38 Practical Things You Don't Realize You Need Until You Buy A House

38 Practical Things You Don't Realize You Need Until You Buy A House

BuzzFeed-Shopping·2025-06-25 05:04

1. A Furbo camera that's an absolute must-have for pet parents — you'll be able to check on Fido at any time and will even receive push notifications when your pup is barking so you can talk to them through the app to calm them and even toss them a treat!

www.amazon.com

It features realtime two-way audio, color night vision, and a 360-degree rotating 1080p camera.

Promising review: "Having cameras inside the house is nice for checking on the dogs. Having a feeder where you can watch your dogs eat is better. Having a camera that can swivel to check where your dogs went and feed them? Perfect. The setup was easy, and I was up and running in no time. I have no regrets making this purchase, and I’ve gotten my dogs used to the new camera, and they definitely enjoy all the treats being dispensed. It’s also nice to be able to talk to the pups and stop them from doing stuff through the mic. Highly recommend for people who aren’t at home a lot and worry about their pets and just want to give them some loving while you’re busy." —Eugene

Get it from Amazon for $65.

2. A robotic vacuum, because you and I both know you don't want to spend a weekend morning trying to conquer all of the pet hair, debris, and other unexplainable messes that have found their way into your home. Kick your feet up, put on a podcast, and let this lil' gadget do its thing.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

This robotic vacuum can easily move between hard floors and low- to medium-pile carpets/rugs and can pick up all the accumulated dust, dirt, and hair while you go about your day. It has an infrared sensor to avoid knocking into obstacles (like furniture and walls) and drop-sensing tech so it won't fall down stairs and off ledges. And if it starts to run low on battery, it'll just return to its base for a recharge! Reviewers do recommend keeping stray items like socks and cords off the floor before running this. 

Promising review: "This robot vacuum is incredible! I have three dogs and a cat; this vacuum is a time saver. I run it each day, and it has done an incredible job of keeping pet hair, dirt, and debris picked up in my home. Works well on carpet, hardwood, and tile floors. Wish I had purchased it sooner!" —t. hampton

Get it from Amazon for $159.99+ (also available in two models). 

3. A cleverly designed rechargeable electric candle lighterwith a flexible neck to light every candle in your house to create the *perfect* ambiance without concern you'll run out of lighter fluid.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I cook outside, and lighting a fire during wet and windy weather was a real pain. This lighter was a game changer! As long as the material is dry, this lighter will light regularly, consistently, and easily. Plus, it’s rechargeable! Love it!" —Sandra

Get it from Amazon for$16.99+ (available in eight colors and as a two-pack). 

4. An automatic cleaning toilet bowl cartridge to pop into the top of your tank — it'll last up to three months and clean with every single flush. Now that's a cleaning product worth testing out.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This works absolutely phenomenal. I would clean the bowl area every weekend like clock work to remove mold or something…Our municipal water system may not inject enough chlorine to prohibit? But toilet cleaning is a breeze now!!! Works on the Koehler new low flush systems…amazing. No chlorine damage to rubber parts either like other devices! Pretty simple instructions to install." —CdrW

Get it from Amazon for $10.77+ (and you can snag refill cartridges here).

5. A pet hair remover with a unique patented brush design that'll let you invite guests to sit down without fear of them being covered head-to-toe in your dog's hair.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising reviews: "The ChomChom Roller really works. I have two German Shepherds who shed SO much, so this was necessary. The ChomChom Roller picked up SO much fur the vacuum couldn’t." —Ezra Gordon

"I've had it in my possession for like two hours and I've cleaned everything. The couch, the blinds, the cat tree pad, the chair; I'm obsessed. I feel like this thing should win an award for being so awesome. I feel like it should be in raffle baskets and giveaways and silent auctions for every event that highlights 'things cat people need.' It's better than those sticky rollers, it's better than the one-directional velvet wand thing that I always use the wrong way. It's the best." —Meowser

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

6. A SwitchBot Smart Switch Button Pusheryou'll likely want to buy for every single switch in your home (apologies) as you'll be able to use it to transform *any* device into a smart one! Once you set it up you'll be able to use Google, Alexa, or an app on your phone to control it. Technology, man.

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Reviewers love this because it doesn't require you to "smart enable" other parts of your home. I need to get one of these for my husband who drags himself out of bed every morning to turn on his espresso machine.

Promising review: "This is exactly what I was looking for and had no idea it existed until I saw someone mention it on TikTok! Our front walkway gets pretty dark at night, and I was frustrated with trying to remember to turn on the light every evening and off every morning. I looked into those light sensors you can plug in, but our front porch light is under an awning with enough shade that it would have kept the light on 24/7. This little Switchbot solved the problem. I applied it to the indoor light switch and set the time on my phone. It has worked perfectly ever since." —Alecia McLochlin

Get it from Amazon for $29 (available in white and black). 

7. A mini Keurig machine for anyone who has been looking for a fun, but affordable, way to add a delightful pop of color to their kitchen counter and certainly doesn't have the time or patience to make a carefully crafted coffee each morning.

www.amazon.com

I have this machine in evergreen, and it flawlessly matches my kitchen — which absolutely sparks joy. I was admittedly a little confused at first on how to use it (surprisingly), but once I figured it out, it was smooth sailing. Since it's a single-serve machine, you'll need to add your pod, close the hatch, pour the exact amount of water you'd like to be dispensed in the top, then click the button once, and wait for the water to heat and pour out. Don't hit the button over and over like I thought I had to...oops. Anyways, it's a fabulous lil' machine and looks super cute on my counter!

Promising review: "I love the convenience of this machine, and the color makes me so happy! Such an attractive design that doesn’t take up too much space on my counter. It even matches my favorite coffee mug!" —Jen F.

Get it from Amazon for $84.49+ (available in five colors).

8. Or a Moccamaster drip coffee machine that'll become your most bragged about gadget thanks to how beautifully it'll match your kitchen decor — it comes in over 23 colors! The brewing basket will stop the flow of coffee the moment you remove the carafe and the carafe itself has a hot plate to keep coffee hot as long as necessary.

www.amazon.com, Amazon

My husband, a coffee connoisseur, has assured me in the "coffee community" this machine is regarded as one (if not THE) best drip coffee machines on the market. I mean, it does boast the ability to brew between a half or full carafe, a brew basket that automatically stops the flow of coffee when removing the carafe (no mess!), and a hotplate with an independent heating element to keep coffee at the *perfect* temperature. But for me? It's the color options. There are SO many to choose from — there's no doubt in my mind anyone would be able to find an option that would look great in their home. I actually *do* own one in my home (it's fabulous) and it does all that it says it will. It's certainly lived up to our expectations — and we drink a lot of coffee as parents of a one-year-old.

Get it from Amazon for $359 (available in 25 colors).

9. A toothbrush holder and dispenser, because mornings are hard enough to cope with so you might as well mount this bad boy and let it dispense your toothpaste for you. It's the little things!

Amazon

Promising review: "I love this item! I saw it originally on TikTok and thought it would be perfect for our bathroom! We have one bathroom upstairs and five people who use it. This cleared up so much counter space for us! There are ventilation holes where the cups go to help make sure they dry properly. The toothpaste dispenser has really been working to get every last drop out of the tube. Would definitely recommend for a family or kids bathroom. There is also a little storage compartment behind the toothpaste that is great for extra brushes, cotton swabs, or flossers." —Sariyah J

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in four colors).

10. A wireless endoscope gadget you'll absolutely want in your toolbox if you're a homeowner — it has a teeny tiny camera on the end you can send behind walls or into drains to see what's going on before calling in a professional.

Amazon

My husband found this online and was absolutely blown away by the technology. This tool connects to an app on your phone, allowing you to problem solve without having to spend an exorbitant amount of money. He used it multiple times throughout our first year as homeowners to look into heat ducts, down drains, inside walls, etc.

Promising review: "This camera works so well it’s almost a joke. An overhead light in my boat’s cabin had severed wire. The hole to access the wire is not even 1/2” in diameter, and the gap in the ceiling is only 2” tall. Adjusted the semi rigid cable, located the severed wire, went back in with the hook attached, and voila!" —the family cook

Get it from Amazon for $26.99+.

11. A flexible cleaning brush that'll pull all of the hard-to-reach pieces of lint out of your dryer. I truly can't think of anything more satisfying, TBH.

Amazon

Promising review: "Works perfectly for scrubbing the stuck lint out of the insides of your dryer. Everyone who owns a dryer should have these, they're basic safety equipment. Clean that lint, and reduce the fire hazard and make the machine more efficient. They're long enough, strong enough, and just flexible enough without being too flexible." —Winged Wolf

Get two from Amazon for $6.99+.

12. A wet/dry vacuum you can use to literally suck up anything from nails and water to bits of wood and leaves. You name it, it can be cleaned up with this vac.

www.amazon.com

My husband and I bought our first home four years ago and it has been quite the learning experience. Luckily my father-in-law has a plethora of tools, such as this vacuum, that made most of our DIYs a breeze. After ripping up a carpet and removing all the staples that had been holding it down, I was amazed we were able to use this machine to clean all the debris up in one swipe.

Promising review: "I had a 40-year-old Craftsman shop vacuum that finally broke, I was not expecting a modern one to perform as well as the old one however this new one is better in every way. The hose holds its shape under the vacuum, the wheels turn easily allowing it to move freely. It’s so much quieter than the old model, I like the cart especially as it gives a handle to allow you to move the vacuum around without bending down which for someone with low back pain, this is a great relief" —Silver

Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available in three sizes and four different accessories).

13. Shelf liner that'll provide a nonslip padding inside your cabinets, closets, and drawers so your belongings can be safely stowed away.

Amazon

You can cut these for a perfect fit, so no worries about the exact sizing. It's also machine washable, so any crumbs or stains can be easily removed.

Promising review: "I have recently moved into an apartment with some pretty gross cupboards, drawers, and kitchen shelves that I can do almost nothing about. I didn't want to put down adhesive shelf liner and traditional mesh type cushioning shelf liner doesn't really protect my dishes from touching the ancient stained wood. This stuff is a great solution for me. It's a nice thick padding that's textured on the bottom so it doesn't slide around. The top is slick and smooth and easy to clean. I don't really bother to trim this stuff, instead I place it in the cupboard and let the excess bend up around the edges creating a little bumper around the edge of the cabinet. Makes me feel so much better about my kitchen and the bright white look says 'clean' in a place that desperately needs something to say 'clean.' I've used a couple different types of this style of liner in this kitchen and this brand is by far my favorite. Go ahead and buy the larger rolls. Ten feet seems like a lot of material until you're filling cupboards and drawers you'll use more than you think." —Taylor Whitney

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

14. Felt pads to place under all of your furniture to ensure you don't immediately scratch the wood floors you just paid a ton of money to have stained and refinished.

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Just got a new house with all new wood floors. Every piece of furniture needed felt 'feet.' I found this package on Amazon and hoped it would do the trick for all of my furniture. When I received it (quickly no less) I thought it was too small of a package to get the job done, but once I started with the dining room table and six chairs I realized there was plenty in the package to add a dot to every bit of furniture I needed to 'shoe.' It was easy to adhere and now everything scoots like a dream." —Robyn Restel

Get a box of 181 pads from Amazon for $13.99.

15. A bamboo burner cover that'll magically add an extra space for chopping up veggies in your kitchen — it'll feel like you *poof* doubled your counter space!

Jennifer Tonti / BuzzFeed

BambooMN is a small business!

BuzzFeeder Jennifer Tonti credits this burner cover for helping her cook with ease:

"OK so I bought this for my own tiny apartment (pictured above) and OMG you guys. Life = changed. Food = chopped. Counter space = doubled. I mean the math is all there."

Promising review: "This is so perfect for extra space. It covers the top of my apartment-sized stove so I can then use my stove space for my Instant Pot and food prep. The best space-saving and cosmetic thing I have ever gotten for this tiny apartment." —Talyn Amber Skye

Get it from Amazon for $29.95+.

16. A wireless remote kit that'll make turning on lights a snap — no fumbling with a bunch of light strands every evening. This gadget is a homeowner's dream come true.

Amazon

Promising review: "I have three sets of these and use them at home and at my cabin in the Rockies. They work great and power through walls. I use one to turn on and off a painting light that otherwise could only be turned on by climbing onto the fireplace and carefully reaching up and behind the painting to turn on. Why get up and stumble around to turn on a light?" —Lee

Get it from Amazon for $34.23.

17. A classic handheld OXO can opener with cushioned handles that'll make popping open your favorite soup a cinch. You'll be pleased you added this to your cart the next time your power goes out and you can't use the fancy electric one you typically reach for.

Amazon

I have this can opener and bought it for my parents when their old electric one died. It may not seem like the most essential purchase but when you've watched your dad try to open a can of tuna with a butcher knife, you'll realize it's best to have one on hand.

Promising review: "This is a top-notch can opener. Gone through several other cheap brands that have broken and left me nearly cutting a finger off trying to finish opening the half mutilated can, but this guy knows how to get the job done and the handle is much more ergonomic in my opinion. Do yourself a favor and buy five, one for yourself and four for people in your life because this guy will change their life." —AK

Get it from Amazon for $13.89.

18. Motorized custom shades that'll help you make even the sunniest of days into cozy ones fit for movie marathons — all you'll have to do is click your remote or ask Alexa or Google to lower them for you!

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "While a bit spendy, these blinds are great! The customer service is impeccable, and they are very responsive and were able to work with my poor measuring skills to get me sorted with a new set that only required a motor swap! After doing it twice because I put the reset button the wrong way, I'm back installed, and they work great!!!! Thank you!!" —Johnny X.

Get them from Amazon for $153.99+ (available in 14 colors; all orders are custom sized).

19. A garage door opener you can control from your phone — no more wondering if you remembered to shut the door after you drove away then panicking about it for the rest of your outing.

Amazon

Neither my husband nor I have ever had a garage, but this is a new worry that seems to plague us now that we DO have one. He immediately ordered this in an attempt to qualm his fears about forgetting to close the garage, which is filled with pretty much everything we own right now. We even drove 20 minutes away recently only to turn around to ensure the garage was, in fact, closed. Don't be like us. Order this product.

Promising review: "Bought this for my parents — my dad always forgets to close the garage when he leaves and it makes my mom feel unsafe. I installed it and got the app working on all three of our phones in under 20 minutes even with not-great Wi-Fi in the garage. Set up a schedule to automatically try to close the door every hour if it's open. It gives my mom peace of mind that she can check and see the garage is closed from anywhere. Overall: easy to install, working great, and I would definitely recommend this product." —LG

Get it from Amazon for $27.79.

20. A pack of oven liners to protect the bottom of your brand new oven from the river of cheese that sometimes escapes from your prized casserole.

Amazon

FitFabHome is a small business!

Promising review: "These liners are life-changing! I never thought I needed them until a friend raved about them. Clean up is so simple, no more melted cheese or sauces burnt to the bottom of my ovens. I love that I can cut them down to size to fit my toaster oven. My husband enjoys grilling with the liners now, he doesn't have to line the grill with aluminum foil which he found so annoying, deterring him to grill. This product really has simplified my life in the kitchen and I love it." —Kindle Custommer

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $12.99.

21. A garbage guard that'll keep pesky flies and other insects from congregating around your can.

Amazon, Amazon / Via www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Got an outdoor can, the kind the mechanical arm on the garbage truck picks up and tips over, with the lid opening by gravity. Placed this on the inside of the lid, near the hinge to lessen the chances of it being scraped off during emptying and no flies/maggots! No apparent odor, just seems to put a big hurt on the fly party that used to be my trash can (litter box contents, remnants of meat, etc.) " —Michael E. Bradley

Get it from Amazon for $9.84.

22. A Clorox ToiletWand that you can use and then toss away — say SEE YA' to that gross toilet brush hiding in the corner of your bathroom.

AMazon, Amazon

I own and cherish this product. It's a dream knowing the "brush" is fresh and hasn't been intimate with the inside of my toilet prior to my picking it up again. This set comes with the wand and 16 refills.

Promising review: "The primary reason I decided to purchase the Clorox Toilet Wand was so I could clean under my toilet rims, which I noticed was definitely getting neglected via using the standard toilet brushes to clean. Initially, I was looking for a toilet brush that had the shape needed to actually GET under the rim, and that's how I found out about it. Now that I've used it... I can say without a doubt that'll I'll never go back to a regular brush. I like the cleanliness of the disposable brushes as opposed to a regular toilet brush. And I especially like that I don't have to purchase a second brush with a shape capable of cleaning under the rim, which not only takes up more space, but also would take more time given I'd have to switch back and forth and apply product. With this, I can just clean the entire pot in less than five minutes with the same tool." —Brittney Nelson

Get it from Amazon for $20.85.

23. An aesthetically pleasing grippy cutting board made of plastic scraps and renewable sugarcane that'll quickly become a staple in your kitchen.

Material Kitchen

I have this cutting board, and I really love it. The lovely color is an added bonus (I have it in taffy, which is a muted purple), but the real standout feature is the grips on each corner of the board. It doesn't slip at all and cleans easily, definitely a must-have in our home where we're constantly cutting up a variety of things for our toddler. 

Material Kitchen is an Asian-owned small business that sells lovely kitchen products — they were even featured on Oprah's Favorite Things 2021! Additionally, 50% of profits from the colors "To Pó-Po with Love" and "Reimagine Justice" go to Heart of Dinner and Drive Change

Promising review: "This cutting board is excellent. The grippy feature prevents it from sliding around on a granite countertop. It washes easily and dries with one swipe of a towel. Good size and good weight. I did a lot of research before buying this, and I’m pleased with my choice. The non-slip grips sealed the deal — great feature." —Cindy C.

Get it from Material Kitchen for $40 (available in four colors).

24. A double extension cord so you can run an endless amount of power throughout your home without trying to track down another outlet.

Amazon

Each cord is six feet long and has three available plugs. Additionally, Collections Etcis a small business.

Promising review: "I have no idea why these are not sold everywhere. PERFECT for my room! I ended up getting this due to my king size bed being against a wall with only one outlet. I needed a way to connect my two lamps on my nightstand and this is absolutely, without a doubt, the very best solution to connecting my lamps and also not having all my outlets taken up. I recommend this to everyone! Also perfect for outlets connected to a switch to turn on and off both lights at the same time." —Ryan

Get it from Amazon for $14.84 (available in two colors).

25. A utility sink that'll come in handy when you come home with shoes full of mud and don't want to destroy your new rug.

Amazon

My parents have one specifically for my mom to dye her hair (sorry for, uh, publicizing that, Mom) in so she doesn't stain their nice, new sinks. I'm planning to get one for my laundry room to soak stained clothing and whatnot before tossing it into the washing machine.

Promising review: "I purchased this as a replacement for an old but nearly exact sink that is the only sink in my garage/auto shop. This is plenty sturdy for filling pails and cleaning heavy parts. As noted by others, the faucet is especially nice. Along with the faucet, this unit would be ideal for washing dogs up to a medium size. An excellent piece for not much money. As is usual with Amazon, it was delivered in just two days." —D OC

Get it from Amazon for $209.99+ (available in two styles).

26. A solar-powered, motion sensor-activated lights so you can sing "and at last I see the light," like Rapunzel in Tangled each time you step into your yard.

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "I purchased these to cover the side of my house. Installation was easy and I left them outside for two days to charge. The light coverage was about what I expected from them and do the job well. The motion sensitivity covers all the side and lights turn on. It has rained about three times and still work great and hoping they last for a long time." —J. Argueta

Get a set of four from Amazon for $33.99.

27. Rubbermaid's power scrubbing brush, for when you want to give your grout an all-inclusive spa treatment and bring it back to its squeaky-clean glory.

Natalie Brown / BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This Rubbermaid scrubber is fantastic. It cleans around the kitchen sink easily, scrubs those pot scrapes off porcelain sinks with ease. It also cleans in the bathroom, scrubs the tile in the shower, cleans walls at the sink area and so much more. I don't know how I cleaned without it. It is wonderful! Don't hesitate, buy it!" —lindae

Get it from Amazon for $9.98.

To learn why my BuzzFeed Shopping colleague loves this, check out our full Rubbermaid Power Scrubber review.

28. Sticky Stakes to trap unwanted pests trying to feed off your plants and buzz annoyingly around your apartment. Toss your fly swatter in the garbage. You won't be needing it anymore.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

There is NOTHING more irritating than gnats or any other tiny insects invading your home. I have these Sticky Stakes in every potted plant I own and they actually really work! Each pack comes with seven traps, so feel free to stock up.

Promising review: "Just placed another order for more. I was given a plant that has brought in lots of gnats. I didn’t realize how many there were till I got this. They are doing a great job of catching/killing these annoying bugs. I even was able to put the sticky side in on the lower clip so that it wouldn’t stick to the leaves of the plant and rip them. Will definitely continue to get these when needed. Hopefully they will get rid of all of them soon." —Nicole Pisa

Get them from Amazon for $8.97.

29. An all-natural tile and tub cleaner you can count on to effectively remove mold, mildew, and rust — just think of *how* satisfying your "before" and "after" photos will be.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I have an old shower/bathtub. I tried name brand shower cleaners and bleach to try and clean the soap scum off the tiles and tub. I had no luck and I would cough and get sick because of how strong the smell was. I thought I would try this to save my lungs. I sprayed my entire shower and left it for about 15 minutes. I came back and rinsed off the walls and they were shiny! I've never had such a clean shower. The smell is amazing and subtle. All I smell is tea tree and it didn't affect me at all. The price is also a good deal since the bottle is pretty large. It came with the sprayer separate and the bottle sealed so it wouldn't leak in the box. I highly recommend this." —Amber Erwin

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $15.99.

30. A SinkShroom strainer you won't know how you lived without because it'll keep your kitchen sink unclogged no matter how much gunk you fill it with.

Heather Braga / BuzzFeed, Amazon

I bought this for myself and OMG. This thing REALLY works. Usually when my husband makes sauce from scratch I'm left with chunks of tomatoes throughout my sink and water that WILL NOT drain — that was until I bought the SinkShroom (which comes from a small business!). My mom was so impressed she bought one, too. It's a serious game-changer.

Promising review: "I’ve been a fan of the SinkShroom and TubShroom, and this is the best product from the line so far. My kitchen sinks simply do not clog any more, so there’s no more reaching into a bunch of water to unclog anything with my hand." —Brady Amerson

Get it from Amazon for $10.42.

31. A standing weeder (without the chemicals!) for anyone with a bad back who still wants an award-worthy lawn.

Amazon

Made with a bamboo handle and powder-coated steel, it uses a simple lever system to make weeding easy. Grampa's Weeder is a small business!

Promising review: "Oh my god, I friggin' love this tool. I bought this on a whim given we bought our first house and know nothing about caring for a yard. Boy, has it come in handy. Our new house had a ton of weeds in the front yard, and this tool helped me get most of them out in no time. In fact, the process of yanking out the weed was strangely satisfying! I don't think anyone can say that weeding is fun, but this tool made it as close to fun as you can get, especially when you see a long root along with the weed you pulled." —JG

Get it on Amazon for $39.97.

32. A bidet attachment to help you cut down on the need for toilet paper and ideally avoid that unpleasant moment when you find yourself on *the throne* without any TP in sight and have to embarrassingly call out to your S.O. to rescue you.

Tushy, hellotushy / Via www.instagram.com

Tushy is a small business!

Promising review: "I bought this because I was very curious. I was initially worried the cold water would be an issue but so far it is not. I am worried about the winter months though as I think the tap water may be a little cooler. This thing cleans up your butt like you just got out of shower. I wish these were in every public toilet everywhere. I won't poop anywhere in my house except the master bath now. I am excited to poop so I can flush it and then clean up using the Tushy so I can see in the toilet how much it cleaned my butt. You will be amazed." —Ryan

Get it from Amazon for $99.

33. A stainless-steel cleaner you can count on to make your appliances so shiny you won't be able to stop staring at your own reflection in them (spoiler: you look GOOD!).

Amazon

This plant-based cleaner will remove streaks, smudges, and fingerprints from all stainless steel surfaces — sounds very therapeutic to me! Additionally, Therapy is a small business.

Promising review: "THIS Therapy Premium Stainless Steel Cleaner is AMAZING. New dishwasher and and a hungry dog are NOT compatible! Our small dog, 12 pounds, had a habit of stretching up her front paws and scratching her nails on the dishwasher while her food was prepared. Not even days had gone by and the new dishwasher had little thin claw scratches all down the front. I had stopped her by placing a footstool to block her, but other family members had not, despite my instructions. I tried several cleaners and had resigned to having a scratched appliance. But ONE try with the Therapy cleaner — yes, a *miracle*. The scratches cannot be seen at all — polished right out of sight. The dishwasher looks even better than when fresh out of the box — it is gleaming. I eagerly shared the success with my kitchen remodeler, who installs many appliances, and I hope others can restore their stainless products. Try it!" —L. Peterson

Get it from Amazon for $19.95.

34. A critter catcher you can use to safely trap and remove any unwanted creature that wanders into your home. Added bonus? You MIGHT stop screaming bloody murder and running for higher ground when you see a spider.

Amazon

My Critter Catcher is a small business!

Promising review: "This thing is awesome! Initially I was hesitant that it would squish the little guys or they would fall out in transport but it's great! Highly recommend! Sorry little guy your GPS brought you into my house, I will help you find your way back outside :)" —Crystal R

Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in three colors).

35. A box of washing machine cleaning tablets that'll easily remove any odor-causing residue from inside your machine.

www.amazon.com

You can use this product on both front-load and top-load washing machines. There's also a version you can use to clean your dishwasher!

Promising review: "My washing machine instructions said to buy this product specifically to clean out the washer. It definitely helped with odor and the washer seems to be working more efficiently now. Great price, would buy again." —Fred

Get it from Amazon for $11.98.

36. A soap dispensing brush that might just make you want to clean your dishes — it looks kinda fun, doesn't it?

oxo / Via www.instagram.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I'm loving this little brush. I had purchased another dish brush a while back from the grocery store and the bristles were so stiff that it often splattered soap everywhere. This one isn't like that. The bristles are stiff, but soft enough that they tend to cling to what you're brushing, so they don't cause that splatter effect. I also like that you can open the whole thing up by taking its top off to refill it, giving you plenty of room to pour in the dish soap. The ability to easily remove and replace the brush is another very handy feature. Both are easy to do and it's well made, so they're not likely to come open or undone unexpectedly." —Elliria

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

37. A grout pen to help you restore your tile floor and bathroom walls and leave 'em looking like they were just installed. Feel free to enthusiastically yell "YOU COULD EAT OFF OF THESE FLOORS!" after the job is done.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "These things are awesome! I cleaned my bathroom tile grout first because the lady that lived there before me really let it go. A few places stayed stained and I was worried it wouldn't cover them, but all grout areas are bright white and look new now!" —Donna K Cook

Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in narrow and wide tips).

38. Overhead storage you can attach to your garage ceiling to finally create a place for all the yearly decorations.

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "This product is great, in my opinion. Installing it wasn’t too bad. Though make sure you have the right measurement tools, and you’re doing the measurements with another person. It makes time go by way quicker. What I also love about this product is that my garage looks way less cluttered. We don’t have bikes to hang, but we just have a lot of decorations that need to be stored away and it just makes our lives way easier. We also store my husband's tools on top of it. I was skeptical about the weight capacity, and it proved me wrong." —HelloKiwii

Get it from Amazon for $137.99+ (available in three colors).

Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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