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.
1. A reusable pumice stone to quickly remove stains and have your toilets, sinks, and tubs looking like new — no dingy rings in sight.
Promising review: "When we bought our previously owned condo, all three of the toilets had a permanent dark ring. I must have tried at least six different cleaning products that claimed to eliminate rings. None worked. I was actually considering buying new toilets as the ring was embarrassing to me. A friend recommended the pumice toilet bowl ring remover and I was prepared to be disappointed again. But it worked perfectly. The ring is gone on all three toilets and it only took a few minutes per toilet. I don't know when I have ever been so totally satisfied with a product. It just saved me a whole lot of money and I am no longer embarrassed by the appearance of my toilets." —lynn mcdonald
Get it from Amazon for $11.30.
2. A bottle of professional-grade callus-removing gel so you can quickly get your feet sandal season ready by removing years' (I repeat, YEARS') worth of hard calluses without endless scraping and scrubbing.
Just presoak your feet, apply the gel, let sit for 5–10 minutes, and rinse! It's recommended you go back in afterward with a foot file just to make sure no residue or dead skin is left behind.
Promising review: "I have the driest heels and this is the ONLY product that has ever worked. Before I used this my heels had some pretty deep cracks and now they're almost baby soft again. BUT please follow the directions...left it on my super-dry thick-callused heels for only three minutes and the callouses were literally melting off! Wonderful product! So glad I don't have to go soak my feet in those tubs at the nail salon anymore." —Kiki
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
3. Or, this internet-famous foot peel mask because what could be more fun than watching your feet slough off dead skin for a week, especially when the final result is soft skin that feels like a baby's butt?
Promising review: "My poor feet have been extremely neglected ever since I was pregnant two years ago. This was the first time I really ever had very rough, hard heels and 'old' looking feet; they were so bad that I didn't even want to have a pedicure or wear sandals. Anyway, these foot peels were super easy to use and boy are they effective. It was the fourth day that my feet began to peel — very strange! Totally painless. The new skin coming through was very soft, like new. I would totally recommend. My sister and mother have requested their boxes." —Ally CHR
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $15.95.
4. A carpet stain remover for lifting those scary stains that make you question if it's time to bring in the professionals. With this around you can get the job done yourself. And the best part? No rinsing or vacuuming required!
Promising review: "This stuff is amazing! And it's a good deal too! It works on your carpet, but also works on stains on other stuff like furniture, and linens. It's really a great product and does exactly what it says it will! Will buy again and again." —Andrea Hudson
Get it from Amazon for $6.65.
5. This Korean exfoliating mitt if you spend every shower examining your skin and wondering "How do I get rid of these bumps?" The answer: these gloves, which will slough away dead skin right before your eyes.
Promising review: "Right out of the box I could tell these mitts were going to be exactly what I needed. Excellent quality and easy to use! I’ve tried them twice already and my skin is now incredibly smooth! After I scrubbed my arm, I looked at the mitt and saw it was covered with dead skin cells. I’ll be buying more of these as gifts for girlfriends (in a fun spa gift basket)!" —Danielle
Get it from Amazon for $5.99.
6. A powerful mold and mildew stain cleaner that'll lift the most terrifying grout and caulking stains without the back-breaking scrubbing. Just apply the concentrated gel formula, wait six to eight hours, and watch your stains (and your worries) wash down the drain.
Promising review: "We moved into a new apartment and the mold was out of control and it was disgusting. We tried so many products to get it out until we found this one and decided to try it as we didn’t have anything to lose. I’m so happy we bought this! This is basically concentrated Clorox as a gel so it’s so much easier to apply than the liquid and it kind of stays in place. You just have to apply it, wait a few hours, and remove it (no scrubbing required). Just make sure your shower is dry when you apply it and you’ll be good to go. Definitely worth buying if you have the same problem and nothing has worked." —Chris
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
7. A fast-acting fruit fly trapper because you're one more fly sighting away from throwing out all your produce. Just place one of these ready-to-use traps near your trash, sink, or other fruit fly breeding grounds and enjoy 45 days of pest protection.
Just place the traps where you've spotted fruit flies before and empty half of the lure bottle into the trap.
Promising review: "Our home was infested with fruit flies. As a household of minimal fresh produce and a mostly nitrate-rich menu, we were confused and horrified when these tiny, evil bastards took over our house. These apple traps are LEGIT. Within an hour or less they had captured a good amount of flies. I just bought more." —MotherofChaos
Get four traps from Amazon for $13.35.
8. A box of waterproof medicated pads you apply like bandages to finally force out the wart living rent-free under your skin.
Promising review: "I had a stubborn wart on my right thumb that has been there for almost a year. Went to the doctor the first time to freeze it, but it didn't completely remove the wart so I decided to try the gel. The gel helped but not for too long and the wart came back (in a couple of days). Long story short, I got these medicated Band-Aids and the results are incredibly satisfying. Used these Band-Aids every day for a week and the next week, my wart is gone. So far, it's been a week after and I haven't noticed any growth. Highly recommend!" —J
Get a pack of 14 from Amazon for $7.29.
9. A pack of stain-lifting pads so you can take care of stains from spilled costume party cocktails and pet accidents on your carpet without even having to touch it. Simply lay down the pad, stomp, and let it sit.
Promising review: "WOW! Honestly, I was a little skeptical of the promise of these pads, but I bought them just to try out. THEY WORKED AMAZINGLY WELL! Seriously. I have some stains that are 1.5–2 years old. I've tried everything to get them out. I put these pads on the stains (two to cover the spot), let sit for about an hour, pulled them up, and the stain was gone. I truly couldn't believe it. The pad was yellow. Somehow the old urine was soaked up into the pad. My carpet looks like new. I couldn't recommend these any higher for what I wanted and what I got. Wish I could give this more than 5 stars." —Matt
Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $27.49.
10. Or a citrus-scented pet odor eliminator if you're going to war against lingering stinks that just won't go away. This pet-safe formula was designed for use in boarding kennels and feedlots, so you can rest assured that the one corner your cat likes to pee in won't be too big of a job.
Promising review: "I used this on our carpet. My daughter's cat started peeing in the corner. I paid a lot of money to have a company come out and use an enzyme cleaner on just the corner. It did not take the order away!! I used this cleaner, and IT WORKED!! I can’t believe it, but the cat pee smell is completely gone! I even got down on my hands and knees to smell the carpet…this stuff is amazing!!!!" —Lori
Get it from Amazon for $19.97.
11. An anti-dandruff shampoo for reducing scalp flaking and itching thanks to a little clinically proven ingredient called ketoconazole, which kills the fungus that causes dandruff. Now you and your favorite black turtleneck can reunite without fear!
Promising review: "This stuff is absolutely amazing. I was one step away from going to the dermatologist. I had severe dandruff that was so bad, I could shake my head and it would come off. With just a few uses per week, I got rid of all my flakes. My scalp also stopped burning from dryness. My hair has never been healthier." —Moo Moo
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
12. A beloved tub of pink cleaning paste that'll preform small cleaning miracles on virtually any surface in your home without endless, abrasive scrubbing that can actually end up causing damage to the surfaces underneath.
Promising review: "Found this product on TikTok. I don’t think I’ve ever seen value like I do with this product! Literally use it on EVERYTHING!! Kids and teens have dirt, grime, and grease on their walls? This will make it look like a new paint job. Baseboards need some love? A pea-size amount of this makes them look brand new. Need a shoe cleaner? PERFECT for sneakers. I could name a million more uses, but I can ASSURE you this is worth every penny. What’s more? You need such LITTLE of this product, it will last a VERY long time. Thank you, TikTok!!!" —Rachel in CLT
Get it from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in three sizes).
13. A flexible drain snake if you'd like some help extracting the wet woolly mammoth living in your pipes with its "micro-hook" head and rotating handle that allows for 360-degree removal. Just keep a barf bag nearby — you might need it.
This pack contains a reusable handle and five single-use heads that you just remove and dispose of after handling your clogged pipes.
Promising review: "Wow. Best thing ever. Seriously. I have had tweezers and sticks and plumbers and chemicals trying to get my master sink to drain. Plumber even said I need an entirely new faucet to get the drain plug part because they don't sell those separately. Well, I have two sinks, a tub, and shower that all match so that was not a valid solution. Doubt I can find the same model. So I bought this thing. Stuffed it down, pulled up hair, and black muck. Did it about eight times quickly, ran the water, went right down the drain. Seriously. This is the best tool ever and the best $12 I have ever spent. Everyone with a sink needs this tool. Seriously." —juliejules
Get a five-pack from Amazon for $19.99.
14. A bottle of stain remover spray to revive fabrics you thought were a lost cause with plant-based ingredients that are safe to use on everything from clothing and car seats to bed linens and cloth diapers.
Promising review: "My favorite off-white hoodie had a huge tomato sauce stain that I had already tried to wash out. I used Tide to Go on it. The stain turned brown, but was still there. I was going to throw it away but thought I’d try this stuff. I soaked the stain with it overnight and ran it through the washing machine. No sign of the stain!!! Amazing stuff!" —Scott Broadbent
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
15. A scrub-free mold and mildew stain remover so you can take care of the toughest cleaning challenges in no time at all. Just spray the ready-made formula and watch stubborn stains and odors ~disappear~ right before your eyes.
Promising review: "The caulking between our shower tile and tub was poorly installed and has always been a pain to clean. This product brought my grueling 45-minute process down to about 25 seconds. I NEVER leave reviews but I will happily put my name behind this product!!" —Kelsi
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in three sizes).
16. An easy-to-use ear washer bottle for anyone who suffers from ear wax build-up, blockages, and impaction and wants to skip a pricy doctors trip to flush it out.
Doctor Easy started 20 years ago with the invention of the Elephant Ear Washer by a doctor who saw the need for a better method of treating patients’ earwax impactions.
Promising review: "Gross photos. My husband has had a lot of earwax impaction problems in his life and up until this point we have paid to have a professional take care of it. But recently, he suddenly lost about 80% of his hearing and just couldn't wait for an appointment so we bought this item. From the reviews I have read it was a particularly easy solution for my husband. Nasty huge chunks start falling out after just a couple of squirts. Cleared everything out no problem. Highly recommend." —Tea
Get it from Amazon for $31.95.
17. A lemon-scented cleaning gel if spending hours wiping out keyboards, air conditioning vents, and speakers is not your idea of a good time. Just plop this gooey godsend on whatever needs cleaning and watch as it oh so satisfyingly lifts dirt and dust in a snap.
Promising review: "I purchased this product to clean those little spaces in my car filled with random crumbs from my husband and dog hair and it works amazing. Picked up everything and didn’t leave a residue. The lemon scent was faint and didn’t overpower the vehicle while I was cleaning it. But this definitely got in all the little nooks and crannies." —Kimberly
Get it from Amazon for $7.39.
18. A ridiculously charming exfoliating stick that acts as a gentle skin scrub to draw out excess sebum, whiteheads, and blackheads from your pores. And after you're done ogling all the gunk your octopus friend evicted from your face, just give it a rinse and reuse later.
Promising review: "I've had blackheads all around my lips for years, and nothing seemed to work. I tried exfoliating, lip masks, steaming, and using a blackhead vacuum, pore strips, face masks — you name it, I tried it. I was about to give up until I saw this cute little guy and the great reviews. After two weeks of using it every other day, the pores around my mouth are 90% clear! It's wild how much this helps! I will continue this regimen until every last blackhead is vanquished. Thanks Tako!!" —Annika Traner
Get it from Amazon for $12.50.
19. A pack of dishwasher-cleaning tablets because (to my shock and horror) you have to clean the thing that cleans your dishes, and these tablets make doing so as quick and easy as...well...running the dishwasher.
Promising review: "This stuff is amazing! I used it in my dishwasher. Had standing water on the bottom, dropped one tablet in the water. Put it on light wash cycle and at the end of the cycle, the water was gone! It thoroughly cleans and I have not had any other problems. I now use it regularly. I recommend this highly to keep your dishwasher clean and eliminate clogs from buildup. It was recommended to me by my super and after my positive experience I am happy to cosign his recommendation." —cheapchicshopper
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $8.98.
20. A cruelty-free pet ear cleanser to gently (but effectively) flush out built-up dirt to keep your furry friend's ears happy and healthy.
Promising review: "My husband and I just adopted our cute puppy, Winston, from the Humane Society. When we adopted him, his ears were unfortunately pretty dirty, but after we used this ear cleaner today, his ears are so clean!! I'm so amazed at everything it managed to get out. Our puppy's ears look so much better now! I would highly recommend this product to anyone with a dog." —Jerome F
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
21. A box of Mighty Patch pimple patches containing hydrocolloid so you can stop that zit dead in its tracks with gunk-absorbing powers that speed up the pimple healing process. The sticker format can also help prevent you from any habitual picking or popping.
Promising review: "I am an older millennial who suffers from adult acne because I can’t stop touching my face throughout the day. I’m usually sitting with my hand on my chin or cheek, so I break out. I also never leave my pimples alone to heal. These little things are amazing. I will put one of them on a pimple overnight, and in the morning, the pimple is completely flat. It heals so fast. These have become a staple in my life. I highly recommend them." —Stella
And check out BuzzFeed Shopping editor Amanda Davis's full Mighty Patch review for more info!
Get a pack of 36 from Amazon for $11.97.
22. A double-sided hairbrush cleaning brush if you're lowkey disgusted by hair the minute it's no longer on your head. This handy tool will do a better cleaning job than your fingers ever could, with a pointed end for picking out tangles and stiff bristles to remove all that built-up hair, dust, and fluff.
Promising review: "This is the tool I never knew I needed. It may seem like a silly thing to spend money on when you can clean your brush out by hand but this gets so much more out of the brush! It's easy and rather enjoyable. Who wants to brush their nice clean hair with a brush full of dirty oily hair and dust. When you really think about it makes you want to throw out all your old brushes. I will be buying these as gifts for all my girlfriends." —emmaline
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
23. A Dawn Powerwash spray bundle to help you work through all the dishes you dirtied baking your famous apple pie by eliminating the time-consuming dish pre-soak. Just spray, wait a few minutes while it works its magic, and wipe the stains away. It also works great for any other greasy messes you have around the house!
This bundle includes one spray bottle and three refills.
Promising review: “The first place I tried this was in my air fryer basket. It gets caked with the grease that comes from the food. The dishwasher doesn't get it clean. I sprayed this on it and within a few minutes, the soap started turning a brownish color. I sprayed a little more and let it sit for an hour. All of the grease came off with a rinse!! Bonus use: I just used it to get resin off of mine and my daughter's hands!! How did I ever live without this??" —A D
Get it from Amazon for $17.50.
24. A 2-in-1 cradle cap comb with a combination of fine-tooth and silicone bristles that'll gently remove flaky scalp buildup and get your baby some relief from any dryness and itchiness.
If you notice signs of cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis) on your baby's scalp, definitely check in with their pediatrician first before trying any treatments like the comb above.
Promising review: "It makes removal so much easier and gives more consistent removal than my previous method of washcloths or just scratching the cradle cap off with my fingernails. It’s amazing, gross, and wonderful. My babe doesn’t even flinch when I spend 10 minutes clearing his scalp of all the goo. It seems to be soothing to him. I just apply baby shampoo, then brush a little with the blue brush. Then I slowly start to comb in sections all in one direction. Then I go back and forth in multiple directions. It’s shocking the amount of dead skin that comes off. I’ve even used it successfully in his eyebrows (he gets some cradle cap there, too). This is a KEEPER!" —ZMomUtah
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
25. A pack of AirPod-cleaning putty so you can finally excavate all the gross gunk living in your earbuds and get back to clearly hearing every 👏 last 👏 detail 👏 of your fave true crime podcast.
Promising review: "I never usually write reviews but this is an exception. I've had my AirPods for over a year and when the sound quality was diminishing, I was afraid they had a short life expectancy and I would need to get a new pair! Even after using cotton buds to clean the AirPods out, I thought that was enough until my friend said there's stuff built up that's hard to see, but there was nothing able to get it out! Enter this product — it literally took five minutes to clean each earbud effectively, and instantly the sound quality was as good as new! Loud, clear, less trouble connecting to my phone, etc. I really suggest giving this product a try. SO happy I found a solution!" —Amazon Customer
Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $12.99.
26. A septic-safe rust stain remover for dissolving seemingly impossible stains brought about by hard water with high iron levels. The gel formula clings to stains, working its magic with no time-consuming scrubbing involved.
Promising review: "Can I borrow a thumb, I only have two? OK, so we have a lot of iron and stuff that stains our shower, toilet, and sinks in our well water. I have scrubbed with every different kind of cleaner I could think of. I even scrubbed with a drill brush. So I saw this stuff on Amazon and read the reviews, all good and positive reviews, so I bought it. I sprayed it in the shower and turned around to grab a scrub brush, when I turned back around to scrub it was gone, CLEAN and WHITE tiles like it was new. I wish I could buy it by the 55-gallon drum." —Rod
Get it from Amazon for $6.98.
27. An investment-worthy mattress vacuum if you can't sleep soundly until you know your bed is truly clean. This will suck up dust and dirt from your mattress, eliminate bacteria with a powerful UV light, and has a hot air outlet to rid your bed of dust mites.
Promising review: "So, I bought this originally for my son, who gets really bad allergies to dust. At first we didn't know what was causing this until someone told me to check our beds and furniture. Even though we change our bedsheets regularly, there will be dust left over. So I decided to give this a try, and they were right! I couldn't believe how many mites and how much dust there was. I took my time cleaning everyone's bed and our sofa, and it was easy to use and light. My son hasn't had a reaction in a while, which means this product works for my family!" —Lisa
Get it from Amazon for $109.99.
28. A dryer vent cleaning kit that attaches to your vacuum to suck lint and other debris (aka major fire hazards) from the narrowest of crevices.
The entire set comes with a plastic hose, an adapter, and a vacuum hose for use with most any vacuum. Plus, a flexible lint brush!
Promising review: "I love this dryer lint extension for the vacuum. I wanted to try a cheaper option first before I spent way more money having someone clean the lint trap deep down. So much lint came out of my dryer, it was wild. I'm very good at cleaning it after using the dryer, but inevitably there's always more that we can't see or reach because it's too deep. It's a great way to keep it clear of lint to increase the efficiency of the dryer, which will save money from electricity and extend the life of the dryer, and prevent possible fires." —Cat L.
Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in three colors).
29. A tea tree oil foot soak made with a mix of Epsom salt and essential oils because we like a product that can multitask. This soothing soak may help not only bust fungus-causing bacteria (w/o harsh chemicals) but also rejuvenate and hydrate tired feet for an overall healthier look and feel.
Learn more about using tea tree oil as a treatment for nail fungus and other topical conditions at Mayo Clinic.
Promising review: "I wear boots every day to work for a total of 16 hours a day. I used a pretty standard foot spray and changed out the insoles of my boots on a regular basis. However, after using this foot soak after just a few times, I've noticed a drastic change in my feet in a great way. The cracks are starting to heal. The funk is going away. My feet feel lighter and softer, and are beginning to be a pleasure to stand on again during those long hours at work. Now that I've gone there, I will never go back. For any hardworking man, I cannot recommend this foot soak enough at least twice a week. Trust me, your feet will never be the same again. There are multiple days during the week where I look forward to soaking my feet in this. I can't recommend it enough!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $15.21.
30. A slim cleaning brush to go where no sponge or rag has gone before. Its ultra-thin design can fit into hard-to-reach window and door tracks, and the handle doubles as a scraper for stuck-on debris.
Promising review: "This is an amazing set of brushes. Don't be fooled by the low cost. The brushes are soft and long enough to get into tight spots but firm enough to hold up. They work amazing in those hard-to-clean aluminum window runners and sliding doors. I've used them to clean enclosed fan blades, refrigerator vents, etc. They wash easily and with a bit of TLC they hold their shape. Always nice to find something so simple and inexpensive that works so well." —CNJ
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $5.95.
31. A pack of bottle-cleaning tablets so your metal tumblers and impossible-to-clean water bottles can sparkle and shine for the first time in forever with just 15 minutes of wait time.
32. An easy-to-use denture cleaner tablet you simply plop in warm water with your dentures, mouth guard, retainer, or aligners for a stain-fighting, odor-busting clean that's worth smiling about.
Promising review: "I have a TMJ mouth guard that is about 12 years old, and nothing else I've tried had managed to clean it like this stuff. It didn't take everything off the first time, but it makes a HUGE difference. Very satisfied." —Sara Elizabeth Eaton
Get 120 tablets from Amazon for $21.21.
33. A snout soother stick if the weather (or your dog's incessant licking) has resulted in a dry, cracked snoot in need of some TLC. This award-winning balm is packed with nourishing plant-based ingredients to help get their sniffer back in tip-top shape ASAP.
This snout soother is organic, vegan, and made with all-natural ingredients!
Promising review: "Well, I have never before been so shocked at the effectiveness of a product. Our 5-year-old Frenchie, Carol, had a nose that was so crusty, it was sprouting these long strands of more crust. There was literally crust on crust on crust. The nose had strings of crust. This nose was so crusty and repulsive, it was almost beautiful. Her nose might have resembled the rarest, most exotic geode to be mined from the rarest mine in Guatemala. A friend recommended this snout soother for Carol's repulsive nose. I was worried she would just lick it all off and it wouldn't work. We never imagined she could have a regular, soft, moist nose again. Honestly, this product is some black magic stuff! Unbelievable results in three to five days. No one paid me to write this." —Brittany
Get it from Amazon for $5.95.
34. A stainless-steel tongue scraper that'll prove to be a small-but-mighty investment when you see all the weird tongue goo living in your mouth causing bad breath and bacteria buildup.
Promising review: "I was a little unsure what to expect. I had never used something like this before, but my girlfriend says my breath stinks and she deserves better than that. I brush and floss, but there is still that 'thing'...that stank under the normal mouth breath. Using this has removed that. Not really sure how it works or why that layer of spit and stuff on your tongue has to smell so bad, but this removes it well and also feels kinda nice. Thank you!" —nick
Get two from Amazon for $9.99.
35. A jetted bathtub cleaner because have you ever thought about the gross grime hiding in your Jacuzzi jets? Now that you've been cursed with that thought, you're probably going to want to give your tub a rinse. Just fill it with water, pour the cleaner in, run your jets, and let the "yuck" seep out.
Oh Yuk is a family-owned company based in Minnesota that's been making home cleaning products since 2011.
Promising review: "This stuff is seriously amazing! I am relentless about cleaning my tub because I use it so often and always get grossed out if I don’t. Before I purchased this, I used the typical homemade recipe of bleach and powdered dishwashing soap. I’d have to run two or three cycles to get it crystal clear. One cycle with this stuff, 15 minutes, and the results are amazing! The first photo (above) is with my tub running with the solution. Then I drained it (second photo) and wiped it down with a sponge. When I refilled the tub up, and reran the jets, I kid you not the water was CRYSTAL CLEAR! See for yourself in the last photo! I’m so impressed!" —Chelsea
Get it from Amazon for $17.84+ (available in two sizes).
36. A length-adjustable pet hair broom with rubber bristles for wrangling the fur trapped in your carpet. If that's not enough to have you reaching for this broom constantly, there's also a built-in squeegee for corralling spilled liquids and cleaning glass.
Check out my coworker's FURemover Evrilholder broom review for more deets and some very satisfying hair-removal photos!
Promising review: "I love this damn thing. I use the squeegee side daily on a sealed concrete floor to pick up dog hair. Works like a champ, and even does a great job on edges. So easy, the hubby voluntarily sweeps with it every day, sometimes twice. I also got him an EyeVac to instantly suck all the hair and dirt up without him having to go hunt a dustpan and chase the dustpan debris line across the floor." —PA Lady
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
37. A disposable Clorox toilet cleaning kit that packs a ton of cleaning power into disposable sponge heads so you can wash away germs and then forget that *crap* ever happened.
This kit includes a wand, storage caddy, and six refill sponges with the cleaning liquid built-in.
Promising review: "Throw away your nasty toilet brush because THIS THING IS AWESOME! Tons of cleaner on the little pads; I could have cleaned eight toilets with one pad. Love that you can click and toss the used pad. Genius!" —Hannah G.
Get it from Amazon for $11.98.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.