Amazon.com: Top 100 Amazon products for editors’ picks – under $10 (and start at $5) a day before leaving the Wild West
Sometimes our editors use products that don’t make it into the comparative pieces we test similar products against. Editors’ picks are where we highlight everyday products that we personally know and use on a daily basis and think you should too.
Amazon can often feel a little like the Wild West — with a seemingly endless array of options and sometimes inconsistent reviews, it can often all be one big guessing game.
Here are some of the things that our staff feel are useful on Amazon and have provided us with big results in various ways. Bonus: They’re all under $50 (and start at just $5).
The second I used this exfoliating shower towel, I knew I’d never go back to a loofah ever again. The material and pattern allow it to lather up like a loofah, but still give a clean. It feels a little rough at first, but it is in the best way possible. The way I shower has changed since I got the Goshi, but I will not give it up any time soon.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/best-amazon-products-big-difference?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
A Tool to Get Insect Traps Out of My Amazon Infested Apartment: The Ultra Edition TubShroom Containment
The insect trap that was found on Amazon was the cause of my apartment being overrun with fruit flies. (Gross, I know.) I needed a way to safely and efficiently get rid of them, and this was my under $50 solution. All I needed to do was plug it in and let the device go to work for me; the UV light attracts the bug to the trap, and the fan — which makes zero noise — sucks it in and traps it on the sticky pad…for good. I haven’t had to use my Katchy since, but I feel confident that I am prepared for the next time fruit flies decide to attack.
Do you find yourself scouring the bottom of your junk drawer for loose batteries when your electronics are running low on juice? Just me? You must have a battery organizer if you are either way. The one here is larger and holds all of the different kinds of batteries.
The rubbery version of the TubShroom is famous, but I actually recommend springing for the stainless steel TubShroom Ultra Edition. Like its more ubiquitous counterpart, this TubShroom works wonders at catching hair and preventing clogs, but in my opinion, it’s far superior when it comes to cleanup. The regular TubShroom is a bit of a challenge to sanitize; lint, hair and sometimes mildew tend to get caught in the holes, so you really have to scrub. Not so with the Ultra Edition. I’ve found that debris really doesn’t stick to it, making it even easier (and less gross) to rinse off for a dollar or two more.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/best-amazon-products-big-difference?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
The Magnetized Whiteboard: A Game-Changing Device for Organizing Extra Space in the Bathroom and a Laundromat (from Cats to Moms)
Most households still use their fair share of plastic bags, despite the fact that we make an effort to use more reuseable bags. If you want to put your stashed treasures in a more organized and elegant way than putting them under the kitchen sink or into a drawer, then you would benefit from this dispensers. I hang it just above my cats’ litter boxes, so it’s easy to grab one when I need to clean them out. It fits up to 30 large grocery bags, and is minimalist and chic.
Since buying this tool, I haven’t opened any other packages. No scissor or knife accidents can be avoided because it has a tiny little blade that cuts through boxes and packaging tape with ease. It is easy to find and grab from my fridge when I want to buy something quickly because of the Magnet, and it is also great for crafting projects as a knife alternative.
Keeping grocery shopping and meal planning organized was one of my biggest challenges until I got this magnetic whiteboard. I want everyone to know what we are having on which day so I put the menu on the board over the weekend, with snacks on it. The bottom is where I write down the things we need to buy with our next groceries. This has saved my life more than any other purchase I have made during thePandemic.
I immediately grabbed this little kitchen gadget when I read about it. It is incredibly easy to wash vegetables because the handles adjust to the size of the sink. You don’t need to wash your dishes in your sink if you’re feeling lazy because you don’t have to touch the dirty bottom. Best part is that when you’re all done with it, it collapses, making it space efficient.
If you’re running low on bathroom storage, slap this silicone accessories holder right onto your mirror or wall. It is a great toothbrush holder that does not take up much counter space, as I use it to hold my razor and hair comb in the shower.
This backpack hamper is an absolute game changer for anyone who has to cart their dirty laundry up or down stairs or to a laundromat. Its built-in backpack straps free your hands so you can easily open doors, and its drawstring closure ensures that nothing will fall out while you walk with it. My favorite feature (aside from the fact that it makes lugging my clothes around so much easier) is the front pocket that’s perfect for holding detergent, bleach, dryer sheets, quarters or basically anything else you’ll need to do your laundry. The thing has made my least favorite chore a little more enjoyable.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/best-amazon-products-big-difference?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
Buying Extra for Self-Cathrystals : A Nutty Kitchen Appliance to Preserve and Clean Your Cherries Candles
I noticed an immediate difference in water quality; it was much softer, and the chemical/chlorine smell that I get from city water was no longer present. I didn’t feel dry after showering and my skin didn’t itch. You can rest assured that you have enough for a minimum of four months, since the shower filter also comes with replacement filters and blocks of vitamins C and E. I bought extra because I think I can no longer live without this product. It has given joy to my self-care rituals.
I love cherry tomatoes probably a weird amount — a salad just isn’t complete without them! But what I do not love is slicing them all individually so they’re easier to stab with your fork. Thanks to this nifty kitchen item, I am saving a lot of time and energy slicing. Simply sandwich your tomatoes (or grapes, or olives, or other small round food) between the two pieces, and run your knife through the space to batch-slice in a flash.
To take proper care of your candles, avoid tunneling, black smoke around the rim, etc. There are two things you should be using, a shirper and a trimmer. This set will help you keep your candles in good shape, and you will not have to deal with black smoke again.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/best-amazon-products-big-difference?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
The Aerolatte Milk Frother: An ultra-expensive machine to make your favorite frothy latte at home without learning curves
This step stool has been a lifesaver in my apartment. My roommate and I are both between 5’1” and 5’2”, so reaching higher shelves in our home can be a task. It’s foldable, easy to store and it gives us the right amount of leverage to get to hard-to-reach places.
I have ordered cheap picture frame sets so that I can display some of the art I have been Collecting over the past year or so. They feel very sturdy for the price, and I especially love the rotating paddles in the back that make it easy to remove the back panel and swap new art in.
This was a great solution for the age old problem of licking envelopes. Say goodbye to that disgusting substance and no one wants to do that in a post- Covid world anyway. This envelope moistener was just what I was looking for.
When trying to recreate your favorite frothy latte at home, you can certainly opt for an ultra-expensive espresso machine. The Aerolatte Milk Frother can be had for less than $2 a drink. No learning curve. Just heat up some milk, pop this bad boy in the cup for a few seconds, add a shot of espresso and you’ve got yourself a caffeine jolt you’d swear you overpaid for at your local coffee shop.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/best-amazon-products-big-difference?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
An Amazon buy, and an LED strip light for $24.99, is the perfect utensil holder for a small kitchen
When I started trying to cut back on single-use plastic waste, one of the first things I bought was this wooden dish brush. I have always thought sponges were gross, and so this brush was a no-brainer. The long handle allows you to keep your hands out of the dirty sink and the firm bristles do a great job cleaning tough messes. Plus, the brush heads are replaceable, and all of the components can be either recycled or composted at the end of its life.
My small kitchen only comes with one overhead light and isn’t near any of the natural light in my apartment so as you can probably imagine, it’s super dark during all hours of the day. But ever since I purchased these LED strip lights for $24.99 on Amazon, the space has completely transformed. My kitchen is so much brighter, and they even make cooking and cleaning up much easier since I can actually see what I’m doing and what spots I’ve missed. I have a hard time believing I lived without these.
When searching for a utensil holder that would fit inside my narrow drawers, I was hesitant at first, but then I discovered this product on Amazon. It is made with highly quality materials, it fits a lot of silverware, and is very affordable. The bottom has rubber stickers that keep it from sliding.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/best-amazon-products-big-difference?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
Goo Gone to the Rescue: A Bestmazon Product for Learning to Cook with a Little Variety of Liquids in the Kitchen
This stuff is, in a word, miraculous. Ever moved into a new place only to find that the previous residents loved placing stickers on various surfaces (like, for instance, on the mirror of a bathroom that was the designated toddlers’ bathroom, in my case)? Goo Gone to the rescue! This product is able to remove all types of left over stuff without damaging the surface. You won’t regret having this on hand for various uses around the home.
I have an extensive collection of cute tea infusers that I love but this is the only one that really works and works well for loose-leaf tea. It allows leaves to fall out and into my tea. It is easy to dump the water into the garbage can, since it is so small, and it can easily be thrown into the dishwasher.
One of the reasons I like Grossy Pelosi is because of his upbeat energy and beautiful food photos. I was heavily influenced to buy these smiley spoons after following him for a few months, and they’re one of the best purchases! I really like them, they are really useful quality wooden cooking spoons. I love a practical item with a slightly fun/positive twist. Can’t go wrong.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/best-amazon-products-big-difference?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
Anker Charger for Guitars and Cameras – Getting a New Powerful Device for the Outdoors and Living on the Lattice
My phone is seemingly always at less than 20% and on low power mode, so having a portable charger from Anker is a blessing. I use it all the time whether I’m in the car, camping, or just too lazy to get up from the couch when there’s no convenient outlet.
As a guitarist, I can’t believe I’ve gone so long without one of these. The plug-in tuning device I had been using for years was not as easy to use as the clip-on tuners from SnARK, but it was quicker and simpler. This little device has been crucial to keeping me in tune with minimal hassle, as I find myself performing and recording more often. My specific model is unfortunately hard to find at the moment, but this popular SN-8 Super Tight variation is currently available for super cheap.
The Blink Mini camera was an impulse buy for me this past Prime Day, and I still use it constantly. It is very easy to keep tabs on my dog from afar because of this tiny security camera. It costs just $34.99 and goes on sale a lot.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/best-amazon-products-big-difference?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
The Elago W3 Nightstand Holder for Apple Watch and the Round Wet Brush: A Game Changer for Wet Hair Style and Blowout
I love nightstand mode on the Apple Watches, which is why I still prefer a good stand for it. This Elago W3 stand looks like the original Macintosh computer, and the Apple Watch makes for a perfect screen. It’s a durable rubber material and weighted quite nicely, and the Apple Watch fits in snugly.
I change my phone’s sim card all the time. And, after misplacing one on more than one occasion, I decided to get a case. This was the perfect solution. It has a space for the phone as well as some slots for holding SIM cards. It’s the perfect solution for travelers who have more than one SIM.
I always use wet brushes after a shower. But the round Wet brush has been a real game changer for me. This brush glides through wet hair, detangling like a pro while also helping you style your blow out. You can pick up a round wet brush that will give you a salon-quality blow out at home for under $12.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/best-amazon-products-big-difference?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
Weleda Skin Food for Dry and Wet Skin: A High-Performance, Ultra-Low-Cost Silk Pillowcase
The hype is real. This stuff WORKS, and you only need a small amount to moisturize sufficiently. I use it all year long, and I won’t leave home without it. It is also available in a tube if you want more jam. I’ve heard good things about the foot cream as well.
I started using Weleda Skin Food after a coworker recommended it for dry winter skin. I love pretty much everything about it — the scent is light and refreshing, and the cream itself feels luxurious and expensive without actually costing a ton of money. I use it as hand cream before bed each night, and I even use it on my face in the winter.
I made sure to spoiling myself as much as I could because of this time of chaos. That has meant upgrading my bed, where I honestly spend more time than ever before, in a very serious way. I’ve wanted silk-like pillowcases for a while, and these extremely cheap ones are everything I’ve been looking for. They feel like pure luxury, and yet a set of two is less than $10. Can’t get much better than that.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/best-amazon-products-big-difference?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
A Game-Changing Water Bottle for Me: Why I Buy a Bottle and Keep It Away (Is It Worth Every penny?)
In terms of keeping me hydrated, this 32-ounce leakproof water bottle was a game-changer. I drink more water with this bottle on my desk since I’m not as lazy to refill it halfway through the day. The pop-up straw is more sanitary than some of the other bottles I have tried.
Perhaps you’ve heard all the buzz about this ice roller that Amazon customers can’t get enough of. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s worth every penny. I keep this little guy in my freezer and pop it out when I have a headache or when I’m feeling tired and need a quick energy boost. You can use it for minor pains on your body, or apply a face mask. Bonus: It’s great to have on hand when you’re nursing a hangover and want some help depuffing your skin.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/best-amazon-products-big-difference?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
An Instant Self-Tanner for My Bare Hands, My Fidget Cube, And My Dog’s Inflatable Collar
I legitimately cannot believe I ever used to use my bare hands to apply my self-tanner. (Big yikes!) When I purchased my first bottle on Amazon, I discovered the $7.50 Prime-eligible mitt. Not only does this super-soft mitt — which comes in the brand’s signature shade of blue — help to blend the formula into my skin and ensure a flawless finish, but it prevents my hands from becoming super streaky and orange! It’s okay to add praise to the emoji.
I personally love my fidget cube — I have a lot of fidgety energy and have found this to be my favorite way to get it out under my desk when I’m in meetings, especially since working remotely.
Before this device entered my life, I didn’t know how to use my shoulder pain as motivation to work harder. The results from a few minutes are much more impressive than the basic design may lead you to believe. It is useful for any knot or area of pain in the body, because of its ergonomics and pressure-point design. I’ve already gifted five of these to family and friends, and I’m not about to stop any time soon!
My partner and I both work from home, but we still feel bad for our dog who gets bored when we’re working for hours on end. We purchased a lot of enrichment toys for her because she likes the puzzle treat from West Paw the most. We stuff random treats or a bully stick inside and within minutes she’s throwing it around trying to get the snacks out. And the good thing is that it’s actually hard to get the treats out so she ends up entertaining herself for hours on end.
I didn’t want my dog to get neutered again, so I bought this inflatable collar on Amazon for just under 15 dollars, and he was good to go for the next two weeks. He was able to move freely while not being able to reach his wound because of the soft material, compared to the sharp cone he was given by his vet. The small holes on Teddy’s collar made it easier to put on. I like that I can deflate it and store it without taking up too much space if I need to use it again in the future.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/best-amazon-products-big-difference?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
A Favorite Pee Pad for Training and Feeding the Puppies: A Catalog of Products for Pups and Poodles
My recent “treat yourself” attitude also extends to my cat, as I am with him more than anyone else. This window bed has become her favorite thing, and I feel like it brings joy to anyone who passes by my window too.
When I was searching for alternatives to the pee pad, I found Fresh Patch, which I use for my puppy because I don’t like going to the bathroom indoors. I did not want to deal with accidents or smells. The small patch of grass made training our three-month old dog easy. He now knows where to go to the bathroom and the sod pad soaks up liquids and odors so even our outdoor space stays clean and smelling nice. It’s easily disposable and my partner and I signed up for a subscription, so each month we receive a new, fresh patch, too. It is important that pet parents have this!
We were introduced to a lot of products in October. Some left a lasting impression while other were only vaguely remembered. Each month we try a new product, so we decided to put a list of our favorite products on the site.