically made for orchids, but it works on all sorts of plants! Begonias,a string of pearls, pothos, you name it! Check out the TikTok about this paste for information. To use this spiffy stuff, just locate a node and peel away the bract to reveal the bud. Apply a small amount of the paste and in two to eight weeks, a clone will grow out of the node! Science is so satisfying. Promising review:"This product is just AMAZING!!! I waited a few months before writing this review because I wanted to test the product first. I am just AMAZED! I have to on the season and the place on the spike where you apply it, you either get a keiki or new flower spike (which is awesome!). Based on my experiments, the lower on the spike, the more chances to get a keiki. The higher on the spike, the more chances to get a new flower spike. If you apply it during winter (tropical area winter), you will more likely get flower spikes. If you apply it during summer (tropical areas), you will more likely get a keiki — at least that's what I observed!" — Anne-Isabelle Bonifassi Get it from Amazon for $18.97. 43. A JetKids ride-on carry-on suitcase you may feel all braggy about when you see other parents at the airport with exhausted kids who are sick of traveling before they even board. This wheeled suitcase is specifically designed so your toddler can safely sit *while* wheeling them around the airport. That's not all! Once you're in your seats, this transforms into a leg rest or in-flight bed to give your kids some extra space. Long-haul flights are about to get a smidge more manageable. Amazon It's recommended for kids ages 3–7 and fits most standard economy seats. Plus, it has an adjustable strap so you can carry it over your shoulder, a top handle, and a mattress inside that can be removed and used while in the flight. Parents have even used this product while in the airport waiting for the flight to keep their kids comfy and happy. Promising review:"Traveling with a toddler is always a challenge but comfort is key and this little magic package makes the airport trip that much smoother. We can store small toys, pillow, and one throw blankets for our family of three. Great idea and great buy. We will be using this until it breaks." — TifferTheTrend Get it from Amazon for $229 (available in nine colors). 44. A versatile travel harness seat with adjustable straps — this can roll up tiny enough to stash in a bag so you can stop for lunch the moment your kids start getting hangry, without worrying about whether or not the restaurant has a highchair for your youngest. Amazon Liuliuby is a New York City-based small business founded by Mompreneur Mari Liu to reimagine everyday baby products after her own experiences as a new mother. This harness is designed for ages 6 months and up. Promising review: "This thing was amazing! Ten stars — it fit every type of chair we encountered on our Kenyan vacation! Kept our toddler controlled and made feeding on the go so easy. Very lightweight and packable, a vacation must-have!" — Kireme1 Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 45. A molecular gastronomy cake that'll help adventurous home chefs create their very own raindrop cake — a refreshing dessert that'll be a hit with anyone who loves springtime, specifically because it's rainy season! Uncommon Goods This kit comes with enough product to make six raindrop cakes – so get ready to plan a spring dinner party! You'll get agar, dark brown sugar, roasted soybean powder, six bamboo boats, a silicon cake mold, and instructions. Promising review:"Our family loved the cakes and had so much fun. We gave this kit to our daughter, who loves to cook and try new things. She loved the kit and had fun making the cakes. She had never worked with kinako before and it was delicious! She served it to our family and we all enjoyed it, too. Really fun!" — Mom in Michigan Get it from Uncommon Goods for $38. 46. A pair of sliding wrapping paper cutters so you can stop wasting paper when your scissor skills aren't what they used to be. Seriously, you were the best paper cutter in your kindergarten class; what happened?! Amazon Promising review:" This item is super easy to use and cuts well every time. I've used it at least five times already and it works perfectly. It's such a great time-saver and I've even come back to buy more for other friends as a cute little gift. This little helper makes me actually enjoy wrapping presents!! Everyone should have one of these Little ELVES!" — Cathy Bitner Get two from Amazon for $13.99. 47. A set of "wine wands" for cheap-box-wine-loving fiends who don't want their boozy movie nights turning into hungover mornings. Simply swish these in a glass of wine, and in three minutes, those pesky sulfates and histamines will be removed. They've become hangover-free drinks thanks to these real-life magic wands. PureWine is a small business that specializes in wine accessories. Promising review:"What a difference these have made in my life. With my allergies it was impossible to enjoy a glass or two of wine without nasty side effects: stuffy nose, red face, and headaches. Now I can have a glass of wine and not have to dart to a package of antihistamine! Makes a great gift. Even thinking of splitting a box into stocking stuffers. Each wand is individually wrapped. I have purchased these several times and will continue to do so." — KellyH Get a set of three from Amazon for $11.99. 48. A versatile veggie chopper that'll help you prep (and clean up!) with speed that feels downright magical. The interchangeable blades just pop out, then just throw them right into the dishwasher! This'll help you get into the swing of things this salad season. Promising review:"Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. This requires very little effort to cut through the food and it has a generous container." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $29.97 (available in four styles and colors). 49. A reviewer-favorite Alleyoop 4-in-1 makeup brush designed with an eyeshadow brush, a blush brush, a brow brush, *and* a blending sponge — all in one! This beauty tool is about to become your new best friend, adventuring with you (because it's small enough to fit in your bag for quick touch-ups) every single day. Alleyoop See it in action on TikTok here. Alleoop is a woman-owned small biz that takes "beauty efficiency" to a new level. Most of their products are compact and have several functions! Promising review:"This is a great brush for travel. It cuts down on the amount of brushes you might need to bring on a trip. You could probably get along with only this brush. It is very versatile. I bought the one with the sponge. Looks very useful, and lightens the beauty bag load." — KMC Get it from Amazon for $25. 50. A soup can safe — this is so realistic it'll put you at ease if you have a stack of cash or valuables you want tucked away, safely hidden in your food storage. Promising review: "I was amazed how real this looks, even side by side with the real thing. Of course, when you turn it over, you can see the compartment, and you will have to add weight if you want it to feel real, but just sitting in the pantry, it looks real!" — Brenda Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in eight styles). 51. And finally, a hooded shark "blanket" (really just an oversized onesie) you can scoot on into when movie night calls for some AC and extra cozy attire. Honestly, now that you know this *treasure* exists, it'd be fishy if you didn't get it. It's gonna be dropping ~Jaws~ — there's no doubt about that! Promising review:"I absolutely love this blanket! It's incredibly soft and comfortable — perfect for lounging around the house on chilly evenings. The flannel material is super cozy, and I love that it's wearable, so I can just slip it on like a hoodie. The shark design is adorable, and it adds a fun touch to my downtime. It's also the perfect size, offering just the right amount of warmth without being too bulky. Whether I'm curled up on the couch or reading in bed, this blanket has quickly become my go-to. Highly recommend for anyone looking for something fun, cozy, and unique!" — O. Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes XS–3XL and eight styles). Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
New York Times
27-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Aston Villa's pool of exciting academy talent is a product of their ‘clear plan'
Last month, The Athletic asked our Aston Villa subscribers what they wanted to read about in our Inspired by You series. Rest assured, many of your ideas impressed and articles will be in the pipeline. However, several subscribers asked for insight into Villa's rising talents. So a notable thanks to Chris H, David H and Mike P for their recommendations. The Athletic has met and talked to multiple sources associated with the inner workings of Aston Villa's academy. Each spoke in detail, but on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships. Below is a group of the club's emerging talents, highly regarded among footballing circles and progressing well. Advertisement Routh joined Luton Town aged eight, briefly playing up front before displaying the physicality and natural tendencies to make a switch to central defence. The past 12 months have represented a remarkable rise for Routh, going from eight years with Luton — where he was playing Category 3 academy football (the second-lowest level) — to facing Barcelona's rising La Masia stars this month at Villa Park in the UEFA Youth League, the age-group version of the Champions League. Villa monitored Routh at Luton and despite playing against more direct, lower-level opponents, felt his qualities would translate to Category 1 football with them. Scouts identified a young player with a good build at 6ft 2in (188cm) tall already, and he was a left-footed centre-back — a trait regarded as 'gold dust' within the recruitment environment. Routh could sometimes struggle at under-18s level but Villa weren't put off; he was dominant in his own age group and they came to the view that having a tough time as an under-16 up against players two years older should not be held against him. Villa have gathered a reputation in the game for being effective recruiters. Interestingly, other Premier League clubs have told senior club staff they will aim to replicate the Villa blueprint in efforts to rejuvenate their own academy. 'They work in silence,' says one agent of Villa. 'They surprise a few people with academy recruitment and who they identify.' Reports on Routh were fed back to academy director Mark Harrison, who has significant influence in Villa's youth recruitment, with an alignment connecting his staff to first-team manager Unai Emery's senior aides — president of football operations Monchi and Damian Vidagany, the director of football operations. This thread runs up to Villa's owners, Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris, who are made aware of every player signed, even ones as young as 14 years of age, and whom Harrison maintains a good relationship with. There is clarity at every level as to which players suit Villa. Sources state there is a straightforward nature to the football department and a small circle of decision-makers, meaning processes are more streamlined than at some other clubs. Advertisement Villa only recruit players at positions they are short in. For instance, they will never buy on top of players already in the position, which attracts youngsters to join them. Under-18s manager Jimmy Shan worked with Harrison and head of player identification Steve Hopcroft previously at nearby West Bromwich Albion and is well thought of with players, while under-21s head coach Josep Gombau is among Emery's closest friends. 'Villa are one of the best academy recruiters for value for money,' says another agent. 'There is a clear plan and even if it does not materialise, Villa have shown their players can have very good careers at another Premier League side, or in the (second tier) Championship. My players' family saw that as a key reason in moving.' On Monday night, Villa play Manchester United in an FA Youth Cup semi-final. Though not favourites in that tie at Villa Park, winning this year's competition would be their under-18s' second triumph in it in five years. As for Routh, he moved to Villa in January 2024 and has recently trained with the seniors under Emery. Had he not been called up to play for England Under-18s in the recent international break, he would have joined the first team for their training trip to Dubai. There are tentative plans for Routh, who will be a second-year scholar in the under-18s, to play for Villa Under-21s and he will get opportunities due to being a left-footer, which is a cornerstone of what Emery looks for in a centre-back. He is now regarded among the club's top young performers, growing technically to match his physique. Rowe arrived at under-15 level after turning down a contract extension at neighbours West Brom. In doing so, he followed a long line of academy graduates to defect from The Hawthorns to Villa. Advertisement Villa are purposeful in signing players from EFL sides and certain markets overseas. After academy director Harrison joined from West Brom in June 2019 and was tasked with bolstering an under-16 team short of players, he and his staff identified Polish goalkeeper Oli Zych and headed to the Netherlands to watch both Sil Swinkels (Vitesse Arnhem) and Lamare Bogarde (Feyenoord) on the same day. Combined, they cost just £360,000 and should they move on one day, will undoubtedly make Villa considerable profit. Similarly, Omari Kellyman was signed from Derby County's academy for £600,000 in 2022 and left for Chelsea two years later for £19million. Meanwhile, Rowe visited clubs in London and the north west of England but decided to join Villa. Close observers say he has made major strides in possession in recent months, becoming assured when receiving under pressure and showing a better passing range. The England youth international impressed in Villa's UEFA Youth League campaign with several sources remarking on his improvement. He is an athletic full-back also capable of playing as a third centre-back and knows when to combine with his right-winger Bradley Burrowes (of whom, more below). 'Triston is very solid,' says one source. 'He will go on to have a good career.' Rowe has steadily grown more involved in first-team training at Villa but there is an increasing sense the next step in his career could be a loan away to gain senior experience. It is unknown whether his possible involvement with England in the Under-19s European Championship this June will impact any such move. Borland's family are Celtic fans, which brought complications when Villa expressed an interest in signing him from the serial Scottish champions in August 2023. He has represented Scotland at several age-group levels and Villa scouts became enamoured with him — so much so that Celtic, aware of the admiration from the Premier League, left Borland out of a match against arch-rivals Rangers. This proved to be the decisive factor in persuading him to swap Glasgow for the West Midlands. Data in youth football is difficult to obtain and usually does not exist until a player reaches age 17 or 18. So, like many others, Borland's acquisition was largely done based on the eye test. Villa are well financed across all departments and, as one staff member says, are 'not afraid to spend money on fees'. The key difference is the reluctance to break their wage structure and consequently inflate other youngsters' salaries. Borland plays as a midfield pivot, with his standout attributes being in possession. 'He's 17 but plays like a 28-year-old,' says one source, who has worked with the Scot. 'His characteristics are made for an Emery midfielder. He has a maturity beyond his years.' Emery places significant emphasis on ball retention and good decision-making — a reason why 21-year-old Bogarde has been promoted to the first team this season. Borland is described as a metronomic passer, rarely losing the ball and doing everything with accuracy. He is earmarked to one day play for Scotland's senior side. Advertisement There is a belief he could be elevated into Emery's squad before long, having made his senior debut off the bench in September's Carabao Cup game away to Wycombe Wanderers of League One and joined the first team on that recent Dubai training trip. Hemmings has been namechecked by multiple sources — scouts, coaches and agents — as a leading talent. He officially arrived in January 2024, crossing the Midlands from Nottingham Forest in a move that marked the end of protracted negotiations which saw him left to train on his own for four months at home in nearby Derby as he waited for the transfer to be finalised. Inevitably, this disrupted his start to life at Villa, and there is a sense Hemmings, despite impressing, is still playing catch-up with that spell in limbo last season also being followed by promotion to the under-21s in the current one. Those close to him believe he is now beginning to find his feet, with this summer's pre-season expected to take him to a new level. Hemmings is described as quiet, naturally introverted, but it's anticipated he will come out of his shell with more experience. Forest were extremely disappointed to lose him before signing his first professional contract, but Villa had the relevant connections and resources to convince him to choose them. Operating centrally, Hemmings can play in multiple positions, including as a No 6 and either as a box-to-box or attacking midfielder. While staff are reluctant to pigeonhole him at such a young age, his best attribute is the ability to receive and then drive through midfield, with a deeper position conducive to bringing those strengths to the fore. 'He is very smooth with the ball and is two-footed,' says one observer. 'He can evade pressure and break lines with his dribbling and forward passing.' Landing Hemmings gave Villa staff immense pride. They share a similar viewpoint to wider scouting circles, where people believe he can play for England Under-21s in the not-too-distant future, provided he is able to show greater personality on the pitch. Hemmings has trained with the Villa first team, mostly on the days after their matches where substitutes and the game's unused players participate in a practice match. Advertisement The hope is he can catch Emery's eye, with the teenager being the type of player the Villa manager gravitates towards. Burrowes joined in 2021 after five years in Bristol Rovers' academy. Hopcroft spotted the then 13-year-old and presented plans to his family, detailing the pathway and the logistics of travelling the three-hour round-trip drive between Bristol and Birmingham. His father, Bradley Senior, competed in weightlifting for England at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and those genetics are discernible in his son: a quick, powerful winger who can play on either flank or as a centre-forward and is comfortable on the ball with both feet. This adds variation and a greater threat to his play, and he has six goals and two assists in seven under-18 Premier League appearances this season. On Tuesday, Burrowes was Villa's sole representative in the England Under-17s side, playing 74 minutes of a 5-0 win against their Northern Ireland counterparts. Burrowes shed tears when he left Bristol Rovers, but has settled well at Villa and is well thought of among club staff. Eight matches (and two more goals) in the UEFA Youth League against older and high-calibre opposition such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus demonstrated his continual adjustment to increasing demands. Tactically, Burrowes understands the range of movements Villa expect from members of their front line and is expected to be an even greater presence in their academy ranks next season. Jimoh-Aloba joined West Brom at age six, having started at nearby junior side Phoenix United, and was there for a decade before moving to Villa in August 2023. Harrison knew of him from his own time at The Hawthorns, which partly contributed to the player opting for Villa, despite several other clubs also showing an interest. These included Manchester United, neighbours City, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur. Another key factor was that Jimoh-Aloba preferred to stay local as it was easier for his three brothers, who also play football, to carry on with their own budding careers in the game. Before turning 18 last October, Jimoh-Aloba played as a deep-lying midfielder or in a box-to-box role. Yet lately, under the instructions of Emery, he has had success at No 10, where he can use his vision and ability to manipulate the ball in higher areas of the pitch. Jimoh-Aloba is the closest of the players in this article to Emery's first-team environment, often being included in matchday squads in recent weeks and making substitute appearances in both domestic cups this season. Advertisement There has been interest from elsewhere regarding a loan, which was a possibility in the recent winter window. Emery preferred for Jimoh-Aloba to continue his education in Villa training, but with a long-term contract understood to run until 2029, the next step in his development may take place after being farmed out to another club. His arrival at Villa last summer brought personal relief. It put an end to 12 months of flux, spent across several academies on trial, once it became evident he would not sign a professional contract with Championship side Sunderland. Cotcher had just left school when he initially impressed in under-18s fixtures for Sunderland. In the 2022-23 season, he scored 12 goals in 31 games and was a standout performer in a side marginally edged out of an under-18 league title by their Manchester City counterparts. The striker was among Sunderland's best prospects but approaching a career intersection. A pro contract was offered and was named in the first-team squad for an FA Cup third-round tie away to Shrewsbury Town that January. Cotcher decided against signing the deal with Sunderland, preferring to explore opportunities he perceived as better for his development. Arsenal, Manchester United, Leeds, Sheffield United and Bournemouth had expressed an interest. Cotcher featured for Arsenal in a youth-team match and spent time training with the age groups above that level. And until Villa pushed to sign him, Arsenal were the closest of any club to agreeing compensation with Sunderland. The England Under-17 international is a proficient finisher and a traditional striker — a profile of player Villa's recruitment team were looking to fill within his age group. Sunderland stayed firm on compensation demands. But that year down the tubes meant football was in danger of moving on, with Cotcher an unfair victim. Naturally, his value depreciated. Villa maintained contact and returned to the table once the price was deemed more acceptable. He signed a contract until 2027 and joined the under-18s at the start of pre-season. Advertisement Cotcher has 12 goals and five assists across 28 appearances for Villa so far but considering the lengthy absence from the game and first-season adaptation, there is an expectation he will show big improvement in 2025-26. He is enjoying living in digs close to the training ground and aims to feature more in the under-21s, providing competition for 19-year-old Rory Wilson, a highly-rated Scotland Under-21 international who is set to sign a contract extension.
