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Dec 17, 2023

31 Small Investments To Get A High Return In The Future

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but

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.

Including a pair of cleansing cuffs that'll prevent your sleeves from getting soaked every time you wash your face...👀.

BuzzFeed Staff

A shoe-cleaning kit to maintain that fresh-outta-the-box feel for all your sneakers. This'll fully remove dirt, scuffs, and stains, so you can resist the urge to spend another $100+ on a new pair.

The one and only Fanola purple shampoo to tone and neutralize yellow hues safely with purple pigment. The result? Icy blonde tresses that a) didn't cost you $100+ for a salon treatment and b) look like they belong on a hairspo Pinterest board.

A set of Wad-Free pads invented to make sheet-washing day less costly. If you've ever pulled out a tangled mess of bedcovers clumped together with other (sopping) items, you're going to want to listen up: These time-savers clip onto the ends of sheets to ensure everything *stays separate* so you don't have to do multiple drying cycles.

Promising review: "This little pen brush is incredible! I wasn't sure if it would work well on my emerald engagement ring since it's mostly advertised for diamonds, but I thought I'd give it a try. I have been wearing the ring since getting engaged in October, and even though I had it cleaned at the jeweler's in April, it just didn't seem as bright as it was when it was new and I thought it would just always be a little cloudy. But after cleaning it once with the Dazzle Stik I was blown away by the difference — it looks as bright and sparkly as when I first got it! I'm so glad I didn't buy an ultrasonic cleaner since this is so much less expensive and easier and gentler — it took me less than a minute to clean and I can do it whenever I want! And it's honestly better than when the jeweler cleaned it. So thrilled!" —KFray

Get it from Amazon for $8.88+ (also available in multipacks).

The naturally derived ingredients include: eucalyptus, lemon, and peppermint oils, as well as pumice stone and baking soda.

Everneat is a Fairfield, Connecticut-based all-natural cleaning shop from Claudia and Angelo Zimmermann. Their oven cleaner comes with a metallic scrubber you can use to scrub your appliance before wiping it down with a microfiber cloth.

Promising review: "I was skeptical because I had tried so many products to clean the glass on my oven doors with no luck. The auto-clean cycle just baked it on the glass. THIS STUFF IS AMAZING! It took me about 15 minutes to get the glass on both my oven doors clean. Very minimal scrubbing effort required. I will be telling all of my friends." —Teresa Casner

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

Promising review: "Thank goodness I found this stuff!!! I'm pretty religious in getting my hair done every 10–12 weeks, mainly because my hair always goes warm and it bugs me. I'm not sure if there were new products used this last time I went to the salon but my hair turned brassy within four weeks instead of the usual 10. Instead of taking the 40-mile drive to the salon and paying all that money again, I got this shampoo. I used it like shampoo the first night, leaving it in for two minutes. The second night, I used it like a mask, leaving it on for five minutes. Seriously where has this shampoo been all my hair-coloring life?!" —S. Elison

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in four sizes).

Promising review: "Easy to put on and saved a ton of money by extending life of chargers. Also used it on my worn-out chargers and they are working better having been externally reinforced by this product." —Amazon Buyer

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in four color sets).

Promising review: "I have a pair of black leather flats that stank so badly my husband would yell at me if I took them off anywhere near him. But I love the shoes!!! So I had to find something to make the stench go away without leaving me with an allergic reaction. Mini Moso was the answer. I honestly couldn't believe it. A few days after placing them in my prized shoes I took a whiff from about a foot away. Nothing. I got closer. Nothing. I stuck my nose practically in the shoe. Ok, maybe that's pushing things, but I’ve got to tell you that 95% of the broken-in leather grossness was gone. So happy!!!" —Erin

Get it from Amazon for $9.95.

For more info, check out our Moso shoe deodorizer review.

Check it out on TikTok here.

Promising review: "This product does exactly what it says it does. I saw this product on TikTok. I was surprised at how easily it picks up dust and small debris, especially from inside of vents and cup holders. It's also great for the though screen in my car! The only complaint is the very artificial smell when you use it. It doesn't last, just when it's out of the container!" —Loren

Get it from Amazon for $6.99.

There are a number of things that bug me in this world, but one thing that consistently grinds my gears is the feeling of soaking wet, sopping sleeves after I've cleansed my face. No matter how high I roll them up, water just finds a way to trickle down towards my sleeves. I've even resorted to just wearing T-shirts to avoid the problem, but then my arms are still soaked and I still end up leaving a puddle of water behind in the bathroom. Enter: these cozy-soft cuffs. They're truly adorable, absorb allll the water, dry quickly, *and* they're machine washable! To me, they're a must-have and worth every single penny to avoid a small but totally annoying problem.

LABeautyologist is a small biz owned by beauty guru Nayamka Roberts-Smith. She's known for creating the 60-second-rule: cleansing with fingers for a minute to allow your cleanser's ingredients to get to work on your complexion.

Get a set of two from LABeautyologist for $25 (available in four colors).

Promising review: "Just like everyone else, I wanted the cost savings and convenience of iced coffee at home. I followed the instructions (def used 15 tablespoons as suggested). Then added the filtered water from our fridge. Mine sat a little over 14 hours and it was perfect! I didn't have coarse ground coffee in the house so I used my regular Folgers med/dark and it was perfect! I was worried the grinds would seep into the pitcher through the filter net but surprisingly it didn't! I removed the filter part and it was super easy to clean. I added ice, a little bit more water to the concentrate and then some flavored creamer! And wow! Perfect for summer days! Looking forward to using this with my protein smoothies to make vanilla latte shakes." —LLA

Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "Absolutely love this stuff! We have an older log cabin that was pretty neglected, both inside and out. Our wood floors were faded and worn. The outside logs looked dry and faded. I decided to give this a try before paying to have the floors sanded and refinished; and also outside before having the whole log home restained. This stuff is absolutely amazing. It soaks into the wood and really revitalizes it. In spots that the wood soaks it in quickly, a second or third treatment may be needed. I just squirted it on the floor and mopped it in with a mircofiber mop. Outside, I added it to a rag and simply wiped the logs. It's been a week now and this is not a temporary fix like you might see with Orange Glo or others that leave a greasy, temporary finish. What an awesome buy!!!" —Frank T.

Get it from Amazon for $10.15 (available in three sizes).

Ding ding, bonus here! You'll even notice a reduction in the amount of breakouts you get once you remove your all-day look. See why this won best mid-priced makeup remover.

Promising review: "I'm a drag queen with pretty sensitive skin. I CAKE on the cosmetics to create my illusions, and the cold cream and terrycloth removal method was just not working. My skin would be raw, and I'd have to go through three cloths just to get 90% of my face off, and still have to go to bed with some eyeliner on. Cue MakeUp Eraser. This little puppy made me go from woman back to man in less than two minutes with JUST WATER. I have on full coverage stage foundation, enough powder to choke a horse, 24-hour-wear lipstick, and tons of black eyeshadow with glitter. Buy it! It's awesome." —Luke (@chastityst.cage on Instagram)

Get it from Amazon for $20 (available in 14 colors).

Promising review: "Holy cow these suckers work! I'm so grossed out by the result, but at the same time I have a sick sense of satisfaction. I used these in my house plants that are breeding fungus gnats like wild. I used them in conjunction with beneficial nematodes, and they definitely cut down on the number of gnats in our house. Unfortunately I added a new houseplant, plus repotted one that had outgrown its prior home, and we are wrapped up in them again. I'm buying another package of sticky traps as soon as I finish this review!" —Megan

Get a pack of seven traps from Amazon for $5.33.

Wad-Free is a small biz that was launched during the pandemic. Cyndi, the founder, learned CAD (computer-aided design) to create the pads.

Promising review: "Wow!!! You wonder if things like this really work and well, I can absolutely confirm it does! First, I was impressed that the package came with two of the devices because I was only expecting one. So there was one for the fitted sheet, and one for the flat sheet. Finally, I tried it out, and my sheets not only did NOT wad up, they came out of the dryer feeling fresher, feeling more dry, and unwrinkled! I will be buying a set of these for each of my immediate family members and close friends! What a great gift!!!" —katy

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $19.99+ (also available in a four-pack).

Promising review: "I love awesome little items like the Bluapple that serve a useful purpose and make life a little easier. I put a Bluapple in each of my bottom fridge drawers where I keep my fruits and veggies and I have definitely noticed a difference. My fruits and veggies remain fresh and last longer before going bad. This saves me money and although I compost any fruits or veggies that go bad, I prefer not to have perfectly good fruit go bad before we had a chance to eat it. I am going to buy more to place throughout the fridge since we are buying and eating more fruits and veggies this summer. I also appreciate how the contents inside can be fed to a houseplant as fertilizer every three months when adding a fresh refill." —Mariposa

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

They come with four carrying pouches and two cleaning brushes!

Promising review: "Very flexible, fits into my 32 oz. stainless steel bottle, cleans easily...I just stick them in the dishwasher and no problems. I've had them a few weeks, I believe, and I love them. They do fold up easily to place in the holders, however, I'm not sure the holders will keep them clean. The straws themselves are great though! I would definitely buy again. I'll probably buy some for gifts. These would also be good to use with a regular Yeti cup lid or similar product, which was my original reason to buy them due to their flexibility...no need to buy a special lid for a straw to fit if you use these." —GMarie

Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $7.99.

ScratchPadforDogs is a small biz based in Atlanta. You can also head over to our list of ingenious pet products for more recs like this.

Promising review: "My pittie struggled with getting his nails clipped after a bad grooming experience. With one use he's already got it down and it's made the process 100% easier." —Etsy Customer

Get it from ScratchPadforDogs on Etsy for $46.95+ (available in two styles and three grit levels).

My co-author Jasmin Suknanan has this and says: "I bought this case for a trip to San Diego when I knew I was going to go kayaking and wanted photos without the risk of getting my phone wet in case I got splashed by giant waves or fell in the water (yeet). I liked that this case came with a lanyard so I could wear my phone around my neck while kayaking, and it promised that you could still use your phone as you normally would even though it's in a plastic case. When it arrived, I tested it the case by putting paper towels inside the case (not my phone!!) and submerging it in water. The paper towels came out completely dry! So the case performed exceptionally well during my trip. I got clear photos and videos with the case on and my phone was dry as a bone. I literally tell all my friends to get this case!"

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in 13 colors/designs).

Promising review: "This is such a great tool! I use the small one to get the remaining makeup (especially foundation) out of the bottles. It ain't pretty but it works — just take a look at what came out of these jars (above)!" —Ashley Ruiz

Get it from Amazon for $5.99.

These nonbranded replacement dusters fit on the two-prong duster handles (not included) of the popular disposable dusters.

Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE these Swiffer replacements! They make life so much easier. And I am always happy to find ways to create less trash and save money in the long run. I highly recommend these!" —Etsy Customer

Get it from on TSDesignUS Etsy for $4.49+ (available in 10 colors).

This is an ideal (and useful) small travel product, BTW!

Promising reviews: "I thought this stuff was a bunch of BS, I was like pssh what a waste of $8 ON AMAZON FOR THIS LITTLE THING. Well, I put it on today on spots where my flats rub off the skin. My feet survived an entire day, INTACT! Highly recommend. This product made wearing shoes that rub on your ankles/backs of your feet doable!!!!" —Jamie

"All, I am proud to post that I had just completed the 2018 Boston Marathon in torrential rain and hurricane winds. It's like when you walk from your car to your house door and you are soaked from head to toe. One of the absolute worst conditions for a marathon. A friend recommended Body and Foot Glide...I coated my entire foot, between the toes and all. NO BLISTERS after 26.2 miles in the pouring rain. Sneakers soaked at the start. I cannot rave more about this product. Incredible value to save you a lot of pain. Highly recommended for bad weather, breaking in new shoes, etc." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $9.

Promising reviews: "I've only made one batch of muffins with them so far, but I love this product already! The muffins came out really easily and didn't leave much on the silicone. The liners hold their shape; so they could probably even be used without a muffin pan. And my 20-month-old enjoys playing with them while I'm not baking!" —Brian G.

"I bought these to make pumpkin chocolate chip baked oatmeal cups in.....they are fantastic! I can put the ingredients in, bake them and pop them right out! I bought a set of 12...then discovered I needed more than 12, so I bought another set (different brand/ from a different place) and I found that the ones from Amazon were much more sturdy and thicker than the ones bought elsewhere." —Amazon Customer

Get a set of 12 from Amazon for $5.03 (also available as a set of 24).

Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this brush shampoo! I purchased two bottles. I was a little skeptical of how well it would clean my brushes since I had never tried it before, but after using this I am very pleased with the outcome. It has a faint 'shampoo scent' but nothing too overpowering, and suds like you wouldn't believe. They got all the way down to the base of the brush and gave it a really good cleaning. One of my brushes is made from boar hair (Estée Lauder powder brush) and I was worried it was going to frizz out and ruin the shape but it actually improved it after I had previously used baby shampoo. It's very soft and not at all coarse feeling. I also used this shampoo on my Beauty Blender, and it did a great job getting all the foundation out. All in all, I'd rate this product a 10/10!" —Katastrophe

Get it from Amazon for $6.99.

Promising review: "I love my satin Pillowcase. It's made such a difference with my hair. Especially on my dry shampoo days. I wake up with a good hair day! You have to believe me and buy one for yourself! Amazing!!" —Alison

Get it from Kitsch for $19+ or from Amazon for $16.15+ (available in standard/queen and king sizes and 11 colors).

Promising review: "Very substantial hook, not flimsy at all! Easy to install — peel the plastic from the suction pad, position where you'd like, and push hook into place. Strong, stable suction doesn't release until and unless you want it to. Holds not only razors, but also washrags, loofahs, bath sponges, etc. I plan to purchase more." —Jennifer

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three styles and multipacks).

Promising review: "So...this is amazing. This is my first review ever on Amazon after ordering numerous things. I had periodontal pockets from not flossing and I also experienced some bone loss. I literally hated flossing and would find myself avoiding to floss even though I needed it very much. My gums were red, swollen, and inflamed because I was in the early stages of periodontal disease. I started using this flosser and instantly knew I liked this way of flossing much better! After using it consecutively each night for only five days my gums were noticeably cleaner and felt much better. After two weeks of using the this flossing system my gums have done a complete 180 and my mouth and gums are starting to heal properly!" —Ebony

Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in four styles).

Promising review: "I love these glasses; they are super cute. I work at a computer every day for at least eight hours plus take online classes and over the past few months have been getting really bad headaches and so I wanted to try these out and see if they helped. I can honestly say that they have! I have fewer headaches and my eyes aren't super tired anymore. Also, I picked this particular brand because they were designed to block blue light and they send you a test kit with the glasses, as opposed to just being cute, and the price is perfect." —Gabrielle

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in 21 colors/designs and in packs of one or two).

This 100% natural calcium bentonite clay is ideal for facials, body wraps, clay baths, foot soaks, hair masks, and even insect bites!

Promising review: "I bought this as a last hope for cystic acne. I bought a brand of raw apple cider vinegar with the mother to mix with the clay powder because I heard that worked best for people experiencing skin problems. My skin has been a rollercoaster for the past five years. But recently, things have gotten really out of control. This mask had been such a lifesaver. I'm not sure words can describe how impressed I am with this healing clay mask. Since my skin has been through hell and I've literally tried everything, it's pretty resilient so I've been using this mask every night for the last four days. It's not nearly as drying as I thought it would be so that hasn't been an issue. But the mask has dried up everything and I have no new breakouts. I was so happy that I cried. If I could give this product a million stars, I would!" —Afton StAmour

Get it from Amazon for $22.95+ (available in two sizes).

And check out our full review of the Aztec Secret clay mask.

Promising review: "This is an unbelievable product! I work 12-hour shifts in the hospital and need protection for the corn on my left great toe. I purchased the size large and it fit well. Underneath my socks and athletic shoes, I completely forgot I was wearing it — bonus! The silicone is very soft and flexible and cleans easily. The product is priced well for the quality and quantity (six) that is provided. Each toe cap is packaged individually in the bag so the order can be shared with others if desired. I would absolutely recommend this since it has held up quite well for the 17 hours I often have it on (from the time I wake up until I am back from my shift). Cleans and dries easily and has maintained its shape." —LJ

Get a set of six from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors).

You'll get a bottle of shoe-cleaning formula and a scrubbing brush.

Promising review: "Works great! I was hesitant to use this on my wife's white Nikes so I started with a pair of mine that are solid black and they looked brand-new. The liquid is the pink in the pictures, so I was worried it would stain her white shoes. Luckily this is not the case, not only did it not stain them but they look great. I also did a pair of her camo Nikes that turned out great as well. I would say that the black and camo ones I did turned out better, they look as good as new. Overall, love this product, works great and only takes a very small amount per pair so this will last for a long time." —Josh & Esther

Get it from Amazon for $18.97+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "We tested them by comparing the wine before and after using the glass and there WAS a difference in the quality of the taste. Most items are mostly hype but this one seems to be real. Besides, it's cute to watch it flow." —KHofferMD

Get a set of two from Amazon for $50.

Promising review: "These are THE BEST. they collect so much dirt and dust from my tote bag and keep everything clean. Super small and easy to clean as well!!" –SueMagoo29

Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in three colors).

Hustle Sew Shop is a small business based in Saint Helens, Oregon that hand-makes goods like face masks, scrunchies, and home products. This faucet splash catcher is machine washable, which is one of the many reasons it's so popular.

Promising review: "LOVE these splash catchers! They save me from having to chase the puddles that form around the base of our faucet before they start creeping over the counter. So reasonably priced, made well with neatly finished edges, and packaged with gift-ready care." —Alina

Get it from Hustle Sew Shop on Etsy for $13.50+ (available in four sizes and six colors).

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.