Unexpectedly brilliant purchases

[Parata]

Last year there was a thread where people were recommending purchases they made or gifts they got that were unexpectedly brilliant. I got sleep headphones based off that thread for my birthday, and they have honestly been amazing - have helped me sleep better as I no longer turn to my phone and doom scroll when I wake up, but just put on a podcast or a meditation session and drift off to sleep. (Also got an acupressure mat that has been much less useful).

As my birthday and that of my kids, and as well Christmas approaches, I was hoping it is time to make a new similar thread maybe we could all find the next thing that changes our lives.

Thank you, I've just ordered one from Boots!

(Just hope it doesn't hurt!)

Sometimes yes, sometimes no as I have allergies but I used to be a competitive swimmer and can hold my breath for quite a while, I think I just did that automatically without thinking!

Are these any good for those pop up plugs? My bath has one of those, I have to use a drain unblocker (chemical) quite often as my hair is thick and curly.

@chimichangaz probably. Our pop up plugs also all unscrew for cleaning so it's very easy.

@HurdyGurdy19 the silicon tube is for getting the skin off, is that what you meant?

Never tried them on legs, but the £1 hair remover gloves are excellent for cleaning new potatoes 😁

A waterbed. We bought it as a rash purchase after vising Canada and sleeping on one in various motels.That was 40 years ago - we still sleep on it every night. Bliss!

I think I had the same one. Tried about three times on my legs, took painkillers, numbing gel... absolute hell. Always raised and bloodied what I assume were hair folicules afterwards. Never used again. I was sceptical, but this new one buzzes away with very little malice and surprising effectiveness.

I do have fine, blonde hairs mind, although some were impressively long.

well I can only speak about the one I bought but it did need very gentle use to work. I can't imagine it would make my legs actually bleed though

I agree , I have used the mitts before and you have to be very gentle with them , it sounds very strange but you need to be gentle enough for it to be almost sensual

I'm covered in bites atm so do you have a link please?

They sell these on Shein/Temu. Think they were about £2.00 for 3. They are really good.

Beurer BR60 Insect Bite Healer, Insect Bite Pen Can Help Relieve Itching And Accelerate Healing Without Medicines Or Chemicals, Certified Medical Device That Uses Soothing Heat : Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care

Our front lawn is entirely moss, it's lovely. All soft and squishy and doesn't need mowing.
Don't ask me how or why it's all moss. It had a lot of moss when we moved here and over the last 12 years it's just grown. None of the neighbours have it, so I think we must be special 🙂

It's probably been mentioned on this thread already but those stretchy silicone covers that go over bowls, yoghurt pots, cream pots etc. They're really great, somebody on here called them food condoms! IKEA food bag clips are very good quality. Got some really good wine bottle stoppers but can't remember where from but the best one came out of a luxe Christmas cracker.

Little chemical bags that you put your feet in for a couple of hours. Over the next week, the dead skin peels off your feet and leaves your soles so soft and beautiful!

Retractable phone charger cable for in the car

upright carpet cleaner

IKEA potato peeler, cost about £1 in 2001, still going strong.

Another waterbed fan ... yay! I also purchased my first one about forty years ago. I was at a country show and there was a stall selling them. I laid on the one that was set up for demonstration purposes and that was it ... I wanted one! They've changed over the years, and I think this is my third - but they're amazingly comfortable. I stay in quite a few hotels and airbnb's but never have I found a bed that comes anywhere near a Waterbed for comfort, they're fantastic!

FYI air purifiers are also useful in preventing airborne spread of illness. If someone in your house is sick eg with COVID, flu, RSV, then put the air purifier in the shared space on maximum power as it will trap exhaled viral particles. Or put it in the room of the sick person. And also open windows for ventilation to disperse infectious particles.

Ideally everyone should have an air purifier at home. Also helps with mold and obviously PM2.5 pollution.

This memory foam cushion for my office chair. It’s amazing. No more stiff back: https://amzn.eu/d/7zslEvj

This Aveeno Cream is brilliant if you’ve got bumps from shaving or “strawberry skin” : https://amzn.eu/d/graiwMX

African net sponge for exfoliating in shower: https://amzn.eu/d/hXboEtl

Used with this soap, which is magic: https://amzn.eu/d/48Ewc19

I’ve never been so clean, comfortable and smooth. 😆

This one was a big purchase, the Ninja Possible cooker, but I use it A LOT.

One that wasn’t good: Ring Security Cam for back garden. Got it to keep an eye on my cats who often go awol. Hope was the camera would pick them up and we could see which way they went, but even on max sensitivity, it doesn’t pick them up 🙄

Could you get collar-cams for your cats? Or those chip things to put on them so you can track them on your phone?

But I suppose that depends on your cats wearing collars, which I know not everyone likes.

Both far too good for collars, unfortunately 😭

What colour are the cats? My 2 ring flood/ spot light cameras in the garden pick up some of my dogs better than others. The black one is rarely detected, the black and predominantly white ones are often "Person Detected", the tan one is detected better on the grass than the patio.

pestects mosquito repellant bracelets, amazing, im usually annihilated when we go on holiday but used these for the past 3 holidays and not been bitten once.