19 Game-Changing Amazon Finds We Loved in 2019—From $4 to $25

When you find a product that makes your home life more organized, efficient, or enjoyable, why not share the love? This year, Apartment Therapy contributors evangelized tons of life-changing—and surprisingly affordable—Amazon items.

Here are the 19 home buys that earned the most buzz from our contributors and readers in 2019, so you can share the love, too:

Plumbing isn’t cheap, but the cheaper alternative, a drain snake, isn’t always effective. These sink deodorizing sticks are a powerful way to both clean and remove smells from drain lines, plus, they’re stunningly inexpensive. For sink-scent maintenance, just drop one down your drain at the beginning of every month!

Buy: Green Gobbler Bio-Flow drain strips, $10 for 24

Time to turn in your paper towels and microfiber for an unexpected, but powerful, alternative: surgical towels! Next time you clean your windows, use these pro-window-cleaner recommended towels, which are not only super absorbent, but also lint-free and reusable.

Buy: Arkwright Surgical Huck Towels, $16 for 12

Nobody likes cleaning baseboards, but it has to be done. Make the job simpler with the Baseboard Buddy, which one contributor says easily—and effectively—reaches in and cleans the grooves of baseboards and molding. Your knees (and shoulders and back) will thank you.

Buy: Baseboard Buddy, $17

Whether you’re a light sleeper yourself or want to deck out your guest room to drown out noise for your visitors, the Big Red Rooster—an unobtrusive, modern, and inexpensive white noise machine—is a great option. One contributor was so enthusiastic about it she got four, one for each bedroom!

Buy: Big Red Rooster White Noise Machine, $20

Bedroom storage space can be hard to come by. This floating wood tray instantly creates bedside storage without taking up valuable real estate on your floor. Just attach it to your bed frame and voilà! You’ve got enough space for a laptop, phone, or whatever other items you want to keep close by as you cozy up in bed. 

Buy: Minimalist BedShelfie, $25

For a cost-effective and, honestly, sumptuous-looking curtain alternative, one contributor swears by these canvas drop cloths. You do need some basic DIY skills (and, ideally, a steamer) to get the same look, but it’s a much cheaper alternative than fancy drapes!

Buy: Canvas Drop Cloths, $22

Everyone is obsessed with this AmazerBath Plastic Shower Curtain, which has over 2,400 rave Amazons reviews gushing about how it’s durable, resistant to smells and mildew, and can go months—yes, months!—without cleaning. Snag one for yourself in just about any color for $12!

Buy: AmazerBath Plastic Shower Curtain, $12

Even if you’re not planning on traveling anytime soon, this sturdy travel makeup case will come in handy for keeping your everyday beauty items in order. The compartments are movable, which means you can switch things up according to your storage needs. Grab one for craft supplies and jewelry while you’re at it!

Buy: NiceEbag Makeup Organizer, $20

If you live in a small space or just need a reliable way to dry your clothes, here’s a solution. This gullwing drying rack holds more clothes than standard racks, configures into six positions so you can dry just about anything, and easily folds for storage when it’s not in use. Laundry is instantly less annoying!

Buy: AmazonBasics Gullwing Drying Rack, $25

Who among us hasn’t opened a cabinet, only to find a pile of random Tupperware lids strewn all over the place? To tame the Tupperware lid problem (and make packing lunches so much easier), one contributor invested in this lid organizer, which divides and stores lids of all shapes and sizes. 

Buy: YouCopia StoraLid Food Container Lid Organizer, $20

Cleaning up small messes on countertops or floors is so much more efficient (and, let’s be honest, cuter) with a tiny dustpan and brush. Another reason people love this alternative to a full-size broom: It’s super easy to store. Just hang it on the back of a cabinet door or tuck it away with the rest of your cleaning supplies under the sink.

Buy: Full Circle Mini Dustpan and Brush Set, $9

Thousands of elated Amazon reviewers rave about the TubShroom, and for good reason. Since it doesn’t need any parts to sit over the outer drain, water won’t accumulate around the seam, and no hair will slip under, either. Unlike other hair catchers, it won’t slow down drain flow with chunky mesh—stray hair just wraps around the base until you remove it.

Buy: TubShroom, $13

It’s wildly inexpensive, it’s been around for more than a century, and it’s got thousands of glowing reviews on Amazon. It’s the Fels-Naptha laundry bar, your new secret weapon for removing stubborn grease and oil stains from your laundry items. It’s not just effective; it’s also easy to use: Just wet the tip of the bar or the stained area on your garment, then rub away and let the soap do its work.

Buy: Fels-Naptha Laundry Soap Bar, $6 for 2

Small bathroom? No problem for this clever toilet paper holder, which hangs out conveniently on the side of your toilet tank for easy, unobtrusive access. It comes in three finishes—bronze, brushed, and satin—so you’re sure to find one that matches your bathroom aesthetic. 

Buy: iDesign Forma Toilet Paper Holder, $10

It’s easy to lose socks between wearing them and washing them. Now, it’s also easy not to. Until it’s time for a load of laundry, just hang your used socks on the SockDock, a long, giant tie hanger made of string with a decorative plastic foot at the top. It’s really easy to store and use: You can hang it in your closet or bathroom, attach all your dirty socks to it, and then remove the plastic foot part and throw the string and socks right into the washer when you’re ready to wash them all. 

Buy: SockDock, $16 for 2

Light sleepers (or noisy apartment inhabitants), we found some earplugs that actually work. Mack’s earplugs are made of soft, silicone putty, so once you put them in, they stay put. Our contributor says they’re also super comfortable and just the right size. But the best part is, they’re also amazingly effective noise blockers so you can get a sound night’s sleep.

Buy: Mack’s Earplugs, $4 for 6

When your kitchen storage space is limited, it’s important to get creative with spice storage. This minimalist magnetic shelf is perfect for storing spices on the front or side of your fridge. Store your most commonly-used jars in one, or grab a few for displaying and organizing all of your jars!

Buy: YAMAKAZI Magnetic Spice Rack, $18

For hand-wash only garments, try washing with a salad spinner. Yes, a literal salad spinner. A salad spinner has the same spinning action as a washing machine, but you can be more attentive and gentle, since you’re controlling it manually. Plus, you won’t get super wet because it has a closed top. Genius!

Buy: Cuisinart Salad Spinner, $19

Save yourself the headache of finding a gazillion crumbs in the crevices of your kitchen with a crumb catcher that slides between your stove and counter and catches any debris that slides off. It fits invisibly in the gap, and removes easily when you want to toss the crumbs and clean it. Bye, messy kitchen!

Buy: The Crumb Catcher, $15