James Bond. Indiana Jones. Robin Hood. And, my personal favorite, Atticus Finch. All of these fictitious characters have one thing in common: They were considered heroes for one reason or another. We love heroes, don’t we? Heroes who stick it to the man, heroes who overcome adversity, heroes who change the world. Do you know what else I love? “Hero” products that save the day, particularly when those heroes are $10 or less.
This article is all about Amazon buys that’ll be heroes in your own life, products that will totally save the day whether you’re brushing your teeth, feeding the baby, or bringing groceries home from the store. Better than being a hero product is the fact that all of these clutch gadgets are $10 or less. Would you invest in something if someone told you it was life-changing and cost $10,000? Maybe. Would you invest in something if something told you it was life-changing and cost $6? Probably. You could buy everything on this list — all 37 products — for a total of $325. Change your life for $300? Absolutely.
Sink Your Teeth Into These
I learned my lesson about charcoal toothpaste the first time I used it: Don’t put it on a regular, sparkling white toothbrush head. These black replacement heads are compatible with Oral-B devices and are a great option for charcoal products that can stain white brush heads. A pack of four is less than $8, which is pretty awesome if you consider you can barely buy one high-quality toothbrush in a store for that price.
Sandwich-asaurus
Do sandwiches taste different when they’re cut into shapes? Heck yeah, they do. This four-piece set of sandwich cutters includes cute shapes like a dinosaur, star, elephant and butterfly. Made of food-grade plastic, these are great for sandwiches, cookie dough, rice mold, soft fruits, bread, jelly, cheese, craft clay, gingerbread men, Christmas cookies and more. They don’t have any sharp edges, too, so the little ones can help.
At A Good Clip
I have a hard time with nail clippers — not in using them, but in keeping track of them. Thus, I have about 27 of them all over my house. This set includes both a large clipper (for toes) and a small clipper (for hands) in a chic matte black finish. These are designed with curved cutting edges and perfectly aligned blades for comfort and control.
Don’t Slip Up
I haven’t thought about bathtub decals like these since I was a kid spending the night at my grandparents’ house. But, then I stumbled onto these preparing for this article and remembered how useful they are. Complete with a sticky surface on the bottom and a non-slip surface on the top, these decals adhere right to your tub and help you keep traction on what can sometimes be a slippery situation.
A Tip Of The Hat
As I’m writing this, parts of the East Coast are getting hammered with snow — a “bomb cyclone,” to be exact, which sounds terrifying. This pom pom beanie hat is a must-have if you live in a climate where snow is a regular part of the agenda. A soft fleece lining on the inside keeps you warm with an exterior that’s doubly cute.
Put A Lid On It
One of my dad’s biggest pet peeves is an empty, unclaimed can of soda in the refrigerator. I’m about to buy him a two-pack of these clear can lids so he can at least keep drinks fresh while he’s trying to track down their owner. These snap right onto the top of traditional beverage cans to help keep fizzy drinks exactly that — fizzy.
Make Your Mark
Do people still write their kids’ names or initials inside of their clothes? You know, to help keep track of them at school, church, and friends’ houses? These fabric laundry markers have dual tips for both thin and thick lines in ink that are non-bleeding and fade-resistant even after multiple washes. They’re also kid-friendly and non-toxic so there’s nothing to worry about there.
Hey, Grill, Hey
Grilling season is right around the corner and if you’re going to grill, you’re going to need a grill brush. This one has a sturdy brush and scraper combined and an extra-long handle to keep your hands away from the heat. The stainless steel bristles offer effortless cleaning that goes five times faster than traditional brushes. It won’t leave scratches behind either.
As Smooth As Silk
The best thing I ever did for my hair was to purchase a silk pillowcase. This satin sleep headscarf gives you the same results (less frizz! less breakage!) with more freedom to move around, allowing you to, say, nap on the couch while protecting your style. Pro tip: Pair it with your favorite leave-in conditioner for a spa-like experience for your hair.
Lighten Your Purse
I love finding places for storage that aren’t really places for storage. Do you know what I mean? I’m talking about under the bed and, especially, hanging over closet and pantry doors. This over-the-door purse organizer is a great place to store your handbags in a way that also puts them on display for easy access. Just grab one that matches your outfit and go.
Storage Wars
Trunk organizers are great until you take that curve a little too fast and everything shifts and makes a mess. This cargo net puts a (literal) lid on top of your trunk organizer to help get the things you put in it, well, in it. At just $8, it’s a cheap accessory to add to your organizer for instant insurance.
Let It Slide
It can be tricky to squeeze in workouts sometimes; I mean, I presume since I don’t work out. But, I’m always hearing other people say things like that. Ahem. These core sliders make a full-body workout possible from anywhere since they’re almost small enough to slip in your pocket and work on surfaces from carpet to tile. These are low-impact, too, to save your knees and ankles.
Here Comes The Claws
Claw clips are useful for a ton of things, from keeping your hair out of your eyes when you’re removing or applying makeup and creating sleek hairstyles whether it’s pulled back or left down. This six-pack from Kitsch has easy-grab handles and black and brown colors that can blend easily into the hair. These are great for thick, thin, curly or straight hair.
Wipe Out
I have both glasses and contacts but you won’t find me in the former most of the time because wearing them is a pain in the butt. They get dirty, slide around, ugh. These lens and screen cleaning wipes are great to stash in a wallet or pocket for cleaning lenses on the go. This purchase includes 100 pre-moistened, individually sealed wipes.
Sew Useful
There’s not an item on this list that’s more “save the day” than this portable sewing kit. Complete in a zippered case, this beginner-friendly set is packed with popular colors of thread, basic fabric scissors, a set of needles, two clips and a thimble. Keep one in your house and stash another in your car for on-the-go wardrobe malfunctions.
Feeding Frenzy
Nothing is messier than a baby learning to feed him or herself. These self-feed baby utensils make it easier for small hands to learn to maneuver a fork and spoon in a design that eliminates choking risks. The ergonomic handles are simpler to grasp and support the development of fine motor skills while the choke protection shield eliminates potential catastrophes.
Get The Hang Of It
Hanging a single pair of pants at a time can take up a ton of space in a closet. That’s why these four-tier wooden pants hangers are real-life space savers because you can store four pairs easily in the same space where you’d usually store one. This three-pack (12 pairs total!) comes in at less than $9, which is a total no-brainer.
Clean Sweep
There are times when you just don’t feel, um, fresh. You’re in a strange place or are hours away from grabbing your next shower. These flushable wet wipes for adults are gentle on the skin and pH-balanced to protect your most sensitive areas. They’re also infused with vitamin E and aloe to deliver moisture-loving ingredients to your thirsty skin.
Brush It Off
We talked about charcoal toothbrush heads a few products ago and if you’ve never tried it, now’s the time because I’ve got low-cost charcoal and coconut whitening toothpaste to accompany those brushes. This toothpaste has more than 40,000 reviews the likes of this one: “I noticed a change after the first use. This stuff is great! I get excited when it’s time to brush my teeth.”
Can’t Take The Heat
Multipurpose gadgets are the best and this one is a kitchen superstar. This four-in-one trivet/steamer/strainer/splatter guard takes the place of your hot pads and bulky strainers and streamers, smooshing them into one space-saving gadget. It also functions as a splatter guard to keep hot oil, boiling sauces, or sizzling grease from popping out and landing on your skin. The extra-large size is handy, too.
Water You Waiting For?
I must own, oh, about 614 water bottles and my absolute favorite ones are those with neoprene sleeves. These water bottle sleeve holders slide onto an existing 16- to 18-ounce glass or plastic bottle with a base diameter of 2.5 to 3 inches. The best part is that they keep your bottles from sweating and leaving rings of condensation on your valuable wood furniture.
Come Clean
You can never have too many scrubber sponges and this four-pack of double-sided sponges is a complete money saver. The scrubbing side is for tough or greasy spots and the soft microfiber surface erases hard dirt effectively, absorbing the moisture after cleaning. Use them everywhere, from cleaning dishes after dinner to scrubbing the shower to taking care of your vehicles.
Scoop, Scoop-Ba-Doop
This is actually one gadget I’ll never need because I’m so not a cat person. But, I recognize that a lot of you are and this sifter with a deep shovel litter scoop is a time saver because you don’t have to shake the scoop to get out the gross stuff. The sifter allows only clean litter to pass through.
Raise The Glasses
A lot of us wear glasses simply because we can’t see. Others of us wear glasses because they make us look cool or hip. And, the third segment of us wears glasses because they render some kind of benefits like reduced eyestrain or less glare. These blue light gaming glasses fall into the third category, making everything from working on a computer to driving at night easier on the eyes.
You’ve Got It In The Bag
I know what you’re thinking: I only have to worry about wreaths at Christmas. What planet do you live on?! I change out the wreath on my door regularly, which means I need a reasonable storage option when I switch them out. This bag is zippered to protect your investment and has durable handles to make it easy to pull in and out of storage.
Can It
Have you ever noticed how the tiniest cans in your pantry seem to find their way to the back? It’s sort of the same theory as carrying a large purse where everything goes to the bottom. This pantry pack food can organizer allows up to 12 three-ounce cans to be neatly organized and easily accessible. It also works well when traveling, thanks to its generous handle.
Make A Stink
Don’t you hate it when you’re favorite pair of shoes start smelling from across the room? This stink-free shoe and gear spray eliminates odors caused by sweat instead of just covering them up. And, don’t worry, there are no perfumes or oils that might irritate your nose and throat. Use this on everything from shoes and boots to gym bags, sports pads, and apparel.
Put Your Best Face Forward
One of the little-discussed topics in women’s beauty is the fact that most of us have some amount of hair on our faces. I know — gasp — shocking. These dermaplaning tools gently remove peach fuzz and unwanted hair to keep your skin healthy, smooth, and young. This purchase includes a pack of 12, with recommendations to use every three to four weeks.
Tame The Tub
Does this ring a bell? You finally have the kids to bed and have decided to indulge in a hot bath. Except, you go into the bathroom and find a mess of wet toys in the tub that need to be cleaned up first. This tub cubby bath storage organizer will help you do clean-up in a matter of seconds while allowing the toys to continue drying.
File This Away
Some file folders are pretty and some are not as pretty but highly functional and it’s the last group I want to talk about. These calendar file folders are excellent for keeping track of bills or expenses or staying on top of due dates for projects at work. You’ll get a pack of 12 and I’m guessing you’ll be back for another set ASAP.
At A Good Clip
If you’re brave enough to clip your pet’s nails at home, I have mad respect for you. These pet nail scissors will be your new best friend and they are especially suitable for small breed animals from dogs and cats to rabbits and birds. Strong and sharp with stainless steel blades and a comfortable rubberized handle, you’ll be able to see the nails through the indentation making your job a lot easier.
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
At first glance, these probably look like medieval tools of torture but they actually have very modern-day usefulness. These are called vanity sink savers and, you’ve probably guessed by now that they serve as hair catchers that fit most standard bathroom sink drains. Keep your drains clog-free without the use of harsh liquids or the high cost of plumbing bills with this 12-piece set.
Fanny Around
Listen, I don’t know if you know this or not, but fanny packs are back again. This one is a joint fanny pack and dry bag that protects your gear (especially your smartphone) from the elements when you’re out and about communing with nature. Securely wear your phone, credit card, ID, and keys around your neck and waist while keeping everything dry as the Sahara.
Do You Ear What I Ear?
How many times in the past week have you been awoken by someone else in the room’s snoring? Did you consider doing something you’d have to spend time in jail for? I get it, but don’t resort to “three hots and a cot.” Just grab these silicone earplugs, which will block out the noise. These are reusable, including three pairs with a bonus travel pouch, and have usefulness beyond the bedroom such as at concerts and sporting events.
Beat The Heat
I feel like I’m always fighting with my potholders. They’re either cracking, missing, or not quite doing their job to keep the heat away from my hands. This silicone set includes two pot holders with pockets that are lined with terry cloth on the inside while providing a non-slip grip coating on the outside. They’re available in black, red, navy, turquoise, and gray.
A Real Spice Girl
One of my favorite purchases of the past six months or so is a lidded spice box like the one shown in the picture. Personally, I use mine for finishing salt, which adds just the right amount of brininess to a cut of meat. You can use this for any type of dry spice or herb, though, with a magnet on the base and lid to ensure a tight seal.