Lean close and I’ll let you in on a little secret — sometimes the best purchases are ones you make on an impulse. I’m talking about those random little buys that turn out to be way more useful than they should be, like corn kernel strippers and portable refrigerators. And if you lean even closer, I’ll tell you another hot tip: there are tons of handy gadgets on Amazon, and they’re all ripe for the picking.
Not only do a ton of products on Amazon come with free two-day Prime shipping, but most of it isn’t even available in stores. I mean, let’s be honest — when was the last time you found an umbrella hat that actually works in a brick and mortar shop? And don’t get me started on the outlet shelf in here, because I already own three.
These Vacuum Bags That Come With A Free Travel Pump
My closet is always in a state of disaster, but these vacuum bags help keep everything looking neat and tidy. They’relarge enough to fit up to four pillows OR one queen-sized bedding set, plus you also get a free hand pump so you can use them while traveling. Each order comes with six.
These Reusable Straws Made From Soft Silicone
Not only do you get eight straws made from soft silicone, but this set also comes with two stainless steel straws, one storage pouch, as well as two cleaning brushes. I like to keep mine in my backpack in case I end up eating out, as I don’t like to put my mouth directly on my drinking glass at most restaurants.
A Pack Of Handy Door Openers To Keep Your Hands Clean
You never know what’s on your doorknobs or elevator buttons, and I hate getting sick — that’s why I keep one of these door openers on my lanyard at all times. The hook lets you open doors without touching them, plus each order comes with three so that you can share with the entire household.
A Corn Stripper For Salads And Salsas
I used to slice the kernels off my corn cobs with a knife, and I can’t tell you how many times I cut myself — which is why I upgraded to this corn stripper. Just stick your cob inside, then slowly press downwards to remove all the kernels. I like to use mine for salads and salsas, but it’s also great for making baby food.
A Miniature Refrigerator For Your Car And Office
Keep it next to you in your car during long drives, and this miniature refrigerator will keep your drinks cold for whenever you get thirsty. Mine sits on my home office desk because I can’t be bothered to get up and go to the fridge (what? At least I’m honest), and it’s large enough to hold six standard cans.
A Tool That Magnetizes Your Nuts And Bolts
Believe it or not, I love tackling a good DIY project around the house — and this little magnetizer stops all my nuts and bolts from getting lost while I’m working. You can also use it to magnetize tools so that your bits stick to the end rather than fall away, and it works great with the magnetic wristband you’ll find up next.
This Magnetic Wristband For DIY Projects
Not only does it pair wonderfully with the magnetizer, but this magnetic wristband gives you a convenient place to stash your bits and screws until you’re ready to use them. It’s made with 15 strong magnets on the inside, plus there are even two built-in pockets where you can store additional items — like that magnetizer, for instance.
These Clog Removers That Don’t Use Any Harsh Chemicals
I’m always a little wary of pouring what looks and smells like battery acid into my pipes, whereas these clog removers are completely chemical-free. The teeth along the spine latch onto hair, grime, dirt, garbage, and whatever else is blocking your pipe, plus they’re completely reusable. Each order comes with three.
This Food Chopper For Ground Beef And Turkey
As long as you’ve got storage space, you can never have too many cooking utensils in your kitchen. The best example? This chopper. It does a better job of dicing up ground meat than regular plastic spoons or rubber spatulas, and cleaning it is incredibly easy — just toss it into the dishwasher, and you’re ready to go.
An Outlet Shelf That’s Perfect For Phones And Smart Devices
Able to hold up to 10 pounds, I like to use this outlet shelf to hold my smartphone while it’s charging, and I have a second one holding my Google Home. Each order comes with all the mounting hardware you’ll need for installation, and you have the choice of two colors: white or black.
This Bidet So That You Don’t Need Toilet Paper
I got lucky when the apocalypse struck — I was able to buy this bidet riiight before everybody realized that toilet paper was a hot commodity. It comes with all the tools and parts you need for installation, plus it’s easy enough that most reviewers were able to put it together in just a few minutes.
This Whisk That Comes With A Handy Wiper
I hate letting any batter go to waste while I’m cooking, but this whisk wiper makes it easy to get every last drop. Just slide it down to the handle before you start mixing, and it’ll be ready to squeegee any leftover chunks of batter stuck to the whisk. You also have the option of more than five colors, including blue, green, orange, and more.
A Magnetic Tool That Helps You Reach Distant Items
The next time a washer screw, or any other small magnetic item falls just out of reach, you’ll be glad you had this pick-up tool. It’s made from military-grade aluminum alloy, and it’s perfect for reaching behind heavy furniture to grab small items. My favorite part? It has a flashlight built into it, plus each order comes with batteries.
These Gear Ties Made From Durable Rubber
Untangling my headphones is a tedious chore, which is why I grabbed these gear ties. They’re great for cables behind your computer, headphones, or even organizing the wires in your entertainment system. Each one is made from durable rubber — unlike other ties, these ones won’t wear thin through repeated use.
This Veggie Holder Made From Stainless Steel
Made from food-grade stainless steel, this holder makes it easy to chop up my tomatoes, onions, pickles, or any other vegetable in my fridge. The prongs are spaced far enough apart that all of my knives fit between them, plus it also works great as a tenderizer for meat.
This Purple Thing For Anyone Who Likes To Sew
If you enjoy sewing, but don’t like stabbing your fingers with needles, you definitely need this purple thing. It’s made from thick plastic that won’t warp under pressure, though one reviewer put it best — “I use it to push the thread to the back from under the presser foot, and to do a quick check to make sure I’m at a quarter of an inch; to pull out my flat needles as I’m Sewing, and I use it to hold the end of the material as it slides under the pressure foot so it doesn’t bunch up or move. In fact those are just some of the things that I use it for, there are so many more and this little tool is pretty durable considering it feels so lightweight. I love this thing!”
This Scrubber That Keeps Hands Safe From Sharp Knives
If I cut myself doing dishes, it’s because I was careless with a knife or two — so grab this scrubber. The wraparound design keeps your hands safe from sharp blades while you’re scrubbing, and the sturdy bristles won’t easily fray. I like that the handgrip is textured so that it’s harder to drop when wet.
A Rapid Egg Cooker That Scrambles, Poaches, And More
Love cooking eggs, but hate cleaning the stove? Me too — and this rapid egg cooker does all the work for you with hardly any of the mess. You can use it to cooked scrambled, hard- and soft-boiled eggs, though I like to use mine for poaching. It’s completely BPA-free, and the automatic shut-off helps prevent your meal from overcooking.
A Personal Alarm That Fits On Your Keychain
Just loop this personal alarm onto your lanyard, and you’ll have peace of mind in an accident no matter where you are. Each one comes with batteries already inside so that they’re ready to go out of the box, and since there’s a variety of colors to pick from you can even mix-and-match to suit your style. Unlike other alarms, these ones will last for up to a full year before the battery needs to be replaced.
These Smart Plugs That Are Compatible With Alexa
I have these smart plugs all over my home — I use them to turn on lights when I’m too lazy to get up, and I like to impress my friends by saying “Alexa, bar light on!” whenever they’re over. You can also use them with Google Home, and the downloadable app lets you set schedules so that your lights are on and welcoming you back when you come home.
This Infrared Thermometer That Takes Temperatures From A Distance
With its backlit LCD screen, this infrared thermometer is perfect for reading temperatures no matter where you are — me? I like to use mine on our grill so that I know when it’s reached the proper temperature. It’s able to read temps up to 1,022 degrees Fahrenheit, plus there’s even a built-in laser so that you know exactly where you’re aiming.
A Handy Shelf That Sits On Top Of Your Stove
Spices, soy sauce, olive oil — I have all these and more sitting on top of this stove shelf. Installation was incredibly easy since there’s no adhesives or drilling required, and it’s designed to fit most stoves. Choose from three finishes, including stainless steel, black, or white.
This Knife Designed To Scrape Stuff Out From Jars
There’s always at least a little bit of mayonnaise, jelly, peanut butter, or whatever else left in your condiment jars, so grab this handy knife. It’s curved so that you can use it to scrape the walls of your containers to get every last drop — I’m usually able to get at least another tablespoon or two whenever I think my bottles are “empty.”
This Ice Ball Mold Made From Flexible Silicone
Ice balls melt more slowly than regular cubes, which is why I like to use these ice balls when I’m drinking whiskey or any other cocktail. The mold itself is made from flexible silicone that you can bend and twist to pop out the ice once it’s frozen, plus you can also use them to freeze chocolate, jelly, soap, and more.
A Spiralizer For Delicious Vegetable Noodles
I love pasta, but sometimes it’s a little too heavy for how hungry I am. Enter: this vegetable spiralizer. I like to use mine to make zucchini noodles, but you can also use it on cucumbers, sweet potatoes, and more. The non-slip grip keeps your hands safe, and the compact size means it takes up hardly any space in your cabinets.
An Umbrella Hat That’s Good In Rain Or Shine
Even if you think I look silly, I’m still gonna wear this umbrella hat outside whenever the sun is just a little too bright. It’s also great for rain, and it’s wide enough that it’ll keep your shoulders and arms dry. Choose from two colors: black or silver.
The Shampoo Brush That Massages Away Dirt
There’s nothing better than kicking back in the tub after a long day, and this shampoo brush turns any bathroom into a spa. The soft silicone bristles massage your scalp as you scrub, and there’s even a handle on the back to help you maintain your grip when wet. Mine gets more use than my regular hairbrush, if I’m being honest.
These Headphones You Can Comfortably Sleep In
Most headphones are too bulky to take a comfortable snooze in — but not these ones. Not only do the cloth ear covers feel soft against your skin, but it also works great as an eye mask. I always make sure to bring mine whenever I have a long flight ahead, and I don’t have to worry about them dying since the battery lasts for more than eight hours.
These Lid Covers That Stop Pots From Boiling Over
I make a ton of quinoa, and if I’m not watching the stove the starches will cause the pot to boil over. These covers not only prevent the water from overflowing onto my stove, but they also work great as steamer baskets for vegetables. Each order comes with two, plus they’re safe to put into the dishwasher.
A Cooling Blanket For Hot Summer Nights
If you’re a hot sleeper like I am, this cooling blanket will absolutely change your life. No longer am I waking up in the middle of the night with my nightclothes sticking to me, nor am I constantly stuck having to wash my bedsheets. It’s made from a blend of breathable cotton and PE cooling fabric, plus it’s safe to toss into the washing machine.
This Potato Peeler That Does All The Work For You
The only time of the year I make mashed potatoes is during Thanksgiving, and this potato peeler is an absolute lifesaver. There’s no risk of you nicking yourself since the spinning bottom rotates the potato for you, and you’re not limited to just potatoes — I’ve even used mine to peel apples when making a pie.
An Electric Fly Swatter That’s More Fun To Use Than It Should Be
It may sound a little sadistic, but trust me — this electric fly swatter is a lot of fun to use. There’s just something satisfying about the zzZZZT! sound the bugs make when the come into contact with the 4,000 volts coursing through the wiring, plus the battery is completely rechargeable.
A Good Ol’ Fake Rock To Hide Keys
Ever get locked out of your house? It’s happened to me more than a few times — that’s why I got this fake rock. There’s a compartment inside where you can hide a spare key so you’re not stuck outside, and it’s completely weatherproof so you don’t have to worry about it deteriorating in the rain. Just don’t forget it’s there — it does look incredibly real, after all.
A Skimmer For Straining And Frying
I like to do a lot of frying, which means I go through a ton of oil — unless I’m using this skimmer. You can use it to strain your fried foods right out of the pot if you don’t have a frying basket, plus it also works great for straining pasta if you want to keep the water boiling for something else. And since it’s made from stainless steel, you don’t have to worry about it rusting.
This Body Pillow That’s Perfect For Side Sleepers
I know it’s marketed towards pregnant women, but you don’t need to have a bun cooking in the oven to enjoy this body pillow. I like to sleep on my side, and the wrap-around arms give me something to snuggle against when my hips need some extra support. It’s made from 100% breathable cotton, and the extension is detachable depending on how you like to lay.
A Water Bottle That Reminds You To Stay Hydrated
I used to have trouble remembering to drink water throughout the day, but this water bottle has been a big help. There are markings on the side that remind you to take a sip every few hours, and the top is leakproof so you don’t have to worry about it spilling in your bag. My favorite part about it though, is that there’s more than a dozen colors to choose from — pink gradient, purple, blue, and more.