You May Have 99 Problems, But These Products Can Solve At Least 45 Of Them
We've all got problems. Some are more difficult than others, of course, but the world is full of solutions for those problems. Creative solutions. Simple solutions. Solutions on sticks. Even inexpensive solutions. Luckily for all of us, many of these solutions come from Amazon.
Thanks for reading about our favorite finds from across the internet! FYI: We participate in affiliate programs and may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.Clean Your Screens
Amazon
I have a lot of devices with screens, and they seem to be constantly smudged and covered in fingerprints. It's not cute, and I never seem to have a cloth handy to take care of it. So I bought a pack of these cleaning pads. It comes with four pads, so I can keep them in multiple places so I always have one handy. They have nice colors and cute patterns, and they seem well made so I'm not worried about them falling apart. Yay for clean screens!
See it on AmazonPut Your Cords In Their Place
Amazon
I work from home, which means there are cords and cables everywhere. I have a set of these cord wranglers in my office and they've really helped with cable management. I'm no longer tripping over power cords, and that makes me happy. I keep a few of these with my travel stuff to keep chargers and headphone cords organized when I go on trips too. They're good quality. Definitely recommend.
See it on AmazonBattery-Powered Ambiance
Amazon
Who doesn't love the warm glow of candles on a midwinter evening? Unfortunately, candles mean open flames, and open flames are bad when you have kids, pets, clumsy friends, etc. Battery-powered candles have come a long way in the last few years, and this set is especially good. The candles are made from wax instead of plastic so they look real, and there are a variety of sizes. Oh, and there's a remote. Ambiance achieved.
See it on AmazonA Cleaning Robot
Amazon
Roomba has been around for a long time, but the newest version is superior. It empties itself, alerts you when it gets stuck, and most importantly adapts to your home in real-time. If it senses something on the floor, like a cord or pet waste, it will actually avoid it. No more smeared poo or stuck cables! Sure, it's expensive, but what is having a robot maid worth to you?
See it on AmazonA Tower Of Power
Amazon
There never seem to be enough outlets when I need to charge things. Power strips are fine, but most of them are linear and don't accommodate charging bricks. Both of these things are annoying, which is why I love this tower of power! It can accommodate multiple big charging bricks and USB cables, and the USB ports actually have enough power to charge stuff. Wild! There's a wireless charger on top, and the cord retracts just in case you want to carry it around with you.
See it on AmazonRechargeable Spice Grinders
Amazon
I realize that grinding spices doesn't take much effort, but sometimes it's a pain. Have you ever been forearms-deep in a chicken and needed to grind salt? Kind of annoying. That's why I love this grinder set. It's triggered by gravity, so you can season your dinner one-handed. Science!
See it on AmazonRid Yourself Of Dirty Ice
Amazon
Ice is great when it's clean and not smelly. Unfortunately, when ice sits in the freezer for too long it gets a bit funky. There are ways around this, like putting your ice in freezer bags or airtight containers, but it's kind of annoying to make ice and then move it around. The solution: an airtight silicone container that you fill with water, freeze, and then store ice in. Pretty handy.
See it on AmazonAll The Bonfire Without The Smoke
Amazon
My least favorite thing about bonfires is the smoke that seems to chase me all around the circle. We've all been there. It ruins the whole experience. So some genius made this portable fire pit that burns wood and gives the whole fire experience, but increases airflow and reduces smoke. Also, it's portable, so you can take it places and set stuff on fire. Responsibly.
See it on AmazonA Bluetooth Keyboard With A Retro Look
Amazon
There's something really appealing about the aesthetic of old typewriters. Unfortunately, they aren't terribly practical, which is why this keyboard exists. It has all the style and clicky key appeal of a classic typewriter with the functionality of a Bluetooth keyboard. It can even switch between devices with the touch of a button. It's also backlit, something you'll never see on a typewriter.
See it on AmazonMake Better Videos
Amazon
Calling all content creators! Making videos on your own can be really difficult, especially if you're moving around. It's annoying to constantly check if you're in focus and make sure you stay in the frame. This little pod helps. It has face and/or action tracking and auto-zoom. It comes with a remote. If you're serious about making content but struggling with your videos, it can help.
See it on AmazonEat Without The Plastic
Amazon
Single-use plastics are a problem. They end up in the ocean and bad things happen to the adorable creatures who live there, and we don't want that. So what's the solution when you're not home? Travel cutlery. I like this set because it comes in black and there's a cute little turtle friend in the box. If black isn't your thing there are other options, and you can take it anywhere. Be the weirdo with the case of silverware in your bag. The oceans will thank you.
See it on AmazonConnect Your Thermostat To Your Phone
Amazon
I live in a cold climate, and at the beginning of the cold season, I received an email from the local utility informing me that they'd be charging me more for heat this winter. It made me angry, so I bought a smart thermostat. It allows me to control my thermostat from anywhere, which is great because I'm really bad at remembering to change the settings when I'm going to be gone for an extended period. Take that electric company!
See it on AmazonA Lamp That Improves Your Mood
Amazon
I live somewhere that's cloudy and grey during the winter, and the lack of sunshine can have a major impact on peoples' moods. There are many lights and lamps that can help with this. This one from Amazon is particularly nice with a thin profile and wood grain, and it includes a green light that's supposed to help with sleep and migraines. If you're suffering from seasonal depression or migraines, or you find that you're not sleeping well, it's worth investing in.
See it on AmazonA Unique Back Scrubber
Amazon
I love a good back brush, but I don't love the material they're usually made from. Brushes and loofahs can collect bacteria and start to get funky pretty quickly. I don't want to have to replace my $20 back brush every month, so I went hunting for a better option, and I this silicone brush. I like the different textures, but mostly I love that it doesn't collect bacteria. Oh, and it was really inexpensive. I appreciate that.
See it on AmazonClean Your Devices
Amazon
Speaking of electronic devices, cell phones are gross. Think about it: they touch everything you come in contact with all day long. You might wash your hands, but you're definitely not washing your phone. This UV sanitizer can help. Any phone will fit, even the giants Apple and Samsung are making. You can also charge your phone while it's being sanitized. It's not limited to phones though - anything that fits in the pod, like headphones or smartwatches, will come out with 99% fewer icky germs.
See it on AmazonThe Cadillac Of Eye Masks
Amazon
Insomnia sufferers rejoice! This eye mask is the perfect sleep accessory. It has Bluetooth so you can listen to nature sounds or relaxation podcasts as you fall asleep, and unlike your earbuds, it won't fall off in the middle of the night. The ear pads muffle sounds that might disturb you, and it's also comfortable for side sleepers. The eye pockets relieve pressure on your eyes and block out annoying light to help you sleep better. I've used a lot of sleep masks, and this one might be my favorite.
See it on AmazonWrangle Your Cables While On The Go
Amazon
One of the worst parts about traveling is keeping all of your charging cables in order so they're not a tangled heap when you reach your destination. This case has pockets for cables, charging bricks, hard drives, and everything else you might need while you're on the go. It's great for content creators, influencers, or people like me who just have a lot of electronic stuff that needs chargers.
See it on AmazonGet Every Last Drop Of Your Beauty Products
Amazon
Beauty and skincare products are expensive, sometimes ridiculously so, and it's almost impossible to get the last bits at the bottom of most bottles. I almost feel cheated when I can't get all of the product I've paid for, so I bought a beauty spatula. It's a small, silicone spatula with a long handle that can get to the bottom of your serum or foundation, allowing you to get the most from the money you spent.
See it on AmazonA Silicone Face Brush
Amazon
I have oily, acne-prone skin, so I need all the help I can get. Facial brushes have been part of my routine for years, but I've recently found this silicone brush. It's made a huge difference to my breakouts and the texture of my skin. It has multiple speeds and intensities, it's easy to clean, the battery lasts basically forever, and most importantly, it doesn't feel like it's scrubbing my face off. I really can't say enough good things about it. Highly recommend.
See it on AmazonHave A Spa Treatment At Home
Amazon
If you're interested in the facial brush, you might also want to consider this package. It includes the brush and a facial steamer. The steam opens up your pores and helps with blackheads. It also helps moisturize your skin, and it feels amazing. Get glowy, plump, gorgeous skin without sitting in a salon for hours. That sounds pretty good during a pandemic.
See it on AmazonAnother Silicone Scrubber
Amazon
It's winter in my hemisphere, and winter is dry. The dryness attacks everywhere, including my lips, and lip balm only does so much. That's where this scrubby brush comes in. It's shaped like a toothbrush but it's for your lips, I promise. It's not too rough so I can exfoliate my lips without scrubbing them raw. It works especially well with sugar lip scrubs. It's another part of my home spa routine.
See it on AmazonSlice All The Things
Amazon
I've been cooking a lot more during the pandemic, but I really hate chopping and slicing. For a while, I was coughing up the extra money for pre-sliced veggies, but that seemed really wasteful. Then I remembered that mandolines exist. They slice, cross-cut, dice, shred, almost anything you'd need from a kitchen tool. They're good for vegetables, cheese, just about anything. It saves me so much time. Just remember to use the hand guard. Trust me, you want to keep your fingers.
See it on AmazonA Clever Side Table
Amazon
Remember how I said that my apartment is small? Well, it's small, so I have to maximize space. This table helps with that. It can be a side table, a workstation, whatever I need, and it's on wheels so it's easy to move around. It's extremely sturdy so I don't ever worry about the stuff I'm putting on it. I love it so much.
See it on AmazonMy Winter Life Saver
Amazon
I live in New York, and it's cold here. Really cold. Like, the kind of cold that's actually painful. I dread going outside, and that really cramps my style. When I found this rechargeable pocket heater I nearly cried with joy. It makes a huge difference in my level of misery when I need to leave the house. It has several heat settings, and it even doubles as a battery pack for my phone. Ok winter, I'm ready for you.
See it on AmazonAn Alternative To Plastic Wrap
Amazon
We're still trying to minimize the amount of single-use plastic in our lives, so we needed something to replace the plastic wrap we used all the time. Enter Bee's Wrap. It's made from sustainable and responsibly sourced materials, without plastics or silicones. It's washable and reusable. Most importantly to me, it's about 12 million times easier to use than plastic wrap because it doesn't stick to itself. Worth every penny.
See it on AmazonAn Essential Baking Tool
Amazon
Yes, it's a pizza stone. No, it's not just for pizza. This version is heavy-duty and can be used in the oven or on the grill, and we use ours for so many things. It helps even out the weird hot spots in our oven, so we end up using this like any other baking sheet. Cookies, breads, homemade corn chips, nachos, there's nothing we bake that isn't made better by this stone.
See it on AmazonPack More In Less Space
Amazon
I'm genetically predisposed to overpacking, so before I took my summer vacation I bought a set of these cubes. Packing cubes are great, but these are next-level. They have double zippers, so you pack your cube, then use the second zipper to smush out all of the air and make your packed cube even smaller. You can get more stuff in a small space, and it's amazing.
See it on AmazonTrack Your Habits Like A Boss
Amazon
It's a new year and we're all setting goals and making improvements. Something I want to do is form some healthier habits, and I'm a visual person, so this habit tracker is the perfect thing for me. It incorporates monthly and weekly habits and it's un-dated, just in case I fall off the self-improvement wagon.
See it on AmazonGet Organized
Amazon
We're heading into the third year of a global pandemic, and that's not great, but we adapt. Staying organized while working from home has been a struggle for me, so I invested in some nice folders. They come in pretty colors, and that makes me happy. They're also pre-printed with spaces to fill in information about projects, and that's handy. It's one less thing I have to do and I appreciate that.
See it on AmazonPossibly The Best Desk Lamp
Amazon
Working from home has made me appreciate lighting more than I ever thought possible, which is why I love this lamp. I can adjust the brightness and the tone of the light, so I'm not sitting under super bright white light all the time. It has a wireless charger and a USB port so I can charge multiple devices. I appreciate that it has an alarm and weather and stuff in it, even though I don't really use those things. I'd definitely buy another one of these for a bedside lamp.
See it on AmazonCharge All The Things!
Amazon
Phone, headphones, smartwatch. All three need to be charged at night, but I hate having cords all over my nightstand. Clearly, I needed this charging station. It limits the number of cords hanging out and getting tangled in my bedroom, and all of my essential gear gets charged. I can even move the position of the wireless phone charger so it props my phone up and I can watch videos on it from bed. Score.
See it on AmazonTake Your Jewelry Places Safely
Amazon
Traveling with jewelry can be a total nightmare. Necklaces are tangled, earrings are lost, it's just not fun. Someone realized this and fixed it for us with this foldable jewelry case. A grid for earrings, ring rolls, and clips for necklaces. Keep everything organized and exactly where you need it.
See it on AmazonRoll On Some Relief
Amazon
Essential oils are super popular now and there are oils to treat just about everything. This roll on is something I bought in a desperate effort to help with sleep, and I don't know if it's the placebo effect or what, but it actually has helped. It smells really good, and the aromatherapy effects can't be discounted. I don't know if it's the cure for insomnia or stress, but it seems to help.
See it on AmazonA Classy Weekender
Amazon
Someday it's going to be cool to travel again, and when that happens, we all need cute bags. This weekender fits that description, I think. I love all of the colors it comes in, especially the black and white stripe. So cute and nautical. I also appreciate that it's roomy, and there's even room for two pairs of shoes. Oh, and it's waterproof. Looks and function, so good.
See it on AmazonThe Laziest And Best Phone Holder
Amazon
This might be the most ridiculous item I've ever purchased from Amazon, and I love it. It's a flexible phone mount that goes around your neck so you don't have to hold your phone. It has other uses, but that's what it gets used for the most in my house. Hands-free YouTube. Everyone wins.
See it on AmazonDrain Your Pasta Without A Colander
Amazon
I can never find my colander. I don't know why. It just seems to disappear in the abyss that is my kitchen, so I bought this clip-on silicone strainer. It's genius. It fits on every pot I own. It's easy to clean, even in my sad house without a dishwasher. It makes it so much easier to reserve pasta water and all of my pasta stays in the pot where it belongs. I love it.
See it on Amazon