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    33 Under-$20 Products That Reviewers Said Actually Did What They Advertised

    Including a magical ball that cleans your purse *for* you.

    1. A pack of AirPod cleaners so you can clearly hear your true crime podcast. Squish the flexible square into your AirPod speaker, peel it off, and gasp in horror at the ear goop that's been dulling the sound quality.

    Blue square with lots of ear wax on it that was removed from an AirPod speaker

    2. A cruelty free vitamin C serum that'll give your skin a much-needed pick-me-up. Just listen to the 48,000+ people who gave it a 5-star review: this stuff brightens, softens, and dramatically fades hyperpigmentation.

    3. A foot file for getting your heels in sandal-ready condition. Rub gently and watch the dead skin and calluses fall like shredded cheese to reveal baby soft heels.

    Before image of a cracked foot with an after image of the skin smooth

    4. A black car scratch remover to get rid of any reminders of the time you accidentally swiped the mailbox when you pulled into the driveway. It's also a much cheaper alternative to driving to the auto shop.

    5. A mold and mildew remover because you can set it, forget it, and come back in a few hours to see grout that looks like new. I'm talking basically every speck of black mold is gone! *Cues up "Do You Believe in Magic"*

    Promising review: "Used this product on some stains in the caulk around the bathtub. It took two applications for a couple of the tougher stains, but the product worked as advertised and the dark spots are now clear!" —McCoy

    Get it from Amazon for $13.99.

    6. A vegan exfoliating body scrub if you need help sloughing away the rough bumps on the back of your arms and legs (keratosis pilaris is its name but you may have heard it called "strawberry skin" or "chicken skin"). It's made with a combination of powerful alpha-hydroxy acids that'll do just that!

    My colleague Ciera swears by this stuff:

    "I've had keratosis pilaris since I was a teenager (it's especially bad on my thighs), and after trying dozens of products to treat it with no luck, this magical product is the only thing that's truly worked for me. I usually use this once a week for maintenance, but in the winter if I notice a flare-ups and I get have drier, rougher, bumpier skin, I use this twice a week, and any flare-ups disappear within the week. I scrub it over my thighs and then actually let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off. I have notorious sensitive skin, and I've never had an issue with this before. It's truly the best product out there for any fellow KP sufferers out there!"

    Promising review: "This stuff really works. I get these pesky little bumps on my booty. I use this every day and they’re totally gone. Will be repurchasing. Works exactly as advertised." —Lexi Berger

    Get it from Amazon for $12+ (available in three sizes). 

    7. A grooming rake so you can loosen fur and lighten your dog's undercoat and prevent future mats. This brush is specifically designed for pooches with thick, dense fur or double coats.

    Reviewer photo of a husky sitting next to a pile of fur that's almost as big as itself and has been removed with the rake

    8. A teeth-whitening pen that'll be a heck of a lot quicker (and taste a lot better) than those irritating whitening strips that slip and slide all over your teeth. You can use each pen ~20 times and should expect your teeth to lighten four to eight shades.

    Promising review: "Inexpensive, works as advertised, very easy to use! These work better that the whitening strips or trays since you can paint the material on your teeth yourself. That means better coverage, and better whitening consistency. These little pen brushes are really simple to use and inexpensive. Really a no-brainer investment. Highly recommend trying them." —Crockett V

    Get a two-pack from Amazon for $19.99.

    9. A soap brows kit for anyone who wants to try this beauty trend they've seen all over TikTok. This method will help make your brows look thicker using just your existing hairs. And of course you can go in with a brow pen or powder to add even more fullness.

    Progression photo showing reviewer's natural brows, the brows with the soap applied, and the brows with soap and powder applied

    10. A multi-use skincare oil to treat a variety of issues, including uneven skin, stretch marks, and acne scars. It helps your body retain moisture (bye bye dry skin!) and absorbs into the skin fast so you won't feel greasy.

    Before photo of reviewer's red, slightly raised scar and an after photo of the same scar that is barely visible after using the oil
    reviewer with dark post-partum stretch marks that have lightened dramatically after using bio oil

    Psst! Bio-Oil contains retinol, which accelerates skin turnover but can make you more sensitive to the sun — so don't forget your sunscreen!

    My colleague Ciera can vouch for this stuff:

    "I've been using this on a scar on my chest for the past few weeks (trying to make it less noticeable before my wedding in September!), and it's slowly but surely fading away. I apply it at night, but reviewers recommend apply it in the morning as well for best effectiveness, so I'll start doing that too. It smells really nice and it doesn't feel as oily on your skin as you might think."

    Promising review: "This oil is wonderful. It smells amazing, has a perfect consistency, and makes my skin smooth and not greasy — just as advertised. Will absolutely purchase again." —Holly Anger

    Get it from Amazon for $8.92.

    11. An odor-eliminating spray because the smell of pee wafting from your carpet — even though you've diligently cleaned up after every pet mess — makes relaxing in the living room near impossible. Each spray releases bacteria that feeds on the ammonia left behind after your pet's accidents, eliminating the urine completely and deterring your pet from peeing in the same spot again.

    The spray bottle

    12. A plant-based stainless-steel cleaner and polish if your fridge has been covered in smudges and fingerprints for so long that you've forgotten how beautiful and shiny it once was. Reviewers say it helps keep your surfaces smudge free for longer, meaning less cleaning for you!

    Hand wiping a fridge door after applying the cleaner

    13. The Clean Ball, a genius German invention so you can get rid of purse sand — y'know, the fine layer of dirt, dust, crumbs, grit, and who knows what else that you scrape your hand against whenever you're rooting around your bag and you brush the bottom of your tote. Inside the honeycomb pink ball is a smaller sticky ball that picks up debris and washes clean so you can reuse it.

    a pink sequin bag open to show the pink ball
    Amazon

    Promising review: "This product is exactly what I have been looking for. My purse ends up being a purse, backpack, and overnight bag. This does exactly what it says: catches all the lint, dog hair and other various 'stuff' floating around your bag! Recommend." —aemarlow

    Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in pink and gray).

    14. A drain clog remover that'll conquer the hair monster in your shower drain, simultaneously impressing and disgusting you. Or you can let the hair glob remain in the pipes and at some point your shower will turn into a bath. Fun!

    Reviewer holding the snake, which has grabbed a massive chunk of hair from the drain

    15. An acne patch for those days when a pimple pops up at the *worst* possible moment. Hydrocolloid, tea tree oil, and calendula oil are gentle on the skin while still drawing out fluids and pus from your pimple.

    16. A cuticle oil to restore your shredded nails after a damaging combination of too many gel manis, a bad habit of picking at your nails, and dry winter weather. Sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and jojoba soften the cuticle and strengthen your claws so you'll be proud to show them off.

    Before and after showing the cuticle oil made the reviewer's shredded nails stronger and made the cuticles look neater

    17. A bleach-free, no-scrub weekly shower spray because it melts soap scum and shower grime buildup without you ever having to wipe. Rinse it clean the next day, and you'll be amazed to see those hard water stains on your shower door are *poof* gone.

    Before: a dirty shower floor; after: the clean shower floor
    Amazon

    Promising review: "It does what it says it does. Keeps my shower clean and mold free. I use it after each shower. I was afraid if I didn’t wipe down the walls the water left would cause mold. Used for over two months with no wiping the wall down. No mold." —Vicki Chambers

    Get it from Amazon for $17.97.

    18. A heavy-duty grout cleaner if you want to give your floors a jaw-dropping makeover à la Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries. The dirt will just disappear. IDK what else to tell you.

    19. A cruelty-free lengthening mascara so you can realize your dreams of voluminous, fluttery lashes. It's lightweight, won't transfer, doesn't smudge, and lasts all day. Consider your expectations exceeded!

    20. A jewelry-cleaning pen that'll make your jewels sparkle. It's compact enough to fit in your purse so you can use it on the go, yet it's powerful enough to clean days', months', and weeks' worth of dirt and grime that's dulled your stones' shine.

    Reviewer before and after of their cloudy emerald looking brilliant and sparkly after using the pen

    21. A carpet cleaner for getting rid of that questionable stain on your white carpet that's been taunting you and besting every other carpet cleaner you've ever tried — well, every carpet cleaner but this one.

    22. A broom for pet hair to loosen the fur trapped in your carpet. It works just as well on wood and linoleum, with the rubber head working as a magnet to attract stray hairs. There's also a built-in squeegee for wiping up liquids or for cleaning glass. Plus, the handle extends from 36 to 60 inches so it can reach practically any mess.

    23. A pack of food spikes because you've killed one too many plants with your black thumb. Good thing these lil' guys will feed your plants for up to two months continuously so you don't have to remember.

    Fingers pushing plant food spike into a pot

    24. A dishwasher-safe OXO avocado slicer if you believe avocados are an integral component of every meal — including desert. Cook safely with this handy tool and prevent avocado hand (a real thing, y'all!).

    25. A cooktop cleaner so you can enjoy a pristine kitchen even though your messy roommate's selective amnesia means they don't remember all the apartment meetings you've had about cleaning up after yourselves. This kit comes with a bottle of cleaner, a sponge, and a scraper — everything you need short of a new roommate.

    26. A pumice cleaning stone that'll power through tough rust, lime, and calcium streaks that have retired many a toilet scrubbing brush. Give your tired arms a break and let this little guy rub away discoloration with ease. This nontoxic cleaner is tough on dirt but gentle on porcelain so you can sit atop the glistening throne you deserve.

    27. A headrest hook for keeping your purse nearby so you're not the driver who turns around to dig through their fallen bag in the backseat and misses the green light. It'll also help prevent the contents of your tote spilling all over the car floor if you take a turn too fast or have to slam on the brakes.

    black car hook with purse hanging on it
    Amazon

    Promising review: " It does what is says it will. This item saves you from having bags spill in the car. Hang these on your seat back and secure your handbag, groceries, plants, or anything else you don't want to fall over. Great little gadget, sturdy, and works so well you wonder why someone didn't come up with this years ago." —Lori J Pagenkemper

    Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.99.

    28. A conditioner concentrate to make you envious of the shine on your dog's fur. It's great for all breeds and hair lengths, and it can help reduce tangles, prevent urine stains, and repel against dirt.

    29. A pack of foaming garbage disposal cleaners because you want to deodorize your sink once and for all. If you have to smell last week's rotting veggie peels for one more minute you just might scream.

    30. A Scrubbing Bubbles toilet cleaning stamp if you want a polished toilet without ever having to pick up a dirty toilet brush. *shudders* The stamp releases the cleaning gel, which foams and cleans your toilet.

    31. An adorable and basically tear-resistant stuffed duck so you can stop spending money on toys that your furry destroyer shreds in approximately 10 seconds. This lil' yellow duck doesn't look like it, but it's built to last.

    32. A stainless-steel tongue scraper that'll help banish bad bacteria and improve stinky breath.

    Reviewer before and after showing the scraper removed a brown film that was on their tongue

    33. An Etude House drying powder for controlling your skin's oil production and keeping your face from looking greasy. You can also apply it to your hair (make sure you dust off the residue) so your roots look freshly washed.

    Reviewer progression photos showing that throughout the day their face stayed oil-free

    You at the thought of having to spend more than $20: