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30 Products To Make The Things You Own Last Longer

Nov 19, 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.

Out: spending $$$$$$$$$ money to replace your belongings. In: spending $$ to breathe new life into the things you already own.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "I'm so happy with my purchase because these keep my produce fresher for much longer than normal. Nothing is worse than buying red bell peppers at the store and having them start wilting after four days. These should be in everyone's fridges!" —jhDub

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.99.

My colleague Amanda Davis swears by this spray. Here's what she has to say about it:

"So, I have about three pairs of shoes that have just been sitting in my closet because while they are sooo so cute, the leather was too tight for my foot to comfortably get inside 'em. Did I return them? Nope. (We all know the hassle of online returns, right?) Instead I bought this shoe stretch spray on a whim. I didn't expect much but WOW! The shoes that took me a minute of struggling to get into fit *perfectly* now!!

The process was as simple as could be, too. I just sprayed my shoes (inside and out, heel to toe) like there was no tomorrow, I put on some semi-thick socks (just to ensure I had ample room later), and wore the shoes around my house for about 30–40 minutes. As I was walking around, I could literally feel them begin to loosen up.

After about 30 minutes, I took my shoes and thick socks off, and the shoes just ~slide~ on. Easy Peasy. Now I have a new favorite pair of shoes and zero dollars have been wasted. I tried these with a pair of chunky leather loafers, but I can only imagine what they'll do for my pair of Dr. Martens — the boots known to take a while to break into. This stuff is a must!"

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

Promising review: "The sofas are sturdy and only three years old but several cushions were sagging. I ordered two of the large size for our loveseat to try them out. I easily cut an inch off to have it fit with an X-Acto knife. Easy to slide in, easy to close with my husband's help. The difference when sitting on the sofa is amazing. Firm and they feel like new cushions. I just ordered three more for the large sofa." —doris

Get them on Amazon for $39.99+ per kit (available in three sizes; each kit fixes one cushion).

Promising review: "Never thought i would want to penny pinch on toothpaste. But this toothpaste holder keeps standard tubes and big value size tubes upright and has a really sturdy base. It does squeeze every drop out. My big tubes of toothpaste definitely lasts three weeks to a month longer than regular squeezing with hands." —Stephanie Santiago

Get it from Amazon for $6.99.

Promising review: "Saw this on TikTok and I honestly absolutely love it. I use it to keep my drawer organizers from sliding around. This stuff is amazing and I wish I had known about it forever ago." —Abby

Get it from Amazon for $12.93.

Buddeez is a family-owned small biz based in Missouri that sells home goods!

Promising review: "The Buddeez Sandwich Bread Dispenser is great! It does exactly what it was intended for. I live alone and I don't quite go through bread often enough before the last quarter section of the loaf starts to go stale. I was originally looking for something to put a loaf of bread in as a shell for my vacuum sealer, that would keep the bread from getting crushed from the pressure. This dispenser solved all of my problems. Thank you!" —DRMcQuaig

Get it from Amazon for $12.49 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "Save money by preserving your wine! I really enjoy a glass of wine some evenings, but just one glass (OK maybe two) is plenty. The problem always is that if you recork you might get one more day out the bottle. What if I don't want another glass the next day? By the day after that, you would be really lucky if that recorked wine was any good. With this product, you will never toss unused wine again. The vacuum seal really works at keeping out the air and preserving your wine so it remains as fresh as when you first opened it. Another feature is that the seal works so well that if you put your bottle back on its side in a rack or wine fridge, it will not leak. I am making this product my go-to hostess gift!" —T. K. Nagy

Get it from Amazon for $16.98+ (available in six colors).

Promising review: "When I bought this I was really skeptical. I am grossed out by my hairbrush and clean it all the time. I've soaked it in vinegar and tea tree oil, used a toothbrush, scrubbed it with shampoo, picked it clean by hand — everything you can think of. Still, it's so hard to get the little lint that forms at the base of the brush — they don't dissolve off and you have to pick them off the bristles one by one because a toothbrush won't even break them up. This thing works amazingly. I don't know why, it just does — the particular texture of the bristles on this really grabs everything. It scraped the little lint rings right off and now my brush is cleaner, 10 times as fast." —HeartsofHavoc

Get it from Amazon for $11.95.

Promising review: "My 15-year-old leather sectional hadn't been cleaned or conditioned in 3–4 years because I couldn't find anything that worked well without causing it to look blotchy. After a LOT of elbow grease, the sectional looks great! It's now back to its original color without being blotchy. More importantly, the suppleness has returned. I can actually say that it looks as good as the day we bought it." —jellybean55

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in three sizes).

Pizza Pack is the small biz that sells this awesome pizza container!

Promising review: "It's always a pain to put away leftover pizza. It never seems to work. UNTIL THIS PRODUCT!!! I am very happy with my purchase. It's easy to keep the pieces separate from others and you don't have a large bulky box letting your crust dry out. You can use it for one piece or several — it is very easy to expand. The best part is that it is very easy to clean. Storing the Pizza Pack when not in use doesn't take up a lot of space either. Try it." —B. Cirincione

Get it from Amazon for $25 (available in six colors and in multi-packs).

These are FDA- and USDA-approved, BPA-free, and can fit into virtually any bottle. Plus, they're made of sturdy, resilient, and flexible material, and they're dishwasher-safe!

Promising review: "When a recipe calls for two tablespoons of mustard and your jar is empty, this little gadget will help you scrape out those two tablespoons out of that jar. My kitchen helpers laugh and joke about this little gadget. And everyone agrees that it's worth buying." —John Milan

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $9.99.

It comes with 12 shades of wood filler and a brush.

Promising review: "This is super easy to use and effective for being so inexpensive! I am very impressed with how this fixed my chairs that my cat scratched up. Instead of spending $100 per new chair, I took a chance with this stuff and I’m so glad I did. You have to figure out what color matches your wood best — my teak chairs actually needed a slightly darker color or else the filler made the wood flat and more so like paint. When I went with the darker color it put the grain effect back on and looked natural." —Sara Petrouskie

Get it from Amazon for $15.99.

Promising review: “I have several pieces of upscale silver jewelry that have tarnished to the point of being unwearable. Not a great investment. I have tarnish wipes, and those work well enough, but they are really designed for cutlery and not jewelry. Wipes don't get into the crevices of design work; nor do they get inside links on chains. I had come to accept that, no matter what I did, my silver pieces were always going to be a bit dirty looking. When I got this dip, I wasn't expecting much. All I can say is this: WOW. I opened the jar and dipped in half of a very tarnished (nearly black) bracelet for no more than a second, just to test it. When I pulled it out, I literally squealed. It was like new! Not a bit of tarnish, not a bit of dark, just that pure silver color. However, the smell of this stuff will knock you over. I *highly* recommend wearing rubber gloves when you use this (I didn't but will from now on) and rinsing your jewelry thoroughly after dipping and before wearing.” —abby

Get it from Amazon for $7.95.

Promising review: "This thing really works. Jewelry comes out so shiny and sparkly, and it is so quick and easy to use. Seriously, no need for professional cleaning or those expensive home cleaners with steam or whatever — this is so much easier and economical, and just as effective." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $6.84.

Promising review: “OK, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS HOSE. My dryer was like one cycle away from catching fire, and my vacuum’s skinny hose nozzle was too short to get into my dryer vent because the nozzle widens after 6 inches. So when I saw this product go on sale I bought it and it came the next day. It came in two or three pieces that fit into each other and go over the vacuum hose. It was SO SATISFYING to watch the big clumps come out of the dryer vent! I mean my dryer was nasty. I have a German shepherd and a pit bull, so our laundry is always full of nastiness. Well, this little hose got it all and it looks brand new in there. The big clumps were hard to get through the hose at first until I realized I could pinch the opening of the hose to make it circular, which allowed the clumps to fly through. Even the sound was satisfying. I will be vacuuming under my fridge next. No dying in a fire for me.” —Bee92

Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in five colors).

Promising review: "Before I bought this cheese paper I would do the cheese search in the refrigerator. After buying cheeses, opening them, and then rewrapping them in heaven knows what (namely plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and plastic containers), it was always the same result: moldy cheese. This box contains the paper in sheets plus some stickers that you can write on with the name of the cheese and the date it was wrapped or even sell by date. There are also pictures of a sheep, cow, and goat so the source can be identified by circling or checking one of them! What I also like is that the cheeses can be rewrapped after use and amazingly the stickers still stick! The paper can also be cut to size to wrap smaller cheeses. So far I have noted that the cheeses have stayed fresh with not a trace of mold. I highly recommend this product to all cheese lovers!" —prairie woman

Get a pack of 15 sheets from Amazon for $15.

Promising review: "These Color Catcher sheets really protect colors from bleeding. It makes all clothes/laundry brighter and looking like new — not that old washed color after just one wash without these sheets. I give this product 5+ stars. Highly recommend. A few pennies spent additionally on your laundry makes one look like wearing new clothes all the time." —Nikita

Get 72 sheets from Amazon for $11.53.

The set comes with a pair of scissors, a measuring tape, 12 spools of thread, 16 needles in a needle holder, three white buttons, two needle-threaders, two straight pins, a safety pin, a seam ripper, and a thimble.

Promising review: "This set is complete and perfect for those of us who just need to mend now and then. Portable and easy to manage." —TruthBeTold

Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "I seriously can't believe how well these little tablets work. I had the most disgusting Hydro Flask coffee mug — I tried everything. A bottle brush, different kinds of soap, vinegar, EVERYTHING, and there was still a seemingly impenetrable layer of black sludge inside. I let a tablet sit in each of my mugs for an hour or two, and the black sludge rinsed out COMPLETELY, without even scrubbing. They look brand-new. What a magical product. No weird smell or taste afterward, either. I liked it so much I used it on another Hydro Flask I use primarily to hold my Bloody Mary mix in the fridge. I couldn't put anything else in it because it would always taste like spicy tomato juice. Bottle Bright to the rescue! No residual smell or taste anymore. AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING." —Amazon Customer

Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $8.

Promising review: "I hate washing my brushes, I've always done it by hand and it's always caused the big fluffy powder brushes to feel rougher or become matted no matter how hard I try to reshape them. I got this solution and used it with a makeup brush spinner (I used the Mevolic one), and I couldn't BELIEVE how amazing my brushes were afterwards! I also have insanely sensitive skin and most any soap I put on a brush will cause me to breakout when I use it later, no matter how well I typically rinse it. But I really think that this cleaner and the brush spinner worked great and I haven't had any sensitive bumps on my skin since using them." —Chelsea

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (also available in a two-pack).

Promising review: "Bought these for my pregnancy based on a tip from a recently pregnant friend. Total game changer. Only had to buy a new sized bra once, and then used these for the rest of my pregnancy, as my cup size didn't change any more but omg my ribcage just kept on expanding and expanding to accommodate baby. IMO, these make wearing a regular bra possible during those body-changing portions of pregnancy, saving me money in the long run. Additionally, they work as expected...they clip onto the original spacers easily, they match up with the original hooks really well, and they are very comfortable and easy to use. Best $6 I've ever spent on Amazon. Buy them, you won't regret it." —Queen Bee

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in 26 styles).

Check out our KitchenIQ knife sharpener review!

Promising review: "Wow, this little gadget is pretty amazing! I have some old (expensive) non-serrated knives that are supposed to never need sharpening but unfortunately, lost their sharp edge long ago. I saw this gadget and decided to try it. I set the bottom of this gadget on the edge of the counter and ran one of the knives through the side labeled 'Coarse' about 10 times, then ran it through the side labeled 'Fine' another 8-10 times. Bingo! The knife was transformed back to its former high-dollar cutlery glory. I could hardly believe how effectively it had sharpened the knife, which I had been ready to throw away a week before. I've been happily sharpening all our knives and trying to add up in my head how much money I've saved by NOT having to buy another set of expensive knives. I don't know where else you can spend $6 and get this return for the money. Great score!" —Schelly L. Wagoner

Get it from Amazon for $9.61.

Promising review: "It works very well. Heats up fast and does a good job. For the price, I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it is. Love this little thing." —Annie E

Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in six colors).

Promising review: "Well worth it! Think of all the product in bottles you waste every year by not using something like this. It certainly covers the cost of this item! I love it!" —Rock360

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $16 (also available as a pack of six).

Read our Stoppers Heel Protectors review!

Promising review: "After slightly sinking into the ground at my own wedding, I decided that I absolutely needed these for every summer wedding thereafter! They were a hit — everyone thought they were genius and my heels were spared from sinking into grass as well as dirt and gravel! LOVE THEM! I need them in every size!" —Alexis

Get them from Amazon for $11.99 (available in four sizes).

Promising review: "I fell in love with this product some 15 years ago and I am so very happy that it's still available in the same wonderful formula as ever. It has a fantastic citrus scent. This takes care of any stain so fast and efficiently, it's become a party trick. I have seriously poured red wine over a white comforter to demonstrate how great it is to a friend once. It is a miracle in a bottle! We use it for all sorts of cleaning on materials around the house, and one bottle has lasted us years! This is definitely a product every home should have." —Melanie N

Get it from Amazon for $9.54.

I got this phone pouch prior to going to Nashville to see the Eras Tour and I can't recommend it enough. The forecast predicted rain all weekend and on night three, the storm was so bad that the show was delayed two and a half hours — leave it Taylor to turn it into a memorable rain show! Keeping my phone in this pouch allowed me to still take photos and videos and keep in contact with my group when it was time to meet up afterwards without worry of water damage and is now something I'll always keep on hand for outdoor shows in the rain.

Promising review: "I originally bought this for a solo trip to Florida because I wasn’t willing to leave my phone and credit card or rental car keys on the beach while playing in the ocean. For the price, this little thing has paid itself off and then some! I was able to fit my iPhone, two cards, and car keys in this while I blissfully floated in the ocean for hours. I even ordered this wristlet that makes your phone float in case I let go of it. I’ve also used it in my hotel jacuzzi tub (and the bathtub at home), in the hot tub at the hotel, and the water park. I am not afraid to completely submerge my phone or just let it get splashed. Especially for solo female travelers, you never want to be separated from your phone because it’s your life source, so nothing ruins a beach day by water damaging your phone. I really love this product!" —SpikesInk

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in 14 colors).

Promising review: "I have pets, and pets do disgusting things. I use a waterproof mattress pad, but sometimes spills and other 'stuff' get down the sides of the sheets. This protects all of the mattress, and is deep enough that I was able to put the memory foam pillow top inside it too. I've noticed a slight 'balloon effect' when I sit down abruptly, air doesn't escape the protector quickly, and poofs up for a few moments, but it doesn't feel plastic-y or crinkly. Mattresses are expensive, this feels like insurance against anything that my family or pets can throw (literally and figuratively) at my bed." —Maggie Lou

Get it from Amazon for $29.73+ (available in sizes twin–king and two depth sizes).

Promising review: "Rarely do I buy something that delivers 100% of what they claim it will. I'm happy to report that this completely lived up to my expectations. Truth be told, it works even better than I expected it to. I made a batch of guac a week ago. Two or three times during the week, I unlocked it, dipped a chip or two and then re-locked it. After a week, the guacamole is as fresh as if I made it this morning. I typically make a batch of guac each week and use it as a snack or as a spread on sandwiches. I also typically throw out one-third of the batch because it spoils before we can eat it. Not any more. I estimate the food I'm not wasting will actually pay for the Guac-Lock in about a month." —mhogan

Get it on Amazon for $41.95.

Celsious is a Black woman-owned small biz based in Brooklyn, New York, and sells all sorts of great laundry products. They also operate a laundromat in Williamsburg featuring hypoallergenic and natural laundry products and energy-efficient washers and dryers.

BuzzFeed editor Maitland Quitmeyer swears by it:

"Like many of you, I've been living in sweats and PJs and it's made me revisit the state of some of my loungewear. Take for example, this college sweatshirt I wear all the time — as evidenced by the rather EXTENSIVE pilling all over it. So when I saw this pumice-esque sweater stone (it's made from upcycled car windshield glass — how cool is that?!), I decided it was worth the try. I was able to navigate around the contours of the logo on my sweatshirt with ease, removing pills using the corner or the entire flat bottom in a few quick strokes. It truly took no time at all — the sweatshirt was done in mere minutes. The only thing I would note is that particles do 'fall out' of the stone, so do your pill-removing on a surface that's easy to sweep or vacuum up at the end."

Get it from Celsious for $13.

Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.

Promising review:The shoes that took me a minute of struggling to get into fit *perfectly* now!!After about 30 minutes, I took my shoes and thick socks off, and the shoes just ~slide~ on. Easy Peasy.Promising review:The difference when sitting on the sofa is amazing. Firm and they feel like new cushions.Promising review:Promising review:I use it to keep my drawer organizers from sliding around.Promising review: I live alone and I don't quite go through bread often enough before the last quarter section of the loaf starts to go stale. This dispenser solved all of my problems. Promising review:The vacuum seal really works at keeping out the air and preserving your wine so it remains as fresh as when you first opened it. Another feature is that the seal works so well that if you put your bottle back on its side in a rack or wine fridge, it will not leak.Promising review:This thing works amazingly. I don't know why, it just does — the particular texture of the bristles on this really grabs everything.Promising review:It's now back to its original color without being blotchy.Promising review: am very happy with my purchase. It's easy to keep the pieces separate from others and you don't have a large bulky box letting your crust dry out.Promising review:Promising review:I am very impressed with how this fixed my chairs that my cat scratched up. Instead of spending $100 per new chair, I took a chance with this stuff and I’m so glad I did.Promising review:All I can say is this: WOW. I opened the jar and dipped in half of a very tarnished (nearly black) bracelet for no more than a second, just to test it. When I pulled it out, I literally squealed. It was like new!Promising review:Promising review:It was SO SATISFYING to watch the big clumps come out of the dryer vent!Even the sound was satisfying.Promising review:Promising review:Promising review:Promising review:Promising review:Promising review:Promising review:Promising review:Promising review: Think of all the product in bottles you waste every year by not using something like thisIt certainly covers the cost of this item!Promising review:Promising review:This takes care of any stain so fast and efficiently, it's become a party trick. I have seriously poured red wine over a white comforter to demonstrate how great it is to a friend once.Promising review:For the price, this little thing has paid itself off and then some! I was able to fit my iPhone, two cards, and car keys in this while I blissfully floated in the ocean for hours.Promising review:Mattresses are expensive, this feels like insurance against anything that my family or pets can throw (literally and figuratively) at my bedPromising review:After a week, the guacamole is as fresh as if I made it this morning.I estimate the food I'm not wasting will actually pay for the Guac-Lock in about a month.So when I saw this pumice-esque sweater stone (it's made from upcycled car windshield glass — how cool is that?!), I decided it was worth the try.I was able to navigate around the contours of the logo on my sweatshirt with ease, removing pills using the corner or the entire flat bottom in a few quick strokes.It truly took no time at all — the sweatshirt was done in mere minutes.