This is Best Buys Ever, where writers, readers, and everyone in-between shares their all-time, desert-island, best things they can’t live without. Want to share yours? Contact us!
Hi! I’m Andrea. I’m a teacher in my mid-30’s, a mom to an adorable five-year-old boy, and a wife to a 40-year-old boy, and these are my all-time favorite finds! I’ve tried to toss in some of everything: a few genius kitchen gadgets, some of my favorite wardrobe staples, a couple of weird hygiene things, and more. I hope you find something to love as much as I already do!
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This Pocket Microscope Is Incredible For the Price
This tiny, inexpensive pocket microscope does it all! We love using it to look at my son’s bug collection — it’s the perfect (tiny) size for little hands, and comes with an ultra-bright LED so you can see plenty of detail. Did I ever think I’d be this into a pocket microscope? No, I didn’t. But I am!
Clever Alternative: This wireless digital microscope that hooks up to your phone.
I Wish I’d Invented the Bladebrush
I never loved scrubbing knives, and had enough close calls to make this very small investment worth it. The BladeBrush wraps around your knives (or any utensil, really), allowing you to safely and aggressively scrub off whatever may be caked on the blade. 100% recommend!
Clever Alternative: This very clever squeegee for your sink and countertops.
This Cheap Rubber Noodle Made My Ring Fit Again
My hands have somehow shrunk since we got married (I wish that wasn’t the only thing!), and my wedding ring kept coming loose. I thought about traditional ring spacers, but I know they can get knocked off easily. Then I saw these wrap-around ring adapters and gave them a try. They’re SO easy to put on, and they’re made of a comfortable clear silicone, which I don’t even notice anymore. Best of all, they’re easy to cut and size for however much adaptation your ring may need.
Clever Alternative: These invisible ring adapters.
This Chunky Shampoo Brush Is Worth Every Penny (and More)
I’d seen those regular silicone shampoo brushes all over the internet, but this one was different, and really caught my eye. It’s great! Instead of a round handle with only one brush-side, you get a big chunk of silicone with different brushing fingers on every surface. Want to scrub your scalp? It’s perfect for that. How about exfoliating your legs? It’s got a couple curved sides with nubs perfect for the task. I love that it rinses clean and never gets stinky.
Clever Alternative: This set of three nicely spikey shampoo brushes.
This Flexible Sink Sling Is So Efficient
I don’t have a ton of counterspace around my sink, so countertop storage of sponges and brushes is a non-starter. I love this Umbra sink sling! It hugs the center of my sink and holds my sponge and scrub brush, without taking up any counter space.
Clever Alternative: This incredibly chic hands-free soap dispenser.
These Sherpa Fleece Pullovers Are My Warm Secret Weapon
Sherpa fleece may be my favorite fabric of all time, and I owe that fandom primarily to one really great blanket, and this top. I love the chunky feel combined with a tailor, actually-kinda-fashionable fit. And it’s wonderfully warm!
Clever Alternative: These contrasting sherpa tops look SO fuzzy!
You’ve Seen These Bedsheets Everywhere, For a Good Reason
As of this writing, these sheets were closing in on hundreds of thousands of reviews on Amazon, almost all five-stars. You can count me and the husband among them! They’re just SO soft (made of brushed microfiber), and surprisingly resistant to fading and wrinkles. They’re even available in more than 30 colors! But overall, they’re just insanely comfortable, and far cheaper than most sheet sets out there.
Clever Alternative: These cult-favorite plush gel pillows will complete your comfort.
I Tried the Legendary Foot Peel And It Was Everything I Hoped It Would Be
If you’ve been on the internet at least once in the last five years, you’ve seen the pictures and gifs of feet with flaps of dead skin peeling away, revealing beautiful, new, baby-soft feet underneath. I was too curious, and had to give one a try. Wow. You put your feet in the plastic booties for an hour or so, and let the peel do its work. Then, over the course of the next 7-10 days, I started seeing the effects. Bubbling pockets of skin starting to peel away. It was gross, and honestly, really enjoyable. I didn’t get some of the more drastic effects you’ll see in the customer reviews, but it was still worth it!
Clever Alternative: This giant callus rasp has SO many reviews.
These Double-Duty Shower Curtain Hooks Are Officially Genius
This is one of those little inventions that makes a HUGE difference. These double-duty curtain hooks are such a step up from our old spring-clamp types, I can’t even tell you. I love how easy them make it to replace a liner, or remove the outer curtain for washing. They’re available in sets of 12, which is plenty for a normal shower curtain.
Clever Alternative: These genius curved shower curtain bars add the luxury of space to your cramped shower.
The Lilly Brush Is A Tiny, Fur-Collecting Monster
I was in for a rude awakening when I started using the Lilly Brush on our couch. What I once considered a ‘pretty clean’ place to sit soon revealed itself to be a haven for thousands of hidden dog hairs. The Lilly Brush’s rubber edges grab fur you can’t even see, collecting it into disgustingly satisfying little bunches (as you can see from the reviewer photo). I now use ours every week or two to keep ahead of the pups.
Clever Alternative: This fur-collecting broom I also rely on.
I Can Finally Wear Sweatpants as Real Pants
I think these may be the most popular sweatpants on Amazon, and I understand why! They’re a bit thinner than your typical sweats, and have a really flattering, modern cut that doesn’t exactly scream, “Hey, yes, I AM wearing sweatpants out of the house, for the third day in a row.”
Clever Alternative: I’m VERY intrigued by these harem pants.
These Peel-Off Masks Are So Satisfying to Use
I’m not one of those women applying a mask every day, but when my husband got me this multi-pack of peel-off masks as a stocking stuffer, I had to give them a try. They’re great! Yes, they leave your skin feeling soft and nutrified, but to be honest, my favorite part is the peeling. SO satisfying!
Clever Alternative: These sheet mask sets are insanely popular.
This Makeup Organizer Holds Everything You Need
If you’re like me, and have a ‘bit’ of an issue keeping all of your products organized, well, this rotating makeup organizer will be your new best friend. It holds EVERYTHING — from my lipstick to mascara to cleansers and fragrances, and I think it looks terrific too.
Clever Alternative: This chic and minimalist pallete organizer.
I Own Three Pairs of the Best Leggings Ever
I’m an unabashed fan of “activewear-as-a-lifestyle,” and these top-selling yoga pants are a staple in my wardrobe. They’re incredibly comfortable, offer a bit of tummy-control, and best of all: TWO pockets big enough to actually store things! They’re available in almost 40 colors, so the temptation still remains for me to add to the collection…
Clever Alternative: These yoga shorts with the same big pockets!
This Screen Magnifier Actually Works!
My husband sprung for one of these screen magnifiers on an impulse, and I’m glad he did. We mostly keep it in the car, and it keeps our little guy entertain on long car rides. And it’s especially great for camping!
Clever Alternative: This model with built-in speakers looks great.
This Mug Warmer Is Such a Value
There’s a few high-end, name-brand heated mugs out there, but this simple induction-based mug warmer fit my needs perfectly. The base senses when you place your mug on it, and keeps your coffee (or tea!) at a toasty 135 degrees F. And unlike the more expensive versions, this one can heat any flat-bottomed mug you’ve got!
Clever Alternative: You can also just buy the heating base.
This Shawl Cardigan is the Perfect Hybrid
I really like to wear this sweater shawl around the house. Because it’s so oversized, I can wrap myself up in it like a blanket while reading on the couch (or more like trying to get five minutes of peace and quiet to attempt to read, and if I do, fall immediately asleep). But either way, I’m warm and comfortable!
Clever Alternative: These poncho tops are so elegant!
This Little Stone Ball Replaces Blotting Papers
I’d been an early convert to blotting papers (those thin tissues that wipe away skin oil), but this volcanic stone roller is a major step up. You just roll the ball across your oily zones, and the volcanic stone sucks up the oil! I don’t know exactly how it works, but it does. It’s easy to disassemble and clean, and has lasted me for well over a year without issue.
Clever Alternative: This soft-touch blemish remover helps you remove blackheads the right way.
These Memory Foam Pillows Transformed My Desk Chair
Like basically every other adult on earth, I spend a LOT of my day sitting in a desk chair – a habit which was starting to take its toll on me in the form of lower-back pain and light sciatica. A friend recommended this memory-foam cushion set as a possible help, and she was right! While they don’t make my office chair look any more handsome, they do make it so comfortable, and so squishy, I actually look forward to sitting on it.
Clever Alternative: This gel seat cushion with astounding reviews.
These Koala Cloths Keep Glasses Clean Forever
These are hands-down the best microfiber cloths on the market. They’re made from a thick, durable, incredibly soft Japanese microfiber, and always leave my glasses (and my husband’s) crystal clear. You can even hand-wash and air-dry them and they’re good as new. One of my best ‘bargain picks’ on the list (especially since you get six in a pack).
Clever Alternative: These Peeps look like a fun way to keep specs spotless.
I Never Thought I’d Love These Cold Therapy Socks
I got a pair of these cold therapy socks when I was pregnant with our son, and WOW did they help with my seriously swollen, pregnant-lady-feet. The socks come with two cold packs per foot, custom-sized to fit along the sole of your foot, and over the top. I still use them once or twice a month (they go great with my heated mittens), and highly recommend.
Clever Alternative: My beloved heated hand mitts.
These Little Rubber Brushes Exfoliate Your Lips
I’m prone to chapped lips, and prone to biting at my chapped lips, and therefore prone to cracked, sore lips come wintertime. I’ve found that a pretty steady regimen of great lip balm paired with regular lip exfoliation has helped to curb this awful cycle. A lot of other reviewers swear by pairing these with an exfoliating lip scrub, so that’ll probably be my next move!
Clever Alternative: This coconut lip scrub is a very popular pairing.
I Keep Finding Excuses to Pull Out This Silicone Mushroom Funnel
I love this clever, colorful take on the often-boring (but so very necessary) kitchen funnel. This mushroom funnel is made of flexible, dishwasher-safe, BPA-free silicone. To use it, you just stick the stem into your bottle, invert the top, and boom — instant, adorable funnel. And since it’s a nice, squishy rubber, you can store it almost anywhere.
Clever Alternative: A set of these clever Egg Penguins.
These Battery Packs are True Lifesavers
We keep one of these Anker Powercores charging in an outlet at all times (one of us is notorious for forgetting to charge his phone). I love that they plug right into the wall (no extra cords necessary), hold at least a few full charges for even the largest phones, and best of all — they charge up the phone faster than the wall chargers do.
Clever Alternative: These lipstick-sized chargers that are perfect for your purse.
I Use This Laptop Bag As a Purse
Back when we could still leave the house, I’d love to take trips to the coffee shop or the library to get some writing done. That’s when I started using this laptop bag, and I haven’t stopped since! It makes a great purse, whether you’re toting a computer or not, and even features a USB interface (so hi-tech!) so you can charge your phone from your Anker Powercore inside the purse. It’s held up to a LOT of use, cleans easily, and has more storage than you’d ever need (though I find a way to fill it up!)
Clever Alternative: This classy leather laptop tote may be my next purse purchase.
This Stapler Doesn’t Use Staples
This little thing is SO COOL! We got it for our son (who, at 5, should have no access to real staples), but we end up using it all the time ourselves. Rather than using staples, it punctures the paper and loops it back on itself (I still barely understand how it works). The manufacturer says it can staple as many as 5 sheets of paper together, but I’m sure we’ve done more.
Clever Alternative: This “Plus” Model that can staple 10+ sheets.
This Weird-Looking Showerhead is Fantastic
This water-filtering showerhead is a sleeper hit in our house. I bought it on a lark after seeing it in another listicle (I know, I love them too), just because it looked so strange. Well it turns out it’s a great showerhead! It’s got better pressure than our old, $50 showerhead, and the filtration system leads to softer, cleaner-rinsing water overall.
Clever Alternative: These similar shower heads with color-changing lights built in.
This Tiny-But-Mighty Air Filter Keeps Our House Smelling Great
We’ve been using one of these wall-mounted GermGuardians for years, and I swear it keeps almost the entire house smelling so fresh. The filter uses UV-C light to kill off airborne viruses and odor-causing bacteria. It’s the tiny-little-baby-brother of the much larger GermGuardian, but way cheaper, and so much less of an eyesore.
Clever Alternative: This updated model which I assume is just as effective.
These Fridge Bins Make Our Tired Old Fridge SO Much Better
These fridge bins are such a stellar find. We keep all sandwich condiments in one bin, so come lunch time I’ve got everything I need in one hand! They’ll keep yogurts, sodas, eggs, everything you can think of, where it belongs. I don’t know why refrigerators don’t come with these to begin with!
Clever Alternative: This storage solution for container lids makes so much sense.
This Robe Isn’t Cute, On Purpose
I was in the market for a new bathrobe, and everything I found was short, flirty, and cute — nothing that I’m looking for in a bathrobe. Nope, I want something long, warm, and concealing, and this lovely fleece robe fit the bill. It hits all the right notes: long, made of ultra-soft, thick fleece, and covers me from my shoulders to the ground. My husband says it makes me look like a Jedi Knight, and I’m OK with that. Why? I’m too comfortable to care.
Clever Alternative: This nightgown looks like a perfect complement.
These Washin’ Jax Make Laundry (Almost) Fun
These giant silicone rubber jacks add much-needed agitation to our run-of-the-mill washing machine. Though half the time I have to hunt them down and find them in my son’s room (he loves playing with them).
Clever Alternative: These wool dryer balls are insanely popular on Amazon.
These May Be the Cutest Dryer Balls in the World
I like adding whimsy to boring chores, and these dryer balls fit the bill perfectly. My son loves to collect them while I fold the clothes! Each set of Wooly Heroes comes with six different animals (pug, koala, penguin, and more!), and are crafted from 100% pure New Zealand wool. They’ve softened hundreds of loads of laundry so far, and show no signs of slowing down!
Clever Alternative: These penguin dryer balls are another cute alternative.
Everybody Already Has These Yoga Sandals , And Now So Do I
These Sanuk yoga sandals have been around for a while, but I’d always assumed that you had to be some sort of super fit yogi to wear them. Not true! They looked so comfortable that I took a chance and bought them anyway. Now I notice that normal women everywhere wear them. That’s probably because they’re as light as air work with so many outfits.
Clever Alternative: And if I do finally get out my yoga mat, I might give these toeless yoga socks a try.
This Perfectly-Titled Password Book Has Saved Me So Many Times
There are two types of people in the world: those who remember their passwords, and me. This cheap book helps me keep all of my different accounts straight, and its title always makes me smile.
Clever Alternative: This slightly classier version.
These Dishwasher-Safe Oven Liners Make Me Happy
Yes, oven liners make me happy. Why? Because, now that I have them, I never have to clean our oven again (well, for the most part). These slick babies sit on the bottom of your oven and collect any drips and drops that would otherwise burn into stinky, smoky messes. They’re heat-resistant, BPA-free, and easily cleaned in the dishwasher. Oh, and they’re cheap too!
Clever Alternative: These burner covers do the same service for your stovetop.
These Super Soft Camo Joggers Feel Like Air
When I stumbled across these camo print joggers on Amazon, I was a little skeptical. I just didn’t own any camo print, and could barely be convinced by the thousands of positive reviews. But I bought them anyway and, oh my, am I glad I did. It turns out, they’re not really ‘joggers,’ but more like lovely buttery soft leggings in a jogger cut. And the camo print? Let me just say that I like what it hides!
Clever Alternative: Now I might also need to add this camo print scarf to the look.
Airpods Are My Biggest, No-Regrets-Splurge of All Time
I never thought I’d love a pair of headphones like I love my Airpods. That’s not an original sentiment (after all, they’ve sold so many millions of them), but there’s a reason they’re so popular: They. Are. Incredible. Their magnetic case? So fun to toy with. Their sound quality? As good as I need. But my favorite thing about them is that I can wear just one at a time, or share the other with my husband, AND control my phone just by tapping them. They’re the most futuristic thing I own and I use them ever dang day.
Clever Alternative: These Airpods Pro are apparently even better!
This Simple Net Keeps My Purse Right Where I Need It
This is called the Car Cache, and it’s hands-down my favorite addition I’ve made to my car. It keeps my purse resting safely (and upright!) on the center console, so I can easily access anything I might need while behind the wheel. No more fishing in the wheel wells or stretching to the back seat to get what I need.
Clever Alternative: This leather model is a classy alternative.
Because a Comfortable Bra Is Not a Luxury!
Why should I have to endure full-blown price panic when I need to buy new bras? This 5-pack of seamless bras gets the job done comfortably, and for a fraction of the price I paid at Victoria Secret for the same thing. Buying bras should be like buying underwear; cheap and simple – like Amazon.
Clever Alternative: But if you do want to splurge, these seamless Calvin Klein bras offer a bit more support for a bit more money.
This Weird Foam Pillow Feels Incredible
It looks like some cross between a whale’s tail and a giant blue tongue, but this cervical-correcting pillow has helped both my husband and I with lingering stiff-neck issues. It does take a few uses to get accustomed to, but once you do…ahhh… it’s just such a relaxing experience!
Clever Alternative: These acupressure mats and pillows look painful but amazing.
These Ice Pops are a Family Favorite
My son loves these silicone popsicle molds. We make awesome homemade popsicles blending up mango and orange juice, but almost any fruit/juice combo will work. Just pour it into the molds, add the handles, and let it freeze. Peel off the flexible silicone molds when you’re ready to eat!
Clever Alternative: These tiny tiny tiny molds look so adorable.
This Sink Strainer Is the Best $9 We Ever Spent
Our house is old (have I mentioned that yet?) and we’ve got a lovely, original, farmhouse style sink. However, that means we’ve also got no garbage disposal, and are at constant risk of clogs. We used mesh sink strainers for years, but they clogged up so easily and became caked with some mysterious goo after only a few days of use. Then we sprung for these silicone sink strainers, and we’re never looking back. They catch everything, they don’t clog easily, and one spin in the dishwasher gets them looking (and smelling) brand-new. We’ve had ours for years and they’re still in great shape.
Clever Alternative:
This Shower Caddy is Perfect for Type-A Bathers
For anyone with the fortune (or, occasionally, misfortune) of sharing a shower with multiple people, this shower caddy will help you stay sane. Why do I love it? Everything Has Its Place. My shampoo has its caddy. My husband’s has his. It’s such an upgrade over the run-of-the-mill basket-type caddies, I can’t even tell you.
Clever Alternative: This odd-but-awesome octopus shower caddy.
This Silicone Tool Rest Keeps My Stovetop Spotless
Yet another one of those simple-yet-brilliant ideas I found online somewhere! This simple kitchen tool rest is the perfect place to leave my spatula, scrapers, or the notoriously messy spaghetti-sauce-spoon. Its clever design catches any mess, and its solid silicone construction is heat-resistant and dishwasher-safe. Check it out!
Clever Alternative: This set of oversized silicone spoon rests in insanely bright colors.
This Tiny Air Purifier Keeps My Car Smelling New
We’re a pretty frugal family, and part of that philosophy involves driving older cars – in my case, a 2004 Toyota we bought used. It’s a great car, but didn’t exactly exude “new car smell” when we acquired it. I tried classic air fresheners, but they just masked the underlying funk. Fortunately, this little Frieq air purifier has made it so much better! According to the manufacturer, it exudes millions of negative ions per cubic centimeter. Unlike air fresheners, which just mask odor, these negative ions actually destroy it. Do I know how it works? No. It just does.
Clever Alternative: These headrest-mounted odor absorbers.
This Car Seat Gap Filler Add Storage in the Perfect Place
Both my husband and I have dropped our phones into the “abyss” between the car seat and the center console at least 3-dozen times before we got these clever takes on the now-common seat gap filler. Rather than just occupying empty space with neoprene, these fillers provide handy storage, so you can keep your phone, snacks, or whatever else you’ve gotta have at hand (you’ve seen my priorities) right next to you.
Clever Alternative: The Shark Tank favorite DropStop.
My Husband Became a Dog Pee Detective With This Blacklight Flashlight
My husband bought this after our older dog started secret-peeing around the house, and it works! We also use the flashlight for fun with the little guy, who loves how it makes anything white look like its glowing. Weird, I know, but we all gotta find fun where we can these days, and this one comes cheap!
Clever Alternative: This massive rechargeable blacklight flashlight.
Here’s a Doormat That Actually Works!
Really what is the point of a doormat unless it actually works? I was tired of wiping my shoes on wimpy decorative doormats only to track half the crud inside my house. But this shoe scrubbing doormat gets the job done! It cradles your boots so you can step on with both feet. And its magical combination of and the heavy duty coir bristles and metal scrape all the gunk off. It doesn’t look half bad either!
Clever Alternative: These durable-looking job site boot scrapers also look pretty effective, though not actually pretty.
This Orange Thumb Supercharges My Green Thumb
Like many, many people, I’ve gotten pretty into gardening in the last 12 months, and these simple thumbknives are probably my favorite gardening tool acquisition! They’re dirt-cheap, comfortable to use, and make it so easy to hand-pick and hand-prune with the flick of your thumb. Don’t worry – they come with two cut-proof finger cots to keep your digits nice and safe.
Clever Alternative: These classic pruning shears.
These Solar-Powered Fairy Lights Have Transformed Our Back Porch
We got a few sets of these solar-powered fairy lights and wrapped them around the columns of our back porch. They turn on when it gets dark and last the entire night through! I love the warm golden glow they give off – it makes for a very cozy summer evening sitting back there. They’re even available in at least seven different light colors if you’re looking to get funky.
Clever Alternative: These solar-powered cafe string lights.
This Folding Dish Rack and Drying Mat Is So Convenient
I’m one of those weird people who doesn’t mind doing the dishes by hand — in fact, if I can’t get at least a 60% full dishwasher by day’s end, I’m getting my hands wet. This combination drying rack and mat is perfect for those occasions. I store it under the sink, folded up, and set it on the countertop. The dish rack is strong enough to hold our heavier dishes, while the microfiber drying mat is ultra-absorbent.
Clever Alternative: The world’s most clever silverware storage.
This Genius Silverware Storage Is One of My Best Finds Ever
Among a list of my top-ever purchases, I think I can rank this Joseph Joseph silverware storage tray near the top. I’d seen the smaller version around (which only holds your silverware), but grabbed this one when I saw it included space for larger cooking utensils. It fits right into my main utensil drawer, adding some lovely and efficient order to a once-chaotic place!
Clever Alternative: This clever invention puts your knife block in your drawer.
These Rustic Hanging Shelves Are an Insane Value
I got these two rustic hanging shelves for less than $20 on Amazon, and I’d happily pay twice that. They look great on the wall, match our decor, and are incredibly easy to install. I may be getting more for our bathroom or guest room!
Clever Alternative: This similar set in bright blue
This Clever Invention Puts Your Knife Block in Your Drawer
I’ve never been a big fan of our knife block. It takes up valuable counterspace, seems to attract gunk all around its base, and drinks up water like a sponge! So when I got this Joseph Joseph Knifestore, I happily put the block out to pasture (aka, in the far corners of the basement). The two-tier design holds up to 9 knives, and goes perfectly with Joseph Joseph’s Drawerstore silverware solution (another favorite of mine on this list)!
Clever Alternative: Possibly the world’s best silverware storage solution.
My Husband Even Loves This Clothes Steamer
We were a bit late to the game on these portable steamers, but we’re never looking back. It’ll release most any wrinkles you’ll find on normal clothes with one or two passes of steam. I can’t remember the last time I even lugged my ironing board out!
Clever Alternative: This industrial-style steamer at a bargain price.
These Simple Fuzzy Sliders Are an At-Home Wardrobe Workhorse
I love the hardwood floors at my house…until winter when setting my bare feet on the ground sends a shiver up my spine. That’s why I love these simple, fuzzy slip-on shoes! I can slide out of bed and into these shoes. I can step out of the shower and into these shoes. I can hop off the couch and into these shoes. You get the picture. And, unlike my other favorite Uggs slippers, they’ve also got arch support at a quarter of the price.
Clever Alternative: Here are those luxurious Uggs slippers I mentioned.
This Weighted Cord Keeper Brings Sanity to My Desktop
Sometimes the simplest things bring the most satisfaction. This weighted cord keeper sits on my desk, holds every last cord I need, and doesn’t budge. I’m going to get another for my nightstand to keep my phone and watch chargers in some semblance of order!
Clever Alternative: You can stick these cable clips anywhere.
I Still Can’t Believe How Well These Glass Nail Files Work
Bid farewell to emery boards, the new nail file of the future is made from etched, tempered glass. You can buy a set of 20 of these nail files for a song, but you’ll only need a few. The tempered glass construction holds up to what seems like infinite uses (unless you’ve got problematically tough nails, somehow), and they rinse perfectly clean with just water.
Clever Alternative: This Japanese nail buffer with thousands of reviews.
Every Car Should Include This “Carbage” Can
Adding this trash-can-for-cars to my backseat has helped keep our car SO much cleaner. We strapped ours to the back of the center console, in easy reach of driver, passenger, and little-dude-in-the-back. It’s waterproof and holds up to two gallons of trash – plenty of space for even the longest trash-generating road trips.
Clever Alternative: This car-cleaning gel I’m seeing everywhere online.
This Trunk Organizer is Perfect for SUVs
While I love having an SUV, I never really got used to the lack of a trunk. Things could pile up, tip over, even get launched around the cabin if we came to a sudden stop. This trunk organizer added some much-needed order to the chaos – especially when coming back with groceries. The organizer has non-slip pads on the bottom to keep it in place (in addition to some optional heavy-duty straps), and it’s easily collapsible to boot.
Clever Alternative: This trunk organizer straps to the back of your seats.
These Yoga Toes Look Crazy, and Feel Great
These might be the weirdest pick of my list. They’re called Yoga Toes Gems, and they’re like those toe-separators you use for nail polish, but on steroids. They feel great to use (once you get used to them), and help stave away foot pain from bunions, plantar fasciitis, and more.
Clever Alternative: They even make these Yoga Toes for men.
This Outlet Shelf is So Genius
I don’t know what genius was sitting around, staring at an outlet one day, thinking: “What a wasted opportunity”, but I’m glad they did! This outlet shelf transforms a boring old outlet into a full-on charging station, with six normal outlets, two USB charging ports, and best of all, a shelf on top where you can rest your phone, keys, wallet, or just cap it off with a charming little vase, like I did.
Clever Alternative: This simpler outlet shelf is designed for smarthome speakers.
An Invention This Simple Shouldn’t Work This Well
I love a good bath. Some bubbles. Some candles. A good book. And a builder-grade tub that barely gets deep enough to be comfortable? This overflow drain cover instantly turned my sorry bathtub into a deep, immersive well of warmth. You’ll need to be careful not to overflow your tub (this blocks the overflow drain entirely), but man, does it make a difference.
Clever Alternative: This incredible-looking bathtub back pillow may be my next splurge.
This Inexpensive Mattress Topper Made Our Old Bed Feel New Again
Who knew two inches of plush memory foam could turn a boring old mattress into possibly THE most comfortable surface on earth? Judging by the incredible quantity of reviews (and my own love for it), plenty of people. You can even get this mattress pad in 3-inch depths, if you’re looking for an even squishier sleep experience.
Clever Alternative: This down-alternative mattress cover for those not into memory foam.
You Are Not Too Young for Compression Socks
Like me, you may have wondered, “What’s the deal with compression socks ?” I was pretty sure they were exclusively for nurses and very old people…and maybe very old nurses. But the truth is, everyone needs these! They look like normal socks but have a perfect amount of compression to simply keep your feet from getting tired/ swollen. They were particularly amazing when I was pregnant.
Clever Alternative: These little slip on arch supports may also work wonders for foot troubles.
This Door-Mounted Laundry Bag Is Just So Convenient
I’ll be honest: I’m not in love with having a laundry bag strapped to the back of my bathroom door, but I AM in love with how easy it’s become to get my house-mates (read: husband and son) to put their dirty clothes away every single day. My bathroom won’t win any design awards anytime soon, but it’s a worthwhile tradeoff in my book!
Clever Alternative: These beautiful collapsible hampers that I love.
Yes, These Are Also Crocs
I love my regular Crocs to pieces, but let’s be honest, they are a gardening shoe that I’ve convinced myself is okay to wear everywhere. But these slide-on sandals feel like Crocs (and are in fact Crocs) but don’t look like Crocs, so that I can wear them with a dress or jeans without looking like I spend all my time at The Home Depot.
Clever Alternative: Of course I still love you too, traditional Crocs, and I will never let you go!
