55 Weird, Cheap Things You Didn't Realize Would Make Your Life Way Better

Smooth flyaways, secure your updo, or tame your bangs without greasiness or crunch using this hair finishing stick. It’s easy to apply thanks to its built-in comb and the formula uses transparent, hydrating plant ingredients to lock your look in place. “Easy to use and works perfectly,” one reviewer wrote. “Totally worth the money to have no flyaways in your face.”

• Available styles: 4

USB-powered with soft holographic blades, this fly-repelling fan spins safely and quietly to keep bugs away — and according to reviewers, it actually works: “Thoroughly impressed,” one wrote. “This simple but clever device has made a huge difference during outdoor meals. It creates a gentle spinning motion that keeps flies and other insects away from food without using any chemicals or sprays.”

• Available styles: 3

Adorable yet surprisingly practical, this drain stopper has two parts: A 4.3-inch rubber mat that covers most drains to plug the tub and a decorative daisy that floats on top of the water. They’re connected with a stainless steel chain, and according to reviewers, it “works perfectly” for both baths and sinks.

If someone in your household has a sizable cap collection, this pair of hat organizers is a “complete game changer” that “saves a lot of room,” according to reviewers. They mount to the wall using adhesive strips or screws with wall anchors (both included). Thanks to the curved brackets with strap clips, they can store up to 20 hats in a neat, easy-to-retrieve fashion.

“Great fan to use anywhere and everywhere!” one reviewer wrote about this portable fan, while another raved, “Best purchase I’ve made this year. Literally love this thing.” Wear it around your neck with the included adjustable strap, clip it to your clothes, or prop it up on a desk. Either way, it’s rechargeable with three speed settings for up to 12 hours of cooling relief.

• Available styles: 9

I’m trying to cut down on disposable plastics, so I use these reusable straws every morning to drink my protein coffee. Since they’re made from silicone, they’re durable, dishwasher safe, and easy to clean — especially with the included brush. They also don’t crack like bamboo and don’t have an aftertaste like others I’ve tried. Get them in bent, straight, or extra-wide designs.

• Available styles: 3

Add aromatic and visual ambiance to your space with this wood-grain wax warmer. It looks like a mini fireplace and works by heating up a silicone dish on top to release scent from wax bars or unfinished candles. It’s safer than a real flame thanks to its overheating protection and automatic timer settings.

• Available styles: 4

Owing to its simple design, this bag bungee is a “must-have” that makes your “life so much easier” when you’re traveling, according to reviewers. Made with elastic bands, quick-release buckles, and a plastic clasp, it securely attaches duffels, purses, totes, and briefcases to your rolling suitcase. It’s adjustable to fit a wide range of bags as well.

• Available styles: 11

Put your jewelry on display while minimizing clutter and streamlining your storage. This accessories organizer has five rotating tiers made from clear plastic so you can peruse your entire collection at once. Its vertical design saves space on your dresser or vanity while the lid on top keeps your items free from dust.

• Available styles: 7

Made from durable yet lightweight resin, these no-pressure headbands are designed to prevent pressure-related headaches and won’t get in the way of your glasses. They tame your hair with hidden teeth and they have curved ends that reduce tension behind your ears, too. “Fabulous,” one reviewer wrote. “I am able to wear these all day and they never are tight and don't interfere with my glasses.”

• Available styles: 5

Can’t find your stuff, but don’t want to bother with phone apps and Bluetooth connections? This key finder is affordable, easy to use, and highly rated. It comes with four color-coded trackers and a remote that has a built-in flashlight. Press the corresponding button to activate an 80-decibel alarm so you can find your keys, wallet, bag, or phone in seconds.

“A total game changer!” one reviewer wrote about this electric makeup brush cleaner. “I never thought cleaning my brushes could be this easy, [but] all my brushes look brand new.” The motor spins a mixture of water and cleanser around your supplies to remove gunk and residue without any hands-on scrubbing. It charges via USB and holds multiple brushes at once in its versatile lid.

• Available styles: 4

Available in five colors, this slim toaster has a sleek design that fits two slices side by side in one track to save space on your countertop. Despite being much less bulky than traditional offerings, it’s still wide enough to toast bagels, artisan baguettes, and Texas-style bread. Plus, it has six shade settings and a slide-out crumb tray for easy cleaning.

• Available styles: 5

Yes, they have colorful designs in 12 different themes, but these adhesive sensory strips aren’t your average stickers. They have two tactile textures (granular and water droplet) so you can quietly fidget to boost focus and reduce anxiety. Stick them to your phone, laptop, desk, water bottle, or car — anywhere you need a calming outlet.

• Available styles: 15

According to the 2,300 reviewers who gave this mini duck pond an average 4.7-star overall rating, it’s a “lovely addition” to your fairy garden and it’s “worth every penny.” Made from resin, it’s both non-toxic and waterproof for outdoor use. Its charming design features a mother duck in a rock pond with her six ducklings trailing behind.

Keep your valuables close by and discreetly hidden even when you don’t have a purse or pockets with this undercover wallet. It clasps around the front of your bra to hold cash, jewelry, and cards, and boasts built-in RFID-blocking technology to keep your information secure. Get it in your choice of three colors and two sizes.

• Available sizes: Small — Large
• Available styles: 3

After buying this bag holder for myself and using it constantly, I gifted it to several other people. It lives on my purse handle so I can clip it around car headrests, bathroom stalls, chair backs, bars, and table edges. It also has nonslip, scratch-resistant silicone pads and is durable enough to support up to 33 pounds. Reviewers are equally obsessed, over 12,000 of whom have weighed in to give it an excellent 4.7-star rating.

• Available styles: 9

This sand remover pouch was an unexpected impulse buy on my part, but it’s so worth the (budget-friendly) price. Filled with talc-free powder and covered in smooth fabric, it effortlessly wipes sand off your skin so you don’t track it into the car or house. It also includes a waterproof carrying bag with a carabiner clip, so it’s easy to find in your beach bag.

This self-draining cutlery cup is here to streamline your kitchen chores. Simply position it on the edge of the counter with the spout pointing into the sink and fill it with your washed silverware. It’ll automatically drain the moisture from your utensils, kitchen tools, and straws straight into the sink. If you’d prefer to store it elsewhere, the holder also comes with a drip tray that keeps the water contained until you’re ready to empty it.

The best thing about battery-operated candles? They’re mess-free, smoke-free, and risk-free. These rechargeable tea lights come with a USB charging base so you can reap the safety benefits and never need to worry about battery replacements. They also have realistic, flickering LEDs bulbs and a remote control with modes, timers, and brightness settings.

• Available styles: 2

Whether you want to add aromatherapy to your daily journaling practice or you could do with some portable relaxation in stressful meetings, this pen diffuser is “soothing” and “surprisingly effective,” one reviewer wrote. Available in several scents, it releases a blend of essential oils as you write. It also has a 1-millimeter ballpoint tip, a cushioned grip, and tabs to adjust the aroma output.

• Available styles: 11

With a macrame design on the outside and a plush lining on the inside, this glasses holder gives you a stylish yet scratch-resistant spot to store your eyeglasses. Put it next to your bed for your everyday pair, in your car’s cup holder for your sunglasses, or on your desk or side table for your readers. Some reviewers also use it to hold office supplies and remote controls.

• Available styles: 4

Whether your vanity is lacking illumination or you need a reliable way to apply your makeup on the go, this rechargeable mirror has over 6,500 five-star ratings due in part to its cordless and convenient design. Its LED border has three temperature modes and four brightness settings, while its mirror has a 10x magnification panel for precise application and grooming.

• Available styles: 4

This quick bubble mask has a foaming formula that’s designed to deliver elasticity-boosting collagen and deep-penetrating moisture in just 30 seconds — perfect for when you can’t spare 20 minutes for a sheet mask. And according to reviewers, it works: “My sensitive skin loves this,” one wrote, while another raved, “incredibly hydrating and gives you glass skin instantly.”

• Available styles: 5

With its stainless steel core and sweat-proof exterior, this drink cooler keeps your beverage cold and your hands comfortable. It fits three different types of containers: Longneck bottles, slim cans, and standard cans. You can also pour your water or iced coffee straight into the sleeve and use it as a travel mug. One reviewer wrote they like it “better than [their] Yeti” because it’s cheaper, more versatile, and works just as well.

• Available styles: 5

Cute, comfy, and convenient, these anti-fatigue kitchen mats are designed to reduce pressure on your joints while you’re washing dishes, standing at the stove, or doing laundry. They’re filled with cushy memory foam and covered in a waterproof, stain-resistant material. Thanks to the nonslip rubber backing, they offer plenty of traction, too.

• Available styles: 14

This knee pillow is a game changer for side sleepers, since it’s contoured in the center to encourage ideal knee and hip alignment. It’s made from supportive memory foam and can be used between the legs, under the thigh, or under the calf. It also has a removable, washable cover made from breathable fabric, making it easy to care for as well.

With its wood-grain base and linen-like shade in your choice of 13 designs, this bedside lamp looks a lot more expensive than it is. The inline switch offers easy access from your bed or desk, while the included soft-white LED bulb casts a warm glow that reviewers described as “cozy,” “cheerful,” and “relaxing.”

• Available styles: 13

Alternatively, this flyaway stick is another compact and effective hair product. The travel-size tube is filled with a clear, serum-like gel that smooths frizz, locks your hairdo into place, or styles your brows without grease or flakes. The taming wand is flexible and portable for quick touch-ups on the go, too.

Despite the bat motif, this quirky tea strainer isn’t just for Halloween. It’s adorable and functional all year long thanks to the silicone moon that holds loose-leaf tea and its bat chain that allows for effortless retrieval. One reviewer wrote that it “opens and closes easily,” “doesn’t come undone when you lift it out,” and “looks absolutely lovely in a glass cup.”

“My restless brain loves it,” one reviewer wrote about this keyboard fidget toy, while others called it “satisfying,” “adorable,” and “tactile.” Designed to mimic traditional mechanical keyboards, it combines clicky switches with LED lights and colorful buttons. And since it comes attached to a metal keychain, it’s portable for fidgeting on the go.

• Available styles: 7

It looks like a tennis racket, but this electric zapper uses a rechargeable battery and 3500 volts to banish flies, mosquitoes, gnats, and wasps from your home. It also has three layers of protective wire mesh and a rotating head, so you can kill bugs in midair or against the wall without accidentally zapping yourself. “Best purchase ever!” wrote one reviewer who used the zapper to tackle a fruit fly invasion in two days.

If you use mini rubber bands to style your hair (or your kid’s hair), these tie cutters are a “game changer” and a “must have,” according to reviewers. Unlike scissors, they have a hook-like design with a guarded blade that slices through the tie without pain, stress, or damage. “No more tears, no more breakage,” one reviewer wrote. “Just a quick, smooth cut that feels easy like a Sunday morning.”

• Available styles: 3

Clip this convenient night-light to your headboard while you’re reading, to your desk while you’re working, to your armchair while you’re crafting, or to your vanity while you’re getting ready. Its gooseneck design lets you direct the light wherever you need it and its LED bulb has two brightness settings and two temperature modes. No wonder it has an overall 4.5-star rating from more than 25,000 reviewers.

• Available styles: 3

Reviewers called this automatic water dispenser a “great invention” and a “good alternative” to lifting and flipping heavy water jugs. Compatible with most bottles from 2 to 5 gallons, this dispenser boasts a USB-rechargeable design and screws onto the top to pump water straight into your cup or reusable bottle. Simply press the button to dispense and you’ll hit your hydration goals in no time.

• Available styles: 2

This wall-mounted toothbrush holder has over 11,900 five-star ratings for a reason: It gets your clutter off the countertop with a quick adhesive installation and organizes it in a sleek, accessible way. In addition to six hanging slots for toothbrushes, it also holds two magnetic mouthwash cups, automatically dispenses toothpaste, and has a drawer inside and a tray on top for cosmetics.

• Available styles: 5

“Super convenient on my last trip,” one reviewer wrote about this TSA-approved toiletries set. Another wrote, “I travel a lot for work and this was one of the best purchases I’ve made.” You get two pump bottles and two spray bottles, all of which fit in a compact carrying case. The also set includes collapsible funnels for filling and a handy sheet of pre-printed stickers for labeling.

• Available styles: 11

Exfoliation isn’t just for the face, and this exfoliating body stick proves it. Using glycolic acid in a convenient balm-like formula, this stick aims to minimize bumps and ingrown hairs, neutralize discoloration, and soothe rough skin on the knees, elbows, and heels. And since it’s fragrance free, it’s even safe to use on sensitive skin.

Add traction to slippery areas without suction cups, damaging stickers, or inviting mildew and soap scum with this bath mat. It’s made from PVC loops that self drain, dry fast, and rinse clean of residue. The texture also mimics a loofah, so you can scrub the bottoms of your feet without bending down. “This is the best nonslip shower mat I have ever used,” one reviewer wrote.

• Available styles: 6

If your complexion gets oily throughout the day, this grease-absorbing roller is a great thing to have in your bag. The ball is made from volcanic stone, which soaks up unwanted oil without smudging makeup. It’s also portable, reusable, eco-friendly, and easy to wash with soapy water.

• Available styles: 3

This translucent gel nail polish has a dusty pink color with an ultra shiny finish and a holographic shimmer. It comes with a strong magnet so you can create custom cat-eye designs before curing your manicure with a UV lamp of your choosing. “I was honestly so pleasantly surprised with this product,” one reviewer wrote. “This is the most well-behaved cat eye gel polish that I have ever used.”

• Available styles: 19

Thoroughly cleanse your skin wherever you happen to be with these paper soap sheets. They’re a compact, portable alternative to bars because they create a cleansing lather that removes dirt and contaminants before fully dissolving and rinsing away. Since they’re gentle, non drying, suitable for full-body use, and come in eco-friendly packaging, they’re great for camping, travel, work, the gym, and day trips.

• Available styles: 13

Reviewers called this dermaplaning set “a game changer for smooth skin” and the “best product” they’ve used to remove dead skin and unwanted peach fuzz. It includes four precision razors that gently shave and exfoliate without irritation and a bottle of identifier spray that highlights tiny hairs all over your face.

• Available styles: 4

Few pairings are as iconic as wine and cheese, and these adorable cheese charms ensure that your drink doesn’t get lost in the mix. The set includes six different cheese-themed wedges, all of which are made from food-grade silicone and have a slit that fits the rim of most wine glasses. And since you can clean them in the dishwasher, they’re easy to care for, too.

The SipCaddy is a universal cup holder that grips cans, wine glasses, solo cups, and even some mugs thanks to a sturdy suction cup that attaches to most smooth surfaces. That way, you can enjoy a beer or soda in the shower, a glass of wine in the bath, or a cup of coffee in the hot tub. You can also use it to hold shampoo bottles upside down to get every last drop.

• Available styles: 6

This shampoo bar has over 10,600 five-star ratings in part because it’s a plastic-free alternative to bottled shampoo and it leaves your hair soft and shiny. Using ingredients like vitamin C, coconut oil, and vitamin B5, it cleanses your scalp while hydrating and nourishing your locks. “I am completely sold,” one reviewer wrote. “My hair has never felt or looked better.”

• Available styles: 21

Be it for weddings, cocktail parties, proms, travel, or long commutes, you can keep these ballet slips stashed in your bag to provide immediate relief from uncomfortable shoes. Even though they roll up into a compact pouch, they have foam padding with a breathable suede liner and an anti-slip rubber outsole to provide comfort and protection.

• Available sizes: Small — XX-Large
• Available styles: 12

Compatible with travel tubes from Aquaphor and Mario Badescu among others, these lip balm keychains replace the existing caps and add a metal ring with a lobster claw. That way, you can attach your lip balm to your keys, bag, purse, or belt for on-the-go access. Reviewers called them “so convenient” and a “cute fix for lost lip balm.”

• Available styles: 4

This anti-chafe balm is a quick and easy way to reduce friction and discomfort all over the body when running, biking, hiking, or walking long distances. Its deodorant-style stick makes it easy to apply on the go, while its plant-based wax formula is invisible, non-greasy, clothing safe, and sweat- and water-resistant. It’s well loved by Amazon reviewers, too, over 24,000 of whom have weighed in to give it an impressive overall 4.5-star rating.

Attach this vitamin C aromatherapy filter between the spout and your showerhead to remove chlorine, rust, and heavy metals — all while adding vegan probiotics, oatmeal powder, and a botanical scent of your choice. According to reviewers, its universal design is “easy to install” in most showers and its filtering formula “smells amazing [and] feels amazing.”

• Available styles: 10

If pumice stones, chemical exfoliants, or metal rasps all feel too harsh on your skin, this foot file is worth your consideration. Its textured glass surface works to gently buff away rough skin and callused heels, while its ergonomic, contoured shape is both comfortable and easy to hold whether using it wet or dry.

• Available styles: 4

It takes up next to no space in your suitcase, travel bag, or cabinet, yet this mini iron is “small but mighty” — so much so that one reviewer called it, “The best travel iron I ever owned.” Its ceramic plates reach 302 degrees Fahrenheit in 60 seconds, while its universal voltage auto-adapts to electricity in other countries. It also comes with a travel pouch, spray bottle, and silicone mat.

• Available styles: 6

This mini flower humidifier looks like a cute decoration, but it actually replenishes the moisture in the air to soothe your sinuses and hydrate your skin. Since it’s compact and USB-powered with a 260-milliliter capacity, you can use it on your bedside table, at your work desk, or in your car. It even has a night-light for ambiance.

• Available styles: 7

These clever wine holders boast a unique design that bridges the gap between fun and practical. These realistic, puddle-shaped holders give the illusion that wine is spilling out onto the counter and come in a set of both red and white. They’re also thoughtfully designed, as they store bottles at an upward angle to minimize oxidation and keep the cork from drying out.

Never again wrestle with a sagging trash bag thanks to these rubber garbage bands. They fit bins ranging from 10 to 33 gallons and prevent the bag from slipping down. The elastic is stretchy yet secure, while the metal fasteners are ultra durable, so they “work like a charm” and “last a really long time,” according to reviewers.

• Available styles: 4