Can you change your personality? Psychology research says yes, by tweaking what you think and do
It might be obvious that internet quizzes are not scientific, but many of the seemingly serious personality tests used to guide educational and career choices are also not supported by research. Despite being a billion-dollar industry, commercial personality testing used by schools and corporations to funnel people into their ideal roles do not predict career success.
Beyond their lack of scientific support, the most popular approaches to understanding personality are problematic because they assume your traits are static – that is, you're stuck with the personality you're born with. But modern personality science studies find that traits can and do change over time.
In addition to watching my own personality change over time from messy and lazy to off the charts in conscientiousness, I'm also a personality change researcher and clinical psychologist. My research confirms what I saw in my own development and in my patients: People can intentionally shape the traits they need to be successful in the lives they want. That's contrary to the popular belief that your personality type places you in a box, dictating that you choose partners, activities and careers according to your traits.
According to psychologists, personality is your characteristic way of thinking, feeling and behaving.
Are you a person who tends to think about situations in your life more pessimistically, or are you a glass-half-full kind of person?
Do you tend to get angry when someone cuts you off in traffic, or are you more likely to give them the benefit of the doubt – maybe they're rushing to the hospital?
Do you wait until the last minute to complete tasks, or do you plan ahead?
You can think of personality as a collection of labels that summarize your responses to questions like these. Depending on your answers, you might be labeled as optimistic, empathetic or dependable.
Research suggests that all these descriptive labels can be summarized into five overarching traits – what psychologists creatively refer to as the 'Big Five.'
As early as the 1930s, psychologists literally combed through a dictionary to pull out all the words that describe human nature and sorted them in categories with similar themes. For example, they grouped words like 'kind,' 'thoughtful' and 'friendly' together. They found that thousands of words could be accounted for by sorting them between five traits: neuroticism, extroversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness and openness.
What personality is not: People often feel protective about their personality – you may view it as the core of who you are. According to scientific definitions, however, personality is not your likes, dislikes or preferences. It's not your sense of humor. It's not your values or what you think is important in life.
In other words, shifting your Big Five traits does not change the core of who you are. It simply means learning to respond to situations in life with different thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
Can personality change? Remember, personality is a person's characteristic way of thinking, feeling and behaving. And while it might sound hard to change personality, people change how they think, feel and behave all the time.
Suppose you're not super dependable. If you start to think 'being on time shows others that I respect them,' begin to feel pride when you arrive to brunch before your friends, and engage in new behaviors that increase your timeliness – such as getting up with an alarm, setting appointment reminders and so on – you are embodying the characteristics of a reliable person. If you maintain these changes to your thinking, emotions and behaviors over time – voila! – you are reliable. Personality: changed.
Data confirms this idea. In general, personality changes across a person's life span. As people age, they tend to experience fewer negative emotions and more positive ones, are more conscientious, place greater emphasis on positive relationships and are less judgmental of others.
There is variability here, though. Some people change a lot and some people hold pretty steady. Moreover, studies, including my own, that test whether personality interventions change traits over time find that people can speed up the process of personality change by making intentional tweaks to their thinking and behavior. These tweaks can lead to meaningful change in less than 20 weeks, instead of 20 years.
The good news is that these cognitive-behavioral techniques are relatively simple, and you don't need to visit a therapist if that's not something you're into.
The first component involves changing your thinking patterns – this is the cognitive piece. You need to become aware of your thoughts to determine whether they're keeping you stuck acting in line with a particular trait. For example, if you find yourself thinking 'people are only looking out for themselves,' you are likely to act defensively around others.
The behavioral component involves becoming aware of your current action tendencies and testing out new responses. If you are defensive around other people, they will probably respond negatively to you. When they withdraw or snap at you, for example, it then confirms your belief that you can't trust others. By contrast, if you try behaving more openly – perhaps sharing with a co-worker that you're struggling with a task – you have the opportunity to see whether that changes the way others act toward you.
These cognitive-behavioral strategies are so effective for nudging personality because personality is simply your characteristic way of thinking and behaving. Consistently making changes to your perspective and actions can lead to lasting habits that ultimately result in crafting the personality you desire.
This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Shannon Sauer-Zavala, University of Kentucky
Read more:
Here's what to do when you encounter people with 'dark personality traits' at work
Personality tests with deep-sounding questions provide shallow answers about the 'true' you
CBT? DBT? Psychodynamic? What type of therapy is right for me?
Shannon Sauer-Zavala receives funding from that National Institute of Mental Health to support her research.
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a day ago
- Buzz Feed
24 Things To Help You Keep Your Home Free From Pet Odors
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Because your spot's signature scent doesn't have to be Eau de Cat Pee. 1. A pet hair remover roller if your pet's hair always ends up on your upholstered furniture. While we love our furry friends and want to cuddle with them always, finding fur and dander all over your stuff is less than ideal. Sofas, blankets, even roller will make sure it all gets removed, and easily. Promising review:"I have a Maine coon and two rabbits. A Roomba and the rubber broom. Used daily. Thought maybe this would help, can't hurt, and now I realize how little both of those things did. My house's air smells cleaner after I've gone over all our carpets. Gets everything!" — Brittany Atikinson Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in four colors). 2. A waterless pet shampoo that'll neutralize stink on contact without requiring a single splash of water. This lavender-scented spray will let you skip the dreaded bath while still leaving your dog (or cat!) smelling like they've just floated out of a wellness retreat. It'll freshen up fur, help with detangling, and keep your home from absorbing eau de wet dog. Bodhi is a family-owned small business in Austin that makes dog hygiene products. Promising review:" Works great for our senior dog! As she has gotten older, baths have become more challenging for her, so we're glad we found this dry shampoo!" — John Beattie Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in three sizes and in three scents). 3. A citrus-scented solid air freshener to stash in a stinky place so you can fix the problem and never have to think about it again. This is a great get if you have a litter box with smells that linger, no matter how often you scoop and change the litter. Amazon Bright Air is a small business that makes products that help reduce pet odors. Promising review:"This is a GREAT air freshener!!! The citrus really freshens our home!!! We have a number of cats and this REALLY helps!!! It arrived as scheduled!!! Works VERY well!!! I have ordered Bright Air Air Fresheners in the past and will continue to do so!!! Very pleased!!!" — John A. Tilley Jr. Get it from Amazon for $10.31. 4. A gentle pet stain and smell removal spray that'll be no match for any accident that one of your pets has. From urine to feces to vomit, this reviewer-beloved spray removes it with ease. And you know that with over 79,000 5-star ratings, it's legit. Rocco & Roxie Supply Company is a family-owned small business established in 2013 that specializes in pet odor eliminators, pet toys, pet snacks, and pet accessories. Promising review:"If you have a dog more prone to accidents (who has really stinky messes, in particular), buy this and skip everything else. I've used many pet cleaners, but this one is easily my favorite. You want to soak up/clean up as much as you can, kinda pat dry, then spray a good amount. I like to let it set for a while, put down some carpet scent powder, and then vacuum over everything. You'll notice a distinct lighter color over your carpet because it cleans up EVERYTHING (not just the potty stains). definitely worth the price, I'll be buying more again soon." — Asia Chance Get it from Amazon for $19.31+ (available in two sizes). 5. A fragrance-free odor-eliminating bag of rocks for absorbing all the questionable smells in your house, pet or not. These last six to 12 months before they even need a refresh, so you can put them where they need to be and let them do their thing — no work on your part. Amazon Promising review:"I tried these in a room where the dog sleeps and in the truck where the dog rides. You would think I had a pet-free home. It was amazing how well these work. Bonus, no odor or fake scent. I like them and will buy more!" — Brenda Smith Get a two-pack pack from Amazon for $23.98. 6. A self-cleaning slicker brush that'll remove loose fur and your fear of brushing your dog for more than 30 seconds. The fine, angled bristles will detangle without scratching, and the push-button retracting mechanism will instantly clear out the fuzz so you're not picking hair out with your fingers. It'll work for both long- and short-haired pets and will make shedding season significantly less smelly. This slicker brush retracts so the fur comes off the bristles cleanly and in one easy-to-toss chunk. Promising review:"My cat has short hair but a thick undercoat. I have tried other types of brushes and they don't get much hair at all. Now, I KNOW this cat sheds cause when I go to pet him, it's like a puff of hair in the air. I was on Amazon and found this one and thought I'd give it a try and I am SO glad I did! I brush him two to three times a day and I always find a good amount on the brush. I didn't think I would care that it was self cleaning, but it is seriously the best feature about this brush. So easy! He loves how it feels and I love how it works. I do have another cat who doesn't care for it, but she is picky about everything, so oh well! Haha! It is worth a try, cat owners!" — Adam&Darylyn Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes and three styles). 7. A bottle of Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator to get rid of questionable smells. This spray uses all-natural orange oil to remove the stink from carpet, upholstery, turf, and more. Angry Orange is a small biz that was founded in 2014. They provide pet-related household cleaning supplies like stain removers, mops, and more. Promising review:"This product is amazing!!!! We have a Rottweiler pup and a Bichon pup and our house was feeling the PAIN! I tried everything and use to tell my wife, 'with all the science and technology in the world we still can't come up with something that gets rid of the dog mark smell!' This product does everything and more. Just ordered another round. We were about to throw away some furniture due to the smell and now after use we can keep it. Saved me hundreds. Well worth the money." — clayton s tonkin Get it from Amazon for $16.19 + (available in two sizes). 8. A self-cleaning automatic litter box that'll clean up after your feline friend so you don't have to. This will help eliminate stink and keep the area around the litter box tidy. Promising review: "This is the BEST litter box I have ever had. They have worked out every possible problem. The litter bag is contained INSIDE the machine — you do not smell cat doo ever!!!! It has a deodorizer feature. Very low maintenance. The material in the potty area is of great quality. BEST INVESTMENT EVER. I have three cats. Put a little extra litter every day and empty the bag every four days, that's it. It has an app to remind you." — Bobby/Robin Get it from Amazon for $265.49 (available in six colors). 9. And a cat litter mat to stop your feline overlord from tracking litter all over the house. The double-layer design traps stray bits as they step off the box, so your floors (and feet) stay cleaner. Plus, it's waterproof and easy to dump out. My colleague Jenae Sitzes has this mat and says it really helps manage cat litter mess:"I've been using this trapper mat for a long time now, and while it's pretty much impossible to eliminate all litter from your home if you own even one cat, let alone multiple, this mat has made keeping the floor of my litter box room MUCH more manageable. Unlike other mats, where the litter just kind of sits on top and eventually gets kicked elsewhere, this mat is designed so that the litter falls through the holes and stays inside the mat until you're ready to dump it. It's made out of an EVA material that's supposed to be gentle enough for cat paws, and my two kitties don't seem to have a problem walking on it. I *highly* recommend getting the larger 30-by-24-inch mat to extend the coverage area — I initially got the smaller one but went back for the larger size and it's perfect. Note that the mat will probably have a fold down the middle when it first arrives, but just give it some time and weigh it down with something if needed; it'll lay flat." Get it from Amazon for $11.19+ (available in two sizes and three colors; be sure to clip the 20% off coupon when applicable). 10. And also a cat litter deodorizer with a fresh scent for keeping your home from smelling like, well, a litter box. It doesn't just mask the smells, it neutralizes them with natural ingredients. Sprinkle a little in the box, and suddenly, your home doesn't scream, "I have a cat!" 11. Some stain-lifting pads can be used on everything from carpets to car interiors to pet beds and more. Next time a whoopsie happens, just set the pad on the stain, stomp, and dispose of it. No scrubbing or touching necessary. Promising review:"I was skeptical of these pads being able to clean a carpet that had been peed on. However after using it according to directions, it amazingly smelled like nothing had happened! The pad soaks up the culprit and leaves a sweet fragrance that is very nice. Totally recommend if you have pets!" — shortnsweet Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $26.11. 12. A double-sided deshedding brush for pulling an entire second pet's worth of fur off your couch-bound dog or cat. One side will detangle knots without drama, and the other will glide through thick undercoats to remove all that loose fur *before* it ends up on your floors, clothes, or freshly vacuumed rug. Promising review: "This tool is a miracle worker for my pup! He is matted quite often under and around his ears, and the hair smells, YUCK! This tool not only got rid of the matted fur easily, but he loves getting brushed now, and we couldn't be happier." — Tammy Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in red or blue). 13. A bottle of Grandma's Secret, a nontoxic stain remover that will remove any stain, no problem, from fabrics like upholstery and clothing. Hot tip: the bottle is small — it's only two ounces — so keep a few near your pet's favorite areas in the house for easy access when an accident happens. It can remove oil, grease, ink, grass, and blood stains for all my vampires out there. Psst, a few months ago, I recommended this to a friend who fell in a puddle of motor oil on a sidewalk, then accidentally wiped it on her camel coat. It got the stains out! Promising review:"I used it on several oil stains and some cat vomit (which is tough to get out!). It worked perfectly! I let it sit for 15 minutes and then washed the items and they looked like new." — Dee Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 14. A bottle of nontoxic Folex Carpet Spot Remover to spot clean carpet messes right after they happen. Simply spray the area to saturate it, wait a couple of seconds, and then dab with a cloth until the stain is lifted. It's really that easy! To use, apply to the stain, gently agitate with your fingers, and blot with an absorbent cloth. This is nontoxic and should be nonirritating on the skin! Promising review:"Between potty training a toddler and having a dog who throws up on the carpet, we've gone through a TON of this carpet cleaner. It also removes the smell of stinky dog throw up and toddler accidents. Better to use on a new stain. It takes more work to clean a spot that has been sitting on the carpet for several hours. Honestly, sometimes it cleans so well that the spot I clean is brighter than my other carpet until the whole floor is steam cleaned. Will continue to purchase." — Jessica and TJ Get it from Amazon for $6.65. 15. A 2-in-1 Hoover carpet cleaning machine that does (almost) all the work for you. Push forward to clean, pull backwards to dry. There's no mixing or measuring formula — the machine does it automatically. Promising review:"I thought my carpets were ruined for good, after using both my old Bissell and the rentals offered by the local grocery store. Our last dog, rest in peace, had not left the world before thoroughly destroying my carpets from incontinence. Our newest dog had lived her entire life before us in a kennel, where she went at will. Suffice to say, my bedroom floor was an eyesore. The first use completely restored my aging carpet. It's still old carpet, don't get me wrong, but it's now CLEAN old carpet. The stains are gone. The odor is gone. I no longer cringe when I walk into the bedroom. Life is good. Not only has this machine done a spectacular job of cleaning, it is also easy to clean itself. The pieces come apart intuitively, and the dog hair rinses easily away. Previous carpet cleaners I've used have been a nightmare, losing suction quickly due to debris being caught in the front with no easy way to remove it." — Erica Get it from Amazon for $199. 16. And a carpet cleaner machine formula that acts as a deep stain remover and odor deodorizer for carpets that are covered in stains. This is an especially amazing product if you've ever house-trained a dog and thought your carpets or rugs were unsalvageable. This carpet cleaner formula is compatible with Bissell, Hoover, Rug Doctor, Kenmore, Carpet Express, and more. It also works with most rental machines from Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, and Ace. Promising review:"I've been using Resolve for steam cleaners but after four or five passes, my old carpet still looked dirty and smelled like dog feet. I ordered this product and made a couple more passes over the carpet with better results. It seemed to remove more greasy dirt AND the smell is nicer than Resolve cleaner. It's kind of a baby powder smell and not very chemical-y. Anyway, this product lived up to the hype for cleaning old carpet with layers of dog grease in it. The carpet is still old but is back to the original color and no longer stinks!" — Popcorn Sally Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three scents). 17. A pack of grooming wipes to remove dirt, poops, odors, and dander from your fluffy pal. These are designed specifically for dogs, and help keep problem areas (paws, ears, and bum) clean between regular washes. Promising review:"Best thing to use for puppies, from in between baths and poop! My pup loves these wipes! Hope you guys come out with other products! Love your stuff! (Well, my puppy does too!)" — work-a-holic-agent Get them from Amazon for $12.34 (available scented or unscented). 18. A pocket-sized pet hair removal tool to easily and effectively remove fur and hair from carpet, upholstery, clothes, and tight corners of your home. Reviewers are shocked — shocked! — by the amount of hair this pulls up, especially on the carpet. Promising review: "This product works wonders and does exactly what you need it to do. I've been able to clean all of the carpets, area rugs, couches, and chairs in my home as well as the carpeted stairs with ease. Very easy to use and very efficient. I have yet to come across a better pet hair removal product. You won't have to vacuum or lint roll pet hair off of anything ever again!" — jorgesqtpie Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 19. A UV black-light flashlight if you can smell a pet accident but can't see it. Shine this on your carpet to find the source, and it doesn't matter if it's dry or wet, old or new. Promising review:"OMG this is disgusting!!! I hope this isn't all just cat pee that shows up cause there is a lot! I bought this because I thought my cat was peeing in one room and couldn't find the exact spot so I bought this. Found the spot and more. Would recommend." — Momof3boys Get it from Amazon for $10.79. 20. A portable and compact carpet cleaning machine to remove any stain from nearly every soft surface in your home. Sofas, carpet, toys — you name it! And it's small enough to fit in most kitchen sinks, which makes cleaning it out after each use a breeze. Promising review: " The only thing that took the odor off my pee accident–prone puppy's couch accident …. Amazing on carpets!!! I do suggest you clean the vacuum after each use because then the smell sticks to it, and then you're going to have a problem… other than that you, my friend, are good to go with accidental accidents from juices, to food to pee stains …" — leiny s. Get it from Amazon for $123.59. 21. A nontoxic and eco-friendly Pet House reed diffuser, because you deserve a house that smells amazing, stinky pets or not. These are specially formulated to freshen pet-loving homes, and come in five different scents so you have some variety. BuzzFeed Shopping Deputy Editorial Director Elizabeth Lilly has one of these and loves it: "I have one of these in my bedroom right now! I first got obsessed with the brand's candles when I lived with a very slobbery English Bulldog. But I've continued using them long after I no longer live with a dog because they cut through weird apartment smells ASAP, like when I pan fry fish or roast Brussels sprouts in the oven. (FYI, if you don't live in an apartment, basically the whole place smells like whatever you've cooked that day if you're not careful.)" Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five scents). 22. A pack of Burt's Bees cat wipes for taking on common cat coat problems. There's one for dander, another for deodorizing, one that's anti-hairball, and one specifically for kittens. "Pet" your cat with one of these wipes and see their coat and skin improve. Promising review:"I've been using these wipes on my older cat for several weeks. His coat is back to how it was when he was young. His fur is shiny, soft, and he smells good. He is no longer covered with dandruff. I like that the package holds 50 wipes, and I feel that it is of good value. He loves his daily rubdowns." — Mary P. Get them from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in four different types). 23. Arm & Hammer odor buster balls to eliminate ongoing odors at the source. Place these near stinky areas of your house: the litter box, where you keep your gym equipment, fridge, laundry watch (smell?) the odors disappear. Amazon You can check out a TikTok mentioning the odor busters for more deets. Get a pack of six from Amazon for $11.96. 24. A liquid tartar remover for dogs and cats that you mix into their water bowl. It'll help reduce plaque and freshen breath. Promising review:"My dog's molars were turning black, and he had a ton of build up on his canines. In the photo (above), just imagine everywhere you see slight yellow, instead covered in black and brown gunk and hard plaque. His gums were beginning to look inflamed. And, of course, his breath could kill a horse. After one week of constant use (a cap full for every bowl of water) you could see an obvious difference in tooth color. I was blown away. (Why can't human mouthwash do such a good job on our teeth?) After three weeks, his molars were almost completely clean. After a couple of months of use, the plaque on his canines was soft enough to brush some of it off, which was totally impossible before. Plaque covered the canine approximately 70%. Obviously, that's no longer the case. Idk what insane solvent this is made of, but it keeps his gross mouth clean as a whistle. Now I don't have to worry about my picky princess mutt losing his teeth because he can't be bothered to chew anything." — BaconPancakes Get it from Amazon for $10.06.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
'I've loved the whole thing': County Durham firefighter retires after 25 years
A firefighter has retired after dedicating 25 years to protecting the County Durham and Darlington areas. Joe Barford, 50, joined the service at Seaham Fire Station as a firefighter in 2001, aged 26. He worked as a tree surgeon in his early 20s before he joined the crew, where he has remained for the rest of his career. Joe Barford, the retiring Seaham firefighter. (Image: County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service) Throughout his time at the station, he has worked his share of shifts , including Red Watch, White Watch and Day Crewing. "The years have gone so quickly because I've loved every aspect of the job," Said Joe. ADVERTISEMENT "I've loved the whole thing and never not enjoyed the job. It will be a big change retiring." Joe told how the "crew is the best thing about the service" and shared his love for the people he spent his time working with. Joe (right) with his crewmates at Seaham Fire Station. (Image: County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service) He is an avid car and fitness enthusiast in his time spent away from the station. When asked what advice he would give to new firefighters, Joe said: "Put as much effort in as you can because it will pay off. "The best part of the job is the camaraderie, so enjoy that." Recommended reading County Durham man sets off on record canoe challenge in Canadian wilds County Durham student who battled cancer during degree to graduate with top honours ADVERTISEMENT Huge moments as Darlington gymnast, 10, 'so proud' after winning medal at nationals He is looking forward to spending more family time with his wife, Karon, and his 16-year-old daughter in retirement, as they are jetting off on a holiday to Florida this summer. Joe won't be far from the station, however, as he has agreed to continue as an on-call firefighter where needed - an extra role he took on nine years ago. When leaving, he joked: "I'll be back!"
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Buzz Feed
If You Wish You Could Have A Clean Home Without, Well, Cleaning, These 25 Target Products Are Here To Help
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Clean smarter, not harder. 1. A washable liner that catches oven and grill messes before they turn into burnt-on regrets. Just lift it out, rinse it off, and bask in the joy of not having to scrape crusty cheese off the bottom of your oven. Target Promising review:"These last forever. I live in an apartment building where an alarm goes off summoning the fire department if too much smoke develops when food drips onto the oven floor. I give these to new tenants." — Penelope Godwin 2. A five-pack of toilet cleaning tablets you just plop in and walk away from. Your toilet gets cleaner every time it flushes, and you didn't even lift a scrub brush. Target Promising review:"I love these tablets — they are the only ones I will use. I like that they make the water blue, and once the water turns clear, I know it's time to drop a new one in. It helps keep the toilet clean longer and of course, they last through a lot of flushes compared to other brands I have used before." — Yas3179 3. A Dyson V8 stick vacuum that's lightweight, cordless, and basically fun to use — which is the highest compliment a vacuum can get. It's my absolute favorite bug-catcher too. Target Promising review:"Works amazing! I am able to do my entire house (three beds, one bath) on a single charge. Picks up all the dog hair that my two bulldogs leave around the house! Doesn't work well on big items as they can plug it up. I just used it on my wood floors, tile, area rugs, and carpet with no problems. Love that it is cordless and I can use it on my car! Attachment is great for cleaning ceiling fans! Love that it's lightweight and can be easily used on my stairwell leading to downstairs! My last Dyson that is a V7 (still have it) lasted me 7–8 years and is still going strong. Actually stuck it in the camper so I don't have to bring a vacuum back and forth between the camper and house." — Harlyandme 4. A shower cleaner you can spritz and forget — it does the hard part (aka fighting mold and mildew) while you go live your life. No scrubbing, no gloves, just clean shower vibes on autopilot. Target Promising review:"Huge fan of this product. We have a marble pebble shower floor with lighter grout, and the grout had to be cleaned (scrubbed) all the time due to discoloration. I use this product twice per week, and no more problems. It smells great and works, and all you do is spray it on and walk away. Since we have a large shower, I use a 56-ounce pump sprayer, which makes it a breeze to apply." — GJP 5. A Roomba robot vacuum and mop that literally does your chores while you nap, watch Netflix, or contemplate cleaning without doing it. It even empties itself. 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Target Between my long hair and bathing my dogs too, this stuff has saved me more than once (and yes, I finally invested in a drain cover, LOL), so I can confirm it's very easy to use and efficient. Even with a drain protector, it's so good to keep on hand! Promising review:"I never write reviews, but holy cow did this work! Normally, I must pull out the sink stopper and dig out the gunk with a butter knife…gross, I know. But this worked so well that I didn't have to do any follow-up 'cleaning!' I would highly recommend!!!" — HappilySurprised 9. A clear can organizer that keeps your LaCroix from rolling around like you're in a grocery store simulator. Stack and grab = done. Target Promising review:"I'm quite the organized person, and the same goes for my fridge. Everything has a place, and these are fantastic. Expensive at first if you're buying to organize your whole fridge, but it's well worth it in the long run. Can also use in the pantry if you don't want cold sodas. I have one that I use for canned soups!" — BerryHonest 10. A pack of three vacuum bags so your comforters and off-season coats magically shrink into flat little pancakes. Bonus: No folding required. Target Promising review:"These work great to seal in pillows, bedding, and clothes. Even if you don't vacuum out the air, you can get it pretty compact by rolling the bag." — Allie 11. A pack of 10 Keurig cleaning pods so you can keep your emotional support coffee machine clean without lifting more than a finger. Just pop one in, press start, and voilà — no descaling drama required. Target 12. A three-tier under sink organizer that turns your chaotic abyss of bottles and cords into a tidy little tower of accessibility. Target Promising review:"I've purchased a few cheaper versions of these before, and you really do get what you pay for. This one is so much sturdier, a better height, and I love that it's three drawers instead of two! It helped me organize the disaster under my sink, and it holds a ton! I love that I can set things on top of it, too." — Sarah 13. A pack of stainless steel cleaning wipes so your fridge, oven, and dishwasher don't show every fingerprint from the last decade. Just swipe, toss, and admire that shiny finish. This is my favorite invention and I always use them before I have guests over. It is SO satisfying to wipe away fingerprints and make stainless steal appliances *literally* sparkle. Promising review:"I've tried a few different stainless steel cleaners and by one, 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. it is the best for cleaning stainless steel and kitchen appliances!" — Katz 14. A spice system with jars, labels, and a place for everything. It practically organizes itself — and maybe even inspires dinner. Target It includes 28 glass spice jars and 386 labels. Promising review:"I like the looks of this spice rack with square jars so much that I am trying to find a place other than a drawer to display it! The metal racks are each about 12.75 inches wide. When I ordered it, I didn't realize that it also comes with 11 pages of round spice labels — 340 are pre-printed, and 46 are blank for you to personalize with with the included pen. This spice rack fits all the needs and wants!!" — TdM 16. A sink strainer to catch rogue food bits before they pull a disappearing act down your drain and come back as a gross smell. Especially clutch if you're disposal-less and love avoiding gross hand-in-the-drain situations. Target 17. A set of eight tiny bins so you can finally conquer that cursed junk drawer. Everything has a place now. Even the seven random screws you're weirdly attached to. Target Promising review:"THESE ARE GREAT!! Because they lock together, it's not a huge deal if they don't fit your drawer not like you will have one tray sliding all over the place because it will all move together. Very audible click to know when they are locked and you need to use enough force to get them to pop together that you know they won't randomly come apart. Would totally buy this set again (probably will)!" — Scrubs_RN1209 18. A pack of washing-machine cleaning tablets to give your machine a deep clean without scrubbing a single thing. You throw it in, run a cycle, and let it freshen things up like magic. Target Promising review:"Washer repairman said to get these because they have citric acid, which is needed when doing a wash tub cycle. Works great and makes my drum smell clean." — SoCalMom 19. A stackable wire storage basket so your pantry can stop feeling like a blackhole of crushed snacks and mystery items. Plus, it'll keep your produce from rolling into the abyss and turning into a mysterious science experiment (looking at you, onions and potatoes). Target Promising review:"I organized my kitchen pantry with bins and needed two big bins for the top shelf that was open in front and had side handles to store tall pasta bags and related items. These bins fit the needs perfectly! Now, I can reach into the bin to grab the dry spaghetti without everything falling onto my head. And the bins pull out easily when I want to grab a back item. An added plus is their super attractive, functional, and top quality. The white finish on the steel is lovely, and the wood handles add farmhouse charm. The bin and handles are very sturdy and strong, and the price is excellent for the usefulness, size, and quality of the bin. I am purchasing another bin today for the pantry floor to hold oils and vinegar." — Coco 20. A stove top cleaner that makes your glass cooktop sparkle like you've never made a mess in your life — even if you scorched spaghetti sauce there yesterday. Target 21. An over-the-door storage rack — it creates space out of literally thin air. Hang it, fill it, forget it — now you're a storage genius. Target Promising review:"Since my son's first apartment lacks storage space, this was the perfect solution for him to store food/toiletries, etc. Very easy to put together and secure to the back of his closet door. Well-made and a great product." — emjay58 Price: $40 22. A pot lid holder to prevent that mini avalanche every time you open a cabinet. This one adds a layer of peace to your kitchen chaos. Target Promising review:"Who says wire storage lid organizers are just for the kitchen? They're the perfect way to keep my makeup palettes organized! They look awesome and very practical. Of course, I will be buying some more." — Abby Price: $14 23. A roll of patterned shelf liner that keeps crumbs, spills, and mystery gunk from turning your drawers into a cleaning nightmare. Target Promising review:"I love this Con-Tact paper — so thick and stays put without being self-adhesive. Very high quality!" — hailyheff Price: $10.99 24. A HEPA air filter works behind the scenes to catch dust, allergens, and questionable smells before you even notice them. Just set it up and enjoy cleaner, easier breathing without constant scrubbing or spraying. Target Promising review:"I own a few of these (one for each room) and I have a bunch of animals. After running them, I noticed a big difference in how I breathe, the house just feels clean." — Summer Price: $89.99 25. A shower squeegee that swipes away water spots and soap scum before they get a chance to settle in and ruin your vibe. It's the easiest way to keep your glass looking crystal clear without breaking out the heavy-duty cleaners. Target Promising review:"I purchased this to clean glass shower doors after showering. The short handle makes if perfect. It cleans glass so well that you'd think there was no door there!! I have also used it on windows. I have only had it a couple of weeks, so am hoping it holds up well. The hooked handle allows you to hang it near the shower." — chris Price: $10.89 The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
