Dear Real Simple Reader,

People ask us all the time what it’s really like to work at Real Simple. The truth is that daily life at the brand reflects what you see on the pages and read on the website: we’re constantly on the hunt for the best ways to bring realistic, fun solutions in an ever-complicated world. That means we test out a lot of stuff to figure out what really works (and scrap what doesn’t so you never see it). On any given day, our food editors are down in the test kitchen, cooking batch after batch of new recipes (like 30-minute chicken dinners or muffin tin treats) until they get them exactly right—tasting is a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it. Meanwhile, our home editors are finding creative (and pretty) new organizing hacks, while perfecting Real Simple classics, like how to fold a fitted sheet. Across the room, our DIY editors are making sure each and every Halloween costume tutorial we recommend actually works (no Pinterest fails here!). Need a beauty tip? Try our beauty editors, who test out every new product that comes across their desks, from the hottest fall nail colors to a genius way to get rid of unwanted facial hair. Looking for something to read on an upcoming trip? We’ll stop by the desk of our books editor, who checks out every new release for our monthly books roundup (and is always willing to share extra copies). And sometimes, the most brilliant ideas come from unlikelier sources, like the time our social media editor resolved all of our gifting dilemmas by admitting she buys the same present for everyone she knows—a surprisingly thoughtful journal that works for friends and mothers-in-law alike.

Over the years, we’ve tried out thousands of tips and products before passing them along to you. And the solutions we recommend are the ones we’re using ourselves—every day, we’re asking our editors for their best recommendations before forking over hard-earned money and time. All these findings are too good not to share. Here, 18 items—from beauty products and cleaning supplies to tech gadgets and good old fashioned books—that have, in one way or another, made our lives easier.

—The Real Simple Editors