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May 17, 2024

40 Life Hack Products For Anyone Who Needs A Win

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

These products are all so clever that just owning them will feel like a life hack.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "I have a very heavy, large purse that is a bottomless pit. One time I put my purse on the back of my chair at a cafe and the whole chair flipped over, that is how heavy my bag is. I was looking for something so I could hook my purse on things so it wasn’t sitting on the floor and was more accessible. I love this little gadget. I have used it on everything from bathroom stalls to tables to grocery carts. This thing really grips. All of my girlfriends love it and have gotten it for themselves." —Jennifer

Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in eight colors).

Each bag has enough litter to cover you for a month and the subscription includes free shipping.

Start a Pretty Litter subscription for $24/month (available for one, two, and multi-cat households).

Promising review: "LOVE! This book light is perfect for nighttime reading. I opted for this particular brand over others I saw for less as it has a dimmer. I really like this one as the glow is soft and not harsh on my eyes. The dimmer has a wide range when I turn the knob. You can use this book light horizontally or vertically. It’s not large enough to cover the whole page of most books, but it does completely light up an entire page so you don’t have to move it up and down while reading." —Flora

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two colors).

I love having this tool in my home! I jumped on the 2020 plant trend fast and have filled my home with tons of botanicals (that all have different watering schedules). The meter tells you if a plant is being over-watered or under-watered right down to the root, which is very necessary for a plant parent (who used to be a plant murderer) like myself.

Promising review: "This item is great. I can check how wet my plants are down where the roots are. So no more over watering! It is very accurate. This works great!!" —Terri Carlson

Get it from Amazon for $8.97+ (available in three colors).

I cook with a shocking amount of garlic and I always hated dealing with my old garlic press. This one-piece solution is SO much better than the old school tool! You simply place your peeled garlic under and rock at an angle, it minces just the same. This also comes with a (TBH very cute) scraper *and* a silicone sleeve that'll help you peel your cloves in an instant.

Promising review: "I like garlic very much, so I use this garlic press every day. It works very well, is easy to use, and easy to clean. Compared with the garlic press I used before, this is more labor-saving and comfortable." —Jessica

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "I have one in the nursery and in the living room! This is the best warmer for your money. It keeps my baby's bottom happy. He used to, and still will scream, at cold wipes. He hates cold wipes, so this is a mini miracle for us! It keeps the wipes wet and lukewarm! We keep them plugged always. The baby is two months old and they have been plugged in since, not a single problem! I recommend this." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $30.05.

Promising review: "We bought this for our 7-month-old labradoodle and he absolutely loves it. He is a big fan of tug of war so this toy is great to just leave on the ground and let him have at it. It certainly helps distract and burn his puppy energy. You can hide treats in it as well which was a bonus. This also comes with two sticky pads for extra suction. Five stars all around!!" —P. Bom

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available with one or two suction cups).

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 $15.49.

Promising review: "This is very sturdy and it allows air into cups, pans, etc. to dry easily – unlike a drying pad. It holds heavy pans with no problem. The color is soft and goes great with my white and gray countertops and it's extremely functional. It's easy to clean, just roll it up and store it under the sink. Highly recommend. 👍🏻" —Denise

Get it from Amazon for $12+ (available in four sizes).

Promising review: "I'm multi-racial with tan skin. I burn when it's intense, but I get a great tan otherwise. My 9-month-old is fair, fair, fair. Blue eyes and porcelain skin fair. I reapply my own SPF 50 after a few hours, but I'm not consistent. I've never been great about sunscreen, but I was not going to let my daughter get burned. We live in South Florida and just a walk or park time is a potential burning hazard. This is a great visual for me to reapply her sunscreen or make sure she gets in the shade. They're an absolute essential for parents, especially the 'sun goddess' type." —FlightLife

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $25.99 (includes 32 stickers).

Promising review: "This doesn’t leak at all! It fits in my backpack. Because my backpack has no pockets on the side, this was really useful." —Rand Alhachami

Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

Promising review: "This product is the answer to my search for a way to have music or Netflix playing while in the shower! The adhesion quality is great, and it's very easy to use. It fits my iPhone XS Max very well and is very sturdy. I would recommend this to anyone!" —Jackie Donovan

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four colors).

Promising review: "I love this charging station! I‘m one of those people who has all the Apple things, so being able to charge my phone, watch, and AirPod Pros at the same time is a total game changer for me. I can’t even guess how many times I’ve misplaced my AirPods because I didn’t have a dedicated place for them. Now there’s no question where they are every morning. Not only that, but the charger is pretty fast (especially for the watch and earbuds) and the station itself is easy to set up and use." —Anonymous

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in six colors).

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 $117.94+ (available in five sizes and three widths).

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 two from Amazon for $19.99.

Promising review: "Everyone should have one of these! It's great quality! I love how it alternates colors and how you can make it stick to one color. My dog loves his necklace. This is a fabulous purchase. Get one right now!" —Khaos

Get it from Chewy for $17.99.

Promising review: "This laser is a fantastic addition to the product line as it combines a VERY BRIGHT and VISIBLE green laser for both 360-degree horizontal, another vertical laser line that can provide you with a true and accurate 90-degree line, as well as a RED laser plumb dot! This is one of the most useful lasers I have ever come across! Having a contrast between the red and the green laser gives you easily readable reference lines and points. This unit is an excellent deal and would rival lasers eight to 10 times its price. Finally, the unit has a metal cover providing extra protection for the 360-degree horizontal laser against possible bumps. If you want a great laser — JUST BUY IT! You won’t be disappointed!" —Rob H.

Get it from Amazon for $115.99+ (available in three styles).

I have the runner version of this rug! I actually own two Ruggable rugs. After I got one for my living room I knew this was the best type of rug for my home. I have cats and have a bad habit of wearing my shoes indoors...having rugs I can throw in the wash feels heaven-sent! And they are cool. Way too cool.

Promising review: "This rug looked brilliant online but is that much better IRL. I just washed it the first time and it looks like new. 100% recommend!" —Anna O.

Get it from Ruggable for $119+ (available in three colors and various styles/sizes).

This thing is super strong and takes less than a minute to install. Just open the door and insert the claws on the back of the silver piece into the "strike" of the door (the hole where the lock fits in) and then close the door. After you've done that, take the metal rod on the red handle and insert it into the butterfly hole on the silver piece. This completely locks the door handle – no one from the outside could even try to peak in.

Promising review: "This is a LIFE SAVER...literally. Thanks to Add-A-Lock's simple design and simple instructions, my 18-month-old can no longer leave the apartment and wander the halls or attempt to take rides on the elevator in my apartment building. This is well worth the money. Five stars!!" —Lori S.

Get two from Amazon for $29.95.

Promising review: "I purchased this product because I do a lot of food prep and have challenges placing prepared cuttings into containers. This unique cutting board allows me to cut various foods and slide them through an opening directly into a sealable plastic container. the time savings and organization allows for faster prep time. The bamboo board works well for this purpose." —N Hara

Get it from Amazon for $77.99.

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 placed 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 six styles).

Before adding this to your cart, you have the option to customize it, including selecting from 14 lengths and 15 colors (including custom colors). The CovoBox is made from reclaimed books and sustainable wood.

BTW — Covogoods is a small family-owned business creating home decor in Utah!

Promising review: "I’m pretty sure I’ve never loved a purchase from Amazon as much as I love this one. This product is EXTREMELY well made and very unique. Plus, it does the job of hiding the ugly routers and cords. And the customer service was great and responsive. I was a little hesitant to spend the money on this but after years of living with the husband’s pile of technology, the money was well spent!" —AmazonEmme

Get it from Covogoods on Amazon Handmade for $29+ (available in customizable sizes and colors).

Promising review: "This is the best infant seat ever. The Doona makes life so much easier. Having three kids, grocery shopping is a breeze with the Doona. My oldest pushes the baby, which leaves the car open and my hands free. I just wish it were a little lighter in weight." —Christina B.

Get it from Pish Posh Baby for $550 (available in nine colors).

Promising review: "I love, love, love this shaver. It works great. Easy to use. It's design is a comfortable fit in my hand. The side grips allow no slipping. The more I use it the smoother my legs are. I have course hair and trouble with razor burn and ingrown hairs. Thus unit feels like an exfoliant treatment each time I use it. Really great. No irritation. I highly recommend it." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

"I hate wrinkles *and* am lazy — two at-odds conditions. This stuff has been a staple in my life since approximately ninth grade (thanks to my mama). As a former Catholic school uniform wearer, I have discovered that this stuff was VITAL to freshening up wrinkly dress shirts that spent the after-school hours stuffed in a gym bag. The scent is light and fresh and its wrinkle-releasing powers are nearly instant. It definitely works better on some fabrics than others (great on cotton, less great on some synthetics), but it'll improve the look of most without dealing with an iron or steamer." —Danielle Healy, BuzzFeed

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $15.94.

Promising review: "This has saved my sanity!! Our stuffed animals and blankets always ended up all over the basement. Thanks to this awesome chair, they are now all contained and they make for a super cozy reading nook under the stairs. The quality seems excellent. I expect it will last for many years! The stuffed chair is also cozy – double win!" —Emily Heilman

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in six styles).

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 $17.96.

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 $119.98+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "Do you hate having to dust around things? I know I do. This glove is ideal — you can just wipe away dust while easily maneuvering around odds and ends in your way. Because it’s your own hand inside the glove it’s also easy to maneuver over oddly shaped things like silk plants or blinds. I absolutely recommend this!" —Katherine Wise

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in two styles).

To apply, simply clean the area with an alcohol wipe before attaching the light. Take the sticker off the back and press firmly against the lid for 90 seconds. That's it! Batteries are included.

Promising review: "I got this thinking 'Dear lord I hope this works. If I drop my pants in pee again or have to scrub another wall I am going to go insane!' I thought the price was a bit much but it is okay now that I now it works! I don’t know why people are saying theirs don’t stay on. I’m truly hoping they cleaned the area first... but anyways. All I did was clean the surface of the lid with some rubbing alcohol and stuck this light on, like it said to do. My husband and son are in and out of the bathroom several times a day. Slamming the lid closed. Lights on and off all the time. This still lights up bright as ever and it’s going on three weeks. Now when I sit I sometimes might lean back into it but it’s really not an issue. I'm just overwhelmed with joy because this target works and I do not have to scrub any extra walls, floors, or pants!!! You better believe I’m getting one for every darn bathroom in my house!!!" —NoRestForTheWicked

Get it from Amazon for $34.88.

Want more info? Check out my coworker's FURemover Evrilholder broom review. You'll learn a thing or two AND enjoy some very satisfying hair-removal photos!

Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok and thought it was worth a shot. I have two dogs and a cat, and being one with a dust and dander allergy I have to vacuum often but the vacuum can’t always get in deep enough. This actually works and I was shocked at how well it does. I brush the carpet a few times and vacuum it up and the carpet even looks better!! I highly recommend this to everyone- especially pet owners." —Theo Ackerman

Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

Animal print not your passion? You can also grab a solid color version if that's your taste.

Promising review: "This wallpaper has all the looks of expensive, sexy wallpaper without the high price. I used it to cover a simple dresser which I also purchased through Amazon (pictured above, left). The wallpaper is strong and has a great texture to it. I would recommend this wallpaper to anyone. This is not a true deep black if you're looking for that. It definitely have a lot of gray tones in it." —Jake Strickland

Get it from Amazon for $78.34.

Promising review: "By the picture, I was expecting a lightweight plastic base with flimsy metal uprights that would hold a lightweight pan or cutting board. BOY WAS I WRONG!!!! This is a very heavy-duty base with a good grip on the bottom. The uprights are heavy coated wire to prevent scratching of the items it is holding. I am SO PLEASED with the quality of this rack that I will be ordering a couple more to use for my skillets. Buy with confidence as these are really a quality product." —labbie1

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

Promising review: "My 2-year-old was desperate to join me in the kitchen, and I wanted to be sure she was safe. These knives come in three sizes. They are not sharp to the touch but easily cut through most fruits and vegetables! For denser foods like carrots, she needed a bit of assistance, but she was quickly chopping all of the asparagus for dinner!!! We just got these, so I can't speak to durability, but for the price, these seem like a great value for my little chef!" —Nicholas and Zarya Fogelson

Get it from Amazon for $14.91.

Promising review: "I don’t know who has more fun my dog or me? LOL. I’ve used this for fetch every day for over a week now. It’s a ton of fun! I like that you can pick the ball up with the end of the gun. It saves your back and while my dog isn’t a slobber hound like others I’ve had...it’s nice you don’t have to touch the ball after it’s dog slimed. Get the mini model for small tennis balls and the large gun shoots conventional size tennis balls! Get it! You and our dog will thank me!" —workoutnut2010

Get it from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "My puppy got tangled in her leash, car seat safety clip, harness clip, and seat belt. The release buckles could not even release because it was twisted so tightly. I knew I had to cut her free, it was such a relief when it hit me I had the seat belt cutter under the seat. I never thought I would use it, but so glad I had it today (pictured above)." —Elizabeth

Get two from Amazon for $9.10.

This is also a really useful tool if you're planning to pack hats on vacation!

Promising review: "This arrived on time and undamaged. It looks just like the photo and works as described. It fits well in the dishwasher and is unaffected by the heat. I have tried it on several hats already and I am very satisfied with the results. It's simple and works well. The dirt and sweat smells are gone. I purchased it through Amazon Prime at a great price and would recommend it to anyone." —AT-AT RIG

Get it from Amazon for $12.98.

This design only fits standard sized faucets but you can still use this even if it doesn't fit, just be sure to grab an adapter along with it.

Promising review: "I have Parkinson's and find it difficult to handle a water glass while taking my daily pills. This little water fountain is perfect for me! It was shipped quickly and was super easy to install with no tools. The knob is easy to slide in and out to change from faucet to fountain. The water comes up high enough that I do not have to bend too far over to drink from it. It is not in the way when I wash my hands. I really am glad that I spotted this gadget." —Texas Grandma

Get it from Amazon for $19.98.

Promising review: "I love this product. My bathroom drawer looks so organized now that my bobby pins aren’t all over the place. I loved that it came with bobby pins which I had no idea would be included! It's nice to also have some new bobby pins!" —Monica

Get it from Amazon for $16.49.

Promising review: "Baths have changed for me forever now! I can actually FILL THE TUB and not hear that dreaded sound of half my water (and my expensive magnesium flakes, essential oils, organic bubble baths, and other fancy therapeutic ingredients) tragically vanishing down the drain. If you're a larger person trying to fit in a smaller tub especially, you know...THE STRUGGLE IS REAL. Now I can take more baths and enjoy more warm coziness. All because of this little bit of silicone!" —anonymous

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in nine colors).

Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.