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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.
Yes, living on your own for the first time is *amazing* but it's also a lot of work. These handy products definitely make it easier.
Promising review: "I've been using these for about a month now. I didn't even know that these existed 'til I saw them and tried them out. I was a bit skeptical that they would hold my variety of mug sizes on top of each other securely but I figured for the cost it was worth a shot. The mugs hold steady, even when stacking smaller mugs on top of larger ones. The diameter adjusts smoothly and the material is stronger than it looks. Now I can take out, or put in, my coffee mugs without worrying of knocking any over!" —NJ Buyer
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two colors).
While I haven't had to use it yet (thank goodness), I did accidentally drop it once, causing it to go off, and it scared me half to death — and people were definitely staring at me, so even though it was so embarrassing, it's nice to know that it works at drawing attention.
Promising review: "Here to say that — as you all may have heard — the NYC subways have gotten unsafe again. My train car was just under attack by a woman who began violently hitting and kicking the train windows and seats next to and above passengers, myself included. She then stared spitting on passengers and aggressively kicked the seat next to me. As she hovered over me, the woman sitting across from me pulled her Birdie alarm and it worked. She saved me from being aggressed upon (thank you so much, stranger), and the attacking woman retreated. Ordering ASAP as I am forced to commute to work five days/week in a growingly uncertain transportation system." —AG
Promising review: "I’ve used this alarm twice on dogs that were about to charge on my walks. Has completely backed the dogs off. Both were big and aggressive and it’s loud, but even higher pitched for a dog. I feel so much safer walking with this." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $29.95 (available in five colors).
Promising review: "I bought these Command hooks for a storage idea. I needed hooks for my kiddos multiple coats and to help hold bins in place to hold their hats and gloves. Amazon had the best price for a larger amount of Command hooks that hold up to 5 pounds. I had enough for my boys coats/hats/gloves storage on the back of their bedroom door plus extra for a towel hook next to the shower (steamy showers and it still hasn't fallen), a robe hook on the back of the bathroom door (still sticking), and a few extra places to hold heavier adult hoodies/coats. They are still hanging after a couple of days, and honestly I don't think they will unstick until I pull that tab. Perfect purchase for all the things you may need to hang." —KLP
Get a 7-pack of hooks from Amazon for $10.99.
Promising review: "Finally a holder for the toilet plunger. I liked that this was a two-piece set, every toilet needs a plunger and a brush so this set is just right. I hate putting the plunger on floor after use. This gives it a space to belong. Easy put together simply twisting the handles into place. Worked great at unclogging toilet! Looks nice with the all black." —THEONLY1
Get it from Amazon for $22.98
Promising review: "Well made, whimsical and very convenient. The portability of these bags make them perfect." —Victoria Pankovich
Get it from VISParadiseGoods on Etsy for $4.92 (available in five styles).
I love my Instant Pot and use it for all sorts of things. It's such an easy and quick way to meal prep for the week, or portion and freeze for easy weeknight meals. I love that it usually gives me plenty of leftovers too hehe.
Promising review: "This product is my best friend and I would marry it and grow old with it if I could. I’ve put pork loins, potatoes, yellow bundt cakes, rice, corn on the cob (look up INSTANT POT MILK CORN ON COB and you will never eat it any other way again!). I’ve made pierogis, lasagna, apple dump cake, a whole chicken, bone broth, chicken noodle soup... and more. This is all in less than a month. I’m eating healthier. Eating out less. Cleanup is easy. The food tastes awesome." —sugabuga
Get it from Amazon for $91.95+ (originally $99.99+, available in three sizes and two styles).
Promising review: "Amazing how easy this purchase has made cooking! It has eased the stress of preparing meals and actually made cooking something to look forward to! You really don’t need high heat to make amazing meals, and the nonstick pan and easy cleanup are *chef’s kiss!* And the handle holder is an amazing bonus! This would make an amazing birthday, housewarming or holiday gift for friends and family! Amazing investment for cooking at home!" —Alison S.
Get it from Our Place for $145 (available in six colors).
Promising review: "I used this level to balance my pool table, and it clearly worked. If it can balance a pool table with this level, then it can level anything. It also feels sturdy, so I'm thinking it'll hold up for quite a while, and the price is about what I would expect. I would definitely recommend this level to a friend based on my own usage." —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $17.75+ (available in three sizes).
Promising review: "My sons recently married and bought their first homes. First homes, we know they're usually not brand new and perfect, and since I was NOT interested in running to the kids homes every time they needed a hammer, wrench, screwdriver, we bought each of them one of these sets as part of their housewarming gift. It has everything someone starting out and who has little or no experience doing their own repairs would need to assemble furniture or make minor repairs. The tools come in their own convenient space-saving case and of course are the classic Craftsman quality." —Lindacarol6
Get it from Lowe's for $99.
Promising review: "This product WILL save you money on your heating cost. I have a couple of tips for you: 1. Make sure you clean the area where the tape will be placed with alcohol or Windex. It will not stick on dirty surfaces. 2. If the surface is too smooth use a little sandpaper. 3. It does stick on clean wood/some painted wood might be a little more difficult depending on the paint finish. In all cases, put tape on, leave on for a few minutes, then rub (hard) the paper over the tape a couple of times, before you peel off (slowly) to place plastic over it. Hope this helps with your tape issues!" —Jeanette
Get it from Amazon for $16.25.
Promising review: "It's not the number one seller for no reason. I just ordered my second one. I see some people are having trouble assembling it. It's no problem at all. The handle for the dustpan is a form fit. It requires almost zero effort. I find no play in the broom handle at all. No looseness, not even a little bit. I am really happy with the way it picks up dirt, and with the tapered, angled brush head you can get a little bit under your bed or cabinetry without having to bend over. It makes for a very clear sweep too. Great broom. Highly recommended." —Bob Feeser
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
Promising review: "We've been using Brita water filter pitchers for many years and they've all been great! The reason why I've purchased this unit was only to replace our old pitcher for a fresh look and larger capacity. The difference between drinking tap-water and filtered water is immediately noticeable, so based on years of experience, I can highly recommend THIS brand to everyone!" —MR. G.
Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (originally $34.99, also available with filters).
The set comes with five place-settings which includes salad forks, dinner forks, dinner knives, dinner spoons, and soup/tea spoons.
Promising review: "I got this set in silver. We love how heavy duty these are. My boyfriend can't stop talking about the spoons. I have scrubbed them and they have been through washer several times. I was nervous about rub off but there has been zero. These are better than others I've bought that were way more expensive. Definitely worth it. I really wanted the gold but I ordered the silver just in case. I was nervous it would rub off." —Angelina Sarmiento
Get it from Amazon for $21.99.
It's so easy to put them in your kitchen (it didn't take me long at all to measure, cut, and place them in my drawers and cabinets), and they definitely make a difference! Not only do they prevent damage from my plates and sharp utensils, but they also catch any residue from my oils and condiments and generally just keep the dirt and dust at bay.
Promising review: "I bought these for my apartment and immediately covered my kitchen. They were so perfect — even the overhang came in handy. We had some of those wire shelves that hang on the shelf above them and the overhang helped protect the edge of the shelf. The pattern was super cute and the liner was easy to clean with a Clorox wipe. They came up as easy as they went down and I kept them when we moved. I put them into our new place and trimmed the extra. I really love the protection." —Sarah A
Get it from Amazon for $11.49+ (available in 11 sizes, and 11 styles).
Promising review: "Time saver. I am a habitual key misplacer. This is very loud and has saved me from being late to work." —Questioner
Get it from Target for $34.99.
Promising review: "These are good little flashlights. I especially like they came with batteries so I didn't have to hunt around for them and they were even Energizer batteries which are the best! These would be great for camping, taking to the beach at night or if your lights go out. They are lightweight and I reference small as they are on the smaller side but the plus is that they are lightweight. The brightness is good overall. I can see children using these for fun and function due to their size or being put in the glovebox of a car which would be very convenient." —Princess PonyTail
Get them from Amazon for $7.19+ (available in two or four-packs).
Promising review: "The kitchen towels are wonderful quality and the colors are accurate (and super nice)." —Akshobhya
Get it from WildAndStoneHome on Etsy for $17.04 (available in four colors).
Promising review: "This thermometer was very easy to set up and easy to use. It gave an accurate reading after comparing it to two other forehead thermometers that I own. This definitely will come in handy whenever someone in household is sick, and I prefer to use it compared to my other two forehead thermometers. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a forehead thermometer." —Stacey J
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (originally $29.95).
Promising review: "I was so pleasantly surprised by this product. I got it on a whim. I literally use this cleaner for EVERYTHING! I mean from my wood furniture, mirrors, granite counter tops, even my hardwood floors! The smell is so nice and not overpowering like other cleaners, and I feel safe using it around my kids. I'll be buying this product as long as it's made." —Casandra
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $10.97.
Promising review: "This is very useful. A guest on our boat was cut in the ocean by a large conch shell. I was able to get her in the boat. Used some clean bottled water. Applied triple antibiotic cream. We then put a few bandages on. Accidentally the case fell into the ocean. I’ll attest that it’s definitely waterproof! We also used this when one of our grandchildren slipped on the lanai, fell, received a scrape on both knees. She also cut her elbow. We had everything we needed to fix her up. This is and has been useful." —Michelle Holt
Get it from Amazon for $13.51.
And just my two cents: it's also far superior to a regular ole toaster. I especially love that I can actually watch my bread as it gets crispy, so I can pull it out early if it's on the verge of getting a little too well done for my liking.
Get it from Nordstrom for $179.95.
Promising review: "This is a handy power strip with a slim design. The USB charging ports are a really good addition to the power strip. I used this to neatly organize my son’s electronics. I appreciated the extra spacing on the end — it accommodated a larger charging box without losing use of another spot." —April-May-June
Get it from Amazon for $13.50.
Promising review: "I have had my Noco for over a year and finally had to use it today. My model of car is notorious for being a battery-drainer and I knew there would come a day I needed it. It is Christmas Eve and today was the day that I found a dead battery (of course, on a day I am not about to go get a new battery) but it was exactly zero problem because this Noco had me up and running in mere seconds with an instant start! It holds a charge a long, LONG time and I have only freshened up the charge every four months or so. I was impressed enough to give one to each of my adult daughters this Christmas and now I have 100% confidence that if they are ever stuck they can get going immediately! Everyone should have one of these in their emergency roadside kit!" —Online Shopper
Get it from Amazon for $99.95 (originally $124.95).
Promising review: "Life just got easier. It fits in the crack between the fridge and wall, and I no longer have to struggle to reach anything. I feel safe climbing up and down on it because it is sturdy and I can hold on to the top of it without worrying it will tip over. Can't believe I never bought one sooner!" —Dapperdawn
Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in two colors).
Promising review: "These are amazing! I do about 2–3 loads of laundry a day. I love these! I bought a six-pack of Smart Sheep Dryer balls and a six-pack of dryer balls from another brand. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I’m amazed. They are all used together for drying my laundry. After eight months of use, I still have all six Smart Sheep Dryer balls (they are holding up, no unraveling like the other brand, smell pleasant, are keeping their shape, etc). I like them so much I bought them as gifts for other people. Out of the six-pack from the other brand, I am down to two left — they all unraveled and became misshapen. The pictures I’m adding don’t lie! These Smart Sheep ones are fabulous! I use them with Essential Oils as well to freshen stuff up. Highly recommended!" —Bluebug29
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $16.95.
Get your plan from Blue Apron starting at $7.49+/serving.
Promising review: "I've had Kidde fire extinguishers for years. I've checked the pressure and it always was good even after 10 years. I just had to use two I had on a deck fire. One completely extinguished but I overkilled it and used two. They put the fire out (pretty big, a large box caught fire on my deck because it had bubble wrap in it and got a small ember on a super windy day. The ember was miniscule. I had no clue that something that small could start such a big fire, but I do now) but my Kiddes snuffed it out in seconds. Thank you Kidde for making such a great product that saved my deck and house. Because my outside water is turned off for the winter, they were my only way and came through with flying colors." —SusanW
Get it from Amazon for $27.20.
Promising review: "I honestly believe this product saved our lives. We had a fire in our fireplace on a cold day. It warmed our house so much that the furnace actually turned off for most of the day. When we went to bed and the fire went out, the furnace kicked back on. We hadn't realized that the exhaust for the furnace was not to code (not high enough on the roof pitch). This alarm sounded in the middle of the night and woke me up. My husband's thought was that it was just the battery and suggested that I pull the battery and deal with it in the morning. Luckily, I read the digital number readout on the alarm and knew that it was NOT a battery issue. I knew immediately that we needed to open windows/doors and get out. I now have one on each floor of my home. Never, NEVER disregard when you hear this alarm sound. The digital read out definitely confirmed that there was an issue and I loved the fact that I could unplug it from the wall and walk around the home watching for a change in the readings." —L.R.
Get it from Amazon for $29.97 (originally $71.50).
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.