We have all been there at some point, staring at the TV late at night. It is 11:00 PM, you are tired, and suddenly a charismatic pitchman is screaming at you about a revolutionary sponge or a pan that can cook an egg without butter. The infomercial is an art form designed to bypass your logical brain and hit your impulse-buy button hard. They promise to solve problems you didn’t even know you had, offering solutions for $19.99 that seem too good to be true. Usually, these products end up in a landfill or a garage sale bin within months. But every once in a while, the hype is real.
Some of these gadgets are actually brilliant pieces of engineering that save time and frustration. I’ve sifted through the gimmicks to find the gold so you don’t have to waste your money. Here are 7 products that earn their keep, and 3 that are absolute trash.
Winner: Scrub Daddy
It looks like a ridiculous smiley face, but this sponge is a legitimate game-changer for dishwashing. The foam changes texture based on water temperature—firm in cold water for scrubbing tough grease, soft in warm water for light cleaning. It doesn’t hold odors like traditional sponges, it rinses clean easily, and the “eyes” are perfect for gripping while you clean inside cups. It feels silly to be passionate about a sponge, but once you use one, standard yellow sponges feel obsolete. It actually does exactly what the pitch claims, making it a rare honest product.
Winner: Air Fryers (Various Brands)
Originally marketed heavily via infomercials as a low-fat cooking miracle, the Air Fryer seemed like another “rotisserie chicken” fad. It’s not; it is essentially a high-powered convection oven that sits on your counter. It reheats leftovers better than a microwave ever could and crisps veggies in half the time of a traditional oven. This is one of the few kitchen gadgets that earns its counter space because you will use it daily. It changes the way you cook, making it faster and generally healthier without sacrificing texture. The hype was justified, and it has become a kitchen staple.
Winner: Flex Seal
The guy sawing a boat in half and taping it back together is an iconic image of advertising excess. While I wouldn’t recommend taking a sawed-off boat into open waters, Flex Seal is incredibly useful for household emergencies. It stops leaks in gutters, seals cracks in pipes, and acts as a durable rubberized coating for outdoor projects. For the average homeowner trying to stop a leak during a rainstorm, this stuff is a lifesaver. It is messy and smells strong, but it stops water in its tracks. Period. It is a tool box essential for quick fixes.
Winner: The Snuggie
Yes, it is a backwards robe, and yes, you look ridiculous wearing it. No, nobody cares because it is incredibly comfortable and practical. The Snuggie succeeded not because it was high-tech, but because it solved the very specific problem of wanting to use your hands while staying under a blanket. If you keep your house cold to save on heating bills, the Snuggie is a legitimate utility item. Mock it all you want, but the person wearing it is warm, happy, and able to use the remote without getting cold arms.
Winner: OxiClean
Billy Mays put this on the map with his high-energy pitches, and the product sustains the legacy. OxiClean uses oxygen to lift stains, and it works on things that bleach would destroy or damage. It is fantastic for organic stains like wine, grass, and food, lifting them out of fabrics effectively. It isn’t magic—you usually have to let it soak for a while—but as a laundry booster, it is effective. It saves clothes that you would otherwise have to throw away, paying for itself quickly.
Winner: Magic Bullet / NutriBullet
Before these came along, blenders were bulky, nightmare-to-clean machines that sat in the back of the cabinet. The concept of blending directly in the cup you drink from was revolutionary and changed breakfast for millions. For making a quick morning smoothie or a small batch of salsa, these are unbeatable for convenience. They lack the power of a high-end Vitamix, but for the price point and ease of use, they deliver. They made healthy habits easier for millions of people by removing the friction of cleanup.
Winner: The Expandable Hose (Pocket Hose)
Dragging a heavy, rubber hose around the yard is a workout nobody wants or needs. The expandable hose shrinks up when not in use and weighs almost nothing, making it easy to store. For watering flower beds or washing the car, it is a joy to use compared to the traditional kinks and tangles of rubber hoses. They don’t last forever—they tend to snag or burst after a few seasons if left in the sun—but the convenience factor makes them worth the replacement cost. It turns a chore into a simple task.
Dud: The “Ab Belt” Stimulators
Now for the trash that you should avoid at all costs. The idea that you can sit on the couch, strap on an electric belt, and vibrate your way to a six-pack is a lie. These devices use electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), which causes contractions, but they do not burn fat or build significant muscle mass in the way exercise does. They are uncomfortable, require sticky gel pads that need constant replacing, and result in zero visible changes. You cannot zap away a belly; you have to work for it with diet and exercise.
Dud: Spray-On Hair
Infomercials make this look like a miracle for bald spots, promising instant confidence. In reality, it looks like you spray-painted your scalp, and it is obvious to everyone around you. It is messy, it can run if you sweat or get caught in the rain, and up close, it looks completely unnatural. It preys on insecurity but offers a solution that often looks worse than the problem itself. Confidence is better than spray paint, and this product usually leads to embarrassment.
Dud: Specific “Never-Stick” Pans
Not all, but many of the cheap ceramic pans sold on TV lose their non-stick coating within a month of use. The commercials show an egg sliding around on a layer of diamonds, but the reality is a pan that scratches easily and loses its slickness after a few runs in the dishwasher. You end up eating flakes of the coating, which is not ideal. Invest in a reputable cookware brand rather than the “buy one get one free” TV offer. Cheap pans are expensive because you have to replace them three times a year.
Key Takeaway: Skepticism Pays Off
“As Seen on TV” products are a mixed bag of genius innovation and predatory junk, so you have to be careful. The trick is looking for products that solve a simple, mechanical problem (like a sponge texture or a hose weight) rather than biological miracles (like instant abs or hair). When a product claims to defy the laws of physics or biology, keep your wallet closed and change the channel. But if it just promises to scrub a dish better? Give it a shot, it might just work.
What is the best or worst impulse buy you have ever made from a TV commercial? Confess in the comments!
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The post 7 “As Seen on TV” Products That Actually Work (and 3 That Don’t) appeared first on Budget and the Bees.
