15 Editor-Loved Gems That’ll Instantly Transform Your Bathroom (They’re All Under $15!)

Splashing water onto the bathroom countertop is inevitable. But you can minimize it, at least, with these absorbent dishes. Nikol, Apartment Therapy’s shopping writer, says her mom keeps these around her home, including in the bathroom. She puts her electric toothbrush and hair straightener on one of them — so another bonus is that it protects your countertop from heat damage. (Read the full review.)

This 6x8-inch storage caddy may be simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s not useful. If your bathroom has tile walls, it can go anywhere, or you can stick it to your mirror or your glass shower door, which is where Nikol keeps it. It has drainage holes built into the bottom to keep moisture from accumulating.

Nikol also makes a great point in her review: This is a safer bet compared to adhesive caddies, which could potentially damage whatever surface it sticks to. The suction cup is just as strong, though.

Bath mats, unless they’re made of wood or stone, need replacing every so often, so why break the bank on one when you don’t have to? Apartment Therapy’s former Deputy Commerce Editor, Alicia, says that this affordable option feels like it could’ve come out of a spa.

“I never thought I’d fall in love with a bath mat, but after nearly six months of use, this rug is still as good as the day that I bought it,” she writes. “Even if I shower right after my boyfriend, the bath mat feels dry, which feels like a miracle.

When we tested bath towels for our Best List series, this one from Martha Stewart’s brand was our top budget-friendly pick. It usually goes for $20 — which is still a fair price — but it’s often on sale. Right now, you can stock up on them for just $8 and create a whole set in one of the 10 colors.

“This is a great bath towel,” says Associate Social Media Editor Ayanna. “I love that it is 100% cotton material. You instantly feel the softness and plushness once you take it out of the bag, and after the first wash it still holds up. After the second wash it is still soft — definitely a towel that I will buy more of.”

No bathroom is perfect — unless you can remodel the entire thing to your liking. Sometimes, it’s even missing some essentials, like a toilet paper holder. Contributing Writer Daniela was facing that exact problem when she moved into her new apartment, but she solved it with this adhesive holder and shelf.

“This toilet paper holder not only keeps my toilet paper roll in place, accessible, and away from the tank lid, but it also provides the perfect spot to keep this room spray and make my bathroom smell fresh,” her review says.

Every bathroom could do with a little bit of decoration — especially if there’s some extra counter space. Former Commerce SEO Editor Sarah assumed that this mirrored tray, at only $15, would look more like a prop than a stylish, vintage-inspired piece of decor. Luckily, she was right to take a chance on it.

“Sturdy and stylish, this golden beauty now has a permanent space in my updated bathroom, displaying some of my personal care essentials with the ultimate air of elegance,” she writes.

Contributing Writer Madison relies on this rotating organizer to keep her bathroom countertop clear of makeup clutter, and it would be just as ideal for a cabinet to make everything easy to grab.

“I can have an at-a-glance view of everything stored in it and grab exactly what I need without digging through a bunch of other stuff to get to it,” says her review. “It also has several compartments, so I can separate my products into different categories (skincare, eye makeup, tools, etc.) for even easier access.”

This is one of my own bathroom essentials, and I can’t believe I didn’t buy one sooner. Plungers are typically an eyesore, but there’s no way around having one in your bathroom — you can’t be without one in the case of a plumbing emergency. This one comes with a discreet caddy, so it doesn’t interrupt your bathroom’s aesthetic. (Check out my full review.)

As a hotspot for mold growth, your shower liner needs regular replacing. Alicia would recommend buying this $9 option every time because it’s “lightweight and easy to install, and those magnets really do stay in place (although not so much that you have to use a lot of effort to yank the shower curtain liner back when stepping out of the shower).” It also took eight months before it started getting gross, she adds in her review.

Apartment Therapy’s Editor-in-Chief, Charli, says this tool is key to keeping her shower door looking pristine — as well as her mirror and tile walls. Amazon shoppers are in agreement, it appears, because this squeegee has nearly 60,000 five-star reviews.

“Even though its heavy-duty blade is tough enough to take on limescale and soap scum, the squeegee is light and easy to hold and use, thanks to an ergonomic handle and smart overall design,” Charli’s review reads.

Another gem I keep in my bathroom is this microfiber cleaning cloth. Instead of wasting a ton of paper towels when I want to give my counters, shower, and mirror some attention, I just reach for this super-absorbent cloth and it leaves everything spotless and streak-free. I was so impressed that I bought another for my kitchen.

I use this dishwand in my kitchen, but Contributing Writer Jordan scrubs her shower with it. The ingenuity of this tool is in its handle, which stores soap or cleaner. When you press the button, it dispenses through the bristled brush. Plus, “the firm yet flexible bristles get deep into grout lines and scrub better than the average sponge,” her review says.

If you find yourself buying a bottle of Drano regularly, then you need this find that catches all of your hair before it can clog your pipes. According to Contributing Writer Cat, it’s better than the other hair catchers she’s tried because it doesn’t slow down drain flow.

“Instead, the TubShroom discreetly and efficiently collects hair by positioning drain holes around an interior column that fits into the drain,” she explains. “Water moves through no problem, but stray hairs wrap around the base until you remove them.”

Contributing Writer Brigitt revamped her medicine cabinet with this set of shelf risers — and it’s hard to beat the amount you get for the price. With six included, each one costs $2.33!

“These acrylic shelves simply sit atop the built-in shelf and allow me to fit two tiers of storage on one shelf, thus using all of that previously empty space for more products,” she writes. “And if I need to, I can just as easily remove the shelf to accommodate larger products.”

This sponge is a staple in one of our contributing writers’ cleaning kits. Meg finds it better for tackling grime in her bathroom than ones from Scrub Daddy and Mr. Clean. Why? One side is a mildly abrasive scouring pad, and the other is like a less-crumbly Magic Eraser.

“I loved how the sponge’s triangle top gets into the corners around the tub where water and dirt forms a sludge,” she continues. She says it works just as well with water only as it does with a cleaning solution.