Useful things
I discovered Bac-Out while trying to combat a cat-pee problem. It didn’t solve it (I had to remove the carpet for that), but it did wonders for any affected towels I could throw in the washer.
43 surprising products we’ve found incredibly useful, from a portable dishwasher to a $13 survival bracelet
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The Insider Reviews team has tested out a lot of products over the past few years. There are plenty of items that stand out for being innovative, practical, comfortable, and adding value to our lives in a plethora of other ways. For instance, 100 of our favorite products of all time.
These items, whether we’ve purchased them ourselves or tested them out for work, have become mainstays in our lives, helping us to solve even the most mundane of life’s inconveniences. From big-ticket items like a $600 fitness watch to small ones like a $12 nylon bag, these are the most useful products we have tried or bought — the things we plan to use for years, frequently recommend to friends, and would shell out money to buy again should we lose them.
The 43 most useful products we’ve discovered:
A smartwatch for runners
Aside from the half-hour it takes to charge it once a week, I wear this watch 24/7. It’s essential for my running training, and I also rely on the sleep stats for my mattress testing and to track my overall health. The screens and apps are endlessly customizable. I’ve worn this for more than two years and am still discovering useful features. — James Brains, home and kitchen reporter
I’m currently using the Garmin Forerunner 745 ($449) to train for a marathon, and I agree with James; every day I find more useful features. My personal favorite is how granular the app’s sleep data is — if you wear it to bed, you’ll get a “sleep score” in the morning. It’s broken down into categories such as “restlessness” and “stress” as well as time spent in light sleep, REM, and so on. The regular record-keeping is also making it easier to start spotting what might be impacting my sleep. When I have an insight like that, I use the notes section to jot thoughts down, like “had coffee in afternoon,” or, “melatonin may help me stay asleep.” – Mara Leighton, senior education and personal development reporter
A portable dishwasher for apartments without one
This is hands down the best thing that I bought during the pandemic. When my husband and I were suddenly both working from home, we had double the dishes we usually do and, since our apartment doesn’t have a dishwasher, it seemed like we were always doing the dishes.
I finally got so fed up that I bought a portable dishwasher. It functions exactly like a typical dishwasher, except it uses a hose that connects from our faucet to the machine. It saves me hours of dishwashing and I will never go back to handwashing again. My model is a full-size one with wheels and a butcher block top, but smaller households may appreciate a countertop model, which is less obtrusive and cheaper. — Lauren Savoie, deputy editor
A sleek wallet phone case
I’ve bought this case for every new iPhone I’ve had. I know it’s risky to keep my cards and phone in the same place, but I’ve been doing this for five years and haven’t had an issue yet. I like this particular case because there’s an opening that lets me press my card up from the slot, which very few other wallet cases offer. — Sally Kaplan, Insider Reviews executive editor
A popular Moka Pot for coffee on the go
I have an espresso machine at home, but when I travel, this is my favorite way to make coffee. There are tons of Moka pots out there, and this is by no stretch the most popular, but I’ve found it to be the most heat-resistant, and unlike others, have yet to replace a single part. — Owen Burke, senior home and kitchen reporter
Long-lasting Bluetooth earbuds
I’ve had these earbuds or an earlier version of them for four years. They’re probably my most used and appreciated possession. They’re rugged (dirt-, water-, sweat-proof) and create a tight seal that’s perfect for blocking the sounds of the outside world (like your feet pounding the pavement or 80% of airplane noise).
They’ve also got a long-living and well-designed battery: a single charge gets you six hours of play-time, their case stores an additional 10 hours, and a quick five-minute charge will give you an hour of use.
I pretty much never leave home without them — I drop them into my purse when I leave for errands or a night out, so I’m never without music or podcasts. – Mara Leighton, senior education and personal development reporter
A simple weekly pill organizer
I got this pill case to remind me to take my vitamins every day, and since I started using it, I haven’t forgotten yet! I know these are nothing new, but for me, it’s been incredibly helpful to have the visual reminder on my countertop. — Sally Kaplan, Insider Reviews executive editor
A cleaner that works on all sorts of stains and smells
I discovered Bac-Out while trying to combat a cat-pee problem. It didn’t solve it (I had to remove the carpet for that), but it did wonders for any affected towels I could throw in the washer.
The enzymatic cleaner works on all sorts of stains and smells. I keep a spray bottle of it for any other cat accidents and add a few spritzes to every load of laundry. It has a fresh lime scent but isn’t overpowering. — Jenny McGrath, home editor
A fold-up bag for travel overflow
My partner, family, and I each live in different parts of the country, so I travel often to see them.
This fold-up bag is one of my best tricks. It folds up to a compact pouch that requires little space on the way there, and it unzips into a decent-sized duffel for overflow on the way back. I use it when I’ve bought things on the trip or when I don’t want to be as careful packing for the return home. I’ve used it as both a carry-on bag and a personal item. – Mara Leighton, senior education and personal development reporter
Transparent packing cubes
Packing cubes are another major travel upgrade for me. They keep all my outfits and items organized and chunked by category (i.e.: Friday night plans on a trip), which helps me visualize everything quickly.
I use opaque packing cubes, but these are the packing cubes I now wish I had because they’re transparent, which makes it a bit easier to see everything inside after you’ve forgotten what you packed. – Mara Leighton, senior education and personal development reporter
A steering wheel tray for drive-through dinners
My wife and I go to Taco Bell probably more often than we should, and we always go through the drive-through line and then sit in the parking lot to eat. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to eat a taco in the car, but it’s not pretty. We got this tray that clips onto the steering wheel to make it a little easier, and even though it makes us look nuts, it’s actually been incredibly useful! — Sally Kaplan, Insider Reviews executive editor
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Useful Things Antiques and Collectibles
Useful Things Antiques and Collectibles Store is a Wonderful place to shop! We have a large showroom with a wide variety of items. Beautiful Antique furniture . primitives.. hoosier cabinets.. knockdown wardrobes.. pie safes.. to good slightly used furniture. Table and Chair sets and bedroom suites.. we also offer loads of smalls.. Please feel free to come in and browse around.. find your own little treasure!
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