1. A genius "shower cat" that'll give them an easy place to wipe off their stray hair instead of smearing it all over the shower wall and leaving it for you to clean up.
Promising review: "I have three daughters and me who all have a lot of curly hair. When you shed curly hair, unlike straight hair, it doesn't just slide out. It often gets caught in the rest of your curls so when you wash your hair, that's when you see a lot of shedding hair coming out. We don't want clogged drains, so we used to 'stick it on the wall' and throw it away after the shower, but this makes it easier to trap the hair and throw away. It's small too so it's not a big 'feature' in the shower which I liked. The men in the house also like it because we don't forget to toss the hair out like we sometimes did before. Solid product!" —S. Schock
Get it from Amazon for $14.95.
2. And a pair of DrainWigs to hang out in your shower's drain to catch their stray hairs and stop you from having to buy yet another bottle of Drano. It's meant to be disposed of after four months, so you'll never even have to touch any of the hair it collects!
Promising review: "I didn't even think about my shower drain being such a problem with hair. We have a relatively new shower and the drain was starting to be slow, but not really a problem because the pipe has a long drop. I was watching Shark Tank and thought maybe I need to check this out. Wow, there was a lot of hair to clean! Three long-haired girls in the house! I started using this and it pulled all sorts of hair out. We change it about once a month. Easy to pull out and no breaks or rust. I keep buying!" —Kindle Customer
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $6.99.
3. A stain repellent — it's bound to become a lifesaver if you're roommate is a little too clumsy with their red wine. It'll create a protective barrier on your fabric so any spills will sit on the surface instead of soaking in and causing a stain. All you have to do is wipe it away!
Promising review: "I put this on a brand new cloth Thomasville sectional as soon as I purchased it. Three weeks later, I had friends over and someone spilled an entire glass of red wine on the seat. I sucked wind and got a damp white cloth and tried to look casual...while panicking on the inside. The wine just sat on top of the material. I did not rub, just blotted. Every drop came off the sofa instantly. Within a few minutes everyone was back sitting on the sofa and it was no big deal. Absolutely will buy again. I have recommended this product several times to friends and family." —Nancy
Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in two sizes).
4. Or a wine-stain removing spray so you'll no longer panic when they accidentally spill that glass of merlot on Bachelor night. It even works on coffee, fruit punch, ink, and pet accidents, so you'll probably want the bottle near the both of you at all times.
Wine Away is a woman-owned business that was founded by Staci Wanichek (the CEO), and her mom, Cheryl, over 20 years ago.
Promising review: "Amazing cleaning power in one small bottle. When my friend told me she'd heard of this product from her wine group, I realized immediately this is something I can use even for non-wine-related spills. And immediately upon receiving this stain remover, I had the opportunity to spritz a spray on my placemat where someone had accidentally gotten some gel marker pen ink smeared all over it. With just a few quick sprays, I was able to wash the placemat, and it came out of the wash looking clean and fabulous! Food stains have also come out of the placemat just as easily, and I'm just delighted to have such a powerful cleanser available for those unplanned moments when the next stains occur. Highly recommended!" —Cynthia Sue Larson
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
To learn more, check out our review in this roundup of cleaning gadgets that actually work.
5. A brush shaped like a freshly bloomed flower that's so cute and cheerful it might just convince them to hand-wash their own dishes for once. It even comes with its own little vase so it doubles as super cute kitchen decor!
Promising review: "I love these! So far, I have not broken the leaves off like some of the other similar looking ones that I have purchased. I think this one is my favorite looking out of all the ones I have seen and bought. The petals don't get in the way, it feels good in my hand, and it cleans well." —pickyshopper
Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in three colors).
6. A pack of easily washable drip catchers to automatically mop up any water splashes and stop the back of your sink from getting gross and mildewy after on of their way-too-infrequent dish-washing sessions.
Promising review: "I love these. I was having so much problems with water by my faucet and these absorb it all. I usually change mine out once a week and throw them in the washer with my other dish towels. They are soft and a great color. I'm so glad I purchased these. All around a great product!!" —Sami C.
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $13.99 (available in three sizes and also a pack of two).
7. Or a countertop dishwasher for all of us living in tiny apartments — because nothing ruins the vibe and starts a roommate fight like a sink full of dirty dishes. It's surprisingly spacious and will leave your dishes looking sparkly clean. Take it from me — it's a game-changer.
Shoutout to my sister, because this might just be the best gift I've ever received. Seriously – I can't even remember life before owning this. Hand-washing dishes used to be my least favorite daily task, and this has greatly reduced the amount of time I spend scrubbing away at the sink. I still have to hand-wash bigger pots and pans, but it fits all the other smaller dishes and utensils my roommate and I use in a normal day.
All you have to do is fill up the water tank to the fill line (or hook it up directly to your faucet if you prefer), add your detergent, choose your wash cycle (I typically stick with the "Normal Clean" mode), and kick back while your new favorite device does all the hard work for you.
Get it from Amazon for $297.95.
8. A dishwasher magnet to help you both keep track of the last time you did the dishes ... and to prevent any dish-related quarrels in your home.

Promising review: "A stylish, functional little magnet. Eliminates the need to wonder if that cup looks dirty or is it just hard water etc. Also just looks cute on the dishwasher. I do not run mine daily as I have a small household and when it does get filled, more often than I'd like to admit, the clean dishes live in the dishwasher, getting picked off as needed. This makes that process much simpler." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $5.34.
9. A cord organizer with an adhesive sticker you can place on the back of your shared appliances so they'll have a place to wrap the cord instead of letting it dangle all over the counter. This is honestly genius and I want to put one on every appliance I own.

Promising reviews: "This little thing works so well at containing the cord. It makes my mixer all neat and tidy. I love this!" —Isabelleosborne21
3D Home Solutions is a small Etsy shop based in Frisco, Texas.
Get it from 3D Home Solutions on Etsy for $8 (available in three colors).
10. A bathroom caddy to stop them from leaving their toothbrush and razor scattered all over the sink. This even has extra space for hand soap, hair products, lotion, cotton rounds, or anything else you want to keep handy and organized.

Promising review: "This product is exactly what I needed by my bathroom sink! It holds a couple of toothbrushes, the tooth paste and the hand soap (which I ordered separately). I threw out the one I had that ended up getting yucky moldy stuff at the bottom. Now I have no worries. It's the simple things in life." —ChangingLeaves
Get it from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in two colors and two styles).
11. Or a toothbrush holder and dispenser — it'll stop them from leaving their opened toothpaste tube on the sink and leaving a sticky mess.
See it in action on TikTok here.
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. I 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, Q-tips, or flossers." —Sariyah J
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in three colors).
12. An all-natural glass cleaner so you can finally wipe away all their dried-on toothpaste stains that have covered your mirror for months now.
Promising review: "All of her products make me look forward to cleaning the house! I have been having such a luxurious cleaning experience and absolutely recommend!" —Imani L.
Viren Apothecary is a small Etsy shop based in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
Get it from Viren Apothecary for $12 (available in four scents and two bottle options).
13. A set of handmade felt coasters shaped like adorable kittens to stop them from leaving stains all over your favorite side table.

Promising review: "I'm loving this cute little coaster! It's perfect for my wide mug, and protects my desk very well from heat and condensation." —Natalie P.
FeltStoreArt is a small Etsy seller based in Washington.
Get a set of two from FeltStoreArt on Etsy for $30.60+ (originally $34+; also available in packs of four and six).
14. An all-natural oven scrub made with gritty pumice stone so you can really go to town on the mess they left after their latest cooking experiment failed, as usual. It'll even clean all the hard-to-reach spots on your racks and oven door that you usually overlook.

Promising review: "Finally tackled the rings on our stove top with this scrub and a reusable paper towel (as I was worried about using a scourer on an easily scratched surface) and the rings came right off! These are those 'oh, crap, the pot boiled over' rings that I ignored that lead to my stove top looking a bit crusty. The oven scrub ate them right off and left my oven and stove top looking great." —Jessie Bono
Everneat is a small Etsy shop based in Fairfield, Connecticut, that specializes in cleaning products.
Get it from Everneat on Etsy for $19.99 (available in three scents).
15. A shower caddy — it'll become your new best friend if your roomie likes to sneak a few uses of your expensive shampoo and thinks you won't notice. This'll make it way easier to store your precious bath and body goodies in your room until you're ready to use them.
16. A white noise machine with six relaxing sounds to choose from so you can drown out their late-night Netflix sessions when you really need a good night's rest.
Promising review: "A sound machine has been a game changer for me with sleep. I wake up often in the night and also have trouble falling asleep. It’s hard to shut my mind off. The white noise feature gives me something to focus on and I fall into a very deep sleep. I dream for what feels like the entire night. I don’t even hear my husband leave some mornings 🤣 10/10 recommend. Very affordable, doesn’t take up a lot of space and great volume." —Mary M.
Get it from Amazon for $23.71.
17. Or a pair of wireless sleep headphones that you can wear like a comfy headband, meaning you can fall asleep to your favorite podcast instead of the sound of them having a mini party in the living room

The headphones connect via Bluetooth and have 33 feet of wireless range (meaning your phone doesn't have to be right next to you). The controls are on the forehead, which makes it comfortable for back and side sleepers, and they are made to block out ambient noise.
Promising review: "I usually never write reviews, but, hot damn, these are a game changer! I sleep on my side and the speakers are comfortable to lay on. My only criticism is that the control panel should be padded somehow because it can get uncomfortable on for forehead/hairline area, but not so much that you can't fall asleep/renders them unusable." —Monique Vego
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 11 colors).
18. OR!! A pair of Apple AirPods Pro with noise-cancelation to drown out their annoyingly loud phone calls when you need to focus on your work. Just breathe deep and jam out — you'll barely even notice they're in the other room.
Promising review: "I’m thrilled. I love the fact there are multiple ear tips, and the small ones fit my ears great. Thrilled with the noise-cancelling feature while I stare at a family member yapping loudly on the phone, and I don’t have to crank my volume up to drown them out. The controls are easy. It pauses music when I take an earbud out, so I’m not fumbling to pause and then yanking an earbud out while yelling, 'what?' I’ve never spent this much on headphones, but these are worth the sub-$200 I paid." —Pixie
And here's more from BuzzFeed Shopping editor Emma Lord: "I have a pair of these, and they're not playing around. Once they're securely in your ear, you can toggle the headphones between noise-cancelling and regular sound, depending on your situation. I've been working from home, and the noise canceling is so effective that I can work next to a window where my neighbor is doing heavy construction and I don't hear anything louder than a faint buzzing. It's quieter than if I'd just plugged my ears with my own fingers. I'm also a runner, and these don't budge when you're sweating, which is nice. It's also handy that these toggle out of noise-cancellation mode, because I feel better being able to hear traffic and other people around me when I'm out and about. The TL;DR is: I love these so much I have zero interest in owning another pair of headphones for as long as I live." Read her full review of the AirPod Pros here!
Get them from Amazon for $179.99.
19. A mail organizer with helpful key hooks you can place right by the door so they'll have a handy place to store their mail instead of spreading it out all over the coffee table for months on end.

Promising review: "I wanted something that would be easy to install but at the same time not too bulky on my wall. this was perfect. I was worried that the pocket might be too narrow but is a perfect size. Fits two wallets, two glasses and plenty of hooks to hang keys and what ever else i need. Very happy with this purchase." —Anna
Get it from Amazon for $7+ (available in two colors).
20. A pack of foil liners to catch all of the grease and oil splatters that basically do a full acrobatic routine in the air and land right underneath your burner on your gas stove top. You can just toss and replace 'em once they get too dirty.
Promising review: "One day I will be the happy owner of a flat surface oven/stove top! But until then, these are the best at keeping your stovetop free from food and grease spills and caked-on messes. They're cheap, so clean up is a breeze. When it's dirty, just remove it, throw it away, and replace it with a new one. It makes cleaning the stove top so easy!" —Melanin Monroe
Get a pack of 50 from Amazon for $9.99.
21. Or these similar liners for electric ranges that are perfectly sized to fit right underneath the burner, so you can wave goodbye to scrubbing that pasta sauce that accidentally spilled over.
Promising review: "These are great covers to protect your drip pans from spills. I like that they're small enough to fit underneath the heating component but don't cover the outer ring of the drip pan that is most visible on the stove. Since the outer part is easily accessible to wipe down immediately after a spill these covers allow you to protect the inner part without sacrificing the appearance of a clean shiny drip pan on your stove. Considering the fact that this set came with 25 of each size, I would consider this a very good deal." —chem grad student
Get a pack of 50 from Amazon for $9.99.
22. A can of fire-extinguishing aerosol spray you'll be glad to have the next time they accidentally start a small kitchen fire. One press of the nozzle provides 32 seconds of firefighting spray and the biodegradable formula is super easy to wipe clean.
Promising review: "Of course you never want to use something like this but I knew that we needed one in our new condo just in case. I was right! I was toasting taco shells in our large toaster and looked away for a moment. Smoke billowed first and then it caught fire fast. My husband grabbed the device, aimed and sprayed for about five seconds. He stopped and I barked for him to do it again because it caught one more time. There’s no way I would have been able to toss a blanket up there and a real extinguisher would have left the biggest mess. This was easy to clean up!" —Mamercs6
Get it from Amazon for $10.38.
23. A click-on automatic cleaning pack that clings right inside the toilet bowl to keep things fresh if your roomie skipped out on cleaning duties yet again. It'll clean with every flush and keep things fresh in between more thorough scrubbing sessions.
Promising review: "This is a nifty design. Easy to use and press on without being a mess using the one piece design. Beautiful scent. It really does release a pleasant scent each time without being overwhelming." —outlander22
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $4.58.
24. A smart lock to provide some much-needed peace of mind when you leave for the weekend and do not trust your roommate to lock the doors. It works with most existing locks, so you won't have to worry about any ridiculously complicated installation.
Promising review: "The product was easy to install, took about 15 minutes, instructions are clear and easy, well made, rugged, with easy access (magnets). We have now been using it for a month with 100% reliability. We have suffered a few power outages, bringing my home network down, but the system finds its way back online without human intervention." —Dan F.
Get it from Amazon for $129.98 (also available in various bundles).
25. A decorative toilet paper holder and storage unit that's so easy to use even the most annoying roommate will change the roll once it's empty. Plus, it's time to be a real adult and stop leaving your rolls on the floor in their original packaging.

Promising review: "I was skeptical about buying this holder because we have tile flooring in the bathroom and with the bottom of the holder having legs instead of being solid, I thought there might be a problem with it sliding around some. Fortunately I worried for nothing. No movement at all. The holder is made well and is very sturdy. I love that extra rolls of paper can be stored for convenience." —Classyvamp
Get it from Amazon for $15.60+ (available in four colors).
26. A tub of cooktop wipes so you can easily swipe up any of their messes before they have time to become caked-on grime. It also works on microwaves if that's the only kind of oven you and your roomies use on a regular basis.
Promising review: "This product is amazing. I can't stand when after I am cooking how I always have oil stains and grease on my cooktop! But with one wipe I am able to now get everything off the stove. It is very convenient to be able to just use one wipe for everything!" —Debra E.
Get a pack of 30 wipes and a large microfiber cloth from Amazon for $9.97.
27. A super-lightweight stick vacuum you can quickly whip out when they spill Oreo crumbs all over the floor. It has swivel steering so you can easily maneuver around furniture and an extra-large dust cup so you can vacuum the whole room in one go.
Promising review: "Great little vacuum! Needed a small little vacuum to clean my studio apartment and this did the job! Once you turn it on you will be surprised about the suction this little guy has! Cord was plenty long enough and the accessories worked perfectly." —Jonathan G.
Get it from Amazon for $28.89.
28. A carpet cleaner to clean up everything from spaghetti mishaps to coffee spills. It works almost instantly — just spray, rub in, and wipe clean! You'll remove the stain and forget how annoyed you are in about 15 seconds.
Check out this TikTok of the Folex Carpet Spot Remover to see it in action!
Promising review: “There are products that you love and buy again. And then there are products that you love and can’t live without. And then above that, are a few select products that you revere and hold with the highest honor. Folex is that product. I have used Folex for years and it works wonders on everything from spilt coffee, wine, and dog messes, without any chemical smells or residue. But my love for Folex grew so much deeper when I dropped a 32-ounce jar of salsa down the stairs. My husband took one look and declared that the stairs were ruined and would need to be replaced. I took a look, grabbed the Folex and said, 'We’ve got this.' If you have children, pets or are very clumsy with your canned goods, you need this bulk-size jug in your arsenal of cleaning supplies.” —Carobnty
Get it from Amazon for $12.85+ (available in two sizes and in multi-packs).
29. A Roborock robotic vacuum if you have a roomie that isn't super fond of vacuuming — though be honest, neither are you. It not only cleans your entire home at the push of a button, it also empties itself! Having a robot keep your home spotless is the future The Jetsons wanted for us.
I've always wanted a robotic vacuum, and after getting a chance to try the Roborock Q5+, I can't believe I waited so long. I absolutely hate vacuuming, so the ability to have a magical little robot clean my entire apartment at the touch of a button is an absolute lifesaver. The accompanying app is very easy to use — I typically use it to set up custom cleaning schedules — and the smart mapping feature was extremely accurate on the very first try. There are definitely cheaper options on the market, but what makes this worth the extra splurge is the self-emptying feature. Once the robotic vacuum is done cleaning, it finds its way back to the charging base and empties itself into a dust bag that lasts for up to seven weeks. My apartment has never been cleaner!
Get it from Amazon for $599 (clip the $100 off coupon to get this price).
30. A sleek stand that will finally give them a place to rest their dirty spoons and pot lids instead of awkwardly laying them on the counter and leaving a big mess for you to clean up later.

Promising review: "I personally always hate it when you pull off the lid of something and the lid is leaking water everywhere while being super hot. With my new solid-surface counters, I definitely don't want to set the lid on there and ruin them and putting it on the stove top is either annoying due to the water mess or impossible if you are using the whole stove.
This was made for the fussy new-home person like me. I can now set the lid down down safely and not worry about where all that hot water is going." —Susan
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
31. A "Bread Buddy" dispenser if your roommate constantly "borrows" a piece of bread from you but also always accidentally throws away the twist tie. It has an airtight design to keep your bread fresh for way longer and make it SO easy to grab a slice.
Check it out on TikTok here!
Promising review: "The Buddeez Sandwich Bread Dispenser is great! It does exactly what it was intended for. I live alone and I don't quite go through bread often enough before the last quarter section of the loaf starts to go stale. I was originally looking for something to put a loaf of bread in as a shell for my vacuum sealer, that would keep the bread from getting crushed from the pressure. This dispenser solved all of my problems. Thank you!" —DRMcQuaig
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
32. A genius brush and squeegee combo so you can just swipe all their countertop messes directly into the sink. It even has a built-in ledge so you can hang it when not in use.
Promising review: "LOVE THIS PRODUCT! Saves me so many paper towels, easily washed in the dishwasher, and the small size saves space! Will always have one of these on hand for sure!" —Prime Time Review
Get it from Amazon for $9.98.
33. Game-changing ceiling fan pulls to help them finally remember which cord is for the light and which one is for the actual fan — because it's way too hot for all that confusion. Honestly, these deserve a spot in the Genius Products Hall Of Fame.
Promising review: "This is the definition of 'product you didn't know you needed because you didn't know it existed.' I was FOREVER pulling the wrong chain on our bedroom ceiling fan. (Want the light off? Oh no...now the fan's on high. Need to change the fan speed? Eek...now you're in the dark.) They're a much better quality than I expected. They're actually quite heavy-duty pull chains, and they add a bit of fun to the decor (when you notice them — most of the time, who even thinks about a ceiling fan pull chain?). As an added bonus, my infant daughter loves staring at them while I change her diaper or jammies. I tap them to make the chains swing, and it's instant fascination, which helps make my job easier!" —LHD
Get them from Amazon for $6.69+ (available in three colors and two lengths).
34. A set of fridge organizers that'll add some order to their chaotic mess of groceries. It's perfect for keeping things separate so they'll have no reason to "accidentally" use your expensive milk alternative ever again.
35. A set of adorable clips shaped like furry woodland creatures so you'll have a way to seal all the half-eaten bags of chips they leave laying around.
Promising review: "I bought these on a whim because they were really cute. They turned out to be really useful and hold tight to everything I've tried to close. I find myself smiling whenever I stick on to something new, I used a headband as a default placeholder so that I know where the unused ones are at all times. The serotonin and dopamine this small purchase has given me was worth the money." —Azuquita
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $8.95.
36. And a shoe rack for anyone who constantly trips over their roomie's boots after they kick them off in the middle of the hallway. It has two super spacious shelves toward the bottom that are perfect for taller rain boots or Uggs, and the smaller shelves are just the right size for Chelsea boots and your most prized sneakers.
Promising review: "I really like this shoe rack! It's larger and holds many more shoes which is what I wanted as well as making the shoe area much more clean and organized. We use this shoe rack at the entrance of the house as we do not wear our shoes inside." —Lauren E.
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in two sizes and two colors).
No but for real, it's finally time to confront them about those dishes.
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