Affordable Essentials for Smooth Sailing Through Adulthood: Under $10 Picks
Rewritten Article:
You've finally become an adult, but that doesn't mean you have to break the bank. Check out our curated list of essential items to make your grown-up life easier and more enjoyable!
by Sassy HermanBuzzFeed Staff
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1. Jagged Suction Hair Drain Cleaner: Say goodbye to greasy, gross drain clogs! This handy gadget will dig deep into your drains and pull out all the hair and gunk that's been lurking. It's so simple to use – just grip the handle, push down the pointy end, and let the jagged part grab onto the hair clog. Trust us, it'll be nauseating but oh-so satisfying! Get a pack of four for just $5.97 from Amazon (available in two lengths).
Promising review: "I can't even articulate the disgusting joy I felt while using this tool. I live in an apartment complex and the maintenance people don't like us using harsh drain cleaning chemicals, so this tool was a lifesaver. It got stuck on some serious clumps of hair and built-up gunk, but I was determined! Highly recommend." -Grunt Master
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2. Glowing Plug-In Mushroom Night-Light: If you thought night-lights were only for kids, think again. This cute little mushroom night-light adds a touch of whimsy to any room. It turns off automatically when the lights are on, so you don't have to worry about forgetting to turn it off. Get it from Amazon for $5.97.
Promising review: "I'm an adult, but I still love cute decor. This night-light is perfect for my bathroom – it gives just enough light for me to see at night without blinding me in the morning. Plus, it's off when the lights are on, which is convenient as hell." -Nightowl22
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3. Clean/Dirty Dishwasher Magnet: No more shouting "HEY, ARE THESE DISHES CLEAN OR DIRTY?" This simple but genius magnet ensures everyone in your household knows which dishes to put where. Literally, a daily conversation-saver while quarantining with my family. Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
Promising review: "Absolutely brilliant. I love it." -Amazing Pete
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4. Moisture Meter: If you're struggling to care for your plants, this moisture meter will help you determine if it's time to water them. Just pop it into the soil and voila! No more over- or under-watering. Get it from Amazon for $9.97 (available in three colors).
Promising review: " life-changing. After using this, my plants stopped dying so frequently. Definitely worth every penny." -Gardening Genius
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5. Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray: This powerful dish soap spray will transform your dishwashing routine into pure joy! It tackles even the toughest grease and grime with ease. BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly loves it, saying, "I seriously want to pop it in the dishwasher and shrink it down so I can take it with me everywhere." Get a spray bottle and a refill bottle from Amazon for $8.44 (or $8.02 with the Subscribe & Save option).
Promising review: "I wish this came with a holster for the spray gun. Seriously, I see a dirty dish and I want to pull it out, twirl the gun around my finger, and spray, just like in the wild, wild West. The soap is superior to any other; I even use it as a pre-wash for stains on my clothes. There's nothing it hasn't removed. You can get in close and spray a cup; spray a little further back and you can hit a whole plate. I can't rave about this product enough." -Dishwasher Boss
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6. Hypoallergenic Makeup Brush Cleaner: Cleaning your makeup brushes has never been easier (or more trendy)! This shampoo-like cleaner will leave your brushes looking like new. Snap out of the procrastinationzone and make your brushes sparkle! Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (or $6.64 with the Subscribe & Save option).
Promising reviews: "Sudsy heaven. It got all the way down to the base of the brush and gave it a really good cleaning. Highly recommend!" -Beauty Guru
"Magical, Hogwarts-crafted solution. Minimal effort, wild results." -Acne Be Gone
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7. Pimple-Zapping Patches: Adult acne, we see you. These miracle workers suck out all the gross puss from your pimples, leaving your skin clear and smooth. More than 13,000 people can't be wrong! Get a box of 36 from Amazon for $7.70 (available in two sizes).
Promising review: "This pimple patch is sorcery in a package. I've never known there was an accurate way to measure soil moisture levels, but after using this, I do now. My plants are perky and happy. Who knew such a simple task could be so enjoyable?!" -Garden Gnome
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8. Blind Spot Mirror: Never struggle with parallel parking again! This handy little mirror helps you see around corners and avoid blind spots, making you a safer driver. It even comes with an optional adjustable swivel base. Get a two-pack from Amazon for $6.99 (available in four shapes).
Promising review: "I used to avoid parallel parking like the plague, but now I'm a parking ninja. This mirror has seriously stepped up my parallel parking game." -Perfect Parking Pete
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9. Squishy Cleaning Putty: Crumbs, dust, and grime, oh my! This squeeze-able cleaning putty works wonders on hard-to-reach spots like keyboards and car vents. Just push it onto the dirty area, squish it back into a blob, and use it again! Get it from Amazon for $5.59.
Promising review: "Seriously game-changing. Picked up dust and small debris that I didn't even know was in my car vents. A must-have for any adult who doesn't want their space to look dirty." -Clean Freak
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10. Meal Planning Pad: Meal time made easy! This handy pad lets you plan out your meals for the week and create a shopping list as you go. Plus, it's magnetic so you can stick it on your fridge for easy access. Get it from Amazon for $9.95 (available in five designs).
Promising review: "Life-changing. I used to waste so much time figuring out what to eat every day, but now I'm an organized adult who has everything planned out in advance. Highly recommend!" -Organized Af
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11. Toilet Seat Sticker: Never again forget to put the toilet seat down! This cute little sticker reminds you to be considerate and keep the seat down. Plus, it's made by a small biz that specializes in adorable household decals! Get it from EmmasCraze on Etsy for $5.50 (available in two styles).
Promising review: "Perfect reminder for sloppy adult sons. Highly recommend." -Mom of a Sloppy Son
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12. Natural Stain Remover: Say goodbye to stubborn stains with this miraculous cleaner! It works on anything from food and dirt to bodily fluids, leaving your clothes and furniture looking like new. Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
Promising reviews: "The best thing I've bought in the past 5 years. It's magic." -Clean Queen
"This product is awesome! It got a variety of stains out on my work pants. I don't know how I lived without it before." -Stain Eraser
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13. Leather and Suede Cleaning Brush: Keep your expensive shoes looking brand new! This four-part brush works on both leather and suede, reaching those hard-to-tackle spots. Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
Promising reviews: "Game-changer. This brush made my suede boots look amazing. Highly recommend!" -Suede Savior
"The curved edges are genius. Perfect for getting into every crevice on my shoes." -Leather Lover
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14. Dish Squeegee: Save time and energy when washing dishes! This dish squeegee makes cleaning a breeze, scraping all those pesky crumbs and food particles off your dishes and into the trash. Plus, it's dishwasher-safe! Get it from Amazon for $7.95.
Promising review: "This dish squeegee revolutionized my dishwashing routine! It's perfect for getting orzo out of pots and not touching any icky residue." -Pasta Princess
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15. Blind Cleaner Brush: Finally, an easy and effective way to clean your blinds! This brush reaches those tricky spots and gets all the dust and grime off your blinds. It comes with five microfiber sleeves! Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in two colors).
Promising review: "I used to think it was impossible to clean blinds effectively, but this brush changed my mind. The microfiber sleeves are amazing!" -Clean Freak 2.0
You, after purchasing these products:
"Who knew adult life could be so practical and fun? These affordable essentials have taken my grown-up life to the next level. Now let's see if my bank account survives this shopping spree!"
- I tossed a Jagged Suction Hair Drain Cleaner into my cart on Amazon, eager to eliminate the disgusting drain clogs that have plagued me for far too long.
- A Glowing Plug-In Mushroom Night-Light found its way into my cart, ready to add a touch of whimsy and make my bathroom a little more magical each night.
- To prevent any future debates over clean or dirty dishes, I added a Clean/Dirty Dishwasher Magnet to my wishlist, ensuring everyone knows exactly where to put their dishes.
- Curious to determine the perfect watering time for my plants, I decided to get a Moisture Meter, anticipating an end to over- and under-watering mishaps.
- Preparing to revamp my dishwashing routine, I purchased a bottle of Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray, ready to tackle the toughest grease and grime.
- Determined to keep my makeup brushes as pristine as possible, I added a bottle of Hypoallergenic Makeup Brush Cleaner to my Subscribe & Save list, excited to make the chore less daunting.
- Tired of unsightly pimples ruining my skin, I added a box of Pimple-Zapping Patches to my cart, anxious to see the miraculous results promised by others.
- Parallel parking with confidence became a new reality as I added a Blind Spot Mirror to my cart, stoked to improve my parking skills.
9.Ready to eliminate crumbs and grime from those hard-to-reach spots, I added a tub of Squishy Cleaning Putty to my cart, eager to give it a go.
10.In hopes of streamlining my meal planning and shopping, I added a Meal Planning Pad to my Amazon wishlist, excited to become a more organized adult.
- To remind myself (and others) to be considerate and put the toilet seat down, I clicked "Add to Cart" on the Toilet Seat Sticker from Etsy.
12.While battling stubborn stains, I found solace in a bottle of Natural Stain Remover, inspired to conquer even the most challenging stains.
13.In love with my leather and suede shoes, I added a Leather and Suede Cleaning Brush to my cart, eager to keep them looking brand new without any effort.
14.Ready to save time and energy while washing dishes, I searched for a Dish Squeegee on Amazon, excited to revolutionize my dishwashing routine.
15.Determined to keep my blinds spotless, I added a Blind Cleaner Brush to my cart, ready to tackle those tricky spots and make my home shine once more.
