Buying a home is an undeniably big moment in a person's life. However, beyond the excitement of finding the perfect house or apartment to call your own, saving for a down payment, and getting your keys, there are countless smaller to-dos that don't even show up on a home buyer's radar until they move in.
According to one survey from GoBankingRates.com, the average American home costs $1,204 each month to maintain—and that's not even taking into account renovations or major design changes. So, instead of adding more zeroes to that already-enormous tally, it's time to start spending smarter—and buying the best home products instead of diving through a sea of duds.
With that in mind, we've compiled a list of the best home products that will not only improve your enjoyment of your home, but make it a little easier to maintain, too.
1 | Sprinkler Hide-a-Key
Amazon$8.80; buy now at Amazon
Whether you frequently forget where you left your keys or are looking for an easy way to let your AirBnB guests in when you're away, a safe space to stash your spare key is essential. Fortunately, that doesn't have to mean storing it under your doormat, where anyone could find it. Instead, this key holder, which looks just like a standard sprinkler head, can be staked into your lawn, where only those who know it's there will be able to find it.
2 | Towel Warmer
Bed Bath & Beyond$99; buy now at Bed Bath & Beyond
There are few things better than stepping out of the shower and finding a towel fresh out of the dryer waiting for you. For those who want to replicate this feeling on a daily basis, this towel warmer from Bed Bath & Beyond is one of the most genius home products out there. Simply pop in your towel, press a button, and voila! Comfort straight out of the shower, even on the coldest days.
3 | Ring Cam
Amazon$99; buy now at Amazon
You can't put a price on feeling safe in your home—but that doesn't mean you need to pay an arm and a leg for it, either. According to HomeAdvisor, the average American pays $701 for their home security system—and that's not including regular monitoring costs. However, you can enjoy similar peace of mind with a Ring, a motion-activated, WiFi-enabled doorbell camera that allows you to see who's coming to your door and speak to them, whether you're home or not. Ring also offers motion-activated non-doorbell cameras with lights and sirens. The best part? Service starts at just $3 per month.
4 | Bissel Pet Eraser Cordless Vacuum
Amazon$69.99; buy now at Amazon
You may love your pet, but it's unlikely you love the way they treat your carpets. For homeowners dealing with unpleasant reminders of their furry friends, there's the Bissel Pet Eraser Cordless Vacuum. Small, lightweight, and portable, this handy vacuum can get even the most stubborn stains out of carpet without damaging it, saving you the cost and hassle of renting a pricey carpet cleaner from your local home supply store.
5 | OXO Good Grips Wiper Blade Squeegee
Amazon$9.99; buy now at Amazon
No matter what kind of windows your home has, odds are there's a layer of grime on them standing between you and a picturesque view. However, when it comes to cleaning them, many homeowners are severely slacking. Fortunately, there's hope. You don't ever have to break out that bucket and washcloth to get sparkling-clean windows again. This squeegee makes it easy to spritz on your favorite glass-cleaning products and wipe them away without a single streak.
6 | Magnetic Screen Door
Amazon$29.99; buy now at Amazon
It's not just that mosquitoes are annoying—though, no question, they are—they can also be downright dangerous. The good news? You don't have to spend a fortune to have custom screen doors installed to keep them out of your home for good. This easy-to-install magnetic screen door can keep your home free of bugs while allowing those sweet summer breezes in.
7 | Hue White Starter Kit
Hue$99.99; buy now at Hue
Sometimes, getting out of bed to turn off a lamp across the room feels like a journey of a million miles. However, with this Hue starter kit, you can integrate your light bulbs with your smart home system and simply tell your Amazon Echo to turn off the lights for you while you stay put.
8 | Folding Boot Scraper
Amazon$24.99; buy now at Amazon
There's no denying it: wearing your shoes inside is a surefire way to get germs everywhere. In fact, according to research published in the Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, floors walked on with shoes had 16 times the number of bacteria of those that hadn't—and, worse yet, some of that bacteria included dangerous Staphylococcus aureus. With that in mind, make sure you're not bringing that grit and grime inside your house. With this boot scraper, you can get the gunk off your shoes, keeping your home a bit cleaner in the process.
9 | Echo Dot
Amazon$49.99; buy now at Amazon
Whether you want to add items to your grocery list or want to play your favorite Spotify playlist, the Amazon Echo Dot is one of the best home products you can buy. This inconspicuous digital tool makes it easy to accomplish countless mundane daily tasks in mere seconds—and without the high price of a personal assistant.
10 | Portable Travel Garment Steamer
Amazon$19.99; buy now at Amazon
There are few things that can make you look less presentable than showing up to a wedding, big meeting, or other important event in wrinkled clothes. The good news? You no longer have to lug a bulky steamer out of your closet or risk burning your clothes with an iron to get a polished look. This portable steamer can fit easily in a suitcase or on a closet shelf, making it simple to look great in seconds.
11 | First Alert AF400 Tundra Fire Extinguishing Aerosol Spray
Amazon$12.58; buy now at Amazon
According to the National Fire Protection Agency, 2,510 individuals and $6.7 million in damage is directly attributable to house fires every year. However, keeping a fire extinguisher handy in your kitchen and each sleeping space is a great way to limit the amount of damage done if a fire breaks out. Fortunately, that doesn't have to mean lugging a huge fire extinguisher around with you—these small fire extinguishers from First Alert can put out a fire in seconds, but easily fit inside a drawer or cabinet.
12 | Stone Care International Stone Stain Remover Poultice Powder
Amazon$7.98; buy now at Amazon
While upgrading your home to include stone countertops may mean your counters are more durable than the laminate the preceded them, that doesn't mean they're impenetrable. In fact, quartz, marble, and granite counters can become easily stained, especially by oils, making them look worse for wear in minutes. The solution? One of the best home products for stone counters takes virtually no time to use: it's this stone stain remover from Stone Care International, which can pull those tough-to-remove oil stains from your countertop and leave them looking brand new once again.
13 | Bar Keepers Friend
Amazon$13.29 for four; buy now at Amazon
Whether you're dealing with a rust-stained sink, a pan you can never quite get clean, or a mineral-caked faucet, this all-in-one cleaner can make virtually anything in your house look like it just came out of the box. Instead of relying on multiple products to remove stains, grime, and rust, this one simple can will make cleaning everything from your bathroom to your kitchen a snap.
14 | Schlage Z-Wave Connect Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt with Built-In Alarm
Amazon$159.00; buy now at Amazon
You've got an armful of groceries and a locked front door. What do you do? Nothing, if you have one of these touchscreen deadbolts installed. With this techie lock, you can lock and unlock your door via your smartphone, making it easy to head into the house, no matter how loaded down with packages you are.
15 | TubShroom
Amazon$12.99; buy now at Amazon
If you find yourself needing to constantly snake mountains of hair out of your drain, you're not alone. Luckily, with the TubShroom, all that hair that would otherwise clog up your pipes gets neatly wrapped around this little rubber stopper instead, meaning you can easily keep your drain clear without having to pay a pricey plumber.
16 | Heated Bath Mat
Hammacher Schlemmer$69.95; buy now at Hammacher Schlemmer
You no longer have to make a decision between cold feet on a tile floor and stepping onto a still damp—and therefore, chilly—bath mat again. With this heated mat, you can keep those piggies warm, even on the coldest days.
17 | Weiman Glass Cooktop Cleaner
Amazon$13.98; buy now at Amazon
While owning a glass cooktop may mean you're never tasked with re-lighting blown-out gas burners, it comes with its own difficulties. Namely, trying to get the top of your stove clean without damaging it can feel like an exercise in futility. Luckily, there's a solution. This daily cooktop cleaner can get your heating elements sparkling again without accidentally scratching them in the process.
18 | Peel and Stick Backsplash Wall Decal
Home Depot$20.36 per square; buy now at Home Depot
Indecisive homeowners, rejoice! Instead of shelling out hundreds or thousands of dollars to have a contractor install a backsplash in your kitchen, you can DIY it with these adhesive backsplash tiles. And while installation is easy enough, there's an even cooler feature: if you decide that backsplash is starting to look dated, you can simply remove them and start again.
19 | MailBoss Curbside Locking Mailbox
Amazon$189; buy now at Amazon
Even if you're super cautious about home safety, mail theft can happen to anyone, robbing you of important documents, money, or expensive packages. Luckily, with this locking curbside mailbox, you can keep that important mail safe—and out of the hands of ne'er-do-well neighbors—until you get home.
20 | ECO HEPA Air Purifier
The Sharper Image$259.99; buy now at The Sharper Image
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the air inside your house might not be as clean as you think—in fact, it could be harboring everything from mold to mildew to dust to particulate matter from bugs and other pests. The good news? With this ECO HEPA Air Purifier from The Sharper Image, you can breathe easy, knowing your air is incomparably clean.
21 | Ovente BPA-Free Electric Kettle
Amazon$13.99; buy now at Amazon
Love tea, but hate the time it takes to boil water and steep your favorite bag? With an electric tea kettle, you'll never have to wait 15 minutes for that cup of Earl Gray again. And better yet, if you ever find yourself low on heating oil, you can quickly use your electric kettle to fill a bath tub or a hot water bottle.
22 | Mophie Wireless Charging Base
Apple$39.95; buy now at Apple
Those lightning cables that came with your phone aren't infallible—in many cases, they break quicker than your often-dropped phone. The solution? These wireless charging bases from Mophie allow you to simply set your phone on top to charge and look a lot more stylish in your living room or next to your bed than that tangle of frayed wires.
23 | Cartman 39-Piece Tool Set
Amazon$14.99; buy now at Amazon
Whether you're a homeowner or a renter, one of the best home products you can buy is a good tool kit. And fortunately, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get all the tools you need. For under $15, you can own this Cartman tool set, which comes with a hammer, tape measure, pliers, scissors, screwdriver, hex keys, screwdriver bits, and more.
24 | Cuisinart Deluxe Electric Can Opener
Amazon$17.95; buy now at Amazon
If you're grown-up enough to own a home, you're certainly enough of an adult to own some grown-up kitchen tools, too. Instead of risking a finger trying to open a can with a manual can opener, this automatic one can make it easy to remove those lids in a snap—sans peril.
25 | 5-Blade Herb Scissors
Amazon$7.82; buy now at Amazon
That perfect pinch of parsley atop an omelet? Those minced scallions in a soup? You, too, can have pro-chef-level dishes in the privacy of your own home with these herb scissors. Instead of wasting time trying to cut these hard-to-chop ingredients yourself, you can simply snip them into bits with these scissors and clean out the blades with some soap and water afterward.
26 | Chef's Choice Electric Knife Sharpener
Amazon$138.90; buy now at Amazon
The safest knife in your kitchen is the sharpest one. However, that doesn't mean you need to pay your local culinary supply store every time your paring knife gets dull. Instead, give it a few swipes with this electric knife sharpener and you'll be cutting like a pro again in no time.
27 | Motion-Activated Cordless Light
The Sharper Image$49.99; buy now at The Sharper Image
Save yourself from slips, trips, and falls by illuminating those dark spots around your house with this motion-activated light. Not only is this cordless light easy to install, it saves you the high cost of hiring an electrician—and the cost of paying those medical bills, since you won't be taking that tumble.
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