37 Small Inventions That Make Life Easier

Life is hard enough as it is. It's full of inconveniences and annoyances, both big and small, and a fair share of trials and tribulations. When you are able to alleviate even a few of the small pesky irritations, you suddenly have more time and energy to tackle some of the bigger, more important life stuff. When you find small ways to make your life easier, it's a win!

A little innovation can go a long way towards making your life easier. A few well conceived, clever gadgets can make all the little every day things you do a bit more convenient. And those little boosts in convenience add up. Before you know it, your daily tasks and chores are sort of fun!

We hope you find these products as awesome as we do. Just an FYI: We are a participant in the Amazon affiliate program, and may receive a share of sales from links on this page. Prices on Amazon fluctuate so anything mentioned below might change as soon we publish it!

A virtual shopping trip can't make your entire life easier, but it definitely can help! At the very least, shopping is a fun distraction from your other problems. To that end, here are 37 little things that can make your life easier.

We hope you find these handy products as awesome as we do. Just an FYI: We participate in affiliate programs and may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Take the Elbow Grease Out of Tough Cleaning Jobs With a Drill Brush

via: Amazon

Scrubbing is hard work. Wouldn't it be nice if it wasn't? The Drill Brush is actually a set of three different nylon brushes that attach to your power drill to make tough jobs easy jobs. You get to harness your drill's power to scrub away at your shower, grout, or sinks. All you have to do is hold on and enjoy the sight of gleaming surfaces. Keep in mind, the drill is not included.

Keep Your Cash Right in Your Water Bottle With the Kangaroo Autoseal Water Bottle

via: Amazon

Unfortunately, my husband might divorce me if I buy one more water bottle. But look at this thing! It's genius and better than all the others. Not only do you get a top notch, leak proof Autoseal sports bottle, but with the Kangaroo Autoseal Water Bottle you also have a handy place for your cash and cards. The number of times this would come in handy in my life is ridiculous. Until women's clothes have real pockets, we all need this water bottle.

Forget Trying to Remember Combinations With This Fingerprint Padlock

via: Amazon

How many padlocks do you have lying around in the backs of drawers, the combinations long forgotten or keys long lost? You know what you can't forget or misplace? Your fingerprint. This ingenious Fingerprint Padlock can store up to 10 fingerprints so everyone in your family can get into the locker at the pool. The lock is rechargeable but the battery will last through 2500 lockings. Smartest lock ever.

These Odorless, Non-Toxic Lighter Cubes Make Starting a Fire a Cinch

via: Amazon

It's not always easy to start a fire. Sometimes the wood is damp, there isn't enough kindling, or any number of other hindrances between you and the perfect fire. These Lighter Cubes ensure that you can start a fire in no time, no matter your conditions. Use them for your charcoal grill, your fireplace, campfire, or debris fire and all the work of building a fire is done for you. They ignite when wet, stay lit when windy, and burn for several minutes giving your wood plenty of time to catch.

Easy Off Makes Oven Cleaning (Almost) A Breeze

via: Amazon/DANIEL MATHEWS

I love a product that literally does all the work for you. Easy Off oven cleaner is perhaps the best example of this. Instead of struggling against the baked on mess in your oven, spray on Easy Off and let it sit for a few hours. A quick wipe will leave your oven shining. Selected Review:
Why am I 29 just discovering this product!?! I soaked all night to ensure the complete chemical process to occur to yield such easy goo to remove! - DANIEL MATHEWS

Rinse & Chop Plus Cutting Board is Two Kitchen Tools in One

via: Amazon

First of all, you gotta love a folding cutting board. It makes getting all the veggies into the pan fast and easy. But the Rinse & Chop Plus Cutting Board takes this kind of convenience one step further. One end folds up and becomes a strainer! So you can chop, rinse, and then dump all with one handy board! Plus it has non-slip edges so your board won't slide all over the counter while you chop your fruits and veggies.

Save the Spoon With a Self Stirring Mug

via: Amazon

With a push of a button your coffee, tea, or cocoa whirls into a mesmerizing hot beverage whirlpool right in your Self Stirring Mug. Perfect for the office where the common spoons are questionably clean. Selected Review:
Great Cup. I was surprised how strong the blades were for stirring. Mixes cocoa or flavored coffees really well. Had to get one for daughter, she wanted mine. - Terri

This Hands Free Page Holder is the Perfect Gift For Any Bookworm

via: Amazon

Is anything better than sitting alone in a cafe, restaurant, or anywhere really, reading a book? But if you're in a restaurant, once your meal comes you have to choose to use your hands for eating or for holding your book. As someone whose two favorite things are eating and reading, this is a frustrating choice. This Hands Free Page Holder completely solves that problem. The weighted page holder keeps your book open flat so you can use your hands for other things. It's also super handy on a windy day.

Ditch the Measuring Tape For This Laser Measure

via: Amazon

Any time you can add a laser into your life is a win in my book. Not only does this Laser Measure make measuring distances a piece of cake, but it also calculates volume and area for you. Selected Review:
Saves tons of time and aggravation with a measuring tape. And it even does math! One of the more useful features is the add/subtract button. It lets you take two measurements and subtract one from the other or add the two together. Very helpful in commercial construction. I am a journeyman electrician and I use this tool all day long in my trade. I recommend it to all electricians. Very helpful for running conduit and many other things. - Chad R. Lechert

This Bag Holder Handle Makes the Annoying Task of Carrying a Ton of Shopping Bags Much Easier

via: Amazon

I don't know about you, but I would rather break my arms than have to go back to the car for a second trip. I'm sure I'm not alone in this, right? I can't be because someone invented this Bag Holder Handle. This clever handle can hold several bags, making it easy to carry all the shopping in one trip. With the carabiner style of these, you can also use them to clip your bags to your stroller or bike handle.

These Time Locking Containers are Stronger Than Your Willpower

via: Amazon

Whether you use them to keep yourself out of the cookies or to keep your kid's phone locked up so he can think about what he did, these Time Locking Containers are genius. The lock can be set for any amount of time from minutes up to 10 days. Selected Review:
I have no willpower, for anything. If there is something good in front of me I will consume it, whether that's food or entertainment. Now, I throw things in the KitchenSafe and lock it. Can't do anything about it once it's locked. I imagine people with kids will find a lot of good uses for it. - Kamran Ali

You Can Give Yourself and All Your Friends Professional Looking Haircuts With This Hair Cutting Tool

via: Amazon

With a ton of YouTube tutorials out there, anyone can learn to use the CreaClip Hair Cutting Tool for terrific at home haircuts. Selected Review:
Curly or Straight Hair, this Works...and is Literally Foolproof. My daughter has straight hair and is a poor college student. So I bought this for her so we could cut her hair...She was AMAZED! And, I might add, I rocked the creaclip and gave her a dynamite, multi-layered hair cut. This clip even made me look like I knew what I was doing. - N. C. Schmidt

GoGoHeel STOPPERS Make it Easy to Walk in Heels on Grass

via: Amazon

These things are a game changer! I will never forget the time I was a bridesmaid and my calves fatigued from standing up on my tip toes on the grass. Out of other options, I decided to jam my heels all the way down into the ground and be done with it; so, in front of a crowd, I suddenly shrunk 2.5 inches. I got some strange looks from the bridesmaid next to me. Then I had to unplant myself when it was time to head back down the aisle. Had I had a set of GoGoHeel STOPPERS I could have saved my dignity and my shoes. These clear stoppers slip over your shoe's heel and provide a wide, stable standing surface, making grass, gravel, and cobblestones high heel friendly.

Monkey Hooks are the Easiest Way to Hang Anything Anywhere

via: Amazon

You don't even need a hammer to hang things with Monkey Hooks. Selected Review:
Clearly someone much smarter than me used principles of physics and had lunch with Houdini and this was the result of that meeting. I hung 40, yes 40 pound wood carvings on the wall- the original drywall I should mention of a 1970s house and 8 months later they're still standing beautiful as ever. This product is easy to use and if I can hang those suckers all by myself- you can too! - Brittany Minnesota

Ditch the Strips and Trays For Super Easy Teeth Whitening Gel Pens

via: Amazon/Paige H

We all could use a little smile brightening every now and then, but it's sort of a pain, right? Not anymore thanks to these extremely convenient and effective Teeth Whitening Gel Pens. Selected Review:
I have tried a few products and have given up on them almost immediately but this product is different. It has only been about a week and I am seeing an immediate difference.I have taken progress pictures of my teeth and there is a noticeable change...I love this product it is so easy to use and quick for mornings to put it on and go. I would definitely buy it again. - Paige H

Laundry Detergent Sheets are the Perfect Choice for Travel

via: Amazon

A product that makes doing laundry easier? Yes please! These Laundry Detergent Sheets are perfect if you need to haul your laundry to a common laundry room or laundromat. Wouldn't it be great to ditch that big, heavy bottle of detergent? These sheets are 100% water soluble, even in cold water, and are ideal for travel too. Extra bonus: your kids can help with the laundry with no mess!

Avoid Excess Baggage Fees With This Digital Hanging Luggage Scale

via: Amazon

A quick check with this Digital Hanging Luggage Scale and you'll know long before you hit the airport if your bags are overweight. Selected Review:
This is a must for anyone who flies today and does not want to worry about getting to the airport only to find out their luggage is overweight. I take this with us everywhere we travel and always weigh our luggage before leaving for the airport so we have so surprises. It is lightweight and easy to put in our carry-on luggage. I also have found it very accurate (probably within a few ounces of the weight the airline has on their scales. - kc

Making Perfect Eggs Every Time is a Cinch With the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker

via: Amazon

I don't know about you, but perfect eggs are my favorite kind. Whether you're into hard or soft boiled, poached, scrambles, or omelets, the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker can do it all. And it's super cute. I know that "cute" isn't the most important characteristic to consider when choosing kitchen appliances, so it's lucky that this thing has so much more than just good looks.

Get Crispy Bacon in Minutes With This Microwave Bacon Cooker

via: Amazon

Selected Review:
Makes perfect microwave bacon everytime! This bacon cooker is perfect. It makes bacon exactly the way we like it...It is easy to assemble and as an added bonus it was invented and designed by an 8 year old girl. She and her dad have done an excellent job inventing this. We love it. We highly recommend it. - Kevin and Mari Cornish

Keep Your Tea or Coffee Hot With This Coffee Mug Warmer

via: Amazon

Nothing is more disappointing than a sip of cold coffee that is supposed to be hot coffee. If you spend your mornings constantly re-microwaving your cup of coffee, consider getting this Coffee Mug Warmer. Set it at your desk and each time you put your mug down it gets warmed right back up to perfect temperature, so your last sip is as good as your first.

Chill Your Wine Fast With These Wine Chill Drops

via: Amazon

It's OK if you don't have an already chilled bottle of white wine on hand, so long as you have these Wine Chill Drops. Store them in your freezer, and you'll always be ready to bring your glass of wine to the right temperature. Selected Review:
Chill your wine fast, without the embarrassment of being one of those people who puts ice in your wine. Pop these in the freezer so you can chill your glass of wine fast. Perfect. Great gift. - Addicted to words

This Microwave Pasta Cooker is a Fan Favorite With Over 2,500 Reviews

via: Amazon

This Microwave Pasta Cooker makes believers out of skeptics. Selected Review:
Pasta has always been a simple, go to, dinner for me. Tending to the boiling pot of pasta was just part of the process...This simple little microwave pasta cooker has simplified cooking so much more than I could have imagined. Seems silly, but it’s kinda like a little miracle. No more toting a heavy pot to the stove. No more pouring pasta & boiling water into a colander...You’ll never regret buying this. - Winkie

This Mold & Mildew Remover Gel Cleans Your Grout so You Don't Have to

via: Amazon

Unsightly mold and mildew, especially on tile grout, is a major headache. And scrubbing it away with toxic chemicals and a ton of elbow grease is an even bigger headache! How about a product that just does the job for you? No, it's not a maid, just this awesome Mold & Mildew Remover Gel. Apply the gel to your stained areas, leave it for a few hours or overnight, and like magic it's all clean!

Keep Track of What You Need as You Run Out of it With This Notepad

via: Amazon

The market is designed to keep you in there for as long as possible, walking around in aimless circles, and buying a bunch of things you don't need. It's hard to stay focused. The All Out of Notepad helps keep you on task and make sure you don't forget anything important. It's always the once-in-awhiles that we tend to forget - the soy sauce and tarragon and apple cider vinegar. With this handy pad, you mark things down as you run out of them, so when you're in the store next you're sure to remember.

Keep a Anker PowerCore Fusion Portable Charger With You and Never Have a Flat Battery Again

via: Amazon

If you don't already have a portable phone charger, it's really time to get one. There is no reason anyone should have a dead phone battery these days. The Anker PowerCore Fusion Portable Charger is a step ahead of the pack. This 2-in-1 charger is a portable battery, capable of 3 full phone charges on the go, and a dual-port wall charger. So you can charge your devices anywhere, anytime.

Mistakes Disappear With One Swipe of This Makeup Remover Stick

via: Amazon

Selected Review:
This stick really does remove a makeup mistake quickly and easily and it does it without leaving an oily mess behind...Before I had this I used cotton swabs and a little makeup remover to fix the mistakes. That usually just makes things worse...and you’re almost better off starting over than trying to put makeup on top of where you took it off. With this, swipe it and it’s gone! That easy! - LMJ

This Eyeliner Stamp Helps You Look Great Even if You're a Makeup Novice

via: Amazon

You know you can pull off fabulous makeup trends, like the classic and universally flattering winged eyeliner look, but, just because you can pull it off, doesn't mean that you know how to actually achieve the look. It takes precision and knowhow, or a live in makeup artist. Luckily, some genius invented this Eyeliner Stamp which completely takes the need for knowhow out of the equation. You literally just stamp it on. Even I can do that!

This Simple Garage Parking Aid Will Make Garage Parking a Whole Lot Easier

via: Amazon

Find out why 90% of reviewers give this Garage Parking Aid a five star review. If you have a tight garage situation, this little yellow ball is going to make it all alright. And it's easier to install and maintain than lasers or other parking systems. Selected Review:
Works great, great price, makes you smile. Easy to install...With this ball solution, you can see the ball as you enter the garage and can steer yourself appropriately. - ATX

Switch Out Your Switch Plate For This Outlet Shelf and Create More Counter Space Out of Thin Air

via: Amazon

These days we all have a million and one gadgets and devices that need to be plugged in and need a place to live. Once you see an Outlet Shelf you begin to wonder why no one thought of this before. This shelf is perfectly sized for a small speaker, baby monitor, or smart home device like an Echo. Save your counter space for other things.

Take the Guesswork Out of the Dishwasher With This Magnetic Clean Dirty Sign

via: Amazon

Ever start loading dirty dishes into your mostly full dishwasher only to realize that the dishwasher was clean? Now what? Do you trust yourself to remove all the dirty ones? Are the clean ones now dirty from proximity? Or, worse, you are part way through unloading your dishwasher when you realize that it was dirty. Now your cupboards and drawers are partly full of dirty dishes! This Magnetic Clean Dirty Sign will help you never make either of those annoying mistakes again.

The Vegetable Chopper Pro Will Save You Tons of Time in the Kitchen

via: Amazon

Ever notice how you never hear people say, "I love chopping onions!" or, "My favorite part of cooking is all the chopping and prep work." That's because those things are terrible and why the Vegetable Chopper Pro is so great. Selected Review:
I used this for the first time today to chop onions and sweet potatoes to pair with my crockpot roast...I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use. And at how well it cut the sweet potatoes because those are a pretty tough veggie to chop! It was a huge time saver!! - Kristy

This Mess-Free Butter Spreader Makes Greasing Pans Easy and Keeps Your Hands Clean

via: Amazon

You can use these Mess-Free Butter Spreaders to butter toast, corn, anything! Selected Review: Worked like a charm! Great little product. Needed these for a "lobster night" with friends and wanted a better way to spread butter on corn-on-the-cob. These worked great. it was nice that they came in a two-pack. We especially liked the "push end" to keep your fingers off the butter...Definitely recommend this product. - PH

Why Didn't Someone Invent This Clip On Silicone Colander Sooner?

via: Amazon

Instead of inadvertently dumping all of your pasta all over the sink and counter in a face-searing plume of steam, simply pop this Clip On Silicone Colander onto your cooking pot and pour. Brilliant! The universal design fits nearly any round pot, pan, or bowl, and the clip on colander is a fraction of the size of a traditional colander so it saves you a ton of room in your cupboard.

Fit All Your Plugs With This Pivot-Plug Surge Protector

via: Amazon

This clever Pivot-Plug Surge Protector allows room for all your larger block plugs thanks to the rotating outlets. And it's hard to beat its 4320 joule energy rating. Selected Review:
I bought this surge protector in September 2012. It is the only surge protector (out of four) that did not get fried during the power surges/outage from the big storm in March 2018...I not only lost those other surge protectors but some of the gadgets plugged into them, including a 40" Samsung LCD TV. - D-Walker

Turn Your Regular Lamp Into a Super Lamp With This Light Socket USB Charging Station

via: Amazon

A person can never have enough places to plug in devices. But we're limited by the number of outlets available. Right? Well, that was right until some genius invented this Light Socket USB Charging Station. It's an adapter that you screw into your lamp - where you would screw in the lightbulb. Then, you screw the lightbulb into the adapter. Voila! You've added two USB outlets to your lamp!

This Stretchy Silicone Dishwasher Net Adapts to Any Shape

via: Amazon

This clever little Dishwasher Net helps you contain all those light plastic pieces. Selected Review:
I never knew such a thing existed and yet now I'm not sure how I lived without it. I have 2 children and this is pretty much the most amazing product I use (its the little things, right?). No more flipped over bottles and sippy cups filled with dirty soapy water! This is made of thick silicone and you can reeeaaalllyy stretch it out for coverage. - birdchic1

This Steam Releaser is the Cutest Steam Releaser Around

via: Amazon

This is a fun little kitchen gadget because it's a super adorable version of what would otherwise be a boring necessity. This flower shaped Steam Releaser clips onto your pot creating a little space for steam to escape. But the magic happens when what you're cooking starts steaming. The flower petals spin and the steam passing through the flower makes the flower whistle, alerting you that your food is boiling.