Even If You’re Only, Like, 20% Handy, You Can Totally Handle These 60 Home Improvements
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
I promise, these are simple and totally doable.
1.
Disguise a hideous buzzer or interior fuse box with a trendy macramé hanging you can move when you need easy access.
Amazon
They come in three sizes so that you can find the best option for you! This reviewer says they’re cute but super sturdy, enough to withstand the outdoor conditions of their porch for several months without showing wear.Â
Get this set of two on Amazon for $14.99+Â (available in three sizes).
2.
Or hide the box behind your favorite tea towel with the help of a magnetic wood frame, and you’ll solve the same problem *and* be able to easily switch it out with the seasons, or just your mood.
Katy Cartland / Apartment Therapy
From the geniuses at Apartment Therapy.
Get a similar wood wall hanger from Hanger Frames on Etsy — a Salt Lake City, Utah based small business — for $11+ (available in 44 sizes starting at six inches, and six different finishes).Â
And there are all kinds of places to find nice tea towels: this Amazon listing has dozens of designs in packs of 3 for $24.99, and Etsy has a wide selection from a variety of sellers too.Â
3.
Give your garage doors a dose of instant character and detail with a set of carriage-style magnets that take only seconds to attach and arrange so they look just right. If you can put a magnet on your fridge, you can achieve this look!
Amazon, amazon.com
They’re made of a super durable UV- and weather-resistant plastic, so you don’t have to worry about rust at all, and according to this reviewer, the magnets are strong enough to withstand rainstorms and excessive wind.
Get them from Amazon for $11.10 (originally $15.70). And if you like the little faux windows in the left pic, you can get magnetic versions of those, too, for $15.70.
4.
Hang floor-to-ceiling blackout velvet curtains anywhere you a) just want a dramatic finish or b) do want to block out as much daylight as possible, whether your kiddo needs to nap or you just want to sleep in on Saturdays.
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Plus if you hang them ~high and wide~ — like they did in the photo here — you can instantly make any windows look bigger.Â
According to a multiple reviewers, these heavy velvet drapes also help keep whatever room they’re in more insulated, especially in the summer. A win!
Oh and if you don’t like the velvet look, Amazon of course has all kinds of curtain styles available, from boho lace to pom-pom trim to ruffly to sheer linen and so much more. Just do a search for what you want!Â
Get the pictures velvet curtains on Amazon for $32.99+ per 84″ panel (available in five lengths and 24 colors).
5. Or if you can’t be bothered with a drill and curtain rods, try NoNo Brackets — they clip right onto the blinds you already have in your window so you can hang those curtains without having to lean on a friend who actually knows how to use tools.Â
All you need is a screwdriver! You first adjust the depth of the gadget to clamp onto blinds so it’s sturdy — it works whether the top of your blinds are almost flush with the windowsill or above the windowsill entirely — then you set the curtain rod in the round section and secure it with an easy righty-tighty twist.Â
Get a set of two from Amazon for $19.95 (also available in brown).
6.
Block annoying drafts that make it just that much harder to heat and cool your home with a nearly-invisible door draft stopper. It’ll look indistinguishable from the rest of your door — unlike those long pillows that you have to manually move around — and simply sticks on with an adhesive.
amazon.com, amazon.com
It’ll also block bugs, sounds, and even smells! If you can put cute stickers on your laptop, you can stick this baby on your doors.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four colors).
7.
Update your circa-1990s appliances for less than the cost of dinner for two: simply cover them in stainless-steel-effect contact paper. One reviewer said “It legit looks like my dishwasher is stainless steel now”!
amazon.com
Several reviewers said it really helps to use a wallpaper smoothing tool — you can get one for $4.99! This does take a bit more work of measuring and smoothing, but over 3,000 other people have rated this stuff five stars. If they can do it, so can you!
Get an 15″x78″ roll from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three sizes).
8.
Mask an eyesore of a view without blocking any precious light thanks to some rainbow-y self-adhesive window film. Besides looking jaw-droppingly beautiful and applying as easily as 1-2-3, it’ll also provide a little extra privacy.
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They’re especially great for kitchens because unlike drapes or blinds, they won’t collect dust and dirt!Â
Get a 23″x78″ roll on Amazon for $8.99+ (11 roll sizes available).
9.
Consolidate the mess that is your TV’s cords in a cable raceway because there’s no reason your grown-up living room needs to remind you of your college dorm years one little bit. Paint it the same color as your walls, and watch it seemingly vanish!
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You can cut it to whatever length you need to easily, and it can fit quite a few cords with plenty of room, even if you have a bunch of components!Â
Get the kit (which has six cable covers that total 150″, self-adhesive tape, and 12 connector pieces) on Amazon for $14.17+Â (available in two lengths and two colors).
10.
Create a beautiful gallery wall with very little effort thanks to a ready-to-hang frame set. It even comes with three different full-size templates to help you put the nails in all the right places.
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You just have to add the photos! (Oh, and multiple reviewers say they’re definitely light enough to hang with Command Picture Hanging Strips, if that’s more your style.)Â
One reviewer even drilled the holes for the frames directly into the paper. (I’d use a hammer and nail, just because drills intimidate me.) How easy is that??
Get it from Amazon for $41.17+ (about $5.88 per frame).Â
11.
Slap on a coat of simple primer to brighten up a dingy brick garage over the course of a lazy Sunday afternoon.
12.
Hang a roll of faux ivy to solve several problems at once: conceal an ugly railing or wire fence, create a little extra privacy, and block a view you wish you didn’t have to see.
amazon.com
Reviewers say they’re weather-resistant enough (including to snow, freezing conditions, and heat) that you don’t have to worry about fading within the first year! Grab some green zip ties to make hanging super simple without anything looking obvious.Â
Get a 94″x39″ roll on Amazon for $39.99+Â (available in three sizes).
13.
Create a ~drop zone~ for your mail, keys, dog leashes, scarves, and other miscellaneous things by hanging this tidy wall shelf — it’ll be much nicer than unceremoniously piling all of that stuff on your countertop.
Amazon
It comes fully assembled and is designed to work well even in small spaces!
Get it on Amazon for $37.61Â (available in two colors).
14.
Upgrade your rental kitchen’s non-existent backsplash with moisture- and steam-resistant removable wallpaper that you can simply peel off when you’re about to move out.
Amazon
It’s completely self-adhesive, so you don’t have to mess with glues when you put it up. You do have to have a smooth surface painted with a satin or semi-gloss finish for it to work, though. You can also use it on furniture like bookshelves and drawers, or even stair risers!
You guessed it: just like most of the other decor in this post, if you don’t love this example, Amazon has all kinds of other pattern choices for peel-and-stick wallpaper! This particular brand gets good reviews for how thick and sturdy it feels, but other peel-and-stick brands will have their own pros and cons. Some popular highly rated ones include: NuWallpaper, Art3D, RoomMates, Tempaper, and Spoonflower.
Get a 20.5″ x 16.5′ roll from The Novogratz on Amazon for $25.76 (see all the available patterns on the The Novogratz wallpaper page).
15.
Ditch the awkward gap between your couch and the wall or eliminate the not-so-pretty mess of plugs right next to your pretty bar cart (I literally just bought this for this reason) with this ultra-thin-plug powerstrip.
amazon.com
I bought this to go behind my bar cart, and it made such a huge difference! Now my cords are disguised under the cart, I can plug more in, and the cart can sit close to the wall without bending the cords unnaturally. It’s literally as simple as it looks: you plug it in, use the included cord organizers to make that look nice and neat, then plug in your electronics. And it only took an instant!
Get it on Amazon for $23.95+ (available in 10 versions).
16.
Refresh metal fixtures with metal-look spray paint to make them look completely new in just an hour or two.
amazon.com, amazon.com
The doorknob photos don’t have a “before”, but I’d bet you $10 they were shiny brass. And the faucet has only a blurry “before”, but it was a gleaming late-’90s chrome. If you want to do your faucet, it’s probably easiest to cover everything else with newspaper and secure the paper down with painters tape, like this reviewer did!
Get it on Amazon for $9.98+ (available in 61 metallic finish colors).
17.
Paint your cabinets if you want them to feel fresh or different. Since hiring a pro’s not what you want at the moment, a cabinet paint set is one of the easier ways of making this happen, and reviewers say it can be done in one day!
amazon.com
The reason why some of the over 12,000 reviewers who rated this five stars loved it? It involves no stripping, priming, top coat or sealer, and there’s no need to remove your cabinet doors. Just spread out a drop cloth and get to painting. It comes with two cans cabinet paint, a roller arm, two roller covers, and an angled paint brush, so you’ll basically have what you need to get going! Oh, and many reviewers say following the directions is all you need to do.
It’s on Amazon for $79.95 (available in seven colors).
18.
Then overhaul that outdated Formica in your kitchen with a granite-look countertop paint kit for an inexpensive upgrade that’ll last for years — it’s the same kit they used for the counters in 16 above, too.
Amazon, amazon.com
It’s a three-step paint process that goes right over your old countertops. It has automotive-grade durability and is made of safe water-based materials. One kit covers the typical kitchen’s 35 square feet or 16 running feet of standard two-foot-wide countertop. You could also use it to paint a counter a solid color!
You’ll also need: a Brillo pad, Frog Tape, a wood patch, and sandpaper for any deep nicks or seams. Paint rollers, sponges, and brushes are included in the kit. The company also has thorough step-by-step videos on its YouTube channel for both the granite and the marble kits!
This reviewer explains that even if you’re not artistic even one bit, as long as you follow the simple directions you’ll get good results!
Get it on Amazon: The granite kit for $99.95 (available in two finishes) or the marble kit for $199.95.
19.
Or a roll of self-adhesive marble film if your handy-person skills start at stickers but stop at painting (hey, we’re all different). It’ll require some careful measuring, cutting, and laying, but look at that awesome transformation!
20.
If you don’t love the ones you have right now, swap out your cabinet and drawer pull handles. Find ones that are the same length (and use the same holes) as the ones you have already so you can simply change ’em out with a screwdriver, no drilling required.
amazon.com, amazon.com
If you’re a renter you can definitely change them back before you move. All it takes is a screwdriver and like, half an hour of work! You’ll be amazed at the difference such little effort can make.
The handles pictured above come in packs of 10, and are available in either a brushed brass (two sizes), gold champagne (one size), or oil-rubbed bronze (one size) finish. Pick up a pack for $13.10+ from Amazon, or go to the Amazon Basics store page to find more design options!
21.
And for a finishing touch, mount some stick-on, plug-in, dimmable, remote-control lights under — and maybe even on top of — your cabinets so your prep and cooking workspace has some nice extra light, not to mention a luxe look. And it should only take about an hour to set up!
amazon.com
No electrician required, thanks to those plugs. This set is designed so you can easily add or take off however many lights you need, depending on how long your counter is.Â
Use a Command Strip to put the remote control’s included bracket on the wall or side of the fridge (or wherever makes sense to you), and you can use it like a light switch to easily turn them on and off!Â
The kit is on Amazon for $49.99 (available in warm white or cool white).Â
22.
Block a utility box, trash cans, or anything else you want to make disappear but still need to access regularly with a simple privacy screen.
23. Hang up some pre-made wainscot wall panels. They take just an afternoon’s work with some glue or nails — or if you’re a renter or just non-committal, Command Strips! — and add a little architectural charm to a boring, blank wall, door, kitchen island, or hallway.
Reviewers have figured out all kinds of ways to attach these, and if you own your home, gluing or nailing them on is the way to go! But I’m a renter, and I think that Command picture-hanging strips would be a super easy way to hang them without having to worry about damage. Oh, and they come in a bunch of different sizes and dimensions, so you’ll be able to find one that works for your project.Â
Single panels start at $9.33+ on Amazon, but you can also get them in multi-packs in the same listing. Or for something a little more whimsical, try a scalloped version!Â
24.
If you’re not lucky enough to have a mudroom, this shoe cabinet is a good start — it’ll at least be better than the ever-growing pile of shoes threatening to trip you every time you walk past the back door. And it just looks like a regular old cabinet, not a weird shoe rack!
amazon.com
It has four rows for shoes; the very top shelf and the shelf second-from-the-bottom are adjustable. This reviewer says it fits men’s size 11.5 shoes with extra room, and
Get it on Amazon for $159.99.
25.
Quickly and easily pinch off those pesky little pills on your throw, pillow, chair, or any other piece of fabric with a battery-powered fabric shaver to make everything (including upholstery!) look completely new, no need to throw it out!
amazon.com
And it works on sweaters and clothes, too, of course!
Get it on Amazon for $13.99 (available in six colors).
26.
Instantly make your pillows look brand new (even if you’ve had them for longer than you can remember) with a set of four velvet pillow covers — you can try to save them with the shaver first, of course!
Amazon
Protip: If you can’t find shams with the exact same measurements as your throw pillows, go for covers an inch or two smaller for an ~overstuffed~ look.
Get the pictured pack of four from Amazon for $32.50 (available in seven sizes and nine color combos).
Of course, depending on your decor preferences, Amazon has dozens of under-$25 throw pillow sets available (faux leather, fuzzy plush, geometric patterns…) — I bet you can find something you’d love!
27.
Scrub off even the most impossible stains you never thought would come up, even with hardcore elbow grease, thanks to Barkeeper’s Friend cleanser. It’s famous for a reason: it actually works wonders on anything ceramic (from plates to sinks), stainless steel (pans, sinks again), as well as *deep breath* porcelain, copper alloys, fiberglass, Corian, brass, bronze, chrome, and aluminum.
amazon.com
Reviewers say you may have to use a little elbow grease, but combined with the formula, the effort is incredibly worth it given the results you get — and you’ll be hard pressed to get those same results any other way.Â
Get them on Amazon for $13.65Â (about $6.83 each).
28.
And easily eliminate the built-up residue on shower doors *and* the burnt-on grime on glass cooktop stoves, all thanks to the Bar Keepers Friend Cooktop Cleanser.
amazon.com
One reviewer said it worked in literally two minutes of scrubbing! Now that’s a miracle if I’ve ever heard of one!
Get two bottles on Amazon for $13.85.
29.
Or if you have no elbow grease to spare, three Drill Brushes because they’ll transform essentially any grimy surface — from cooked-on grease on a stovetop to built-up dirt in a bathtub to the accumulated years of grime on tile and grout — without requiring any hard scrubbing on your part.
amazon.com
Just make sure to use them only on surfaces you’re pretty sure they won’t scratch! You can alway test in a discreet area first to be sure. Hey, sometimes you just can’t stand to scrub and scrub — while you’re at it, might as well pick up a container of the soft cleanser above to assist you.Â
Get them on Amazon for $18.95+ (six bristle stiffness options available).
30.
Run some mold and mildew remover made from a no-odor gel over the grout and caulking in the shower, especially anywhere it’s moldy. It sticks and stays to surfaces so it can actually do its job efficiently: banishing the grossness from your bathroom.
amazon.com
You do have to let it sit for four to five hours (or even overnight), but the results, as proven by the review photos like the one here, are worth it. Yeah, sure, you could completely recaulk your bathroom — but I’ve researched it, and it’s not nearly as easy as it seems. Especially compared to simply running a line of bleach gel over anything mildew/mold-y.Â
It’s from Amazon: one bottle for $14.99 or two bottles for $26.99.
31. Swap your branded plastic soap bottles throughout your home with some nice amber soap dispensers instead — no one will know that you have the same discount soap in there, and it’ll look so much more like a spa than the plastic ones. Promising review: “These are amazing soap dispensers. The amber glass is sturdy and strong, and the pump works great. They’re easy to fill and they look so good on your bathroom or kitchen countertop. Highly recommend!” —Emily
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $14.99Â (available in three different pump colors).
32.
Pull your brass fireplace out of the 1980s with a coat or two of high-heat spray paint. Sure, you’ll have to mask off the rest of your fireplace, but that’s simple enough to do with some newspaper and some masking tape!
amazon.com
It’s $11.48 per can on Amazon, and there will be more than enough for you to give your fireplace a couple of coats and to maybe even touch up your outdoor grill. Designed to protect metal surfaces up to 1,200 degrees F (although you shouldn’t put it on surface directly exposed to flames), it dries to the touch in 30 minutes and is completely dry within two hours.Â
As always when dealing with spray paint, you’ll definitely need masking tape along with a bunch of newspaper to block off all the surfaces you *don’t* want spray paint permanently marking!!
It comes in silver and copper too, if you have an outdoor fire pit or radiator that needs updating!Â
33.
Replace the blah-looking house number next to your front door with a modern option for a quick curb-appeal boost.
GoHomeNumbers / Etsy
And it comes with all the hardware you need to hang them!Â
You can get any one of the pictured 6-inch “modern” numbers from Go Home Numbers on Etsy for $7.75+ each, or check out their Store Page to see the wide variety of colors, sizes, and styles they offer.Â
Go Home Numbers is a Florida-based small business that offers multiple font options and heights for home numbers!Â
34. And achieve your dreams of a bright, friendly (or dark, moody) entry with some specially formulated front door paint. It doesn’t require any sanding and is fast drying, so it’s a project you can do in a morning or an afternoon!Â
This review gives detailed instructions to help everything come out perfectly, and most people will also need: a drop cloth, a regular paint brush, a small roller brush, touch-up brushes, and some painter’s tape for the edges and windows. Oh, and you do have to clean your door quickly before you get started!
One reviewer says it’s a thick consistency paint that doesn’t drip or run, which makes it very easy to work with. And it comes in 15 different colors, so you’re bound to find one you love!Â
You can get it from Amazon for $38.95+.Â
35.
Conquer many of the seemingly impossible messes you encounter with a powerful no-rinse stain remover. Simply spritz it on, wait a second, then blot it up to see most stains truly vanish like magic.
amazon.com, amazon.com
It claims to work on both old and new stains (including red wine!), and on any color-safe fabric that you can safely wet with water (read: not dyed silk or wool, probs, or anything that says “dry-clean only”). One of our readers who uses it and recommends it (#33) says it doesn’t work on every stain they try, but it makes most stains — even really old ones — disappear! You simply spray the product on the stain, work it in with your fingers, then blot it up with a clean paper towel.
Get it on Amazon for $6.65.
36.
Basically give yourself a refund with a few spritzes of leather stain remover spray because even though leather’s usually relatively stain resistant, years with kids, pets, spouses, or just our own messy selves eventually take their toll.
amazon.com
This also works on Durablend, vinyl, compound, saffiano, faux leather, and other leather or leather-like surfaces. One reviewer says it may take a couple of treatments, but it’s 100% worth it when you see the results!
Get it from Amazon for $15.98.
37.
Speaking of leather, you can spend many more years reading in your favorite chair, reveling in the afternoon sun, *without* having to put up with furniture that looks like it’s on its last legs, all thanks to a simple rub-in leather recoloring balm.
amazon.com, amazon.com
You just rub it right into your leather. It can even help minimize the look of cat scratches, depending on how bad they are. Note that it’s very important to test to see if it will work with your particular leather, because it’s for absorbent leather only — you simply put a drop of water on your leather and see if it soaks in. If it does, this product works! (Here’s a video; skip to 0:42.)
There’s no reason to live with shabby, beat up leather furniture! Just polish it up with some of this stuff.
Get a jar from Amazon for $29.95 (16 colors available).
38.
Transport water- or heat- or pet-damaged furniture (or cabinets or wood floors) back to its former glory with just a coat or two of this all-in-one wood cleanser and polish.
amazon.com
It works on both finished and natural woods, including wood floors. Oner person says says, “This stuff was like a magic eraser for water spots, scratches, scuffs, and any other blemish.” Amazing!
Get a bottle on Amazon for $9.98.
FYI, if you’re facing much damage that’s a little worse than that, you might want to try their other (also well-reviewed!) product, called Restore-A-Finish, first; it does more to hide minor scratches, white heat rings, deep water marks, and stuff like that. The two products are actually made to be used together! Get that on Amazon for $9.66.
39.
Or if your damage is more minimal, fix it with a set of furniture repair markers and wax sticks — light damage will practically vanish after a few quick swipes of the right color.
amazon.com
They’re designed for smaller scratches on wood furniture, wood laminate furniture (yes, that means stuff from Ikea!) and wood or wood-like floors. The kit includes both markers and wax sticks in six colors: maple, oak, cherry, walnut, , the sharpener for the wax sticks is included, too.
Get them on Amazon for $9.99.
40.
Refresh scratched or rusted metal surfaces — like fridges, washers and dryers, metal bed frames, and bathtubs — with an enamel paint designed specifically for easy transformations.
amazon.com
Some reviewers even use it to redo their countertops or sinks, although you might want to use an acrylic sealer afterward if you decide to do that! It’s fantastic for vintage appliances too, according to one reviewer.
Get a quart from Amazon for $26.98.
41. Install some vinyl peel-and-stick tiles on a Sunday afternoon to instantly make your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room look more modern and brand-new (and to make it easier to clean than bare wall).
They’re removable, so it’s renter-friendly — yay! That involves heating it with a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive, slowly pull it off, then using something like GooGone ($15.89) to clean the residual glue. But maybe it’ll look so good your landlord will want you to keep it!
Reviewers say you’ll also need a level, sanding block and sand paper, measuring tape, ruler, screwdriver to remove outlets, and utility knife or scissors. And that you’ll want to buy a few extra over what you need in case you make mistakes! For more tips, read this review.
Get it from Amazon, for $28.09+ (available in ten colors, and in dozens more designs and colors on their store page).
42.
Check out how they can give you a “wow” moment in the bathroom too — just take a look at how glamorous this peel-and-stick tile makes a regular old sink look.
amazon.com
The tile above is made from PVC, aka lightweight plastic individual tiles placed closely together so they don’t require grout. While it’s fine to use in the bathroom, the manufacturer does not recommend using them in the shower because that would weaken the adhesive.Â
This kind isn’t removable, at least not without damaging your walls, so if you rent, check out the kind in number 1 above instead.Â
The pictured herringbone kind comes in eight different colors, and you can get packs of 10 squares of 12×12 adhesive chunks of tiles from Amazon for $44.99.
Here are a few more brands / styles of adhesive tile to check out if you want more options:Â
– Eight styles of different colors and options of geometric PVC styles that look like stone.
– Six trendy styles out of stone composites and PVC in many color options that look like concrete tiles.
– Six styles of marble-look vinyl tiles in a variety of marble colors.Â
43.
And use peel-and-stick vinyl tiles to get the look you love on your floors, too, for less money, less time, and less effort.
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The reviewer pictured above said it only took them half a day to do the entire ensuite bath!Â
These exact tiles come in packs of 10 for $14.40 on Amazon, but the brand makes 14 other colors/styles — see them all on on the Floorpops Store Page.
44.
Effortlessly cover up any small drywall repairs or pretty much any other scratches, scuffs, or stains that refuse to clean off any other way, all thanks to some paint touch-up pens you can keep in your “junk” drawer, one with every color of paint.
Amazon, Slobproof
They work like little syringes to neatly suck up the paint from the can. Because they’re completely airtight, the paint lasts for years without drying out! You’ll just want to make sure to thoroughly rinse the brush off after every time you use it, and put the cap on tightly. They *are* refillable, despite what some reviewers claim; here’s how.
Get a pack of two on Amazon for $11.74.
45.
Work wonders on basically any kind of stone (whether it’s untreated *or* sealed and polished) with this oil stain remover, because you shouldn’t have to live with the consequences of that one leaky bottle of olive oil.
amazon.com
It works on marble, granite, limestone, travertine, slate, sandstone, grout (for ceramic and porcelain tile), masonry, and concrete — and it won’t discolor the surface of the stone even one bit! Simply pour it on, wait for it to dry, and scrape it off. Easy as pie!Â
Get a can of it on Amazon for $9.69.
46.
Spritz some rust stain remover spray at anything in the bathroom coated in a thin crust of orange — a few sprays and a final wipe of this stuff will actually make your shower, sink, and tub look exactly like they did the day they were first installed.
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Note that it’s designed for rust stains that come from having hard water; it won’t do anything for, like, a rusty metal towel holder. If you’ve tried bleach, soft scrub, and other cleaning products with no results, this may be the answer — even if you have years of buildup to contend with.
Get it a pack of two bottles from Amazon for $15.50 ($7.99 each), or a single bottle for $6.98. And if you also have struggles with rust in the toilet or staining your white laundry red, try the same brand’s rust-removing powder, $13.03).
47. Grab every last bit of the hair and gunk slowing down your sink and tub drains with a drain clearer covered with thousands of micro-hooks — it’ll nab everything and pull it out, so your drains actually flow freely again.Amazon
You just insert it down your drain, twist it a few times via the handle, let the grabby micro-hooks on the tip (similar to Velcro) do their work on the stuck, clogging hair and debris. Then pull it up, and your sink will drain like it’s new! This reader tried and loved it!Â
I used it myself a few months ago, and it worked wonders: It wasn’t hair clogging my sink, but the remains of a luxury soap bar that made so much gross residue it built up over time. It was gross, yes, and I had to insert it, clean it, and re-insert it a few times, but it was sooooo worth it — and effortlessly removed all the grime until the sink drained nicely again.Â
Get one with five included refills on Amazon for $19.99.
48.
Erase the evidence of all those years of delicious baked goods, frozen pizzas, and bacon with one overnight treatment of the super strong fume-free oven cleaner.
amazon.com
Technically, the directions say you actually only have to wait for two hours to get results, but lots of reviewers let it sit overnight, and like this reviewer says, then the grime simply melts away!
Get it from Amazon for $8.98.
49.
Or if you want something a bit less harsh: opt for an oven scrub cleaner made from pumice, baking soda, sodium citrate, two kinds of plant-based cleaners, and eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon, and tea tree essential oils. It may require a tad more elbow grease, but it’ll still get the job 100% done.
Everneat / Etsy
You rub the scrub all over your oven’s interior, scrub to your hearts content with a scouring sponge, then wipe off with a microfiber cloth.Â
Everneat is a small business based in Fairfield, Connecticut, that specializes in natural cleaning products and microfiber cloths. Oh and all those essential oils basically guarantee this stuff smells *incredible*.Â
Get it from Everneat on Etsy for $19.99+ (available in three scents).Â
50. If you recently stayed at a hotel with actually nice mattresses and realized your current bed could use a bit of an upgrade, try a memory foam mattress topper. It’ll make your bed significantly more cushy, so you feel like you’re laying down on a cloud every single night. Amazon
This one’s two inches thick and has several ~zones~ that theoretically provide different levels of support. It also has over 36,000 five-star ratings, so you know people like it!! Many reviewers say they sleep better.Â
One caveat: if you’re a hot sleeper, you might want to stay away from memory foam toppers and mattresses because they retain body heat. For a bunch of alternative options, including ones that will help with a bed that’s too soft, check out the best mattress toppers and firm mattress toppers!Â
Get it from Amazon for $38.55+ (available in two colors, two thicknesses, and in sizes twin–Cal king).Â
51.
Simply drop in a small packet of foaming garbage disposal cleaner, run a little water, then let its fizz reach down into the depths of your disposer for you, ridding it of any built-up slime and grossness.
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Note that it’s best if your garbage disposal’s just generally smelly or dirty and not actually clogged — if it’s clogged, definitely call a plumber.
Get a pack of four uses on Amazon for $11.99.
52.
Cleanse your jetted tub with a bottle of specialty cleaner because over the years those pipes get coated in soap, dead skin cells, and all kinds of other gunk that you definitely don’t want keeping you company in your relaxing bath.
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And it takes just 15 minutes to see results; simply run warm water, pour in some cleaner, and start your jets, absolutely no scrubbing or elbow grease required.Â
Get it on Amazon: a bottle good for four cleans for $17.84 ($4.46/clean), two bottles for $31.49 ($3.94/clean), or a gallon good for 32 cleanings for $56.69 ($1.77/clean).
53.
Overhaul even the messiest of burners so it shines like it was painstakingly restored by a renowned art historian: this glass and ceramic cooktop cleaning kit comes complete with a heavy-duty scrubber, a razor blade, and a bottle of powerful cleaner — basically everything you need.
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You start by using the razor blade to scrape off burnt-on food; you don’t have to worry about scratching as long as you don’t use the corner or edge to make a thin line. Then comes a coating of the cleaner and polish to let dry before buffing off with a soft cloth or even a paper towel. This step’s really satisfying, I used to do it when I was in high school for my parents’ stove! Then you work at any super tough spots with the scrubber, which helps buff everything back to like-new.
Reviewers say it takes off marks that have been there for years!
Get the kit on Amazon for $16.48.
54.
Beat back even the worst hard water buildup on toilets and tubs by scrubbing with a pumice stone. Then you can enjoy having a bathroom that actually looks clean again.
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Reviewers say if the staining’s really bad, it may take you 10 or 15 minutes of elbow grease, but that’s nothing compared to ineffectually scrubbing with a toilet brush and any manner of concoction of cleaning products.
Get it on Amazon for $13.99.
55.
Quickly and painlessly remove all kinds of sticky stuff with some Goo Gone, then realize and nothing stands a chance — everything from tape residue to mysterious sticky substances, pretty much wherever you find them around your home, are about to vanish into the night.
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I bought this for my move a couple years ago: My boyfriend had hung up these posters that used big foam adhesive squares (no, they were not Command strips), and when we pulled them off the wall, they left a bunch of foam and sticky stuff behind. Goo Gone (plus a plastic scraper) came to the rescue! It took a little patience, but the stuff would never have come off without the Goo Gone. It helped break down both the foam stuff and the adhesive, which came off in little bits, leaving nothing behind. We did then wash off the paint with some dish soap and water — Goo Gone is super greasy — but by the end, you couldn’t tell anything had been there at all, and the paint was undamaged. According to this reviewer, it even works for kids stickers!
Get two bottles on Amazon for $15.97 (they also make a spray-on version for $17.98).
56.
Scrub away then suck out years’ worth of mystery stains now, with a carpet shampooer. It’ll leave your floors looking fresh, then come in handy over and over later, whenever you discover your spouse/toddler/teen/pet left you a gross surprise in the empty room…like, several weeks ago. WHY.
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It also works wonders on area rugs! And it only weighs about 13 pounds — heavier-duty carpet cleaners usually weigh around 20 — so you won’t feel completely exhausted by the time you’re done with your living room. Even a reviewer who ran dog boarding and daycare at home (so many doggies!!) ended up amazed at how much deeply imbedded debris, dirt, stains, and hair it can pick up!Â
Get it on Amazon for $99.99.
57.
Attach this dryer vent cleaning kit and brush to your drill, because lint can seriously build up in those vents and once you push the excess out, you’ll reduce your fire risk and your clothes will dry faster (which means you’ll save on energy bills).
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Like most things on this list, you could get a pro to do this, but it’s a pretty simple DIY — that’s money saved! Just make sure you get enough rods to extend all the way through your dryer vent in one direction (see below for options) to completely clear the buildup. BTW, several reviewers recommend using duct or electrical tape to secure the rods even more!
Get it from Amazon: with 15 feet of reach for $15.95 or with 26 feet of reach for $17.95.
58.
Achieve your accent wall dreams with some peel-and-stick removable wallpaper that’ll make everyone who sees it “ooh” and “ahh.” Not to mention the spark of joy (from how beautiful it is) and pride (because you did it yourself) you’ll feel when you see it every day!
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Reviewers for some of these styles also mention using a wallpaper smoothing tool to make things easier.
This is another category where Amazon has so many options:
– The cranes are $23.99+/roll (and available in six colors) from Genevieve Gorder’s line for the removable Tempaper, which has what feels like hundreds of design options on their Amazon store page.
– The white and gold geometric pattern is $5.99+/roll (and available in three sizes) from a brand called MeluMer, which has about 14 other designs on their Amazon store page.
– Spoonflower is another well-known brand of removable wallpaper brand with some pattern options on their Amazon store page; theirs is made with a linen-textured fabric instead of paper. Depending on the design and size, it’s anywhere from $12–-$66/roll.
59.
Hang those pendant lights you’ve always dreamed of, no electrician required: Just pick up a couple of conversion kits for your builder-grade can lights.
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One reviewer said they watched this video on YouTube, read the directions, and were able to make it happen without any help, even though they’re not an expert DIYer!
Get the kits from Amazon for $19.90 each, and pendant lights similar to the ones pictured for $29.99.
60.
Facing a patio or balcony that’s *not* so much your aesthetic jam? Cover it up with interlocking teak tiles — they (thankfully!) don’t require tools at all and are pretty simple to put together.
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And if you rent, you can take the tiles apart to take with you when you move! Coat them in polyurethane before you set them down: it’ll make their wood and shine las t longer. Or, you can help restore them after fading, rub them down with teak oilor polyurethane.
Get 10 sq. ft from Amazon for $81.99.
