25 Target Kitchen Items That Are Made For Parents With No Time On Their Hands
From the cookin' to the cleanin', we've got you.
1. An apple slicer that makes 16 perfect, thin, snack-size slices every single time. Listen, kids demand a LOT of snacks, so you'll want this secret weapon in your tool belt.
Target
Promising review:"This slicer works great! I love how smooth it cuts regardless of the shape of the apple. I also love that it has the bottom part to finish, pushing it through at the end. Last, I purposely bought it for the smaller slices, and it did not disappoint. Highly recommend for moms and anyone else who loves apple slices for snacks and meals." — Toddler Mom
2. A 4.5-quart KitchenAid Mixer — a cute and colorful classic because hand mixing takes SO LONG and you are over it. Plus, how adorable will this look on your counter?
Target
Promising review: " This is a great investment for anyone who loves to cook. We look forward to getting the food mill and pasta maker attachments soon!" — Great Investment
3. A hard-working, multitasking Scrub Mommy sponge that can quickly tackle that dried-out mac 'n' cheese in your favorite pot. It's so efficient both you and the sponge will be smiling at the end.
Target
4. A space-saving vertical bottle rack, because dishes already take up enough of your day but this helps dry out the essentials — and quickly. Psst... you can keep using long after you put away the bottles. (It's also great for sippy cups, water bottles... wineglasses.)
Target
Promising review:"I originally started with using the grass drying rack but had to wash it every day because the water would pool in the tray, and it wasn't very sanitary. This rack has been a lifesaver! I wish I would have started with it. It stands perfectly by itself and holds a good bit! My only complaint is that the top pegs are a little too close to the basket for my Avent bottles to fit very well. Overall, I would highly recommend!" — Reviewer
Price: $24.99
5. A Dash egg cooker that will be your absolute favorite thing — no matter what time of day it is. Choose how you want the eggs cooked, set the time, and wait for it to go off. It makes breakfast so easy. Plus, adding hard-boiled eggs to lunchboxes is also a great way to add protein.
Target
Promising review:"I love this little egg cooker! I used it for hard-boiled eggs, and it cooked the eggs perfectly! The best thing is that they peeled easily! No more tiny pieces of shells that you have to pick off. Easy cleanup, lightweight little machine, and easy to store away." — PB
6. A three-pack of Dr. Brown's bottle cleaners to help get the job done faster than you can say "old milk." Best part? These won't leave any residue or spoiled smell... you know what I'm talking about. It's the worst!
Target
Promising review:"I love how durable these are! I've been using them for over two years. They do last a good while until you need to replace them. I did so much research on which ones to choose, and these definitely get into every nook and cranny. I love that the bottom can stick onto the sink, and it's removable and easy to clean also. Don't look further; these are definitely the ones you need!" — MamaJ
7. A super durable and leakproof bento box, which will actually help you organize your brain and figure out what you need to put in there. Pssst: If you want to include a sweet treat, M&Ms look pretty cute in the circle compartment.
Target
Promising review:"I purchased this for my 7-year-old daughter. She had been asking for it after seeing some friends at her school lunch use one. She loves it! She specifically likes that her food stays in its own compartment and doesn't touch. She is a very picky eater, so this is a way to get her to help me get creative and think of ideas for each section. She takes it five days a week to school and has been very happy. No leaks!! Easy to open on her own. Very easy to clean." — mommymo
8. A Dash mini waffle maker that is not only sweet but — more importantly — will get breakfast on the table very, very quickly. Make a few extra and put them in your kiddo's snack bag for later!
Target
Promising review:"I cannot say enough good things about this little waffle maker. It may be small but it's mighty. It doesn't take up much room, is easy to store/clean, and makes fresh waffles for my family on busy mornings super fast. I just keep some waffle batter in my fridge throughout the week and use a few servings each morning. I never thought I would get as much use out of this as I do." — TeddyOats
9. A Packit freezable lunch bag, so you can load it up with all the goods (sandwiches, berries, cheese sticks, yogurt tubes, etc.) and not worry about being able to find one of those ice packs that always seem to disappear in your freezer.
Target
Promising review:"My son loves this lunch bag! Best for school lunches. Don't have to worry about ice packs anymore. Going to buy his brother one too." — Scd
Price: $20.99
10. A bottle of Dawn Platinum Powerwash spray soap that is really one of those magical products that people use on almost everything. I've even used it to pull a grease stain out of a rug after one of my kids accidentally dropped their dinner.
11. A 6-quart Instant Pot, which is basically like having a sous chef on staff because this 9-in-1 appliance does it all... except put itself in the dishwasher for cleanup (but the lid and inner pot are dishwasher safe)!
Target
Promising review:"Time and life saver! I get out of work late, so this helps put dinner on the table and in bellies at an appropriate hour. Love it and can't wait to try out all the functions!" — Reviewer
12. An Oxo chopper that will chop, dice, mince, cut, and slice its way into your heart (and kitchen). This time-saver chops vegetables and fruits right into the container, so it keeps things neat and tidy. Did you just whip up a fruit salad? On a weeknight?! Impressive.
Target
Promising review:"The only thing I regretted about this chopper was not purchasing it sooner! It has saved so much time and effort in chopping vegetables I couldn't be happier." — Jessica
13. A trusty little iRobot Roomba vacuum-and-mop combo to quietly do two of your least favorite chores for you — and it's probably much more effective than having your dog eat any food that your baby threw on the ground. Yes, you really do need to clean under the table.
Target
Promising review:"The fringe on the rugs is no problem. I was very worried about that. It can get under furniture our vacuum cleaner could never reach. The mop works better than the robot mop I have had for many years." — MCL
14. A set of Souper Cubes so you can save your leftovers, pop them in the freezer, and enjoy them when you need a quick meal later. These are also the MVP of meal prep. (If you have the time to do that!)
Target
Promising review:"Love these freezing trays. Great for meal prep." — AmosAndy Mom
Price: $19.99
15. A stainless-steel, hands-free step trash can that'll really come in handy when your hands are full. Not only gets the job done but is actually surprisingly chic for something that, ya know, holds garbage.
Target
Promising review:"It looks amazing, very slick and practical! Big but not bulky. I like how there is a plastic bin inside of it, makes it easier to wash if needed." — MarylovesTarget
16. A small-but-mighty Ninja food processor that will quite literally chop your food prep time in half — and can then go right into the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
Target
Promising review:"I got this tool with low expectations and it has blown me away. I can make dressings that are perfectly blended quickly and it dices onions and garlic in seconds. I don't know how I lived without it. Be careful cleaning it, it's sharp!" — hah
17. A pack of stainless steel wipes because while you absolutely cherish your little's sweet handprints, you'd rather see them on arts and crafts projects than on your appliances. These make cleaning a breeze.
Target
Promising review:"I've tried a few different stainless steel cleaners, and by far, this one from Weiman is top of the mark! I even use it on my sink when it's wet, and it always dries to a beautiful shine when used on my enamel stove; it is the best for cleaning stainless steel and kitchen appliances! Thank you, Weiman, you're the best!" — Kat
Price: $5.99
18. A four-pack sandwich cutter set so you feel like one of those Pinterest-y grown-ups who spends hours making super cute lunches... even though in reality, you threw together a lunch in under five minutes.
19. A pack of Seventh Generation multipurpose cleaning wipes you can use to speedily handle spills and other disasters. I've used these to take marker off our kitchen table... the uses are endless.
Target
20. An Oxo mandoline with four interchangeable blades that will make slicing vegetables easy and maybe even a little fun? You'll feel so fancy that you'll start calling recipe prep "mise en place."
Target
Promising review:"I can't live without it anymore. I sliced an onion in seconds, tomatoes, even pepper, carrots everything. I use to have a chopper but I end up breaking it so I tried this one. I love to have my food ready all the time and it's easy to clean it and has never rusted or broken. I've owned it for 5 months now." — Rain
21. An air fryer, which is totally another one of those "what can't it do?" products. Cook delicious full dinners with it, or reheat leftovers and get those wings and fries extra crispy again. You'll be particularly grateful when your kids are hollering at you!
Target
Promising review:"Spacious enough to feed my three boys and very easy to use and clean." — phoenix52
22. An oven thermometer to help you get a sense of your oven's actual temperature while you cook and bake. How does this save you time? Well, very often our ovens aren't actually calibrated, so when you *think* the oven is pre-heated, it might actually not be fully there. And then your meal takes even longer to cook than you thought. Or maybe, it's too hot and you accidentally burn it! You get the gist.
Target
Promising review:"I've used this on my grill and my oven. I primarily use it in my oven now to ensure the temperature is what I want it to be. It has saved me from burning some baked goods. If you're not sure if you oven temperature is accurate, this is a must own. It's cheap but will keep you from burning the food you worked so hard on. It also has a hand hook to the top, so you can hang it on the oven racks." — Kara
23. A salad spinner that isn't just for lettuce (though we love it for that, too). All those berries you're constantly feeding to your kids? Yeah, take those babies for a spin and they'll dry off and last longer!
Target
Promsing review:"I don't know how I ever washed lettuce (or any other fruits or veggies) before I had this! It makes it so much easier to prep meals." — Dani S
Price: $29.99
24. A two-piece grape cutter that will save you time and give you peace of mind as you're frantically putting together lunches and snacks. No judging if you find yourself cutting grapes (and berries, olives, and cherry tomatoes) for yourself later... it's a fun little tool to use.
Target
Price: $9.99
25. A silicone baking mat, which is a home cook and baker's BFF as they're a dream to work with and super easy to clean. They make sheet pan dinners even easier! And we all LOVE a sheet pan dinner.
Target
Promising review:"Game changer! Makes cleaning up after cooking so much easier. My sink and dishwasher are small, so washing baking sheets was always a hassle. This solves that problem!" — momo
Price: $21.99
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Buzz Feed
21 Target Home Products That Somehow Feel Indulgent *And* Practical
A recycled glass beverage pitcher you'll reach for all day long because you can fill it with flavored water, teas, or your fave at-home lemonade concoction. Promising review: "Love it! I think it's a great size and feels very study. Great to use to hold flowers or use for drinks!" —KatyPrice: $15.99 A Kitchenaid hand mixer so you can give all those recipes you've saved on TikTok a go without having to haul out the big stand mixer. (Plus, look at its perfectly indulgent GREEN color!) Price: $84.99 (originally $109.99) A mug tree that'll make you smile every time you see your fave mugs on proud display and will help keep your cupboards from making an avalanche of your mug collection. Promising review: "Saw this online first and had it in my cart, but then ran to the store and luckily I found it to hang my adorable mugs on. It's perfect looks more rustic in person which I was happy about." —IslandgirlPrice: $22 A Simplehuman touch-free soap dispenser to give your bathroom a futuristic ~touch~ while keeping you (and your fam) as sanitary as possible. This one runs off a rechargeable battery, too, so no bulky cord out on your counter at all hours! Promising reviews: "I like that you can rinse it off in the sink. I bought a cheap one on amazon and it stopped working once it got wet from falling in the sink. So definitely recommend this brand." —Spoilmybaby"Love it. We're using it in the kitchen. It's easy to use hands free and just the right size. Plan to get another for the bathroom." —BarbcsPrice: $69.99+ (available in three styles) An Our Place ceramic nonstick Always pan if you're short on cabinet space. I can PERSONALLY attest this pan can do it all because I'm ~obsessed~ with mine and am slowly building an Our Place empire. Easy to clean, cute, cute, cute, and the kind of item that makes you EXCITED to cook because of how easy it is on the eyes and the cleanup. Set includes an Always Pan 2.0 in original nonstick, a modular, steam-release lid, a nesting beechwood spatula that slots right onto the handle for easy holding, and a steamer basket and colander.I truly can't say enough nice things about the Always pan. I have a Very Fancy pan that has been living in the cabinet since I got this one because the Always is a joy to use and such a breeze to clean up when finished. Just be sure to let the pan TOTALLY cool before washing to extend the non-stick life, and you'll be just as obsessed as I am!Promising reviews: "Evenly cooks and easy clean up. Purchased on sale so I feel pricing was good." —JPrice: $129 (available in five colors) A brass-footed and handled tray perfect for catching your mail, holding your fave succulent plant, or anything else you can imagine! That antiqued brass color looks amazing no matter what you stack on it, so rest assured it'll find a cozy spot in your current home decor! Promising reviews: "It's so beautiful in person! Especially for a bar." —momof3j"Heavy and durable, doesn't look or feel cheap. Really beautiful and subtle antique brass color." —JMartinPrice: $25 A wood-top kitchen island your friends and fam will love to sit, lean, and gather around while they watch you whip up the perfect charcuterie board. (Plus, it's on wheels. So if you ever need it to be, say, a craft board in another room, that's an option!) Promising reviews: "We purchased this to use as a coffee cart, and it's such a great addition to our kitchen/dining area. It helps expand our space without being bulky. We use the top surface to place our espresso machine, hot water kettle, coffee grinder, and espresso tools. The drawer fits tea bags, additional tools, and coffee filters, with plenty of room to spare. And the lower storage/cabinet space fits plenty of additional items like mugs, containers, and a french press. We love this cart!" —joshb"I love this island! It's so pretty and really helped add storage and counter space to my kitchen." —KatherinePrice: $435 Matter compostable lidded hot cups which are a win for you and the planet. (AND your plants if you use your compost to nourish those!) Don't you want to bother fishing your thermos from the dishwasher on a Monday morning? Snag a 10-pack of these, so you always have an ecologically friendly grab-n-go-n-toss option! Matter is a company all about making compostable products from plants which is obviously so much better for the environment without sacrificing the convenience we love to have in our homes. I ~personally~ also love their earth-friendly sandwich baggies for lunches and snacks if you're looking to green-ify another daily habit! Promising review: "They were great and they didn't leak!" —KayPrice: $5.99 for 10 A microgel down alternative pillow if your old pillow is looking (and feeling!) a little worse for wear. This one is medium firm and the microgel will hold its shape over time so that you can come back again and again to your new perfect neck setup. Hell-o excellent sleep! Promising review: "Some of the best pillows I've owned so far. I love how the packaging has a meter on it as well. These pillows bounce back unlike any other pillow. I've slept on. For $15 each this is definitely a bargain." —oreofox22Price: $20+ (available in standard and king sizes) A beautiful floral quilt to help welcome sunny days with open arms and keep you at a perfectly pleasant temperature all year long. Promising reviews: "Love the colors! Love how lightweight it is!" —Sarah T"It's been a while now since purchasing and it's still holding up well. No piling and it does provide great coverage with it not making us super hot or cold." —AlexaPrice: $69+ (available in sizes full/queen and king and in three styles) A Nex Playground Active Play System that's ~supposedly~ designed for the small human crowd, but adults also LOVE this thing. If you remember the Xbox Kinect times, THIS IS THE SUPERIOR, CHEAPER, MORE COMPACT VERSION. With games like Fruit Ninja, Whac-A-Mole, and dancing galore, this handy size-of-your-hand device plugs directly into your TV or projector with an HDMI cable and is ready to go. Check out this TikTok of parents enjoying it just as much as the kids! We've had this in our home for about two months, now, and it is an INDISPENSABLE HOME GOOD. Need to tidy the house but don't want your kiddo staring at their 1000th hour of Bluey for the day? The Nex has GOT YOU. This genuinely requires kids to move in order to play the games, and it keeps them entertained while you get some stuff done. It is now a feature of our living room and everyone asks "What's that little colorful box?" when they visit. (We're very happy to convert them.)Promising reviews: "I bought this as a Christmas gift for my kids and wanted to try it out first, so my coworkers and I tried it and it was so much fun! It's a quick and easy setup and gets you moving! I can't wait to play with my kids. I'm highly satisfied with my purchase." —Ashley H"I have four kids (8 and under), and Nex Playground is saving my life in these indoor months. My 4- and 7-year-olds love to play these games, and my 7-year-old has no problem navigating through the games and playing. There is a great selection of games, and it can be played solo or multiplayer — which I love, and they are adding games to the library, which is so fun!" —MJPrice: $249.99 A Keurig K-Cafe smart single-serve coffee, latte, and cappuccino maker, I can testify, is the bougiest (and most affordable!) caffeine deliverer around. IT COMES WITH A MILK FROTHER. I can't emphasize what a game-changer this is. Plus, it's *actually* smart. It can read the barcode on the K-Cups and give you recipe options to fully personalize your morning brew. Promising review: "Great coffee maker with WiFi ability to start my cup of coffee while I get up." —VIPrice: $199.99 A framed vintage lemon print because when life gives you lemons, frame them and hang them on your wall. Got a couple spots on your walls where nails used to hang? COVER THEM UP WITH ON-TREND LEMON CUTENESS. Seriously, lemons are everywhere this year, and I'm not mad about it!Promising reviews: "Super cute picture. Picture and frame are well made. Overall the quality is great and the price is reasonable." —Meg"Love the bright yellow color on this art piece. Looks great in my living room." —VinksPrice: $32 Some solar LED outdoor string lights to bring a touch of whimsy to your outdoor nights. Just look at those little rattan light hats. And if you've been wondering how you're going to enjoy your dark outdoor space after the sun goes down, these will give you just enough light to vibe outside. Promising review: "Great addition to my balcony seating area. Gives off a nice soft light in the evening. The solar charge does wear off overnight, but recharges daily. I've had these up throughout the spring, summer, and fall with no problems." —Always ShoppingPrice: $20 A queen size pillow top air mattress with a headboard because your floor never looked so good as a guest spot. If you've got a full house (or just want the most EPIC of movie nights in front of the living room flatscreen), this luxurious air mattress wants to be a part of all your sleepovers. Promising reviews: "I like the fact that I can actually use the pillow headboard as a back support while doing my work and homework in bed." —QueenChi"I have had several different ones over the past several years. The headboard was such a bonus. It was easy to get in and out, too." —LoriPrice: $79.99 A 6-inch Kindle that's a new TikTok fave and Amazon's lightest, most compact e-reader yet. Have your link ready to share because there's LOTS of buzz in the cozy book world about how this is the perfect additional companion to your Paperwhite, so you (and those you influence!) will get a lot of use out of both! (I would say ask me how I know, Just trust me.) Here is one of my most FAVORITE cozy creators on TikTok talking about why she loves her new lil' Kindle!Plus, this little guy is EXTRA practical if you've been thinking about cleaning out some of the stacks of physical books you've got in every corner of your house. Promising review: "I love physical books, but as a working mom of four ( one being a baby), I wanted something I could throw into my bag and go. That was compact and charged well. I absolutely love my new Kindle. I'm on my fifth book this week!!!" —MamaoffourPrice: $109.99 (available in two colors) A Costway electric fireplace stand you'll love on those cooler nights and for the loads of extra storage it brings to your space. Promising reviews: "We are certainly enjoying our new fireplace. It looks really good in our living room and looks warm and cozy. It is just exactly what we wanted for our room." —Wade"It's is so beautiful and I've gotten compliments on the unit. It help heat our living room, as our house is poorly insulated. I love it! Nothing bad to say about it at all." —JamiePrice: $349.99+ (originally $699.99+, available in four styles) A curved wooden bookcase not only perfect for holding all those books you still want to read this year, but ALSO, it's laddered design is PERFECT for holding flower stems to give you the Bookstagram setup of your dreams. Promising review: "My daughter purchased one first, and I fell in love with hers. Such a great eclectic design — it blends seamlessly with any style from boho to mid-century. Absolutely love how it looks in my home. Despite what some have said in the reviews, I found it quite easy to assemble all by myself in about two hours. Very nice quality for the price." —BohomamaPrice: $375 A tufted shower curtain if your bathroom could use the quickest (and most effective!) of rebrands. I'm going to hold your hand gently when I say this, but if you still have a holiday-themed curtain up in July... it's time for a seasonal change. Promising reviews: "I love this shower curtain. It's so pretty. Much nicer in person. Brings out my guest bathroom." —F Schultz"This is a beautiful and classic fabric shower curtain. The neutral creamy texture adds character to our Guest bathroom. I highly recommend to anyone contemplating whether or not they should purchase." —SaavyOCShopperPrice: $29.99 A tiered Bentgo snack cup perfect for bringing your yogurt parfait on the go or simply giving yourself the freedom to add multiple different snacks in one cup without them cross-pollinating. (Nobody wants their pretzels all up in their cheese cubes' business, thank you very much.) Price: $19.99 (available in five colors) An Our Place knife trio as useful as it is eye catching. (And with colors like that, you know people will be 👀) Price: $145
Buzz Feed
4 days ago
- Buzz Feed
24 Things From Target That'll Plain Save The Day For Busy Parents
A positively ingenious set of Infantino wrist rattles that'll save you from picking up that rattle yet again for your baby who hasn't *grasped* grasping yet. Just attach the rattles around the wrist or the ankles like a bracelet and let your baby discover the magic of their rattling hands and feet while you take that well-earned deep breath. Promising review: "Super cute multi-functional baby toy with soft colors and teething accessories." —Brittany bPrice: $8.49 for two rattles And a pair of Munchkin faucet extenders to help your toddler feel a taste of independence and help save your hands from quadrupling the washing. These sink extenders help your little one easily reach the water without needing to be hoisted up like a sack of potatoes. BuzzFeed editor and mom-of-two Heather Braga has this for her 3-year-old. She said, "We're working on potty training my toddler, which comes with the added routine of constant handwashing. He's itching to be independent in all ways (yay) so I knew it was time to add these to my cart. They slip over the two very different faucets in my bathrooms and have truly made it easier than ever for my son to wash his hands."Promising review: "I have two toddlers who are potty training. This has been a wonderful addition to our sinks! Don't have to juggle between carrying your little one and washing their hands at the same time!" —K1525Price: $10.99 for a two-pack A compact, portable Jool Baby travel potty seat that can make an adult seat the perfect size for little potty trainers. Save your back from holding them up onto the seat in public restrooms so they don't fall in because the bare minimum here means no peeing toddler clinging to you and bringing your face inches from a public toilet. This amazing potty seat comes with a travel bag and can be quickly and easily wiped clean with an antibacterial wipe. It suctions onto the toilet, keeping your kid both physically and mentally secure. Promising review: "This product has been a game changer for getting my toddler to use the potty in public. He is smaller, so normal potties are intimidating to him. I highly recommend this seat for any little kids!!! So easy to attach and fold up. Each to clean after, too. Such a brilliant product." —KatePrice: $14.99 (available in three colors) A bottle of detangling spray for turning morning cryfests into a quick and easy process. This leave-in conditioner is hypoallergenic, all-natural, and gentle — plus it smells amazing. I recently switched my fine-haired daughter over to this leave-in conditioner, and we both love it! The citrus vanilla scent is SO good, and it actually works. I can spray this on wet hair after a shower or on a knot in dry hair, and it's equally great. Promising review: "This stuff smells fantastic and works like magic! My kids have long, wavy hair, and this has become a part of their hair care routine because it's so amazing. It detangles, and the good smell lasts in their hair." —Mama KesPrice: $7.79 A formula-mixing pitcher, aka an absolute game changer for avoiding gas and getting formula ready, like, ~yesterday.~ Not having premade formula while you have a hangry baby should be low on your list of effort you want to use. And there's nothing like making an entire batch before bed and easily pouring a bottle when you're still half asleep. The formula comes out clump-free, can be made up to 24 hours in advance, and has no bubbles, which can lead to gas. If you're a nursing mama, it can also re-mix breast milk. Promising review: "I love this pitcher; it is the perfect size. Easy to use so that you can store formula for the whole day, and it removes air bubbles in the milk. If you have a baby registry, make sure to add this gift." —RhondaPrice: $9.99 (available in three colors) A cool mist humidifier that'll help soothe when your kiddo comes down with a cold and hopefully get them back up and running sooner. I don't know about you, but I have precisely zero minutes to waste on yet another virus my kids bring home. So many people swear by humidifiers, but I had never used one before having a baby. If you're a skeptic like I was, I can verify that getting a humidifier has been so helpful, especially now that my kids are a bit older. Whenever I see the first sign of a sniffle, I pull the humidifier out and see dramatic improvement when I try to grit my teeth and hold on until it passes. Promising review: "This humidifier has been a blessing! Our other one got wet so we ordered this. I was skeptical because of the size, but it actually works great!! I love the different selections you get for what type of speed you want for your humidity and light." —JayPrice: $39.99 (available in two colors) A super convenient Ubbi grape cutter to take all of the work out of minimizing choking hazards. Quickly insert the grape or tomato and slice it into a safer size — especially when you have several young kids or are prepping for a party or play date. One less thing to worry about! Price: $9.99 A snack storage solution so they can quickly grab their treats with zero fuss and zero wasted time. Promising review: "I have type 1 diabetes, and I use this as my snack tray when my blood sugar drops. So now I can easily see what I have, and my family can get something quickly for me. This could be used for so many different things. Great product!" —mzmullisPrice: $19.99 And a set of clear fridge organizers that'll make preparing meals and snacks easy and efficient rather than chaotic and frustrating. Keep your essentials at the ready and just watch how easy you'll make it look. Promising review: "Great addition to our fridge! Helps keep our fridge more organized and makes it look better, too! Great thick material. Very easy to clean, too!" —SamyasPrice: $25 for a four-piece set A touchscreen toaster so they can ~independently~ figure out exactly how they want their toast without figuring out what the number dial actually means (I mean — do any of us REALLY?). Just touch the image of what you're toasting, touch the image of how dark you want it, and enjoy the benefits of a morning that doesn't include scraping char off of toast. Promising review: "This toaster is amazing. The countdown clock and toast color options are so handy. Makes perfect toast every time!" —Oswald LuciusPrice: $54.99 (originally $299.99) A Shark handheld vacuum to quickly pick up crumbs under the table or high chair without getting on your hands and knees with the dustbin. Save yourself time, energy, and effort by quickly sucking up crumbs and enjoying the feeling of walking near the table without Cheerios sticking to your feet. For the longest time, I used a dustpan and broom to get my kids' crumbs after meals. It wasn't that big of a deal, but it was annoying. I finally decided to treat myself to a handheld vacuum, and I do not regret anything except for waiting so long to get one. It's one of those really small things that really did make one part of parenting so much less work. Now that my baby is a big kid, she happily vacuums up after meals that are still messy years later. Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this little vacuum! It's so easy to use — my 2-year-old, who likes to help, can even use this vacuum. It's powerful and the attachments are easy to exchange. It is bagless and easy to empty; you can charge it easily from any outlet. I have a long-haired cat who sheds a lot and this vacuum works well for pet hair." —StruPrice: $99.99 A fan-favorite Skylight calendar for keeping all of your family appointments in plain sight. Not only does it automatically sync to your calendars, you can set up chore charts for your family members and keep lists all in one place. This calendar does use a subscription for a wider range of functions, but the calendar, chore chart, and lists (aka the most important) don't require anything extra. That being said, it's a huge time saver since it connects to Google Calendar, iCloud Calendar, and Outlook Calendar to keep everyone's schedule in one place. Promising review: "This literally does it all! There is also an app that goes along with it so you can see your calendar on the go & it can be separately accessed by your spouse or kids as well! The chore charts and reward stars are great for kids. The meal planning calendar is such a great tool. Being able to have everyone's schedule all in one place is just great. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️" —ADPrice: $319.99 A shoe organizer to keep footwear front and center rather than *maybe-possibly-under-the-bed-will-you-just-find-it??*. This low-profile storage solution can keep things organized and out of the way and shave off precious minutes from getting out of the house. Promising review: "No more messy entryway whenever we have guests. This is a very nice piece. Sturdy and easy to assemble. Happy with this purchase." —ken210Price: $102.99 A document holder AND backpack station that can hold documents, backpacks, and a sweater without completely gunking up your entryway. Each kid can have a station because you do NOT need to search for the backpack and homework folder as you're trying to get everyone out for school. Each organizer can hold up to 25 pounds, so if you have middle or high-school-aged kids, it might not work if they keep heavy textbooks in their backpacks. Try something more heavy-duty to clean up the entryway and keep things organized. Promising review: "This was perfect for our preschool homework station! Kept homework in the pocket and hung backpacks on the hooks! So functional yet still very modern and sleek." —JosiPrice: $25 An easy-to-use toy storage solution if the very idea of packing up a vast array of toys is exhausting in and of itself. Simply pile toys into the mat, gather them, and collect up to nine pounds in one beautiful scoop. Even the youngest toddlers can scoop and dump — because you have no time to waste picking up hundreds of tiny toys. Price: $53.99 (originally $76.99) A Bissell vacuum/mop combo that'll make your old bucket and mop system completely obsolete. This machine will vacuum and mop at the same time, keeping your floors squeaky clean and allowing you to forget there was ever a time when you would wipe the crumbs off your feet on your pant leg. Promising review: "It is a great product, especially for people who don't have time to waste. The product is easy to use, it cleans and mops simultaneously, you don't have to switch from vacuum to mop, and it sanitizes. The first time I used it, I could see the difference on my floors." —SashaPrice: $179 (originally $229.99) A gentle alarm clock for your older kids that doubles as a night-light and an OK-to-wake clock for your youngins'. The light gradually gets brighter to help wake them up more peacefully than you in a "GET UP OR WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE" panic. Promising review: "I use this as my alarm clock. The light feature that turns on 15 minutes prior to my set alarm time is wonderful! It slowly gets brighter, and I am always awake before the alarm sounds. It's nice to not wake up the whole house. The night-light feature options are very pretty and nice to have just before going to sleep." —JBPrice: $21 A magnetic responsibility chart so the ~responsibility~ of getting ready in the morning doesn't land fully on your busy shoulders. This chart comes with 92 magnets for personal, communal, and social skills and a dry-erase marker for any goal that might not be included in the provided magnets. If you have a non-reader, check out this simplified version for the morning and evening routines!Promising review: "A probably one of my favorite purchases from target. Really helps my toddler to understand responsibilities and keeps us on track for the day!" —JessicadrakePrice: $18.79 An electric toothbrush because absolutely no one has any time for cavities. This toothbrush comes with an app to help ensure your kids are brushing those mouthbones rather than taking a swipe and calling it a day. Promising review: "Daughter loved that she could choose the design on her toothbrush. Cleans teeth very well. The app helps her stay constant with brushing for the full length of time. Really happy with the product. Works better than other electric toothbrushes we have tried in the past." —TargetMomPrice: $34.99 (available in pink and blue) A car seat buckle release tool that'll protect your nails *and* your patience from how surprisingly difficult unbuckling is. Plus — when they're older — they can learn to unbuckle themselves, ensuring that you are not burying your face in the drop-off line as you get out of the car to unbuckle your kid. The car seat buckle desperately needs to be one less thing you fight with. Promising review: "Liked the colors. Bought one for each car. My daughter can now unbuckle herself with this which helps speed up the drop off line at school." —EricaPrice: $28.99 for a two-pack (available in two color combos) A backseat storage bag to store toys, snacks, or whatever else they need as you're chauffeuring them to all of their practices. If you're on the go often, having some snacks always at the ready is going to save a lot of energy. If you're keeping this in your car full-time, only pack snacks that won't melt. Promising review: "Love how this can fit on the seat of my car or on the floor. Love the pockets on the sides that allow me to put items that I need but don't want my twins getting into. Fits so much stuff and perfect for a road trip." —TwinmamaPrice: $16 And a portable trash bin that'll help keep tissues, snack wrappers, and other garbage from filling up the backseat. Just stash the trash, empty it, and enjoy the freedom of not having to chase down snack wrappers that fall out when you open the car door. I keep a small trash can with me, and I am always surprised at how quickly it fills up. Luckily, the trash can fills up instead of my backseat. It's so easy to empty while I'm at a gas station or quickly before I head out with the kids, and it's saved so much mess. Promising review: "I love this trash can for my car. I have one in each vehicle. Its small and can easily be squished out of the way if needed. This is the first trash can my kids use in the car." —ChrisPrice: $11 A visual timer to help make transitions easier for everyone. Since kids can't tell time, "five more minutes" doesn't mean much. With this handy timer, they can watch the colored portion get smaller and be less shocked when time is up. If you have a kid who struggles with transitions (like mine!) or doesn't understand any time but NOW, this timer is for you because no one has time for a meltdown. Price: $35.04 And a foot massager because at the end of the day, you deserve a little relaxation too, darn it. You might as well give those dogs a little rest — because tomorrow's busy day is already calling. Price: $100.99
Buzz Feed
4 days ago
- Buzz Feed
33 Nightmare House Guests You'll Never Invite Back
We covered a Reddit thread by u/Jentenny99 where they asked people to reveal the weirdest thing a guest has ever done in their home. That post seemed to resonate with BuzzFeed Community members because they began sharing their own nightmare guest stories. Here's what they revealed: "My brother-in-law and his wife had a huge, totally untrained German Shepherd. We had a 2-year-old who was terrified of dogs and had asked that they not bring it when they came to visit. They agreed but showed up with the dog anyway. We had a storage building, and said they could put the dog in the storage building. It was Thanksgiving in Indiana — chilly but not freezing — and we thought the storage building was a good solution. They brought the dog into the house during the night. It got into the trash, dragged it all over the house, and ate some used disposable diapers, which it then vomited back up all over the house. We awoke to a mess and a screaming child. They and my husband's parent thought we were being unreasonable for being unhappy that they ignored our request." "Once, two former, very religious friends dropped by my place unexpectedly. We were chatting in the kitchen when the wife wandered into the adjacent dining area and began reading a letter I had left open on the table. This letter was from a high school friend who had recently gotten married (she's a lesbian) and had sent some wedding pictures. The wife saw the pictures and began screaming, which made her husband rush over. They immediately began mocking my high school friend. I got angry and told them they had no right to read my mail or judge my friend. They quieted down and apologized, but then the husband asked, 'So, which one is the man?' and they both began to laugh uncontrollably. At that point, I was so furious that all I could do was point to the door." "My mother-in-law lived with us after she had lost her job and sold her house immediately at a loss. She repotted all my plants and stuffed them into pots to 'save space.' She cut up our good laundry towels because she needed rags for her art (even though we had a bag full of rags in the garage). She gave me $100 every two months to cover her expenses (her portion of electricity, rent, food, etc.). She used my measuring cups to mix her glue for her art. Finally, she complained to her son about how I didn't keep the house very clean, even though I was working full time plus overtime and taking night classes while she and her son worked part-time and did nothing else." "My brother and his wife came down on July 3 to spend two nights for a family 4th of July party. I fixed a nice dinner and homemade dessert that night, and they stayed in our very nice guest room. I fixed a good breakfast in the morning, and we were preparing for the family event. My brother was trying to use my quirky little electric can opener and couldn't get it to work, and was complaining about it not working. He is extremely narcissistic and insisted he was using it right, but that it was broken. When I told him it worked fine and that I would show him how it worked, he exploded into a rage, spouting extremely obnoxious curse words, screaming at me and my fiancé, with whom I lived, and said he was leaving." "A friend was visiting us, and we watched a movie in the living room. The friend disappeared, and when we finally looked for him, we found him removing food from our fridge and putting it into his bag. When asked why he would do such a thing, his response was, 'I was there when you bought it.'" "We hosted a wedding at our lakehouse home. While waiting for the ceremony to start, the groomsmen drank all of my husband's beer from our bar fridge and sat ON our kitchen counters. They tossed beer caps into our sink, so I had to fish them out of the drain so they wouldn't break the disposal. There's a trash can IN the kitchen; it's not hidden. There are plenty of chairs at the table to sit in. These were GROWN men." "A high school friend of my husband's had asked if she and her family (boyfriend and 5-year-old daughter) could stay at our house for a couple of days while they were in town. I didn't know them, but I was okay with it. They showed up with a car full of stuff; it looked as if they had been living out of their car. Of course, a couple of days quickly turned into a week, with no end in sight. I quietly gritted my teeth when I saw them sitting in my guest bed, eating nachos while their daughter ran wild and making big messes for me to clean up. Then, one day, they had a big argument, and the boyfriend took off with their daughter, leaving behind the girlfriend/mother without her wallet (deliberately). She had no money, ID, or car, and apparently nobody was willing to take her off our hands." "My brother-in-law was visiting friends in Florida. He always wore a thong but took it to a new level when he decided to grab a morning coffee in the kitchen, Winnie the Pooh-style (no pants, T-shirt). Our friend's wife entered the kitchen and was shocked to see him standing there, calmly drinking coffee. Also, he sunbathed nude in the backyard and sunned himself on the floaty in the pool. Their neighbors complained. I hope they burned all the furniture in the backyard." "An old friend, whom I had not seen in years, visited me for about a week. About two-thirds of the way through her visit, the pipe in our only bathroom burst, and the plumbers told us to use buckets of water to flush the toilet. When I told my guest, my guest said, 'Oh, that's okay. I just peed in your mug and dumped it down the sink.' I asked her not to do that again and to use the bucket instead and fill it with water to flush. She then said to me, 'But urine is sterile. I've drunk my own urine before. Monks do it all the time.' Needless to say, I was speechless." "A fairly new friend I'd been hanging out with frequently was letting a friend of his from out of town have his one-room downtown apartment for a handful of days. My roommate had recently moved out, so I invited my friend to stay at my place in the burbs. I gave him my room and slept on the couch. I knew he had a drinking problem, and some red flags were building up, but he was polite during his stay, and we got along well. He apologized for running out of time to wash the bedding when he left. I said no problem, but when I went to wash the sheets, I found he had been humping my pillows, a lot by the looks of them! I washed everything twice, threw out my crusty pillows, and ended the friendship. Dude, I put my face on those things. How would washing my pillowcases make that okay?" "A friend's son, wife, and 16-month-old child came to escape the heat. He told us his wife would be working and needed a quiet space every day. We gave her an extra bedroom. We gave her an extra bedroom. That lasted a few hours. She used every room, ignored the child all day, took tables, lamps, and even drawers from a desk in one of the rooms, and piled everything on top of each other in the closet. She did not put the room back together. Every morning, they would go out and come back with coffee, and she would eat something hidden in a little bag. They never asked us if we wanted anything or offered to take us out for a meal or contribute a single thing. To top it all off, she hid my dog's favorite toy in a Halloween decorations box in a closet. I discovered it last Halloween! It was so easy saying no to their request to come back for a few days this month, now with a 3-year-old and a 5-month-old. They are extremely wealthy but clueless." "Around 20 years ago, my (now ex) husband's brother was moving from California to New York and asked if he could stay with us for three days between when he gave up his apartment until he was scheduled to leave. No problem. He didn't mention he'd be bringing his cat. I was highly allergic to cat dander. Tears would stream down my face from the time I got home at night until I left for work again in the morning. I bought some Benadryl and decided to tough it out because it was only for three days. Six months later, he was still there. He made a mess, was disrespectful of our need for sleep, and never cleaned or contributed in any way, even though we both worked full time while trying to get our own business off the ground." "One of my son's friends' girlfriend came over to my house for a few drinks. When I left to use the bathroom, I came back to the kitchen to find her with her pants down and peeing in the sink! WTH?!" "I gave a young friend a wedding shower. I'm a pretty good cook/hostess, so I went all out on the food and drinks. I set up a buffet with many choices and a drink station (no alcohol). My friend's future aunt was in front of me at the buffet. She ate a chocolate-covered strawberry and put the stem on the buffet. I didn't say anything until she tasted a dip and then put the spoon back in the dip. I was furious. I told her to pick up the stem and put it on her plate, and if she wanted to know how something tasted, she should put some on her plate and use her own spoon to taste it from there. Of course, I removed the dip." "In my early 20s, after college, a few friends and I had an apartment in Boston. One of our other close friends lived at home after college but would come and stay with us during the weekend and stay over after hitting the bars/nightclubs with us. He was usually a good guest. However, after a while, he got too comfy at our place. One weekend, he got sick from drinking too much, puked on our wood floors, and cleaned it by wiping it up with old newspaper. No soap or cleansers! Another weekend, he held a party at our place for some of his other friends without asking for our blessing or inviting us! He just had guests come over for a party he threw at our house!" "Some family came for Thanksgiving for the first time. They brought their dog (without we have cats) and lots of drugs. The entire five days were a drunken drug fest with their dog lying all over our furniture and in our bed and chasing our pets. They were drunk and stoned the entire time while fighting and giving each other the silent treatment. Happy Thanksgiving. Never again!" "My partner's daughter came from out of town and stayed with us. She is over 40 and rudely bossed her father around every day. She stayed in our guest bedroom, which had been my deceased daughter's bedroom. I kept many of her things in the dresser and closet. One morning, she came downstairs and informed me she was bored the previous evening and went through all my daughter's belongings. She had the nerve to ask for a Gucci handbag that she had taken down from the top shelf in the closet. I was speechless and asked for an apology. Didn't happen." "Friends of my ex-husband stayed with us between moving houses. I came home earlier than expected and found the wife leaving with a cooler of meat from my freezer. Her sister was 'facing hard times' and needed it. They could have actually stayed with her because she had room, but our place was 'nicer.'" "My ex-roommate invited a friend to sleep on our couch for a few weeks…without asking me first. I went along with it despite the rough start. The guest decided to help herself to our food and constantly left the front door unlocked, so I counted the days until she was gone. One Saturday morning, I was rudely awakened by the sound of a vacuum running before 6:00 a.m. However, my vacuum was still broken from the last bad roommate! I walked into the common area to see the house guest blowing up my air mattress with a strange guy. They popped my air mattress before 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday!" "A relative of my foster mother's would come over whenever she liked and tie up the phone for hours. Even if no one were home, she'd let herself in (doors were never locked) and go straight to the phone! If we were home, no one was allowed to do anything other than sit still and be quiet until she finished. Bathroom trips were the only escape allowed. It was considered impolite to leave while she was on the phone!" "My best friend from high school and her husband asked if they could stay with us on their way from Florida to northern Michigan. It was no problem until I came home from work to find she had gone through all my drawers and jewelry and set aside pieces she wanted me to give her! Her husband warned her I wouldn't like it, but she assured him we shared everything. I was mortified at the invasion of my privacy and snatched my things up. She kept bugging me to give her a certain pin. I was really mad. That was the last time I left her alone in my home." "We met a seemingly nice couple while traveling in Turks and Caicos. We dined and visited a few places on the island since we had a rental car. The other couple was staying a day longer and wondered if we wanted to leave the car with them. Uh, no. We needed it to get to the airport. The next thing we knew, they said they would be traveling through our town and suggested they visit us. We accommodated them, and even though they knew we had a 14-year-old son at home, the wife traveled back and forth from their guest room to the bath next to my son's room in a bra and underwear. Not appropriate!" "My husband's cousin and his wife stayed with us for nearly a week. They had bottles of cheap wine in their suitcases and drank continually. We bought and prepared all the meals and would open a bottle of wine, but we were lucky to get one glass before they finished it off. Everywhere we went, they would stand back from the cashier, even when visiting a museum that they requested to visit, and would wait for us to open our wallets. They insisted on dropping into Trader Joe's before they left to buy as many bottles of cheap wine as they could fit into their suitcase. We did speak to them about their drinking, but they shrugged it off. I don't know which was more annoying, their unwillingness to offer to pay for anything or their unwillingness to open a bottle of wine and share with us. We stayed with them previously and paid for everything, by the way." "We lived in the country and had a beautiful view. One of my husband's work colleagues asked if she could have her 'very tiny' wedding at our house because it was her dream setting. She promised it was just a couple of immediate family members. Turns out there were over 100 people. We came home to patio furniture in the pool, not one sheet remaining of our toilet paper or paper towels, ruined bath towels, a backed-up septic system, mud all over the kitchen countertops, and a garage filled with trash. I wouldn't treat a cheap motel that badly!" "When I was a kid, whenever we went on holiday, my grandma would pop in to feed the cat, water plants, etc. We'd return every time to find she had rearranged the living room furniture! The first few times, my mum was furious. After that, it became a running joke. She would move stuff around, but only little things, to see if we'd notice. It's still a bit annoying, but much less so than having to re-rearrange the living room when you've got a bunch of holiday laundry to deal with!" "Against my better judgment (and the advice of my own mother), I let my sister, her husband, and her young son stay with us when they lost their apartment. They had lost multiple apartments because they would stay without paying rent until the landlord figured out a way to kick them out. But she was family, and I couldn't turn her away. While there, they would hide their own food in their room, but eat all our food. At the time, we were installing wood flooring in the living room, so the rule was that there would be no eating or drinking in the living room. I would get up in the morning (because I had to go to work early, so they were still up when I went to bed), and there would be the wrappers from Icy Pops in the living room, so obviously, that rule was ignored." "My husband's aunt and teenage cousin asked to stay with us for two nights (Sunday to Tuesday). I wanted to make them feel welcome, so I made a big dinner both nights, complete with homemade apple pie and crumb cake (my specialty). I also made breakfast and lunch for them, and rescheduled my 2-year-old daughter's gym classes so I could spend time with them. Things were okay, but my husband and I were slightly disappointed because they were sloppy, ate all our food, etc., and never offered to contribute anything. The cousin actually drank an entire gallon of milk and ate all of the homemade chocolate chip cookies I had made. When I asked the aunt to watch my daughter while I ran out to buy more milk, she said no!" "My mom used to have a bestie from school days. At some point, her friend and her adult friend's son stayed with us because he had to apply for a military school in our city. Long story short, they stayed the entire summer, they wrecked our phone bill, they had the AC on 24/7 ( of course, never did they pay for anything ), and when they finally left, her husband suggested that my mom and I stay in one of their summer houses (they were extremely wealthy) during our hollidays. We accepted it, but her son decided to let his pit bull attack my dog during our stay. I rescued my dog at the last minute, and I told him that he was mean by nature and a douchbag. We stopped talking with them until my mom died. Her friend came to the ceremony, where she decided to tell me that my dead dad wasn't my real dad and that my dead mom should have told me years ago. By the way, my face is identical to my father's." "I don't know if this counts as a house guest because it was someone I met at a bar, took home, and haven't seen since that night. I don't even remember his name or if I ever knew it. Lucky for him, because he somehow ordered hundreds of dollars worth of porn on my cable TV account at some point?! I guess he did it while I was using the bathroom because nothing else about that night was good enough to hold my attention long enough for him to do that unnoticed. Lucky for ME, Comcast gave me the benefit of the doubt and refunded the charges because I had never ordered anything like that before." "When my husband and I moved into our new house, my brother-in-law asked if his family (his girlfriend, their kid, and their dog) could rent out the basement until they had saved up to get an apartment. We said okay. At first, it was okay. Then, their dog got pregnant because they hadn't spayed her. She gave birth, and they didn't lift a finger to help with seven pups. My husband and I paid for all the food and vet bills. We raised, cleaned, socialized, and found homes for them. That's only the start. We asked them to use the shed outside to smoke weed and not smoke in the house. They didn't care. They not only smoked inside, but the girlfriend smoked 24/7 until she made herself physically ill from so much weed and vomited all over our floor. They both refused to clean the puke and let it sit for days until my husband cleaned it. This happened multiple times." "My wife's sister, who lives 11 hours away, likes to travel. She has money and occasionally talks about how much she has in the bank. Travel is a fun pastime, but instead of hotels, she regularly finds distant relatives, friends, etc., to stay with. Last summer, she rented her house for a week, so she had no place to stay, and then asked if she could stay with us for a few days. We said no problem. After the first three days, she asked if she could stay longer and if her son could come too and sleep on the couch for a few days. Once again, we said okay. She then added that her son's new girlfriend would also be staying. The short stay turned into a week. Despite having money for dinners, drinks, etc., they never contributed to any food. My wife accepted this behavior since her sister has always been like this." "My live-in boyfriend at the time invited his friend and his friend's family of four (plus two dogs) to stay at my two-bedroom apartment for a weekend. Mind you, he did not pay rent or share any household expenses. I politely reminded him of my apartment complex's no-dog rule and expected him to tell his friends to stay elsewhere. I came home from work to find them, their dogs, and their luggage in my living room. I reluctantly set up the air bed and kicked my kid out of her bedroom so they could stay in it." And: "We met a middle-aged, single, Australian man while on a trip to Britain. Two years later, he called to say he was coming for a visit to Canada. We told him clearly that I, now working full time, was also dealing with both my mother and father in the hospital, who were dying. We had no idea that he intended to crash with us for free for three weeks, and he expected his meals on time, his laundry done, and free transportation everywhere, to whatever he wanted to see. He was also continually rude and abusive to my husband, who was only attempting to get him to pitch in for costs and allow me precious time with my parents. Our future travels have not included sharing addresses or phone numbers with others we meet." Have you ever had a horrible house guest? What did they do? Tell us in the comments or share anonymously using this form. Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
