At the start of each year, my husband and I go through some of our favourite Amazon purchases for the home over the past 12 months. Whether it’s for organizing, maintaining, cleaning, or beautifying, if it’s something we own and love, it’ll be on this list! So in no particular order, here are our 22 Amazon Home Best Buys from this past year.
~The following contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Should you choose to purchase through them, this blog makes a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my disclosure policy here.~
22 AMAZON HOME BEST BUYS: Our Recent Favourites
1/ Universal Lids for Pots, Pans, Skillets
After nearly 20 years of use, some of the lids from our cookware set had finally fallen apart. The pots were perfectly fine, it was just the lids that needed replacing.
So my husband found these universal lids that can fit on multiple sized pots, pans, and skillets.
What makes these “universal” is that the outer rings allow you to fit the lid on pots or pans of various sizes.
The lids come in a wide range of sizes (not just the 2 we purchased).
Other features we like: The lids have a vent hole, the outer rings are silicone, heat-resistant, and are both microwave and dishwasher safe.
2/ Hamilton Beach Flex Brew Coffee Maker with K-Cup Feature
After our previous coffee maker bit the dust, my husband hopped onto Amazon and found this affordable upgrade with some really great features.
This one has 3 key brew options:
● 12-Cup Capacity Brewing
● Single Serve Option
● K-Cup Feature
It also includes the following:
● Timer (to schedule brew time)
● Regular/Bold strength options
● Hot plate (stays on for 2 hours after brewing)
● Single Serve Sizes: 6 oz, 8 oz. 10 oz, and 12 oz options
This last feature is great if you want to fill a travel mug when on-the-go!
A couple of cons:
1/ We’ve had this coffee maker for a few months now and have had no major issues. However, on two occasions, after pouring 12 cups into the water reservoir, only 10 cups were brewed in the morning. Although it’s only happened twice (and hasn’t happened since), keep this in mind when considering this coffee maker.
2/ As to the second con, it’s actually a plus for me, but may not be for others: the digital screen is backlit blue and has no ‘sleep mode.’ You don’t notice it during the day, but when you’re schlepping around the house at 2am (as I do on occasion) you realize it makes for a great night light in your kitchen! Jokes aside, it’s bright in the middle of the night which some may find off-putting (especially if you live in a bachelor apartment).
Despite these drawbacks, for the price, this is a great coffee maker that we use daily – and we absolutely love it.
3/ Bamboo Drawer Dividers
Last year, I shared how I organized the junk drawer in our kitchen using these bamboo drawer dividers.
Besides being a beautiful addition, one of my favourite features is that the dividers are fully customizable. Place them in any spot you wish, depending on what you need to organize.
Then use the smaller compartments to close off the divider wherever you need it. Leave some out to create longer compartments; add more in to create smaller ones.
These dividers (and others like them) give you a whole lot of flexibility.
Perfect for organizing everything from your junk drawer to kitchen utensils, bathroom toiletries to pens and pencils, and even your craft supplies.
There are a lot of bamboo drawer dividers on Amazon to choose from, but if bamboo is not your thing, then take a look at my list of other drawer organizers and dividers (starting from $20) that come in a wide variety of colours and materials from wood to plastic.
4/ Produce Cleaning Brushes (2-Pack, Machine-Washable)
Last year was definitely a year for purchasing useful kitchen supplies, including this 2-pack of produce scrubbers with nylon bristles.
Inexpensive and dishwasher safe, they are great at removing the surface soil off potato skins, carrots, and any root vegetable without much effort.
Of course, I also like that they are a neutral colour, too 🙂
5/ Honey Dipper and Stir Stick
Another great little purchase I owe entirely to my husband.
Traditionally made of wood, this stainless steel honey dipper alternative (and others like it) is perfect for dipping into a honey jar.
It grips the honey, which gets sucked into the grooves and as you stir the stick into your tea or coffee, the honey just melts clean off.
Use it for honey or any kind of syrup, too.
It’s one of those humble and convenient kitchen ‘gadgets’ that we never knew we needed, but now that we have it, we use it often.
6/ Sneaker Mesh Laundry Bags (2-Pack)
Did you know that you can throw most sneakers in the washing machine? I often wash sneakers this way and even some of our fabric sandals (helps get the stink out!).
But while I sometimes throw in lightweight sneakers without any trouble, bulkier footwear should be placed in a proper sneaker mesh washing bag made specifically for this purpose.
These mesh bags (and others like them) are perfect for washing my or my husband’s sneakers, hiking shoes, and hiking sandals, too.
The mesh bags we purchased are quite roomy.
My lightweight sneakers, for example, (I wear a woman’s 8.5 Canada/US size) fit in easily with plenty of room to spare.
Because these come as a 2-pack, you can also separate them for especially bulky sneakers (like these 10.5 men’s sneakers, though I can still fit both into one bag, albeit snugly).
Once they are zipped up, you simply pop the bags into the washer. Make sure to wash on the gentle and low-spin cycle.
Loved this purchase, especially for washing bigger, bulkier sneakers.
7/ Nikwax Wool Wash
Hubby and I live in Canada where the winters are unrelenting, long, and downright cold! So when it comes to our clothing, we tend to wear a lot of wool base layers including long and short-sleeve T-shirts, underwear, and socks.
(Though I have to say, my husband saves those wool garments when he’s in the great outdoors. I, however, am the ‘always cold’ type who breaks out the wool clothing as soon as possible!).
But, I digress.
Nikwax Wool Wash is a high quality laundry detergent, designed specifically to deodorize, soften, and enhance wicking and drying for merino wool and other wool base layers and socks.
That said, I use it for all our wool garments (not just base layers) and find it to be a great all-round laundry detergent for wool clothing.
We’ve actually been using this brand FOR YEARS. (You can find it at most outdoor/sports clothing stores).
So when we came across it on Amazon it was a convenient way to add it to our online shopping cart.
8/ Eco-Friendly All-Purpose Cleaning Stone
What exactly is a “cleaning stone”?
In a nutshell: it is a hardened cleaning powder that comes as a solid “stone.”
Once you apply a wet, porous sponge (this product comes with one) to that stone, it releases the moistened portion onto the sponge.
Then you can run the sponge under a bit more water and squeeze a few times to create suds.
I have used a wide variety of all-purpose cleaners, but none come close to the cleaning power – and quick cleaning action – of this one.
Honestly, virtually ZERO (or very little) elbow-grease is involved.
That’s because this stone cleaner needs NO time to sit on the stain or soak.
The long list of surfaces it can clean includes:
– Stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum, chrome, plastic
– Tiles, marble, granite, backsplash
– Sinks, tubs, (even toilets)
– Stove tops, windows, painted furniture, windows
– And more!
It’s non-abrasive, non-toxic, safe to use around children and pets, allergen free, gentle on your skin (something I always look for), environmentally friendly, and biodegradable with just 6 ingredients in its formulation.
It’s also formulated to polish and buff, too!
Seriously, it’s THAT good.
My first Universal Stone lasted about 10 years (it has an indefinite shelf life). I typically save it for stained, porous or especially difficult-to-clean surfaces.
After finally running out of it last year, I was happy to see it available on Amazon.
9/ Amazon Basics Letter/File Trays (2-Packs)
Easily one of the best affordable brands out there is the “AmazonBasics” line for the home, which includes office supplies. I’ve regularly purchased their printer paper, file folders, and note pads, and just last year, I went ahead and purchased these letter trays.
At the time, my home office was starting to get a lot of paper clutter that was making it difficult to keep track of it all. As a visual organizer, I decided to buy several letter trays to keep them all in order.
BEST decision I made.
These trays are ‘standard’ in size and perfectly suited to fit into these IKEA Kallax cubbies (if you are thinking of doing the same in your office).
Since space on my small desk was at a premium, I REALLY needed to maximize the vertical storage available.
The one downside of these trays is that the ‘lip’ along the bottom is not as substantial as it could be.
If you’re making a tall enough stack, then be sure to get the lip fitted properly on the tray beneath to prevent the stack from toppling (yes, I speak from experience!).
But overall, these trays were a great purchase for me. They cleaned up the clutter on my small desk and have kept me far more organized.
10/ Magnetic File Folders (2-Pack)
Another great way to organize miscellaneous papers that need a home are these magnetic file folders.
Made of a durable PE material, these folders have deep pockets to store a lot of papers and strong magnetic back to keep them attached to a metal cabinet, white board, magnetic glass boards, or even your fridge.
I purchased them last year to organize random papers in our kitchen that had no home of their own.
I used them to organize papers like our garbage collection schedule, upcoming travel confirmations, flyers, and other papers that needed to be tidied up.
These pockets are thick, sturdy and continue to hold up remarkably well.
11/ Sleek & “Noiseless” Wireless Mouse
If you want to swap out your bulky computer mouse for an affordable slim option that is wireless, virtually noiseless, and has a long battery life, then this one might be for you.
KEY FEATURES:
– Rechargeable (500 hour battery life)
– Energy-saving (goes into sleep mode after 8 minutes of inactivity)
– Muted (“noiseless”) Clicking (perhaps my favourite feature of all – once you change from using a loud and obnoxious, ‘clickity-click’ mouse to one with a soft-click option like this one, you’ll never go back!)
– Compatible with a variety of computers (PC, Mac, etc)
– Sleek and minimal
– Wireless
It comes in black, white, and silver, too.
(At about the same time, I also purchased this inexpensive Washable Mouse Pad in black (though you can choose from a variety of colours and patterns). It is a non-slip fabric with stitched edging that’s easy to travel with and does not fray or curl at the edges like other, similar pads.
12/ Outlet Concealer & Cord Organizer (with Power Bar)
Ugly and mismatching plugs and cords are one of the biggest eyesores in any home. And while we can perhaps accept it in an office space (sort of), it’s hard to do the same in common rooms like the living room, kitchen, or bedroom where creating a calm space is essential.
So when I came across this sleek and minimal outlet concealer and cord organizer, I wanted to try it in a particularly messy corner of our living room.
This ultra-thin outlet concealer includes a power bar, 3-foot cord, and adhesive strips to keep the primary cord tidy. (There are also other versions, including one with an 8-foot extension cord/power bar and other combinations that may suit your needs).
I really love how much tidier things are in this area now.
I can also access the power bar which I’ve got tucked away behind our speaker.
The one con? The package includes sticky tabs that are intended to attach to the wall or floor board, allowing you to attach the primary cord to them, guiding it in whatever direction you wish. While the tabs stick to the wall and base board just fine, the cord eventually releases from the sticky tabs. That said, by the time the cord ‘unsticks’ it retains its shape – quite to my surprise – and seems to stay put.
All-in-all, I can’t complain about this product as it does exactly what it needs to do: Keep my cords tidy and tucked away.
Note: The outlet concealer comes in both “universal” and “standard” sizes, so check the size of your outlet and compare it to the measurements they provide under their product description. I chose the “universal” size since their “standard” was a bit too small.
13/ LED Refrigerator Light Bulbs (with multiple applications beyond the fridge)
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
It will happen eventually: the bulb in your fridge will burn out (you never think of it, but it has its own lifespan, too).
So take the time to make the right choice when shopping for a new one that will last a long time.
Here is what my husband had to say about making the switch to these bulbs:
“When the lightbulb inside the refrigerator burnt out it was a good time to switch to LED. These bulbs are bright and using only 6w, saves us energy.”
Although they are marketed as refrigerator lightbulbs, the makers note that they have multiple applications, including fan lamps, floor and ceiling lamps, and more.
14/ Heat Resistant Silicone Pocket for Hot Styling Tools
Some of you may recognize this one from a previous Amazon Must-Haves post. It bears repeating because it is a really great product for the price.
If you use hot styling tools regularly, you may find this silicone pocket useful.
Instead of waiting to put your curling iron or flat iron away (if it gets done at all), with this pocket, place your still-hot styling tool directly into the pocket and put it away immediately without burning anything in your drawers.
I used to leave my tools out to cool as I rushed off to work, but found I never put them away at the end of the day (what was the point?). But now, I don’t have to.
I love this product so much that I now own two of them, one for my curling iron and one for my flat iron.
Of course, if this one does not suit you, there are other ones to explore on Amazon.
15/ Heavy Duty Waxed Canvas Firewood Totes (2-Pack)
After installing a corner fireplace in our basement this past fall, we purchased a few needed accessories, including these affordable, heavy duty canvas tote bags for carrying in our firewood.
One of the totes is enclosed along the sides.
While the other is open-ended, perfect for carrying any longer pieces.
For the price, I was surprised at how good the quality of the canvas was, as well as the handles, the stitching, and overall construcion.
These canvas is flexible, handles a great deal of weight and is quite sturdy.
Since first firing up our fireplace this winter, these tote bags have been in constant use. We load up twice daily, carrying them from our supply of firewood outside to our basement.
The lightly waxed exterior of these bags make them scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, and water-resistant.
A great purchase if you have a wood burning fireplace or for use while camping.
16/ Waffle Weave Duvet (in Charcoal) AND Insert (in Black)
Technically 2 items, but I couldn’t write about one without the other.
This waffle weave duvet (in charcoal) and insert (in black) were great purchases for our master bedroom (which we are updating, albeit at a snail’s pace 🐌).
In the process of planning some modest bedroom updates, I decided early on to create a cozy, warm space, opting for a moodier colour palette, starting with this duvet and this insert.
The duvet cover is a soft cotton waffle weave, virtually wrinkle-free, but with a relaxed look. It comes in 14 colours and feels very comfortable to sleep under.
It’s a good alternative to muslin/gauze waffle weave bed covers which are far too delicate when there are pets in the house that may tear up the delicate fibres.
This cotton alternative gives you the look of muslin, but the strength of a cotton bedspread.
The duvet includes 8 inside corner ties (perfect if you want to really secure your insert) with button enclosure for a seamless look.
The cover is machine-washable and resistant to wrinkling and shrinkage.
Some cons to consider:
1. Duvet Cover: Over time, I have noticed the underside shows some lint (given the colour choice, it’s hardly surprising), but since that side isn’t on display, this doesn’t bother me.
2 Insert: If you sleep hot, then the duvet insert may not be a good choice for you. Even though it is “all-season” it may still feel too warm for hot sleepers.
17/ “Loloi” Brand Vintage Style Area Rug (7’-6 inch X 9’-6 inch)
If you are looking for an affordable, good quality vintage style area rug for your home then you should check out Loloi’s popular collection of area rugs (sold just about everywhere including Wayfair, Walmart, and Target, too).
I added this Olive, Brown, and Charcoal rug in our master bedroom and just love it!
I wanted something that went beyond trends, that was timeless, and had a warm, almost ‘lived-in’ look to it.
This one really fit the bill.
Loloi’s affordable line of rugs (like mine) are printed (not woven), and have a highly detailed look that appears as if it is actually woven.
It is a power-loomed low pile rug, quite dense, durable, and comfortable underfoot (though ours is placed directly on carpet, so it’s recommended you purchase a rug pad for maximum comfort).
It’s easy to clean and vacuum, too. In fact, we recently had a MAJOR coffee spill (like, an ENTIRE mug of coffee 😬) and we had no trouble blotting and wiping the rug totally clean.
Overall, a beautiful, good quality rug at an affordable price.
18/ LED Spot Light & Light Bar Combo
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
My husband uses his ATV for a lot of off roading that sometimes has him getting back to camp as the sun dips down. He found this affordable and practical light bar that you may want to consider for any of your off road vehicles.
This is what he had to say about it:
“I mounted this light bar on my ATV. The mounting and wiring were straightforward, but I did need to buy a separate wiring harness with a switch. The light is bright and compliments the ATV’s headlights when out on the trails at night. ”
19/ Embroidered Custom Keychains for Multiple Vehicles
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
If you are an avid outdoors person (as my husband is), then you likely run into the issue of finding the right key for the right vehicle, quickly and easily.
This is when my husband decided find an easy solution, purchasing these inexpensive, good quality custom keychains with double-sided embroidery.
Here is what he had to say about this particular purchase:
“Operating multiple vehicles means that sometimes it gets confusing sorting which key starts which vehicle. These keychains solved that. Each keychain now has a custom label so I know which machine it is for. I went with the orange so that if the keys get dropped they are easy to find. The material and embroidering all seems of good quality.”
Customizing them on Amazon was also a snap. When ordering, you’ll be able to click the ‘Customize Now’ option to personalize colour, size, text, and font colours.
If this specific product isn’t available where you live, no problem! You can find plenty of other, customizable keychains available on Amazon.
20/ “Husqvarna” Extreme Duty Work Gloves
These gloves have become hubby’s go-to when it comes to handling a wide range of materials including rope, cables, firewood, and more.
Here is what he had to say about this purchase:
“These gloves fit the bill for comfort, durability and dexterity. I’ve used them for running a chainsaw, building a shed to stacking firewood. They are not waterproof, so expect to get wet in the rain or snow.”
Husqvarna is a high quality manufacturer (est. in Sweden in 1689) offering a full range of forest and gardening tools worldwide. (My husband owns several Husqvarna products).
So it was great to see that they sell these gloves and other products on Amazon as well.
21/ Office Chair Wheels
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
With my husband doing a lot of his work from home these days, there’s always going to be the odd thing in the office that needs maintenance, including his office chair.
Last year, he replaced the wheels on his chair with a much better quality set that he’s been fairly happy with.
PHOTO Above: Hubby’s office chair gets a new set of wheels.
Installation is very straightforward.
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
This is what my husband had to say about them:
“The plastic wheels that come with office chairs are noisy on hard flooring and sometimes slide instead of rolling. These wheels are solid rubber. This means they roll well on hard flooring, roll ok on carpet, but are very quiet. No tools were required to install the new wheels, just pull off the old set and push in the new set.”
22/ Magnetic 14-Month Calendar (8” X 10”)
As a visual, tactile person I prefer using paper over digital calendars, especially when it comes to viewing hubby’s and my activities at-a-glance.
This 14-month calendar measures 8 inches by 10 inches and is the perfect size for the side of our refrigerator.
Other features I like:
– Tear-away pages once you start a new month
– Large enough writing space to add multiple appointments for each day of the month
– Thick paper
– Minimal, but pretty design for each month of the year
If you like the size and features but prefer a larger selection of colours and design options, you might want to try the magnetic calendars by Bright Day, which I have used previously and found to be equally (if not a slightly better quality paper).
So there’s our complete list of 22 Amazon Home Best Buys. While this only scratches the surface, the list includes our top pics over the past year.
I hope this selection points you in the right direction or perhaps gives you more ideas for creating better home solutions for you and your family in the year ahead.
If you enjoyed this post, check out some of our other Amazon Home Favourites, below:
No Comments