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    31 Affordable Things That Basically Pay For Themselves After The First Use

    AKA making small investments into your cleaning and beauty routines can give you a high return in the future.

    1. A jewelry cleaning stick to transform your tarnished accessories and make them sparkle once again all before your very eyes — and without the hefty cleaning fee.

    A reviewer showing a foggy, dull green ring at first, then the ring looking clear and brighter after

    2. An eco-friendly oven scrub created so you can actually watch your mains and sides come to life. Because eyes are the window to the soul, and oven doors are the window to your bubbling mac 'n' cheese...that you can *finally* see thanks to a blend of plant- and mineral-derived cleaning agents that cut through burned-on goop.

    3. The one and only Fanola purple shampoo to tone and neutralize yellow hues safely with purple pigment. The result? Icy blonde tresses that a) didn't cost you $100+ for a salon treatment and b) look like they belong on a hairspo Pinterest board.

    4. A pack of twisty cable savers invented to extend the life of the wires that juice up your most-used devices. No peeling, breaking, or splitting here!

    A computer and phone charger showing the twisty cable savers around the wire

    5. Charcoal shoe deodorizers so you don't have to break up with your favorite, albeit stinky, kicks. Instead, plonk one of these in there to eliminate the funk that wafts with your every step.

    The gray charcoal packets inside several pairs of shoes

    6. The TikTok-famous cleaning putty, which will effectively collect dirt, debris, and dust that lurks in your keyboard. This stuff will save your devices from the grave *and* take your car cleaning skills to an entirely new and exciting level.

    7. LABeautyologist no-drip cleansing cuffs that you'll look at and think how on earth did I ever live without you?! Their ability to protect clothes and arms from getting all sudsy and soaked during your 10-step routine is enough to leave you short of breath.

    GIF of model washing their face, one hand with cleansing cuff on and text
    model wearing the grey cuffs
    @labeautyologist / Via www.instagram.com, LABeautyologist

    There are a number of things that bug me in this world, but one thing that consistently grinds my gears is the feeling of soaking wet, sopping sleeves after I've cleansed my face. No matter how high I roll them up, water just finds a way to trickle down towards my sleeves. I've even resorted to just wearing T-shirts to avoid the problem, but then my arms are still soaked and I still end up leaving a puddle of water behind in the bathroom. Enter: these cozy-soft cuffs. They're truly adorable, absorb allll the water, dry quickly, *and* they're machine washable! To me, they're a must-have and worth every single penny to avoid a small but totally annoying problem.

    LABeautyologist is a small biz owned by beauty guru Nayamka Roberts-Smith. She's known for creating the 60-second-rule: cleansing with fingers for a minute to allow your cleanser's ingredients to get to work on your complexion.

    Get a set of two from LABeautyologist for $27 (available in four colors).

    8. A compact cold brew maker awarded 5 stars by over 44,000 reviewers since it makes amazing tasting coffee *and* prevents you from shelling out $6 a day on an iced cup of joe.

    9. Howard Products wood polisher to wipe away years of water rings, scratches, and scuffs from surfaces you thought were beyond repair. This stuff tackles tough stains and acts as a conditioner to reveal a brighter grain and texture on your beloved furniture and floors.

    Reviewer image of stained wood without use of polish and clean wood with use of polish

    10. A MakeUp Eraser cloth that's reusable, machine washable, and puts an end to the use of wasteful wipes. And! It couldn't be simpler to swipe off foundation and lippie — all you need is this magic wipe and *water*.

    BuzzFeed employee showing how well the towel removes a full face of makeup

    11. A disgustingly satisfying set of Sticky Stake insect traps to make pesky gnats, thrips, and fruit flies think twice about coming anywhere near your precious plant babies.

    12. A set of Wad-Free pads invented to make sheet-washing day less costly. If you've ever pulled out a tangled mess of bedcovers clumped together with other (sopping) items, you're going to want to listen up: These time-savers clip onto the ends of sheets to ensure everything *stays separate* so you don't have to do multiple drying cycles.

    the wad free pads attached to a bed sheet

    13. A Bluapple freshness saver dubbed as the miracle for keeping produce as fresh as the day you bought it. This snazzy technology absorbs the ethylene gas produced by fruits and veggies, which slows down the ripening process. Thus, less food *and* cash waste!

    14. Some collapsible silicone straws because might we be right in thinking that you prefer your straws to be sustainable, sturdy, and not of the disintegrates-in-your-iced-coffee variety?

    The colorful straws being used in smoothies, milk, and iced tea

    15. A pup-approved ScratchPad worth the investment to save on ongoing trips to the groomers *and* the unpleasant task of chasing your pooch around with clippers. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's what they call a win-win!

    16. A waterproof phone pouch ideal for anyone who lives by the mantra "pics, or it didn't happen." This'll provide you with some built-in reassurance the next time you need to take that Instaworthy shot while hiking through a creek, splashing around a waterpark, or snorkeling with turtles.

    17. A lil' makeup Spatty if you're someone like me who absolutely insists on getting every single last drop of product from the bottle, but can't quite reach in there to do so. This is a lot more cost and time effective than having to run out to Sephora to splurge on a new foundation.

    18. Reusable duster pads made of fluffy, washable fleece fabric to collect dust bunnies and other allergy-causing particles. So long, wasteful, disposable dusties, these bbs do a *much* faster job — faster than you could sneeze and exclaim "bless you!" to thin air, in fact...

    the colorful dusters

    19. A blister balm stick for when you realize you forgot to break in those boots before a hike. Rub some of this on and keep it on hand so you can climb to the tippy top of that hill with confidence *and* comfort all day long.

    A model using the deodorant-like balm to apply to their feet

    20. Silicone baking liners made without the need to grease the pan or spritz any cooking oil. And? Since these are nonstick, you don't have to spend time nibbling every little last bit of muffin from the wrapper...and eventually end up with bits of wax paper in your mouth...(anyone else? No? Just me? OK, I'll see myself out).

    A reviewer showing muffins removed from the silicone cups

    21. A cleansing Ecotools makeup brush cleaner for when you forget what color your applicator's bristles are supposed to be (hint: they're not orange!).

    A reviewer showing makeup brushes with powder and blush on it at first, then the brushes looking cleaner after

    22. A Kitsch satin pillowcase to get a handle on humidity-induced frizz as you catch your beauty rest — this'll keep your precious tresses tangle-free for a lot less than a salon treatment.

    A model putting their head on a pillow with the leopard print satin pillowcase over it

    23. A suction shower hook — aka the little gizmo that'll halt the need to buy so many replacement razor heads. Just plop this up to keep your shaver off of tub surfaces and free from premature rusting.

    Round suction cup hooks stuck to a wall and holding up a razor and loofah

    24. A water flosser because if you hate flossing — or just avoid it altogether — this tool actually makes it kinda fun. You'll be amazed at just how much plaque gets dislodged from your teeth after one quick blast of water (not to mention the $$$ you'll save on dentist bills down the line).

    Water flosser in hand. The flosser has a handle with a narrow tip and a wire connecting it to a water reservoir

    25. Blue light-blocking glasses reviewers mention prevent headaches and eye strain from looking at screens — as well as the need to continuously spend your paycheck on eyedrops and headache meds.

    26. Aztec Secret Healing Clay Mask to show surprise breakouts and cystic acne who's boss. This cult-fave treatment definitely gets you bang for your buck (see uses below), so your skin and mind can rest easy knowing that this ~sucker~ cleared your pores without making a severe dent in your savings.

    Reviewer before with redness and acne scarring
    same reviewer with no redness or acne scarring

    This 100% natural calcium bentonite clay is ideal for facials, body wraps, clay baths, foot soaks, hair masks, and even insect bites!

    Promising review: "I bought this as a last hope for cystic acne. I bought a brand of raw apple cider vinegar with the mother to mix with the clay powder because I heard that worked best for people experiencing skin problems. My skin has been a rollercoaster for the past five years. But recently, things have gotten really out of control. This mask had been such a lifesaver. I'm not sure words can describe how impressed I am with this healing clay mask. Since my skin has been through hell and I've literally tried everything, it's pretty resilient so I've been using this mask every night for the last four days. It's not nearly as drying as I thought it would be so that hasn't been an issue. But the mask has dried up everything and I have no new breakouts. I was so happy that I cried. If I could give this product a million stars, I would!" —Afton StAmour

    Get it from Amazon for $14.95+ (available in two sizes).

    And check out our full review of the Aztec Secret clay mask.

    27. A silicone toe cap designed to shield ingrown toenails, corns, and blisters as they heal. Coughing up a little cash now is probably the most sensible way to avoid any major problems in the future.

    A reviewer showing the nude toe cap over their big toe

    28. A shoe-cleaning kit to maintain that fresh-outta-the-box feel for all your sneakers. This'll fully remove dirt, scuffs, and stains, so you can resist the urge to spend another $100+ on a new pair.

    Reviewer's before-and-after of dirty black sneaker with ruined white soles and then totally clean sneakers with perfectly white soles

    29. A pair of aerating wineglasses so clever, they'll make that cheap bottle of red actually taste like it's fresh from the vineyard.

    Aerating wine glass cup with a mini cup with holes inside

    30. Clean Ball, the nifty invention your grubby handbag needs. This honeycomb-shaped ball features a sticky inner sphere that captures crumbs, debris, and hair. Plus! It's totally reusable — all you have to do is run it under water after each use.

    a pink sequin bag open to show the pink ball
    Amazon

    Promising review: "These are THE BEST. they collect so much dirt and dust from my tote bag and keep everything clean. Super small and easy to clean as well!!" –SueMagoo29

    Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in three colors).

    31. faucet splash catcher that fits around the base of your sink's faucet and absorbs all of the splashes and leaks that spout out. No more going through hundreds of paper towels after a lengthy dishwashing session!

    Closeup of sink drip guards in red, blue, tan, navy blue, black, and gray
    blue drip catcher placed around faucet
    Hustle Sew Shop/Etsy

    Hustle Sew Shop is a small business based in Saint Helens, Oregon that hand-makes goods like face masks, scrunchies, and home products. This faucet splash catcher is machine washable, which is one of the many reasons it's so popular. 

    Promising review: "LOVE these splash catchers! They save me from having to chase the puddles that form around the base of our faucet before they start creeping over the counter. So reasonably priced, made well with neatly finished edges, and packaged with gift-ready care." —Alina

    Get it from Hustle Sew Shop on Etsy for $13.50+ (available in four sizes and six colors).

    The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.