1. A small but well-stocked 39-piece tool set so you're always prepared to assemble furniture, fix broken eyeglasses, make bike repairs, and do any other quick-fix tasks that come up in this new adult era. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I live alone, and this fits all my little fix-it needs whenever they occur. I now no longer have to use my shoe as a makeshift hammer and it’s amazing. I’ve successfully put together a table, two chairs, and a bookcase and feel very proud. It would have taken so much longer without these little things. Definitely recommend if you need just the bare basics around the house." —Rae 

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in 10 colors).

2. A beloved tub of pink cleaning paste for taking the guesswork out of choosing the best product for the job — this will perform small cleaning miracles on virtually any surface in your home without endless scrubbing. Try it out on those "forever" stains other solutions could never handle. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Found this product on TikTok. I don’t think I’ve ever seen value like I do with this product! Literally, use it on EVERYTHING!! Kids and teens have dirt, grime, and grease on their walls? This will make it look like a new paint job. Baseboards need some love? A pea-sized amount of this makes them look brand new. Need a shoe cleaner? PERFECT for sneakers. I could name a million more uses, but I can ASSURE you this is worth every penny. What’s more? You need so LITTLE of this product that it will last a VERY long time. Thank you, TikTok!!!" —Rachel in CLT

Get it from Amazon for $5.97. 

3. A genius WD-40 pen that packs all the squeak-quieting, lubricating powers of the tried-and-true formula in 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. 

www.amazon.com

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.

4. A set of pastel "unbreakable" deep plates if your clumsy behavior has resulted in one too many shattered dishes. These minimalist beauties work for just about any meal you can dream up, are surprisingly lightweight, and are dishwasher- and microwave-safe. 

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Note that the dishes are microwave-safe for up to 3 minutes!! 

Promising review: "Great purchase. The set arrived on time and the quality of the product is amazing for a such a low price. They are super easy to clean and I have even used them in the microwave with no problems. Again, great product." —Lina 

Get a set of four from Amazon for $9.99 (also available as bowls). 

5. A compact first aid kit because nothing's worse than taking a tumble or getting sick and realizing that you have no way to take care of yourself without parental help. Prepare for the worst and thank yourself later. 

www.amazon.com

This kit includes adhesive fabric, plastic bandages, antibiotic ointments, BZK antiseptic towelettes, burn cream packets, Aspirin, ibuprofen, gauze roll and pads, wound closures, cold packs, and other multi-use aids for any *potential* emergency. 

Promising review: "I have ordered this time and time again when I first got my car, moved into a dorm, and worked at summer camp. I could go on and on...I've probably ordered eight of them. This is my favorite first aid kit, which is a weird thing to say, but it has things that more expensive ones don't have and the organization of it is great! It fits easily into a backpack, dry bag, or glove compartment." —Mollie 

Get it from Amazon for $20.58.

6. A miraculous automatic bleach toilet-cleaning system to send cleaner into the bowl with every flush, so when your mom drops in unexpectedly, you can dodge the "you need to be cleaning more" lecture. 

www.amazon.com

It's super quick to install, and one cartridge can last up to three months!

Promising review: "I've been using these on all my toilets for 60 days now. My toilets generally get a hard water ring around them within a few days of cleaning. It was infuriating, and I found myself cleaning toilets literally two to three times a week just to get rid of that little ring around the water line. These were so cheap, so I bought three of them and OH MY GOODNESS THEY WORK!!!!!! I've had these installed on all three of my toilets for 60 days now, and from what I'm seeing, I should be able to clean my toilets maybe once every two months now. I am so happy. If you have hard water build-up issues, do yourself a favor and buy one of these. Try it on a single toilet first just to be sure, but I think you will be happy :)." —nima bean

Get it from Amazon for $12. 

7. A versatile chop, slice, and dice unit so you can stop being embarrassed about your subpar knife skills and drastically *cut* down on food prep and cleanup time with interchangeable blades that can be popped into the dishwasher. You've been around long enough to know you never want to chop an onion by hand again. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

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. We used to have a Prepworks chopper which was a similar idea, but you had to press so hard to chop, and it broke after not too long. This one requires very little effort to cut through the food, and it has a generous container." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $29.99. 

8. A bleach-free Wet & Forget shower cleaner for helping you keep up with a regular cleaning schedule with next to no effort. This is a great maintenance product and so easy to use: Once a week, simply give your shower a spray, let it sit overnight, rinse, and — BOOM — you're done and didn't even break a sweat.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I have been having shower draining issues, so there was a buildup of soap scum in my shower. I have a very weak stomach, and cleaning the shower makes me physically ill. I have tried several products that have claimed to be no scrub/wipe but this has been the only one that has worked. I sprayed it after my shower and left it to sit until the next night. Found that A LOT of the grime had disappeared. Now, was it perfect? No. But I think with consistent use, it will get there. Highly recommend this product." —KZ

Get it from Amazon for $19.39+ (available in two scents and two sizes).

9. A Dawn Powerwash spray bundle that eliminates the time-consuming dish pre-soak so you can clear out your sink sooner. Just spray, wait a few minutes while it works it's magic, and wipe the stains away. 

www.amazon.com

This bundle includes one spray bottle and three refills. It also works great for any other greasy messes you have around the house! 

Promising review: "The first place I tried this was in my air fryer basket. It gets caked with the grease that comes from the food. The dishwasher doesn't get it clean. I sprayed this on it, and within a few minutes, the soap started turning a brownish color. I sprayed a little more and let it sit for an hour. All of the grease came off with a rinse!! Bonus use: I just used it to get resin off of my and my daughter's hands!! How did I ever live without this??" —A D

Get it from Amazon for $16.88.

10. A flexible drain snake if you'd like some help extracting the wet woolly mammoth living in your pipes. Skip another call to the plumber and let this tool's "micro-hook" head and rotating handle achieve the 360-degree removal you're used to paying top dollar for. Just keep a barf bag nearby — you might need it.

Amazon, www.amazon.com

This pack contains a reusable handle and five single-use heads that you just remove and dispose of after handling your clogged pipes.

Promising review: "Wow. Best thing ever. Seriously. I have had tweezers and sticks and plumbers and chemicals trying to get my master sink to drain. Plumber even said I need an entirely new faucet to get the drain plug part because they don't sell those separately. Well, I have two sinks, a tub, and a shower that all match, so that was not a valid solution. Doubt I can find the same model. So I bought this thing. Stuffed it down, pulled up hair, and black muck. Did it about eight times quickly, ran the water, went right down the drain. Seriously. This is the best tool ever and the best $12 I have ever spent. Everyone with a sink needs this tool. Seriously." —juliejules

Get a five-pack from Amazon for $19.99 (also available in longer lengths).

11. Plus, a heavy-duty Luigi's sink and drain plunger because you've spent more time waiting for water to go down your backed-up drain than you care to admit. This small-but-mighty helper clears blocked kitchen and bathroom sinks with 8x the air volume compared to a traditional plunger. Needless to say, it gets the job done! 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Y'all, this thing is amazing! My kitchen sink was completely clogged for four days. I've been trying to clear the drain with a different sink plunger that I already had, and it didn't do diddly-squat. I was about to give up and call a plumber. Then I decided to order this one, and it just arrived...it completely cleared the drain in like three minutes. So then I decided to take it to the bathroom sink that had been draining extremely slowly and within a minute, I had the water running so quickly and smoothly again. I got the small one, and it's the perfect size for kitchen and bathroom sinks." —JNeen

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three sizes).

12. A can of fire extinguishing spray to give you (and your parents, tbh) peace of mind as you embark on this cooking-for-yourself journey. It's much easier to operate than a standard, bulky fire extinguisher and sprays for four times as long. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

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 $13.99.

13. A pack of Downy fabric spray so you can rock wrinkle-free fits even though you don't own an iron. Just spray, give your clothes a few swipes, and watch the wrinkles rapidly fall away.

www.amazon.com

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, 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. 

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $15.94. 

14. An all-in-one hole repair tool for patching up the rogue nail holes you made attempting to hang that gorgeous gallery wall. This makes application quick and easy, with primer-infused spackle inside, a putty knife on one end, and a sanding pad on the other. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I love how easy this little tube makes wall repair jobs. It's so nice to be able to just grab and go, and the packaging has everything needed on it to make the fix. This isn't cheap spackle either; it's nice and thick and dries quickly. The good stuff!" —Nova S.

Get a 2-pack from Amazon for $11.98. 

15. And 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. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

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 it from from Amazon for $24.99.

16. A handy bag holder featured on Shark Tank that'll get all your groceries from the car to the house in ONE run. It easily holds up to 80 pounds and can be carried by hand or tossed over your shoulder (it's padded) for hands-free ease. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Click & Carryis a Los Angeles-based, woman-owned small biz founded by Kim Meckwood as a way to solve her own struggles lugging shopping bags around. Since then, the Click & Carry has been utilized for a range of uses, from carrying paint cans to sports equipment. 

Promising review: "I heard about this product from a friend and had been meaning to check it out. My only regret about this purchase is not getting it earlier! I used to dread going to the grocery store due to the hassle of struggling with all my bags and the multiple trips to and from the car. Now, those days are a thing of the past because of this ESSENTIAL product. After realizing my newfound love of this product, I did some research and found all sorts of other uses for it, such as using it to secure my purse to my shopping cart and hooking my dog leashes together to walk both dogs at the same time. I love this product and love gifting it to others as well!" —Lisa Gilroy

Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in seven colors). 

17. 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, www.amazon.com

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.

18. A set of Shark Tank-approved Wad-Free tools because you're tired of laundry day getting derailed by tangled bedsheets. These help maintain a balanced washer drum, reduce dry times, and prevent wet clothes from getting trapped in the sheets. 

Amazon

Wad-Free is a small biz that was launched during the pandemic by Cyndi Bray, who had a wadding problem and no available solutions. So they did what anyone would do (JK) — learned CAD (computer-aided design) and invented a genius solution! 

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, but 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 pair from Amazon for $19.99.

19. A fully stocked emergency road kit so you're always prepared for a dead car battery or — heaven forbid — an accident. Jumper cables? ✅ Flashlight? ✅ A bunch of other stuff you'd never even think to pack? ✅

Amazon

It includes first-aid supplies, a jumper cable, a flashlight, a screwdriver, duct tape, a bungee cord, a shop cloth, six cable ties, two AA batteries, and an emergency poncho.

Promising review: "This pack came with absolutely everything needed for a good go kit on a weekend or seasonal adventure. With everything from first aid, car jumping, and a good quality light to give you a good vantage in the nighttime when jumping cars (Montana winter/spring is dark in the evenings quite quickly), this kit has helped me out personally quite a few times. For the cost of what it is, I'm surprised at the result." —Alexander

Get it from Amazon for $37.25.

20. An under-cabinet lid opener for when you're faced with an especially stubborn pasta sauce jar and you realize dad isn't going to drive to your place to solve it. 

www.amazon.com

It comes with peel-and-stick adhesive strips and three screws for installation!

Promising review: "I have tried a million different tools and gadgets for help opening jars of all sizes, and each one had its own issues! Finally, someone has invented the perfect jar opener that is simple and requires no space in your kitchen drawers or on your counters. There was one person who suggested placing the opener with the sharp end of the 'V' closest to you and with it placed in the front, in the right corner, under your cabinet. I followed those directions, and it worked perfectly and easily. I have already placed an order for another one as a gift for my sister." —cat lover

For more info, check out our full EZ Off under-cabinet lid opener deep dive.

Get it from Amazon for $15.99.

21. A set of rechargeable batteries that comes with a smart charging dock so you're always stocked with enough go-juice capsules to power your remotes, gaming controllers, flashlights, and more without making any emergency trips to the store. 

www.amazon.com

This set comes with 4 AA batteries, 4 AAA batteries, a charging unit, and a case for each battery set. 

Promising review: "With five children and all the technology in the world today, I go through batteries like water. I swear, I'm forever buying batteries, and nowadays, they're expensive. I bought this battery charger. It came with four AAA and four AA batteries. When I tell y'all this has been a game changer for my family, it seriously has saved me tons of money. I highly recommend buying extra batteries. It comes with eight, but you can buy more batteries on the side, and they're pretty cheap as well. I highly recommend this product. 👍" —Jade 

Get it from Amazon for $20.99 (available in three other styles). 

22. A plant-based cooking oil solidifier if you're a lover of all things fried, who knows that your current clean-up method is risking a congealed mess clogging up the pipes. Adding this powder to hot oil turns it into solid organic waste you can safely toss in the trash or compost! 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

FryAway is a woman-owned small business helping fried food lovers avoid goopy cooking oil messes. 

Promising review: "This stuff really worked!!! I never knew what to do with used oil, and I was watching a video about home products and saw this being used. So, I figured I would try it. I didn't really think it would work, but I was amazed at how well it did and how easy it made it to put the solid oil in the trash afterward. The seller was awesome. Not only did they send me the stuff in a super quick, timely manner, but they also sent me a PDF with directions on how to use it to get it to work properly. Really nice." —Sabrina Bax

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in three styles). 

23. A Hungryroot subscription because it lets you shop by recipe, auto-filling your cart with everything needed to whip up super quick and nutritious meals that even weeknight-you will be willing to skip takeout for. And there's a free gift with every purchase — what fun!!

Genevieve Scarano / BuzzFeed

Take the quiz, and Hungryroot will fill your cart with groceries and recipes that fit your preferences. Of course, you can swap out anything you're not interested in and then enjoy a box full of goodies on your doorstep. Afterward, you can rate your selections to help Hungryroot make better suggestions for your cart in the future. 

BuzzFeed editor Genevieve Scarano has tried it *and* loved it. Read what she has to say on the matter: 

"I kept seeing online ads for Hungryroot (thank you, TikTok) and decided to try it — I'm so happy I did! It was so refreshing to have an algorithm figure out a week's worth of meals and the groceries that went along with them. All I had to do was note dietary preferences (no shellfish and some vegan and vegetarian options), share how many servings I needed, and buy a subscription. Within a few days, my grocery delivery arrived, and I tried new recipes (see the zucchini pizzas above!). It took minutes to set everything up, and I enjoyed making all the dishes, which, on average, took less than 15 minutes to prepare on weeknights. Plus, it's very flexible — you can set your own delivery day and skip a shipment if you'll be traveling." 

Get a subscription from Hungryroot starting at $69+ per week.

24. A double-step stool with a built-in safety lock to save the day when a lightbulb inevitably burns out, you need something from the top shelf, or just want to hang something without putting your faith in an Ikea chair to support you. 

www.amazon.com

This small but mighty option has a weight limit of 33 pounds. 

Promising review: "The step ladder is really sturdy and good to have for those hard-to-reach places. I use it to clean or stow my food in my pantry. I don't have to worry about falling because of the grips on the steps and also the bar that goes about waist high. It's really durable and easy to use. It’s also very portable, and I can take it basically anywhere without it taking a lot of space." —Hunter

Get it from Amazon for $36.99.

25. An Anyday starter set so you can utilize the quick and easy convenience of your microwave to cook nutritious meals, including everything from grains and veggies to proteins like a full chicken breast and salmon. Every part of the plastic-free dishes is engineered for optimal, even cooking — no cold spots! 

Anyday

Anyday is a female-founded small business focused on helping you utilize the microwave for easier, faster cooking. 

Promising review: "The Anyday is a weeknight game changer. Instead of reheating leftovers, cooking from my usual repertoire, or giving into laziness and ordering delivery, I’m using Anyday to steam fresh veggies and poach fish. Learning to reinterpret recipes for the microwave has been an exciting new creative outlet in the kitchen. We’re eating healthier, more elaborate dinners on weeknights because it all comes together so quickly and easily. The bowls will easily pay for themselves many times over in all the delivery orders that I don’t place." —Brian E

Get the starter set from Anyday for $70+ (originally $84+; available in two sizes and three colors) or from Amazon for $89.99 (available in three colors). 

26. A bracelet clip if you're about ready to give up on wearing bracelets with tricky clasps. This little helper secures your jewelry so you can easily fasten your favorite styles without recruiting a helper.

Amazon

Promising review: "I can't believe I've waited this long to buy one of these. My eyesight is failing, including my depth perception, so wearing bracelets has been difficult unless they are slip-on. This jewelry helper is easy to use. Now I can wear bracelets again." —Cat Mom

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in pink and white). 

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.