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 lightweight, bagless, cordless Shark vacuum that’ll make keeping your floors clean a breeze. Yes, it’s an investment, but as any person of (*ahem*) A Certain Age will tell you, a good vacuum is 100% worth it. This pick is so much easier to move around your home than the huge, corded vacuums of yore; it even converts easily from an upright vac to a hand-held one so you can get into hard-to-reach places, no problem.
2. A 6-quart enameled cast-iron Dutch oven from Lodge that proves your workhorse cookware can be functional, beautiful, and affordable — all qualities your fam will undoubtedly appreciate.
3. A two-pack of drain snakes, because being able to clear out your own drains is an Adulting 101 skill your folks absolutely want you to have — and hey, when better to cultivate it than at the start of a new year? It is astonishing what this deceptively simple little tool can dig out of the depths of your pipes. (Spoiler alert: It is mostly hair, and it is gross.) Sink clogs, begone!
4. A good mattress, because, honey, are you sleeping OK? No? Well, have you thought about what you’re sleeping on? Geraldine’s daughter — you remember Geraldine — she used to live down the street when you were little? Well, her daughter swears by this fancy gel memory foam mattress she got, says it’s the softest thing she’s ever slept on. She says it even has “cooling capabilities” — and you know you always run hot while you sleep; maybe this might help? Let me just text her real quick, see if she knows what that mattress is called…
5. And a durable, reliable cast-iron skillet, also from Lodge, because this extremely versatile piece is a kitchen arsenal must-have — and if you care for it right, it will last for-ev-er. This option comes pre-seasoned for ease of use and even has an assist handle in addition to the primary handle to make draining meat or transferring the whole skillet to the oven a heck of a lot simpler than it would be otherwise.
6. A set of stoneware dishes that’ll dress up your dining table with some understated sophistication...and also maybe finally stop your 'rents from harping on you for still using the same five mismatched pieces you’ve had since college. (New year, new you, right?) This 12-piece service for four includes dinner plates, salad plates, and bowls, all of which are also dishwasher-, microwave-, and oven-safe.
7. A two-step kitchen ladder, because according to your progenitors, you’re old enough now that hopping onto the counter to reach the stuff on the very top shelves of your cabinets should be a thing of the past, especially in This, The Year 2023. (Sure, Mom.) Easy to fold out and equally easy to store, this light little kitchen stepper is a must-have to make the most of your vertical storage — particularly if you, like me, are less than vertically blessed yourself.
8. A pair of blue light–filtering glasses, so you can actually keep up with your New Year's resolution of giving your tired peepers a break. If you spend a lot of time in front of your computer (and you know your parents think you spend way too much time in front of it, don't you?), these super pretty specs from Drew Barrymore’s Flower Eyewear line will help cut down on the amount of blue light you're exposed to, which in turn might help you sleep better and eliminate headaches caused by stressed-out eyeballs.
9. An anti-fatigue mat, because your parents want to make sure your knees won’t go out on you prematurely. (Not that they're speaking from experience or anything...) Most reviewers use this mat in the kitchen — it’s terrific for those times when you’re cooking up something ambitious or tackling a mountain of dishes, for example — but it’ll work its magic in a wide variety of other situations too. It's perfect for those who use a standing desk at work, and it also comes in a bunch of pretty colors, so it'll match just about any design scheme or color palette.
10. A set of antimicrobial wash bags, so you can assure your folks that yes, you understand the value of taking care of your delicates — thank you very much for your concern. With a small, medium, and large bag, this set of three gives you everything you need to make sure items both big and small — from workout gear to the fancy sweater Aunt Edith gave you for the holidays this year — stay safe in the laundry.
11. And a bottle of Grandma's Secret Spot Remover that’ll get even the most stubborn of messes out of your favorite wardrobe pieces. This spray breaks down stains of all types, from starches to proteins to oils; just spritzing it on, letting it work its magic for a few minutes, and then laundering the piece as usual can rescue even items you thought were beyond saving. Your ‘rents will be so impressed with your masterful laundry skills!
12. A good household tool kit, so you can DIY your own fix-it needs without needing to borrow anything from your folks' admittedly sizable tool shed. This set packs everything you need to handle most common household needs, including a hammer, a level, a measuring tape, two sets of Allen wrenches, a ratcheting screwdriver with tons of heads you can swap in and out at will, some smaller precision screwdrivers, a box cutter, a wire stripper, a wrench, and pliers.
13. And a compact little multi-tool, because you don’t always need to break out the big tools to fix your household problems. (Listen, I’ve carried the same trusty multi-tool for almost 20 years now, and it has never not come in handy.) This one packs a whopping 17 tools — among them pliers, wire cutters, a bunch of different files, scissors, a screwdriver, and a bottle opener — into one tiny, pocket-sized package.
14. A full sewing kit, so you can mend your own rips and reattach your own buttons all by yourself. (Your parents will be so proud!) From Singer, this handy box contains everything you need to patch up your own clothing whenever the need arises: needles, fabric scissor, a tape measure, a pin cushion, ball head pins, bobbins, needle threaders, thimbles, a seam ripper, buttons, safety pins, fasteners, and (of course) lots and LOTS of thread.
15. A combination air fryer and toaster oven, because your family just wants to make sure you’re feeding yourself properly, OK? This surprisingly versatile convection countertop appliance does way more than you probably think; in addition to, y’know, air frying (everyone’s favorite quick food prep method these days) and toasting (who doesn’t love a good toasted sandwich?), it also bakes, slow cooks, broils, roasts, and more. Your mom may be right about it finally being time to upgrade your on-its-last-legs toaster.
16. A Brita water pitcher that’ll keep you hydrated, even if you live somewhere the tap water is…uh…not great. You’re probably already familiar with the ubiquitous Brita, but in case you’re not, each pitcher has a filter in it that’ll render hard or mineral-heavy water much tastier to drink. This one even has a neat-o indicator on top that tells you when you need to change the filter. Yes, Dad, I have been drinking eight cups of water a day, I promise.
17. A first aid kit, because, I mean, every household should have one, and the start of a new year is an excellent time to refresh yours. This comprehensive kit includes a variety of bandages, tapes, and gauze pads; wipes and antiseptic towelettes; antibiotic ointment; burn cream; a cold pack; ibuprofen; non-aspirin tablets; tweezers; and so much more. And it all zips up into a handy pouch for easy storage, too!
18. A wall-mounted mail and key organizer that’ll make sure you never accidentally get locked out again. (Look, your parents know you’re a responsible, grown-up human being, but they still worry about you sometimes, you know?) With five hooks for keys, masks, and other assorted hanging must-haves, plus a big ol’ compartment for ingoing or outgoing mail, this handy little station will help you double-check that you’ve got everything you need before you run out the door in the morning — even if you’re frantic and running late. (It happens to the best of us!)
19. A hand-held combination garment steamer and iron, because you don't want to head back to the office after New Year's with a wrinkled shirt, do you? Usable both horizontally and vertically, it can handle traditional ironing and quicker steaming; heck, you can even use it on curtains, upholstery, or bedding to smooth out wrinkles and kill bacteria. And since it’s so compact, storing it is a cinch, too.
20. A portable power bank, so you’ll never have to worry about your phone running out of juice when there are no outlets in sight. (Read: Your mom will finally stop freaking out at you for not responding to her texts because your phone battery died.) This pick from Anker holds enough power to fully charge most smartphones four to five times. Wowzers!
21. A toilet-cleaning gel stamp (plus four refills!) that’ll keep your commode fresh between deeper cleans — and reassure your folks that no, you don’t live in a pit, everything is fine, really, it’s fine, yes, I do in fact clean from time to time. One stamp on the inside of the bowl is good for up to 12 days; once you’ve put it in, it’ll give everything a good swish-around every time you flush, leaving a delightfully fresh scent behind.
22. A set of matching bath towels, because nothing says, “I have my life together,” like a fully coordinated bathroom. This soft and cozy 100% Egyptian cotton set includes two bath towels, two hand towels, and two washcloths — just right for both you and any guests, right? Just, y’know…in case your parents decide to make a surprise visit? They’ll be so pleased to see how put-together your shower setup is!
23. And a set of equally coordinated dish towels that tick both the “effective” and “pretty” boxes. Made of soft, 100% cotton, these four towels are excellent at their actual job — that is, drying dishes — but they also come in such lovely shades that they do double duty as kitchen décor, too. And hey, as your parents have probably told you time and time again, there’s no such thing as having too many dish towels.
24. A tub of Scrub Daddy PowerPaste cleaning paste, so you can keep literally every surface in your home sparkling, just like your fam trained you to. Reviewers say there’s practically nothing this stuff can’t clean, from stainless steel to tile — and it even comes with a fan-favorite Scrub Mommy sponge, too!
25. And a big ol’ bag of Arm & Hammer baking soda, because if your parents taught you nothing else, it's that baking soda is good for everything. Smelly cat box? Add a sprinkle of baking soda to the litter. Grubby-looking stainless steel? Scrub it with baking soda. Stinky fridge? Pop some baking soda in there. Anywhere you need some scouring power or some serious odor-fighting, baking soda is there for you. Thanks, baking soda.
26. A quartet of multifunctional silicone kitchen mats that’ll keep both you and your counters from feeling the burn while you cook. They’re pot holders! They’re trivets! They can help with stubborn jar lids that just won’t open on their own, no matter how hard you try! They can even peel garlic! No grown-up kitchen is complete without them — and they're so colorful too. Who says practical has to be boring?
27. A pack of 16 felt furniture pads, so you can keep all your floors scuff-free and make sure you’ll get your security deposit back when you move out. Slap some of these self-adhesive suckers on the bottoms of any heavy pieces you’ve got sitting directly on your hardwood, and bam: instant protection of both your floor and your bank account. Look at how responsible you are!
28. A really good electric toothbrush, because you only get one set of teeth, so you’d better take care of them. (Raise your hand if you have a start-of-the-year dentist appointment coming up soon!) This Sonicare option is geared toward gum health; accordingly, it features a pressure censor to keep you from brushing too hard, three modes so you can tailor your cleaning precisely to what you need, and even a tracker to let you know when it’s time to replace your brush head.
29. An auto safety kit, so you’ll be prepared for anything while you’re on the road. Not only does this kit include the sorts of things your car might need if it runs into trouble — think: jumper cables and a tire repair kit — it also has things for you, too, like a flashlight and a first aid kit. Your loved ones will rest easy knowing you’ve got this bag of tricks with you!
30. And a battery-powered lantern, because you never know when a power outage might strike. (Were your parents big on emergency preparedness when you were a kid? Mine were, in case you couldn’t tell!) This little 400-lumen lantern packs tons of light into a surprisingly small package, making it easy both to store and transport — and as long as you have some D batteries around, you’ll be able to light up your life under any circumstance!
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