Necessity is the mother of all invention, they say. Get ready to meet some of those inventions. You know all those little annoyances that trip you up on a daily basis? In the kitchen, for example, you might struggle to cut up a pineapple. Next, you might realize that your dish sponge needs replacing. Later on, you might take a shower and notice that the soap bar has disintegrated into a slimy mess in your shower caddy. These small problems can cause major issues. Say you have a great idea for a work project during that shower; that soap scum might drive it right out of your head for good. Small inconveniences like this add up, and they can become particularly paralyzing if you’re sick, injured, or tired. Whether you want to buy a gift for a loved one or just make your own life a little easier, take a look at these small-time lifesavers. They aim to fix the small stuff before it turns into bigger stuff.
1. Wear your favorite stilettos without sinking into grass or getting stuck in cracks.
If you’ve ever worn heels to a garden party or an outdoor wedding, you’ll know that it’s tough to keep your shoes from sinking deep into the turf. These nifty inventions solve that problem by adding a wide base to the heel.
2. Replace your regular dish sponge with the power of pure silicone.
This silicone alternative to a standard dish sponge is textured so you can scrub cookware without scratching it. These “sponges” last longer than regular dish sponges, they won’t scratch non-stick cookware, and they can be cleaned easily.
3. An adjustable rolling pin makes sure your dough will never be too thick or too thin again.
If you make pizzas or pastries with any frequency, you know it isn’t easy to accurately estimate the thickness of your dough. Many times, we’ve tried to measure cookie dough with a ruler only to discover that the dough was inconsistently thick or thin in some places.
4. Hold a book open with only one hand.
Cozying up with a book and a hot cup of tea sounds great—until you try to hold a big, heavy hardback open with a single hand. This handmade, wooden “personal book assistant” solves this problem once and for all.
5. Never forget to pack essentials for a weekend away again.
This notepad has a checklist of everything you’d typically need to pack when you travel. It’s much easier than writing out your own list, and it can even be fun (if you’re the type of person who enjoys checking items off lists).
6. Save money by getting every last drop from that bottle of your favorite moisturizer.
We all try to get our money’s worth out of our favorite foundation and day cream by harvesting every last drop—but the bottles tend to have small necks, and most makeup brushes can’t reach the bottom.
7. Remove stubborn odors from your hands with this stainless steel “soap.”
This sounds like a total gimmick, but for some reason, stainless steel “soap” is excellent at removing food odors from your hands. Rub it on your hands with or without warm water to get rid of stubborn smells. This product is particularly good at removing the smell of garlic or onion from your hands, so it’s an excellent gift for the garlic-lover in your life. The magic has something to do with the chemical interaction between sulfur molecules and stainless steel, but if you ask us, it’s just a miracle!
8. Sort through your bag easily, day or night.
Searching for the lip balm or your keys at the bottom of a large bag is an everyday struggle for some of us. You could always use the flashlight function on your phone to help you find the pen, change, or library card that you’re looking for, but that takes a surprising toll on your phone battery.
9. Clean your makeup brushes thoroughly in half the time.
If you want healthy, clear skin, you’ve got to clean your makeup brushes properly. Unfortunately, though, it’s a time-consuming process. This hand-held electric makeup brush cleaner makes the job a breeze.
10. Replace your cling wrap with a reusable alternative.
Cling wrap can be frustrating; it’s easy to tear, and it sticks to itself more often than it sticks to your leftovers dish. Even worse, the constant use of plastic to cover food isn’t great for the environment. Fortunately, a reusable, less-clingy alternative is available.
11. Keep your bag from rolling off the backseat with these headrest hooks.
If you don’t want your handbag or groceries to roll all over the back seat while you’re busy driving, invest in these hooks. These sturdy little devices attach to the headrest of a car and hold your bag up, making grocery runs a little easier.
12. Save space in your bag with a collapsible water bottle.
An ever-present water bottle makes a great reminder to stay hydrated, but when the bottle is empty, it simply takes up space in your bag.
13. Soothe your feet with this mini foot hammock.
If your feet tend to swell or if you’re nursing an injury, this product is a must-have for your office. It’s a miniature foot hammock that you attach to the bottom of your desk.
14. Prevent your glasses from sliding down your nose.
As many glasses-wearers can attest, re-adjusting your glasses every two minutes is annoying AF. Here comes Nerdwax, a chapstick-like product that stops your glasses from slipping off your nose.
15. Use this citrus spray gadget to make your own lemon or lime mist.
Lemon is a fantastic cleaning agent and a versatile addition to many meals, making this citrus sprayer a super useful tool. Instead of squeezing the citrus, harvesting the juice, and then adding it to a spray bottle, simply push this device into a lemon, squeeze the fruit a little, and get spraying!
16. Cut your pineapple perfectly with this nifty gadget.
Pineapples are a delicious snack, but cutting them is super labor-intensive. This kitchen gadget peels and cores the pineapple for you.
17. Never forget another one of your brilliant shower ideas.
The shower can be a great place to come up with new ideas, possibly because it’s such a relaxing, invigorating space. However, once you’ve toweled off and gotten dressed, you might find that you’ve totally forgotten your brilliant idea.
18. Use notched kitchen tools that drip into the pot, not on the countertop.
If you’re cooking a big meal, mess is inevitable—but with these silicone utensils, you can avoid creating extra spillage.
19. Drain chickpeas easily with this mini-colander.
When recipes call for you to rinse and drain canned goods, whip this cool invention out. It’s a tiny colander that fits over a can so that you can drain and rinse your ingredients without spilling anything—or dirtying more dishes.
20. Use this space-saving clip-on colander for bigger dishes.
This silicone strainer is a must-have for people with limited shelf space. Since it’s made of silicone, it’s flexible enough to attach to large and small pots alike.
21. Wake up with the sun thanks to a sunrise-simulating alarm clock.
Being woken up by a shrill alarm can get your day off to a bad start. This nifty alternative uses lighting and ambient noise to help you wake up on the right side of the bed.
22. Keep your toilet fresh with this ingenious spray.
Sharing a bathroom isn’t fun. Neither is using a public toilet. Many people rave about this spray’s abilities to mask smells before they even happen.
23. Create extra space in your room with these bed risers.
If you’re looking to maximize the space in your bedroom, storing items underneath the bed is the way to go. If your bed is too low to fit anything under it, though, you’ve got a problem. These bed risers are the solution.
24. Give yourself a glorious scalp massage with this nifty brush.
The best part of going to the hair salon is having someone massage your scalp while they shampoo your hair. This cleverly designed brush lets you give yourself a soothing massage from the comfort of your own shower.
25. Never spill nail polish again.
Painting your nails without using a flat surface is an extreme sport. This smart nail polish bottle holder fits like a ring over your fingers and keeps the nail polish bottle upright, freeing up your hands for painting.
26. Clean your blinds with this fantastic gadget.
Any tool that makes spring cleaning easier is worth it in our not-so-humble opinion! This duster is designed to clean Venetian blinds. It’s also great for getting into those hard-to-reach air conditioner slats.
27. Use a gadget to gently remove bugs from your home without hurting them.
With the possible exception of mosquitos, many of us want to avoid hurting bugs as much as possible. That said, we’re not exactly keen on scooping them into our own hands to take them outside.
28. Fold your clothes neatly with a handy-dandy folding board.
Folding your shirts properly is a great way to save space in your closet and increase the longevity of your clothes. Use this simple shirt-folding board to help you fold garments quickly and neatly.
29. Make meal prep easier by using a sandwich bag rack.
Have you ever tried to hold a Ziploc bag open and pour liquid from a heavy pot at the same time? If so, you know what a mess that can make.
30. Prevent soap from getting all soggy with this soap saver.
Most soap holders turn into a soggy scum bath after a few uses. Yuck.
31. Clean your microwave without scrubbing it.
The inside of your microwave can accumulate gunk unbelievably quickly, and cleaning it can be, in a word, nasty. This microwave cleaner uses the power of steam to loosen up food splatters.
32. Protect your skin from dry winter air.
The cold winter air can dry out your skin, hair, and sinuses. When the weather starts to turn, invest in an air humidifier to counteract the drying effects of cold air and heaters alike.
33. Extend the life of your veggies by using a refrigerator liner.
Food waste is bad for the environment and your budget, but it’s not always easy to plan meals around the shelf life of your vegetables. This liner fits neatly into your veggie drawer or on a shelf in the fridge, giving your greens a bit of extra time.
34. Fall asleep with these comfortable headphones.
If you like falling asleep while listening to music or ASMR videos, you probably know sleep and conventional earphones are a bad combination. Your earphones might fall out, and the cord might tickle you awake.
35. Remove all your makeup with just one wipe.
If you have sensitive skin, you probably know that makeup removal can leave you all red and blotchy. Of course, removing your makeup is essential for keeping your skin healthy and blemish-free. You have to do it.
36. Keep soda fresher for longer.
If you seldom finish a can of soda in one sitting, these can lids are fantastic. When you leave an open can in the fridge, your soda will go flat or absorb smells from other foods, which is gross.
37. Indulge in avocado toast without hurting yourself.
Avocado hand is a legitimate injury that’s all too common among us avocado fanatics. You’re trying to remove the pit, and you miss, cutting yourself in the process. Instead of digging around for the stone with a knife, play it safe and invest in this handy tool.
38. Keep your phone germ- and smudge-free.
We know our phones are full of germs: We put them on all sorts of dirty surfaces, constantly touch them, and keep them in our dirty handbags. Even so, we still put them on our faces when we make calls. Gross.
39. Use non-slip velvet hangers to keep your wardrobe tidy.
What’s the point of adding velvet to your clothes hangers? Well, ask yourself this: Have you ever reached for your favorite shirt only to realize that it’s resting somewhere at the bottom of your closet?
40. Up your taco game with these useful taco stands.
These taco stands by California Home Goods hold your shells for easy, quick filling. You’ll be making tacos like a pro—whatever that means—and since the stands hold your food upright, you’ll keep your hands clean in the process. These stainless steel stands are dishwasher friendly and oven safe; each piece holds three tacos.
41. Keep your coffee or tea warmer for longer.
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a hot mug of your favorite coffee (or tea, or hot chocolate, or whatever else you prefer to savor when the seasons start to change). Unfortunately, hot drinks tend to cool down rather quickly, particularly when your boss calls a surprise meeting right after you’ve returned from the break room.