44 Things Under $10 To Help You Make All Sorts Of Upgrades And Repairs To Get Way More Mileage Out Of Your Stuff

Buzz Feed20-04-2025

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.
Shopping
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From small Nespresso pods to hefty washing machines.
1. A sturdy Pikk-It tool with sharp metal teeth that'll un-ensnare tangled hair from your vacuum cleaners, hairbrushes, and even your beloved round brush dryer. Raise your hand if you've ever broken a seam ripper cleaning a vacuum cleaner. (Meee.)
Promising review: "Cleaned three items in less than five minutes. Vacuum brush head and two hair brushes that have three girls' long hair. I can't wait to get the whole vacuum and rug cleaner bristles cleaned. I had to write this review after testing it out. Design is strong, sturdy, and handles great. Highly recommended." — Rob
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
2. Some anti-slip eyeglasses stoppers in case you're sick and tired of pushing up your glasses all the time. These are subtly help your glasses stay on your nose where you want 'em but are cute in case someone DOES notice them. And with 15 pairs per order, you can outfit all your eyeglasses and sunnies with these!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:" My face is a little sweaty, and while tilting my head 90 degrees downward, they have stayed put. Typically, they would fall off, so these hearts do work!" — chezkk
Get 15 pairs from Amazon for $6.99 (available in six colors).
3. A set of washable Flat Socks you can park in all your flats and sneakers and fend off foot stank. To think of all the shoes you've tossed in the pass because you wore them sock-less and they REEKED.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "What a cool product! I found these on a 'got to have' list off Facebook. I throw shoes out because of the smell rather than wearing them out as I hate wearing socks. Bare feet all the time in shoes is not a winner. These are great at preventing stinky shoes — trim to size and just toss in the washer when needed! I will be buying several additional pairs!" — Amy
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes and three styles).
4. A special brush will keep your dryer's lint trap clear of debris and make drying cycles/the appliance more effective for longer. PLUS, this is a basic safety thing everyone should do!
Amazon
Also, built-up lint is a fire hazard! Make this a part of your weekly cleaning routine.
Promising review:"This brush is stiff but flexible enough to feed under my dryer's lint filter. Several weeks ago, a trouble light came on that indicated the airflow in my dryer was becoming obstructed. I had the dryer vent and area under the lint filter cleaned. (Not much lint was pulled out, so maybe the dryer sensor gave a false alarm.) I felt a small investment in a brush such as this is better than paying for a future vent cleaning. I've been using it once a week, and it picks up a little lint each time, but that's lint that won't have a chance to build up in the dryer vent!" — blueskys
Get it from Amazon for $5.95
5. A portable fabric shaver to defuzz sweaters, sweatpants, coats, all kinds of garments with tons of potential that clearly wound up on a Goodwill rack because they're worse for wear! Just be sure to test a small, hidden part before going whole hog on that midi overcoat. I did that to my actual midi coat I've had for ~7 years, as you can see/learn about below.
This was an impromptu purchase once I realized just how bad my circa-2018 Asos midi coat was looking. It was SERIOUSLY fuzzy, and I'd been walking around in it, not even realizing it. How embarrassing for me! So I took this fabric shaver to it while I finally watched Lost about a year ago. It's a little loud, but it did some WORK. Here's a pic of a sleeve where you can see the difference it's making and also a glamour shot of the gobs of lint and fuzz it's removed from the coat. And unlike with other fabric shavers, there's no guessing how much charge the battery has left. This gadget has a little % countdown that's clear to read. My beloved coat looks brand-new!
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in seven colors).
6. Some sheet fasteners if that fitted sheet won't stay put on your new thicker mattress or the elastic on the corners are stretched off despite everything else about said sheet being perfect. These are exactly how they sound, so no matter how much you toss and turn, your fitted sheet won't come loose in the middle of the night and require an extra pair of hands to put back in place.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
See them on TikTok.
Promising review:"I love these! Since I started using them my sheets haven't popped off once and that used to be a several-times-a-night problem because I toss and turn when I sleep. Thank you, TikTok!" — Gabby
Get a set of four from Amazon for $8.99 (available in three colors).
7. A pack of stain-removing, nontoxic cleaning cups can clean out your Keurig's innards once your coffee starts tasting a bit funny.
www.amazon.com
Quick & Clean is a small biz.
Promising review:"Bought this Keurig at the Goodwill. Five stars for the cleaner, 1 star for the nasty used coffee maker! You can see what came out!" — Amazon Customer
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.95.
8. Or a pack of Nespresso-compatible pod lids in case you've acquired a taste for those lil' delicious pods but your wallet is falling a bit behind the habit. Instead of abandoning the machine and going back to your French press, you can simply add coffee to a used pod, pop on an aluminum-foil lid, and then sip on some delish coffee like you're visiting George Clooney at his Lake Como villa.
Promising review: "After years of living with a Keurig that only made hot coffee, I bought a Nespresso machine to be able to make iced lattes, macchiatos, etc. Love the Nespresso machine, it's my baby. However, the Nespresso brand pods (although soooo delicious) are definitely expensive. I was spending a lot of money and constantly ordering new sleeves, considering I used about 2–3 pods a day in my household. These aluminum foil lids are such a game changer, and I have been using them for over a year now by saving my old Nespresso brand pods, cleaning them, and reusing them by filling with Cafe Bustelo espresso grounds. For me, I can barely taste a difference in quality, and the big tubs of the grounds last months! I've never had an issue with my machine by using this and get a great espresso shot every time. Would definitely recommend this method if you want good espresso, the convenience of being able to pre-make and pop in pods, and a great money-saving option!" — Dean Caruso
Get a 100-pack from Amazon for $7.09. Check out the brand's store for more reusable coffee accessories.
9. A $5 brass cleaner potion that, with just a tiny bit and some patient work with a cotton swab, will revive your designer bag's hardware (without a trip to the Louis Vuitton store)!
www.amazon.com
See how one TikToker makes over thrifted items with this brass cleaner. Reviewers say it also worked great on their Louis Vuitton locks, belt buckles, drawer pulls, and sconces, just to name a few things!
Promising review:"It feels like carrying a new purse again! Look at that hardware sparkle! I used a cotton swab to clean the hardware and only used a very small amount at a time so it did not get into the leather." — Curious007
Get it from Amazon for $4.98.
10. Some of The Pink Stuff will make all kinds of unsightly marks disappear — even scratches on your beloved dishes you don't want to replace!
www.amazon.com
It also works great on cleaning burnt cookware, dirty Crocs, Sharpie scribbles on painted furniture, and nearly any other household mess your creative kids could dream up.
Promising review:"Everyone raves about the Pink Stuff, but I just didn't get it. Then I bought it. Look at how it took scratches off my old dishes!! Next up were hard water spots on glass shower doors. Equally impressive! What will I tackle next?! I'm a believer!" — Faith
Get it from Amazon for $5.97.
11. A handbag organizer with LOTS of pockets to help you make the most of that tote you ADORE but REALLY needs far more organization. Or maybe it just (embarrassingly) has pen marks all over inside of it and you're trying to cover it up? Talk about a win-win.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I have always purchased handbags with lots of pockets and sections because I hate having to dig around trying to find something in the gaping hole of purses with no sections. I purchased this medium size organizer, and I couldn't be happier!! It is very well-made, and it has so many great pockets to organize everything I need. THE BEST PART is, I can easily lift it out of one purse and put it into another one, and I always know where everything can be found. I wish I had gotten one of these years ago. When I first ordered this organizer, I didn't realize it had two zipper compartments on each side, and I was tickled to discover even MORE storage!!! With all the fun colors and patterns, it was hard to select one, but I've always been partial to polka dots. I love it and can't imagine anyone not being has pleased with this as I am!" — Ronna
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in sizes S-L and in 26 colors).
12. A set of Solemates heel protectors can save your stilettos from grassy walks as a bridesmaid, wedding guest, or someone who just got invited to a fancy shindig. Now you won't have to worry about defaulting to block heels or dropping your shoes off for repair afterward. And because they're clear, they're unnoticeable.
Amazon
Solemates is a US-based small business specializing in shoe care products.
Promising review:"I purchased the narrow pair to wear with some high heels to my friend's wedding as a maid of honor. I also purchased some for the bride. These are amazing and did not pop off once! Everyone was asking me how in the world are my heels not sinking into the grass. They didn't notice the clear protectors until I pointed them out. This invention is genius and I definitely did not sink into the grass! Totally worth it, especially if you have expensive heels that you do not want to ruin! As for the bride's expensive shoes, they were definitely saved!!!" — swt caroline
Get them from Amazon for $8.75.
13. Some liquid fabric dye will give your canvas sneakers a new life. The Rit website has a TON of official tutorials!
Rit
Check out how to dye your canvas sneakers on Rit.
Get a bottle from Amazon for $5.99 (available in a range of colors).
14. Or a powder fabric dye to help update anything in your closet you're feeling a bit meh about, has faded more than you'd like, or would serve you better in a different hue.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review (for the pic on the right):"I used the bucket dying method on a white 100% cotton dress I bought from a thrift store. It worked perfectly. No blotchy bits or anything to give away that this dress was ever anything but yellow. The key is to follow the instructions. You'll want to use a cup of salt and a little squirt of soap with your hot water, and make sure everything is completely dissolved before dying your fabric. Also pre-wet the fabric. The RIT website has very clear instructions with various methods of dying. I highly recommend RIT dye." — Loren
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 21 colors).
15. Grandma's Secret, an under-the-radar solution with serious stain-removing prowess — like, cleaning grease from your favorite pair of jeans.
www.amazon.com
It can remove oil, grease, ink, grass, and blood stains for all my vampires out there. Psst, a few years ago I recommended this to a friend who fell in a puddle of motor oil on a sidewalk, then accidentally wiped it on her camel coat. It got the stains out!
Promising review:"So….my son pays no mind to the amount of grease that he is covered in while working in the farm shop 🤣😂 I had basically said these jeans are work jeans now!!! I am amazed at how these look after two washes!! If you haven't ordered it, go do it now!!" — Mommyof20607
Get two bottles from Amazon for $8.99.
16. Or a jean button replacement kit in case the problem with your go-to pair is actually the hardware. Finding another pair and then paying for 'em is such a pain.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Bought these to replace a button on my jeans and wound up adding a second button to tighten the waistband when wearing a belt. So handy, and just a few taps was all it took." — Comesitbymyfire
Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $9.99.
17. Some bra bands that can easily add some extra space to your trusty underthing you aren't quite ready to part with. Bras are incredibly expensive, and these aren't!
www.amazon.com
These are also great for creating a custom fit if you have trouble finding your exact size in stores.
Promising review:"These have been amazing during my pregnancy. I really can't rave enough. When my body started changing, I went out and bought a new bra (I'm a 32 and got a 34), but soon it started feeling tight on me. I didn't need another bra because the cups still fit fine, then I found these extenders, and they made all the difference! I can extend without buying new bras! They are sooo soft and comfortable, you can't really feel or tell they are there. I've already recommended them to all of my pregnant friends!" — Mari
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $7.59 (available in a variety of combos).
18. A waist extender that'll help you get FAR more use out of those pants you're nervous about wearing to dinner because they're right on the cusp of being hard to button up. No need to replace! Be free! Use a waist extender!
Amazon
Promising review:"I do not know how I lived without them. I have saved a bunch on unnecessary alterations." — Gerald Voigt
Get a five-pack from Amazon for $6.99.
19. And on the flip side, slip into a too-roomy set of jeans with jean button pins. Sizing pants is hard! These can help eliminate that waist gap.
Promising review:"There are the best things ever. I have jeans that fit great but the waist is always too loose. So I saw these on TikTok, and I was so curious to see if they worked or not. But seriously, you need to buy these, the buttons are great material and just the most useful things overall." — Alexa Botello
Get a set of 8 from Amazon for $6.99.
20. A four-way cleaning brush will make big moves on the exterior of worse-for-wear suede shoes BUT there are tons of reviewers that also love it for cleaning the footbeds of their Birks.
Shacke is a small biz.
It has four sides: one to clean heavier scuff marks and stains, one to gently clean fine suede and light scuff marks, one to clean rounded corners, and one to clean hard-to-reach crevices and grooves.
Promising review:"With so many options, I wasn't sure which cleaner or brush to get but this is perfect and the left shoe was clean in about two minutes! Looking forward to cleaning all my other Birkenstocks!" — MsSmith18
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
21. Bright shoelaces that come in a set of 15 colors so you can switch it up depending on that day's whims. Or just get you excited to go to that 6:30 a.m. total body conditioning class that a much more ambitious Past You signed up for with glee.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review:"Great quality, great colors. These laces are long enough for my boots... I use them with my canvas Keds sneakers too. It's nice to be able to change my laces with my outfits... It feels like a new pair of shoes every time I wear them!" — Tdelarme
Get them from Amazon for $6.99.
22. Some wood polish and conditioner that'll help turn back time on some water stains because despite your constant reminders, you family can't seem to actually use the coasters and the coffee table for their water glasses.
Enhances the natural beauty and depth of grain on finished *and* unfinished wood. For use on antiques, dining tables, kitchen cabinets, wood doors, and trim, etc.
Promising review:"Used this to attempt to clean up the 45-year-old solid wood couch that I inherited and reupholstered. Got the water stains off after one application! Perfect!" — Stacey A. Berkin
Get it from Amazon for $8.47.
23. A watermark-removing cloth that could also do wonders on the nail polish remover you dribbled down your bathroom vanity two years ago and you've been pretending like isn't there.
www.amazon.com
Also check out a reviewer who said it removed a months-old heat stain from a coffee mug.
Promising review:"Worked wonders! I spilled nail polish remover on my nightstand. This worked like magic! Just rub lightly with the cloth." — JMac
Get it from Amazon for $8.19.
24. Goo Gone can zap all sorts of sticky messes on stuff you're trying to make outlive you. It's ready to take on all kinds of messes, including sticky residue from mounted objects like below.
When I moved into my rental apartment years ago it came with a fridge with some stuck-on magnets I couldn't scrape off with my finger (and thus, ruined a manicure). My mom rec'd this stuff and it got rid of the mess easy-peasy. Since then I've rec'd it to a friend to successfully remove stickers from garage door windows.
Promising review:"This is an amazing product. I've been trying everything to remove my old phone mount on my car dashboard, and this adhesive removal worked very fast. My recommendation is to wear gloves, I noticed that my fingertips and my nails got damaged. But besides from that, I give ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to GOO GONE" — May
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in different sizes).
25. Some silver polish to bring treasures and family heirlooms back to life and prevent future tarnishing. This might just having your hunting for more tarnished victims at yard sales and flea markets.
Promising review:"I was able to clean up a tea set given to my grandfather 40 years ago. This stuff worked amazingly!" — Kristi Lane
Get it from Amazon for $9.98.
26. Or a container of silver-polishing wipes that may just convince you to take out those heirloom pieces you thought about decluttering because they just look so ghastly. No more!
www.amazon.com
Package includes 20 saturated wipes that are each 5.5' x 7.9'.
Promising review:"It was so satisfying to watch the tarnish wipe right off! I'm no silver snob/don't know a lot about taking care of it, so I'm not sure if this product is the best for your high-end silver, but for me it definitely does the trick! It took me three to four wipes for the pitcher and two for the cream and sugar bowls. It looks like I probably used a third of the container. (Though the wipes were still very saturated, they had so much black/tarnish, I would start a new rag. I'm not sure if it's recommended to just keep using it even when it gets all ruddy?) So this might not be the most reasonable option if you have a large amount of silver." — Lauren
Get a container of 20 wipes from Amazon for $8.99.
27. Some outdoor fabric spray paint (yes, you read that right) can refresh your outdoor pillows and cushions. This will especially come in handy if you have oddly shaped or custom outdoor furniture cushions that are really hard to replace.
The Home Depot
Promising review: "Pricey but worth it! My patio cushion covers would have cost a fortune to replace, given their unique shape. This is the ONLY fabric spray that has EVER held true to its promise of preserving the fabric's original soft texture. Shake Suddenly Sapphire well, it will need at least three coats for an even application because it comes out very fine. Example: I needed one whole can for the first coat on the tops and sides of two cushions. At $14 a can, it can get up there, but it's still better than replacing cushions!" — Juanita
Get it from The Home Depot for $9.98 (available in eight colors).
28. A clip-on light if you're in love with your patio umbrella and don't wanna shell out for a whole new one that's pre-lit.
www.amazon.com
It has three different brightness options so you can set *~the mood~* perfectly. It also requires AA batteries, so be sure to pick those up as well.
Promising review:"This light is great!!! It has three settings, to adjust the amount of brightness you need. Lowest level is great for just sitting around your patio table and having a couple of drinks with friends. Brightest setting is PERFECT for playing cards! We play cards a few times a month. We decided to try and play outside. There are two 70+-year-olds who did not complain that they couldn't see. So, works great in my book! 😁" — Mandie Jordan
Get it from Amazon for $10.79.
29. Some matte-steel cabinet pulls for a modern touch to those cabinets or credenza that is just part of the landscape of your home by this point. Even if you don't consider yourself a handy person, this is a super easy DIY.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Can't beat the quality for the price! Solid weight, none arrived scratched, bent or broken. Definitely get the template! It makes installation a breeze! With the template, I had 24 handles installed in less than 45 minutes! Immediately upgraded my cabinets. Very happy with this purchase!" — alexa
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in quantities 1–60 and in seven colors).
30. A red-wine stain remover you should keep on hand because, well, accidents happen! But you can be prepared for (at least some of) them!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Spilled an entire glass of red wine on my couch last night. Of course I was about to load the entire couch off to the dump, but I remembered I had bought this product probably a year ago and hadn't tried it. The stain literally disappeared before my eyes…and after throwing the cover in the washer and dryer, the stain is 100% gone. I thought for sure there would be a purple cast of color on the cushion. NO. You would never know I spilled an entire glass of wine on this cushion. I wonder if it works best when used immediately? Curious if it would work on old stains. REGARDLESS: it is a miracle product." — Kelly Potter
Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in several sizes and in individual wipes).
31. A grout pen will fake some squeaky clean, stainless grout for stuff that's been there awhile. Or, like this reviewer did as seen in these pics, let you change the shade of your grout as you'd want!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I installed an expensive soft white tile (if there is such a thing) floor in the kitchen when I bought my house. At the time, it was a new product and it was beautiful – that fuzzy, warm feeling changed the first time I dropped a fork. I have been so frustrated no wanting to rip up and put down replacement tiles. The grout pen made it look new again, I am thrilled with the results!" — K. Robles
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes).
32. A USB-powered LED light strip you can stick on to help improve your TV-watching experience by bringing in a bit of ambient light to your personal theater. Try this out to see if it gives you your desired at-home entertainment experience before you start measuring wall space and contemplate moving around furniture for a different TV.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Easy to install. Lights provide ample lighting; USB allows lights to be a standalone fixture without tying up another wall socket. The USB interface also acts to turn the lights on and off with the TV. Backlighting also seems to make the screen seem sharper." — Shaun
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes).
33. A daily makeup brush cleaning spray because you and I both know you're not washing your beauty tools as frequently as you should. (Same.) Turns out, your brush bristles didn't come pink. That's just your blush!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I'm not very good at makeup, but am practicing. I'm also a clean freak so I was able to use just a tiny bit of this cleaner and my brushes come out clean as new." — William M. Buttlicker
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
34. A box of slow cooker liners that'll make cleaning up after yourself (and delicious concoctions) criminally easy in case the reason you haven't been using this workhouse countertop appliance is because of the cleanup. Just toss the liner when you're finished!
Amazon
I adore my slow cooker but hate cleaning up after using it. So I use these handy lil' bags. Read my full review of Reynolds Kitchens Premium Slow Cooker Liners.
Get a box of 20 from Amazon for $12.18 (also available in small size).
35. Bottle Bright cleaning tablets to revive the look (and taste!) of the stainless-steel thermos you use every dang day but aren't so great at washing like you should. If stained thermoses and coffee mugs give you the ick, these little tabs are really going to help your bottom line.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Finished using it five minutes ago and it's the best! My husband uses a Stanley thermos daily to take coffee to work. He tries to remember to rinse it out every day, but that doesn't always happen. I got the package today, filled the thermos with water, dropped a tablet in, and let it sit. I promptly forgot about it for a few hours. Initially, I was disappointed when I dumped the water, as it was barely tinged brown. Then I put fresh water in, covered the top, shook it, and OMG. T he crap that came out was disgusting, yet fascinating. I looked in the thermos and saw almost nothing but sparkly silver! There was a little crud left in the top third of the thermos, but it's a really tall one, so I wasn't surprised. Got the bottle brush, swished twice, and bam! All clean! No fumes, no smell, no nothing, just clean. I used to struggle cleaning it with baking soda, vinegar, the brush, soap, and elbow grease. Screw that. I will forever use only these tablets! Here's to better tasting (and way less gross) coffee!" — BranchingOut
Get 12 tablets from Amazon for $7.48.
36. A genius humidifier tank cleaner can help look after that lil' machine that's saving your skin and sinuses this season. This cartridge "swims" around the water tank, helping inhibit the growth of buildup for up to 30 days.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Just drop this in your humidifier and it keeps the water pretty darn mildew- and mold-free. Super easy to use, no smell, and safe. I have already repurchased and given a few to other people as well." — Kristine
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
37. A laundry-detergent drip catcher will help salvage some of that precious goo, so you can go a tad bit longer in between shopping trips. It'll also help you keep track of that cup! Every drop of goo helps!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"These are just what I've been looking for. I've been cleaning up drippy soap and softener from my floor for years. Now, this product keeps things nice and tidy and clean. Plus… They were five dollars cheaper than other very similar products. They simply attached to the bottle and are sturdy." — Pete
Get two from Amazon for $4.99.
38. A four-pack of washing-machine dampening pads if every time you wash towels it sounds like your machine is in a fight.
Amazon
IdeaWorks is a small biz specializing in problem-solving home products.
Promising review: "Looked at all the reviews and decided the crack in my ceiling in the dining room was still worth them to try. Totally happy. The noise level from an upstairs front loader washer and minimal noise from the dryer is vanquished. The washer is in an overflow pan, but for the past six years, it has sounded and felt like it was going to come right into the dining room because it was so noisy." — SKRATCH
Get them from Amazon for $6.70+ (available in three colors).
39. A fridge door organizer to squeeze in some extra space for leftover sauce packets and other tiny food items you still wanna use. Don't let those extra ketchup packets from takeout go to waste or explode on a shelf underneath your meal-prepped Bentgo box!
www.amazon.com
This comes in a pack of four with two pockets each so everyone can get one! And because they're clear, you'll be able to see what's inside so you can actually use it.
Promising review:"I used the product to clear up space that was used for condiment packets, but they also worked out great to hold my mom's insulin pens so they don't get lost in the fridge." — GuVal
Get four from Amazon for $9.99.
40. A protective cable covering for keeping all sorts of critters from chewing on your cords, from cats to squirrels.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "These wire protectors work amazingly! I got them to keep my cats from chewing on my wires, and they do the job perfectly. They are tough to cut, but that's actually a good thing, it means they're strong and hard to break into, just as they should be. If you need reliable protection for your cables, these are a great choice!" — Clayton
"The Alex Tech cord protector easily wraps around wires. I even had it continue over a hard 1/2 inch plastic cord protector. I used this to protect my trailer harness from the nut thieving tree rats, my loving wife calls squirrels. They chewed the last harness off." — CB in FL
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in a variety of sizes).
41. A toothpaste squeezer that'll also serve as a stand for your bathroom sink. It helps you squeeze out EVERY last little bit because it seems like you're always nearly out of toothpaste. Let's make sure we're REALLY out of toothpaste this time.
Sally Elshorafa / BuzzFeed
My colleague Sally Elshorafa has and loves this: "I'm a person who likes an uncluttered bathroom countertop, and having this hold my toothpaste straight up as opposed to just laying it down frees up space and keeps it looking tidy. It also ensures no toothpaste ever goes to waste; I've noticed since using it that I go way longer between needing a new tube. I just really hate wasting product, but so many bottles and tubes make it impossible to get the last couple of tablespoons of stuff out. I can't stand this! With this squeezer, I literally get ALL the toothpaste out before I need a new tube, and it's soooo satisfying."
Promising review: "No instructions come with it, but it is fairly obvious how it works. Bottom of the tube through the body slot into the turnkey slot, and turn the key enough to clamp the tube in place. Stands upright, making a very small footprint. Wind too tight, and you might pop the cap with toothpaste under pressure. Gonna try it with other tubed products, like tomato paste and bacitracin." — Stephanie L.
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $7.50+ (available in a pack of red and white or navy and white).
42. A concentrated gel cleaner to tackle mold, mildew, and stains on your large appliance you want to make last as LONG as possible. Lots of reviewers who tried just about everything else say that this is what finally worked for them.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I have tried eeeeeverything to clean my front-loading washing machine. Bleach, mold remover sprays, vinegar…you name it. I also run a cleaning cycle with a washing machine tablet once a month, but mold still builds up. This stuff got rid of the mold in less than three hours! When I say this stuff is THE miracle worker you're looking for, I mean it." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
43. A tiny but mighty tube of White Lithium Grease can help lubricate and, therefore, quiet down noisy parts that are rubbing together in the worst way possible — whether it's on your car sunroof, bicycle, garage door.... So many possibilities. At $5 a pop, it's worth buying now and keeping in your junk drawer before you need it.
www.amazon.com
Reviewers have use it on their clippers, laptop fans, a garage door opener chain, snow blower parts, restoring old record players, suspension rod points in a washer, recliner parts, a car sunroof, and more. Just make sure that it's OK to use on whatever you're using.
Promising review: "I use this on our garage door that gets a lot of wear and tear (upper Midwest winters and three active kids). It keeps the rails lubricated so the door runs smoothly." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $4.59.
44. A "Did You Feed the Cat" tracker that also comes in a dog, bird, and fish so that pricey bag of pet food lasts for as long as you budgeted. Sorry, Cheesecake!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Did You Feed the Dog? is a small biz specializing in this specific product.
Promising review: "If your cats are manipulative little jerks like mine, you need this in your life. No more will they trick members of your household into giving them a second breakfast!" — Stephanie
Get it from Amazon for $9.61 (also available in versions for brushing your teeth and taking your pills).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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Venice is wild with rumors over the secretive Bezos-Sanchez wedding

CNN

7 minutes ago

Venice is wild with rumors over the secretive Bezos-Sanchez wedding

Plagued by the looming threat of disruptive protests, the upcoming Venetian wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former news anchor and licensed pilot Lauren Sanchez — which is expected to be a lavish, multimillion-dollar affair — may be one of the most anticipated and closely guarded events to be held in the floating city of love. Spokespeople for the couple remain tight-lipped and invited guests have been required to sign NDAs, but a lid cannot be kept on widespread speculation about every detail of the event that is expected to take place this week. At Harry's Bar, a fabled institution that once counted Ernest Hemingway among its customers, the waiters are hoping some of the 200 guests — a mix of A-list celebrities, political dignitaries and powerful business executives — might stop in for one of their famous Bellini cocktails. Whether or not Bezos will bring his yet-unnamed groomsmen there, as George Clooney did when he married Amal Alamuddin in 2014, is anyone's guess. 'We hope so,' one of the waiters told CNN. 'We can't divulge anyone who has made a reservation. We protect the privacy of all of our guests, not just the billionaires.' From the date to the guest list, possible venues and the bridal gown, the rumor mill is spinning at a rapid pace. Proceedings are being overseen by boutique event planners Lanza and Baucina, the Italian duo who transformed Venice's Grand Canal into a red carpet for the Clooneys' glitzy wedding. Protesters believe there's no space for a Bezos wedding in Venice, but the company has insisted that its plans are respectful of the city and the unique set of challenges it faces as one of the most overpopulated tourist sites in Europe. 'Rumors of 'taking over' the city are entirely false and diametrically opposed to our goals and to reality,' they said in a statement shared with CNN. 'From the outset, instructions from our client and our own guiding principles were abundantly clear: the minimizing of any disruption to the city.' The couple is sourcing some 80% of wedding provisions from local vendors, including pastries from the Rosa Salva pastry shop, the oldest in Venice, whose owners told CNN they have been commissioned to create 'about 200 goodie bags.' Murano glassware designer Laguna B also confirmed to CNN that it is creating special party favors. The company declined to share any further details. Veneto regional president Luca Zaia is not concerned about the city's plans to manage the wedding, telling one local paper, 'I repeat, this is a city that handles 150,000 people a day. George Clooney, François-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek, Alexandre Arnault, Elton John and many others got married here.' He also surmised that the President of the United States, who is scheduled to be in Europe this week for the NATO summit, could conceivably be on the guest list, telling Corriere della Sera, 'Of course, Donald Trump could also come to this wedding.' One imagines that Trump's priorities may have shifted considerably over the weekend. With guests sworn to secrecy about their attendance, Sanchez's very public bachelorette party in Paris last month may offer clues as to who will watch on as she and Bezos say 'I do.' Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Katy Perry, and Eva Longoria all took part in celebrations that included a boat trip along the Seine. Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger and Ivanka Trump have also been invited, according to the Associated Press. As is tradition, Sanchez will be keeping details of her wedding gown, and its designer, under wraps until the big day, but close followers of her fashion will know she is a regular wearer of Dolce & Gabbana. Sanchez sat front and center at the Italian house's Alta Moda show in Sardinia last summer as her son Nikko Gonzalez walked the runway, signaling a close relationship with the brand. Others in the running to dress the bride could be the storied house of Oscar de la Renta. Sanchez did not attend this year's Met Gala, but she did notably wear a custom-made gown by the label for her 2024 debut. Around 30 of the city's elite water taxis, out of 280 total, are also thought to be reserved. One taxi driver told CNN he has been booked from June 25th through the 30th for 'a big wedding,' but declined to say more on the subject. Gondolas have also been put on hold, with the city's gondola association confirming they are ready for the event. The city's nine yacht ports have also been booked for the week leading up to the main event. Bezos' $500 million Koru, which is always tailed by the smaller L'Abeona, are both in the Adriatic Sea already, according to the Marine Traffic website. Venice's airspace is closed to drones and non-authorized traffic, but one source told CNN that permission has been granted for private helicopters, particularly for anyone needing special security, such as heads of state. The Marco Polo airport, no stranger to private jet traffic, already has a secluded area with direct access to private water taxis, making it easy for stars to slip into the city unseen. The wedding date itself, by far the most protected detail, still remains unconfirmed and the couple seem hellbent on keeping everyone guessing up until the last minute. A person close to Venice City Hall told CNN that the wedding planners secured a variety of venues over a period of days and will decide what happens where and when based on the most uncontrollable factors — weather and protesters. The wedding is expected to use a small handful of hotels in the city to accommodate guests or host events. One of the most talked-about possible venues is the Cini Foundation on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, which has hosted everything from G7 events to private concerts. The sculpted gardens and monastery, where monks still pray, sit across the lagoon from the famous Piazza San Marco and would provide an intimate setting ideal for a dinner. Building work being carried out in mid-June looked suspiciously like a set being built — perhaps for a wedding concert? The Aman hotel on the Grand Canal, where the Clooneys chose to wed, has also been mentioned as a potential location. Another top contender is the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a 16th-century armory that would be perfect for the ceremony itself — although it is more vulnerable to protesters, who have already threatened to block the canals if the wedding party tries to reach the venue. Interestingly, a rather wedding-esque gazebo has been erected next to the Excelsior Hotel on the Venice Lido, a stone's throw from where the Venice Film Festival is held each year. But, as with the rest of the venues, nothing is confirmed.

CNN

12 minutes ago

Venice is wild with rumors over the secretive Bezos-Sanchez wedding

Amazon Prime Ends Its NASCAR Experiment With Plenty To Brag About

Forbes

42 minutes ago

Forbes

Amazon Prime Ends Its NASCAR Experiment With Plenty To Brag About

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 25: A detail view of a "NASCAR Prime" helmet on the on the Amazon ... More Prime Video set prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 2025 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Not long ago, if you'd told someone from the older generation that one day NASCAR races would be watched on the internet—without a single cable or satellite dish in sight—they'd have laughed, then asked what channel the internet was on. We're talking about a generation that grew up fiddling with rabbit ears on top of a black-and-white television just to catch a fuzzy glimpse of the Daytona 500—and still expects the morning newspaper to land with a satisfying thump on the driveway at sunrise. And yet, here we are. The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway marked the start of something new: the first time a full NASCAR Cup Series race was streamed exclusively. No traditional broadcast. No cable. Just you, your internet connection, and a new era. Some skeptics braced for buffering, crashes, or missing the green flag while the app updated. But what actually happened was something else entirely: it worked. It turned out to be one of the most innovative, polished, and downright thrilling broadcasts NASCAR fans have seen in years. This wasn't a cautious toe-dip into the digital future. This was a cannonball off the high board—and in the end, Amazon and NASCAR stuck the landing. BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN - JUNE 08: (L-R) The NASCAR on Prime Video broadcast team Danielle Trotta, Carl ... More Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Corey LaJoie talk on set prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 08, 2025 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by) From the on-screen Burn Bar that showed fuel consumption in real time to pre-race packages that felt like NFL Films had invaded the infield, Amazon Prime's production team didn't just bring NASCAR into the streaming era—they took it to school. The camera work was sharp. The graphics were clean without being intrusive. The audio mix made it feel like you were in the pits with a headset on. And the pre- and post-race segments? Let's just say, if you're one of the traditional networks, you should be looking over your shoulder. A new bar has been set. So what gave Amazon—and NASCAR—the confidence to believe streaming would finally land with this audience? "To me, it's less about streaming than people might think," said Alex Strand, Senior Coordinating Producer at Prime Video, who was at the center of it all. "In the end, our goal is fan first. Whether that's Thursday Night Football, National Women's Soccer League, or NASCAR, we're really fan first.' Strand and his team didn't recycle an old playbook. They came at this with a blank slate—though not without lessons learned from Prime's Thursday Night Football broadcasts. Finding their identity was key. 'One big thing has been our postgame show. For TNF, Nightcap gave us a platform to go deep and be the first voice people hear," Strand said. "For NASCAR… you could really talk for three hours. You've got 36 teams and 36 storylines. It's one of the unique challenges—but the approach still fits." That approach resulted in pre- and post-race coverage that felt less like a broadcast and more like an immersive experience. Fans got emotion, analysis, and context without being rushed off the air. Part of that came from the chemistry between Corey LaJoie and Carl Edwards—the fan-favorite driver who returned to the sport and slipped into his new role with the same ease, and talent, he once showed climbing into a race car. Add in visual tools like the now-famous Burn Bar—which showed live fuel consumption data in a simple, intuitive graphic—and suddenly you're not just watching a race, you're understanding it in real time. LEBANON, TENNESSEE - JUNE 01: A general view of the NASCAR on Prime Video broadcast set after the ... More NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 01, 2025 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo by) "We have the general belief at Amazon that fans can tolerate more data," Strand said. "Take things that are really advanced and present them in really simple ways. It's the same with our 'defensive alerts' in football—a little red circle might mean something different to a casual fan than it does to a strategist, but it works either way." The Burn Bar was developed in-house, using the same real-time NASCAR telemetry available to other networks. But the model powering it? Proprietary Amazon tech, with a little help from Amazon Web Services. So what was the mood the night before this high-speed baptism—Amazon's first green flag at Charlotte, no cable safety net, millions watching, and just enough time to wonder if they'd accidentally left the lens cap on while hoping the Burn Bar wouldn't spontaneously combust? "Excitement," Strand said. "Everybody in the crew was pumped…We'd been talking about this for 18 months. We knew the responsibility, and there was a lot of thought that went into how we got on air for the first time. But in Charlotte? The prevailing feeling was excitement." That excitement was contagious. Viewers and even industry insiders praised the coverage. And while traditional Nielsen ratings aren't the currency of streaming, Amazon saw exactly what NASCAR hoped for: a younger demographic tuning in. "Our belief is that by creating a great show, telling the story of a race or an NFL game... if we do that right, fans will come," Strand said. "We saw it in the UK with the Premier League. We've seen it with the NFL. Have fun while you're doing it, and the viewership will come. 'Certainly, a younger demographic is an exciting thing—but it's not our only goal. Our goal is to serve the entire fan base." The numbers, while not record-breaking, were right where Prime expected them to be for a first-year foray into a new platform—solid enough to build on, especially with younger audiences. "It's been really cool and encouraging to see these numbers come in in year one," Strand said. "It's something we're really happy about." DAYTONA BEACH - FEBRUARY 18: A cameraman holding a CBS camera at the Daytona 500 racing event, on ... More February 18, 1979, at Daytona Beach, FL. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) And for those fans who still miss the newspaper and swear their DVR is smarter than they are, Prime made the transition surprisingly seamless. Free trial offers, user-friendly interfaces, and a commitment to continuous improvement have made streaming feel less like a chore and more like an upgrade. "Our goal is always to make sports streaming as accessible as possible," Strand said. "At Amazon, we have a saying: it's always Day One. That means we keep looking for ways to do it better." As the five-race run concluded at Pocono, the energy didn't wane. "You spend a whole season on a tour, it becomes work. But with this five-race stretch? It's been pure joy," Strand said. "Everyone shows up smiling. Carl Edwards and Corey LaJoie are genuinely excited to be watching races together.' Amazon isn't talking specifics about its future NASCAR involvement beyond the current deal just yet, but Strand confirmed that the debrief and development process will begin immediately. "Every week we've made changes and improved," he said. "That process begins right away for whatever comes next. We'll continue to watch the rest of the season just like we always have, and keep thinking about how we can make our coverage as good as it can be." So now what? The grand streaming experiment is over—for this season. NASCAR heads into the heat of summer and the heart of the championship push. Amazon hands off the baton, but it's clear that fans—and other broadcasters—have taken notice. Strand knows exactly what he wants fans to do: "Keep coming. We want people to be consuming the Cup Series year-round… If we've gained any new viewers, we hope they stick around. The more people around, the better it is for the sport.' And if that means Grandpa learns how to use a Fire Stick? Even better.

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Venice is wild with rumors over the secretive Bezos-Sanchez wedding

Venice is wild with rumors over the secretive Bezos-Sanchez wedding

Amazon Prime Ends Its NASCAR Experiment With Plenty To Brag About

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