39 Products That Are Useful And Affordable

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Jun 15, 2023

39 Products That Are Useful And Affordable

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Claw clips, cleaning products, and the cutest box cutters you've ever seen.

BuzzFeed Staff

After hearing what incredible things The Pink Stuff can do, I finally ordered it and tried it for myself. Honestly, wow! It really does work wonders. I tried it first on my Le Creuset cast iron pan (seen above, right) and really was amazed at how just one pass with The Pink Stuff (and a scouring brush) took off almost every stain! I can't wait to try it on literally everything in my home that needs a deep cleaning.

Promising review: "Honestly I was very skeptical when I first purchased. Everyone on social media was talking about how amazing this product was for cleaning around the house and I just thought they were all jumping on some kind of band wagon. Of course I caved and had to try it for myself. Needless to say I’m very impressed! It removed stubborn mold and grime from my shower tile grout with use of a hard bristle tooth brush. It removed hard water stains from my sinks and faucets. I noticed it really does remove mineral build up, but it takes a lot of elbow grease and repetitive applications before you start seeing progress. The texture feels similar to when you mix honey with sugar to make a lip scrub, except it’s super fine grit and more pasty like putty or clay. It works amazing so far! No overpowering smell (barely any smell at all), easy to use, and a little product goes a long way. I haven’t tried it on rust yet so we’ll see how that goes. Over all very pleased and impressed so far. Highly recommend!" —Marissa

Get it from Amazon for $5.67.

Promising review: "I have a white couch and my dog loves to jump up after being outside. Sometimes she has mud on her paws and this product removes the stains COMPLETELY. We’ve had red wine and spaghetti sauce spilled on it and zero trace is left after using this. Best part, my couch fabric doesn’t get damaged by the chemicals either. I’ve ordered 12 of these and we have one in every room and in our cars. Hands-down nothing beats this spray. I’ve tried pet stain removers, DIY recommendations, stuff with vinegar… only this product works. Pay the cost for this! It’s totally worth it! 100 stars if I could." —Lauren R.

Get it from Amazon for $6.65+ (available in two sizes and multipacks).

I have these tablets and use them all the time! They work especially great after the bottom of my dishwasher has gotten stained with residue from detergent or rusty-looking liquid after I've run my baking sheets through the wash. I love knowing I can just pop one into the dishwasher 1, 2, 3, and end up with a clean machine.

Promising review: "After using this product, I am happy to report that my $5 investment saved me over $500. I was ready to replace my dishwasher, due to super cloudy glasses, residue, and just not getting clean. Then I saw a product test review for Affresh in Good Housekeeping magazine. I was ordering some stuff from Amazon anyway, so I added that to my order. I did not expect the results I got! The glassware that I thought was permanently etched and ruined came out like new. Same with cutlery. The difference is unbelievable. I am amazed!" —Sheila

Get it from Amazon for $8.95.

This is designed to work on all hair types, with reviewers with 2b–4c curls mentioning it worked for them!

Promising review: "I have tried everything on the market to fix my damaged, bleached hair that keeps breaking off. I stumbled across this hair treatment on TikTok. I had never heard of it before but decided to give it a try. I used it for the first time yesterday and I couldn't believe how amazing it made my hair feel and look. It's sooo soft, shiny, bouncy and nourished. My bleached rat's nest now looks and feels like hair again. Even my boyfriend noticed a huge difference in my hair. I’m going to buy a lot more of this product. I’ve been really frustrated about my hair for years now because of all the damage. Now I can finally relax and enjoy my new hair." —Eline

Check out BuzzFeed's full review of the Elizavecca hair treatment for more deets!

Get a bottle from Amazon for $7.48.

Promising review: "I had peeling, weak nails for years. Tried everything. I bought this in February. This size bottle lasted a bit more than a month religiously applying it two to three times a day. I was really seeing great improvement so I bought another bottle in late March. By May, all the peeling had grown out and my nails were getting stronger every day. I then bought the big 4-ounce refill bottle because I never want to run out of it again! Cannot recommend this stuff enough!" —Diana

Get it from Amazon for $9.90+ (available in three sizes).

You can use each pen about 20 times and should expect your teeth to lighten 4–8 shades.

Promising review: "I have only used the two original pens that I purchased and can already see an improvement. I am older than 60 and drink coffee daily and red wine weekly." —vicki houska

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $13.59 (also available in a four-pack).

BuzzFeed editor Ciera Velarde has these and loves 'em! She said:

"I've owned this set for about a year, and I am reaching for them constantly! I used to be someone who would tie my hair up in a messy bun whenever I'm doing things around the house, but I noticed how that would really start damaging my hair after a while. Instead, I just clip my hair back with one of these, and my long, thick hair stays in place without the claw jamming into my head. I have some other clips lying around that I should probably get rid of because I only ever exclusively use these!"

Promising review: "I will admit I bought these from seeing them on TikTok and I needed new clips for my thick hair. I am not disappointed and beyond glad I got them. The colors are gorgeous and they stay put without hurting my head. I'm very impressed." —Jessica

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in 14 sets).

BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord is a BIG fan of this mascara. She said:

"Hello, that is my face above, because I bought into the hype of over 35,000 positive reviews and now I will never look back!! Putting it on is like giving my eyelashes butterfly wings. It doesn't get clumpy, it stays put ALL the live long day (I spent all of this ridiculously hot pandemic summer wearing it, so I can speak to that), and you can apply it on very lightly if you don't want it to look so dramatic, or continue applying for longer lashes each time."

Promising review: "I have to be honest, for a 'cheap' three-pack of mascara, I did NOT have high expectations. These, however, exceeded my expectations and went MUCH MUCH further. I had been buying a certain $25/tube brand (rhymes with truepique) and I like these just as much!! I’m saving a TON of money and like my lashes just as much." —Liz

Get it from Amazon for $4.99.

Look at that foam go!

Promising review: "We moved into a townhouse that had a garbage disposal in the kitchen. Never had one growing up and didn't think too much about it until the funky smell started. I researched ways to clean it and came across these. Decided to order a four pack and try them. THEY ARE LIFE CHANGING. Just run some water, toss the packet in, and turn on the disposal. The little packet does all the hard work for you. I order a new set as soon as we start to run low." —lucas broshears

Get it from Amazon for $3.78.

Promising review: "This is my brother’s absolutely disgusting mold infested tub and shower (pictured above). As moms do, our mom visiting from out of town enlightened us with this spray. The results are UNBELIEVABLE. 30 minute difference between the two photos. Smell is awful. Must use ventilation. Super effective. Will use again." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

Promising review: "I had a horrible gray ring on the bottom of my shower that was impossible to remove. I had tried the Dawn Dish Soap method (with a lot of scrubbing), and even used toilet bowl cleaner to try to remove the soap scum. My next step was to tear out and replace the shower pan and tile. I figured this was my last chance and ordered the Wet and Forget Shower Spray and really coated the shower walls and floor pan and walked away. I CANNOT begin to tell you how happy I was to rinse down the walls sometime later and watch all that crud roll right down the drain!! This is the best product I have ever used in my life!! Works great and no toxic fumes!!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $19.54.

Promising review: "I bought this product because the needle in my Keurig 2.0 keeps clogging, causing inconsistent brew and taste. These cleaning cups fixed both of my issues and I especially liked that it was really quick and easy to use… I put the cleaning pod in and ran one cycle, then took the pod out and ran a rinse cycle to clean out any leftover grinds. FAST, EASY, and GREAT results…VERY HAPPY!!" —Corey West

Get it from Amazon for $9.95.

Promising reviews: "I have always had serious dark circles and bags under my eyes and this has really changed this for me. The results are incredible. The puffiness is gone. The dark circles are hardly noticeable. My sensitive skin has not broken out. I never write reviews, but this was so good that I had to write a review. This actually works." —Ben

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

See it in action on BuzzFeed Shopping's TikTok!

Promising review: "Here’s the thing. A scrub is never going to solve your blackhead issues long term. But there is truly no other product like this. It’s an amazing quick fix to get your pores unclogged and less noticeable, and once you’ve done that, slap on some retinol/salicylic acid with a moisturizer. Adorable packaging, unique product, and effective!" —Molly

Get it from Amazon for $11.88.

Promising reviews: "The ChomChom Roller really works. I have two German shepherds who shed SO much, so this was necessary. The ChomChom Roller picked up SO much fur the vacuum couldn’t." —Ezra Gordon

"I've had it in my possession for like two hours and I've cleaned everything. The couch, the blinds, the cat tree pad, the chair; I'm obsessed. I feel like this thing should win an award for being so awesome. I feel like it should be in raffle baskets and giveaways and silent auctions for every event that highlights 'things cat people need.' It's better than those sticky rollers, it's better than the one-directional velvet wand thing that I always use the wrong way. It's the best." —Meowser

Get it from Amazon for $29.95.

Lavinso is a small business!

Promising review: "These foot masks work as stated. You wear the masks (bags, basically) for about an hour. A week or so later, your feet will peel so much they look like zombie feet! Both my daughter and I have used these, so it's not just me. I will say that, depending on the condition of your feet, one application may not be enough. One application did improve my feet about 50%, but I plan to use the masks once a month until the three-pack is gone. That should greatly improve my feet by sandal season! I will definitely purchase again, as needed." —Trisha

Get it from Amazon for $15.95 (available in four styles).

It doesn't contain any parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, or SLS.

Promising review: "I bought this before I went on a cruise. We stayed in a hotel for a few days prior and I got a little toasty by the sun. Used this and it helped drown down the burn feeling and helped heal my skin within days. By the cruise I was fine with no pains from the burn. Continued to use it daily while on vacation. Works like charm. Love it! Smells great too! Its not a loud smell or anything. Would totally recommend and buy again!" —Victoria Ramsey

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

Promising review: "Um...WOW! I have used so many products to help with my dry, red, and inflamed skin. During the winter it is so hard to keep my skin moisturized through out the day. Within two days I saw such a huge difference. So calming and gives you a nice, moisturized glow. I feel so much better knowing my skin is healing. I will use this in my routine for the rest of my life!" —Christina A.

Get it from Amazon for $15.68.

Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS, that specializes in antimicrobial toothbrushes designed to get deeper cleans even patients with "great" dental hygiene might miss with traditional brush and floss routines.

BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord couldn't help but sing the praises of this toothbrush:

"I personally bought this a few months ago and love it! I use an electric toothbrush usually, but I feel like I'm getting a much more satisfying clean from these?? Especially because I tend to get yellow stains between my teeth no matter *how* much I floss, and these bristles seem to actually target that a lot more effectively. I've switched to using this in the morning and the electric one at night and definitely see a difference in that area in particular."

Promising review: "This was another one of my TikTok purchases! I was skeptical but my kids hate flossing their teeth so thought this might help in between making them floss. They work amazing! My kids said they could see and feel a difference on the first use and I agree! They are definitely worth a try! I would suggest not pushing too hard, those tiny bristles really get in there and if you push too hard you nights be sore like I was. It felt like after going to a dental cleaning." —Amy N.

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $9.90.

Get it from our Goodful shop for $24.99.

Promising review: "I love these, sturdy, sharp with retractable blade. I keep them in different rooms. For opening packages or breaking down boxes to recycle. Would recommend and buy again." —Amy Yasneski

Get a set of six from Amazon for $11.69.

Promising review: "My whole family is a fan of The Office, so when I was searching for a magnet we could use on our dishwasher, this was the hands-down winner. Does it go with my farmhouse decor? Nope, not at all. But it does get the attention of two teenage boys. Had I gone with something a bit more my decor style, I can guarantee you it would not be as useful. I mean, we all would much rather see Prison Mike staring back at us than suit and tie Michael Scott, right? And there is only one way for that to happen...clean out the dishwasher!" —R. Funk

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord is a big fan of this product:

"I have one of these and WOWZA, it really helps you get extra mileage out of your shampoo. I have a whole lot of hair on my head so sometimes it's a struggle to feel like I've soaped up my whole scalp thorough, but this is a very effective way to spread out the suds and really get them to the roots. I was worried it might tangle in my hair, but it was totally fine on that front, too. I've noticed that my hair has been a little less greasy at the roots since I started using it. And I'm echoing a ton of reviewers here when I say it just feels reeeeeally, really nice."

Get it from Amazon for $6.98+ (available in three colors).

"That was me. I detest loop shower rings because they're such a hassle when you're swapping out a shower liner or taking down your shower curtain to wash it. Yep, these are my shower hooks and they're sturdy enough to stay balanced when you switch out the liner or shower curtain." —Elizabeth

Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $14.99 (available in three colors).

I've tested this out in my own bathtub and was blown away by how much unseen gunk came off (seen above, right). I sprayed it and wiped it off like three times before I was satisfied with the cleanliness of my tub — I blame my toddler, who thrives on playing in the dirt. Anyways, it did a great job and I love that it doesn't have an intense chemical smell to it.

Promising review: "This spray works! I only write a review if I’m really happy with something or really disappointed and I appreciate all whom write reviews. I have been using this spray for a week since cleaning my shower doors and there is NO SCUM. Still looks clean after a week. Usually by the third day my glass shower doors look dirty." —G. Guill

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $10.10.

Promising review: "I AM OBSESSED WITH THESE! I’ve sent the link to all my bookworms and told them to buy them! Great gift idea for a 'reader' in your life. Amazing quality and just super cute would definitely buy again and probably will for someone else." —Brianna

Get a set of six from Amazon for $4.29 (available in three styles).

Skywin is a small business that makes an array of home organizational products.

Promising review: "Loving this product.❤️ I no longer have to struggle to hold my club-size laundry detergent jug while trying to dispense laundry soap. The band is great because it holds my club size laundry jug to my new detergent holder, preventing my detergent from falling to the floor. this detergent holder is also wide enough for any club-size laundry jug." —Annabell

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in seven colors).

Dolphin Hat Games is a small business that specializes in family-friendly card games

You deal all the cards out to your two to four players, and everyone keeps their mini-deck face down. Everyone takes a turn putting a card down in the middle of the table, saying one of the words "taco," "cat," "goat," "cheese," and "pizza," in that order. If the picture on your card matches the word that's said, everyone slaps their hand on the card in a pile as quickly as possible. The last person on the pile has to take the stack and add 'em to their cards, and whoever runs out of cards first wins!

Get it from Amazon for $9.84.

The waterproof patches last 12 hours or through six applications of sunscreen — whichever comes first. When purple, it's time to reapply and when clear, you're good to go!

Promising review: "I am very sensitive to UV rays and I burn very easily. Discovering these UV stickers was the best thing to ever happen to my vacations. They take the guesswork out of knowing when to reapply your sunblock, helping you stay burn free without watching the clock and doing math. These work with both lotion and spray on sunscreen. One sticker works all day long and doesn't come off while you are out having fun." —Rachel W.

Get them from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in packs of 16, 32, and 48).

Promising review: "These scissors do it all! From cutting poultry to removing gristle from the bottom of a tri-tip roast, and any number of other kitchen items. I'm left-handed, and the grip is comfortable. They're very easy to clean, and the plastic sheath that comes with them is a plus, preventing me from gouging myself when looking for other items in the 'sharp object' drawer. I'm thinking about getting a second pair. I highly recommend these kitchen shears!" —Suzy-Q666

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in six colors).

Promising review: "Great way to replace using parchment paper and still use your old cookie sheets! Also a great way to get away with not using spray oils because they are non-stick! They have held up to our large family using them over and over again for months!" —The Salty Biscuit

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.24.

Check out a TikTok of the mosquito-repelling bracelets in action. Cliganic is a small business!

Promising review: "I moved last year from Southern California to North Carolina. Bugs of all types have always been attracted to me but the amount of bites I got last summer was WILD. Someone gave me one of these types of bracelets to use one day and it seemed to work SOOOOOO I decided to buy myself an arsenal to prepare for this summer. I read the reviews and about 99% of them had great results. I've only used this bracelet twice but both times I was outside and un-touched. Delivery was very quick so that was a plus. I'm not fond of the smell, I'm hyper sensitive to smells, but I'd rather have the odor than being chewed alive." —Tracey Agopian

Get a ten-pack from Amazon for $9.99.

Click & Carry is a Shark Tank and QVC-featured small business that specializes in easy carry accessories.

Promising review: "TikTok made me buy it. This is great when you have a few bags and a box — for example, if you balance the bags, you can throw it over your shoulder and walk inside and have two free hands to carry the box, which is great. Product seems well built, and is comfortable on your shoulder or hand because of the padding." —Hung

Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in seven colors).

BuzzFeed writer (and serious snack aficionado) Emma Lord is a big fan:

"Our family unearthed this because beloved To All The Boys I've Loved Before author Jenny Han mentioned that it was her secret to delicious popcorn, and it may have just wrecked me for other at-home popcorn for the rest of my life. It genuinely tastes just as salty and buttery and savory as fresh movie theater popcorn. I inhaled it so fast that every single one of my organs lit up in mild alarm."

Promising review: "I am a person who will make myself sick eating buckets of popcorn (I have no self control). This has by far been my favorite 'TikTok made me buy' item. My at-home popcorn is now my favorite thing to make and I don't need to go the theater for popcorn. Very much worth the purchase and this will last me such a long time." —S Martinez

Get it from Amazon for $9.60.

BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord was super impressed by this product, she said:

"FWIW re: scars, though, this stuff really works. I had thyroid surgery a few years ago, and Bio-Oil took me from looking like I'd stumbled out of the Red Wedding to virtually no detectable scar within a few months. All I did was apply it once in the morning and once at night."

Promising review: "I had to have a freckle excised to check for cancer. The wound was very deep and left a scar (the one in the center). The other two scars are actually from the bandages I used to cover the wound. The scar made me self conscious, and I found this online with great reviews. I will say that if I had used it every single day, I think the scar would be completely gone. However, even with using it maybe three or four times a week, the results are amazing! I am very happy with this product. The scent is lovely and light, and I love the consistency. Highly recommend!!" —Alexis Melendez

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

Promising review: "Smells great! This face mask does exactly what it says. My skin is nice and lifted, hydrated, noticeable reduction in fine lines, improved texture, reduced my pore size, and eliminated some newly developed rough patches forming around the hairline. Couldn't be more satisfied with this product! I have pretty good skin for 37, but this mask has really helped take my skin to the next level." —Samantha

Get a box of eight masks from Amazon for $18.25.

Promising review: "This is really an amazing product, for such a good price too. These feel so refreshing under my eyes. It’s really relaxing having them on and just letting them do their magic! I don’t have so much of the puffy eyes but I have been noticing slight dark circles lately. Just after using this one time, I can really see a difference under my eyes and these left my under eyes so soft! You just have to make sure you clean your face very well before use, and wash with warm water after use! Absolutely will be buying again!" —Kayleena

Get 15 pairs from Amazon for $12.97.

SeoulCeuticals is a small business!

Promising review: "This cream is the freaking holy grail in a jar. Oh my GAWD. It really reduces inflammation on my skin and it looks so much better the morning after. It's a pretty thick cream, so don't use too much and massage onto your fresh, just washed face. I use it only at night (but you can use during day and night. Whatever works for you) and OMG. Just OMG. Try it." —Leslie

Get it from Amazon for $15.95.

Reviewers say they actually catch (human and pet) hair too!

Promising review: "These cute little waving saguaro cactus dryer balls are perfect. I’ve bought other dryer balls that dried and cracked after a month, these have gone through three months of heavy use and look as fresh as the day they were delivered on my doorstep. Great value and your clothes will dry faster as well as more efficiently because the saguaros tumble and separate your clothes for more efficiency. 🌵" —Christian B Staller

Get a set of four from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four colors).

Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Promising review:It removed stubborn mold and grime from my shower tile grout with use of a hard bristle tooth brush. It removed hard water stains from my sinks and faucets. It works amazing so far! No overpowering smell (barely any smell at all), easy to use, and a little product goes a long way. Promising review:We’ve had red wine and spaghetti sauce spilled on it and zero trace is left after using this. Hands-down nothing beats this spray.Promising review:I am happy to report that my $5 investment saved me over $500.The glassware that I thought was permanently etched and ruined came out like new. Promising review: I used it for the first time yesterday and I couldn't believe how amazing it made my hair feel and look. It's sooo soft, shiny, bouncy and nourished.Promising review:my nails were getting stronger every dayPromising review:Promising review:I will admit I bought these from seeing them on TikTok and I needed new clips for my thick hair.The colors are gorgeous and they stay put without hurting my head.Putting it on is like giving my eyelashes butterfly wings.Promising reviewI had been buying a certain $25/tube brand (rhymes with truepique) and I like these just as much!! I’m saving a TON of moneyPromising review:THEY ARE LIFE CHANGING. Just run some water, toss the packet in, and turn on the disposal.Promising review:The results are UNBELIEVABLE.Promising review: I CANNOT begin to tell you how happy I was to rinse down the walls sometime later and watch all that crud roll right down the drain!! This is the best product I have ever used in my life!! Promising review:Promising reviews:The results are incredible. The puffiness is gone. The dark circles are hardly noticeable.See it in action on BuzzFeed Shopping's TikTok!Promising review: Promising reviews: I feel like this thing should win an award for being so awesome.Promising review:One application did improve my feet about 50%, but I plan to use the masks once a month until the three-pack is gone.Promising review:Works like charm. Love it! Smells great too!Promising review:Especially because I tend to get yellow stains between my teeth no matter *how* much I floss, and these bristles seem to actually target that a lot more effectively.Promising review: I was skeptical but my kids hate flossing their teeth so thought this might help in between making them floss. They work amazing!Promising review:Promising reviewDoes it go with my farmhouse decor? Nope, not at all. But it does get the attention of two teenage boys. WOWZA, it really helps you get extra mileage out of your shampooI've noticed that my hair has been a little less greasy at the roots since I started using itPromising review:Promising review:Promising review: I no longer have to struggle to hold my club-size laundry detergent jug while trying to dispense laundry soap.Promising reviewDiscovering these UV stickers was the best thing to ever happen to my vacations.Promising review:They're very easy to clean, and the plastic sheath that comes with them is a plus, preventing me from gouging myself when looking for other items in the 'sharp object' drawer. Promising review:Promising review:Someone gave me one of these types of bracelets to use one day and it seemed to work SOOOOOO I decided to buy myself an arsenal to prepare for this summer. I've only used this bracelet twice but both times I was outside and un-touched.Promising review. It genuinely tastes just as salty and buttery and savory as fresh movie theater popcorn.Promising review:"I had thyroid surgery a few years ago,virtually no detectable scar within a few monthsPromising review:I will say that if I had used it every single day, I think the scar would be completely gone. However, even with using it maybe three or four times a week, the results are amazing!Promising review:This face mask does exactly what it says. My skin is nice and lifted, hydrated, noticeable reduction in fine lines, improved texture, reduced my pore size, and eliminated some newly developed rough patches forming around the hairline.Promising review: Just after using this one time, I can really see a difference under my eyes and these left my under eyes so soft! Promising review: This cream is the freaking holy grail in a jar.Promising review:these have gone through three months of heavy use and look as fresh as the day they were delivered on my doorstep