36 Sensible Things Anyone In Their Thirties Should Own
A Baseboard Buddy that'll basically work like an eraser. This has an extendable handle that'll make cleaning tiny corners and often-ignored areas not just simple, but suuuper satisfying.
A splurge-worthy 12-piece Caraway cookware set so you have everything you need to finally start cooking in your kitchen. These are all nonstick and work with induction, gas, and electric stovetops, they're oven safe up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit, are made with a non-toxic coating, and feature non-stick ceramic with an aluminum core and stainless steel handles. Whew! Sorry for all that, I really got Caraway'd away!
And a *lavender* baking set made with heavy-duty aluminized steel and a ceramic finish for all your adventurous baking ahead.
A stuffed waffle maker — this applause-worthy appliance is designed with a deep, bowl-like griddle that allows you to cook the batter with fillings (we're talking chocolate, fruit, cheese, meat...the works). Upgrade your morning routine from frozen waffles to a homemade meal that looks straight off a "best of" brunch menu.
A set of reusable microfiber mop pads so you don't have to worry about running out of disposable pads right when you need them most. Save some time and money with these extra-thick microfiber versions!
A ChomChom pet hair remover roller — this is gonna pick up fur and lock it inside the roller, making cleanup a breeze. Plus, it doesn't lose its effectiveness with heavy use. We love our pets but woof, shedding in the springtime is their greatest skill.
A jar of The Pink Stuff (the internet's favorite cleaning product) that'll clean everything from pots and pans to blotches in your bathtub. Move over firefighters, I want a calendar of THIS sexy stuff and its shiny results.
And The Pink Stuff All-Purpose Floor Cleaner for folks who know The Pink Stuff could be the *only* stuff. Try out their floor cleaner and transform your brown grout into the white grout it actually is.
A TBH *too* nice Tineco 2-in-1 cordless vacuum and mop created to both vacuum and mop at the same time. Unlike our old dummy mops, this robot has a separate tank that stores the dirty water, and it retains 90% of the stuff, so your floors will be clean and dry in just minutes.
A handy portable car vacuum so you can clean your car without the extra effort of bringing your vacuum outside. (Because honestly, when do we ever actually do that?)
A plastic bag dispenser for organized souls who are proud of their excessively type-A personality, because who wouldn't want to keep their lunch and snack bags in their own size-appropriate slot?! Snag one of these and eliminate packaging clutter in your drawers.
A 39-piece toolkit so you have what you need when watching YouTube videos on how to tighten a faucet, hang a shelf, or finally put together the headboard that's been living in a box beside your bed.
A pack of two Downy fabric sprays — with this, you're *finally* gonna rid your caftans and pants of those stubborn crinkles and creases.
A jewelry cleaning pen so you can rid your rings of buildup and cloudiness.
A Scrubbing Bubbles toilet cleaning stamp that's easy peasy to put on *and* makes cleaning your toilet simpler than it's ever been! Mostly because, with this, you won't be the one cleaning your toilet.
A "Shower Cat" for folks who spend half their time in the shower making hair art on the walls, which inevitably ends up clogging the drain. TMI? This makes catching your hair *much* easier and gives it a proper place while you finish sudsing up.
A headlight restoration kit so you can hit the road...with your high beams. Don't spend money on expensive replacements — just give them a good scrub!
A pack of dishwasher cleaning tablets designed to clean your machine while it runs naturally, makin' it sparkle and shine without you spending time scrubbing!
A clip-on polarized sun visor that'll be a must if you're always squinting into the sun on your daily commute. Just clip the extender onto your existing sun visor!
A bug remover for anyone who is ~bugged~ by the number of critters that end up creating crud on their car's perfect paint job.
A digital food thermometer so you know you won't be giving your guests salmonella when having a dinner party.
A WD-40 pen with the rust-preventing powers your cringey hinges need, placed in an applicator your less-than-handy hands can use without making a mess. Bless.
A French-style marble butter keeper — this makes butter soft and spreadable so you don't find yourself destroying a piece of bread by trying to add cold butter to it.
A non-toxic tennis shoe cleaner formulated with saddle soap and gentle conditioners that'll bring leather, vinyl, nubuck, suede, and canvas shoes back to life. If your longest lasting relationship is with your high school sneakers, give them some tender, loving care.
A screen cleaner so you can actually *see* what's going on behind the fingerprints and buildup on your cellphone and laptop. Looks like you don't need to go to that eye appointment after all — you CAN see!
A pack of 10 meal prep containers safe to use in the microwave, freezer, oven, and dishwasher. Get ready to become a meal prep pro.
A car insurance and registration holder for keeping everything you need in one spiffy space because rushing to find your registration in the trash box you call a glove compartment can be even more stressful than getting pulled over in the first place.
A foaming garbage disposal cleaner with a formula that clings to grime and buildup inside your pipes, preventing hidden smells from escaping through your sink and removing bacteria that may be lurking just out of reach. Use this so you can clean out your rental's sink before your landlord decides to dispose of your deposit.
A lock bag that's both water- and fire-proof, making it the perfect spot for important documents because your scattered mind can forget where you put something two minutes later. If you randomly think, "Where's my birth certificate?" at 3 a.m. or seem to lose your passport days before a trip, this will give you peace of mind that everything's in one designated place.
A fridge deodorizer to keep your fridge smelling fresh for up to six months and *not* smelling like last week's lasagna. Put it anywhere in your fridge or freezer and it'll de-funk it in hours without using any fragrances or perfumes.
A magnetic microwave cover that'll stick to the top of your microwave and easily pop off when you have something particularly saucy and sloppy that definitely needs to be covered up while heated up. Lookin' at you, lasagna.
A roll of self-fusing silicone tape — a temporary solution for rescuing your pipes when they get totally over-dramatic and start turning on the waterworks.
A U-shaped shelving system to give you so much usable storage space you just might finally find the spices you actually need to cook with.
The ToiletShroom, a flexible unclogging tool that's gonna move deep into your pipes, getting those pesky clogs *and* squeegeeing things clean at the same time.
A stackable deviled egg carrier that'll make everyone's favorite side *much* more travel-friendly. If the stress of transporting these bite-sized beauties has you so worried you think you might ~crack~ then get yourself this helpful holder!
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Buzz Feed
7 hours ago
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33 Home Products That Do It Fast, Well, And Cheap
A "spray and go" enzyme-based laundry stain remover that works its magic in one wash to help you instantly get rid of all that discolored dried sweat, oil stains, or deodorant residue on your favorite clothes, so you don't have to spend big money replacing them when the Stain Fairy lays her curse. A cute lil' insect catcher you can set in a plant or near your fruit bowl or compost to deal with any unwanted fluttering guests. These odorless sticky traps are designed to work indoors and outdoors and will stop fruit flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and more — without the high price tag of the electronic or liquid versions. The Pink Stuff's new "Sqeezy" sponge set, which is living up to its "miracle" catchphrase by helping reviewers with their toughest cleaning projects, like grimy pans, mildewed showers, and marked-up walls. If you aren't already in the cult of Pink Stuff cleaning paste, it's so good at its job that reviewers call it "gold in a jar" and "witchcraft." This is the perfect alternative to pricey paint jobs and replacing cookware! Or the The Pink Stuff's Miracle Multipurpose Cleaner Spray, another Pink Stuff product that lives up to the hype — this version is especially handy for large surface areas like counters, walls, bathtubs, and floors, so you can go ham with the spray and lift it all up in one go. A drain snake you can funnel into your shower or sink drain that honestly works a little *too* well at unclogging hair in older sinks and bath tubs, pulling it up in one (semi-horrifying) go before you have to resort to expensive plumbers or using pipe-damaging traditional drain cleaners. And a super effective and strangely whimsical foaming drain cleaner for anyone who wants to make cleaning a whole aesthetic. This gentle but powerful foam pulls up gunk and cleans out drains in sinks, bathtubs, and floor drains, helping prevent plumbing issues and making everything smell ~squeaky clean~. A set of Bottle Bright tablets so you can tackle all the sludge caked on your automatic kettle, coffee maker, or favorite ceramic mugs instead of replacing them for a pretty penny. Sprayway Glass Cleaner, a reviewer-beloved cleaning staple that did *not* come here to play. This streak-free, fast-acting foam is so effective at cleaning surfaces that a lot of businesses and offices swear by it for that oh-so-squeaky-clean look. A dryer vent lint brush with an impressive far reach and thick, sturdy bristles to keep your dryer working nice and easy. Reviewers also love this for getting dust out of other hard-to-reach spots in the house, like gaps between appliances. A magnetic air fryer cheat sheet to help minimize effort and maximize deliciousness so you can get dinner on the table as quickly (and cheaply!!) as possible. The takeout delivery driver will miss you. 👋 A genius 2-in-1 knife and cutting board perfect for all your quick chopping needs that don't require a whole production of cutting boards. This scissor-like contraption lets you slice against a flat surface for easier use, then slide your veggies into a bowl or on top of a dish in a flash. A grout paint pen to revamp your bathroom and kitchen tiles so fast that you'll start taking videos of them like you're showing off a home on HGTV. A set of heavy duty Tub O Towels wipes that are most definitely not here to play — they're basically the paper towel version of The Rock and can lift up stains on anything from grease to permanent marker to nail polish. Bonus: they're tough on stains, but the aloe vera in them makes them super gentle on skin! A foaming garbage disposal cleaner you can plop into your sink, run a little water on, and let its blue magic fizz its way up to the top while clearing out all the gunk from your culinary adventures in one go. Oxo's compact Cold Brew Rapid Brewer to make cold brew in FIVE MINUTES (!!) with results so quick and delicious that reviewers love it more than their beloved Aeropresses (and even call it "Aeropress 2.0"). Not only is it faster than comparable models, but it's cheaper, entirely portable, and doesn't need to be charged or plugged in. 🤯 You're going to be swimming in a RIVER of delicious, affordable cold brew with this gizmo. A two-stage knife sharpener, because those blades you bought back in the day?? They're probably super dull by now. Instead of replacing them with pricey versions, ~refresh~ them with this. A bottle of wood polish to instantly make your scuffed-up doors, hardwood floors, and furniture look so spanking new that you'll wonder if it's not actually wood polish but a time machine. Why get new tables or fancy professional restoration when you've got a $9 secret weapon?? A cloud-shaped utility knife you *need* in your life if you're a person who gets a lot of packages — this will save you a whole lot of time and effort (and DESPAIR over your ruined nails) with quick, easy cuts. A fume-free oven cleaner that's gentle enough that you don't need protective gloves to use it but tough enough that it'll erase the evidence of all your baking misadventures and that time you fell asleep while cooking pizza rolls. A set of stainless steel cleaner and polish wipes to give all your impossible-to-clean kitchen appliances that brand-new, streak-free kind of gleam, from the fridge to the stove to the dishwasher. A reusable microfiber Swiffer mop pad that reviewers love not only because it's ready for action again right after a wash cycle, but because it picks up a ton more dirt, gunk, and debris than the disposable mops do, *and* it's a heck of a lot cheaper than stocking up on the one-use versions over time. A lawn dog spot repair treatment to help your grass look as spiffy and green as it did before Fido decided to mark their territory by peeing in the same parched spots over ... and over ........ and over again. Reviewers notice results within *days* (and your bank account will weep in relief that you didn't hire lawn professionals to do it). A set of darling reusable Swedish dishcloths that can be washed up to 50 times in the dishwasher, and are designed to replace 17 (!!) rolls of paper towels each. These are strong enough to tackle tough stains and grime, but gentle enough that they won't scratch cookware or hurt your skin. A bottle of Goo Gone for banishing all those mysteriously sticky, tough-to-scrub stains, like toothpaste or shampoo residue or the adhesive left on your windows or cars from sticker decals. A set of washing machine–cleaning tablets that'll tackle that weird mold + mildew smell in one cycle. Your laundry will come out so fresh that you'll hold your nose up to it like you're auditioning to play "Human in Scented Detergent Commercial." And a set of dishwasher-cleaning tablets you can pop into a cycle with your dirty dishes to wipe out all the extra grime and that funky smell you can never seem to get rid of no matter how hard you try. You don't even need to scrub — these do all the work for you! A electric potato peeler worthy of a permanent spot on your counter. Not only does it effortlessly peel potatoes, but it can handle pretty much any peeled produce you throw at it, from apples to kiwis to oranges to tomatoes. (To be clear, though, your highest priority should *always* be mashed potato-ing.) A watermark remover cloth to easily remove marks left by water, alcohol, and heat after those moments you accidentally disrespected the coasters on your coffee table by setting your glass literally anywhere else. A blind duster with microfiber sleeves so you can dig in deep and pick up an oh-so-satisfying amount of dust without wasting an oh-so-annoying amount of time like you usually do. Bonus: It comes with five clean sleeves, so you can tackle a bunch of windows at once. A glass and ceramic cookware cleanup kit that comes with a heavy-duty scrubber, a razor blade, *and* a cleaner specifically designed to get at those caked-on stains, so you can knock it all off in a few minutes and get your Ina Garten game face on in peace. A red wine stain–removing spray to pick up both old and new red wine stains from carpets, couches, towels, and fabrics, so now even your white duvet is safe from your Cabernet's clutches. A roll of clear heavy-duty double-sided removable tape, which did NOT come here to play — people use this for everything from mounting wall hangings and electronics to securing their vases and glass objects to tables to keeping their rugs in place. It's also easily removable and leaves no residue behind! A scratch-free scraper tool so you can get all the pesky stickers, price tags, and residue off your belongings without wrecking them (or compromising your poor nails!). This also is a great option for cleaning grime that's hard to target, like caked-on food or build-up around your sink.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
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'We're a farming family, so no, our son can't sleep all day. In summer, he can sleep an hour later than during the school year, so 6:30 a.m.' 'Unless we have plans, I let all the kids sleep. If they have chores or things I need them to do, they can do it when they're up. I don't care if they clean their room at 9 a.m. or 11 p.m., as long as it gets done.' 'Depends on why they're sleeping so much and how late in the day. If they're waking up at 4 p.m. and playing video games until 6 a.m., that's a 'No' for me.' 'Youth is such a short period of time. They have the rest of their lives to have alarms and deadlines. Let them be kids, as carefree as possible, for as long as possible.' 'My parents made me work, volunteer, etc. during the summer. Y'all aren't setting these kids up for success.' 'Why do you think kids grow so much over the summer? ... They are exhausted, they are growing.' 'Summer just started two minutes ago. Let them sleep.' Smith tells that her 15-year-old daughter wakes up around 10 a.m. to hit the pool, while her 16-year-old son has been rising in the late afternoon, after staying up for most of the night playing video games. The lenient bedtime rule, says Smith, is more for her son, who wakes up early during the school year and for part of the summer to attend marching band practice. 'There's a lot of variability for sleep duration across all ages of children,' Dr. Rakesh Bhattacharjee, the director of pediatric sleep medicine at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, tells 'For teenagers, the current recommendation is at least eight hours of sleep — and not less,' says Bhattacharjee, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. 'As children get older .... their need for sleep reduces: Babies spend half the day sleeping and adults spend a third of the day sleeping.' Bhattacharjee adds, 'Up to 85% of teenagers are not getting the recommended amount of sleep.' These are the sleep guidelines for children of other ages (including naps for the youngest kids), according to The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Babies: ages 4 months to 12 months should sleep 12 to 16 hours. Toddlers: ages 1 to 2 years old should sleep 11 to 14 hours. Preschoolers: Ages 3 to 5 years old should sleep 10 to 13 hours. School-aged children: Ages 6 to 12 years old should sleep 9 to 12 hours. Teenagers, Bhattacharjee says, should get 8-10 hours, but he notes, 'There's a range. Some teens can function on 8 hours of sleep while others may need 9 to 10 hours.' You don't have to, but it's OK if you do, and sometimes you should. 'This is an incredibly relatable scenario for many parents of teens,' John Lopos, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation, tells in an email interview. 'There's nothing wrong with checking in on and waking up a teen who's sleeping late into the day, including during summer, especially if they've had the opportunity to get ... a sufficient amount of quality sleep.' Lopos says parents should figure out the reason a teen is sleeping in for so long. 'Are they very sleep deprived from what they are doing late at night into the early morning? How is their mental health? Are there any medical symptoms that are disrupting their sleep at night?' says Lopos, adding that checking in with a medical or mental health professional can help. Teens who don't heed their natural body clocks while playing video games or using other devices at night 'are setting themselves up for a really poor sleep schedule and the consequences for health and performance that can travel with that,' notes Lopos. Even without a reason to wake up during the summer, Lopos recommends a consistent sleep-and-wake schedule for teens, which also helps them adjust to earlier wakeup times as the school year approaches. Without an explicit time at which parents should wake their sleeping teens, Lopos suggests using judgment 'based on reasonable social and activity schedules' and 'the effects of daylight.' 'Our circadian clock needs light during the day, especially sunlight in the morning, also to help our sleep at night,' says Lobos. 'Even with longer summer days, if a teen is sleeping so late into the day that they have less opportunity to get up, get outside and be active in the light, that's another contributor to an unhealthy sleep experience and a pattern of behavior that can have lasting negative effects.' Teens are usually sleep-deprived on weekdays and 'incur a sleep debt,' says Bhattacharjee, adding, 'They sleep more on the weekends to make up for it.' Video games are a frequent offender when it comes to disrupting sleep. "Engaging in video games during the nighttime exposes teenagers to potentially harmful screen time, which can disrupt their circadian rhythm," Bhattacharjee says, noting that video games can have addictive effects, making it harder for kids to stop playing and get the sleep they need. Sleep is involved in learning and memory consolidation, emotional regulation and athletic performance, according to the doctor. He adds that sleep-deprived kids could have higher rates of anxiety and depression, lower scholastic performance, poorer executive functioning and unsafe driving skills. 'Teen boys and girls need about the same amount of sleep .... but teen girls struggle more with sleep than teen boys,' says Bhattacharjee. 'That disparity starts in adolescence and persists throughout adulthood.' This article was originally published on
Fast Company
7 hours ago
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I quit TikTok—and got my attention span back
For a few days, my finger would hover over the TikTok hole on my home screen. But it was all for naught: There was nothing there to click. TikTok debuted at exactly the wrong time for me. I downloaded the short-form video app during my junior year of high school, just as in-person activities shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic and my life dissolved into an endless loop of virtual lectures. The infinite scroll was comforting—almost intoxicating. Before long, I was spending multiple hours a day on the platform, with most conversations among friends revolving around which TikToks we'd recently liked. In January 2025, I deleted the app for good. Former President Joe Biden's TikTok ban was looming, and I assumed my friends would be booted off the platform soon enough. It felt like the perfect moment: I could reclaim my media habits, lengthen my attention span, and finally break up with short-form video. Six months later, I have no plans to re-download it. Deleting TikTok saved my attention span For years, I was a double-screener. Fueled by a steady diet of brain-rot TikToks, my eyes would drift toward a second device the moment I started a film or TV show. I tried crocheting and adult coloring books—anything to keep my hands busy while focusing on what was in front of me. Still, I'd grow bored and restless. Eventually, I'd cave, scrolling through X (or worse, TikTok on mute) while the movie played. There are dozens of reasons to delete TikTok—from concerns over Chinese data privacy to simply reclaiming a few hours each day. But for me, the main goal was even simpler: I wanted to reengage with long-form media. And that effort has mostly been successful. I read more now, and watch movies—often with my phone in another room. Sometimes, I even listen to a podcast without touching my screen. Rebuilding my attention span required more than just deleting TikTok. I committed 2025 to investing in my focus. I bought print subscriptions to The New Yorker, New York magazine, and The Atlantic so I could read long-form journalism away from a screen. I subscribed to the Criterion Channel to watch deeper, more thoughtful films than the typical Netflix churn. I bought a Kindle. But I haven't sworn off social media entirely. (No, I did not buy one of those janky ' dumbphones ' or leave my phone mounted to the wall like a landline.) I still spend more time scrolling on X than I'd like, and I'll browse Instagram once every few hours. (Just no Reels: That breaks the short-form ban.) I'm also not uniquely consuming high-brow long-form media: The Real Housewives is still my TV fix of choice. But for the first time since early high school, I can watch a movie without reaching for my phone. That feels like a win. How I warded off TikTok FOMO When I deleted TikTok, my biggest fear was losing cultural literacy. I didn't care about the dances or memes, but I worried about missing out on the latest joke or buzzy TV show. TikTok's walled garden and cultural saturation among Gen Z can make it feel essential, as if not having it means missing something crucial. From the outside, though, I've realized most TikToks are just sludge and noise. I read enough news to know what's trending in film and TV. When I want a thoughtful take, I turn to critics or the occasional YouTube video essay. I don't need a 17-year-old explaining why everyone on Love Island USA is crazy. I remember the first time a friend referenced something I didn't recognize. It was March, and we were making dinner at my college place when he said, 'What the helly.' I thought he'd misspoken; he assumed I hadn't heard him. Turns out, it was a TikTok trend that had taken off after I'd deleted the app. I had feared losing a shared language with my friends, but in that moment, I didn't really care what the reference meant. I just moved on. These days, my friends are more annoyed than I am about my TikTok-free life. They still send me screen recordings of TikToks that remind them of me, usually followed by complaints about the extra effort.
