20 Smart Gadgets That Really And Truly Will Save You Time Every Day

So you can spend that extra time doing the things you actually love.

1. An Amazon Echo because you can turn off your alarm, play your favorite morning podcast or playlist, and ask for the day's weather without picking up your phone — a tempting timesuck any time of day, but especially in the morning before work.

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It's completely compatible with all sorts of audio apps, including Apple Music. And if you want to get really fancy with it, you can get smart bulbs, sync it with a smart thermostat, and so so much more.

Promising review: "I am not super-tech-savvy, but I had it set up and playing music within 20 minutes of it being delivered. I used my iPad to "install" it (after getting the free Alexa app), and that was it. No problems. Sound is fantastic, and even though I bought it mainly for the music, I can see myself using it to ask about the weather, how far it is to the nearest Domino's pizza, and how late does my local grocery stay open. If you like to listen to music and ask general questions, this is fantastic. If you are really interested, you can do all kinds of other stuff with it. I think I will keep it simple. Highly recommended!" —S.R. Bullock

Get one from Amazon for $99.99 (three fabric colors and two wood finishes available).

2. A smart plug — you control it via Alexa, Google Home, and/or an app, meaning you won't have to run home when you realize you forgot to turn off your straightener or the iron.

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Hook it up with a lamp or two and you can also make it look like you're home when you're out unexpectedly late, for a little extra home security. Or make sure your kids lights are on in the morning — and off at night.

Promising review: "This had way more of an effect on my life than I expected. I bought these to use digital assistants to control the lights in my bedroom, so I could turn them off without getting up if I was reading in bed. I didn’t even realize that I could schedule my lights in the morning. Now, instead of waking up to an alarm in a dark room and falling back asleep, I wake up when the lights turn on (just before my alarm), and it’s bright so I don’t want to go back to sleep as badly. I can take advantage of my natural instinct to wake up when the sun rises even in the winter. I have consistently woken up hours earlier than I was before." —Austin

Get it on Amazon for $16.99.

3. A Roomba vacuum that you can program to go on an expedition all around your house each and every day, picking up the crumbs, hair, and more while all you do is scroll Instagram / get work done / chill with your family.

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This is also yet another device you could pair with your Alexa! This version of the Roomba features five times the suction of cheaper models, advanced sensors that know to spend extra time cleaning the dirtier high-traffic areas, and multi-surface rubber brushes designed to pick up even more dirt and hair. It also returns to its dock to recharge when it's done cleaning.

Promising review: "I have had this for two weeks now and I cannot believe how much I love it. Let me just say, buy it. You won’t regret it. I have three dogs and two cats and they all shed a lot. They also track dirt in through the pet door. I am amazed with how clean my floors look and feel. This little robot navigates around furniture walls and obstacles wonderfully. My one suggestion is spend the first few days running it while you are home, so you can adjust furniture to make sure it has a clear path to a corner or see that you need to pick up cords. On the second day my son said “mom, you’re acting like it’s one of your kids” and I said “I think I like it more than my kids, I give it power and WiFi and it cleans the house. I’ve been giving you power and WiFi and you just mess up the house!”" —Corinne Knapp

Get it on Amazon for $447.79.

4. Or a highly-rated off-brand robo vac so your floors still seem to magically keep themselves perfectly clean all the time, but you also save money.

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You just set its cleaning time with the remote control, then forget about it (well, until you need to empty the dust bin). It works on both hard floors like tile and wood, and low-pile carpets.

Promising reviews: "This thing has changed my life. I know that sounds weird but honestly of all my Amazon purchases, and there have been many, this is one of the very best. Every day when I get home from work I open it up and it's loaded. 1200 square feet, half tile, half new carpet. Still loaded." —Nick Carraway

"My biggest concern was the amount of hair my husky sheds on a daily basis. It’s set to run after we leave for work and again after we go to bed. The amount of hair this thing pics up is RIDICULOUS. You do have to tie up lose cords etc but that should be done anyway, and there are certain spots it got stuck but those were easily solved issues. My only regret is not getting this so much sooner." —Kentucky Joe

Get it on Amazon for $224.92+ (available in black or white).

5. An electric toothbrush with a ~quad pacer~ timer: you'll spend exactly two minutes brushing, nothing more, and nothing less.

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I've been using one of these now for a couple of weeks, and while I know this isn't the case for everyone, I was definitely spending too much time brushing with my manual toothbrush (because I'd get distracted listening to a podcast or just, you know, thinking!) My evening routine's much faster thanks to the timer, and I've even gotten in the habit of brushing in the morning — because I feel like I actually have time.

Promising review: "With the Quip, five bucks every three months for a new replaceable battery and brush head seems like a steal for electric toothbrushes. Its a minimalist design is the closest to a manual brush which is nice (at first didn't think I would like that but did a 180 after using). It makes for a top notch mouth cleaning experience! " —Ben B

Get one from Quip for $25+ (eight colors; multiple packages available depending on your budget and needs).

Want to read more? Check out our full Quip toothbrush review; it's also a BuzzFeed Reviews pick for best electric toothbrush.

6. An Instant Pot because it's truly miraculous to watch chicken breasts go from frozen solid to delicious taco meat in just 20 minutes.

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Promising review: "This baby is worth its weight in gold! I have used it every single day since I got it. I've made rice & beans, creamy African stew, steamed sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, oatmeal, popcorn, veggie soup and so much more. I'm thrilled. It's so easy to use, there are so many free recipes online and clean up couldn't be simpler. If you are on the fence, try it. It is so worth it!" —Totoro's Mom

The three-quart is perfect for one to two two people, while the six-quart's better for families or dinner parties. Get either (or both!) on Amazon: the three-quart for $79.99 and the six-quart for $89.99.

And if you want to learn more, read our Instant Pot review, or check out the chicken tacos recipe on The Little Spice Jar.

7. Or a programmable slow cooker so you can prep a bunch of dump dinners when you actually have some time, plop one in when you head out for the day, then come home (at *whatever* time) to a hot, perfectly-cooked meal.

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This is perfect for set-and-forget dinners: you tell it what temperature you need and how long it needs to cook, then when it's finished it will automatically switch over to it's warm setting until you're ready to eat.

Promising review: "Love this slow cooker! When I leave for work in the morning, I set it on Low for the hours indicated in the recipe, say eight. When I come home, the slow cooker has completed the cooking and has switched automatically to the Keep Warm setting until I turn it off. It’s soooooooo convenient! The stainless steel design is attractive and looks nice on my counter. The insert washes up well (but I usually use the liners to save cleanup time!) Great product. Worth the price." —Lulu A.

Get it on Amazon for $45 (six quarts).

8. A miracle skin cleansing device — it removes ALL makeup, gently exfoliates, and banishes up to 99.5% of dirt and oil in just sixty seconds.

Maitland Quitmeyer / BuzzFeed

It's made of non-porous silicone (so bacteria won't grow), stays charged for 300 uses, is covered in bendy ~touch points~ that won't irritate your skin, and has a timer that tells you when to move it to another part of your face.

Promising reviews: "Well worth the money! I have notified a huge difference in the texture of my skin, it is so much smoother. The pores along my nose are also smaller and I have less blackheads. I highly recommend this product." —Sara

"I have dry skin and when I exfoliate too vigorously my skin gets dry patches. I've been using this regularly for the past four months and I can honestly say my skin has never looked better. I use it with my mild cleanser. Overall, I love this device." —Charles and Jenn

Get it on Amazon for $104.25 (five colors).

Maitland, a writer and editor here at BuzzFeed, owns this and loves it — read her Foreo Luna Mini 2 review for more!

9. A self-scooping litter box that you'll only have to bother with once a month or so, and even then all you do is swap one tray out for another.

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The disposable trays are $46.95 for a pack of three. Or you can opt for a reusable tray (that works for any non-clumping litter) for $49.95.

Promising review: "Probably some of the best money I've ever spent in my whole life. Is this outrageously expensive compared to your classic plastic tray? Yes. Does it lock you into using their proprietary litter trays? Yes. But...does it work? YES. There is ZERO odor. I mean ZERO. Like I can put my head inside the small storage area we keep it in, and if you were wearing a blindfold you'd never know the box is in there. Everybody in my house is so happy! Cat gets an always-clean box to do her business, we don't ever deal with cat box smell, and my spouse loves the cleanliness of this box versus the traditional one. Bonus, petsitters never ever have to scoop while we're out of town! If you're thinking about an automatic box, DO IT." —Magi

Get it on Amazon for $169.95.

10. An alarm clock to wake you up with a chill, gradual sunrise — the way all of our bodies ~evolved~ to wake up — so you don't even feel like hitting the snooze button and have plenty of time in the morning.

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Just because you're a little lazy (or have trouble waking up to a regular alarm) doesn't necessarily mean you need the loudest alarm on the planet — if gimmicky, loud, fight-or-flight alarms have failed you in the past, maybe something chill is what you've needed all along.

Promising review: "Oh my goodness! I bought this for my husband to replace an old school super annoying nuclear-level alarm clock which he would repeatedly snooze 6 or 7 times. THIS IS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER GIVEN AS A GIFT. I didn't know my mornings could begin so peacefully! I am GENTLY woken by the light before it reaches it's brightest setting, and then the chirping birds sounds are so real. I thought they were singing outside my window at first! Now I don't mind when my husband hits the snooze, 'cause those birds are lovely! Makes dragging myself out of bed great!" —Amazon Customer

Get one with 4.0/5 stars on Amazon (and a sunset feature to help you fall asleep, as well as the gradual wake-up sunrise) for $113.75. Or get one with 3.5/5 stars (but only the sunrise feature, no sunset) for $19.99.

11. A sleep aid metronome designed to help you focus on the moment, relax, and stop paying attention to whatever stressful thoughts were eating into your well-earned rest.

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It projects a light onto your ceiling that contracts and expands, and you follow along with your breath. After eight or 20 minutes, it shuts off. It does use blue light (which isn't great, but it is dimmable), but it really has helped some reviewers!

Promising review: "My S.O. and I both suffer from insomnia related to anxiety, where you lay in bed and things that happened 10 years ago haunt you into being wide awake. After a week of both of us sleeping horribly, I was desperate. I saw it on a facebook video and decided I was so sleep deprived, it was worth a try. After nearly a month I am quite shocked at how well it works. We don't use it nightly, just on nights we think we're at risk for being wide awake all night, and each night we've used it, we've slept like absolute babies. Of course, it isn't a magic cure and it requires dedication to the process." —Caitlin13

Get it on Amazon for $59.90.

12. A breakfast sandwich maker because it produces the perfect meal to take on-the-go in just about five minutes. That's also way less time (...and money...) than you'd spend in the drive-through.

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You simply layer in all your ingredients, press the button, and five minutes later — enough time to run and do one last thing — open to reveal your delicious breakfast. It works with small bagels, english muffins, biscuits, and more. That night, just pop all the removable parts in the dishwasher, and they'll be ready for the next day.

Promising review: "My teen daughter had this on her birthday list. I was about to cross it off... just another gimmick to use a few times until the novelty wears off. Well, we've had this for six months and the only time we haven't used this several times per week is when we're on vacation! It is so easy to use and we all like trying new ingredients. We use it with many different types of bread, cheeses, and meats. We add variety with herbs, spinach, fresh tomatoes, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, olives, etc..We've never had a bad sandwich from this amazing gift and it has saved so much time. I also love the fact that clean up is SUPER easy!" —M. Hicks

Get it on Amazon for $24.99.

13. A UV sanitizer for your phone that could lower your chances of getting sick, at least a little bit — and every day you're *not* sick is time saved, TBH.

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A couple of years ago we tested a bunch of our phones for germs, and the person with the cleanest phone used a similar device every night. Although if you really want to help your immune system, you prob also should follow these tips to avoid getting sick.

Promising review: "I work in a large dental clinic with 50+ docs and even more assistants. Since we don't have a radio in the operatories, I've had to use my phone for music. Before phone soap I had to wipe my phone down every time with Cavicide wipes...not the best for your phone. Enter PhoneSoap! I'm able to sanitize my phone without destroying it! We've even tested and swabbed the phone for cultures before and after...this sucker works! Hands down, great investment." —James

Get one on Amazon for $59.95 (four colors).

14. A small external battery so you can be out and about without spending even one second figuring out where you can go to charge your phone.

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I have an older version of this charger — I've had it for nearly three years now — and it's reliably kept my phone powered countless times. This one's small and lightweight enough to keep in any bag that fits your phone.

Promising review: "With a drawer full of portable battery chargers, I decided to try one more to see if any different. This one is great, recharges up a fully dead battery on iPhone to two times, quickly. I use it daily and have since tossed the others." —Janean

Get it on Amazon for $28+ (four colors).

15. An automatic pan stirrer that YES, actually stirs your dish for you — so you can run and check on something else, or focus on say, making a salad, getting dinner on the table that much faster.

Uncommon Goods

You set a timer for anywhere between two and ten minutes, and off it goes!

Promising review: "My husband loves to cook. We have two very small children, so while his meals are mostly yummy, they are also sometimes burnt. :) This was perfect for him. He's able to turn it on, run into the next room save the day with a plastic bag and a washcloth for whatever blowout-esque mess I'm dealing with, forget he's cooking, run back into the kitchen frantically when he remembers, and arrive only to find the meal practically cooking itself. Best. Gift. Ever." —Jake the ChefturnedDaddy

Get it from Uncommon Goods for $25.

16. A Dyson hair dryer so you can finish doing your hair in literally five to ten minutes, no matter your hair type.

BuzzFeed Reviews

Yes, this thing is worth the hype, y'all. The secret lies with its intelligent heat control, which measures the air temperature around it nearly constantly — 20 times each second — to keep it at the ideal temperature that will dry your hair without causing excessive heat damage.

Promising review: "Love it so far. Extremely light weight. My arm does not hurt after blow drying my long hair. The smoothing attachment is THE BEST. It smooths very nicely and feels like you just got out of the salon. Definitely the fastest drying time I've ever seen. I have long hair and usually takes 30 minutes to completely dry. Dyson dried it all within seven minutes. I wanted to hate it because it was so expensive... but once you try it once you're sold. Great investment if you blow dry every other day like I do." —xinael10

Get it from Sephora, Nordstrom, or Dyson for $399.

For even more info, read why this is a BuzzFeed Reviews pick for best hair dryer.

17. The Menopod because menopause may be natural but (among MANY other things) it sure can be distracting, and this might help you cool down from hot flashes quickly.

Uncommon Goods

It cools down to 41 degrees, so you can put it on the back of your neck, your forehead, or wherever you need it for some possible relief.

Promising review: "My mom has been a long time sufferer hot flashes and almost nothing brings her relief. I saw this and thought it might the solution, or at least be able to help! And it does! She loves it. She says that it decreases both the length and severity of her hot flashes and she especially appreciates how discreet it is — before she was just using a portable fan, which makes it pretty obvious what she's doing. It's easy to use and she also loves that it's rechargeable!" —AndreaA

Get it from Uncommon Goods for $91.

18. A reusable notebook perfect for making notes, lists, sketches, and more by hand, then instantly uploading to your phone (or the Google Drive, Evernote, or another cloud service) for later. Then you simply rinse or blow-dry the pages to make them completely blank again!

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Its erasability means it also saves you from having to buy paper!

Promising review: "I'm in high school and this is one of my best school supply purchases I've ever made! I like to make lists and used so much paper and lost the lists in the middle of my notebooks. This saves so much paper, time, and it's a perfect size (I bought the biggest one). I use it for notes too! The pen glides across it effortlessly." —Kat

Get it on Amazon for $15.99 (five colors, two sizes).

19. A mini clothing steamer because it couldn't be simpler: you fill with tap water, let it heat up, then wave the steam over your blouse/dress/bottoms to make all the wrinkles disappear like magic, no need to lug out the ironing board.

amazon.com, Maitland Quitmeyer / BuzzFeed

It heats up in just 90 seconds, can be used on all sorts of fabrics (and upholstery and curtains), and has a three-year warranty.

Promising review: "I’ve had this for a few months now and I use it all the time! It heats up so fast and steams the fabric within seconds. I normally use this just on my blouses or my boyfriends pants/suit before we go to work; so, no heavy materials. Then I was doing a large clean in my room, where I have canvas that comes down to create a closet. I tie it up and had let it down and it was endless wrinkles! I read that it didn’t work on heavy material but figured I would try it. It cleared them right up!! I have never been so impressed with something I have purchased! I love this machine so much I am bringing it with me on my international trips. Don’t think twice, this is a must-buy!" —Emily

Get it on Amazon for $24.99.

One of our editors owns this and loves it!

20. And last but not least: the Timeular tracker, which you keep on your desk to easily monitor what your timesucks are each day — all so you can find ways to eliminate them and focus on your actual work.

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Or vice-versa, maybe you'll find out you're not taking enough breaks, and walking away from your computer could help you focus better during the time you're actually working. These are completely customizable: you can either use the included set of stickers or the included pen to designate tasks on each side. Then it syncs with software on your phone or desktop to breakdown how you spend your time.

Get one from Timeular for $49.

Want more? Check out products for all your small problems and your big problems, things to make your life low-key better for under $10, and products that do jobs you didn't know needed done.

Shopping for something specific? Check out BuzzFeed Reviews to find the best things for every budget!

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