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.

my portable mini radio. Lasts all day being played and can connect via Bluetooth too. amzn.eu/d/3f6s0NV

I’ve ordered a mashed and the knives so far… has anyone tried the sleep earphones that are like loops? I’m worried my hair would get all sweaty with the band and being menopausal.

my best buy has probably been lemonade bras so so comfy, vileda spray mop with changeable cloths is fab.

Muji pyjamas. I can’t stand sleeping in synthetic fibres so I love them.

Placemarking. Busy tonight.

But I have completely missed the point because I love everything from Muji and expect it to be brilliant.

Placemark

Hexagon/honeycomb ice cube tray - perfect size to drop into my insulated water bottle. https://www.therange.co.uk/cooking-and-dining/food-preparation-and-utensils/kitchen-essentials/kitchen-gadgets/ice-cubes-and-ice-cube-trays/honeycomb-ice-tray

These are absolute game changers. Lakeland sell a version which is more expensive but the handle is re-usable and the end attachments are disposable/replaceable. With the cheap Chinese Amazon version the whole thing is thrown away each time, which isn't ideal but you don't need to use them that often and they are so brilliant. If your shower plughole is draining really slowly get one of these down there. No horrible chemicals and the amount of hair that comes out of the plughole is spectacular.

Can't make the link cut and paste for some reason, but google Drain hair removal tool, or Drain Weasel.

Also this is an amazing bit of kit. Never, ever waste your time with one of those old school rubber toilet plungers or a wire coat hanger again. This is incredibly effective and so clean and simple to use.

The Luigi World's Best Toilet Plunger

I think mine were from betterware or kleeneazy however some of them are quite difficult to get onto bulkier trainers or boots. They never fitted hubbys shoes so I got him some that just velcro round the ball of the foot. I'm sure I've seen the stretch on ones in somewhere like Blacks/millets/tresspass probably not this time of year though but later you could go in with your winter footwear and make sure you can stretch them enough to get them on

Trying to imagine. Link please?

My IPL. My reviously really hairy arms are smooth as can be and I only need to do it every three months or so. Also collagen caspules. Feels like my skin, hair and nails are so much healthier and rather than take the recommended 3-6 per day I only take one and still see so much improvement.

Ok, things I couldn't do without:

• my Eufy robot vacuum, cost I think £170, a fraction of a Dyson one, works much better
• silicone bowl covers from Pylones - they do online ordering because since Brexit there are no longer any shops in the UK or if you are in the EU you'll find a shop in most big cities. Anyway I use these in the microwave, on boiling pans, to cover food in the fridge - they are easy to clean and go in the dishwasher. I have a mug-sized one to stop the cat swigging my beside water https://www.pylones.com/en/lid-for-mug-bowl/14725-lid-for-bowl-bienauchaud-bienaufroid-xxl-fox.html
• shopping bag made out of sari fabric from Oxfam. It holds a lot more than you'd expect, is very strong and takes up next to no space. Good stocking filler! https://onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk/recycled-sari-fold-away-shopping-tote-bag-i-was-a-sari/product/HN502674?sku=HN502674
• Disposable cat litter trays. My mogster tends to dig right through to the bottom of the tray and I got really tired of scraping cat do off plastic ones. instead I order recycled card ones from Amazon and if the tray is too disgusting I just throw the whole thing away.

@SquallyShowersLater

you lost your link in the edit

and plunger

An electric knitwear debobbler. Gamechanger!

@sharond101

do you recommend a specific brand for the IPL and collagen?

Wow I never knew this existed. Where did you get yours from please?

Which one please? Where from?

Rimmel Nail Nurse, about a fiver a bottle and has made a huge difference to my nails, and my plug in heated eye mask to soothe my dry eyes before I go to sleep each night.

These are fine but you are not allowed to take them on a plane (officially) as they are classed the same as cigarette lighters because of the "sparking" I have had mine taken off me at the airport.

@LAvortonDeLaLitière yes, bit with twice as many chargers.

A neck light. Great for reading in bed, useful on flights too. If you need to do anything fiddly and need a bit of extra light, like my crocheting. I wear it when I walk the dog in the winter sometimes too

No way can this work?!

An old work colleague had an African grey that didn't seem to like men & bit her son quite badly, enough to draw blood & he shouted at it "f*CK you!!! The parrot decided to repeat this ever after.

I don't use my garlic plate thing that I bought in Manchester Christmas market, I kept grating my fingers, don't think I've got the knack.

For me, it left a result similar to shaving, but took much longer to do. So, I went back to shaving.

https://amzn.eu/d/3kvLw57