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You're Accidentally Making Yourself Look Bad If You're Doing Any Of These Things
You're Accidentally Making Yourself Look Bad If You're Doing Any Of These Things

Clean up your act.

by Maria Cassano
Amazon
We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.

No matter what, I like to be prepared. That includes looking fresh, having a full bag of provisions to fix problems on the go, and keeping a clean, organized home in case anyone drops by unexpectedly. However, keeping up with everything is a challenge, and the right tools are paramount. Don’t accidentally fall into a state of disarray with these items.

01Leaving Your Bed Unmade

Research shows that people who make their beds in the morning are happier and more productive — and this bedmaker tool makes it easier than ever. It lifts the mattress and securely tucks the sheets without straining your back, plus you can use it to effortlessly remove your bedding on laundry day.

02Smudging Your Mirrors, Windows & Other Glass

Smudged windows, dirty mirrors, and spotted glass all make your home look unkept, but this all-purpose squeegee provides an easy fix. Its 11-inch silicone blade removes smears, water droplets, and soap scum for a pristine finish, and it comes with a convenient hook that clips onto glass enclosures.

  • Available styles: 2

03Tossing Your Tools In A Pile

If your shed or utility closet has tools all over the place, this wall-mounted broom holder is a “brilliant solution” that’s “worth every penny,” according to reviewers. The spring-loaded clasps grip most poles up to 1.06 inches in diameter, while the hooks are great for umbrellas, dusters, brushes, rags, and more.

  • Available styles: 3

04Leaving Sticky Messes On Refrigerator Shelves

If you hate cleaning out your refrigerator, you’re not alone — but these refrigerator liners make the chore a breeze. They’re made from flexible EVA that you can cut to size to fit your selves. Once in place, they protect the glass, catch sticky spills, and wipe clean of messes with minimal effort.

  • Available sizes: 1 Roll — 15 Sheets
  • Available styles: 5

05Or Letting Unwanted Odors Overtake Your Fridge

This mushroom fridge deodorizer is one of my favorite purchases this year. I fill it with baking soda and the perforations on the cap absorb unwanted odors from eggs, meat, and produce. Since it’s downright adorable, it also brings a smile to my face every time I open the refrigerator.

06Wearing Dull White Fabrics

Whether it’s your favorite T-shirt or your bedsheets, dull whites make fabric look dirty. Molly's Suds’ oxygen whitener is a bleach alternative that removes stains and brightens whites without chlorine. “My jaw literally dropped when I used this for the first time,” one reviewer wrote. Since it’s powered with plant-derived cleaning agents and scented with essential oils, it’s gentle on sensitive skin, too.

  • Available styles: 5

07Scratching Up Your Floors

Prevent scratches on your floor and help your furniture slide much more easily with these genius floor protectors. Since they’re made from stretchy silicone and come in five size options, they fit most shapes and widths of chair legs — and they’re much more durable than those felt stickers that fall off within a few weeks.

  • Available sizes: Large — X-Large
  • Available styles: 17

08Skipping The Thank You Cards

It’s a small gesture, but sending out thank you notes for parties, recommendation letters, and gifts ensures that people around you feel valued and appreciated. This 24-piece set includes an assortment of six designs, each with coordinating envelopes and foil-accented messages printed on paper stock.

09Applying Foundation Over Flaky Skin

I have dry skin and peach fuzz, both of which create an inconsistent surface for makeup, so dermaplaning facial razors have transformed the look of my foundation. With tiny stainless steel blades for the precise removal of hair and old skin, they create a smooth texture and boost the absorption of your skin care products. I also use them to shape my brows.

10Going Out With Oily Hair

No time for a wash? Reviewers called Monday Haircare dry shampoo the “best dry shampoo” they’ve ever tried because it “smells wonderful” and leaves hair looking “like you just shampooed it.” It absorbs oil while infusing hair with keratin for a clean but soft finish, and it’s suitable for all hair types.

11Using Mismatched Bottles In Your Bathroom

High-end hotels have coordinating bottles to make the bathroom look cohesive. This set of three modern dispensers is easy to fill with your favorite shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, especially since it comes with a funnel. The bottles hold 21 ounces each, the labels are waterproof, and the pumps make for easy application.

12Leaving Mold & Other Stains

This Rubbermaid scrub brush has been an absolute game-changer for my cleaning routine. It’s compact, battery-operated, and powerful to help me remove grime on my faucets, discoloration around my drains, gunk on my windows, and mold on my grout. The brand also sells interchangeable heads and scrubbers for various jobs.

  • Available styles: 5

13Neglecting Your Leather Finishes

If not properly cared for, genuine leather gets dry and cracked. This Leather Honey care wipe kit offers a quick, mess-free way to condition your shoes, bags, belts, car upholstery, and furniture. They’re individually wrapped for portability and they also work on faux leather, vinyl, and rubber.

  • Available styles: 3

14Using Harsh Overhead Lighting

Especially if you don’t have dimmers, overhead lighting may look harsh, sterile, and cold. Table lamps can help to warm up your space, and this one is rechargeable and with a 40-hour battery life so you can put it just about anywhere. It’s also touch-activated with three brightness levels for reading, lounging, or ambiance.

  • Available styles: 5

15Running Out Of Toilet Paper

Especially when you have guests over, ensuring that extra rolls of toilet paper are within reach is a courteous gesture. This toilet paper holder has a wooden base with two cast iron pipes: one for the roll that’s currently in use, and one for up to four extras. According to reviewers, it’s sturdy, takes up minimal space, and has a cool industrial design.

16Leaving Deodorant Stains On Your Clothes

When you’re rushing to get out the door, deodorant stains on your clothes are the last thing you need — but these deodorant remover sponges are “an underrated gem” that remove white marks fast, according to one reviewer: “These little pads REALLY do the trick! I keep one in my bathroom and I bring the other one with me in my purse.”

17Letting Your Teeth Become Dull

“Tastes good, fully cleans, and keeps my teeth super white,” one reviewer wrote about this Lumineux whitening mouthwash. Another raved, “My dental hygienist and dentist were super impressed.” Unlike competing brands, the formula is microbiome-safe, non-toxic, and gentle on enamel to prevent sensitivity.

18Cluttering Your Shelves & Closets

Even if your home is in good shape, clutter is the fastest way to diminish its appeal. These collapsible storage boxes help you organize and disguise all types of clutter, including clothes, books, blankets, toys, and accessories. They have lids and metal frames for stacking, handles for accessibility, water-resistant fabric for protection, and folding designs to save space when they’re not in use.

  • Available sizes: Small — Large
  • Available styles: 3

19Struggling With Time Management

If you have trouble with time management, these planner pads are designed to streamline your schedule. Weekly goals, to-dos, notes, and daily appointment breakdowns help you keep track of everything so you remain organized and on time. For a more detailed hour-by-hour schedule, opt for the daily plan pad.

  • Available sizes: 5.5x8.5 — 8.5x11
  • Available styles: 4

20Wearing Dirty, Scuffed Shoes

Your shoes spend all day on the ground, so they’re bound to get dirty and scuffed, but Pink Miracle’s shoe cleaner wipes keep you looking fresh regardless. The wipes are individually packaged for portability, dual-sided to scrub both rugged and delicate materials, and contain the brand’s shoe-safe formula of saddle soap and conditioners to quickly remove marks and stains.

21... Or Wearing Smudged Glasses

Whether you wear eyeglasses or sunglasses, smudges are an inevitability. Fortunately, these microfiber cleaning cloths come in a pack of six, so you can carry one with you and stash the rest around your home, office, and car. The ultra-soft material removes streaks without scratching lenses, plus you can use them on phone, laptop, tablet, and television screens, too.

  • Available sizes: 6 Count — 12 Count
  • Available styles: 2

22Damaging Your Furniture With Water Stains

“We've been slowly replacing furniture in the house and I started to get concerned about rings,” one reviewer wrote. Made from cotton in a variety of 10 colors, these rope coasters are absorbent and extra-large to fit cans, mugs, glasses, bottles, and everything in between. They’re “well worth the money and surprisingly cheap for how well made they are,” the reviewer continued.

23Ignoring Stains On Your Clothes Or Upholstery

Whether it’s a dirt stain on the rug from my dogs or a marinara stain on the bride’s wedding dress, Emergency Stain Rescue has saved the day multiple times. I keep the bottle at home and the wipes in my bag. Even though it’s water-based and pH-neutral, the formula works fast on fresh or dry stains.

  • Available styles: 8

24Letting Your Clothes & Furniture Get Pilly

Leggings, sweaters, wool coats, cotton T-shirts, furniture upholstery — after a while, all these things start to pill, making them look old and worn. According to reviewers, this fabric shaver makes items look “brand new again” with its protected six-blade razor and powerful motor. It’s also rechargeable with three speed settings, an LCD screen, and a lint canister in the handle.

  • Available styles: 5

25Damaging Clothes With Laundering Mistakes

Those tiny icons on your clothing tags aren’t the easiest to follow. Luckily, this magnetic clothing care guide attaches to most washing machines so you can decipher those symbols at a glance. It has common directions for washing, drying, ironing, dry cleaning, and bleaching, and the brand sells a magnetic guide for stain removal tricks, too.

  • Available styles: 2

26Caring For Wool & Cashmere Incorrectly

Most wool and cashmere items are dry-clean only due to their delicate fibers, but this shampoo from The Laundress is made from bio-based ingredients so you can handwash your knit delicates at home. It’s concentrated and clear with a woodsy cedar scent, and according to reviewers, it’s the “best laundry product for fine washing” because it results in the “softest sweaters ever.”

27Serving Stale Food

Leaving food in its original cardboard box not only makes your pantry look cluttered; it can also let the food go stale and prevents you from taking inventory of how much you have left. These food storage containers fix all of those issues simultaneously. They’re airtight to lock in freshness, stackable for organization, and clear for visibility, plus they come with reusable chalkboard stickers for labeling.

  • Available sizes: 3 pack — 14 pack

28Getting Syrup & Honey All Over Your Kitchen

If your kitchen becomes a sticky mess every time you serve pancakes or make tea, this honey dipper set is cute and convenient. The glass jar comes with a wooden lid that has a spiral dipper, which allows you to transfer honey and syrup without dripping. “Even my grandkids are able to use this without making a mess,” one reviewer wrote.

29Using Mismatched Plates

If you’ve been collecting random plates over the years, it might be time to invest in a matching set. These 10.5-inch dinner plates are surprisingly affordable given their stoneware construction, elegant glaze, and large size. They’re also curved, stackable, and dishwasher-safe for convenient eating, storage, and clean-up.

  • Available sizes: 7.5 Inch — 10.5 Inch
  • Available styles: 2

30Disturbing Others While Fidgeting

For those who love fidgeting to boost focus and reduce stress, this fidget cube has six satisfying sides for discreet, portable use. “I love that it has both audible and silent options, making it versatile for different environments — perfect for quiet office settings and more casual, relaxed spaces,” one reviewer wrote.

  • Available styles: 2

31Letting Your Trunk Become A Mess

I bought this car organizer for my boyfriend who’s a videographer, and it transformed his trunk. It has ample compartments and mesh pockets to corral tools, gadgets, sports equipment, and groceries, and thanks to its sturdy handles, you can empty your entire trunk in one fell swoop. It also has hooks to secure it down while you’re in motion.

  • Available styles: 3

32Damaging Your Car’s Exterior

If left to sit, bird poop, dirt, and watermarks can damage your car’s exterior — but so can abrasive cleaning tools. These car wash mitts are made with soft but absorbent chenille fingers, which polish the paint, defog the headlights, clean the mirrors, and wash the windshield. They’re also machine-washable and work both wet and dry.

  • Available styles: 5

33Letting Your Spice Cabinet Get Chaotic

Since seasonings come in all different bottles, your spice cabinet can quickly become a chaotic mess of teetering, hard-to-find containers. This stainless steel spice rack solidifies your collection into one rotating, space-savvy organizer. Fill the glass bottles with your most-used seasonings, mark them with the included chalkboard labels, and store them on your counter or in a cabinet to see everything at once.

  • Available sizes: 16 Pack — 20 Pack

34Wearing Pants That Are Too Small

These elastic waistband extenders can add up to 2 inches of extra breathing room to your jeans or slacks — and you don’t need to sew anything. Just attach one end to the existing clasp and use the on-strap button to secure your pants closed. This pack of 12 comes in six colors to match common fabrics.

35... Or Too Large

On the other hand, if your pants are too roomy, these button pins let you customize the waist for a more secure fit. Just poke the pin through the denim and secure it in place with the base. They’re reusable, sew-free, and made from metal for durability. You can also use them to replace jeans buttons that fell off.

  • Available styles: 2

36Skipping The Sunscreen

Every dermatologist I’ve ever interviewed stresses the importance of sun protection, but when applied on the face, sunscreen can feel oily, cause breakouts, or refuse to play nice with makeup. This easy-to-apply Korean sun stick offers airy SPF-50+ protection with a matte finish that’s so lightweight, you “forget it’s even on,” according to reviewers.

37Letting Cobwebs Collect In The Corners

No matter where you live, cobwebs will collect in corners, on baseboards, and on the ceiling — but this wall duster grabs them with minimal effort. Its microfiber chenille fingers attract dust like a magnet without scratching the paint, and you can slip your hand into the band or attach the duster to an extension pole (sold separately).

  • Available styles: 5

38Leaving Holes In Your Walls

Don’t know how to spackle sheetrock? No problem: This Erase-A-Hole repair putty patches small holes and cracks in drywall without tools or know-how. Just apply it in a circular motion, dust it off with a cloth, and paint over it once it’s dry. It’s earned an average 4.5-star rating from over 11,000 reviewers.

39Ignoring Frizzy, Damaged Hair

Maybe you have naturally frizzy hair, or maybe your strands are damaged from heat or color treatments. Either way, this keratin hair serum is designed to tame flyaways with argan oil, repair hair with keratin protein, and protect strands from further damage with a heat shield. It’s also lightweight, non-greasy, and makes hair feel soft and smell amazing, according to reviewers.

40Neglecting The Delicate Skin On Your Neck & Décolleté

Most people focus on their face when it comes to skin care, but the neck and décolleté areas are often neglected. These collagen film masks hydrate and firm skin with a gel-like formula infused with peptides, stem cells, and hyaluronic acid. “I can see why Karuna is a favorite celebrity brand,” one reviewer wrote. “The results are really great. It’s a nice little luxury.”

  • Available styles: 4

41Blending Makeup With Your Fingers

Brushes can be streaky and fingers can be inconsistent, so if you’re looking for an airbrushed finish when applying your makeup, look no further than these makeup sponges. Like the name brand (which costs $20 a pop), they’re soft, tapered, and suitable for all kinds of makeup, wet or dry. “I’ve been through a lot of beauty blenders ranging from different prices. These are affordable and good quality,” one reviewer wrote.

42Forgetting To Prime Your Face

Reviewers have called this Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later face primer a “holy grail” and the matte version a “game changer” for those with oily skin. All in one gentle, easy step, it blurs pores, nourishes skin and locks makeup in place. Choose the formula that’s best for your needs whether that’s blurring, mattifying, illuminating, or reducing redness.

  • Available sizes: 0.35 Fl Oz — 1.06 Ounce
  • Available styles: 6

43Concealing Dark Under-Eyes Instead Of Nourishing Them

Whether you’re nursing a hangover, didn’t sleep well, or just want to pamper yourself, these golden under-eye masks are designed to soothe puffiness, brighten dark circles, and boost elasticity. Each set is individually wrapped for freshness and portability, and according to reviewers, they “stay put,” “feel luxurious,” and “actually work.”

  • Available sizes: Pack of 15 — Pack of 50

44Neglecting Your Houseplants

Flourishing house plants give your home a fresh, cozy feel — but struggling house plants can have the opposite effect. These fertilizer spikes are designed to nourish indoor plants, and since you simply stick them in the soil and let them dissolve over eight weeks, they’re mess-free and low-hassle.

45Allowing Exposed Wires To Dangle

If hiding floating television wires behind the wall is too much of a hassle, this cord wire cover disguises them in plain sight. The set includes 68 inches of channels and elbows with pre-applied double-sided tape, plus you can cut the PVC to size and paint it the same color as your walls.

  • Available sizes: Small — X-Large
  • Available styles: 5

46Having Holes In Your Window Screens

Since they are often custom-made, replacing damaged window and door screens is an expensive endeavor. This screen repair tape uses a fiberglass mesh material and a three-layer adhesive to fix holes and runs in seconds, no tools required. It comes in five sizes and two colors, and one reviewer raved, “I can now use my screen door again.”

  • Available sizes: 2in x 15ft — 4inx15ft
  • Available styles: 2

47Trying To Mask Unwanted Odors

I have two dogs, but I don’t want my home to smell like it. Made from citrus enzymes and orange oils, Angry Orange enzyme cleaner tackles unwanted odors at the source rather than merely masking them, so it’s my go-to spray to freshen up upholstery, pet beds, crates, and carpets. You can also use it to remove stains from pet accidents.

  • Available sizes: 32 oz — 128 oz

48Cluttering Up Your Bathroom Vanity

Too many bottles on your bathroom vanity can make it look messy, but this bamboo tray turns your clutter into decor. Whether you use it for soap, plants, or cosmetics, it looks chic and intentional, plus its gloss lacquer finish protects it against water damage.

49Letting Your Jewelry Collect Dirt

Don’t want to spend the time or money to get your jewelry professionally polished? This jewelry cleaning kit comes with a basket, a brush, and a non-toxic formula that removes dirt and smudges from most types of precious metals and stones. “It did a wonderful job,” wrote one reviewer. “My ring is sparkly and shiny again!”

50Neglecting Your Cabinet Organization

When bottles or linens topple out as soon as you open the cabinet, it’s time to reorganize. These transparent storage bins have an overall 4.8-star rating from more than 11,000 reviewers because they’re versatile and well-made with convenient handles. Use them to organize cleaning supplies, pantry items, clothing, or towels.

  • Available sizes: 2 Pack — 8 Pack