• Best of 2021 badge

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

42 Practical Products Our Readers Loved In 2021

Make your life just a little bit easier with these smart products our readers couldn't get enough of during this hectic year.

1. A pack of AirPod cleaners if your beloved AirPods start sounding not as crisp and clear as the day you got them. It might be that earwax, dust, and debris is clogging them up and reducing the sound quality, and this cleaner can solve that problem in a few seconds!

Blue square with lots of ear wax on it that was removed from an AirPod speaker

2. A Trtl neck pillow that's 10 times more comfortable than those cheap, flimsy pillows you buy at the airport minutes before your flight. It's designed to keep your head in a comfortable position the entire time you snooze, which means no painful bobble-heading.

model wearing a gray trtl pillow while sleeping on a plane

3. A beloved Carhartt beanie so you can keep your head and ears oh so toasty all winter long — and look super on trend while doing it. It comes in a few dozen colors, which means you can buy a couple of them so you'll always have one to match the rest of your winter ensemble.

4. An Always Pan that's as beautiful as it is practical. This one pan can replace your fry pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, nonstick pan, spatula, and spoon rest. People with a small kitchen and limited storage space: This do-it-all pan was made for you.

5. A set of Shoe Slotz designed to literally *double* the amount of storage space for your shoe collection while still displaying what each pair looks like.

on left, white cubby with unorganized pairs of shoes. on right, same cubby with shoes neatly stacked on Shoe Slotz and neatly lined up
Sally Elshorafa/BuzzFeed

Promising review: "I will spare you the horrific 'before' picture of the complete nightmare that was my closet floor. Just imagine a dusty mess with shoes thrown all over each other in a sad attempt at giving some appearance of order, and you will have a good idea of why buying this shoe organizer was one of the best ideas I've had this year. The floor now looks so neat and tidy I can't believe my eyes every time I open my closet doors." —Veronica, just an average reader, you know?

Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $28.99+ (also available in packs of 20 and 40).

6. A large leather transport tote from Madewell that will soon become your most used bag once you realize how roomy and durable it is. It also looks great with any outfit you put on, and it's big enough to carry around a computer and books, making it a great school or work bag.

7. A clear water bottle to make you feel like you're living in the lap of luxury thanks to the sleek design. There are also marks on the side that remind you to keep drinking and staying hydrated throughout the day.

8. Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser — a creamy face wash that's super gentle and kind to all kinds of skin types, even super-sensitive skin. It actually contains the same cleaning agents that are found in contact lens solution, which means it won't burn your eyes when you're removing your mascara.

9. A foot balm that comes in a user-friendly tube that basically functions like a supersized lip balm but for your feet. Apply directly to any crusty, dry, or aching parts of your skin, and the cocoa butter, beeswax, and castor oil blend will start working right away to give you your best-looking feet.

Tube of Natural hoof healer softening foot balm surrounded by flowers
Pickles Potions and Lotions/Etsy

Promising review: "Love this balm! I have really bad eczema and my heels crack, bleed, and hurt. I’m super self-conscious about it during sandal season, too. But this helps overnight. I’ll forever keep this on hand!" —Katie F.

Pickles Potions and Lotions is a small Etsy shop based in Wayne, Maine.

Get it from Pickles Potions and Lotions on Etsy for $8.99+ (available in three scents).

10. A laptop cleaner set from Oxo that takes care of all that dust, dirt, and loose crumbs that are currently trapped in your keyboard and laptop. Keep this handy if you tend to eat your lunch while crouched over your keyboard and answering emails.

11. A Quip toothbrush for anyone who takes dental hygiene seriously — which should be everyone!! With timed sonic vibrations, a three-month battery life, and a mirror mount, this sleek-looking toothbrush will actually make you look forward to cleaning your pearly whites every morning and night.

12. And a Waterpik water flosser because we all know we should be flossing every day, but who actually wants to? This almost turns flossing into a game — you'll be amazed at how many food particles you'll blast off using this thing!

13. A personal umbrella that clips onto the back of your beach chair so you can make sure you have access to shade, even if everyone else in your group prefers to lay in the sun all day.

14. A nail file board for the dog who refuses to get their nails trimmed the traditional way. This is basically one giant emery board that will keep your dog's nails at a normal, healthy length. Plus: If your dog likes to scratch at your furniture, they can go wild on this instead of your couch!

15. A set of furniture touch-up sticks to fill in any nicks or dents in your wooden furniture. It'll restore your headboard, dressers, and cabinets to the condition they were in when you bought them.

16. A "Bacon Bin," which is basically a super-smart way to dispose of your hot grease (never pour it down the drain! Just don't do it!). Once the grease hardens in the bin, you can just scoop it out to dispose of it or reuse it for other recipes.

Pot drizzling grease into a silicone container to store grease

17. A washable sponge if you're sick and tired of getting grossed out by your sponge that always smells like last night's dinner. Whenever this sponge starts to get a little funky, simply throw it in the washing machine or dishwasher, and then it'll be good as new!

A sponge with a floral design and mesh overlay sits in a wooden bowl

18. A pack of reusable silicone lids — now you don't have to use flimsy plastic wrap to cover your leftovers. You can also use this to cover a saucepan or keep food warm as you transport it to a party. They come in five different sizes so you'll have one to fit your needs.

19. Color-coordinated packing cubes that make the dreaded act of packing for a trip so much easier. You'll be so amazed at how much you can put in your suitcase when you use these!

20. An Everyplate subscription because planning a weekly grocery trip every week just doesn't work for everyone, especially anyone with a busy schedule. With this subscription, you'll get sent ingredients for three to five meals with simple instructions for you to follow. Now you can have delicious, home-cooked meals the easy way!

21. A genius humidifier tank cleaner to keep your humidifier free of gross buildup so you don't have to wash it as often. Not only does this cute little guy work hard to keep all that dirt and grime away, it's also so fun to watch it swim around the tank!

22. A luxurious pillow with memory foam filling that you can adjust to fit your sleeping needs. Are you a stomach sleeper? Go ahead and take out some of the filling to get the most comfortable height.

23. LED-dimming stickers so that annoying light coming from your WiFi routers or your cable box won't keep you up at night as you're trying to get some much needed rest.

stickers being applied to a TV to dim the lights

24. A Rubbermaid produce saver if you're sick and tired of discovering that the fruit you bought four days ago has already gone bad. Reviewers say it will prolong the life of your fresh produce for WEEKS longer than normal! 

A wilting strawberry stored in the original container and a much fresher-looking strawberry stored in the produce saver
Natalie Brown / BuzzFeed / Via BuzzFeed

The containers are BPA free and dishwasher safe. They feature vents to regulate the flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide, keeping your produce fresher for longer.

Promising review: "I bought my fruit on Friday and ordered this immediately because I’m so sick of throwing my fruit away if I don’t eat it in a few days. It’s been a WEEK now and my strawberries, pineapple, and blueberries (all in this one big container) are STILL FRESH! I’m going to start buying more fresh fruit now that I know it won’t be wasted and thrown away in a few days. Highly recommend this product if you’re like me and can’t eat a whole pineapple, strawberries, and other fruit fast!" —Sarah

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $14.99, or see other size options here.

Check out our full Rubbermaid produce saver food containers review for more info!

25. A cascading wall organizer so you can finally get that huge pile of paper off of your desk and actually be able to find that important document when you need it. It's also great for teachers looking to organize their students' assignments!

26. A pre-seasoned cast-iron skillet that allows for even heat distribution so your food will come out perfectly every time. This is an absolute must-have item if you love to cook at home — it's so durable and high-quality, you'll have this thing for decades!

27. An air purifier to remove all of the dust, mold, pet hair, and any other microscopic nastiness that's floating through the air and making you sneeze. Reviewers say it's helped with their indoor allergy symptoms tremendously!

28. Nesting storage containers that take up so much less space than your average food storage containers. Plus: You'll never have to search through your cabinets to find the right lid to your container again!

29. A door draft stopper to keep any chilly air from getting into your room and making you cold. It'll also help your home's heating system work more efficiently, which saves you money in the long run.

30. A Roll Keeper organizer for anyone with a large T-shirt collection and limited storage space. With this, you'll be able to see all of your T-shirts at once, which makes getting ready in the morning so much easier.

Mallory Mower's closet door closed with several shirts hanging from a hook at the top of the door. The shirts are attached by rolling them up and putting them through stretchy loops.
Mallory Mower / BuzzFeed

The Roll Keeper is a woman-owned small business from Kelso, Washington. Take a peek at this helpful video that shows you how to load and unload the Roll Keeper!

Check out this promising review from BuzzFeed writer Mallory Mower who owns (and loves!) the Roll Keeper: "Before getting this I was driving myself up the wall with my bad folding habits. I basically shoved all my shirts into the storage drawers under my bed, because I have a teeny-tiny closet (the picture above gives you a solid idea of how small it is). This has given me a massive amount of clothing storage I didn't have before. The quality is stellar and Traci is 10/10 the most thoughtful person I've purchased an Etsy product from!"

Get it from The Roll Keeper on Etsy for $16.99 (available in three colors).

31. A set of silky-soft satin pillowcases that'll protect your hair from tangling and matting. The fabric won't absorb moisture from your skin, so you'll also wake up to a super-hydrated complexion.

Two blue satin pillowcases on pillows and styled on a bed

32. A genius car cup holder adapter so you don't have to place your emotional support water bottle in the passenger seat just for it to go rolling everywhere whenever you hit the breaks. This also works great for large sodas too!

33. A set of Target's 400-thread count, 100% cotton performance sheets that might just be the most durable, softest, coziest set of sheets you've ever had the pleasure of sleeping on. They're also wrinkle and shrink resistant and there's even a label on each side of the fitted sheet so you always put it on correctly the first time. Genius!

34. A smart Tile tracker you can attach to your keys aka arguably the *most* important thing you never want to lose. You'll be able to track your Tiles through an app on your smartphone.

black tile tracker on a keychain

35. A pair (or seven) of Thinx period underwear designed to absorb as much blood as four tampons. Rest assured you'll stay leak free while you're enjoying life without having to use those uncomfortable period products that fill up your trash can.

A model wearing the black Super Hi-Waist underwear which have mesh sides

36. A digital luggage scale because it's much better to spend $13 on this to make sure your luggage is under the weight requirement than to get to the airport and find out your bag is somehow 60 pounds and you get slapped with a $50 fee.

Model's hand holding the digital scale
Amazon

Promising review: "This luggage scale does everything that a luggage scale should do. First, and foremost, it is accurate. I tested it against two other scales and it was spot on. The scale is smallish, which is nice because it is the last thing that I am going to stuff into my luggage after I have finished packing and weighed everything else. Everyone that travels on an airplane should own one of these scales. At a bare minimum, it will save you from having to repack your dirty underwear in front of a gate agent, at the most, it will save you being hit with a $50–$100 extra baggage fee which negates the cost of that cheap ticket that you spent days searching for." —ManFromDola

Get it from Amazon for $12.99.

37. A collapsible car trunk organizer that keeps all of the stuff you store in your trunk tidy. You can also use it when shopping so all of your groceries don't go flying around your car whenever you turn.

A black trunk organizer inside a car trunk filled with car accessories, groceries, an umbrella and more in its mesh side pockets
Amazon

Promising review: "It was just what I needed for my messy and unorganized truck! I wanted something not too bulky, but just the right size to help me reorganize my trunk. This product did that for me. I was also concerned that it’ll move when I drove but luckily there is Velcro on the bottom that secures it in place while you drive, and sure enough it did just that! This product does not take up a lot of space and gives you the right amount of measure to place other things like groceries and a suitcase. I am completely satisfied and content with this product! I wish I had it all along!" —Sheneese

Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

38. A Bissell multi-surface bagless vacuum so you don't have to whip out the gross mop to clean up any wet spills. When you're done on hard surfaces, it works just as well on your carpet. We love a vacuum that does it all!

39. A pressure washer guaranteed to make you say, "Huh, so THAT'S what my patio is actually supposed to look like!" You'll find it oh so satisfying to see the wood literally change color before your eyes!

40. An expandable shelf so you can take advantage of every last square inch of the storage space under your sink. Because it's adjustable, you can configure it to easily fit around the pipes down there.

41. These miniature spatulas that scoop out every last drop of that expensive eye cream or your favorite mustard. It works especially great for those awkwardly shaped bottles that trap product in all their corners.

42. An Instant Pot aka the true MVP of any kitchen. This 7-in-1 kitchen gadget acts as a rice cooker, pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, warmer, and you can sauté in it. It's almost like there's a teeny-tiny private chef hiding in this thing magically whipping up tasty recipes!

The Instant Pot with lid removed

You complimenting yourself after finally buying packing cubes, a cast-iron pan, and a Quip toothbrush:

The year is almost over, and we're looking back on 2021. Check out more from the year here!