Fix life’s little annoyances with these 20 products under $20
Imagine all the annoyances you used to deal with as a kid that have disappeared thanks to new technology. For example, you don’t have to struggle with long phone wires when talking to someone. Portable smartphones made that little annoyance disappear like mist in the sun.
While tech advancements have made life easier in many ways, new problems will pop up left and right — but we’ve always got helpful tips to save the day. Tap or click here for 10 smart tech tricks you’ll wish you knew sooner. But what about those everyday annoyances, like excessive clutter or an uncomfortable laptop?
Good news: You can fix those nagging issues with some nifty gadgets. We saved you some research and found some of the most affordable tech out there. Now, you can solve some of life’s little annoyances without spending a dime over $20.
1. Got too much to keep track of?
Want to cut down on clutter? The nifty Cable Clip Organizer is a great way to keep your desk clean and organized. If you’re tired of all the cables and cords that wind around your work desk, computer, or car, these cable clips will make everything neatly accessible.
Long-lasting and good for all surfaces, this cable clip organizer is a breeze to put together. Just peel and stick. You’ll be good to go in seconds!
Promising review: “It was always a pain to reach down the side of my bed to reach my chargers, not to mention the wad of cables I’d have to sift through just to charge my phone. I finally searched for a solution and came across these. They’re great! They’re really easy to stick on and they stay in place.”
2. Need an instant charging station?
If you’ve got outlets close to the floor, you probably know how tricky they are to use. Who wants to put their phone on the floor while it’s charging? Now you can keep your charging station neat and tidy with the Socket Outlet Shelf.
This wall outlet extender has three outlets, three USB charging ports and its own surge protector with a smart night light. At the top, it has a neat little shelf where you can place your gadgets while they charge. No more leaving your tech goodies on the floor.
Promising review: “This shelf socket works amazingly well. We have it plugged into our kitchen wall, and it has been a handy place for both me and my husband to charge our phones without losing it in the chaos of our crazy household with 3 boys…If you are looking for a central location to charge and keep all of your electronic devices, this socket shelf is a no-brainer!“
3. Work in comfort
Does your neck ever hurt from craning down? This adjustable, hands-free laptop table is a flexible solution. With eight different height settings, it’s easily adjustable.
Plus, its cushioned bottom provides comfort and stability. The portable multi-functional tray table is great for travel, road trips or working from home.
Promising review: “I write by hand and illustrate quite often and this has solved most of the terrible pains caused from hunching over my work. I also bring it around the house and use it flat on a desk or table when I want to raise any work or writing (or my laptop) closer to my eyes.”
4. Too many clothes for your closet?
Need to hang extra blazers, suit jackets or sweaters? Try this neat solution. This Over-The-Door Collapsible Clothes Hanger gives you 17 inches of durable metal storage space.
With 10 open slots for clothing hangers, this gives you a great tool for the price. Want to move it to different doors? Easily adjust the rack to wherever you need it.
You don’t have to worry about scratching because the part that lays against your door is lined with a rubbery material that protects surfaces. Plus, the slim design maximizes space. It’s a great way to keep your clothes from wrinkling in a crowded closet!
Promising review: “I love this product! I put over my closet door so I could hang my vests, coats and jackets. It’s very sturdy and is able to hold A LOT of heavy items. You can even double up the load on each hook if you want to.”
5. Clean quickly
Cut down on household cleaning with this efficient set of cleaning tools. The 15-piece drill brush attachment set can clean your bathtub, upholstery, floor, tile and shower. Here’s what you’re getting:
- One two-inch brush
- One 3.5-inch brush
- Two 4-inch brushes
- One 5-inch brush
- Three green scouring pads
- Three red scouring pads
- Two orange sponges
- One 4-inch backer
- One 150mm extended reach attachment
Promising review: “Only pros. Easy to use. Cleaned the toilets, sinks and tubs. Works like a charm. Only spent about 5 minutes on each. Which is good since I have lower back problems. I clean daily now.”
6. Let there be light
Have a child who’s afraid of darkness? Maybe you just want a visual aid for stairs or other potential nighttime hazards. Either way, AUVON’s Plug-in LED Night Light will shine a warm light whenever it senses you’re near.
With five brightness and lighting modes, this gadget is a great and energy-efficient option for anyone looking to bring a little light into their home.
Promising review: “These little lights are fantastic. The motion detection works great and has a fantastic distance and angle. There are two brightness settings, both which are great for different purposes — for instance bright for hallways, dim for bathrooms. The color is a nice “relax” color without being too orange or too white. Lastly, their size is great. They don’t block the other plug in your outlet!“
7. Save time brushing your teeth
This automatic toothpaste dispenser is hygienic and convenient. Easy to install, the iHave Toothpaste Dispenser can minimize messes, especially if you have little ones in the family. Just mount it on the wall with an adhesive and you’re good to go!
Promising review: “Easy installation, great suction power, stays to wall, easy to install new toothpaste tube and don’t have to put a lot of pressure for the perfect amount of toothpaste to come out.”
8. Never worry about spills again
This travel mug won’t fall over when you bump it. Sip around your electronics worry-free with the Mighty Mug Vortex Tumbler. With this durable mug, you can stop worrying about spills ruining your laptop or important documents.
It works on any smooth, flat surface. Plus, it keeps your drinks at the perfect temperature thanks to a double-walled and sweatproof design. It’s even able to withstand knocks from 360 degrees.
Promising review: “This is amazing. I got this on the strength of a YouTube reviewer raving about it, and everything he said is right: this cup will NOT tip over. Set it down on a solid surface, punch it, hit it — it won’t move. Yet you can pick it up easily. I showed it to my family, and now they all want one too, and I’ve ordered the regular tumblers, too. These are a must if you use a computer or if you have pets that love knocking things over.“
9. Stay cool
Do you overheat when you’re going about your day? Whether you’re gardening or delivering packages, this light fan will keep you cool. This Hands-Free Neck Fan settles comfortably around your neck.
With different settings and even colored lights, you can enjoy a cool, sparkling breeze from both sides. You can set it up on a table or even on the dashboard in your car. Flex the fans however you want and enjoy this long-lasting gadget you rarely have to charge.
Promising review: “It is very light and the design is so cute. When I wear it on my neck, I feel very comfortable. And when it is on, the wind is adjustable. I feel very cool. At the same time, you can press another button, three different color lights twinkle with the wind, very pretty. The battery life is long. It is very small but very useful and very convenient to carry. I can not help sharing with my friends.”
10. Set the lights
With the Kasa app, you can control your electronics from anywhere. Did you just remember you left the kitchen light on? No problem: This nifty dimmer lets you schedule your smart switch to automatically turn on or off whether you’re at home or away.
You’ll need a neutral wire to set up the Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch. When you’re ready, you can dim the lights just by using your voice. If you want to gently fade the lights over time, you can turn on the “Gentle off” setting, perfect for helping children drift off to sleep.
Promising review: “I use the bottom plug to charge my fire hd 10 on a schedule so that it is always charged since the main point of this tablet is for it to be used as a display/show mode. The top outlet I have it programmed to turn on/off when we are home in the evenings/weekends for one of those plug in air fresheners. No need to make the room smell good when no one is home or asleep! So far the schedules have worked great.”
11. Stop tripping
One size fits all when it comes to these nifty laces. With this no-tie lacing system, you can turn any pair of lace-up tennis shoes into slip-on sneakers. These elastic laces conform to your foot for a custom fit.
That means the Elastic No Tie Shoelaces are perfect for everyone: kids, older folks and even athletes can enjoy these snug laces. Easy to install and water-resistant, these laces will let you slip-on shoes and walk more comfortably.
Promising review: “I wasn’t prepared for the experience of how comfortable these laces made my old trusty sneakers. They made the shoes feel like they were custom built for my foot. No pressure points but still a comfortably snug and secure fit. Specifically I immediately noticed the former pressure on the top of my foot from standard laces was a thing of the past. What a difference in overall comfort.”
12. Got a green thumb?
Have you ever forgotten to water a plant? If so, you probably know how quickly a flower can wither without water. Luckily, that mistake can be a thing of the past with the help of this self-watering system.
Time-saving and hassle-free, the 9.2-inch Self Watering Planter is the best solution for busy gardeners. It’s even got optimal air circulation in the roots. This durable, UV-stable planter works well indoors or outdoors.
Promising review: “I’ve got to say, it’s just beautiful. Yes, the plastic is kind of thin, but that won’t matter once the dirt is inside pressing outward. All anyone who looks at it is going to see is a shiny white planter with a beautiful shape.”
13. Carry a lot of cards?
Made from heat-treated steel, this flat tool fits in your wallet and never rusts, bends or dulls. It’s perfect for campers, mechanics and carpenters. The Wallet Ninja Multitool is a nifty gadget with tons of uses.
Need to open a box, bottle or can? Need to pull nails, hex wrenches or even peel fruits? Just whip out this multitool and you’re good to go. It can even turn into a cellphone stand or an eyeglass screwdriver!
Promising review: “I’ve had this tool in my wallet for almost 5 years now. It’s always been more of a novelty/party trick for me. Randomly open beers for friends or a quick help with a screw if someone didn’t have a screwdriver handy. A couple weeks ago, I was on a very long motorcycle trip across CT and about 50 miles from home, my shifter pedal dropped to the ground. It was a Sunday evening and everything was closed. I remembered I had the tool that had the notches for tightening bolts. Luckily I was able to use this tool and get back pedal back together to make it home. Now I REALLY have a reason to always have this on me. Never know…”
14. Got too many batteries?
This Battery Organizer is a compact and portable way to organize, store and protect your many batteries. The clear locking lid lets you see everything at a glance, so you don’t have to waste time rifling through everything. With a sleek and compact design, this battery organizer and storage case empowers you to stay organized and be prepared for power outages.
Promising review: “Great Product. There are a lot of battery storage cases out, but this one stores the most, is easy to keep on the workbench, is affordable, has a battery charge checker. I bought my first one at Home Depot, but didn’t see it there again so went online to find it. Saw many types online, but held out till I saw the Battery Daddy. I bought 3 as gifts.”
15. Keep clean
This compact, portable vacuum is an easy way to clean your desktop. Designed to be quiet, you won’t have to worry about bothering those around you when you’re cleaning. Plus, the Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner has a powerful suction that quickly cleans up messes.
Just slip in two AA batteries and flick the switch to cut down on dog hair, crumbs, confetti and more.
Promising review: “It’s great for cleaning up all the lint that accumulates from cutting material and on the sewing machine to keep everything neat and tidy. Easy to empty and works well. I’ll probably buy 2 more to have around the house – kitchen, office, and living room! Has more power than I thought it would – it even picks up spilled salt and sugar! Love it!”
16. Organize your rack
Sick of dealing with a bulky key ring? Tired of losing your keys? Try this sleek solution.
The KeySmart KeyCatch is a modern magnetic key rack that’s easy to install on any light switch — all you need is a flathead screwdriver. This rack holds up to three pounds, but it won’t damage your wall. It uses magnets to support almost any keyring.
Say goodbye to forgetting the last place you put your keys. Now you can always remember they’re right by the light switch!
Promising review: “Who knew a product so simple would be such a game changer. I love my key magnets, they literally have changed my life. I’m the guy that loses my keys a couple times a week because of just throwing them down. Now I love hanging them up, it’s kinda fun honestly.”
17. Fix your wood
This is a fun way to fix up the house. Are there any scratches or discolorations on your wooden furniture? Just color over them with any of these six unique colors: maple, oak, cherry, walnut and mahogany.
This 13-piece kit includes six repair markers, six paper-wrapped wax sticks and one sharpener. It’s like an art project that makes your home look even nicer!
Promising review: “I got this set not with the expectation that my furniture would look like new and my expectations were met. They help cover a lot of nicks and scratches and yes you will see the marker or crayon if you look for it. But as a whole and when you step back it’s great. Before my cabinet has all these light-wood specks from being nicked and now it doesn’t stand out as much.”
18. Enjoy deluxe showers
You’ll get an ultra-comfortable experience with Nosame’s three different modes: rainfall, massage and jetting spray. Micro nozzle technology creates smaller outlet holes, which increases the speed of water flow.
With the handheld Nosame Shower Head, you can enjoy multi-layer filter protection that softens hard water and removes excess impurities. How cool is that?
Promising review: “This thing screwed right in without any crazy installation, aaaand it was like Niagara falls crashing down in the shower. Water prettier like never before. It is so powerful, it creates an actual breeze in my shower, no joke. Walk by the opening to the shower and an actual gust comes out if the shower is running. It also does a fantastic job at getting soap out of a loofa, I don’t know that it’s ever been so clean. Same with my hair. I’ve probably never rinsed all the shampoo out of my hair until I used this typhoon maker. My hair dries quicker after as well. It really is worth every cent.“
19. Cooks: Try the collapsible colander strainer
Extensible, contractile and foldable, this nifty gadget can make cooking a breeze. Its telescopic handle stretches easily, and the silicone materials are easy to clean. With a sturdy design and a large capacity, the Collapsible Colander Strainer has multiple uses — including saving kitchen space!
Plus, it makes straining pasta or rinsing vegetables so much easier. The bottom of the strainer is made of hard plastic, so it won’t collapse when you fill it with hot food. Blue rubber materials allow the tool to collapse, making it so efficient when storing it away.
Promising review: “This is the best colander I could have get, now it’s so easy to wash vegetables and fruits, I don’t know why I have never had this before!”
20. Stop ironing your clothes!
Sure, you could fetch the ironing board and meticulously iron out your clothes. But why go through all the trouble when you can just whip out a portable fabric steam iron? The OGHom Clothes Steamer can straighten wrinkles whether you’re home or on-the-go.
Promising review: “The best part is that this little steamer gets such a great consistent time use! I was able to get five kid uniform shirts and one of mine done before having to refill and even then it only took about a total of 2-3 minutes or so to refill the water and heat back up. Effortless, lightweight, easy to use and affordable.”
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Tags: battery, charging station, devices, gadgets, gifts, settings, Smart, smartphones, tech tricks, technology, YouTube