45 of the Best Upgrades Our Families Have Made

Because I have young kids, I'm thinking more about the harmful everyday chemicals we encounter, especially when it comes to ingesting them. This natural toothpaste is something you can feel good about using - it's 100% natural and free from sulfates, paraben, fluoride, and artificial flavors and colors. Also, if you lean bougie like I do, you'll be tickled by the fancy mint and green tea flavor with a hint of cardamom! -Amanda R.

My coworker is obsessed with these pillows: "For less than $40 I got two pillows in a strangely small box. About 15 minutes after unpacking them, they lofted into the fullest, squishiest pillows I've owned. They're the perfect mix of invitingly soft, yet perfectly supportive. Easily the best pillows in our house, and a ridiculous value for the price."

Not only are these puffball towels adorable and squishy, but they're also ridiculously absorbent. We tried a pair as a replacement for boring old bathroom hand towels, and they're a hit all around. Unfortunately, they go missing fairly often, as our daughter is regularly "rescuing" them and keeping them as pets.

These washing machine tablets are the perfect trifecta of cleaning products - they are inexpensive, they're easy to use, and they work! My front-loading washing machine started getting stinky within weeks of using it, and I tried half a dozen products to fix the problem. Nothing worked, even the expensive big-name label stuff. But this! This works! It's like magic. AND you get a whole year's worth of tablets in the box. I cannot stress enough how much I love these.

Does Tubshroom work like magic to catch every stray hair you lose during showers? Resounding yes. Is it gross? Also yes. BUT! It's incredibly easy to clean, just grab a wet wipe or paper towel and pull off the clump of hair that's conveniently wrapped around the base of the drain strainer. If your kids use way too much conditioner like mine, it's also super quick to de-gunk with a swish in hot, soapy water.

I saw a lot of great reviews online when searching for new bedsheets. Not only were these Danjor linens sheets highly rated, but they also had a ton of positive reviews and were at a great price that I could justify buying. I'm super happy with them and will probably be buying another pair. They are soft and comfortable, and don't pill after a couple of washes like other sheets I've owned before.

Love this serum! My dermatologist recommended that I start using Vitamin C as part of a daily anti-aging regimen and to even my skin tone. I had been using a popular drugstore brand for a couple of months, and it left my skin a bit oily. This TruSkin serum has a thicker consistency, and does not have the yellowish color that I have found in other brands. My skin looks brighter after applying it, and it pairs well with a good SPF moisturizer. Would definitely recommend over some other products I have tried for 2-3 times the price. -Andrea R.

These inexpensive sheets of detergent were a pretty transformative discovery in our household, replacing expensive pods and huge messy bottles of detergent. They take up less space than a box of dryer sheets, but hold enough detergent to wash 80 loads for under $15 (by my math, that's less than $0.20 per load). We opt for their fresh scent (a light, lemony smell), but they also offer unscented.

I'm a big fan of Milk_Shake products, and this leave-in conditioner is at the top of my list. I have thick, porous hair that is quickly turning grey/white, and it's on the dry side naturally. Add in heat-styling, and the fly-aways are getting ridiculous. Just a little dab of this product and my hair behaves beautifully. The split ends are less noticeable and my hair is super soft. Added bonus: the scent is like walking into a bakery, but it's not overpowering. - Carrie G.

I’m perpetually barefoot, and my heels get painful deep cracks in the winter. I’ve spent tons of money on remedies, from super-expensive creams to bi-weekly pedicures. But it wasn’t until I started using this $16 foot cream that my heel cracks healed. The lotion isn’t greasy, smells nice, is affordable, and actually works. My feet and wallet both think it’s a miracle. -Karen F.

If you haven't upgraded to the Scrub Daddy, now is the time. Under cold water, it stays firm - perfect for stubborn scrubbing. Under hot water, it softens up for everyday cleaning. Best of all, it's NEVER stinky, and lasts for months. -Chris S.

I'm a die-hard note taker, and I like to color code my weekly schedule for convenience. These colorful journaling pens are the best I've found - they write smoother than butter, have minimal bleed through so I can use both sides of my notepaper, and the color payoff is fantastic. You'll get a set of 8 for journaling, writing in your calendar, taking notes, coloring, or drawing! -Amanda R.

I own a German Shepherd and have purchased more than one pet hair removal device in the past couple of years, but the Chom Chom roller is one of the few that actually works! It reminds me of a lint roller in the sense that I can roll away fuzz and pet hair off of my couch, clothing, rug, etc. quickly. It helps make clean-up a lot easier with a pet and makes vacuuming less of a chore. Plus, I don't have to clean or replace it — I just toss the hair out of the small compartment when I'm done.

It packs away well and has two heads, so it's good for several uses or a few trips. I like the round shape for packing, and I love the lathering bar, which makes packing shaving cream completely unnecessary. It even rotates, making it super easy to move between lather bar and razor. I also love that it's refillable, so it's not a few uses and then toss it in a landfill. -Karen F.

I saw a mommy influencer showing off this kid's travel tray on Instagram a few months ago and immediately bought one. My son loves to use the built-in whiteboard to draw while we drive, and the no-drop tablet holder keeps his Fire tablet secure no matter how bumpy our drive gets. It even folds up to become perfectly portable.

These are GREAT for wrapping and storing my long extension cords. My garage looks so much tidier now! (Admittedly, I did have a small pile of various sizes of extension cords in my garage before taking the time to wrap and hang them properly with these Wrap-It Straps.) The velcro on the straps sticks very well and keeps the cords wrapped up tight. These would work well for other types of storage purposes such as holiday light storage, and really anything that needs to be kept tangle-free. I'm really pleased with them! -Andrea R.

Who hasn’t turned into a cartoon character when trying to grab a bar of soap in the shower? Your slippery, sudsy problem will be no-more when you try The Handy shower sponge. Just slip the strap over your palm, scrub or pour some soap into the sponge, and scrub away! With The Handy, you can get into those tight nooks and crannies and accomplish a thorough clean without ever having to play fetch with your soap again.

I was excited to get my hands on Lilyana Naturals Eye Cream because my wedding is coming up in five weeks! My goal is to minimize the dark circles underneath my eyes as much as possible before the day gets here. This cream has already started showing me positive under eye results after a handful of uses. The firming properties of this cream in particular set it apart. The skin under my eyes feels firmer after I use it. I apply a couple of small dabs under my eyes before bed and when I wake up, those areas look and feel a bit tighter. It also smells fabulous, like fresh herbal sweetness. -Stephanie H.

The blending sponge was just firm enough — but not too firm. The brow/liner brush helped shape and color my eyebrows perfectly. The size of the powder brush was nice, not too big but not too small — with the perfect angle. I don't wear eye shadow often, but the shadow brush is soft and worked well. What I loved about this tool is the 4-in-1. I am all about minimalist packing, and this gives me everything I need in one place. - Amy B.

I can’t think of the last $20 purchase that was this massive of an upgrade. This Gurin rainfall shower head replaced our dated, 1980s WaterPik massaging shower head, and has transformed our shower experience. It outputs a LOT of water, with great pressure and wide distribution. Rinsing shampoo out of my hair takes mere seconds, so I can spend more time letting the hard torrents of water massage my back. Fair warning – it has caused a few disagreements about who gets to shower first, and for just how long. It’s that good. -Chris S.

My backseat looks like an apocalypse brought to you by Goldfish crackers and water bottles - thanks, kids! But at least they have a place to put all their trash now instead of shoving it under the seats or in the door pockets. This car trash can holds a huge pile of garbage like I'd say road trip amounts. The best part is the removable, waterproof, washable liner which makes emptying the trash so easy but is also a lifesaver in case any kiddos get car sick. Thoughtful features like the large front zipper pocket, two mesh side pockets, and adjustable hanging strap make it easy to love!

I believe I've convinced nearly everybody I know to buy a pair of these nail clippers. They're constructed of heavy-duty stainless steel, with ultra-sharp cutting blades that give a perfectly crisp, clean cut - which was a revelation after getting by with dollar-store clippers for most of my life. An absolute steal at around $10 for the pair. - Chris S.

About two years ago we tried out some Turkish towels from Amazon, and we haven't looked back. They're incredibly soft, more absorbent, and dry faster than normal terrycloth towels – but perhaps more importantly, they look SO much better – and you've got your choice of three different patterns and dozens of colors for around $10 a pair. It's a can't-lose upgrade we swear by!

The gentleness of this cleanser is what made it stand out for me - it removes all traces of makeup and leaves my skin nice and soft - not too tight, or dried out. It's not a super foamy cleanser, but its silky consistency feels more like it adds things to my skin rather than taking things away from it. -Sydney S.

I don’t wake up looking like I did when I was 20. As I’ve aged, I notice AM eye puffiness and bags. Then I started using these cult-favorite eye patches first thing in the morning. I love them! I have super sensitive skin, but these are gentle and don’t cause irritation. Bye-bye bags. Hello, bright eyes. -Karen F.

I have never felt particularly embarrassed by the color of my smile, however as I get older I notice that it has definitely yellowed over the years slowly right under my nose. Despite my diligent routine, drinking a lot of coffee and red wine has taken a toll on my smile. By simply adding this booster gel into my existing routine with no other changes or time commitments, my smile totally transformed. It works so well, with absolutely no sensitivity at all, that I sent it to my friends to buy because I was truly amazed at the result, especially for the price and ease of use. These before and after photos are taken two weeks apart in the same location with the same lighting at the same time of day. -Laura W.

There's no piece of cookware I hate cleaning more than a colander, and that's why I love this clip-on Pasta Pal. This inexpensive strainer clips to your pots and saucepans, allowing you to quickly drain pasta water or cooking fat without adding additional dishware to your dirty dish pile. It's constructed of high-grade, dishwasher-safe silicone, and works with almost any size of cookware. -Chris S.

My son (24 years old) requested this for his bathroom and he's absolutely thrilled. It was super easy to install, and really simple to change out the colors of the light itself. The motion sensorwas the real selling point - for middle-of-the-night bathroom trips, this is even better than a nightlight. The light comes on as you approach the bathroom and it's just enough light to be able to see clearly as you do your business without being overwhelming. I wasn't sure if he would actually use it (or get real value out of it), but he does! -Carrie G.

These abrasive washcloths/scrubbers are seriously effective way to exfoliate every last bit of dead, dried skin on your body. Just shower normally, then use these with some soap and you'll start seeing hundreds of little skin-rolls amassing on yourself. It's actually a little bit gross, but still quite satisfying. Rinse 'em off and you're left with perfectly exfoliated, soft-as-a-baby skin. -Chris S

I found these earbuds in an article on our own site, and at around $20, had to give them a shot. I haven't used my $150 Airpods since. They're light, comfortable, seal your ear to block out noise, have insanely good battery life and (my favorite), you can adjust the volume via their touch controls. You can't do that on Airpods! The only downside is that the case isn't quite as satisfying to play with as the Airpods is, but at $20, it's a sacrifice I'd make again and again.

I'm lucky enough to have an aunt who always finds the cleverest stocking stuffers, and these Wrap-Its were one of them! They're a simple yet brilliant solution to easy storage of extension cords, hoses, power cords, and more. I'm particularly fond of them as they're the invention of a Minnesota dad, and the company is entirely family-run. Check them out! -Chris S.

I'm pretty much an athleisure connoisseur at this point since it's all I wear, and I'd rate these best-selling leggings a perfect 10. The flattering high waist smooths and holds you in, and the "peach skin" fabric is beyond comfortable. With over 70,000 glowing reviews and 25 colors to choose from, you know these are going to quickly become your fave leggings. -Amanda R.

This is an unbelievable price (under $10!) for a pair of satin pillowcases that are such a joy to sleep on. I have some for my daughters with fine, curly hair and they wake up with so many fewer tangles now! I also love sleeping on one since I don't wake up with pillow lines on my face that take hours to disappear. Best of all, they're available in over 40 different colors!

I wanted a really bright flashlight for my first camping trip in the White Mountains, and this flashlight did not disappoint! I brought a few others that I had lying around the house, and this one was easily the best one we had. It is extremely bright, and the diameter of the actual light beam made it my go-to for walking to the tents, bathrooms, etc. The neighbors at our campsite even asked us where we got it because it worked so well. -Andrea R.

This is a major upgrade from things like big plastic bins, or whatever other makeshift organization system I've tried for so many reasons. I love that it clips into place, so it doesn't slide around and that it is adjustable in size depending on what you need, which is important so it doesn't become a burden in your trunk. However, truly the best part is the amount of different size compartments, so instead of containing your mess into something like one big bin, everything has a home and you can actually get to things you need while also bringing things like groceries home. -Laura W.

The bins are great for organizing and saving space, making all my kid lunch-prep foods so much more easy to access! We're also in love with the bin that holds the canned beverages, as we drink a lot of seltzer water and they were taking up almost an entire shelf before I got these. The condiment bin proves incredibly useful for storing dressings and marinades. The organization these bins provide will help reduce food waste since I no longer need to stack and cram food amongst the shelves, where it can sometimes get forgotten about in the back of the refrigerator. -Andrea R.

Anyone that loves dogs knows that you carry their love with you wherever you go, especially if you carry them in your car. This car cover, though? Magical! It keeps the fur out of my seats, is easy to vacuum, and can even be thrown in the washer.

I was skeptical at first, but this wand worked SO well! It’s quite sleek looking and comes with a silicone mat to keep the hot took off your counters (and keeps it from slipping) as well as a glove, which I didn’t find that I needed. I have very thick hair that is shoulder length with fine to medium texture. My natural hair is wavy to curly but was brushed out and air dried when I used the brush. All in all, this was way easier than using a flat iron. It took me less than 10 minutes to do my hair and because of the brush feature I didn’t need to section my hair, so it was super easy! -Morgan R.

I love this milk frother for making barista-level drinks in the comfort of my home but it has another purpose, too! I use it to make warm, foamy milk for my kids and they think it's the most amazing thing. They get a calcium boost and I get to have fun whipping up drinks - everyone wins! -Amanda R.

If you've got kids, you know what an unholy mess they can make with toothpaste. My bathroom counter's never been cleaner since using these self-closing toothpaste caps! No one has to remember to put the cap on, and these dispense the perfect amount of toothpaste so there's less waste and mess!

My skin falls on the drier side, but I'm always fascinated by how much oil these blotting sheets soak up. These natural green tea ones are my fave for a few reasons: they're not those microscopic scraps that you have to use five of to cover your face - these are generously oversized, they're makeup-friendly and leave a gorgeous matte finish, and they're a allergy-free guaranteed material. Over 6,000 rave reviews back up my claims!

In the last year or so, my husband has started a fairly disruptive snoring habit. My disposable earplugs work OK, but were constantly falling out, and made it uncomfortable to sleep on my side. I tried a pair of these Loops and love them. They come packaged like a pair of high-end headphones, including a variety of different sized tips for the perfect fit. Best of all, they sit flush in my ears, so I can sleep on my side comfortably. -Justina S.

These smell fairly strong out of the box, but once they get wet and start dissolving, the scent is just enough to make the shower smell like a spa, and not overwhelming. They last a long time as long as you don't put them directly under the water, and I'm happy to report that my bathroom smelled amazing for a while after showering as well - not overwhelming, just nice. I will save the peppermint and the spearmint/eucalyptus scents for when my sinuses are acting up - I imagine they will be perfect for that. I would gift these with confidence to just about everyone on my list, and will likely purchase another box for myself. -Carrie G.

I recently moved and left my old garden hose behind, so I was happy to get my hands on the incredibly expandable Flexi Hose. This hose has a perfect combination of practical features and a user-friendly design that sets it apart. The best part is that the lightweight construction makes it super easy to handle, and its expandable nature means I can cover a large area without any struggle. If anyone is looking for a reliable, user-friendly, and budget-friendly garden hose, I would enthusiastically recommend this hose. -Tricia G.

I bought my air purifier after weeks of waking up with a stuffy nose in the middle of the night and feeling as if I was not fully rested. I loved it so much that I bought two more! This one reduces odors, pet dander, and airborne viruses, all while keeping quiet. That's the best part! There is no strange fan noise that will keep you up at night. You can place it in your bedroom or common areas to cycle out the air up to 600 square feet every hour. -Amanda R.

Both my girls have thin, fine hair that's also curly, which creates mega tangles. They usually hate having their hair combed after washing it, but I've found a detangling brush that stops the meltdowns in their tracks. This brush effortlessly glides through hair like butter - with over 50,000 rave reviews, you don't just have to take my word for it!