The dog days of summer are upon us, and frankly, it's too darn hot outside to go shopping. Thank goodness you can stay indoors, cool and comfy, and shop online to your heart's content. We took a look at Amazon sales data to find out what Cheapism readers have been buying lately; the results are listed in order of descending popularity. Happy browsing!
Prices and availability are subject to change. Some items may only be available from third-party sellers.
$9
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This simple product was by far the most popular among Cheapism readers in 2020 — and it's stillthe top seller well into 2021. Pop one, two, or even three of these in the dryer along with a load of laundry and you'll never go back to using fabric softener sheets again. That's the enthusiastic consensus from buyers on Amazon, who praise this set of six New Zealand-made wool dryer balls as a scent-free, organic alternative to chemical dryer sheets. Keep an eye on the price, though; we've seen this selling for less than $9 and as much as $15 in the recent past.
Related: Do Wool Dryer Balls Really Work as Well as Dryer Sheets?
$6
Marie Sharp's, a line of sauces from Belize, is extremely popular among hot sauce enthusiasts — and for good reason. It's chunky with a bright and fresh vegetal flavor from habaneros, carrots, and lime juice. The balance of acidic tang and sweetness from the carrots is just right. If any hot sauce could be called refreshing, it's this one. Try it on anything from Jamaican food to fancy cheeses.
Related: We Tried 20 Popular Hot Sauces — and These Are the Best
$7
This unassuming-looking blob of slime might be one of the best sub-$10 purchases for anyone who's fanatical about making their detailing last. It gets into the nooks and crannies normally reserved for cotton swabs, but is much better at grabbing dirt and grime from fragile dust magnets, including fan vents. It's also great for cleaning delicate and hard-to-clean surfaces such as laptop keyboards.
Related: 20 Must-Haves for Your Car You Didn't Know You Needed
$15
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Ditch the smelly poufs and rough loofahs with this Japanese-made exfoliating towel. The lathering, exfoliating threads soften skin without irritation. As one user says: "It's made my whole body so smooth, I feel like a dolphin."
Related: Guilty Pleasure Purchases to Treat Yourself Right Now
$8
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Yeah, we know, summer's here... but winter will be back sooner or later. A multiwick candle can give off a surprising amount of heat and light if you're stranded in cold weather. This soy-wax candle can burn for 36 hours and comes in a reusable aluminum tin.
Related: 21 Things to Keep in Your Car For Safe Winter Driving
$6 and up
If all you want is a simple plastic covering for your vaccination card, there are scores of options just like this resealable one. They all do the same thing, so shop based on price. They’re available with lanyards or clips (or without) in packs of three, six, or 10.
Related: Convenient and Clever COVID-19 Vaccine Card Holders
$6.50 for 5
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While N95 masks are still mostly reserved for health care workers, KN95s are gaining popularity as an alternative for average Joes, especially as COVID-19 variants emerge.
Related: Masks and Mask Accessories to Make Covering Your Face More Comfortable
$25
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Bring the drive-thru home with a morning sandwich maker. The dishwasher-safe set takes your own fresh ingredients — like eggs, English muffins, ham, bagels, or sausage — and turns them into an effort-free breakfast of champions.
$7
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If the hot weather means your rings are slipping and sliding all over the place, these silicone adjusters are a quick, unobtrusive way to fix the problem without resorting to resizing.
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$9
Nothing ages a home faster than dingy grout. Unfortunately, nothing is harder to clean than dingy grout, too, so we won't blame you for faking it with a grout pen. They're available in several colors, and buyers say they're easy to use, especially compared with scrubbing like mad.
$9
Speaking of quick home upgrades: Nothing dates a room faster than dinged-up wood furniture. Fill in all those "oops" moments with furniture markers and crayons. They come in six blendable colors and include wax filler crayons for those really deep gouges.
$20
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Clip-on reading lights can be awkward, and bedside lamps can be too bright for a sleeping partner. This flexible alternative goes around the neck, directing light exactly where you need it, and its rechargeable battery can last for weeks.
$18
Cabinetry is never cheap, especially if you splash out on custom lighting, too. But why not add that little luxury to your existing cabinets for less than the price of a few light bulbs? These pre-cut LED strips come with a wireless remote control that has a timer, a dimmer, and a 60-foot range.
$13
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Do you have a green thumb and a house full of plants? With this 3-in-1 soil meter, you'll never over- or under-water houseplants again. This device also checks soil pH levels and measures sunlight levels.
$17
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Sure, this can be used as a propagation station, but when not in use for that, it makes a lovely spot for fresh-cut flowers and other cuttings.
Related: Where to Buy Plants Online
$18 and up
New garage doors might not be in the budget, but you can fake a swanky upgrade with these hinges and handles, made to mimic that carriage-door look. They're made of weather-resistant plastic, and magnetic backs mean absolutely no drilling is required — just stick 'em on.
Related: 5 Projects That Boost Home Value — and 5 Cheap Alternatives
$20
Phone mounts generally go either on the dashboard or the fan vent. The first clutters up the dash and distracts from the rather important stuff happening on the other side of the windshield. The second prevents the vents from blowing hot or cold air into the passenger compartment and freezes or bakes your phone in the process. This style has a much smaller footprint and allows you to mount a phone facing forward in the tiniest of gaps by the controls/display — right where you need it but out of the way.
$12 and up
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Stop wasting paper towel after paper towel and put these versatile 12-by-16-inch microfiber cleaning cloths to work. They're a favorite for gently cleaning cars, dusting, or wiping down countertops. Once you're done, toss them in the washer.
$33
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These stainless-steel bowls are a worthy, long-lasting upgrade if you're still using plastic. They nest to take up less space in the cabinet, have non-slip silicone bottoms, and come with air-tight lids so they can be used for food storage.
$22
The seller describes this as "an umbrella that defies the logic of Mother Nature." We're not quite sure what that's supposed to mean, but we do know Cheapism readers have been buying these aplenty. Just a hair under 12 inches long and weighing 15 ounces, this teflon-coated travel umbrella is the perfect size for travel.
$10
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Whether you’re trying to tame a cluttered garage, pantry, or basement, wall-mounted storage like this organizer can be especially helpful. It has five slots for brooms, rakes, and other handled tools, plus six hooks for everything else.
$5
Love Buffalo-flavored anything? Crystal is made with aged cayenne peppers, vinegar, and salt. It's got a pronounced, pepper-forward flavor that hits you right on the top of your tongue. The heat, which is relatively mild, lingers at the back of your throat. This is a favorite all-purpose hot sauce that's good for shaking on almost anything.
$13
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Beautifully illustrated and compiled by the experts at National Geographic, this book spells out "Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do" for the traveler in your life. From Louisiana swamp tours to the world's longest yard sale, the book reveals some of the greatest hidden treasures in the U.S.
$15
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Made with natural waxes, this "invisible boot" can protect your furry friend's tender paws from pain and cracking in snow and salt in the winter, or hot pavement or sand in the summer. Users say it's easy to apply and blot off any excess.
Related: The Coolest Pet Tech Devices You Didn't Know You Needed
$12
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With people still cooking at home more than ever, is it a surprise that food storage containers sold like hotcakes (pardon the pun) last year and this year? Pop one of these refillable filters in your crisper drawer and keep fruits and veggies fresher longer.
Related: The Best Food Storage Containers You Can Buy, According to Amazon Reviews
$11
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A magnetic wristband is like a third hand during any DIY project. This one has 10 strong magnets that corral things like screws, nails, bolts, and drill bits, making home improvement that much easier.
Related: DIY in the USA: Tools That Are Still Made in America
$15
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Warning: This photo book of beautifully styled house plants will make any plant lover want to run out and buy more plants. But it also offers great advice on topics like where to place those plants for optimal health, how to propagate, how to find the right pot, and more.
$10
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This handsome book allows RVers to catalog their memories and make notes of things they liked — or didn't — about specific campgrounds. Were the bathrooms dirty? Did the camp store have tons of good stuff? Travelers can jot it all down. There's also a maintenance log section in the back.
$12
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One of the most recognizable children's books of all time has always been ripe for parody, so "Goodnight Zoom" was a tale just waiting to happen. Everything from homemade bread to a pile of delivery boxes makes an appearance in this zany time-capsule read.
$7
Scratch art is an endless beautiful surprise! Melissa & Doug have created another wholesome creative toy with 125 notes kids can “write” with a wooden stylus, revealing a rainbow of color underneath. Not even the artist knows what the final picture will look like, which is a lot of the fun of scratch art.