Life
27 Genius “As Seen On TV” Products On Amazon That Actually Work
Whenever I stayed home from school as a kid, I’d turn on the TV to watch the strange and hilarious infomercials. At the time, they seemed ridiculous — we all knew the Flowbee would end in disaster, for instance. But there are some "As Seen On TV" products that work. These products have come a long way from the days of Ron Popeil and his hair-in-a-can. Because they're so darn good, they're actually worthy of an infomercial.
Luckily, you don't have to wait by your television set for the right 800-number to "call now." You can just go on Amazon and get some of these genius products without any additional sales pitch. The biggest plus is shipping and handling is almost always free.
Whether you're interested in semi-novelty products that actually come in handy (don't mock me for my Snuggie, it's really warm!) or want a product that will make food prep a million times easier, "As Seen On TV" items have you covered.
The only downside to "As Seen On TV" products getting better is now we all miss out on some incredible commercials. Though they may not live up to the cheesy standards set in my childhood, at least "As Seen On TV" products are now interesting to an audience larger than people who've fallen and can't get up.
1. A Belt That Clicks Into Place
Comfort Click Men's Perfect Fit Belt, $20, Amazon
In all the years since belts came around, how are we still using a piece of leather with holes in it? Isn't there a better way? Well, now there's the Click Belt. Instead of being relegated to a few sizing holes, the belt simply clicks into place and is incredibly adjustable. You get a comfortable fit and it's super easy to get on or off and looks just as nice as any other old fashioned belt.
2. A Mat To Keep Your Grill Clean
Lavasto BBQ Grill Mat, $17 (Set of 2), Amazon
Grilling season is coming up and this mat actually makes it so much easier. Instead of letting sauce and pieces of BBQ burn up in the flames as they slip through the grill, put down this heat resistant (up to 500 degrees), reusable mat. It's completely non-stick and you can cut it to fit whatever space you need. Your food will cook evenly and you'll have much easier cleanup afterward.
3. The Joke Gift That's No Joke
When the Snuggie came out, everyone made fun of it. "Why don't you just use a blanket?" people said. Here's why: Try to read a book in a cold room with a blanket. It's a huge pain. But, if the blanket had sleeves, you could read in cozy comfort and the Snuggie is there to make that dream come true. As silly as it might look, it's so comfortable and if you run cold, this will keep you warm in any room.
4. An Egg That Works Better Than A Pumice Stone
Ped Egg Pedicure Foot File, $15, Amazon
If you use a Ped Egg, be prepared for the insane amount of dry skin that will fall off your feet. Sure, it's a little gross, but your newly smooth feet will be delightful. The egg is designed with an easy to hold file that catches all the dead skin that sloughs off your heels instead of letting it cover your bathroom floor. I use this and it works so much better than any pumice stone and is tons easier for cleanup than your average foot file — and it comes with two emery finishing pads, so it will last a long time.
5. A Microwave Cooker For Perfect Pasta
Fasta Pasta Microwave Pasta Cooker, $20, Amazon
Sometimes, you just can't wait for a pot to boil. I've been there. With this microwave pasta cooker you get to have a noodle dinner on the table in minutes without turning on your stove. It prevents sticky, clumps of pasta by heating evenly and gets you a nice al dente every time. This is also great for dorm rooms or any place where stovetop cooking isn't an option.
6. Waxing Strips To Remove Hair At Home
Nad's Body Wax Strips, $9, Amazon
Sometimes you just want a touch up on your legs or bikini line and don't feel like spending the money for a legit waxing appointment. Instead, you can use these at home strips made with natural beeswax. There's no pot of wax to overheat or drip everywhere, just simple to use strips. Rub them between your hands to warm them a little, firmly place on the area where you don't want hair, and yank it off. Sure, it still hurts, but no more than any salon wax and it's a fraction of the price.
7. A Super Strong Liquid Rubber For Airtight Seals
Flex Seal Liquid, $15, Amazon
If you have a leak or crack somewhere in your apartment, Flex Seal can be a great solution. It's a strong, liquid rubber that claims to bond anything wet or dry. It seals out air, moisture, and water, can withstand extreme temperatures, and is flexible. If you're not super handy around the home, aka me, this can be an easy way to solve little household problems.
8. A Perfect Place For Your Purse In Your Car
Purse Pouch Car Purse Storage, $12, Amazon
When you're driving and you come to an unexpected stop, have you ever done the mom move and held out your arm to protect your purse? I have. Mostly, to stop my purse from spilling everything out on my car floor for the tenth time in a month. That's where the purse pouch comes in. It gives your purse or computer case a perfect place to sit in your car without any risk of it tipping over. Plus, it can be installed in any car and you can put it in or remove it in about a minute.
9. A Memory Foam Pillow That Keeps You Cool At Night
Miracle Bamboo Original Shredded Memory Foam Pillow, $30, Amazon
A big slab of memory foam might seem like it would make a good pillow, but it usually winds up hot and uncomfortable. Instead, try this shredded memory foam pillow. The foam will still shape to your body, but it's lighter and allows better air circulation. The pillow is also covered in natural bamboo fabric that's naturally anti-microbial, hypoallergenic, and resistant to germs.
10. A Knife Set You Never Need To Sharpen
Miracle Blade III Knife Set , $40 (15 Piece), Amazon
You won't need another knife for quite a while if you get this Miracle Blade set. The set will cover any of your kitchen cutting needs — it comes with steak knives, a cleaver, a boning knife, scissors, and more — and the German stainless steel blades never need to be sharpened. After you cut up your crudites with legit sharp knives, you'll never want to go back to your old dull ones ever again.
11. A Tiny Blender With A Lot Of Power
NutriBullet Magic Bullet High Speed Blender System, $80, Amazon
If you like a good smoothie, you should definitely get the Magic Bullet. Just pop in all the fruits and vegetables you'd like in your drink and the Bullet's high powered extractor blade will whip you up a perfect smoothie in no time. It'll break down seeds and tough stems with ease, and it'll make soups and dips as well. This set comes with two types of blades and extra cups, so you can easily take your juice on the road for a very healthy breakfast.
12. A Drain Guard That Helps Keeps Clogs Away
DrainWig Shower Drain Hair Catcher, $7 (4 Pack), Amazon
It's not pleasant to think of all the hair that clogs up your shower drains, but it's also not so pleasant to have a constantly clogged shower. Thankfully, the DrainWig really works. It looks like a little flower sitting on top of your drain, but has a long chain that goes into the drain itself and catches all the hair and gunk. Then, pull it out, notice how gross it looks, and avoid any hard to remove clogs. These will last up to four months, which means with this pack you'll be set for well over a year.
13. An Angry Little Lady That Cleans Your Microwave
Topist Angry Mama Microwave Steam Cleaner, $8, Amazon
No, this product doesn't take your mother's rage at your lack of cleaning and turn it into a steamer. Instead, this product uses water, vinegar, and lemon juice to steam clean your microwave. The grime that builds up in microwave becomes super easy to clean without the use of any harsh chemicals. Plus, the angry mama is somehow still adorable despite her rage.
14. A Spray To Keep Your Bathroom Smelling Lovely
Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray, $8, Amazon
It sounds too good to be true to have a bathroom spray that completely eliminates poo smells, but Poo-Pourri lives up to the hype. Made of essential oils, it doesn't just mask the smell, it stops it before it starts. Plus, there's no alcohol, parabens, or weird chemicals — just natural odor fighting technology.
15. An Insanely Absorbent Towel You've Definitely Seen On TV
Is the ShamWow guy annoying? Sure. But that doesn't mean the product doesn't work. The ShamWow is actually an amazing towel that can soak up a ton of water for its size. One Amazon reviewer found the product pretty versatile: "I've used ShamWow towels for years for washing just about anything. Recently I packed them as a personal wash cloth and towel for a wilderness float hunt because they are small and light yet perform like a huge towel. Love the stuff."
16. A Square Pan With Perfect Heating
Copper Chef Square Fry Pan, $20, Amazon
Even if cooking is mostly replaced by takeout nowadays, it's still good to have a reliable pan and this square fry pan is a great choice. The ceramic coating makes it completely non-stick without harmful Teflon. It's so non-stick, you don't even have to use butter or oil when cooking, but most importantly it's super easy to clean. The pan heats evenly, cooks fast, and will last you quite a while. Plus, the copper tone is gorgeous and might convince you to eat at home a little more often.
17. A Curling Iron That Does The Work For You
InStyler Max 2-Way Rotating Iron, $88, Amazon
A friend of mine always had perfect loose curls every day, no matter the weather. My friend wasn't magical, but she was pretty smart because she got in early on the InStyler. It automatically rotates to put your hair into lovely waves or curls, while the brush portion reduces frizz and keeps your hair in line. It has tourmaline ceramic plates, which are gentler on hair, and four settings — and the iron will heat up in 30 seconds. Reviewers love that you can use it as a flat iron as well.
18. The Hanger That Doubles Your Closet Size
Wonder Hanger Max, $15 (10 Pack), Amazon
As a former resident of tiny New York apartments, the Wonder Hanger would have changed my life. It really does double or triple your closet space and since I've never met a person who complained about too much closet space, it's definitely a great idea. Now, your closet can hold more and still look neat and organized with a product that works in any apartment. These hangers also hold up to 30 pounds, so they'll be great for winter coats and purses.
19. A Duster That's Perfect For Cleaning Baseboards
Baseboard Buddy Extendable Microfiber Duster, $20, Amazon
Cleaning baseboards or moldings is surprisingly hard, and surprisingly hard things to clean in my house tend to stay dirty. But this duster makes it a lot easier — the microfiber pad picks up dirt and lightly scrubs the trim with ease. Plus, it's extendable so you can easily reach the floor or ceiling without bending into any weird positions. It's got a collapsable handle for easy storage, and the head can swivel 360 degrees.
20. A Portable Speaker With No Wires Or Bluetooth
BoomTouch Wireless Touch Portable Speaker, $20, Amazon
There's a lot of portable speakers out there, but almost all of them require some kind of plug in or Bluetooth connection. The BoomTouch doesn't need any of that. Just put your phone on top of the speaker and you get instant amplification. It'll be loud enough to fill the room with crisp, clear sound.
21. A Plastic Board That Will Work Your Core
Simply Fit Board, $40, Amazon
If you haven't been in the mood to join a gym, but you'd like a way to work out at home, this fit board might be a great option for you. The board lets you engage your core, work your balance, and give your legs a bit of a burn. Plus, you get to work out while pretty much doing the twist which is super fun.
22. A Heater You Can Take Anywhere
Handy Heater Plug-In, $25, Amazon
If you're always the cold person in the room, this little heater might be your new favorite thing. It's small enough you could carry it in your bag and it plugs into a normal outlet to provide some needed heat. It turns off automatically for safety, heats up to 250 degrees, and it's perfect for under your desk or in small spaces that are always cold.
23. A Brush That Detangles And Straightens All At Once
Simply Straight Ceramic Hair Straightening Brush, $20, Amazon
When you're a little groggy in the morning, a flat iron can become a dangerous tool. But this straightening brush is super easy, hard to burn yourself with, and will finish the job in minutes. You just brush and watch your hair become straight. One user said "My hair usually takes 45-60 minutes with my Chi straightener; I also lose all volume in my thick, coarse, and wavy/curly hair. This brush is amazing. My hair was straight with tons of volume in only 10 minutes. I did not have any frizz either and my hair stays straight into the next day."
24. An Applicator For Lotion That Gives You A Little Massage
Remedy Roll Lotion Applicator, $6, Amazon
If you're putting lotion all over yourself, why not get a little massage at the same time? This applicator spreads lotion evenly, while the little balls give you a pleasant massage as your skin rehydrates — just fill it with lotion, shower gel, or body oil and you'll be good to go. Plus, you can get lotion in all the hard to reach places and have the softest back in town.
25. The Light Switch You Clap On
The Clapper, $18, Amazon
"Clap on. Clap off. Clap on, clap off. The Clapper." If you aren't singing that jingle in your head when you hear "The Clapper," then you weren't a '90s kid. It's pretty hard to forget the catchy commercial for this clever light switch, and though the product sounds silly, it does work. And there have definitely been late nights where I've nearly gone to sleep with the lights on because I'd rather not get out of bed, so the Clapper can greatly help in all those lazy night situations.
26. The Microwave Cooker That Bakes A Potato In Four Minutes
Potato Express Microwave Potato Cooker, $6, Amazon
Mitch Hedberg had a great joke about baked potatoes: "It takes forever to cook a baked potato in a conventional oven. Sometimes I'll just throw one in there, even if I don't want one, because by the time it's done....who knows?" He never would have had that joke if he had the Potato Express. It bakes potatoes in four minutes and they're perfect every time, and you can also use it for things like dinner rolls or tortillas. It doesn't make a very funny joke, though.
27. A Little Flashlight With A Lot Of Power
WDTPro Tactical Flashlight, $13 (Set of 2), Amazon
Everybody needs a flashlight, so why not get one with a little power? These small, tactical flashlights are insanely bright, water resistant, and it has a strobe feature for any impromptu dance parties. It works with three AAA batteries, and has five light modes.
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