Genius tools & products we honestly can’t imagine living without this year
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We’re all about making life easier, so we’re always hunting for the best problem-solving gadgets, gizmos, and products on the market. You’ll find our favourites in the guide below, and in the meantime, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for even more goodies that’ll help you work smarter, not harder — because nobody likes riding the struggle bus.
Dotti Silicone Broom & Dustpan Set
Simons | @getdotti/Instagram
We’ll be the first to admit that this duo is a smidge pricier than traditional brooms. But a few swipes of the modular broom will convince you it’s worth every penny. Its silicone bristles grab everything, including hair trapped in your carpets, flighty dust bunnies, and even gooey or wet spills. Plus, the dustpan can be held in place with your foot, saving you from stooping down every two seconds to clean up your household messes.
Dr. Scholl’s Odour Destroyers All-Day Spray Powder
Amazon Canada
Sprayed on feet, it absorbs moisture (without drying out your skin) and unpleasant odours, but reviewers say it also works wonders on smelly shoes. It comes in an easy-to-use spray, so you won’t have to struggle with messy powders — just spritz and go.
MSQ Makeup Brush Cleaning Mat
Amazon Canada
Your makeup tools are about to get cleaner than ever. The inner base of the silicone bucket features a quad of textures to coax out makeup, oil buildup, and other gunk hiding in brush bristles, with the base doubling as a drying rack and storage tray to keep your vanity nice and tidy. Reviewers say cleaning is faster (and easier) than ever while also allowing them to preserve the shape and integrity of their tools so they last longer.
Nudestix Blot & Blur Matte Primer Stick
Sephora Canada
It’s not the only product of its kind on the market, but there are a few key features that make this one a standout from the competition. First, it can be used both under or over makeup (because you never know when you’ll need to beat the shine). Second, it relies on oil-absorbing volcanic ash rather than a rolling ball that needs to be cleaned regularly to maintain its mattifying powers.
Linoroso Magnetic Kitchen Shears
Amazon Canada
Ultra-sharp — check. Easy to clean — check. These shears even come with a magnetic mount so you can keep them within reach (instead of hidden somewhere in the depths of your drawers). Reviewers with arthritis say this is their favourite pair to use, whether they’re opening packaging, snipping herbs, or portioning out roasts.
Airwheel SE3S Smart Ride-On Luggage Suitcase
@airwheel__official
This TSA-approved suitcase has a secret hidden superpower: it’s also an electric scooter. It’ll comfortably fit into overhead bins, has plenty of interior space for your vacay essentials, and can get you from gate to gate in the nick of time (great if you’re feeling zonked after an overnight flight). You can even use its USB port to power up your tech and track its location via the companion app — no more lost luggage!
Joseph Joseph Edge Dish Brush
Amazon Canada
Anyone short on kitchen space will appreciate this brush’s clever design that allows it to rest neatly on the edge of the sink. While its bristles can easily scrub away caked-on food, the head has an integrated pan scraper in case messes need a bit more elbow grease. Reviewers have used it for months without the bristles disintegrating, splitting, or getting gunked up with food.
Marwood Under Door Draft Stopper
Amazon Canada
Whether you’re blocking out drafts, bugs, or light, this stopper will help you do it. It’s filled with natural sand and cotton, meaning it won’t scratch up your floors or doors while you’re using it. Reviewers love that it’s heavy enough to stay in place (even in busy doorways) and say it even reduces noise from outdoors.
Wallet Ninja Multitool Card
Amazon Canada
Pop bottles, tighten a screw, do quick measurements, open a can, or prop up your phone — you can do all of that (and more) with this card-sized multitool. When you’re done using it, it’ll fit neatly into your wallet, and reviewers love that it can even be taken onto an airplane for on-the-go fixes.
Wooden Bagel Holder
Simons
Easily slice bagels, scones, and muffins (or other baked goods that’ll fit inside). The side has a slot you can slip your knife into to get even, uniform cuts — because no one loves a lopsided slice.
Wacaco Minipresso NS2 Portable Espresso Maker
Amazon Canada
Skip the batteries and cumbersome plugs by grabbing yourself this manual espresso press. It’s surprisingly compact, but reviewers say it makes one helluva cup of coffee. The fact that it’s easy to clean and small enough to tuck into even the most overstuffed camping bag is really just a bonus.
MacroPillow Tab Running Socks
lululemon
Blisters and chafing? Not on our watch. These chausettes offer extra cushioning and also feature clever heel tabs to protect your feet during running, so you won’t have to double-up on bandaids or nurse a bloody blister once you’ve completed your 4k.
Silicone Straw Caps
Amazon Canada
We don’t love a mystery bug inside our sippers, and if you feel similarly, we’d recommend nabbing these cute silicone straw covers. They’ll slide right over almost all straws (including your favourite Stanley) and have a pop-off top so you can take a gulp without dismantling the whole apparatus. You’ll get four in different colours so you can easily distinguish your drink from your partner’s.
Command Wire Toggle Hooks
Amazon Canada
Ideal for renters or anyone not confident with a hammer, these non-damaging hooks can be stuck onto any smooth surface. Reviewers say they’re fantastic for hanging things like Christmas stockings, wall decor, hats, and the like, and when it’s time to move things around, you’ll be glad to know they come off easily (without leaving your walls sticky).
Innisfree Bija Salicylic Spot Gel Serum
Sephora Canada
Pimple patches are great and all (we’re big fans of these here at DH), but when you’re feeling bashful about rocking them in public, there’s nothing quite like a spot gel to tackle the issue. This one goes on completely clear, while ingredients like salicylic acid and Bija seed oil help reduce inflammation, gunky buildup, and impurities so your skin can heal itself faster.
Nellie’s Dish Butter
Amazon Canada
Since it’s ultra-concentrated — each pod is equivalent to three bottles of liquid dish soap — you can use less to scrub even the filthiest dishes. Dipping your cleaning tool inside also reduces waste because who among us hasn’t squirted a smidge too much dish soap onto our sponges? And if you’re loving eco-friendly design, you’ll be glad to know its ceramic container can be reused for whatever you want once it’s empty.
PureWine Wand Filters
Amazon Canada
Sulfites? Gone. Histamines? Busted. A quick swirl of these wands in your favourite vino eliminates all the annoying things about wine, whether it’s red, white, or sparkling. All you’ll need to do is swizzle one around your glass to activate its powers (and it’s small and light enough to take with you when you travel or head out for dinner). Reviewers are especially fond of the fact that they don’t affect the taste of their sippers, either.
Kssiaz Couch Arm Tray
Amazon Canada
No matter how wide (or narrow) your furniture arms are, this nifty tray will fit neatly on top so you can keep your snacks and drinks handy during your next movie marathon. It has clever little non-slip nodes on the base for added stability and rolls up easily when you’re done with it. Unfolded, it can even double as a flat tray for tabletops, desks, and the like!
Rocksheat Pizza Stone
Amazon Canada
You don’t need a pizza oven to slake your cravings for homemade pie. This clever stone mimics the same conditions in your own kitchen, absorbing moisture from the dough and evenly distributing heat, so whatever you cook on top comes out perfectly crispy — you can even use it to bake bread, cookies, biscuits, and other tasty goodies. There are several sizes and shapes to choose from, but we love this style for its integrated handles that’ll make taking it out of the oven a lot easier.
Umbra Shoe Horn
Victoria Kuglin/Daily Hive
Made of solid cast aluminum, this baby will easily hold up to regular use with zero issues. It’s polished and ultra-smooth, so you won’t have to worry about it snagging on your socks, tights, or fancy footwear (and it even has a hanging strap for easy storage — though we wouldn’t blame you if you left it on display instead!).