31 Things Probably Designed By Geniuses July 2023

Dec 11, 2023

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.

A self-grooming cat toy, period-proof underwear, an eyelash comb and other products that'll make you wish you thought of them.

BuzzFeed Staff

Shakalo is a small business based in San Diego.

Promising review: "We recently moved to a beach area, and we are constantly there. This item has changed our entire lives! It lasts decently long (depending on how much you use it), it smells super good (not at all like baby powder), and it's super effective. It has saved me from vacuuming my car at least 1–2 times a week. And I even use it on my dogs' paws and bellies to make sure they're taken care of too. I will definitely be buying the refill and another bag to have exclusively in the car." —Gabbs Uresti

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two sizes).

Theresa Rose is a San Diego-based small business.

Here's why former BuzzFeed writer Kayla Suazo loves this:

"I recently bought a couple of these and had one of those very real WHY DIDN'T I BUY ONE OF THESE SOONER moments. They do an amazing job at keeping your necklaces from tangling as you wear them, and I love that I can layer several of my favorites at once. I am forever sold on these."

Get it from Theresa Rose on Etsy for $13.49+ (available in four styles and for two, three, or four strands).

We've got you covered with plenty of other TikTok products you'll love, even if you're *not* on TikTok.

Promising review: "I had had it with my broken basic mop and bucket. I tried to just get a dollar store Swiffer to get us by, but that wasn't cutting it at all. With three boys and a dog that makes his rounds on all the furniture and every exposed corner, I had to do something. After seeing a TikTok where a woman demonstrated this mop to clean her walls, and hearing my boss raving about it, I decided to click the Amazon button. Let me tell you, I HATE cleaning, I HATE mopping, but I LOVE for things to be clean.

I was able to mop the entire house TWICE (Because it was that dirty. Please don't judge.) within an hour. A few days later I mopped the entire house again within 10 minutes because they weren't quite as dirty. On another positive note, my boys love the spinner and think it’s a toy! So, every time I get the bucket out my 10-year-old and 4-year-old ask to mop the house because they think it’s fun. MAJOR BONUS!" —Molly

Get it from Amazon for $34.97.

This is designed to slide over headboards up to 1.5 inches thick but reviewers say it will stretch for larger headboards. It's designed to work with a 40W bulb max.

Promising review: "Great little headboard lamps. Make reading before going to sleep a joy. No more trying to find the right light angle. Love them, so I decided to get a couple for my husband." —Gurpreet

Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

Here's what BuzzFeed Shopping editor Sally Elshorafa has to say about this handy organization unit: "This product SAVED MY SHOES! I have an awkward set of built-in shelves in my closet, and it was the only place I wanted to put my shoes. As you can see from the before pic (above), it was a big mess; my shoes were piled on top of each other and getting really dirty. Traditional shoe caddies or boxes didn't really work because there's not much horizontal space, so I tried the Shoe Slotz. It fixed the problem perfectly! Because the design smartly stacks one shoe on top of the other, you save 50% of the space you'd normally use to store your shoes."

Promising review: "These things are genius. I had my closet redone and asked for the back wall to have cubbies so I can easily display my shoes, but I either underestimated the number of shoes I have or overestimated the space that was in the closet and I couldn't display them all. I bought a few packs of these and now I have extra space. I guess I'll have to go out and buy more shoes now!" —Hercules

Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $35.99+ (also available as a pack of 20 or 40).

PS, this includes a caddy!

Promising review: "Honestly I didn't think this was going to work, BUT I am so glad I was wrong! I love how easy it is to use and most of all, how QUICKLY it unclogs my toilet!!! I just shove it down the toilet hole, use the motion of pushing it in and out a couple of times, take it out completely, and the toilet drains with ease! I'm not using all my strength to unclog toilets anymore, and no worries about nasty toilet water splashing everywhere, and it cleans super easily...BEST THING I EVER BOUGHT ON THE INTERNET!!!" —Laura

Get it from Amazon for $14.97.

BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord loves these: "These are ideal for overnight protection and for people who are worried about leakage during sports or physical activities. I personally always wear either these period-proof undies when I go on runs on my period, and it has been a MASSIVE godsend. Also, unlike your regular undies, you don't have to scrub the blood out of these. They're designed so it rinses right out in the sink with soap and warm water, and can get tossed in the washer and dryer from there."

Psst — reviewers love these undies, but suggest sizing up!

Promising review: "It took me a while to finally give in and buy these, because I wasn’t sure if they would work. I am kicking myself for letting them sit in the cart for that long, while I spent hideous amounts of money on disposable products that are freaking uncomfortable torture devices that let you down when you need them most. These undies are SO. WONDERFUL. I could cry at this point. I tried these for the first time this week. One of my worse, heavier monthly rounds. I crossed my fingers, packed lots of extra pads in case they didn’t work, and dove into my hectic day. I forgot I was wearing them. No crinkle puff-butt discomfort. No running for the bathroom. They didn’t even leak overnight, which, for me, is unheard of. I’m never going back." —Blythe

Get it from Amazon for $17.49+ (available in women's sizes 4–13, in plus sizes, in four color combos, and multipacks).

The Roll Keeper is a woman-owned small business from Kelso, Washington. Check out this helpful video that shows you how to load and unload the Roll Keeper!

Promising review: "Our family is growing, and I realized there's a lot of space in a closet that isn't being used. That's how I came across these, and now I have them in all the closets. They make getting clothes so easy, and now we have more space for the growing family! Xoxo!" —Megan

Get it from The Roll Keeper on Etsy for $17.99 or from Amazon Handmade for $23.99 (available in two colors).

After debris is collected into the vacuum's canister, an indicator light will turn on to let you know when the canister is full and ready to be emptied out. Pull the canister out and dump debris into the trash without spilling crumbs and dirt everywhere.

See it in action on TikTok here.

Promising review: "Saw it on TikTok and knew I had to have one. I hate cleaning but get annoyed with the clumps of dog hair and bits of things on my kitchen floor...I usually just vacuum my tile with the vacuum which is a pain. This thing is so easy to just sweep things into and it sucks them right up. Sure, it's more expensive than my actual vacuum but I've only had it three days and have used it two times." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $126.99+ (available in seven colors).

Promising review: "Must admit I had my doubts but these things are MAGIC! I had some brown sugar in an airtight container which had hardened like a rock. I decided to order these as a Hail Mary. I soaked the bear as instructed and placed it inside the same airtight container. Within 10–15 minutes the top layer of the sugar has begun to soften but the next day the whole jar was loose, easily scoop-able brown sugar! I couldn't believe it! I will be buying more as gifts. Totally worth it!" —M.A.G.

Get it from Amazon for $6.27.

Promising review: "I was kinda skeptical at first but once I put these into my bedsheets...OMG. These are a must have for anyone who has loose sheets or an ill-fitting mattress pad + memory foam on my mattress. I used to wake up because of rumpled sheets/mattress pad lumps. These are SO easy to install and grip both my sheets and mattress pad to keep everything nice and taught!" —watrskiergurl

Get a set of four from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in three colors, two sizes, and multipacks).

Promising review: "It does what it says: extends your bra fit for comfort and to reduce bra lines in back. It does not stretch (I found the stretchy ones didn't provide enough support). These are very soft and comfortable. I didn't realize how important that was until I ordered a different brand and they were torture — itchy and stiff and awful, even after washing. I ditched them and immediately reordered this brand so I'd always have enough on hand!" —McNally16

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in three colors, three sizes, and multipacks).

Promising review: "Our delightful kitty, Skittles, will not be contained by ordinary window screens. She's shredded four of them that blocked her favorite escape routes. In about a minute, she can make a cat-sized hole and she's outta here. It's been a nightmare here in South Florida. We can't open our windows on hot nights because every flying and crawling critter comes right in through the giant holes in the screens. In desperation, I bought this to see if it would help.

I installed the Pet D-Fence screening about a month ago. Little Skittles has made a couple of runs at it, but so far, it's completely unscathed. I have a good feeling about this. The Pet D-Fence screening is slightly more opaque than regular screening, but that means nothing to me because regular screening won't survive one night. So far, I'm very happy!" —verygooddog

Get it from Amazon for $16.78+ (available in four sizes and two styles).

Dress Strong is a woman-owned small business based in New York. The weights are reusable, and with proper care, the adhesive on the back lasts for about six uses.

Promising review: "I had no idea this product existed until I saw an ad for it. Where have these been my whole life?! Gone are the days of trying to hold my dress down with my purse or making my husband help to hold it down so I don’t flash anyone! I was so excited, I bought two sets!" —Danielle Congdon

Get a set of four from Dress Strong on Etsy for $15 (also available in multiple packs).

Watch in amazement as your closet suddenly gains so much storage space!

Promising review: "Not sure why I didn’t expect them to work as well as it sounds...but they absolutely work as well as they sound! Makes MUCH more room in my closet. I used for purses, jackets, tank tops, dresses and has been holding very well. When I need something, just push the others aside and raise up the one I need. Very pleased with my purchase!" —Dennis A. Evans

Get a four-pack on Amazon for $10.95+ (available in four other quantities).

Bottle Bright is a US-based small business established in 2009 that specializes in cleaning products.

Promising review: "I keep two stainless-steel mugs at work, and they rotate between tea, water, and occasionally coffee. I'm good about washing them, but they had still developed a thin, tea-colored patina. I didn't think there'd be much of a difference after using these tablets (I really bought them for a coworker whose mug is thick with stains), but WOW! Ten minutes with simmering-hot water made my mugs look brand-new. I didn't realize how stained the mugs actually were." —Library Chick

Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $8 (also available in multipacks).

In the reviewer image above on the right, the first cup is after running the cleaning pod (GROSS!) and then the cup on the right is after three rinse cycles!

Promising review: "I give 5 stars!! These were really quick and clean... and easy!! So happy to have found these. My machine needed it bad. I use my Keurig every day and recently noticed how dirty the needle was getting and the coffee was starting to taste 'off.' Will definitely start a routine cleaning with these cups! Made a huge difference." —Reggie Gonzalez

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.95 (also available as a pack of 12).

Get the wall-mounted version from our Goodful Shop for $130 or the handheld version for $95.

Promising review: "My 4-month-old loves these! He loves his hands and feet and these are the perfect toy for him!" —michaela

Get it from Amazon for $12.68.

Promising review: "I've seen these all over TikTok and had them in my cart for months…ended up buying them, and THEY ARE WORTH THE MONEY. Soft, soft, soft and look so real, I’m going to buy more." —Brittney Jackson

Get a set of 20 from Amazon for $19.99 (available in a variety of color combos).

Promising review: "Amazing, I think everyone needs this product for organizing their jewelry. It is super compact, which I love and it is perfect for organizing your jewelry. I split my rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets into four separate compartments. It works perfectly, no cosmetic imperfections, and is exactly how it is described. It is small, so make sure to know the exact measurements before purchasing if size is a problem." —Emily Zhang

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three colors).

Just add water and vinegar, and place this gadget in the microwave for five to eight minutes on high heat. Afterward, wipe off with sponge, rag or napkin, and all the grime will come right off!

Promising review: "I'm embarrassed to say I hadn't cleaned my microwave in about six months. It's an awful task. I ran Angry Mama one time, wiped down easily, then ran it one more time to get it detailed really clean. Highly recommend using it more often than once every six months for a super fast, super clean microwave!" —Kelsey

Get it from Amazon for $6.91 (available in four colors).

Plus, I think we can all agree this is *major* improvement over using tweezers, bobby pins, or (god forbid) pins to separate your lashes.

The metal on the comb is anti-rust and easy to clean, and comes with a protective cover for maximum hygiene.

Promising review: "As a pro makeup artist, this is an excellent tool to have in my kit. Excellent for removing mascara clumps." —Lady Marina

Get it from Amazon for $4.49.

Each bottle comes with 20 mini CO2 cartridges.

Promising reviews: "Love this bottle/soda maker. I am obsessed with fizzy drinks and cannot take my bulkier at-home maker with me to work or when I travel. This maker allowed me the compact convenience of taking my fizzy drinks everywhere I go. I can control what I put in my body and always get my flavors I love. 10 out of 10 do recommend! —Zeusboomer911

"This is super fancy with a modern look. Probably one of the fanciest mini soda makers you can get. This product works great. Does the job of making soda water within seconds. I used it a couple of times and am satisfied with the product. We tend to buy bottled plain soda very frequently from supermarkets, and this machine will save a lot of money over the long run. I would recommend this product if you are into carbonated water." —LiveWithTech

Get it from Amazon for $41.99+ (available in six colors).

Promising review: "I got this for my three-legged cat because he can't scratch his left side. He'll be trying to scratch and all you see is his little nub going crazy. I found these and he immediately LOVED it! The expression on his face when he first tried it was priceless (pictured above). The only downside is that it's possible it'll fall off because it was hard for me to get all pieces of tape to stick on a corner at the same time, but I can always buy more double sided tape so not a big deal to me. The product is for Floyd, not me, and he's happy so five stars." —WeedWendy

Get it from Amazon for $4.99.

All parts are top-rack dishwasher-safe!

Promising review: "I LOVE this thing! Breakfast has never been faster or easier! And it doesn't make noise that will wake everyone up while I am mixing. The silicone tip is real silicone (for those wondering about the pinch test) and does well against cast-iron. I have never been able to get my pancakes this fluffy until now! So great! Planning on buying more from this brand! It is also super easy to clean. The bottom comes off to fill it up and it turns into a holder for the bottle by setting the top into the bottom setting. It suggests putting in your liquid first then your mix but if making a large amount you might have to gently tap it a bit." —KC Hunter

Get it from Amazon for $16.75.

Each cap organizer can hold up to 10 items.

Promising review: "I give 5 stars for this hat organizer! I wish I discovered this product sooner. It is VERY easy to add onto a hanger. Simply open the flap, slip it over the hanger and reattach the Velcro. The Velcro strip is wide and sturdy to prevent the entire thing from coming undone. Even after adding weight from the hats, the Velcro didn’t even budge. Overall the product is sewn well and appears like it does in the pictures. The clips are sturdy and can grasp thinner hats just as well as thick hats. This would be useful for other items like belts, hair accessories, and scarfs too!!" —Tracy

Get it from Amazon for $6.59+ (available in six colors and multipacks).

Dunn Rustic is a small business based in Nashville that creates customized watch boxes, ring boxes, home organizers, and more.

Promising review: "Absolutely loved this hat holder! It’s super cute and goes with my decor perfectly and it’s such a fun way to display my beautiful hats! I got the smaller of the two beams." —Etsy Customer

Get it from Dunn Rustic on Etsy for $75+ (available in three sizes and finishes).

Promising review: "This stuff is amazing! After over 10 years of the grout not being cleaned, and a botched repair job, the bathroom floor in this house looked horrendous. Two pens covered the entire bathroom floor, with plenty left over in the second pen, even with applying two to three layers (which you will definitely need as the paint is a bit thin and also absorbs into the grout). Super easy to apply, works exactly like a regular paint marker. Be sure to press the pen tip on a separate (thick) cloth to activate it before actually using it on the grout so you don't end up with a huge mess on the tile when the paint floods out at first. If you see the first side of the tip is getting frayed, just pull it out and turn it around to the other side." —regalle

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "This bag is very cute and lightweight. Side note: Yes, the plush is attached to the bag and cannot be removed. The tote itself is not huge but it can hold just enough for whatever you need. The material is thin but nicely made." —Mikayla

Get it from Amazon for $18.97 (available in 13 prints).

You can also use it to wash and dry produce!

Promising review: "This product is a game-changer for small kitchens. Forego the large drying rack and get this sleek, stylish space-saver. I don’t like leaving dishes in the sink, nor do I have a dishwasher, and this is just perfect for keeping the sink clean and leaving the counter space open. It's also amazing for washing produce." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $9.89+ (available in seven sizes).

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