20 brilliant things under $10 on Amazon that will improve your life
Your future self will thank you.
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We can all use a little helping hand every now and then. From getting our homes or apartments tidy to completing small renovations and spending a rainy day indoors, Amazon is home to a surprising number of gadgets that make everyday living a breeze—and even enjoyable. From a pair of cleaning gloves with built-in bristles to a personal reading light, an adorable little waffle maker, and more, these 20 products are complete game-changers. Plus, at under $10 each, you can add this entire list to your cart and still have room in the budget for snacks.
1. This unique odor neutralizer
Absorbs odors in a way soap never will.
Whether you’ve been cutting onions or taking out the trash, there are all sorts of reasons our hands can smell less-than-pleasant. This handy steel soap-shaped device with over 4,000 reviews is said to remove odors from hands, and claims to be rooted in science: “The molecules in the steel bind with the sulfur molecules on your hands, thus transferring the molecules, along with the smell, to the metal and off from your hands,” the brand says.
Reviewers note that it works effectively with or without water, and some have even found a more novel way to use it: “I started noticing after my workouts that no matter how long or hard I scrubbed my armpits, I just couldn't fully get rid of the smell of body odor. I ordered this figuring 'if it can get rid of the smell of onions, then maybe it can get rid of body odor.' Let me tell you, this thing is like magic. After scrubbing my pits with soap, I rub them with this Amco bar for 5-10 seconds and BOOM all hints of body odor are gone. Definitely recommend this product!”
Get the Amco 8402 Rub-a-Way Bar Stainless Steel Odor Absorber on Amazon for $7.19
2. These quirky cleaning gloves
Gloves and sponges in one? Yes, please.
It doesn’t get better than a pair of gloves that’ll actually make you excited about washing the dishes (or cleaning the bathtub, or scrubbing produce). With built-in bristles made of food-grade silicone, these gloves with over 1,300 reviews are safe to use on any surface of your home as well as sensitive skin. Let’s also mention how they’re solving family drama, one dishwashing session at a time: “Ever tried to get a moody 14 yr old to help wash dishes? This made it fun. He washes and I rinse,” says one reviewer.
Get the Forliver Cleaning Sponge Gloves on Amazon for $9.99
3. These useful bra extenders
Breathe new life into your bras.
There comes a time in every bra-wearer’s life where the cups fit perfectly and the back strap does not Instead of buying a whole new bra, grab these top-rated bra extension straps that work well on most two-hook bras of all sizes. “These extenders have been very useful for me,” says one reviewer. “I bought them because a purchased a bra that was a little too tight. Instead of having to buy another bra for the expensive price I already paid for the first one, I bought these extenders. They have given me good use. I have been using them for about 6 months with no problems.”
Get the BlingKingdom Band Extension Strap Extender, 6 pieces on Amazon for $5.99
4. These eco-friendly produce bags
Go green when you grocery shop.
Save the planet and your produce with these sustainable reusable produce bags. Made of mesh, the brand claims each bag has the capacity to prevent the waste of up to 1,000 plastic bags. They also allow the cashier to easily scan barcodes, so they won't be struggling when they ring you up. One of their 6,600 reviews says “I store my produce in the bag in the refrigerator and it stays fresher longer than if I had stored it in the plastic bags. One of the cashiers at my local grocery store purchased them as well after seeing mine and she thinks they are great too!”
Get the Ecowaare, Reusable Produce Bags, 15 Pack on Amazon for $9.99
5. This genius scalp massager brush
Your scalp will thank you.
Why yes, you can have a spa-worthy experience in your own tub for under $10. This hand-held scalp massager stimulates blood flow your scalp and oil glands thus promoting hair health and growth. It also facilitates your shampoo application by protecting your fingernails and going easy on sensitive scalp skin. Numerous of its 14,000 reviewers note it’s more effective at eliminating dandruff than any other method they’ve tried.
Get the MAXSOFT Scalp Care Brush on Amazon for $8.99
6. This clever eyeliner stamp
Because cat-eye eyeliner is a delicate art and science that many of us will never master without the iMethod.
How many times have you been late for an important meeting because you couldn’t get both winged eyeliners to, well, line up? Enter this sanity- and time-saving beauty essential with over 3,000 ratings: It comes with one stamp for you left and one for your right, in a long-lasting waterproof formula. Simply drag a thin line over your top lash and dot it with the pointed stamp—and you’re done. Says one reviewer: “I don't really believe in this hype because I've been winging my eyes since I was 14 years old. But heck, it's waterproof, I'll give it a try. Wow! The time I save is significant because you literally just stamp it, poof, done! The best part is, it’s actually even. This stays on even after 8 hours of work, through rain and sweat.”
Get the iMethod Eyeliner Stamp, Pack of 2 on Amazon for $9.97
7. This popular cooling towel
This one's a blessing during the summer.
Whether you’re on an outdoor hike or upping the ante in your at-home workouts, a cooling towel is an essential way to regulate body temperature and feeling more comfortable during grueling activities. Simply dunk this popular cooling towel in water, wring it out, and place it around your neck, wrist, or head. It's also a great way to prevent your pet from getting overheated.
Though we found that cooling towels we tested weren't any more effective than regular towels, reviewers say this brand makes a range of activities enjoyable (and even safer) in sweltering temperatures: “I forgot I had brought it with me, on a particularly hot, humid, Florida golf round. After suffering for a few holes, Voila!, I remembered this supposed cooler. After wetting and wrapping, I was amazed at how well it worked! The rest of the round was almost enjoyable! It will make a great gift for golfers, and anyone else stuck in the outdoor tropical weather for any significant time.” Keep in mind, that this towel does not replace drinking water.
Get the Your Choice Cooling Towel on Amazon for $7.99
8. This phone stand that doubles as a car mount
Keep your phone safe and steady.
Given how it contains virtually every facet of our lives, our phones are the last device in which we want to play a game of Russian Roulette: Butterfingers Edition. This phone stand with over 16,000 reviews makes for a great finger grip whether you’re on a bumpy car ride or jogging with it in your hands. Use it to prop up for your phone when you’re referencing a recipe in the kitchen or a workout in your basement.
It also hooks onto magnetic car mounts, allowing you to safely keep track of directions hands-free. Reviewers appreciate its high-quality design and functionality: “This is the second Fitfort ring I've bought, the first was the rose gold for my wife, I liked it so much I decided to get myself the silver one! It really is one of the better rings I've tried good construction, doesn't feel cheap, glue holds tight, works with magnetic mounts and stands. Looks as quality as it feels.”
Get the Fitfort Phone Ring Holder Finger Kickstand on Amazon for $8.99
9. This mini waffle maker
Waffles are always a good call.
You don’t need to stay at a fancy hotel with an included buffet breakfast to score some easy morning waffles thanks to one of our favorite mini waffle makers. Plus, you can even use it to make delicious paninis, hash browns, and biscuit pizzas. Weighing less than a pound, it’s the perfect gadget for your first apartment, smaller kitchen, college dorm, or RV.
One of its 35,000 reviewers describes how they use their waffle maker in a myriad of ways, and how it basically changed their life: “This silly little thing is perfect. It is so simple that it works almost solely because of that. The non-stick surface really is nonstick. Kind of critical with a waffle maker, so the waffles come off clean without scraping and scrubbing. It makes a waffle in about two minutes. About the time it takes to make my coffee."
Get the Dash Mini Waffle Maker on Amazon for $9.99
10. This portable lint remover
Your clothes, furniture, upholstery and carpets will look brand new.
Let’s all admit that roll-on lint removers are not as effective as they should be. I can attest to how life-changing a scraper-type lint roller can be. I use it to scrape my carpets and rugs of cat hair, and to make my black Lululemons look brand spankin’ new (because they are somehow magnets for lint and dander). Not to mention it is so satisfying to use, in the way that ASMR YouTube videos calm down a chattery mind at the end of a long day.
Get the Ruri’s Portable Lint Remover on Amazon $8.89
11. This hanging jewelry organizer
Find what you need in a pinch.
Few things are more frustrating that a yarn-sized ball of necklaces that got tangled together because they were strewn haphazardly into a box. Keep your jewelry (and electronics, nail polish, cleaning supplies, and so much more) nice and organized with this hanging rack. Of its 5,900 reviewers, one says "I needed something that would save me space, but where I could still see all of my jewelry. These things are extremely durable. I bought two of them, and have probably 50 or so necklaces on one side and maybe 30 pairs of earrings on the other side. There is not a single tear in it. In the other one, I keep nail polishes. It is very convenient because you can see all the colors and it does not take up that much space.”
Get the Misslo Hanging Jewelry Organizer on Amazon for $8.99
12. This efficient corn cob stripper
Fresh corn for days.
It’s barbeque season, and that can only mean one thing: fresh grilled corn on the cob! Next time you whip up a batch, save some leftovers for the next day when you can use this cob stripper to top off your salads with corn (hey, at least it beats the canned stuff). With 1,100 ratings, one reviewer shares a smart tip: “We love BBQ corn. Not so much on the cob but stripped and put into salad. This does a much nicer job than just cutting with a knife. Here's a tip: use a bundt pan and put the base of the corn in the hole, then strip down from the top. The pan will catch the kernels and save a big cleanup.”
Get the Chef’n Cob Corn Stripper on Amazon for $6.39
13. These inexpensive jar grips
Get a grip.
If you’re losing your grip a la Avril Lavigne and need that strawberry jam open ASAP, it helps to have a backup. This pack of three jar grips is designed for every type of sticky situation. Teal square and green round flatwork to loosen the grip for large jars, and the red cone-shaped pad grips smaller bottles and jars.
Many of its 5,000 reviews contain inspirational and compelling arguments to make this jar opener set a part of your home and lifestyle: “I am in my late 50's and have very weak hands due to a car accident years ago combined with arthritis and a Trigger finger. Yep, my hands are bad and I need all the help and tools to help make my life in the kitchen and elsewhere easier. I keep one in my car and one in my bathroom for opening makeup and jars of face cream. I was tired of asking my husband and son for help every time I needed to open a jar. Now with the help of these, I can do it myself about 98% of the time. I highly recommend these.”
Get Prepworks by Progressive Jar Grips Multi-Purpose Lid Openers, Set of 3 on Amazon for $4.60
14. This clever multipurpose reacher
Step aside, step stool.
We can all use a helping hand from time to time, whether we’ve got a bad back or are too short to reach the highest shelf. This tool allows you to safely grab objects weighing up to five pounds up to 32 inches away, be it coins or paper. It has texturized rubber ends to promote traction. When we tested reacher grabbers, it didn't come up as our top pick, but found that it had a good grip on soft objects and performed well for the price.
Of its 5,000 reviewers, many share their tales about how this grabber tool benefited their lives in meaningful ways: “I needed a grabber to assist me with multiple daily living items as I was having total hip replacement surgery. I was searching for something that was easy to use. It needed to be sturdy, but it also needed to be able to pick up the smallest of items. (I drop a lot of things on the floor and I am unable to bend to pick them up.) The grabber should be manageable so that I could use it to assist with dressing. I am so glad to say that this tool has met every need and then-some. It is THE perfect grabber for me.”
Get the Zayad Reacher Grabber Tool, 32" on Amazon for $9.99
15. This personal book light
Get in a couple chapters before bed without disturbing your bedmate.
If someone's sleeping next to you and you don't want to disturb them while reading, or want to avoid any strong overhead lights that’ll keep you up late when you’re trying to relax, a new solution is in order. Take this personal book light: it clips on securely to the back of your book and illuminates your single page. It comes in 11 colors and cute themes, making it an ideal addition to your bedroom décor or as a gift or stocking stuffer. Of its 740 reviewers, one happy shopper says: “Perfect little clip light. Firm grip from the base, sturdy neck that will keep its composure. Does what it is expected to do, which is to read at night with minimal disturbance to others in the room.”
Get the WithIt Clip-On Book Light on Amazo for $9.99
16. The best foam roller we've ever tested
Relieve tension, aches, and all that nasty stuff.
If you haven’t gotten a chance to book a massage in the last few months because of obvious reasons, you’re likely feeling sore and stiff in all the wrong places. A foam roller is the perfect health and fitness gadget to have on hand since you can get an (almost) salon-quality massage in the comfort of your own home whether you’re watching your favorite show or listening to a podcast. This one from LuxFit is our favorite, claims to prevent muscle injury and relieve muscle tension, and comes in 12, 18, 24, and 36 inches, with the smallest model being under $10.
Plus, we're not the only ones who love it. With nearly 6,000 reviews, the overwhelming majority of shoppers say its made of dense enough material to get deep into muscle tension.
Get the LuxFit Foam Roller on Amazon for $9.75
17. This pocket-sized multitool
So much use packed it a palm-sized device.
Not quite a Swiss army knife and not quite a wallet, this tiny all-purpose tool packs a punch for its size. It boasts several built-in tools from a razor-sharp serrated edge, can opener, magnifying glass, tweezers, and more. Plus, it's apparently durable enough to survive being run over. With an (almost) perfect 5-star rating, reviewers note how the tool comes in handy in virtually every facet of life, making it hard to put away.
Get the Adventure Guys Credit Card Multitool on Amazon for $9.95
18. This magnetic wristband for DIY home improvement
Home renovations were never this efficient.
You don’t need to be a full-time handyman to benefit from this powerful magnetic wristband—it’ll be useful if you have a few family photos to hang on the wall and want to avoid stepping on and off your ladder to get your tools. It stores and makes it easy to access everything from magnetic screws to nails, as well as screwdriver bits, drill bits, nuts, bolts, and more.
With over 800 reviewers, customers note how surprised they were at its magnetic strength: “My husband always puts screws in his mouth and it drives me crazy so I bought this for him for Christmas and he used it for a project where he had to hold little screws and it worked perfectly! Ever done a project where u dropped a screw and can’t find it or fell down a crack and have to figure out how to get it out? We most definitely have. I am excited that, that will be no more! My husband was impressed with the magnetic strength and the side pocket. Worked like a charm.”
Get the Hanpure Magnetic Wristband on Amazon for $9.88
19. This fake rock key holder
Never get locked out again.
I don’t know about you, but I hate going for a run with my key in my bra or digging into my hips. If you’ve also encountered a scenario where you can't carry your keys or let someone in when you're not there, this discrete little gadget is an absolute must. It’s made of molded poly-resin to mimic a real rock in size, shape, texture, color, and weight (don’t worry—it’s both weatherproof and waterproof!).
Of its 2,700 ratings, many note how it works like a charm and blends seamlessly into their surroundings: “This little gem is perfect to stash a key in without someone knowing what it actually is. It’s a bit smaller than I expected (due to my fault not looking at the dimensions), but in reality is the perfect size to put a key in to hide in your yard. It looks like a real lava rock.”
Get the RamPro Hide-a-Spare-Key Fake Rock Holder on Amazon for $6.99
20. This scratch-free cleaning tool
Step up your post-meal cleaning game.
There’s only so much elbow grease you can put into a spill or stain before your forearms give out. Instead of rubbing stubborn stains out in hard-to-reach places with a soft cloth, use this pocket-sized scraper to take care of grease, grime, wax, and dried food in a pinch. The brand claims it’s safe to use on most household and automotive surfaces and it's dishwasher safe.
With nearly 500 ratings (most of them positive!), shoppers share the inventive and novel ways this tool has enhanced their lives: “The perfect handy tool for getting into tight places. It's firm enough for multiple uses but it doesn't scratch or mark surfaces. I should have gotten the 5 pack, I have so many uses for these things. I think the best use yet was cleaning the sliding door track, I finally could get into the corners to get the grunge out. A great invention. And, it works as a good cuticle pusher-downer too!!”