I’m a Shopping Editor, and I Can’t Live Without These 13 Products in My Home

Published Apr 24, 2025 9:40 pm ET


woman sitting with an air purifier

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As a seasoned shopping editor, I’ve been reviewing and testing products for years. I’ve tried the best (and worst) of them, so it’s safe to say that the products I have and use in my home are actually worth the money. Since I live in a one-bedroom apartment, I’m all about finding things that enhance my life without taking up too much space. Whether that’s a compact air purifier that I can actually see working or a power mop that leaves my home smelling great, these products have passed my tests, and I know they’ll pass yours, too. Here are the top home products that I can’t live without — starting at only $25.

  1. I never knew how much gunk was in my air until I started using this Shark Air Purifier. It works to remove smoke, dust, allergens and pet dander in rooms up to 500 square feet, and I can actually see it doing its job with the “Clean Sense IQ” that shows the air quality from zero to 100%.

  2. An air fryer is an essential in my home. I recently upgraded to Our Place’s Wonder Oven, and I’m so glad I did. This six-in-one gadget is so versatile that it can go from crisping up my leftover fries to toasting a piece of bread, all while looking super chic sitting on my counter.

  3. Adding this Amazon Echo Spot to my nightstand has completely changed the way that I sleep. Now, if I wake up in the middle of the night, I don’t have to look at my phone to see what time it is. I also use it to turn my lights off and on (a game changer when I’m already in bed) as well as check the weather and play music.

  4. I’m by no means a coffee snob, but I love my Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Machine so much. I use it every morning to brew a cup of coffee in seconds and then at night to brew an espresso shot (or two) to make an espresso martini. It was 100% worth the splurge for me.

  5. Because I live in a smaller space, I always want to make sure it smells good, and this Pura Mini Air Freshener has been a recent addition to my living space. I love that I can set a schedule from my phone and have it release the scent whenever I want.

  6. I have a little Australian Cattle Dog mix, who I love to pieces, but she sure does shed a lot. This Bissell ICONPet Turbo Vacuum has a tangle-free brush roll and a light that helps illuminate just how much hair is all over my floor. I use it multiple times a week, and it always gets the job done.

  7. After I vacuum, I grab my Swiffer Power Mop to make sure my floors are squeaky clean. I love that I can spray the cleaning solution as I go, ensuring that I get every spot clean. And I love the lavender floor cleaner refill, as it leaves my home smelling fresh.

  8. Since I’m a side sleeper, finding a great pillow is important, and I’ve been using the Hybrid Pillow from Casper for almost a year and a half now. It’s super comfortable and supportive, as I like to toss and turn and sleep on both sides at night.

  9. I’m not the most high-tech person, but I’ve been using the Philips Hue Light Bulbs for years now. I love how user-friendly the app is, allowing me to choose the colors of the lights and really set the scene. I can also group different lights together to make it easier to turn them all off at night.

  10. If you’re a sparkling water drinker, you know just how expensive buying can after can is. That’s why my SodaStream Art is probably my most-used product in my kitchen. I’m able to make as much sparkling water as I want, and I can even add flavors. I’ve had variations of SodaStreams over the past six years, but this one is my favorite because the side handle is the easiest to use.

  11. Sometimes it’s the little things that make life better, and I love that Simple Human’s Soap Dispenser is a touch-free way to clean my hands. I actually have two — one for hand soap and one for dish soap. Both are rechargeable, and the charge lasts a really long time.

  12. This Roku TV has been with me in three different apartments now, and I still use it almost every day. I appreciate how user-friendly it is and can easily find and watch the shows I want. It’s a no fuss, no frills TV that works great.

  13. I also have the Roku TV Soundbar, which I think really makes a difference in the sound quality. It was really easy to set up and pair with the TV, and it turns on and off automatically.

Abby Kass

Abby Kass

Author McClatchy Commerce

Abby Kass is a Commerce Content Editor at McClatchy covering kids/babies, pets, beauty, and more. With more than seven years experience writing and editing shopping content, Abby has a strong understanding of how important commerce content really is and its important value to readers. She loves browsing online and finding innovative, unique, and just down-right cool products. Before McClatchy, Abby started her career working for Parents Magazine where she fell in love with writing about products. She then spent six years at BuzzFeed falling deeper into the shopping world writing more than 1,500 product roundups and reviews. She sees shopping as a sport and has worked hard at mastering it in order to help make people’s lives easier as they find cool and useful products.

Kayleigh Drake

Kayleigh Drake

Editor McClatchy Commerce

Kayleigh Drake is a Commerce Content Editor at McClatchy. She’s based in Birmingham, Alabama, and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Kayleigh has written and edited content for numerous publications, with a particular focus on the food, kitchen, home and lifestyle verticals. When she’s not fulfilling her editorial duties, she loves record shopping, playing guitar, baking and buying entirely too many plants.