Rewritten Article
Essential Household Items You Might Have Overlooked Throughout Your Lifetime: 28 Picks to Enhance Your Living Space
We hope y'all love our sick recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were hand-picked by our unfiltered editorial team. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and our affiliates might grab a piece of the action from the links on this page.
Have a clean home without the waste! Reusable mop pads to replace your wasteful disposable ones = a necessity, not a luxury.
by Katy Herman, BuzzFeed Staff
1. Miraculous Folex instant carpet spot remover, which also works on upholstery to make stains disappear like Houdini. Plus, it's odor-free for scent-sensitive folks.
Amazon
Amazing Review: "This product really saved my rug! I thought it was a goner, but freaking magic happened minutes after I sprayed it on. The pale blue and white rug is virginal again, and I don't even need to rub it on the harder parts. I'm blown away and have already ordered a second bottle! The price is a steal if you want to make your rug or carpet like new again. I've never been this impressed with anything I've ever bought." -bubbleslovesoap
Get it from Amazon for just $6.65.
2. A six-outlet wall charger that's got it all - ports for larger chargers, two USB ports, and an LED light that automatically turns on when it gets dark. It'll make charging your multitude of devices a breeze day or night and save you from the daily juggle of unplugging your computer to plug in your phone next to the couch.
Amazon, Amazon
Amazing Review: "These are game-changers! I have one in almost every room of my house. The light is just enough to navigate at night without turning every light on. I love that the USB ports are built-in, and the plugs are far enough apart to accommodate larger devices. This is a must-have when organizing your tech zone." -SeiranCrow
Get it from Amazon for $17.97.
3. A genius butter spreader knife with holes for easy butter spreading on even the hardest sticks! No more broken toast and hanger caused by impossible-to-spread butter.
Amazon
The serrated side also doubles as a cheese knife!
Amazing Review: "Perfect knife! Works wonders with refrigerated butter. No more torn bread and waiting for butter to soften. Great purchase. Well-constructed, solid stainless steel knife." -Apple
Get it from Amazon for $10.99.
4. A clever velvet slip cover set to refresh your worn-out couch without the cost of replacing it. Forget pricey reupholstering or new furniture - this stretchy wonder can cover up damage and give your space a whole new look.
Amazon
The set comes with a couch/armchair cover plus one to three cushion covers (depending on the size you choose).
Amazing Review: "Very nice! It does not slip at all! My husband, 7-year-old, and I are constantly on and off the couch, and it has stayed in place. I didn't even attach the straps! Very soft. Made my old furniture look new!" -Kim Davies
Get it from Amazon for $38.95 (available in five sizes and ten colors).
5. An adorable egg cooker that'll produce up to six perfect hard-boiled eggs in 12-15 minutes, no water required. Because you want a delicious breakfast, but don't have much extra time.
BuzzFeeder Marquaysa Battle swears by this little marvel! She writes, "No more waiting for the eggs to soften or struggle with broken toast. This egg cooker is a lifesaver! It comes with a removable lid, a book of instructions and recipes, a tray that holds up to six eggs, a tray for making poached eggs and omelets, and a tiny container for filling the cooker with water. It's easy to use - just fill the container with water, poke tiny holes in the eggs, and press a button. The eggs that come out are DELICIOUS! And the price of this adorable little cooker is minimal if you're looking to make breakfast a breeze."
Check out her full Dash egg cooker review.
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in eight colors).
6. A paws-itatively amazing rubber pet hair broom with a built-in squeegee that gets rid of shedding and even liquids like no other.
Amazon
Works for cleaning up after humans who shed too (we feel your pain).
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Emma Lord raves about it for its human-hair-shedding removal capabilities in her Furemover broom review.
Amazing Review: "Life-changer! We have two floofy cats and I have long, thick hair, so there's a lot of shedding in our house. I thought our vacuum wasn't quite doing the trick and stumbled upon this item that looked like the solution. Wow! It's tedious work to do a whole room, but the satisfaction you get when you see all the hair makes it so worth it. Then you'll do a second pass in high-traffic areas and see how much more hair there is and wonder how you ever lived like that." -Leanna G
Get it from Amazon for just $12.98.
7. A draft stopper that'll close up the space under your door, keeping your AC or heat in. Bonus: It reduces noise and keeps bugs out.
Amazon
Amazing Review: "Why did I wait so long? I couldn't keep the cold air out using rolled blankets, and those didn't look good. After researching ways to keep the cold air from coming in under the door, I came upon this under-door seal. It's easy to use and looks so nice! You can't really tell it's there. I highly recommend it, and the price is reasonable." -Nancy H.
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in four colors).
8. Handy dandy faucet extenders to make getting your kiddo's often nasty hands clean easier. They'll feel super grown-up when they can actually reach the water!
Amazing Review: "Before I knew a thing like this existed, I spent the time it took to wash my squirming kiddo's hands one at a time wondering how long it was going to take for his arms to grow enough to reach the faucet. I'm so glad I have this thing now! It's a breeze to set up - just stretch the rubber part around the faucet. This little rubber part can pivot a bit, so there's flexibility in how you wrap it around your faucet and what angle the water comes out of the chute, but it doesn't pivot THAT much, so as other reviews have mentioned, it won't work with upward-angled faucets." -Michelle G.
Get a set of two from Amazon for just $11.49.
9. A squeeworthy set of bird sponges complete with a suction cup! perch! - perfect for keeping your sink clean and adorable.
Amazon
Amazing Review: "Adorable and functional. Yes, these absolutely are as cute as you hope they're going to be. These four little birds and their perch come packaged in a slim cardboard box. The sponges themselves are surprisingly thick and sturdy - very well-made for a novelty item. They have a typical spongey part in the middle and a scrubby part on the outside. All of them fit perfectly on the plastic perch, which has a great little suction cup to attach to your sink. These would make a great gift as well as a fun addition to your own kitchen!" -CMD
Get a set of four and a perch from Amazon for $14.99 (also available in four other quirky designs).
10. A pre-packed 72-hour emergency backpack filled with survival supplies for a family of four. Hopefully, you'll never need it, but it'll be a lifesaver if you do.
It includes a hand crank radio/USB charger/flashlight, duct tape, wet wipes, tissues, a 101-piece first aid kit, a towel, two bottles of hand sanitizer, a multitool, a biohazard bag, seven food bars, 14 water pouches, two emergency whistles, four packs of hand warmers, four glow sticks, four ponchos, four rescue blankets, a pair of gloves, and four dust masks.
Amazing Review: "This was a great addition to my camping/emergency gear. The extra room in the bag is enough for clothes or my solar power generator." -Andrea D.
Get it from Judy's for $156 (originally $195).
11. A silicone dishwasher bag that'll help your dishes dry faster and with fewer wrinkles, making your new wardrobe's anti-wrinkle feature a little harder to trigger.
Amazon
One pad can last up to 100 washes and works on various surfaces, from wood to tile to stone.
Amazing Review: "I wanted to reduce waste with disposable pads and I was pleasantly surprised by these. I was able to get a super clean floor, spots were easier to clean up, and it didn't sound like it was scratching my floors. I will be buying more if these ever wear out." -Riley
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $7.88.
12. An aesthetically pleasing and useful condiment and dip serving tray to upgrade BBQs and taco nights.
The spoons are included!
Amazing Review: "Love it. Perfect size for condiments - sometimes these multiple servers are too large and you waste a lot of the contents, but these are just right. Having the lids enables you to keep the contents fresh longer. The lids and spoons do seem a bit fragile, but are so cute and presentable on the buffet table." -Shelley
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
13. Washable microfiber mop pads that'll fit on your trusty Swiffer WetJet or similar mops so you can kiss wasteful and pricey disposable pads goodbye. They even pick up more gunk, so you'll wonder why you haven't been using these for years.
Amazon, Amazon
One pad can last up to 100 washes and works on various surfaces, from wood to tile to stone.
Amazing Review: "I was tired of my Ikea Swiffer wet pads falling apart after a few uses, so I searched for cheaper alternatives and found these. I bought a single pack, tested them out, and was blown away by their quality and performance. I ordered five more packs and haven't looked back since. These swap easily with my old wet pads and clean our tile floors perfectly with a minimal amount of effort." -Blimpy
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $7.88.
14. An unbelievably amazing rubber pet hair broom with a built-in squeegee designed to pick up pet hair and even liquids!
Amazon
And yes, it also works for cleaning up after humans who shed like nobody's business (same).
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Emma Lord raves about it in her Furemover broom review.
Amazing Review: "This thing is a lifesaver! It can pick up lint, protein buildup, fur, and even liquids like no other. I've even used it on our garage floor, and it picks up sand like a charm. The squeegee can be used on other surfaces like kitchen counters and bathroom tiles, but be gentle because it can scratch softer surfaces. If you buy one thing today, buy this." -Leanna G
Get it from Amazon for just $20.98.
--
References
[1] Amazon: Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover 75586 32 Ounce Spray, 32 fl. oz.
[2] Amazon: Rug Doctor 93306 Portable Spot Cleaner, White
[3] Bissell
[4] Amazon: Spot Shot Cleaning Eliminator Plus, 21 Ounce (Pack of 1)
[5] Campanelli Home Brands.
- The paws-itatively amazing rubber pet hair broom works not only on pets but also on humans who shed excessively. It's perfect for cleaning up after both furry friends and humans alike.
- The serrated side of the genius butter spreader knife is ideal not only for spreading butter on toast but also for doubling as a cheese knife.
- With the six-outlet wall charger, you can charge various devices at once, even during the night, thanks to its built-in LED light that automatically turns on in the dark. Moreover, it saves you from the daily struggle of unplugging one device to plug in another.
- The condiment and dip serving tray will not only upgrade your BBQs and taco nights aesthetically but also save space, as it includes spoons for each compartment.
- Using the washable microfiber mop pads allows you to extend the life of your Swiffer WetJet or similar mops, as one pad can last up to 100 washes and cover various surfaces effectively.
- The 72-hour emergency backpack is filled with essential survival supplies, making it easier to prepare for an emergency situation. It includes a hand crank radio, duct tape, first aid kit, food bars, and water pouches.
- The condiments tray's lids can keep the contents fresh longer, and the spoons included make for easy access. The tray elevates BBQs and taco nights by adding a touch of elegance to the serving area.
- The washable microfiber mop pads can help reduce waste by enabling you to switch away from pricey disposable pads, providing a more cost-effective solution for cleaning various surfaces.
- The brightness of the LED light on the six-outlet wall charger can help illuminate your charging area, making it easier to find the right plug for your device at any time of the day or night.
- The Folex instant carpet spot removerV, works wonders on various stains, making them disappear quickly, like Houdini, and is odor-free, making it suitable for scent-sensitive individuals.
