Last year, my husband and I shared a list of our 20 Amazon home must-haves which included a wide range of practical household products that we rely on regularly. We are back again this year with another list of 20 Amazon Home Solutions & Must-Haves. In it, we’ve listed several functional items that offer practical solutions to common household needs – from organization to home office, from gadgets to tools, and everything in between – as well as those functional items that add some beauty, too.
As always, I’ll provide clickable links below that’ll take you directly to the product pages for more detail.
Let’s dive right in!
~ The following contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure policy here. ~
20 AMAZON HOME SOLUTIONS & MUST-HAVES
1. Portable Laptop Desk
I am practically tethered to my laptop these days. Whether it’s the remote work I do at home or creating blog content, I often carry my laptop around and sometimes end up on a sofa or armchair.
This is when getting a portable laptop desk became essential.
The one I purchased is all I needed: It’s great for large and small laptops (should I need it), has a comfortable cushion on the under side, left- and right-hand mouse pad options, and a wrist rest that I actually like! It’s very soft and not at all like those old-school ‘rubbery’ wrist guards that often left my wrists feeling sore 🙁
And the best part is that it can easily be stored away.
*** See it on Amazon 👉 HERE. ***
2. Ergonomic Office Chair
I love this ergonomic office chair; it’s one of my favourite online finds for a few reasons:
It comes with a breathable built-in mesh along the back; useful on warmer days.
It has wheels along the bottom which I like as it allows me to maneuver between work stations/tables in my craft studio.
The height is adjustable, as are the arms which can be moved out of the way, when needed.
It’s also incredibly comfortable with an extra thick cushion that’s soft – but not overly soft – thus giving the seat some longevity.
Of course, I love that it’s white, but it also comes in an all-black version as well as other colour options.
The one downside? You have to be okay with assembling it yourself. The most challenging part was attaching the wheels – make sure to push them into the openings really hard, until they click into place. (This will save you from hurling insults at your chair (guilty) while assembling it ).
*** For more details, see it on Amazon👉HERE.***
*** See similar options HERE. ***
3. Waterpik Water Flosser
This water flosser was recommended by a YouTuber I follow, and I instantly knew we would benefit by having it, too. It’s an excellent support for those who have ‘tight teeth,’ braces, implants or those who have trouble flossing especially in hard-to-reach spots.
It comes with a handheld waterpik that’s easy to use.
It has adjustable dials along the side, one for floss mode and the other for gum massage.
It’s a convenient way to support your dental health when regular flossing is – or becomes – a challenge.
*** See it on Amazon 👉🏻 HERE.***
4. Foam Hand Soap Dispenser (for ready-made or DIY foam soap)
After using an old metal (and rusting!) soap dispenser in our ensuite for far too long, I finally replaced it with this beautiful, modern ceramic pump.
This one has the added benefit of being a foam soap dispenser for both ready-made foam soap and DIY foam soap. I’ve been creating my own foam soap using a mix of water and liquid soap, which has been a great cost-effective option for us.
The pump itself comes in white, stone and black, making it a great fit for most bathrooms.
And, don’t worry, the dispenser comes with a set of instructions showing you the correct ratio of water to liquid soap, so you can make your own DIY foam soap.
*** See it on Amazon Canada HERE and on Amazon International Sites HERE.***
5. Woven Toilet Tank Caddy
While I’m not a fan of seeing toilet paper on display, the practical side of me decided to find an elegant solution to having extra rolls nearby.
This woven toilet tank caddy is a good compromise, providing a bit of warmth in our ensuite, while also being highly useful!
I liked it so much that I have one in our guest bathroom as well. And, true to its name, the toilet tank caddy fits perfectly on standard toilet tanks.
*** See it on Amazon 👉 HERE.***
6. Double-Sided Compostable Kitchen Sponges (12-Pack)
If you still love using sponges and scouring pads, as I do, but want something eco-friendly and non-abrasive, these compostable kitchen sponges made of wood cellulose (on one side) and coconut fibers (on the other) are a great option.
I first came across these early last year and found them to be a great alternative to cheap and flimsy options that end up getting tossed into the trash.
These compostable sponges are durable, porous (so that they dry faster and are odour-free), clean the most delicate surfaces without scratching, and when you’re done, just toss the used sponge into your compost bin or green bin.
A terrific find for us!
*** See them on Amazon 👉🏽 HERE. ***
7. Minimal Marble Sponge & Dishcloth Holder
I’d been on the hunt for a minimal dishcloth/sponge holder for the longest time! So when I came across this beautiful marble one, I was one happy gal.
This holder does exactly what I want it to – stores/dries my sponges and dishcloths – without taking up a lot of counter space.
Excess water drips down into the dish and the grill is removable for easy cleaning.
And the metal bar allows my dishcloth to air dry quickly.
*** See it on Amazon HERE.***
8. Extra-Large Hot Oil Splash Guard (15.5 Inch)
It was not long after purchasing this large non-stick 14” frying pan, that we realized that with a larger surface comes the inevitable hot oil leaping off the pan far more than usual.
But while most splash guards come in a standard size, hubby found this 15.5 inch one (on Amazon Canada) to fit our 14″ frying pan.
The mesh allows just enough heat to escape without having to constantly adjust the dials.
The ridges along the bottom allow you to rest the splash guard on your kitchen counter without leaving an oily residue.
*** See it on Amazon Canada HERE.***
*** See a variety of size options HERE (plus a 15 Inch splash guard HERE). ***
9. Expandable Bamboo Drawer Organizers – several options
At the beginning of last year, I went on a mad tear organizing our kitchen. This included clearing out a few very messy drawers that needed to be decluttered, purged, and more manageable to use.
Well, it’s been 1 year and I am happy to report that they remain as tidy as the day they were organized. And this, in part, is due to these expandable bamboo drawer organizers.
OPTION 1
OPTION 2
Both options above expand on the left and right sides, depending on your drawer size and kitchen needs.
They are beautiful, sustainable and have various compartments for all our cutlery, utensils, and smaller kitchen necessities that we rely on, daily.
*** See Option 1 HERE and Option 2 HERE. ***
*** See other expandable bamboo drawer options HERE. ***
10. 12-Inch Turntable (aka “Lazy Susan”) for our Fridge
As part of my kitchen re-organization last year, I decided to tackle the most frustrating spot in our refrigerator: the beverage shelf.
Always messy, always jam-packed, and ALWAYS difficult to access any bottle or carton stuck in the back end, this shelf needed some serious organizing.
The best solution I could find was to place our most-reached-for beverages on this ‘lazy Susan.’
This one happens to be a 12-inch one (our shelf is about 15 inches wide).
The size of it allows me to place the most-accessed items on it, while still leaving room to reach back to the least-accessed ones.
I have to say, I was incredibly surprised at how much of a difference this one small change has made.
Of course, the ‘lazy Susan’ is a classic and can be used in a variety of hard-to-reach places – but my current favourite has got to be our refrigerator!
*** See it on Amazon 👉 HERE.***
*** See a variety of size options by the same brand HERE.***
11. LED Garage Light (2-pack)
Last year, we purchased this other LED garage light set (#13 on last year’s list).
It was terrific, but hubby decided to move it into his workspace in the basement and upgraded to these ones found on Amazon Canada.
You can see that it even lights up our garage, mid-day, with natural light already streaming in.
My husband had this to say about these lights:
“I purchased these lights for the garage to replace the single bulb fixtures on the ceiling. They are bright and you can adjust the shape to better light up your space. Installation was easy as they just screw into the existing light socket, just like a light bulb. And they are LED so they use less power than an incandescent bulb.”
*** See it on Amazon Canada HERE. ***
*** See similar ones HERE. ***
12. WORX Mini Cutter
After being gifted with a WORX brand cordless 2-in-1 saw a few years ago (see My Husband and My Review Here), hubby has purchased a WORX drill & impact driver kit combo (#18 in our top 20 Amazon Must-Haves last year) and, just last year, this WORX mini cutter (below):
Here is what my husband has to say about this mini cutter:
“I purchased this mini-cutter because it is light and portable, powerful for its size, and it uses the same batteries as my other Worx tools. It comes with multiple blades and thus far I’ve used it to cut sheet metal roofing, plastic and wood. It cuts slower than a full-zed angle grinder, but being light and small you can get it into hard to reach places or work at awkward angles.”
*** See it on Amazon 👉🏾 HERE. ***
13. Hour Meter for Gas Engines & Generators
Not something that you would expect on this blog, but even I was impressed by this handy little device that essentially tracks the hours used on any gas engines and generators which helps with overall machine maintenance.
This is what hubby had to say about it:
“This devise tracks how long your engine has been running allowing for better maintenance tracking. I use mine to track the hours so I know when to do an oil change. Normally I would change the oil annually, but on some engines, like our generator, it doesn’t run much and doesn’t need to be changed annually. So this device will save some time and money in the long run by allowing me to schedule oil changes based on hours of usage and not by the time of the year. It is relatively easy to install and runs off a small internal battery.”
It’s easy to install and quite small, as you can see on the back of our portable generator, below:
And, here, it virtually disappears on the back of our snow blower (an essential in Canada!):
This is one handy device that is definitely husband-approved!
*** See it on Amazon 👉🏻 HERE.***
14. Shallow, Stackable Plastic Storage Boxes
If you are looking for shallow, stackable bins for smaller supplies then I would suggest these ones. I first purchased them for my craft room a couple of years ago and loved them so much that I purchased even more last year. I love that they are shallow enough to fit a wide variety of items, and easy to stack or store away.
If you need to add compartments, these slim storage baskets(a separate find on Amazon) fit perfectly inside. Even with the openings at the top, smaller items will not spill out as the height of the baskets are a perfect fit.
If you have an IKEA Kallax storage system like mine, then just know that they will fit each shelf. But instead of stacking them, I’m currently using these fabric bins (on Amazon Canada HERE and Amazon International sites HERE) to store these containers, on their sides, making them easily accessible.
*** The Stackable Containers can be found on Amazon 👉 HERE. ***
*** The smaller baskets that fit inside, can be found HERE.***
15. Precision Knife Set – 1 Handle, 20 Blades
In times past, I would grab a pair of scissors or a knife from the kitchen (!) to make quick cuts in my craft space. Eventually, I started looking for a utility knife with some longevity, that I could store in my home office.
This precision knife set was an inexpensive solution to the problem. It comes with a plastic guard that you can place over the blade and 20 removable blades.
The blades are incredibly sharp, do the job needed, and come in this compact case that I can easily store away.
*** See it on Amazon Canada HERE. ***
*** See similar options elsewhere on Amazon HERE. ***
16. Extension Cords with Flat Electric Plugs – 2 Options
After covering nearly every inch of wall space along one side of my craft studio & office space – and subsequently closing off access to a few key electrical outlets – I wanted to access at least one of those outlets.
My husband kindly purchased a flat electrical plug (on Amazon Canada) with several cool features:
– 6 foot extension cord
– Surge protector power bar
– 8 outlets
– 3 USB ports
This was a great all-in-one power bar that suited all my needs – thank you, hubby!
The key to making all this work, however, was the flat plug it came with.
The advantage of a flat plug – as opposed to a traditional plug, is that the cord runs down or parallel along the wall, so that it does not take up a lot of space behind the shelves (see below).
With just a sliver of space behind my storage shelves, the flat plug fit in perfectly.
My husband also purchased another flat plug with an extra long extension cord that I often use while working in our living room.
It’s normally plugged into the wall behind our grey sofa and I often leave it there, tucking it behind the sofa.
This one happens to be a braided fabric cord (a pretty detail I like), is white, and blends in quite well – at least better than your typical bright blue or orange extension cord!
*** See the 8-plug power bar option on Amazon Canada 👉 HERE & similar options HERE. ***
*** See the extra-long extension braided cord option on Amazon 👉 HERE. ***
17. Basic Tabletop Ironing Board
As a general rule, I avoid ironing as much as possible! But if I have to iron, it’s usually because I have some craft projects that require it. A small tabletop iron is the perfect solution for me.
And when I’m done, I fold down the legs and lean it against my craft room shelves for easy access.
*** See it on Amazon 👉🏽 HERE. ***
*** See similar options on Amazon HERE. ***
18. Black Passage Door Lever
An affordable way to make small, budget-friendly updates to a builder-basic home is by replacing door handles. This black passage door lever was a great find on Amazon and both hubby and I liked the results.
It is a substantial piece, good quality, and was easy enough for even me to install.
It instantly updated the look of this door in our entryway.
*** See it on Amazon 👉🏾 HERE.***
19. Solar Pendant Light
This solar pendant light was a great find on Amazon. Use it at home to save on electricity costs, or use it as we did, for off-grid usage at our property outside the city.
This is what my husband had to say about this one:
“This light was purchased for our off-grid outhouse. It is small but it lights up the room well. You can cycle through different light modes from warm to cold, depending on your preference. Installation was easy and there is a long power cord between the light and the solar panel, giving you a lot of installation options. And with the solar panel and built in battery storage it is ready to go when you are.”
(🤦 Oh boy! Yes, that’s just a taste of my husband’s silly sense of humour!).
*** See it on Amazon 👉 HERE.***
20. Resolve, Urine Destroyer for Pets (& People)
I thought it only fitting, to follow up the above item with Resolve’s Urine Destroyer spray!
My husband purchased this one for our cats. This may be a bit “TMI” but for pet owners, I know you’ll appreciate this: One of our cats sometimes sprays sideways when in the litter box (!) – which means that occasionally some of it ends up outside the litter box 🙁
After trying a lot of ‘remedies’ and products, we finally landed on one that actually works to eliminate cat urine odours.
The product itself has a wide range of uses, including:
- Neutralizes Urine Odors on Contact
- Great for Pet & People Accidents
- Safe for Carpets, Fabrics & Hard Floors
- Helps Prevent Remarking
- Safe for Pets When Used as Directed
NOTE: It is worth mentioning that while my husband does not detect a particularly strong smell coming from the Resolve product itself, I find that the spray emits a strong smell that takes a few hours to completely dissipate. Just an FYI to those with more ‘sensitives sniffers’ out there 🙂
All in all, a great purchase.
*** See it on Amazon HERE. ***
So that’s this year’s round-up of 20 Amazon Home Solutions & Must-Haves. We’ve only scratched the surface here, but I hope you found something on the list that helps you as you continue to make your homes more beautiful and more functional this year.
If you enjoyed this post, check out these others from A Pretty Fix:
No Comments