You are a busy working mom, and you want to be more efficient and productive in your day-to-day life. For that reason, you need to think of products that make your life easier, get things done faster, and are multi-purpose.

I used to buy random products because they were on sale or with the idea that I would use them one day. Those random items started to add clutter to my living space with no real purpose, causing stress and additional work. I am going to provide a list of items that I have purchased, used, and have made my life easier. Hopefully, they can help you too.

Cooking

For kitchen appliances, consider products that are not only easy to use, but also provide features for cooking healthier food options.

1. Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Pressure Cooker

The Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Pressure Cooker includes a pressure cook lid, a reversible rack, a Cook and Crisp basket, and a cooking pot. This product has different functions such as:

•      Pressure

•      Steam

•      Slow cook

•      Yogurt

•      Sous Vide

•      Sear/Saute

•      Air Crisp

•      Broil

•      Bake/Roast

•      Dehydrate

•      Reheat

My favorite functions are Pressure, Sear/Saute, and Air Crisp. The fact that I can cook in one appliance a complete meal of rice, vegetables, and meat is amazing and a real time-saver for busy moms. If you do not like the material the cooking pot is made of, you can purchase a separate stainless-steel pot on Amazon.

2. Ninja Flip Toaster Oven and Air Fryer

The Ninja Toaster Oven and Air Fryer is perfect for small storage spaces since you can flip the product up and store it. The package includes an air fry basket, sheet pan, wire rack, and removable crumb tray. This product has different functions such as:

• Air fry

• Roast

• Broil

•  Bake

• Pizza

• Toast

• Bagel

• Dehydrate

I have cooked salmon and chicken in half the time in comparison to using a regular oven, making it more energy efficient. Furthermore, air frying food using the air fryer function helps ensure that food contain less fat than other frying methods.

3. Ninja Foodi Power Blender

The Ninja Foodi Power Blender is my go-to for preparing smoothies or any type of sauce or mixture needed for a recipe. I also love using it to shred my carrots and other vegetables for my salads. The blender package includes:

• 600 Peak-Watt Motor Base

• Power Blender & Processor Pitcher

•  Feed chute lid with 2-part pusher

• Smoothie Bowl Maker with Built-in Tamper and Storage Lid

• Nutrient Extraction Cup

• Crushing & Chopping Blade Assembly

• Reversible Slicing/Shredding Disc

• Grating Disc

• Dough Blade

• Hybrid Edge Blades Assembly

• Manual guide

4. Ninja Foodi Coldpress Juicer

Do you want to drink homemade juices with no sugar added? Then the Ninja Foodi Coldpress Juicer is a great choice. This juicer is simple and easy to use with only Start/Stop and Reverse buttons. The juicer I purchased includes the following items:

•  50-watt motor base

• Interchangeable pulp filters

• Juice jug

• Large pulp container

• Cleaning Brush

• Manual guide

The manual guide comes in handy when you first use the appliance; it may be tricky at first when trying to assemble it correctly. After one or two times, you will not need the manual.

5. Spiralizer

A spiralizer is a kitchen utensil that cuts vegetables into pasta-looking options, which serve as a great alternative for people on a low carb diet or for people that want to add more vegetables to their plates. The spiralizer I purchased from Amazon is Brieftons 5-Blade Vegetable Spiralizerone. This spiralizer comes with 5 blades and an extra caddy for easy and safe blade storage.

Even though the spiralizer is not electric, it is very easy to use and clean. The spiralizer comes with a user manual and access to digital cookbooks and demo videos.

6. Popcorn Maker

My husband absolutely loves popcorn and was trying to find a healthier alternative to store bought popcorn. He purchased the Bella Hot Air Corn Maker. This popcorn machine is simple and easy to use and clean, making it perfect for movie nights with the family. The only additional ingredients you need are kernels and butter.

7. CHEF iQ Sense Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer

Have you ever overcooked or undercooked certain meats and wish you had a device that would make your life easier in the kitchen? Then you need to purchase the Chef iQ thermometer.

This item is stainless steel, oven safe, and easy to clean. It includes 3 probes that allow you to cook three different food items at the same time. The probes are stored in the charging hub. The thermometer is more on the pricey side; however, we have purchased 3 different thermometers that were more affordable, and they would work for a week or two and then stop working. In the long run, it is not worth the headache.

You will need to download the Chef iQ app on your smartphone and plan what you are going to cook. One of many great features this product has is that you will hear audio notifications from the hub or view written notifications on your app regarding temperature updates, cooking time remaining, flip reminders, and when it is time to remove your food from heat. The app also includes varied recipes.

Cleaning

Who does not want a clean home? I think we all can agree that having a clean home helps with our peace and happiness. Even though throughout the years I have used a traditional broom and mop, I started to consider options that would help with my busy schedule.

 8. iRobot

The iRobot is a great vacuum for cleaning floors, tiles, and carpets. It is very easy to use. You only need to press the CLEAN button, and you are ready to go.

The iRobot comes with sensors that help avoid cleaning beyond the specified space. Another great feature of this machine is that it has a 3-stage cleaning system to loosen, lift, and suction dirt, debris, and dust. When the iRobot finishes cleaning, it automatically docks and recharges. I purchased the iRobot in the image in 2014 and it still works. There are many iRobot vacuum options available at affordable prices.

Note: To maintain the iRobot working properly, clean the brushes and throw away any dirt and debris found in the trash compartment.

9. Tineco Vacuum Cleaner

The Tineco FLOOR ONE S5 is one of the best purchases I have made as a busy mom. This product functions as a broom and mop and cleans any type of mess, wet or dry. It is great for tile, vinyl, wood, laminate, and marble floors. Some of the great features of the Tineco are:

• Cordless

• iLoop Smart Sensor Technology

• LED screen display

• Dual tank system

• Self-Cleaning function

This product comes with two brushes for the machine, a cleaning solution, and a small cleaning brush for the machine parts. I highly recommend using the self-cleaning option; however, you should also manually clean the brush and other parts to avoid any odors and dirty areas. The cleaning process does not require lots of time and ensures that you removed any debris or dirt the self-cleaning function missed.

10. Electric Spin Scrubber

I hate cleaning the bathroom with small brushes. Some brushes are not designed for hard-to-reach places or are too big or small for specific areas. For that reason, I purchased NBONEBS Electric Spin Scrubber.

This product comes with 6 replaceable brush heads and an extension handle you can adjust depending on what you are cleaning. The features I love the most are being lightweight, cordless, and not having to kneel or bend over to clean stubborn areas.

11. Pressure Washer

I live in a community with Homeowners Association (HOA) however, some areas of the house are not responsibility of the cleaning company. After time, the sidewalks start to look black and moldy. It is not a pleasant view when I sit on my balcony.

My husband purchased the Sun Joe SPX3000 Electric Pressure Power Washer and it is lightweight and powerful. This pressure washer can be used to clean sideways, homes, buildings, boats, and cars to name a few. Imagine hosting a last-minute gathering with friends and having a dirty sidewalk or backyard. You need to act fast. If you have your own pressure washer, you can have your outside area clean and ready for when guests arrive.

I know that with a busy schedule some people just prefer paying someone to do it, but if you cannot pay monthly for cleaning services then try to purchase your own pressure washer. You will be saving a lot of money in the long run. The package contents include:

• 34-inch extension wand

• 20-foot-high pressure hose

• 35-foot power cord with GFCI protection

• Garden hose adapter

• 5 Quick-Connect spray tips

• Needle clean-out tool

Traveling

I love traveling and with traveling comes the stress of packing and having space for all your clothes and essential items. Three items I purchased that help with organization are: toiletry bags, travel cubes, and vacuum storage bags.

12. Toiletry Bag

When we are traveling, we want to look our best. We also want to be able to keep taking care of ourselves even if we are not at home. Therefore, toiletry bags come in handy for storing facial creams, lotions, makeup, and other personal items.

I recommend NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag. You can purchase a medium or large size bag. The toiletry bag has 4 separate compartments for organizing all your items. It includes a hanger that allows you to open and hang your bag for more visibility and ease of use. When finished using the bag, you can fold down to original size.

13.Travel Cubes

The Shacke Store Packing Cubes come in different sizes (X-Large, Large, Medium, Small) and are perfect for packing for any vacation. Some of the features are:

• Air Breathable Mesh

• Sturdy Durable Nylon

• Glide Smooth Slippers

• Water Resistant Construction

The travel cubes include a laundry bag, which is convenient for separating your clean clothes from your dirty clothes. The laundry bag is also useful when carrying your dirty clothes to a laundromat on a cruise or hotel.

14. Vacuum Storage Bags

The Cozy Essential Store Vacuum Storage Bags are great choices when wanting to save space in your luggage. This product includes a hand pump for easy and fast compression. The bags come in different sizes (Jumbo, Large, Medium, Small, Roll) making it perfect to fit all your packing needs. These bags are also perfect for saving space in your home with seasonal items and blankets.

Beauty

Many busy mothers do not have time or money to be spending at the salon every month. If you do have the money to get pampered, it is great to do it occasionally because you deserve it. However, in the meantime there are ways to take care of yourself in a fast and inexpensive way.

15. Heatless Curling Set

If you want curls without the hair damage caused by normal curling irons, you need to check out the Kitsch Satin Heatless Curling Set.

This product is great for women who do not have time to curl their hair and want a heatless option. I used this item the day before my 40th birthday photo shoot. My daughter was sick, and I did not have time or money to go to a salon. The item is not perfect, and your curls will not hold on for days compared to using a real curling iron, however it served its purpose, and I was happy with the results.

Keep in mind that this product is better for long hair. I tried to use it on my daughter’s short hair, and it was difficult to use and see good results. Her hair is very thick too, which can also be a factor. Mine is long and has good volume, but it is not too thin or not too thick. I also recommend adding a setting spray to help hold the curls.

16. Wax Machine

I used to go to the salon to get facial wax done, but I decided to purchase a home wax machine. I am happy I did. If you are on a budget or do not have time to go to the salon every week, a wax machine is a good product to purchase.

You need to purchase three other essential materials: waxing beads, wooden stick, and calming gel.

A wax machine is easy and quick to use. The steps are as follows:

1. Put in the wax beads.

2. Adjust the temperature.

3. After the beads melt, use the wooden stick to apply with caution to your skin. It will be hot.

4. Wait a few seconds and pull the wax.

5. Apply a cooling gel.

The wax warmer I purchased is Makartt Hair Removal Machine. If it is unavailable, another option to consider is Tress Wellness Waxing Kit. It has great reviews and comes with all the materials needed.

Final Thoughts

If you are a busy mother on the run every day, you need to think of purchasing items that make your life easier or can contribute to healthy habits. Avoid buying things you do not need or that you know you will not use because of time constraints. Remember three key questions when purchasing products:

• Is it easy to use?

• Does it save you time?

• Does it get the job done?

What are some of your must-have products?

Best wishes,

Mel