38 Practical Things For The Homeowner Who Likes To Feel Prepared

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

It's about time you discovered what The Pink Stuff is all about.

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Promising review: "These mats are truly incredible! They help immensely with back and joint pain relief, are durable and spill-proof, and beautiful! I have tried other fluffy or foam mats to try and ease the burdens of constantly standing on hard floors, but nothing was as functional as these. I love that they are spill-proof and easy to wipe clean (no tossing in the washer!). They are not completely smooth, so they aren’t slippery when wet either. We have three children and three dogs, so durability is a huge requirement, and these mats have held up extremely well in just the month that we have had them." —Sierra H

Get them from Amazon for $23+ (available in two sizes and six styles).

Promising review: "Found this product on TikTok. I don’t think I’ve ever seen value like I do with this product! Literally use it on EVERYTHING!! Kids and teens have dirt, grime, and grease on their walls? This will make it look like a new paint job. Baseboards need some love? A pea-size amount of this makes them look brand new. Need a shoe cleaner? PERFECT for sneakers. I could name a million more uses, but I can ASSURE you this is worth every penny. What’s more? You need such LITTLE of this product; it will last a VERY long time. Thank you, TikTok!!!" —Rachel in CLT

Get it from Amazon for $5.97.

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

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

Get two boxes from Amazon for $8.95.

You can use this product on both front-load and top-load washing machines. I ran it through the old washing machine that was left in my new house (beggars can't be choosers!) and it came out nice and clean.

Promising review: "Works great. My washer started smelling like sour clothes. In turn, my clothes were smelling sour as well. I plopped an Affresh Tab in the washer and let it do its magic. After it was done I opened the washer and to my surprise there was no smell at all. This is a six-pack so buy one box for half a year or two boxes, and only have to order once per year. Defiantly recommend." —jcski

Get it from Amazon for $9.59 (also available in a six-pack).

Promising review: "I cannot speak highly enough of this amazing scrubber! It cleans absolutely everything, doesn't scratch nonstick surfaces, has a fun texture, doesn't smell bad over time, and actually speeds up my dish cleaning time. Seriously, this is the best scrubber I have encountered in years. I bought one for several friends and family members for Christmas after seeing it on Shark Tank, and I've already replaced one for myself. This makes a wonderful and practical gift.

My son liked it so much he just purchased two more packages to clean their new stainless-steel sink. This product is a great value compared to every other scrubber I have tried, and I have A LOT of them. Finally, it looks great sitting on the counter or in the sink with its smiley face and fun colors. Great value: you can't go wrong with this one!" —Carla

Get a pack of three on Amazon for $9.98.

I have this can opener and also bought it for my parents when their old electric one died. It may not seem like the most essential purchase but when you've watched your dad try to open a can of tuna with a butcher knife, you'll realize it's best to have one on hand.

Promising review: "The OXO can opener is a work-horse. It is strong, well-made and plows through whatever you give it, with ease. I've had this one before and after years, it finally gave out and was hard to turn. But in buying an alternative from another company, I quickly realized the mistake and went right back to OXO to buy another. This one is so sturdy that it will last for a very long time and I'm really glad I bought it again." —A.M. Miller

Get it from Amazon for $16.95.

The set also comes with labels so you can easily see what's inside each containers.

Promising review: "I’m not sure how necessary these are…but I LOVE them! I store uncooked noodles, snacks, cereal, uncooked rice, croutons, etc. in these. I feel like my pantry is more aesthetically pleasing and definitely more organized. These stack well with each other and save me space from oddly shaped boxes and bags I would have in my pantry without them. I don’t really know the benefit of having 'airtight containers' but I love the organization it offers and the food I store never tastes stale. For foods that need to be cooked (noodles, rice, etc.), I wrote the basic directions on the black stickers. I also used the stickers for the expiration dates of the food I store. I throw the containers in the dishwasher and clean the lids by hand. I’ll definitely be getting more in the future!" —Jess

Get a set of seven from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "As a working chef for over 30 years, I've gone through dozens of thermometers, and this one stands out. I actually purchased this by accident while buying several thermometers to try with the intent of buying a dozen for my crew. I was looking for thermometers that can be field calibrated and as far as I can tell, this one can't. But I intend to buy more of these because they are accurate, easy to read, and just more pleasant to use. They are tough, and I love the ring on the end; I keep this one hanging on a hook near our ranges so I don't have to hunt it down. It does not ride easily in my chef's coat, but that is due to the longer probe. Which I LOVE. In two weeks I have used this one thermometer over 130 times, all with pleasure." —Cetaceous Dave

Get it from Amazon for $10.99 (also available in a two pack).

StoveShelf is a small business, and these shelves are built to last a lifetime.

Promising review: "I looked at this shelf for about a year in hopes of the price dropping because I didn’t want to pay $40 for a simple shelf. It never dropped so I figured that it must be in high demand. So I decided to go ahead and purchase one. The $40 is well worth it! This shelf is so simple yet so convenient for everyday cooking items and it looks very nice. It looks like it’s a part of my stove. I love it." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in three sizes and five styles).

Promising review: "I love these things so much. I just got my first apartment with my boyfriend and it looked so messy in our little fridge and now it looks really appealing and everything is easy to get to. The quality of them is so good, I’m honestly impressed; they’re very sturdy and the egg holder is so cute and holds 14 eggs!" —Faith Sperry

Get a set of six from Amazon for $16.99.

Promising review: "This is a great item for lightly spraying salads, roasting vegetables, or adding some oil to a prepared plate of pasta. Avoids using more oil than necessary so that’s a savings right there. I also use it to put a light coating of oil on all my cast-iron cookware to prevent rust. Best of all, it looks great on the dinner table. Lots of uses which really makes it an asset in the kitchen. It seems that it should last a while so I think it is worth the few bucks spent." —Clancy

Get it from Amazon for $14.97.

I have the pot lid version and love it!

Promising review: "Tired of stacking platters or rummaging in the bottom cabinet? These adjustable racks are fantastic. I bought three! I now have platters and Pyrex pans organized and at my fingertips. Truly does exactly what description says. And being able to adjust the racks to fit the casserole dish, cookie sheet, plate or platter is perfect. I am very happy. 😊" —Ratcliffewofford

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two styles).

This comes with the jar of oven scrub as well as a professional-grade metallic scrubber. You can use this to clean your enamel oven, racks, and the oven door's interior glass panel. Everneat is a small business based in Fairfield, Connecticut, that sells 100% natural cleaning products and microfiber cloths.

Promising review: "I am in absolute shock over how well this works. I really wish I took a before picture. WOW! My oven door window had grime on it for years that I couldn't get off from the previous owners, so I'm estimating it's been like that for four-plus years. Nothing helped to cut through it and finally this oven cleaner made it look brand new. Still in shock!! Would highly recommend. Also, the smell of the product is sooo delightful." —Vanessa

Get it from Everneat on Etsy for $19.99+ (available in three scents).

Promising review: "I foster kittens for a rescue, and no matter how often I clean the boxes, two or three times daily, and general cleaning, I still have an odor in the room. I got this product out of desperation. It was a good size and weight for kitties bouncing around. I am truly shocked and enormously happy with how it works! My husband was at wits' end with his sensitive nose. He goes in there now and is astonished, no smell. We are getting another for the kitchen! The room is 10×10, and I use it on the two setting. I also enjoy the night light. Very helpful without disturbing sick sleepy babies recovering from illness." —victoria Mohagen

Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "Got an outdoor can, the kind the mechanical arm on the garbage truck picks up and tips over, with the lid opening by gravity. Placed this on the inside of the lid, near the hinge to lessen the chances of it being scraped off during emptying and no flies/maggots! No apparent odor, just seems to put a big hurt on the fly party that used to be my trash can (litter box contents, remnants of meat, etc.) " —Michael E. Bradley

Get it from Amazon for $9.84.

Material Kitchen is an Asian-owned small business that sells lovely kitchen products — they were even featured on Oprah's Favorite Things 2021! Additionally, 50% of profits from the colors "To Pó-Po with Love" and "Reimagine Justice" go to Heart of Dinner and Drive Change.

Promising review: "In addition to the size of the ReBoard, I like the variety of color choices and the fact that the boards are made of recycled materials. Plus, they’re light in weight. I have given them as gifts to several people and everyone has liked them!" —Reshma S.

Get it from Material Kitchen for $35 (available in five colors).

Comma Home Goods is a small business based out of Oceanside, New York (my hometown!!!) that sells delightful linens and bedding.

Get them from Comma Home Goods for $75+ (available in Queen and King sizing and three colors).

Between my phone charger, headphone wires, and keyboard wire, I'm constantly getting tangled in my web of wires at my desk. I'll be ordering a pack of these ASAP!

Promising review: "I feel silly raving about this, but it's SUCH a genius little product. I love that it come in packs of four — I thought it was overkill, but I'm using three just for my TV setup! Not only does it organize the wires I have hanging from my tv shelf, but it also wrapped up a coax cable I have that's like, comically long. Like twenty feet of cable! I just coiled it up into a circle, about a foot in diameter, and zipped this doodad around to hold it all in place and keep it out of the way. I would purchase this again in a heartbeat if I had more cables to deal with. It is THE best cable organizer I've ever seen." —Chelsea

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.98.

Promising review: "I highly recommend this product to everybody! It's very convenient and it takes up less space. I just sit it right on the counter in my kitchen and just grab it when I need it. It's ideal for everything — it's perfect!" —jennifer h.

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

I own and cherish this product. It's a dream knowing the "brush" is fresh and hasn't been intimate with the inside of my toilet prior to my picking it up again.

Promising review: "I have been using this toilet wand for many months now and love the ease of it. The wand itself is very sturdy and cleans toilet very well with no additional cleaning product. My toilet is super clean after one use of this product and smells fresh. The holder is great to store extra cleaners thus saving space. I now have one of these in all my bathrooms. I highly recommend this product" —Anonymous_User

Get it from Amazon for $8.17+ (available in three sizes).

Look at that foam go!

Promising review: "It seems counterintuitive to put a little packet down your garbage disposal to clean it, but this does actually seem to work, at least for getting out weird smells that baking soda and vinegar don't really touch. I scrub the sink down first, especially around the garbage disposal area, rinse it down, and then just follow the directions on the package. I have used it with single, large-size sinks and with double sinks — only difference is that the double sink will have blue cleaning foam rise up the drain, which you rinse away when the disposal sounds clear again. I have tried the foaming cleaner in a can, but unfortunately it stopped coming out of the can about 10% of the way through. Went back to this tried-and-true." —KS

Get it from Amazon for $3.78.

You're only human if you don't know where your TV remotes are... ever. This contraption is perfect for storing remotes, house phones (if ya' have one), and even your cell phone if you want to really focus on what you're watching.

Promising review: "This remote control holder is the best I’ve ever owned. Not only is it elegant and attractive, it is nice and lightweight and has room for at least five remote controls, however depending on the thinness of the controllers, you could probably fit more in there. Since it basically just sits on a side table, I believe it’s made of quality material, and will last a very long time. It matched my decor perfectly, and looks exactly as pictured." —Nicole Cook

Get it from Amazon for $24+ (available in three colors).

Each cord is six feet long and has three available plugs.

Promising review: "I have no idea why these are not sold everywhere. PERFECT for my room! I ended up getting this due to my king size bed being against a wall with only one outlet. I needed a way to connect my two lamps on my nightstand and this is absolutely, without a doubt, the very best solution to connecting my lamps and also not having all my outlets taken up. I recommend this to everyone! Also perfect for outlets connected to a switch to turn on and off both lights at the same time." —Ryan

Get it from Amazon for $14.97 (available in two colors).

I'm obsessed with candles, so it was a no-brainer for my husband to gift me this surprisingly super fun gadget for Christmas a few years ago. It's really simple to use and charge, and it really works! I'll never have to buy another lighter again.

Promising review: "This is seriously the coolest device of my winter holiday. It makes lighting candles a breeze. Yes, there is a weird crackling noise, but that's a super minor annoyance. It's a super intuitive device. Plus the lighter with the USB (included), charge for a bit, then pop it open and light ALL THE THINGS; well, candles. I don't know how well it lights cigarettes or whatever. However, for my personal intended use, it's awesome!" —Jee W

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 12 colors).

Promising review: "I'm sure if I knew more about science and chemistry, I'd understand how this stuff works — but since I don't, I'll just assume that it is MAGIC. If you care at all about your carpet, you need to have a bottle of this on standby. Over the years, we've used it to make numerous wine and red juice stains vanish before our eyes. The effect reminds me of the novelty shop disappearing-ink gag from when I was a kid. Seriously, if you've never seen Wine Away in action, it's worth spilling a little Cabernet on your carpet just so you can see it vanish after a few spritzes. I honestly wouldn't believe how quickly this stuff works had I not seen it countless times with my own eyes." —SeriosKeto

Get it from Amazon for $9.54.

Promising review: "Stylish tissue box is beautiful once its shape is formed by the tissue box! The texture is nice, and the material is softer than I expected. The hole where the tissue comes out of is perfect as most tissue covers are too big. I'd buy this again!" —C.T. Mendoza

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in 13 colors).

It can also work on toilets, tiles, and shower doors — anything that's been affected by hard water!

Promising review: "I’m impressed. I thought the container was small for the price, but a little bit goes a long way. It takes a lot for me to review, but this is worth it. Five years in the hardest calcium-filled water and this is the first cleaner to remove it. I’ve tried scrubbing, only to scratch the surface. Every time I fill the water and ice at the fridge, I’m impressed by the result. I could see this working best, right at first." —Joshua N. Dufek

Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (also available in two-packs).

Promising review: "This stuff works sooooo well. I have tried many other brands of pet stain remover, and this one is definitely the best. I have two indoor cats with hairball issues; they are often spitting up hairballs, or stomach acid only before or after the passing of the hairball. (Sorry for the TMI.) Of course, they only want to do this on the carpet and rugs. This stain remover effectively removes the bodily fluid, hairball, etc., with a nice, fresh minty scent and no sticky residue. I keep a bottle upstairs and downstairs so I don't have to go hunting for it during those 2 a.m. hairball vomiting sessions (because, of course, that's the only time they want to throw up)." —Heather Coburn-Schill

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 32 oz. or one gallon and three scents).

Promising review: "I have an old shower/bathtub. I tried name brand shower cleaners and bleach to try and clean the soap scum off the tiles and tub. I had no luck and I would cough and get sick because of how strong the smell was. I thought I would try this to save my lungs. I sprayed my entire shower and left it for about 15 minutes. I came back and rinsed off the walls and they were shiny! I've never had such a clean shower. The smell is amazing and subtle. All I smell is tea tree and it didn't affect me at all. The price is also a good deal since the bottle is pretty large. It came with the sprayer separate and the bottle sealed so it wouldn't leak in the box. I highly recommend this." —Amber Erwin

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $13.60.

Promising review: "The desk seemed to be exactly what I was looking for in terms of design and price. So when I received it, I was delighted with how nice it was. Assembly was a breeze, and I'd say it took me a half hour to put together. I can easily fit my two large monitors, as well as laptop, keyboard, etc., on it. The height range is more than ample. And most importantly I am already feeling the positive effects of standing during part of my workday." —Twild78

Get it from Amazon for $179.87.

Promising review: "I expected to be happy, but I'm thrilled! Each mat is pliable and fits the entire width of my standard oven. When the mat is against the back wall, it extends up to but not over the front lip of the floor. On first use, pizza cheese and sauce dripped onto the front edge of the mat and onto that uncovered lip. The baked-on cheese and sauce slid right off the mat! Effortlessly! After I cleaned up the lip, I layered a second mat to cover the lip. These mats are so great that I almost want food to drip on them so I can show off how wonderful they are." —Artset Outset

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $11.99.

Promising review: "I loved that these curtains made our master bedroom darker. Perfect for sleeping in and for afternoon naps! It felt a little cooler, but I don't know if that's just because it was dark and my brain was playing tricks on me. These do not do any noise cancelling so you'll still have to get ear plugs for that. All in all I think they're great!" —Nicole

Get them from Amazon for $18.76 (available in three sizes and 15 colors)

Promising review "This cutting board style wood cookbook and iPad stand holder is very nice! I like the style and the convenience of having it in the kitchen. It doesn't take up too much counter space and works very well for my cookbook." —Jynnifer

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in three styles).

I bought this for myself and OMG. This thing REALLY works. Usually when my husband makes sauce from scratch I'm left with chunks of tomatoes throughout my sink and water that WILL NOT drain — that was until I bought the SinkShroom. My mom was so impressed she bought one, too. It's a serious game-changer.

Promising review: "I’ve been a fan of the SinkShroom and TubShroom, and this is the best product from the line so far. My kitchen sinks simply do not clog any more, so there’s no more reaching into a bunch of water to unclog anything with my hand." —Brady Amerson

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

My husband was hesitant about getting a device like this in our home, but after an hour he was sold. We have it in our kitchen and *kindly* ask it to play music while we cook and eat, use it to set timers while baking, and ask it funny questions. We love this lil' gadget.

Promising review: "Got this gift for my mom and she loves it! Great sound and actually understands what you’re saying. It’s also a convenient size and can be moved around! Will buy again." —Jvana

Get it from Target for $49 (available in two colors).

Made with a bamboo handle and powder-coated steel, it uses a simple lever system to made weeding easy.

Promising review: "Oh my god, I friggin' love this tool. I bought this on a whim given we bought our first house and know nothing about caring for a yard. Boy has it come in handy. Our new house had a ton of weeds in the front yard and this tool helped me get most of them out in no time. In fact, the process of yanking out the weed was strangely satisfying! I don't think anyone can say that weeding is fun but this tool made it as close to fun as you can get, especially when you see a long root along with the weed you pulled." —JG

Get it on Amazon for $39.99.

Promising review: "I gotta say this is the best sharpener I ever bought in my whole life. I got it today and brought it to work. I work at a Japanese restaurant as a sushi chef and I sharpened it at work and, wow, my knife was as sharp as a samurai sword! Even my coworkers were surprised and asked me to order one for them. Thanks for the product! Now I don't have to use the stone or sharpen rod that much anymore." —Rodrigo

Get it from Amazon for $6.14+ (available in four colors and one- or three-packs).

Check out our full review of the KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener.

Promising review: "This skimmer does exactly what it is supposed to do. Catches things like leaves and insects that fall into the pool, anything that is floating on the pool surface eventually gets pulled in. The surface of my 18-foot Intex pool was cleaned within just a couple of hours after installation. The box comes with everything you should need to install it, so you don't need to buy extra hoses or hose adapters. The skimmer came with two different types of mounting bracket and one of them fit my Ultraframe Intex pool perfectly, I know some people had to get creative with how they mounted their skimmers, but luckily I didn't have to. I would recommend purchasing this skimmer to anyone with one of the Intex pools, it saves a lot of extra work." —thisguy

Get it from Amazon for $26.66.

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