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Living by yourself is more than watching whatever you want, when you want. You've gotta clean too.

Sitting on the couch in your underwear is all fun and games 'til you finish your bowl of cereal and remember you told yourself you'd deep clean the bathroom this weekend. Living solo is GLORIOUS, but that means that everything around your home is on *you* and you've gotta pull the full weight for all the un-fun stuff like cleaning, cooking, and making little home upgrades. But it doesn't have to be that hard, there are ways to still get your to-do list covered for less effort. 

I live in an apartment without a dishwasher, and I honestly use that as an excuse to order takeout food instead of cooking. But, as soon as I got my hands on a bottle of this stuff (regular Dawn is my go-to dish soap, BTW), I put it to use on both a saucepan I used to make homemade enchilada sauce *and* the casserole dish I baked those enchiladas, which had a ton of caked-on food. It really does work like I say it does! Like, scary well.

Get the starter pack from Amazon for $18.28+ (available in five scents and various packs).

Promising review: "The water recently changed in our areas, and I noticed this awful blue staining. I had used this back in August and let it sit overnight, and it worked wonders! It worked so well, I purposely let my shower get gross again to take a picture to share with others. I work a demanding schedule and do not have time for deep cleaning ALL the time. This works wonders without scrubbing and no horrific fumes. I bought it for my almost 70-year-old Mom, too. She was so sick of scrubbing. Now she uses it bi-weekly! Highly recommend!" —Amelia

Get it from Amazon for $20.89+ (available in two scents, two sizes, and a two-pack).

Includes three brushes that'll attached to a standard handheld drill. The white is a soft bristle, best for wheels, carpet, upholstery, glass, and leather; the yellow is a medium bristle, best for bathroom, bathtub, shower, tile, and porcelain; the green is a medium bristle, best for kitchen, stoves, cabinets, countertops, and linoleum; the blue is a medium bristle, best for boats, pools, canoe/kayaks, hot tubs, and plastics; the red is a stiff bristle, best for outdoors, siding, brick, garage, and gutter; and the black is a hard bristle, best for grills, loose paint, furnaces, ovens, and industrial use.

Drill Brush is a small business based in New York!

Promising review: "I’m in love with this. I manage many apartment properties and finding people to do the cleaning has been tricky business, so I end up having to get in and clean these horrendous filth pods tenants lived in and left me to deal with when they move out. The ovens and stove tops are usually the worst, and I absolutely hate cleaning. I came across this drill attachment set, and let me tell you, it helped me tremendously! I still had to get in with a putty knife on some of them but it really cut down my elbow-grease time. If it wasn’t for this drill attachment, I think my arms would have just fallen off trying to clean it as good as I did! My only con would be that it doesn’t have any extension of any sort, so I really had my drill all up in that oven, but well worth it." —alicia haats

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in eight bristle types).

Click & Carry is a Shark Tank and QVC-featured small business that specializes in easy carry accessories. 

Promising review: "TikTok made me buy it. This is great when you have a few bags and a box — for example, if you balance the bags, you can throw it over your shoulder and walk inside and have two free hands to carry the box, which is great. Product seems well built, and is comfortable on your shoulder or hand because of the padding." —Hung

Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in six colors and in two-packs). 

Check out a TikTok of the dolly trolley in action. 

Promising review: "I was getting so tired of making several trips to my car to retrieve my groceries after each shopping trip. I saw this trolley on Amazon and decided to buy it. Best purchase ever. I now can bring all my groceries in with one trip to the car. I also love that its wheel design allows the trolley to climb my front steps, making it so easy for me. I have used it in the house to help me carry things upstairs, and the climbing feature makes it safe and easy." —m Robinson

Promising review: "I bought this tiny air fryer to use while camping, but now it has a permanent space in my kitchen, too. I find myself throwing food into it instead of my expensive, gigantic one. So many times, I don't need the whistles and bells overkill of the big one. If you live alone or have a household of 1–2, and don't expect to cook a 5-pound anything in it, it's perfect and packed with the quality I expected from Cosori. (It also blew my camping buddies away when hot rolls hit the table on my night to make chili...lol)" —Cheri

Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in five colors). 

Promising review: "I bought this for my daughter for her dorm at college. She loves making flavored rice and warming up soups and things. She likes it so well that she brings it home from college with her on breaks. It is especially nice that it has a removable pot, which makes it so much easier to clean or keep leftovers in. Would definitely buy again, don't waste your money on a slightly cheaper one that does not have a removable pot." —midohtree

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in 10 colors).

Promising review: "I recently moved into my first solo apartment and I knew I needed a step ladder to reach things because your girl is 5'2. This ladder is very sturdy, and I love that it folds up easily so I can hide it in my storage room. Would definitely recommend." —kmill

Promising review: "I bought this prior to having surgery, as I live alone and did not want to strain myself. It worked very well at picking up most of the things I dropped! Picking up my phone was a little tricky, but I eventually figured out a way to do it. This is a very practical item for any older person, particularly someone who lives alone." —D0oreen Engel

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two colors and in two-packs).

Check out a TikTok of the foot masks in action. 

My colleague Emma Lord loves these: "I'm a long-ish distance runner and these were certainly an interesting experience for my feet! You slide them on and after a few minutes feel a tingling, mildly burning (in a good way) sensation. It doesn't quite numb your feet, but it relaxes them. I kept them on for 30 minutes and then toweled my feet off, and the tingling sensation slowly faded over the next 30 minutes. After that my feet felt very refreshed and relaxed at a time of day when they're usually aching from all the miles I put in. The whole thing was a mess-free, easy process, and I will definitely keep them on hand for longer run days!"

Promising review: "Very soothing. My husband and l used these on our European vacation and they definitely felt good on our feet!" —KS2018

Get a set of three pairs from Amazon for $11.97. 

Promising review: "Before: three remotes, one for the screen (on/off), a separate one for the sound system (volume) and of course the fire stick remote. After: just the one convenient integrated unit. No more scrambling to find the which remote to do what I want, cause it's all right there in the one unit. I wish I'd have bought one years ago cause the multi-remote tango got old real fast." —Chapman B.

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (also available for a Roku or Google Chromecast).

Cup Cozy Pillow is a small biz as seen on TV specializing in cleverly designed cup holders. 

Promising review: "I liked that it worked with cups and mugs, perfect for clumsy friends." —YAZ

"This thing is great! I’m home on maternity leave with my new baby and spend most of my time on the couch under a sleeping baby. This product makes it easy for me to keep my drinks, remote, etc close by even with crazy dogs running around. It’s a little more expensive than I would have liked but it works and I love it so money well spent!" —Amber

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in nine colors and even more colors).

Reviewers love this because it doesn't require you to "smart enable" other parts of your home. 

Promising review: "This is exactly what I was looking for and had no idea it existed until I saw someone mention it on TikTok! Our front walkway gets pretty dark at night, and I was frustrated with trying to remember to turn on the light every evening and off every morning. I looked into those light sensors you can plug in, but our front porch light is under an awning with enough shade that it would have kept the light on 24/7. This little Switchbot solved the problem. I applied it to the indoor light switch and set the time on my phone. It has worked perfectly ever since." —Alecia McLochlin

Get it from Amazon for $24.65 (available in white and black). 

The set comes with the following spice blends: Chicken Allrounder; BBQ Allrounder; Vegetable Allrounder; Italian Allrounder; Avocado Topping; Casserole Allrounder; Stir Fry; Mexican Allrounder. 

I currently have this set and am nearly done with it! I live solo and am trying my best to cook more at home (the takeout food options in NYC where I live are obscene, as you can imagine, so homemade food has to taste good too). 

Promising review: "Truly life changing sound barrier curtains!!! They definitely help with the quality of sleep, quietness, and solace for me and my whole family. The sound isolation is incredible! There was so much noise pollution around with constant main road traffic, pool/deck construction, chainsaws next door, water main construction on the main road with giant trucks/bulldozers and jackhammers, several lawnmowers, outdoor concert noise, birds constantly chirping, weekly Brazilian parties. Especially with people coming out of the woodwork after the pandemic with the noisiest, most annoying things on the planet all at once. These curtains truly dampened ALL that noise to a distance or to completely nothing. Almost all of it gone. Our sleep at night has dramatically improved and deepened. Best in our lives and finally feeling fully rested." —Heather Lascano 

Get two panels from Amazon for $47.27+ (available in 13 sizes and 23 colors).

Promising review: "I was a little concerned this was going to be one of those gifts that were hyped up but it’s not. It’s not going to thaw a huge chunk of meat in an hour but I have thawed a chunk of chicken in a few hours. The product itself isn’t very thick which I like as it doesn’t take up a lot of space for storage. It doesn’t warm up, but pulls the cold from the meat, which makes the product thaw (like putting meat in cold water to thaw it faster and not cook it)." —Savannah A. 

It also comes with a lid so you can easily stack them and four fill lines (½ cup, 1 cup, 125 mL, 250 mL).

Souper Cubes is a small business seen on Shark Tank that specializes in bake-and-freeze storage products. 

Promising review: "I absolutely love this. I am a widow and live alone. It is perfect for freezing soup. The frozen cubes come out of the tray very easily, which I then put in a freezer bag. I recently decided to try some Marinara sauce because the 32 oz. jar is much too large for me to use up for just one person. Again, the 32 oz. sauce filled all four compartments, which I froze. Popped frozen cubes into a freezer bag, which frees me up to put something else in these silicone freezer trays. I thought they were pricey, but am so glad that I bought them!" —Aloha Phyllis

Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in six colors and packs of two).

Check out a TikTok of the veggie chopper in action. 

Promising review: "Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. We used to have a Prepworks chopper, which was a similar idea, but you had to press so hard to chop and it broke after not too long. This one requires very little effort to cut through the food and it has a generous container." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in six sizes and five colors).

Promising review: "So easy to set up! All you do is peel tape and adhere to a CLEAN and DRY door. Also looks great, I don't even notice it. I had a huge gap under my door. I could smell and hear everything from the hallway. Smells, drafts, and sound all are less of an issue now." —Brit B.

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four colors).

Sink Topper is a small biz that specializes in this product.

Promising review: "Great for messy teenagers. Cool item for my teenager's bathroom. She likes to lay her hair/makeup stuff on it so she can keep her other bathroom decor on the sides. When she's done she puts what she was using under the sink and folds up the sink tray so it can slide under the sink as well." —Melina

Get it from Amazon for $25.69+ (available in two sizes and seven colors).

Promising review: "Works exactly as it says it does. I have small hands and trouble gripping things. This makes opening jars extremely easy and it opens in seconds just by twisting the jar counterclockwise. I'm so glad I ordered two so I can give one to a family member who has trouble with opening jars as well. I would definitely buy this again!" —H.T.

Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (also available in a two-pack).

Promising review: "OMG this is disgusting!!! I hope this isn't all just cat pee that shows up cause there is a lot! I bought this because I thought my cat was peeing in one room and couldn't find the exact spot so I bought this. Found the spot and more. Would recommend." —Momof3boys

Promising review: "I have a golden retriever and the shedding is out of control. My fabric sofa is constantly covered in hair and I finally decided to try this after reading an article about popular TikTok products. The reviews do not lie, this thing works magic!! I wish I had taken a before and after picture because the difference is noticeable. I watched the video tutorial before I tried it to ensure I was using it properly and everything he says is true, you do really have to put your arm to work with vigorous back and forth movement! However, I find it's a great arm workout and it works wonders." —Joanne Ertel

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in four colors and a mini version). 

Promising review: "These have been great to use. Cooking for just one person isn't the easiest thing for me, but these portions have been great when I want mac 'n' cheese, nachos, or a small smothered burrito for one. I'm sure when it's camping time these will make it into my camping stash." —M. Cheatham

Get them from Amazon for $3.28 (available in larger packs).

Check out a TikTok of the rectangular lazy Susan in action. 

Promising review: "This is perfect for short people with big refrigerators! I could never reach anything on the top shelf and had to grab a step stool, now everything fits perfectly on this, and I can reach them all! It glides great and is very sturdy." —Tara Mann

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in four sizes). 

Promising review: "I love these! Since I started using them, my sheets haven’t popped off once, and that used to be a several-times-a-night problem because I toss and turn when I sleep. Thank you, TikTok!" —Gabby

Get a set of four from Amazon for $7.99 (available in three colors and in sets of eight). 

Checkout a TikTok of the duvet clips in action. 

Pinion Pins is a small business specializing in home improvement products. 

Promising review: "I was super worried about if I would have enough of the Pinions, and I totally do! My duvet is kinda thick and the Pinions pierced through with no problems! Plus with a little extra room if I had some extra layers. I REALLY like how you have to have the magnet tool to pull them apart. Absolutely no moving! Don’t walk, RUN TO BUY THIS. I also like how unnoticeable they are." —Abigayle Mishler

Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $17.95 (also available in a 16-pack).

Promising review: "So I saw this tiny trash can on TikTok, and I was moving into a tiny studio apartment and thought this would be perfect. Turns out it's one of the best things I've ever bought. I installed mine with the over-the-cabinet hooks (also comes with adhesive stickers) on my kitchen island, and it is so convenient I can't even express with words. The lid is on this nifty hinge so you can open it by flipping the lid up, or by sliding it forward and it folds down out of the way. I usually keep it open while I'm cooking but I can close it super quickly if I see the dog coming. There is a little pull tab for easy opening. It is so easy to use and easy to clean. It's also so cute! I use my plastic grocery bags as trash can liners for this and they fit perfectly. It comes with a roll of bags as well. The lid lifts off easily to change bags out. Clicks back on easily over the new liner. Can't recommend this enough!! This is going on my list of 'best things I've ever spent my money on.'" —Ginger

Get it from Amazon for $20.99 (available in three colors). 

Rapid Brands is a small biz specializing in microwave cookware. 

Promising review: "God's ramen cooker. This thing may seem like just an ordinary Tupperware, but I assure you it will blow that thin plastic garbage out of the water. It retains heat amazingly and does not bend or falter under extreme temperatures. I'm a college student and I have never felt such joy from making ramen in my small dorm microwave, for a 900-watt I recommend five minutes. Buy this product if you live and breathe air, because it is beautiful." —Theron

Bonus: There's a lil' side pocket for your phone, glasses, or other nighttime accessories. 

Promising review: "I did not realize that these were out there until I watched a TikTok about one. This has saved my pillows. I do have a headboard, but there was about a three-inch gap between it and my mattress. This has stopped my pillows from sliding down in between. I have had no issues at all with it. I did let it sit for almost 72 hours while it was getting its shape back from being in a shipping container, but after that, it was perfect!!! I highly recommend." —Miss_Beck

Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in three colors and Twin–California King). 

It also includes four dry-erase markers! 

Promising review: "Saw it on TikTok being used as a dinner menu for the week! It will help me be more organized and add little chores that needs to completed or important reminders. Love it, no complaints." —Clarince Thomas

Promising review: "Effective at keeping the toilet bowl clean and very easy to use." —Amazon Customer

Get a 30-pack from Amazon for $19.53 (available in larger packs). 

Promising review: "Cleaned stove top and the hood vents. Then, I had to clean the sticky grease from the sink. Worked very easily and without chemicals. Easy to use and to refill. The attachments make various jobs easy to clean." —Lori

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Elizabeth Lilly is a deputy editorial director with more than a decade of lifestyle journalism spanning a range of subjects under her (tool) belt that includes four and a half years at a home improvement magazine. 

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.