With the fall season in full swing and the holidays right around the corner, we've officially entered the busiest time of the year — so there's no better time to implement a few clever solutions to simplify and save you time.
To make our lives a little easier, Shop TODAY contributor Melissa Garcia swung by Studio 1A with a host of helpful hacks. From a pair of readers her husband has been obsessed with for years to a reading light that won't disturb your partner in bed, Garcia is sharing the products she swears by (all of which are available on Amazon!).
If you're anything like our team of busy editors and producers, these useful finds will seriously change the game. Keep scrolling to shop all of our favorite practical products.
Amazon helpful hacks seen on TODAY
This little wearable light wraps around your neck, freeing up your hands to read, knit, or journal anywhere, anytime — all without needing to plug it in or disturb anyone. It’s genius if you’re in bed and it has a few adjustable light settings.
Made from natural diatomaceous stone, these mats instantly absorb water and dry in just seconds. Garcia suggests using the larger one as a bathmat for a modern spa vibe or even a drying mat for dishes in the kitchen, while the smaller ones are perfect under soap dispensers and sponges in the kitchen.
We’re all guilty of losing or misplacing our readers every now and then, but these ultra-thin glasses stick right on the back of your phone case or tablet! The super lightweight design pops on easily and stays put on your nose.
“My husband is obsessed with these,” Garcia gushes. “He would always forget his glasses at home, but now he never does because they’re literally attached to his phone ... You’ll never want to carry around bulky readers again.”
Bodysuits are a wardrobe basic and a fall closet essential that can make getting dressed in the morning easier. Garcia suggests wearing this one on its own or using it as a base layer under sweaters or blazers.
"No tucking, bulging, lines — just a clean, sleek base that really makes every outfit look better," Garcia says. "It's buttery soft, lightly shapes without squeezing, and is so comfortable."
No more reusing a towel that can harbor bacteria! Garcia believes these disposable wipes are "truly the most hygienic way to dry your face after washing."
"My daughter loves these," vouches Garcia. "They're amazing for teens with acne-prone skin."
When your hands are full, wet or messy from cooking, the last thing you want to do is use your hands to pull out the garbage and get the handle dirty! With this upgrade, you can turn your garbage drawer into a hands-free system. Simply slip your toe under the pull, lift and pull — it's that easy.
More helpful hacks on Amazon
Throw this travel-friendly compact in your purse to mattify skin and blur pores on the go. Since it's transparent, it works under or over makeup to keep shine at bay.
This is your one-step shortcut to the layered necklace look. No more fiddling with tiny clasps behind your neck — this little fastener employs a simple magnetic connection, so you can attach and detach your necklaces and bracelets in just a second.
Are last season's sweaters looking a little frumpy? Give them some TLC with this bestselling gadget that'll spiff them up in no time.
Everyone loves an easy air fryer snack, but no one loves the clean-up. Enter: these disposable paper liners, which make the task as easy as popping one of these in and tossing it in the trash after use.
Tired, achy feet? Give these insoles a try. I personally swear by the inserts and have added them to every pair of boots I own.
If you've ever wished you could have an extra hand to hold your phone, you're going to want to add this neat little gadget to your cart. The silicone attachment is covered with tiny suction cups that essentially allow you to stick your phone onto just about any smooth surface, which is so useful for FaceTime calls, watching videos, taking pictures and more.
Easily waterproof your favorite shoes to protect them against any inclement weather with this bestselling spray. It's sort of like a little raincoat for your shoes, and you only need a couple coats to keep your boots, sneakers and more in tip-top shape.
This newly-launched 3-in-1 tool lets you fill in sparse spots and conceal any gray regrowth along your part line. Plus, the brand shares that it's made with keratin fibers and argan oil.
This hack works on minor cuts, scrapes, bites, acne and more to help cleanse and heal skin. Per the brand, the "magic" ingredient in the formula is hypochlorous acid, a molecule our bodies naturally produce to fight bacteria and promote healing.
Get two bras in one with this convertible staple. Depending on the level of support you want, this sports bra can be worn with the twist detail in the front or back.
With slots for food storage bags from gallon- to snack-sized, this drawer insert will finally organize your unruly kitchen drawer.
Prepping your salads just got a whole lot easier. Equipped with a one-handed pump, this little spinner offers "maximum drying with minimum effort," per the brand.
Want to stop shaving and ditch unwanted body hair for good? One editor put this device to the test over a few months and found that it actually helped to reduce and even completely eliminate regrowth, particularly in areas where her hair was darker.
Meet the experts
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Melissa Garcia.
- Melissa Garcia is a Shop TODAY lifestyle and fashion contributor, a professional stylist and the founder of Melissa Garcia Styling.
- Shop TODAY is a team of shopping editors and writers who spend hours every day finding the best new products, tried-and-true favorites and more finds available on Amazon that are worth shopping, according to our high standards.
How do you add Shop TODAY as a Preferred Source on Google?
Google’s new Preferred Sources feature allows users to manually select their favorite publishers and news outlets for a more customizable experience tailored directly to the reader. Once you’ve opted to receive our content, you’ll begin seeing more of our recent and trending articles displayed within your Top Stories news feed.
The easiest way to add us as a preferred source is to click here and type in “TODAY.com.” Once the box is checked and you’ve refreshed the page, Shop TODAY content will start appearing in your feed.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. Learn more about Shop TODAY.
