7 Household Things I’ve Bought Over the Years Worth Every Last Penny I Spent On Them
Project 365, Day 35
You know those things you have that you are pretty lukewarm about? Maybe you have some sheets you use ‘cause you have them, but every time you put them on your bed, you yell out “I hate these sheets!” Or that floor steamer you cheaped out on that kiiiiinda sucks that’s just propped up in a corner in your laundry room, mostly unused? True story.
Well, this list is the opposite of those things. These are the things I have at home—the “unsexy” stuff we all need—that I’ve used for years and loved, or recently acquired and wondered how I managed to get by without them before welcoming them into my life. Some of them I’ve already shared over in the “Home Shoppable Faves” and “Food Shoppable Faves” section of the site but thought it was worth bringing them up again here.
I would gladly spend my money on the following seven things all over again, without thinking even for a millisecond longer:
Charisma 100% Hygrocotton 2-piece Bath Towel Set via Costco, $16
I’ve had these towels for years and years. I first experienced them at my friend’s house when visiting, and I couldn’t help but stop her in the kitchen the next morning and demand that she tell me where she got her towels. “Where I get everything…Costco.” WHAT?!? The weekend I got back home, I made a beeline to my Costco, and picked up bath towels, hand towels and washcloths. Five-ish years of weekly washes and daily use and they still feel great. (They also have bath sheets!) Oh! And for anyone thinking they can’t buy these because they don’t have a Costco membership, there are so many things you can purchase on Costco.com without being a member, including these. Awesome, right?
Threshold 400 Thread Count Solid Performance Sheet Set at Target, from $45
To me, there will never be a better sheet set for the value. I have a lot of sheets, having been gifted many over the years to test and write about. Yes, Brooklinen and Parachute sheets are very good, among many others, but they are also several hundred dollars when you round it all out, and these come in at under $50 for a queen set. And that’s before any of the sales Target typically runs. I have some solids and some prints, and they are still some of my favorites all these years later.
KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener via Amazon, $11
It doesn’t matter how good or expensive your knives are, they will need to be sharpened at some point. Of course, you can take them to get sharpened (the best choice), or you can buy this little doohickey for about $11 and carry on your merry way. I wrote this article about it over on Kitchn if you’re curious to hear more about it. And yes, I recognize the article says it’s by a woman named Rachel Shaw. Trust that that’s me hahaha. A random pseudonym I used at the time…
Ninja Max XL Air Fryer via Amazon, $120
Look, I know I sound like a broken record by the musical group Air Fryer, but I love this thing. While I DO wish it were more rectangular in shape, the “Max Crisp” mode that’s exclusive to the Ninja brand cannot be beaten on max crispy-osity (a very technical term). I mean, what don’t I put in the air fryer at this point? If it’s a solid object, there’s no telling where I’ll stop.
Wool Dryer Balls by Smart Sheep 6-Pack, XL via Amazon, $17
I’m SO happy not to be using dryer sheets anymore. What a waste! This comes in a pack of six, though I use about four in my machine. I’m not sure why I don’t throw them all in. Maybe I will the next time I do laundry. Anyhow, you can buy these in lots of places (even Trader Joe’s I hear), but I really like these because they do not shed. Not even on my black clothes. I’ve also read bad reviews about dryer balls smelling very funky and like a herd of wild sheep, but these were just fine. A few dots of essential oils when I remember and my clothes come out fluffy and smelling great. 10/10 would recommend.
Dyson Cordless Vacuum via Target, $380
The one linked here is the V8, which is years more advanced than mine. I have the V6 Absolute from a lifetime ago. And it’s still amazing, and I’d still marry it, and it’s 100% on my “grab in a fire” list, though I’m not sure what use I’d have for a vacuum without a home to clean? Doesn’t matter, would still probably grab it. I absolutely abhorred vacuuming before the Dyson came into my life. Now I could happily do it every day, plus it doesn’t bother my back much. (Here’s an Apartment Therapy article I wrote about my version back in 2018 during some sale.)
Oral-B 3000 Smartseries Electric Toothbrush via Amazon, $90
In my “things I bought over Black Friday weekend” post, I mentioned I snagged this after literal years of contemplating buying an electric toothbrush. I’ve been using it since November and think it’s fantastic. It comes with a charging stand that also holds four replacement heads, which makes it convenient to store if you have counter space. I live in a 100-year-old building where “storage” was a concept as far away from brains as cellphone technology, and I can find a spot to stash it. Anyhow, it’s been awesome, and I especially like how it has a sensor light that goes off when you’re brushing too hard. Evidently, I was brushing too hard…all the time. Looks like there’s an $18 coupon for it right now, so it’s right around $72.
Alright, that’s that. What makes your list?!?
See you tomorrow, friends.