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    26 Home Improvement Products With A+ Before And After Pictures

    Cleaning, organization, and quick licks of paint that'll totally transform your home.

    1. A peel-and-stick subway-style tile backsplash so you can ~bathe~ your space in a new look. They're probably the easiest way to modernize a bathroom or kitchen — and what's even more fabulous about these farmhouse-inspired tiles? You won't run into grout issues *and* they're a dream to clean — just swipe off messes with a damp sponge.

    reviewers bathroom before
    same reviewer's bathroom after with the white subway tiles

    Promising review: "I’ve been wanting to try peel-and-stick tiles for a long time and I’m so glad I found these for our kitchen facelift! They are so easy to apply and look amazing! I love that they are actual-size subway tiles as well! They’ve given our kitchen the last very important piece that it needed!" —April Grill

    Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in 15 colors).

    2. A Nuvo cabinet paint kit that'll give your kitchen a rich, Picasso-style upgrade without the need to strip, prime, or remove your boring-looking drawers. Just be warned: This kit might increase your urge to say, "Ta-daaa!" every time a new guest enters your kitchen.

    reviewer image of their unfinished light brown cabinets before
    and after with dark brown cabinets

    The kit comes with two cans of cabinet paint, a roller arm, two roller covers, and an angled paint brush.

    Promising review: "I rent and had various types of cabinets in my kitchen. I bought this as a way to try to give more of a matching look without spending much. Cabinets were wood, laminate and I even used on a pressed wood pantry. Sanding and patience is key. I sanded everything based off recommendations online for each type of cabinet. Definitely did not complete over one weekend, but I wanted to make sure everything was sanded, cleaned and dried well before applications. I’ve had my cabinets done for almost three months now and no peeling, bubbling or scratching. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a cheaper option to upgrade your cabinets." —Ckish

    Get it from Amazon for $79.95 (available in five colors).

    3. A mold and mildew removal gel to banish gunk in your grout and dark spots along silicone caulk. Your bathroom surfaces will shine once again after one overnight application of this. And before you say anything — nope, no scrubbing necessary. I know, right?!

    mold in the corner of a shower floor and wall
    the same shower wall with the mold cleaned away

    Former BuzzFeed Shopping editor Kayla Suazo uses this and raves: "This mildew remover can destroy any stain in its path. When I moved into my apartment, it looked like there hadn't been repairs since the '60s, and that included re-caulking the bathtub. I tried bleach and every type of shower cleaner at the store, but nothing removed the mold and mildew stains that had been there for like, 40 years. UNTIL I BOUGHT THIS INCREDIBLE MAGIC GEL. I am one happy customer."

    Promising review: "I have scrubbed this caulk hundreds of times trying to clean it; it always stayed so gross. I decided to try this stuff and I am so glad I did!!! 10/10. I highly recommend you get this if you have any gross caulk. Follow the directions and it works like a charm. Some spots were a little wet, so I am going to redo a couple of spots, but I couldn't be happier!" —Reviewer

    Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

    4. lawn repair formula invented to restore patches that have been subjected to your resident digger, your pup. This'll magically regrow your green, green grass so you can have a lush backyard once again.

    This formula features a protectant to prevent future damage *and* a salt neutralizer that repairs areas that have been scorched by pet urine.

    Promising review: "I have lacrosse players and dogs, and this stuff is amazing. My yard looked like an abandoned lot before this, and it literally 'grew anywhere' just like it said. The bag I planted last year actually came back strong this year, so I put more down, and it is working like a dream!" —chchmom

    Get it from Amazon for $16.44+ (available in five sizes and four pack sizes).

    5. A grout pen if your tiles have become so unsightly you've forgotten what color the lines that separate them are. (Spoiler: They're white!) You'll feel instantly gratified with how well this brightens up floors in your bathroom, backsplashes in the kitchen, or literally wherever tiles live in your home.

    Promising review: "I just bought my first house, and because of COVID I have not had the funds I wanted to fix it up. This was cheap, and the backsplash in my new kitchen was an eyesore. I wasn't expecting much because of the price, and I am absolutely stunned. My kitchen looks so much better! It was easy to use, no odor, and quick! I did two coats because the color was dark brown. Some places I did more, but I didn't mind doing it because it was actually really satisfying. Definitely recommend this product!" —Kim

    Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (also available with a wide tip).

    6. A create-your-own countertop kit to help you finally get those granite surfaces you've have always dreamt of. This wow-worthy hack will transform the look of your kitchen without the need to get contractors in.

    reviewer's tiled countertop before
    and after with a granite look

    Promising review: "I used this product to transform my guest bathroom and it came out amazing....It is so easy to use and the step-by-step instructions are easy to follow....Now I am going to do my kitchen countertops. This product is amazing!!!" —Melissa

    Get it from Amazon for $99.95 (available in five colors).

    7. Affresh dishwasher tablets if you've never thought to deep clean the appliance that does your least favorite chore for you. All you have to do is pop one of these in to dissolve residue buildup, blast away foul odors, and get your machine cleaning dishes like it used to.

    Reviewer before image of dishwasher with residue
    Reviewer after image with no buildup after using tablets

    Promising review: "I’ve been using this product for a while, and I’ve started to rely on it. I first used this out of desperation. My dishwasher was broken from a fried control panel. I eventually replaced the panel. I opened the dishwasher, and it was fairly gross. A little stagnant water gave way to some mold. I found this product and figured I’d give it a shot. I did need to use this two or three times before the dishwasher was cleaned and usable. But I find that a major win considering the shape it was in beforehand. Now I use it every month or two, and I have to say it's easier than cleaning by hand. Definitely worth the price I paid." —Justin

    Get a pack of six tablets from Amazon for $8.99.

    8. A set of chic and snazzy brass drawer pulls to update your blah-looking cabinets and chests of drawers. Their simple style may seem minimalist, but their effect looks premium to the max.

    wooden chest with old fashioned drawer pulls
    after with long thin drawer pulls

    Promising review: "I got these drawer pulls for an old nightstand I was redoing. They are such an excellent upgrade and for a very affordable price! I’m so happy with the finished product — simple to install, sturdy, and a super fresh design!" —Madison B.

    Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $36.99+ (available in 13 sizes and in packs of 1–50).

    9. A stackable cutlery organizer that will *cue hallelujah music* tidy up your once-nightmarish kitchen drawers, and finally arrange silverware so you can open and close said drawers with ease. Goodbye to the days of hodgepodge storage that was jammed with extra knives that your roomie insisted would fit!

    reviewer's disorganized kitchen drawer
    same reviewer showing the organizer with more room in the drawer

    One tray fits up to 24 pieces of cutlery.

    Promising review: "THE BEST silverware storage organizer compartments I’ve EVER had in my entire life! We have a large family and therefore have the need for a lot of silverware. Unfortunately we have a small, shallow, and narrow drawer in our house and it was always full! Constantly disorganized before, and now amazingly organized. The only reason I would hesitate would be if your drawer is not adequately deep, but from reading reviews people said if they had 3.5 inches of depth it would be just fine which is exactly what I have and there’s adequate drawer depth for me. I measured my skinny drawer and realized I still had space for two units and took the plunge and am so glad I did! Silverware goes quickly from the dishwasher straight into the drawer and you don’t have to stack perfectly to put a lot in!!! ADD IT TO YOUR CART NOW, you’ll be glad you did if you have the same problem as we did!" —oceantiff

    Get it from Amazon for $9.59.

    10. A set of gold metal feet to reinvent the look of your current furniture without having to totally replace all of your belongings. Ingenious, easy, and the best way to ~elevate~ and give your TV console or couch a new life.

    reviewer's brown wooden buffet without legs
    Reviewer showing a full shot of their new painted buffet with the gold feet

    Promising review: "We renovated to a more modern-industrial look and wanted to keep our mid-century modern slate-blue-gray sofa. Unfortunately, it has no legs. So to bring it into a more contemporary style, we added these legs. We are thrilled with how it turned out! Really made the couch look new again and the subtle styling blends in well with our new surroundings. The price was amazing. I would get these again in any size." —Lorine Thiele

    Get a set of four from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in four sizes and three colors).

    11. An all-purpose, all-natural scour paste some may call "essential" to clean up mysterious grime and dirt buildup. All you need is a tablespoon of this, a cloth, and presto! That murky film in sinks, showers, and ovens will be yesterday's news.

    a reviewer photo of a cabinet top covered in a layer of grime and dust and text reading
    a reviewer photo of the same cabinet now clean and text reading
    Danielle Healy / BuzzFeed

    Humble Suds is a Denver-based Etsy shop creating plant-based cleaning solutions that are safe, effective, and come in cute packaging (bonus!).

    BuzzFeed Shopping editor Danielle Healy uses this stuff and says: "I recently moved into a new apartment, so lately I've been cleaning A LOT. Shortly after moving in, my partner and I went to store something on the top of the kitchen cabinets, only to find them caked in a thick layer of grime. 🤢 After going at it with regular multipurpose cleaner (with little success), we broke out the scour paste as a last-ditch effort, and OH BOY did this miracle product deliver (pics above). If it can handle that grossness, it's going to have no problem with day-to-day messes like soap scum and burnt-on food. Plus, it smells delightful and comes in minimal, low-waste packaging!"

    Get it from Humble Suds on Etsy for $15.95+ (available in two sizes).

    12. An adjustable hanging rod that'll expand your closet space and help you achieve Instagram-worthy perfection faster than you can say "wardrobe refresh!" The horizontal rod has the ability to go from 18–30 inches wide and it can be maneuvered up and down to assist you with hard to reach items.

    Bar with a couple of hangers below a closet pole
    Reviewer uses same adjustable hanging rod to neatly hang up pants, shirts, and other clothes in their closet

    Reviewers mention that this is a dream for small and big closets, alike!

    Promising review: "I love using this to add extra capacity in my client's closets (I'm a professional organizer). It's easy to put together, looks attractive, and is easily adjustable. I haven't had any complaints about durability, so I assume they are holding up well! Can't beat it for the price." —Amazon Customer

    Get it from Amazon for $17.97 (available in three colors and a two-pack).

    13. A pressure washer to power clean every inch of your outdoor space and make it look brand-spanking new. Layers of muck along your house and driveway have finally met their match with this device that is more satisfying to watch than a five-minute ASMR vid.

    Reviewer's picture of their house with one half still dirty and one half now clean thanks to the pressure washer
    same reviewer showing the cleaning power on their fence

    Promising review: "This is truly the perfect power washer. First, it is very easy to put together, with clear step-by-step instructions. Second, it has a very small footprint, so it fits nicely anywhere in the garage without protruding out. Third, it is very powerful. We used it to power wash all stone and concrete surfaces around our house and pool and then even the sidewalk in front of the house. Many of the stone/concrete surfaces that we cleaned had dark stains and/or green moss, which had developed for many years (some up to 20 years). This Sun Joe was able to clean everything. Fourth, it is very reliable. We have now used it for three weekends in a row. And each time, we used it continuously, nonstop for several hours at a time." —EdS

    Get it from Amazon for $169.99.

    14. A fireplace cleaner kit in case you've forgotten what color your fireplace ~was born with~ — this'll fix soot stains and odors to strip it back to its OG shade.

    A fireplace before using the kit, that looks like gray brick with a huge black stain from the pit to the top of the mantle. Then after the kit, with red brick and no stain
    A fireplace before the kit that is dull, then the same fireplace after, with visible detail on each stone and brighter, different shades of stone

    And by kit, I mean a brush and 16-ounce bottle of nontoxic fireplace cleaning formula.

    Promising Review: "Unbelievable! My daughter just moved into her first home. She thought she would have to paint her brick fireplace because of the heavy soot stains that had been there for years. We applied the product twice and put in a whole lot of elbow grease, but what a difference!! It’s a messy process, but well worth the time and energy." —MM

    Get it from Amazon for $15.29+ (available in two sizes).

    15. A set of ~luxe~ velvet slip covers to update your drab, worn-in sitting area with a living room glow-up that is a lot more affordable than buying a brand-new couch. And it couldn't be easier for a DIY newb, since you just slide these babies over your TV-watching spot and secure them with nonslip straps.

    Reviewer before shot of dull looking couch
    Reviewer after shot of blush-toned velvet covers to brighten up couch

    The four-piece set comes with a base cover and three individual cushion covers. AND these covers are also available in a smaller version for armchairs!

    Promising review: "I have never been so excited about a slip cover. Total transformation of our couch and loveseat. I was worried about it not working on our leather couch, but it stays on really well due to the straps and the separate cushion covers. LOVE." —Brian/Liz

    Get it from Amazon for $42.49+ (available in five sizes and 21 colors).

    16. CovoBox, aka a sneaky and totally genius contraption (made out of actual books!) that makes hiding unsightly routers and cords a piece of cake. This cleverly conceals chaos *and* your personal belongings, like money, jewelry, etc. that you'd rather not have exposed.

    reviewer's photo of their WiFi modem and haphazard wires bundled together
    front-facing image of the stack of fake books covering all of the wires

    And! You can customize this to fit your exact needs by choosing the size and color theme.

    Covogoods was founded by Camille, who wanted to decorate a room with pieces that would add texture and interest to the space, provide additional storage and organization, *and* hide ugly things like electronics and cords. The Utah-based home decor small biz offers hidden storage book boxes and electronics hiders.

    Promising review: "I’m pretty sure I’ve never loved a purchase from Amazon as much as I love this one. This product is EXTREMELY well-made and very unique. Plus it does the job of hiding the ugly routers and cords. And the customer service was great and responsive. I was a little hesitant to spend the money on this but after years of living with the husband’s pile of technology, the money was well spent!" —AmazonEmme

    Get it from Covogoods on Amazon Handmade for $29+ (available in 14 sizes and 15 colors or a custom color).

    17. Or! An attractive faux-wood top electrical cord box designed to seamlessly camouflage itself within your living room as it hides unsightly wires. (Because we know you're sick of seeing the ivy of cables that run from your TV down the sides of the wall.)

    Reviewer image of wires on show in their living room
    The reviewer showing the wires hidden in the box

    Promising review: "I purchased this cable box to hide a bunch of cords for a router, mini cell phone tower, etc. I shopped around a bit because I wanted something that looked nicer than just a plastic box. This was the best solution I found, I like the faux-wood top of it, I actually wish the sides were the same design but again I do like the aesthetic of this box. It fits a ton of cords and wires. This was a fast and satisfying fix to my cord problem. I will be purchasing another one of these boxes for a different area of the house. It was worth the money for me as it looked better than the other cable boxes I could find and it really did solve the problem." —Kindle Customer

    Get a two-pack from Amazon for $32.99 (available in three styles).

    18. A screen-cleaning kit that'll keep your TV and computer screens looking their best instead of riddled with filth and dust. There's no alcohol or ammonia in this either, so you don't have to worry about scratching up surfaces or leaving any streaks. Finally, sports and reality TV look so much clearer!

    This kit includes: a microfiber cleaning cloth plus the cleaning solution!

    Promising review: "I know that at this point it is a bit redundant to write a gushing review (in light of all of the others on here), but I really cannot say enough good things about this stuff! I never thought that I would find a product that would bring my beloved Samsung TVs back to their original luster. I have tried multiple cleaners, but they all left annoying streak marks that really made things worse than better. One day, when the sun was shining particularly brightly on my living room TV, exposing all of the circular streaks and smudges, I decided that I had enough, and was going to try something else. I went on Amazon and almost immediately found this stuff. After reading some of the glowing reviews, I decided that I would try it out, and I am so glad that I did. The sun was shining in on the TV again today, and the stunning clarity of the screen led me back to my laptop to order some extra cloths to use to wipe down the black glass TV stand separately, haha. I figured I would leave a review as well, while I was still basking in the newness of it all. Say it with me: 'NO MORE STREAKS, NO MORE SMEARS, NO MORE SMUDGES, NO MORE TEARS!'" —Sarah

    Get the kit from Amazon for $19.97.

    19. A jetted tub cleaner, which figures out how to clean the *inside* of your tub so you don't have to. Think: soap scum, body wash residue, and other gunk all eradicated from the deep, dark crevices of your jets in just about 15 minutes.

    Reviewer's tub filled with dirty brown water that's been cleaned out of the jets
    Same reviewer's tub with the water removed and a ring of dirt around the edge of the tub
    Same reviewer's tub that's now totally clean

    Promising review: "Thanks for making my life easier! I used this product according to the directions and wowza!! I’m now completely satisfied that I’ve got the yuck out of my lines, and ports are clean. It’s safe to take a bath once again." —Prajana

    Get it from Amazon for $17.84.

    20. A set of shelf bins to transform your chaotic mess of groceries into a fridge worthy of making an appearance on MTV's Cribs. And if you live with forgetful housemates, you'll actually be able to see what you're stocked up on, so they don't end up piling in doubles of the things they already bought last week.

    reviewer's fridge before using the shelves
    same fridge with organized groceries

    The set includes five drawers and one egg holder.

    Promising review: "I’m in love! I don’t know if it's my obsession with being organized but it’s a game changer! No longer trying to reach for stuff in the back of the fridge and knock over a bunch of stuff in the process. I just slide it out, grab what I want, and slide it back!" —Libbey Durkee

    Get a six pack from Amazon for $22.99 (also available in packs of 12).

    21. A top-selling stain- and odor-eliminating spray for stenches that make you say pee-yew. Perfect if you have a pet that's known for leaving mysterious stains in their wake — this stuff lifts away dirt and grime and releases enzymes to break down deep and persistent odors.

    a carpet stain before being treated with a stain eliminator
    carpet without stain after using the stain remover

    Hey! You can also use this on clothes and other surfaces like concrete and hardwood. Just be sure to follow the instructions carefully for non-carpet use.

    Rocco & Roxie is a family-owned small business named after the Magleby family's pets Rocco, a Labradoodle, and Roxie, a former shelter tabby cat. They make a variety of pet supplies, including cleaners, treats, grooming tools, accessories, and toys.

    Promising review: "I have six elderly cats, and a few of them oftentimes leave smelly pee puddles to register their disdain at whatever cats get 'peed off' about. It's not a litter box problem and, although I've caught one or two of them doing it, I can't blame them all. This product works great on fresh messes as well as dried ones. After blotting up fresh pee, I saturate the area with Rocco & Roxie's odor remover and let dry. For dried stinky stuff, I just saturate the area and let it dry. It has a pleasant odor and completely eliminates the ammonia odor. Believe me, I've tried all kinds of products, and this one works the best. I buy gallons now just to have on hand. It's better than smelling that awful pee!" —mona mia

    Get it from Amazon for $19.97.

    Check out our in-depth Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator review for more!

    22. A set of Shoe Slotz if you're known for having a collection that could fill an entire store. These slots have an adjustable height so you can layer your mules, sneakers, and heels on the nonslip grooves. Now that you've cleared that up, is it time for a new pair?

    A before and after photo of a organized shoe collection and an organized one
    Sally Elshorafa / BuzzFeed

    Our BuzzFeed Shopping home editor Sally Elshorafa has used these and says: "This product SAVED MY SHOES! I have an awkward set of built-in shelves in my closet, and it was the only place I wanted to put my shoes. As you can see from the before pic (above), it was a big mess; my shoes were piled on top of each other and getting really dirty. Traditional shoe caddies or boxes didn't really work because there's not much horizontal space, so I tried the Shoe Slotz. It fixed the problem perfectly! Because the design smartly stacks one shoe on top of the other, you save 50% of the space you'd normally use to store your shoes." 

    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 $35.95+ (also available in packs of 20 and 40).

    23. A PowerDash carpet cleaner that will reverse years of filth by sucking up sticky soda spills, pet stains, and caked-in marks. This Hoover even comes with a cleaning solution to tackle tough messes and leave your carpet clear of discolorations.

    Close up of the hoover filled with dirt that it pulled out of a reviewer's carpet
    Before and after shot of stained toilet vs stain-free carpet

    Promising review: "I freaking love this thing. It's small but extremely powerful! The soap that comes with it is excellent! When I ran out I bought a gallon of it! The amount of cat hair this thing sucks up is wild! I'm six months pregnant and have absolutely no trouble with this thing. It snaps together easy to fill and change water. I wish I could give it 10 stars." —Bee Fowler

    Get it from Amazon for $99.99.

    24. 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.

    GIF of someone applying the scrub to a dirty oven door
    Everneat/Etsy

    The naturally-derived ingredients include: eucalyptus, lemon, and peppermint oils, as well as pumice stone and baking soda.

    Everneat is a Fairfield, Connecticut-based, all-natural cleaning shop from Claudia and Angelo Zimmermann. Their oven cleaner comes with a professional-grade metallic scrubber you can use to scrub your appliance before wiping it down with a microfiber cloth. 

    Promising review: "I was skeptical because I had tried so many products to clean the glass on my oven doors with no luck. The auto-clean cycle just baked it on the glass. THIS STUFF IS AMAZING! It took me about 15 minutes to get the glass on both my oven doors clean. Very minimal scrubbing effort required. I will be telling all of my friends." —Teresa Casner 

    Get it from Everneat on Etsy for $19.99+ (available in three scents). 

    25. 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.

    Promising review: "Used this to attempt to clean up my 45-year-old solid wood couch that I inherited and reupholstered. Got the water stains off after one application! Perfect!" —Stacy A. Berkin

    Get it from Amazon for $8.76.

    26. A bottle of Leather Honey cleaner, which scrubs away discoloration and freshens up your leather sofas and other faux leather items pretty quickly. It's so satisfying you'll probably want to document the before and after yourself.

    Promising review: “This product is the perfect consistency to spread easily. It cleans leather deeply without harming it. Dries fast so that there's no residue on your leather. I used it on a chair and a coat. It doesn't seem to leave any lasting noticeable smell either. Just nice clean leather. The chair was a favorite for my dog, which is the reason I bought this in the first place. She's not supposed to be on the chair! So yes, it's desperately needed cleaning. The Leather Honey works great. The leather coat had been in a closet for two years in Florida where humidity can get to it. Once again, great job. Easy-to-use and the coat looks like new! Another good thing is that it seems to condition the leather as well. It felt much more supple after the first simple cleaning. I just put the Leather Honey on a washcloth, kept moving the the washcloth to a new clean area and adding more product. And both the chair and the coat felt like new leather again. And looked fantastic." —N3rd Girl

    Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in two sizes).

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