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Jul 25, 2023

29 Solutions To The Gross Problems That Seem To Follow You

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

If disgusting smells and horrific messes follow you like a killer in a horror movie, that ends now.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "I have been an avid Amazon shopper for years. Never once have I (selfishly) written a review for a product. After purchasing this simple tongue scraper, I am now ending that streak. For YEARS, my tongue had been a whiteish-covered organ. It was more white-covered than pink. It looked like it had been born permanently stained with streaks of vanilla ice cream. I secretly envied the wet, pink, glistening tongues of others. Over the years and with countless attempts of desperation, I scrubbed and scrubbed my tongue with the fronts and backs of toothbrushes, all to no avail. Until tonight. As I pulled the gentle scraper down across my tongue, I couldn't believe my eyes. I HAD FINALLY UNCOVERED WHAT MY SOUL HAS CRIED FOR FOR YEARS — A PINKISH-RED TONGUE! [Short version]: BUY THIS SCRAPER. It will take years off your tongue and add them back upon your life." —Stewart Clyde

Dr. Tung's is a small biz that makes breath-improving dental products.

Get it from Amazon for $8.40 (also available in a pack of two and 12).

Check it out on TikTok.

Promising review: "Best dry shampoo ever. I have been literally obsessed with finding the perfect affordable dry shampoo. I have tried plenty of sprays, none of them really do the job. I happened upon this product. Let me tell you…changed my world. I washed Wednesday. Used it Thursday, Friday and was blown away. My hair wasn’t greasy. The powder gives your hair a texture so you can get some good lift if you want. Also, I could have gone a third day no wash if I wanted. I am 100% percent happy with this." —Kristina Boddie

Get it from Amazon for $16 (also available in packs of two and three).

The above reviewer photos show a before/after of the inside of their ear with the wax buildup removed.

Promising review: "Folks. Buy it. This is like head lice treatment. If you are looking at it and thinking about it, YOU NEED IT. And this stuff. Is. Awesome. Literally chunks of ear wax came out of my ear holes the SIZE OF CORN KERNELS. Where was this coming from? Why is my body making so much wax? Where was it being stored because I did NOT think ear canals were that spacious, but apparently there are some storage closets in there or something because HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD the ear nuggets are real. My ears feel so squeaky clean! And get this, my hair makes sounds. Like I put it up in a hair tie afterwards, and I could HEAR MY HAIR MOVING ON MY HEAD. What is that?! Seriously?! If you also did not know that moving hair creates a sound, you need to buy this product ASAP." —Samantha

Get it from Amazon for $5.98.

This product is designed for use in outdoor or garage trash bins and dumpsters. Do not use in areas where people or pets will be for an extended period of time.

Promising review: "It’s what everyone says; perfect. I live on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi — hot, humid, and plenty of moisture in the air. My garage, where my trash cans are kept, opens to a large wooded area. Lots of flies. Regardless of washing them out weekly, using bags with ties, or making sure to rinse meat packages and such, my trash cans were fly heaven and laden with maggots around trash time. Well, I stuck these where everyone said to, underneath the lid. In less than TWO days there were no flies or maggots. NONE!! Now, you might open the lid and have one flying around, but he won’t last long. Seriously, this stuff works better than described." —ztennyson

Get it from Amazon for $9.84.

Each trap lasts up to 45 days.

Promising review: "We get fruit flies every summer, but this year has been the worst by far. They land on any food you leave out, but worst of all...they hover around your face. I've tried a lot of different things, and nothing actually attracts the fruit flies. They're always attracted to everything except the bait that I put out! I bought four of these little apple-shaped fruit fly traps and filled them with the bottle of Terro bait. Within a week, each trap had at least 20 fruit flies. What's really cool is that you can unscrew the traps to dump the fruit flies out. Once the fruit fly goes in, it can't get out, and that is eliminating a great deal of them. I highly recommend trying these if you are suffering through a fruit fly infestation!" —KZ & SC

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $14.15 (also available in packs of six and 12).

Promising reviews: "TikTok made me buy this. This thing literally scoured away hard-water stains that I have been trying to get rid of for years in less than 30 seconds. 10/10 recommend." —Tleary125

"They should really call this product a magic wand." —MK

Get it from Amazon for $9.59 (also available as a pack of two and four).

Promising review: "This product is nothing short of AMAZING! I have had severely dry, cracked feet since I was a teenager. Pedicures, lotions, callous remover files, and even prescription creams and ointments never worked for me. My heels were so dry they had deep cracks in them that were splitting. I used this and in five days began to see a little peeling on my feet. By day seven they were REALLY peeling! I could not believe the difference! The package says for severely dry feet you can repeat the process in one week, so I did. (My feet were still peeling from the first treatment.) It has now been four weeks since my first treatment and the difference in my feet is unbelievable! If you are on the fence about whether or not to try these...DO IT! You will be so happy with the results!

"Tip: When you put these on your feet, put a pair of old socks on over them. It will ensure that the liquid gets in every little fold of skin, in between toes, etc." —J. Jupa

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $15.95 (available in four versions and in packs of three).

Promising review: "I really loved this product. I am currently waiting for a new Invisalign set. My old Invisalign needed to be cleaned. I read the reviews and decided to purchase. OMG it worked! There was a fresh taste and they were clean. I wished I had found this product sooner. I did let them soak overnight only because I had been wearing them for the last four months. Nothing happened to Invisalign; there was no weakness or anything. Just very clean and fresh. If I could have given the product 10 stars I would have." —Lisa R.

Get 120 tablets from Amazon for $22.41.

Promising review: "I am allergic to cats so here I am with two cats who shed a ton. Their hair is covering all the furniture. I have special pet covers on my bed to protect my comforter but I hate having to sleep under it since my cats sleep on my bed. I have tried so many cat hair remover brushes, gloves, sponges that never worked. I was ready to shave the cats and call it a day. Then along comes the ChomChom brush. It not only has the lint roller but a bar that collects the hair. I love the little hairball container of the roller so I don't have to spend time cleaning off the lint brush. I can't believe this product works! I have an off-white couch and I didn't realize how much hair there was. After I used it, my couch looked lighter in color. I got my comforter cleaned off in minutes. It's a simple and inexpensive way to cure your pet hair woes." —Dondi

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

Check out my ChomChom hair remover deep dive for more deets!

It's handle adjusts up to 60" high so you can customize it to you.

I live in a carpeted home with two *gorgeous* cats, but between them and my own hair, our carpets were starting to look pretty dingy. Our vacuum was helping do some damage control, but I was worried the carpet might have hair trapped deep down in its fibers. Bad news first: I was right, but the good news was that one round with this rake-like broom, and the carpets look practically new again. It brought up multiple fists-worth of hair, dust, and debris — so much hair that tbh it was a little shocking lol. It did take a little elbow grease and felt like a bit of an arm workout, but I didn't really mind since the results were such a relief (and I've been wanting to exercise a little more anyway). I'm so happy I invested in this, and it's worth the money for anyone with carpets who's ready for a deep cleaning solution that isn't just slapping a bandaid on the problem.

Promising review: "I don't typically write product reviews, but I felt compelled to sing the praises of this one, because WOW did it make a huge difference! I have three dogs and three cats, so as you can imagine, things get a little hairy. After using it once, my carpets look brand-new. I was astonished by how much hair came out of the carpets, since we vacuum every day and even have a Roomba. But this gets down where the vacuums can't reach." —Leslie

Get it from Amazon for $49.99.

This comes with a kit containing 10 toenail braces and tools for application. Each brace lasts 3–6 weeks.

After spending hours upon hours of my youth in tight cleats playing sports, I now deal with gross, painful ingrown toenails. I put off seeking a solution for them for a long time — I hoped they'd improve on their own (spoiler: they didn't) and was resistant to shelling out any money to deal with them. A few months ago, I lightly brushed my big toe against the floor, was met with bloodcurdling pain from an ingrown, and finally decided enough was enough. I ordered this kit, and stuck the brace on my most severe ingrown. Honestly, I was astonished by the improvement this made, even within just a few days. Now, a few weeks later, my nail is straight and evened out like a healthy toenail should be, and it doesn't hurt at all when I wear shoes or when it knocks against something. They recommend you keep the brace on for a full nail growth cycle to fully correct the ingrown, so it'll be a longer road for me, but I couldn't be happier with the results so far. Note: The brace causes a very slight discomfort at first. If you feel any pain, you should take the brace off immediately and apply it with less pressure.

Promising review: "I never realized how curved and not-OK my toenails were. I thought the pain I had was just normal and a fact of life. Only when I read about the Curve Correct product did I realize that I had a major problem that could be resolved! Now I'm on the way to normal, flat toenails that DON'T grow curved into my skin!" —Jamie H.

Get it from Amazon for $44.99.

To use, apply the product to the stain, and let sit for 30–60 minutes. Then blot and let air-dry. It also works for cleaning up kennels, pet carriers, and litter boxes. One reviewer even used it to clean up milk that had rotted in their carpet.

Promising review: "Amazing! And we couldn’t be happier!! Imagine buying a brand new sofa, and within a week, your cat 'marked it' as his very own...the cushions no less. We tried so many things. Cat urine is no joke. And it only gets worse as the days go by. But this spray? The directions were easy, and the results FABULOUS!!!! If you have a cat who has these tendencies, or even accidents, buy this!! You will not be sorry!!!" —Karen Byrne

Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. is a family-owned small business named after the family's Labradoodle and rescued tabby. They specialize in pet tools, treats, and toys!

Get it from Amazon for $19.97 (also available in a gallon size).

The charcoal bag has no smell and absorbs excess moisture to prevent mold, mildew, and bacteria from forming on your clothes and in your bag. You can use them for up to two years, but you should put them outside in the sun for an hour once a month so they can ~rejuvenate~.

Promising review: "I was skeptical this would work but boy howdy this is amazing! I never took my shoes off at people's houses because my feet sweat and stink. These took the odor out of not only newish shoes, but ones I've been wearing for years! It's amazing and I'm buying more." —Ashley Patrick

Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.95 (also available in packs of two and three).

They treat common and plantar warts.

Promising review: "This stuff works! At first I thought I had a small callus but as months went by it was getting larger. I started to Google and realized I had a plantar wart on my thumb! Embarrassing! So I got it frozen off and thought 'This has to work!' Nope! I tried freezing it off three times and nothing! I then realized the wart had spread to my other thumb. Now I was desperate to get rid of them and knew I had waited too long! Bought the invisible strips and they removed my small wart in four days and my big wart in eight!! I couldn’t believe it. I left the strips on for two days and then reapplied with fresh ones. I thought my skin would be damaged but it looks like nothing was ever there!" —Audrey N.

Get 14 pads from Amazon for $7.29 (also available in packs of 20, 28, and 34, and in an invisible style).

Promising review: "When I pulled the orange plastic spiked strip from the package, I was immediately skeptical and felt like all those 5-star reviews were from people who exist in an alternate universe. I was tempted to initiate a return on Amazon but decided that I might as well gamble on a piece of $9 plastic before gambling $200 on a plumber. I slipped the plastic strip down my shower drain and literally FIVE SECONDS LATER I was pulling up gobs and gobs and gobs of hair. HOLY COW!!!!!!!! OHMYGOSH. I can't believe I still have any hair left on my head. SO MUCH REPULSIVE GUNK!!!! I saved my prize hairball on the shower floor to show my husband because I knew he would be as skeptical as I was. We both agree it looks like a small raccoon or a large squirrel lying helplessly on my shower floor. It's a grisly, messy, smelly and oh-so-rewarding job." —Chocolate and Chips

Get a six-pack from Amazon for $8.36+ (available in two colors).

Tidy-Cup is a woman-owned and family-owned small business founded by Julie Reinhold, who was tired of economy-sized detergent containers dripping all over her laundry room. Her ingenious little drip catchers are made in the USA and can easily be cleaned by rinsing with warm water.

Get a set of two from Amazon for $12.

I get dandruff from time to time, and when I do the flakes are stubborn and hard to get rid of. Nizoral is a godsend and the only thing I will use for getting rid of it. Because it's antifungal, it actually gets at the root of the problem so you get fast relief. I make sure I never run out — it's the only thing that'll take care of my dandruff effectively and quickly.

Promising review: "MIRACLE PRODUCT! If you have a flaky scalp from dandruff, BUY THIS. I was about to go to the dermatologist if this stuff didn’t work. Thank goodness I saved myself hundreds of dollars by giving this product a shot. I used it four of five times (over a month) and it cleared my scalp almost completely. One more use and my scalp will be 120% healed! This stuff blew my mind. Totally worth it." —chris

Get it from Amazon for $15.54.

Promising reviews: "I was skeptical at how quickly this would work on pans and it is really amazing! It makes clean up quick and easy." —Jilly P

"I use this all the time now. Just squirt into pans or dishes that need extra attention and leave it for a while. Come back and you can literally just wash the pan and put it away. If it is a really baked-on, leave it overnight. I have found it always comes off. Also been using for a stain removal and so far it has worked every time!" —Keg

Get a set with a spray and three refills from Amazon for $17.50.

It's best to use this with unscented clumping litter, like Dr. Elsey's, since any litter that has deodorizing properties can mask the smell of this attractant, making it ineffective.

Promising review: "This product works! We took in a kitten several months back and she would use the litter box sometimes, but also was at least once a day peeing on my bed and pooping on the floor beside my bed. I found this, bought it, and on the first night of sprinkling it in her litter box, she used it from there on out. Even with litter changes, I’d still use some just in case. She’s not peed or pooped anywhere else since and I don’t really use it anymore other than here and there, so it’s not just going to waste." —Jessica Benjamin

Get it from Amazon for $10.90 (also available in a pack of three).

Check out this TikTok of the Folex Carpet Spot Remover to see it for yourself!

Promising review: “I consider myself a connoisseur of stain removers. With kids and pets, I have had to try them all with varying results. This stuff is a miracle in a bottle. I had my doubts but decided to try it anyway. Holy smokes this stain remover has removed every stain I’ve tried it on. I just now used it on a red sharpie stain on beige carpet that has been there at least a year. I’ve never found anything that could remove that stain until now. I am a convert and this is now my go-to stain remover for life." —Jennifer N.

Get it from Amazon for $6.65+ (available in packs of five).

To use, put them on *both* wrists. They help with nausea related to motion sickness, morning sickness, migraines, cramps, and more.

Promising review: "I was skeptical about these but I was quickly all about them when I put them on. I get really motion sick when flying but this weekend I did not get motion sick at all during a four-hour flight! I was even able to read my book for a while on the plane without sickness! I have never been able to do that before. I love these and they are now a must-have whenever I travel again. 10/10." —Rosse

Get a pair from Amazon for $8.53 (also available in packs of 36 and in children's sizes).

It comes with a remote you can use to control it as it works.

Promising review: "He is my natural-born son and I would cry hot tears of sorrow if anything were to ever happen to him. Ok, so histrionics aside, I really really love this guy. This has been one of the best purchases I have made this year (if not ever) and I truly do think of it as an investment in myself and my mental health. I am lazy and hate vacuuming. But this guy? This little guy will just lightly whizz around the house over and over again, sometimes lightly bumping into things, sometimes jetting off into another room...just slowly but surely gathering up all the random dust, hair and other detritus that you don't even know about and might not be able to get to with a traditional vacuum. My life is so much more at ease knowing I can clean without lifting so much as a finger." —Jules

Get it from Amazon for $229.99 (available in two colors).

Each cleaner comes with a trial size of Bissell's Spot & Stain Formula.

Promising review: "I wish I had taken photos since I was honestly amazed at the results. I bought my car about a year ago and it had stains all over the seats. I didn’t want to pay $300+ for them to be cleaned since I’m a college student so I just waited. My sister saw a TikTok video about this machine and while I was doubtful that it would work since some of these stains have been there for who knows how long, I finally bought it after spilling a blue slushy over my car seats. Lo and behold I now have a car with no stains whatsoever! I wish I had gotten it sooner!! 15/10 recommend!!" —Jovana montoya

Get it from Amazon for $123.59.

They're also great for freshening up after meals and for folks with braces.

Promising reviews: "These are amazing for when you’re on the go and can’t stop to brush your teeth. They get your mouth really clean and make your breath smell really fresh. They’re also good if you’re ill and don’t feel well enough to get out of bed to brush your teeth. You can keep them by the bedside." —Byrds

"I have an autoimmune disorder whose primary symptom for me is extreme dryness in the mouth — in simple terms, I don’t produce much spit! What this means is that almost anything I eat ends up sticking to my teeth. When I am at home it’s not too much of a problem since I can just go back and brush my teeth. However, that option isn’t available to me when I am out. These are a game-changer for me and I have a supply in the glove compartment of both cars as well as in my handbags. Even if you aren’t starting with an autoimmune disorder, you will find that these brushes will make your mouth feel fresher even if you don’t have access to your regular toothbrush and the privacy of your own bathroom." —Leigh Hill

Get a 24-count pack of four from Amazon for $17.92.

Promising review: "Absolutely disgusting and amazing results! I have a jet tub that is used a handful of times a year and is about 15 years old. I’ve never deep cleaned it but just sort of ran the jets with detergent a few times. I bought this thinking 'let’s see what happens'...this product blew my mind. The product didn’t smell like much, 'til the jets turned on. Then, the smell was like musty mildew or sour milk. The gunk that came out of the jets was disturbing. As promised by the directions, I wiped off the tub with no scrubbing. It was easy peasy to use this product. Tub was sparkly clean, fresh smelling, and the gunk was all gone!" —AM

Oh Yuk is a family-owned small biz based in Minnesota that makes high quality cleaning products for jetted and hot tubs, washing machines, and dishwashers.

Get it from Amazon for $17.84.

Your weirdest, most stubborn stains just met their match.

Promising review: "Found this product on TikTok. I don’t think I’ve ever seen value like I do this product! Literally use it on EVERYTHING!! Kids and teens have dirt, grime, and grease on their walls? ...This will make it look like a new paint job. Baseboards need some love? A pea-size amount of this makes them look brand new. Need a shoe cleaner? PERFECT for sneakers. I could name a million more uses, but I can ASSURE you this is worth every penny. What’s more? You need such LITTLE of this product, it will last a VERY long time. Thank you, TikTok!!!" —Rachel in CLT

Get it from Amazon for $5.97.

BuzzFeed Shopping editor Jenae Sitzes owns this and loves it: "I've been using the Litter Robot myself for over a year now, and I'm pretty sure both me and my two cats are way happier for it. After a cat is done using it, the Litter Robot waits a set amount of time until the cat's presence is no longer detected, then begins to rotate, collecting the waste into a bag at the bottom while retaining the clean litter in the barrel. I usually don't detect a smell from it afterward, though once the bag starts to get really full, you might get a subtle reminder that you need to take it out. My cats completely adjusted after a few weeks and accepted it as their way of life, making my life a heck of a lot easier while ensuring they always have a clean bed of litter. It's a pricey purchase, to be sure, but if cleaning out the litter box daily or even every other day is hard for you and you'd rather not think about it much at all, I say the Litter Robot is worth it." See her full Litter Robot review for more deets.

Get it from Litter Robot for $549 (available in white or gray).

Looking for a cheaper option? Here's another self-cleaning cat litter box from Amazon that reviewers like — it's smaller and utilizes disposable trays instead.

Promising review: "I never realized that a brush full of hair can hurt your healthy hair. Prior to this tool, I would take a rat tail comb and just clean out the hair, thinking the brush was clean. I was so wrong! the pick side of the cleaner loosens the hair that is matted down in the brush. The bristle side cleans it out so well that it looks like it's a brand new brush. After cleaning, when I use the hairbrush to dry my hair, it glides through my hair, without pulling and tugging. I can tell that when my brush is clean, I have fewer split ends and also breakage at the tip of my head. I cannot recommend this highly enough!" —Kirsten Anne

Get it from Amazon for $11.95.

The bin is made from biodegradable bamboo fiber, and it's dishwasher-safe!

Promising review: "This compost bin is the perfect accent piece to our newly remodeled kitchen. I love the matte finish, and the terracotta color goes well with my pale green and grey cabinets. It works well too. The filters and design of the top keep the odors trapped inside, and it holds plenty of food waste. So happy with my purchase!" —Alisa L

Get it from our Goodful shop for $40 (available in five colors).