12 Life-Changing Things To Try In September

Because we tried them for you in August!

Zoë Burnett / BuzzFeed

We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales from the links on this page.

The BuzzFeed staff is always trying new products, apps, hacks, and DIY projects, and we decided it was time to start sharing the best of them with you. Each month, we post our recommendations for what’s actually worth it. For the sake of transparency, items under “Things We Bought” and “Tricks We Learned” were purchased with our own money and/or were not the result of a PR pitch. Those under “Things We Tried” are items that were provided to us at no cost for the sake of review. (But! We’re under no obligation to write a review of those things, let alone a positive review.)

Let us know in the comments what sorts of things you’d like us to review next month!

1. PurSteam Fabric Steamer, a super light travel steamer that makes banishing wrinkles incredibly easy.

Maitland Quitmeyer / BuzzFeed

I love love love clothes, and I love love love getting dressed, but my Virgo nature does not always extend to the careful putting away of my garments. My clothes have often been victims of The Chair — you know, that place you toss your rejected morning options and where you discard today's look when changing into PJs. Therefore, even my favorite things are occasionally not hung up properly and get wrinkled as fuck. I have spent my fair share of time using a full-size steamer, and they are super annoying and take up wayyyyy too much apartment space. And travel steamers just sounded like they wouldn't get the job done. But many disheveled outfits later, I finally did some Amazon research and came across this one.

The little bb heats up in about 90 seconds and releases wrinkles INSTANTLY. It's so lightweight (about one pound), and the water tank is the perfect size to thoroughly steam up to five-ish garments, making it a no-brainer for a quick pass over a blouse when you're running late OR when steaming a whole bunch of clothes the night before a vacation. It stows away neatly underneath my bathroom sink, so I have zero excuses to leave the house a wrinkled mess. Need even more glowing reports? Check the over 4,500 positive reviews on Amazon. —Maitland Quitmeyer

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

2. Joseph Joseph Six-Piece Kitchen Utensil Kit, a set of kitchen tools including the PERFECT spatula to finally make you a flipping pro.

Adam Davis / BuzzFeed

I found myself in need of a new spatula about a month ago when my lazy attempt to rest a spatula handle on the rim of a pan ended with that spatula falling into the shadowy underworld that is the space between the oven and the counter. I sure wasn't going to try to clean and rehabilitate that spatula — who the hell knows what it might have come into contact with down there. And so, instead, I searched for a replacement — and found the Joseph Joseph spatula.

The selling point of this utensil is a special prop midway down the handle that allows you to rest the utensil without needing to lay it directly on your counter or a plate. And honestly, that feature alone makes this spatula so much better than any other I've worked with. I used to use a small plate to rest my utensils on, which just added to the mess I needed to clean up afterward. With this, I typically place the spatula so that the head is directly over the sink, just in case anything gets messy and starts to drip. The result? No mess. No need for an extra plate. Just a kitchen with surfaces that stay clean and food that turns easily." —Adam Davis

Get the full six-piece set from Amazon for $39.99.

3. Midori Brass Index Clips, a set of gorgeous bookmarks that make note-taking, journal-keeping, and reading prettier AND more organized.

Rachel Wilkerson Miller / BuzzFeed

There are a handful of pages I reference a lot in my journal — a monthly habit tracker, a weekly task list, a daily to-do list — and while having an index and page numbers makes finding everything much easier, sometimes a gal just wants to be able to flip quickly to the page she needs. For a while, I was just using multiple bookmarks, but this was pretty inefficient — they slipped around in the journal, disappeared below the top edge of the book, and would sometimes fall out entirely. Paper clips (and bookmarks that use a paper clip-esque design) were another option, but they turned out to be way too thick, and they damaged the pages. I tried using sticky notes, but the edges quickly got crushed in my bag. And while I love these brass tabs, they definitely tear up the pages a bit, so they really aren't ideal for marking a daily page.

Then I discovered book darts, which turned out to be the perfect solution. They slide easily onto the page (it's seriously so satisfying to put them on), but stay firmly in place. They are super, super thin, so you can mark a bunch of pages without bulking up your book. When you move or remove them, they leave no evidence that they were ever there. And they make it easy to mark an exact line, so they can replace sticky notes or highlighters. A single tin comes with 50 book darts, so you can use them liberally throughout your notebooks, school books, and the books you're reading for fun. —Rachel Wilkerson Miller

Get a set from Amazon for $10.37.

4. The Flip-It Beauty Cap, a bottle-emptying kit for keeping your shampoos, lotions, conditioners, and more upside down so you can get every. single. drop.

Danielle Boris / BuzzFeed

When my lotion got low this month and the pump started spitting, I did what I always do: removed the pump (total mess), turned the bottle upside-down, and furiously banged it against my hand until a random amount of lotion came out. Then I became a balancing act, trying to spread the lotion without spilling the product I just worked so hard to get….really? I basically needed a third hand. Then my friend recommended I try the Flip-It cap — and IT IS BEYOND AMAZING!

These upside-down bottle stands with built-in valves come with size adapters and are ready to attach to almost any standard screw top bottle in your life. Turns out bottle threads are, with few exceptions, standard around the world — who knew? Simply screw the Flip-It onto whatever bottle is giving you trouble, flip over, and let gravity do the work. The bottle then stands upside-down and you simply pull the valve, squeeze, and get the liquid out. After putting it on my lotion, I added one to my face wash...and literally every product in my house that had a pump. They’re BPA-free and food safe, so they even work on things like chocolate syrup, honey, agave, and creamy dressing. I haven’t found a bottle it doesn’t fit on! Best part: they are reusable and dishwasher safe, so one pack can last you forever! I now use all of my products without wasting the bottom bit — or my time — genius. I cannot recommend this product enough! Seriously, LIFE-CHANGING. —Danielle Boris

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $27.96.

5. Gumball Desk Lamp, a gleaming mid-century modern light with an outlet built right in for your phone-charging convenience.

Morgan Steffes / BuzzFeed

When I moved to NYC, one thing I had to deal with in my new small room was not having many wall plugs. That was an issue, given I always need to charge my phone at night, and I want it to be on my nightstand next to me while I sleep because I have trouble parting from it. I found this lamp at Urban Outfitters, and it couldn't be more perfect! I like the touch of gold it brings to my room, but LOVE the fact that it has an outlet built right into it. Now my phone can charge on my nightstand, instead of on the floor out of reach. The best part is the outlet works even when the light is off." —Morgan Steffes

Get it from Urban Outfitters for $49 (on sale from $69). Also available in black, turquoise, and silver.

6. IRIS Three-Piece Airtight Pet Food Container Combo, a three-piece set to keep pet food pest-free and treats and supplies organized.

Emmy Favilla / BuzzFeed

I live to make my dog happy. If you have a dog, I’m guessing you do too (unless, perhaps, you’re a monster). At 50 pounds, he’s a sizable pup, and so I buy a big ol’ 25-pound bag of food for him to last the month. Retrieving food from said bag to fill his bowl with can get messy, and I inevitably wind up with bits of kibble on my kitchen’s closet floor at least a few times a week. More importantly, the bags aren’t resealable, so once summer rolls around, I worry that his food might attract all sorts of unwelcome pests and get soggy from the often-unbearable New York humidity. And no one’s dog deserves a bowl of subpar grub.

Enter this three-piece airtight storage combo, which has made doggo meal time 100% stress-free. The deceivingly spacious big container fits the contents of the entire 25-pound bag, the smaller container is perfect for storing treats or any other pet supplies you might want to protect from the elements and vermin, and it comes with a handy food scoop. It’s narrow enough to fit in even the smallest of closets (and if there isn’t a closet available, its simple, unassuming design makes it easy to match any room décor without looking out of place), the large container has 360-degree wheels for convenient access, and the set comes in 14 colors. It’s also a customer favorite on Amazon, so if you don’t trust me on this one, trust the nearly 6,000 glowing reviews to back me up! Fresh food = happy pup = happy you. —Emmy Favilla

Get it from Amazon for $22.99. Available in 14 colors.

7. Puracy Natural Stain Remover, a plant-based spot eliminator that actually works.

amazon.com, Yi Yang / BuzzFeed

I am such a clumsy person. Every time I go out to eat, I inevitably get a few food stains on my shirt or pants (which is why I mostly wear black now). I had used many stain-removing products in the past, but none of them really got the tough stains out. I saw the Puracy Natural Stain Remover on a BuzzFeed post titled 17 Cleaning Products That'll Give You Dramatic Before-And-After Photos. The product description says it's non-toxic and able to remove grass, berries, blood, sweat, oil, tomato sauce, cosmetics, pet accidents, dirt and hundreds of other stains and odors. I decided that it was worth a try.

I have a pair of light blue shorts that were splashed with some hot chili oil (they look like little orange dots) and let me tell you, grease stains are basically permanent. I have a pile of 'pajama' shirts to prove this. The stain was also a day old because I had forgotten to pre-treat it. Not good. But it was the perfect time to put my new stain remover to the test. I applied the product directly onto the stain and rubbed it in. I let the product set in for 24 hours, which is what the bottle instructed for best results. The next day, I put the shorts in the wash, and after drying, I carefully examined them for results. The stain had COMPLETELY vanished. Before I got this product, clothes with grease stains never came out 100% stain free, even with a pre-treater. You could always see a faint yellow mark. Needless to say, this handy stain remover will forever be a laundry must-have for me. —Yi Yang

Get it from Amazon for $16.

8. CR Sleep Ventilated Memory Foam Pillow, a breathable pillow with "air cell" technology to keep you cool and comfortable (and most importantly, asleep) all night long.

AnaMaria Glavan / BuzzFeed

After investing in a new mattress topper, I decided to live a life of total luxury and invest in some pillows, too. I sleep on my left side and have noticed that my right shoulder is constantly in pain — I’m going to assume this is due to my practically prehistoric pillows, which are so flat, it feels like I’m sleeping on an unsupportive piece of cardboard. After some research, I found this ventilated memory foam pillow on Amazon. To summarize? It is freakin’ phenomenal.

This pillow is the perfect amount of squishy and firm: because I’m a side sleeper, this cushioning provides just the right amount of support. I’ve been waking up with almost no shoulder or neck pain and — let me tell you — that is a truly wonderful feeling. Plus, the pillow has 'warm' and 'cool' sides, which prevent me from feeling overheated throughout warm summer nights. It seriously feels like I’m resting my head on a giant, fluffy cloud. If you’re in the market for a new pillow, do yourself a huge favor and invest in this one. You will not regret it.

My one complaint: everyone in my house keeps trying to steal it, so I may have to buy another one. —AnaMaria Glavan

Get it from Amazon for $25.49.

9. Kong Padded Car Harness, a doggy seatbelt to keep even the most rambunctious pupper safe and happy on your next car ride.

Francine Hendrickson / BuzzFeed

The phrase "go for a ride" is on Lily’s list of top three all-time favorite phrases. For those who don’t know, Lily is my nine-year-old Chihuahua (AKA The Queen, AKA the greatest angel who has ever lived). When we go for a ride, Lily does what she does best – whatever the hell she wants – which often ends up with me driving and Lily clambering all over my lap. As adorable as this is, it’s not exactly the safest driving habit of all time — for either of us. Lily is trained to stay in her "place" (the passenger seat of the car) while going for a ride. However, on longer drives she waits for the opportune moment to come into my lap; knowing very well that once she is there, she will be too cute to turn away.

So I decided to try a new preventative method – a harness with a seatbelt attachment for the car. I was very skeptical this would work, as Lily is notorious for getting out of harnesses, and I was pretty sure she would hate the entire experience. However, the Kong harness I got came with a padded chest plate, which so far has held up during long hikes, walks on the ocean, and even squirrel sightings – with no Lily escape. The harness came with a seatbelt strap, which is super easy to use – just hook the strap through the large black ring where the leash usually goes, and close it around the buckled seatbelt. It took Lily a few minutes to figure out that she was not able to go anywhere, at which point she laid down and took a nap for the majority of the ride — amazing. Restricting Lily’s ability to run around the car like a wild animal is definitely safer, and seemed to put her ride-related anxiety (doggo brain: where are we going, are we there yet, let me climb over your arms and see) at ease. —Francine Hendrickson

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

10. Society6 Backpack, a backpack you can customize with a print from any of the amazing artists available on the site, like this adorable swimming print.

Bek O'Connell / BuzzFeed

I'm a huge Society6 fan. And by that I mean I've spent hours pouring over their insanely wide selection without ever actually buying anything. On top of my extreme indecisiveness, it's also really hard to get a sense for how the various designs might look printed into various home goods and apparel. I've finally gotten the opportunity to see some Society6 art in action, in the form of a backpack, the latest offering from the website. The sturdy bag comes with two zippered pockets and cushioned black straps. The entire front is printed with one of the many, many artworks available.

Retailing at $69.00, these backpacks aren't exactly a bargain, but you have to factor in the fact that you'll be walking around with legit artwork on your back. It also has nice, pleather zipper tags with Society6's logo printed on them. Inside, there's a pouch to keep your laptop or tablet. There's also an additional pocket on the front for keeping smaller items. The print — which is arguably the most important part — looks great! The lines are fairly crisp and the colors are vibrant. I would recommend getting a darker design if possible because the white has a strange hue to it. Otherwise I'm a big fan of the backpack. It can hold a surprising amount of stuff without the straps digging into my shoulders and of course, it just looks really cute. —Bek O'Connell

Get it from Anyuka on Society6 for $69.

Check out all the backpacks available here.

11. KMN Home Customizable Drawer Liners, a versatile drawer organizing system that’ll make any unruly knife drawer safer.

Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed

I often write about organization, but I like a wee bit of clutter in my life. (I will never de-clutter to spark joy or whatever.) I have a place for everything and know where that is, whether it makes sense to my roommates or not. But a knife drawer requires order, because safety! Perhaps you are fortunate enough to have a kitchen with separate knife and junk drawers. I don’t! (I don’t have room for a countertop knife storage solution, either.) So when I spotted a drawer organizing system on my old job’s free table three years ago, I snatched it up. It’s been keeping my combo knife/junk drawer in order since.

The non-slip silicone base is lined in a grid, which makes cutting it to size with a pair of scissors easy. But it’s nbd if you cut too much (as you can see I did in the pic to fit the notches of my drawer). The little nubs, aka Divitz, stick securely to the surface and don’t budge when you’re rummaging through your drawer. Yet if you want to reposition them, it’s not an excruciating task. My kit came with way more than I could possibly use and I have the extras in a sandwich bag on a seldom-used kitchen cabinet shelf. More knives normally live in this drawer than in my pics, but they were on my drying rack, hence the empty sections. Granted, I could do a much better job at organizing the back part of this drawer, or even arranging it in a neater way for this demonstration, but I’m just living my truth here! (A safer truth in which I don’t accidentally cut myself reaching for a paring knife.) —Elizabeth Lilly

Get it from Amazon for $34.95+ (available in six colors).

12. Mastrad Ice Pop Molds, a set of four frozen treat makers with a swirly shape to make summer last forever (at least in your heart and in your freezer).

Samantha Wieder / BuzzFeed

I'm a huge fan of smoothies, ice pops, etc. I make smoothies at home all the time, so when I got these ice pop molds, I figured a good start would be to make a smoothie, pour it into the molds and freeze 'em.

The molds are pretty easy to use. I should warn you to be careful. If you're a messy person like I am, and are quick to try and get things done, it's easy to make a mess with these. Definitely take your time making the ice pops and make sure they're balanced on the mold stand before popping them into the freezer. Otherwise you might end up with a leaky mess like I did at first.

As for the pop itself, it was really good! Not to mention, it's in a cool swirly shape from the mold. I'd recommend getting these if you too like frozen treats. This is a great family activity, especially if you have little kids. —Samantha Wieder

Get a set of four from Amazon for $14.29.