IKEA’s Best Productivity Tool Is Hiding in the Kids’ Aisle, and It Looks like It Belongs in a Cartoon House

It’s February, and the doldrums of winter are in full effect in NYC. It’s so hard to be motivated like I was on January 1 to overhaul my habits and my life — even basic ones like taking more care of my dental health, which is far from exciting. But one way to jazz up any everyday task is by making it feel more novel or fun. Getting a fancy new toothbrush may do the trick for some people, but if you want to overhaul your entire bathroom space, a physical timer can really help, especially if it has a fun, colorful design like this new suction cup timer from IKEA.

The IKEA HUMLESJON timer almost looks like a light switch for a cartoon house, a big marshmallow, or even a kid toy. The pale turquoise exterior is chunky and pleasantly rounded, containing two circular holes. The inside is filled with a fine orange sand, and the sand steadily drains from the upper circle down to the lower one, like a flatter and more unique version of an hourglass. And since it has a suction cup, it can stick to glass, mirror, or tile, allowing it to not take up any valuable counter space.

This kid-friendly creation measures a little less than 6 inches tall and about 4 inches wide, which is small enough to be unobtrusive but big enough that you won’t forget about it when it’s time to brush! Plus, the distinct color scheme will be hard to ignore. Curiously, IKEA’s site says “it takes 70–90 seconds for the sand to flow through,” so you may want to flip it twice to make sure your teeth are really getting a thorough brushing. 

Judging from the online reviews, this timer is a hit with families. “Brushing became a fun challenge instead of a daily battle,” writes Hannah, while Luis says “it’s become an inseparable companion for [his son] during brushing.” Indeed, this playful creation is technically aimed at children, but this timer’s blend of fun and practicality means anyone of any age can get good use out of it. Why use a plain old timer when you can have something more fun?

You also don’t have to use it for toothbrushing; it’s often easier for me to keep at a task if I tell myself I’ll only do it for a minute or two. By the time the hourglass sand runs out, I’m in the zone and can more easily keep going. (This works great for washing dishes, too.) And if the suction cup setup inspires you, note that IKEA also sells suction cup wall hooks with the same kid-friendly turquoise and orange design.

Buy: IKEA HUMLESJON Timer, $4.99