**Good Buys** House & Home (Updated 4/23/24)

 I'm too poor to have a true "Favorite Things" list but I have what I like to call "Good Buys" lists. These are things that are worth having. Some of these I bought and some were gifted -  but none are sponsored. (Any links are just for what I know of and am showing as an example.) 

Miscellaneous:

• 100% blackout curtains. These are so good at cutting down on heat & light. I'm not sure yet how they are about keeping out cold.
• Door draft stoppers. This keeps out noises and smells as well as retaining warm or cool air. They have been amazing for apartment living.
• Citric acid. (I use the Milliard brand.) This replaces those pricey "LemiShine" products. I use the powder in my dishwasher's 2nd cup; to clean the coffee pot; soften hard water for laundry; add a bit of lemony tartness to my lemonade and lemon-based cakes; etc. 
• Mrs. Stewart's Concentrated Liquid Bluing. There may be other brands but this is the only one I've ever used. You have to be careful not to spill directly onto anything (especially fabrics and porous materials). I use a few drops of this in the rinse cycle to make my whites brighter and less dingy. Back in the day, ladies used bluing to highlight their grey hair! Uh, don't try that at home, folks.
• OdoBan  Disinfectant and Odor Eliminator - This is the best. I prefer the original (eucalyptus) scent.  I use this to kill cooking smells; freshen fabrics and furniture; and on the carpet after vacuuming. My brother used it in his truck after having someone smoke a cigarette near the open window and it got rid of the lingering funk.
• LA's Totally Awesome products - I like the shower cleaner. I mix it with some water and use that to spray and wipe my (steel) kitchen trashcan, the fridge door, and the outside of the microwave. The all-purpose cleaner is right up there with Fabuloso for me. Both work really well and are affordable. I almost always mix them with water before using them.
• Greased Lightning Cleaner & Degreaser - I never paid attention to this until I picked up a bottle from the giveaway table in our lobby. Now I make sure to keep some around. It's the one quick solution to cleaning the cheap linoleum floors in the apartment. I have used a steam mop and all sorts of cleansers but nothing worked quite as well as this. I just spray the floor then wait for about 10  minutes and dry-mop. The floors end up super clean and with so little work.
• Electric Air Duster - I got this one and now I never have to buy canned air. I originally got mine to clean my tower fans and have been so happy with the results. Now I also use the duster to clean vents, ceiling fans, blinds, and around the kitchen and bathroom baseboards. This one has a pretty strong airflow so I like that it has a nozzle for cleaning my computer keyboard and vents. I lived without one for years but spent too much money on canned air.
• Tote-able laundry hamper. I was using a nice cloth hamper that was tied off with a string. The problem was carrying it to and from the laundry room was awkward. Also, my clean and folded clothes got all squished when toting them back to the apartment. I wanted something that was easier to carry but wasn't messy-looking. I found this set for under $15. What I like most is that they are cute enough that I don't have to hide them away. Also, these are waterproof and collapsable and they are easy to carry even when really full of clothes  - and no squishing. Since these came in a set of 2, I keep one in the bathroom and the other in my room. There are lots of hampers like these online.
• 4/23/24 Croton lechleri or sangre de grado (known as Dragon's blood) - not the perfume oil or the kind you use to fragrance your home. This has been used for skin and hair care. I use it on my scalp sometimes and also on my feet when my psoriasis is flaring. Some people ingest drops of it (but it tastes gross!). I use it the way I use Manuka honey - for small cuts and abrasions. There are other uses that I have not tried.

This is for the kitchen:

• Fridge liners. Not only do these save on cleaning fridge shelves but they can be used in cabinets, etc.
• Ninja Foodi. I had the original Instant Pot and thought it was amazing until I was gifted the Foodi ( the 8-qt FD401 model). The difference is like having a trailer hitched to the back of your car vs. having a long-bed pickup truck. IMO, this is a must-have for folks like me with tiny kitchens. There are times when I don't use my stovetop or oven for weeks because the Foodi does everything. I now use my oven mostly for baking full-sized cakes or pizzas and I so rarely use my stovetop that I have a glass cover for it. (Keep in mind that I don't have the latest Foodi, but the one from 2021. Here is a post where I rant and rave over mine after having it for a while.
• ThermoPro TP03 Digital Thermometer. Again, I don't even have the upscale model. I have the ten- or twelve-dollar TP03 model and it's still working perfectly after about 3 years. I only need it for checking the temp on meats and baked goods but it can be used for candy-making and more. There are ones that can be used in the oven and all that. The basic one is great for my basic needs. 
• Anchor Hocking measuring cups. I have the 2-cup and 4-cup set (that one holds up to 5 cups) and a 2-piece set of the 5-ounce graduated measuring glasses. I prefer Anchor Hocking cups because they are so very accurate in addition to being durable. Also, with handwashing, they retain their measure markings for years. Always compare prices and look for sales. I got all of mine on sale at various times. 
• Immersion Blender. I have one from Oxa that was gifted to me about 4 years ago. This is a small kitchen must. I don't have room (or much need) for large blenders. The immersion blender comes with a chopper bowl, beaker cup, blender, and whisk. I use the blender arm at least a couple of times a month to make fresh garlic paste. I also use it to make smoothies. I use the chopper bowl for chopping onions, bell peppers, etc. The whole set fits in a small space on the countertop.
• Cast iron cookware. Understand that cast iron skillets, pots, pans, etc. do not have to be expensive. Look for good reviews - not just on Amazon - and wait for sales! All of my cast iron is either handed down, gifted, or bought on sale. I have a Lodge 5-qt Dutch oven with a skillet topper (normally around 50-60 dollars that I got on a Lightning Deal for $16), a $20 14-inch pizza/baking pan, and some skillets from my mother. The reasons I use cast iron are the same as my mom's: it adds iron content to foods (I was always anemic); it uses a lot less oil/fat to cook with; and once it's "seasoned" with use, it becomes non-stick. I now know that it's also considered to be healthier and "cleaner" to cook with than other types of coated cookware.
• Fleece cloths - These are available everywhere online and from many different sellers. I just happen to have used this brand last. I got a pack of 20 pieces for around 8 bucks. They are wonderful for wiping up messes, drying dishes, etc. I use and launder them until they start getting too hard to come clean, then I will use them to clean the bathroom sink or the floors before throwing them out. Mine usually last me 3 months or so before they get to that stage.
• A good kettle. I have a couple of good stove-top tea kettles but I needed something for quick work. I found a nice, affordable electric kettle that holds a lot of water and heats up quick. It boils, then shuts off automatically. I use the water for everything - making tea or instant coffee and adding to the not-hot-enough tap water to wash dishes. I also use that scorching hot water to sterilize things. The trick to choosing a kettle is finding one at a good price that will get the water as hot as you want and that will last a while. I lucked out with this one. It holds almost 2  quarts and the water heats to boiling. I like that it has auto shutoff and that it gets the water so hot. I had a hard time finding that in a kettle that was mostly metal and without a lot of plastic parts. This one doesn't take up a lot of room.
• A trashcan mat - I have a really nice steel trashcan that I got for free from a shopper program. The problem is that I have cheap linoleum flooring in the kitchen. My trashcan left marks that were hard to clean. For a long time, I would sit the can on a piece of clean cardboard - that I had to replace every few weeks. When I priced mats made specifically for trashcans, the prices were crazy. I ended up getting a nice silicone dog food mat that works perfectly and cost less than 6 bucks. I'm sure that there are some cheap silicone placemats that would also work.
• Moisture grabbers - These have been vital for me during the summer months in Iowa. It's so humid here that it really affects food and pantry items. Concrobium is the only brand I've used but I'm sure there are others. I keep a large one in the bathroom pantry (where one of my laundry hampers is), a large one in my tall kitchen pantry (where my flour, coffee, and rice are), and a small one in the spice cabinet. The first two summers here, I had a big problem with my spices clumping and my bread getting moldy fast. I only have so much fridge and freezer space for keeping flour and meals. These moisture grabbers are money savers. Some people claim they have not been able to "recharge" theirs. I have been able to dry mine out by putting them in a warm oven for a while. I replace them every year though. There are several brands so just look for ones that say they are rechargeable. There might be some that last long enough not to be replaced yearly.
• Cleaning Rags - Get some cheap and absorbent rags. These are great for cleaning up unexpected messes that you don't want to clean with your "good" towels. I've used some similar to these for everything from cleaning up trash bag spills and leaks to wiping away dripping hennna or hair dyes. Check online and in "dollar" stores for the best prices. 
• 4/23/24 Flour sack towels - These can go in any category. I have the really large ones that I use to dry my hair and the smaller (but still quite large) ones that I use on the kitchen. The towels are really absorbent (especially after a few washes) and don't snag my hair. In the kitchen, I lay them under wet dishes; on the counter to collect loose flour when I am baking; and I will tuck them in my waistband to wipe my hands on when I am cooking. Even though they are not heat-proof, I also use them doubled over to hand warmer pots and pans. Make sure to watch for sales. I got my largest ones for less than $2.50 each for a 2-pack. I'm not compensated in any way for saying that I prefer the Aunt Martha brand from Walmart and Amazon.

 Healthy & Beauty:

• Aloe Vera Gel - Find a good quality gel to keep around. I use mine by adding it to lotions and hair products or using it on its own on my hair and skin. I tried keeping an aloe plant - which is great if you can keep one around long enough! Raslock is my favorite brand of aloe and it comes in both a jar  (which I prefer) and a pump bottle. 
• First Aid Kit - this is one of many "don't wait til you need it" items on this list. Check to see if your insurance will cover this. My insurance covers some health-related OTC items so I always have a first aid kit handy.
• Cold Medicine
• Benadryl-type meds. I keep a cream and some tablets on hand, just in case. My first aid kit always has a couple of packets of tablets. I've had to use the cream when I've had a minor reaction to something.
• Disposable gloves - I keep the cheap ones around for applying hair products or dealing with messes I don't want to use my "good" rubber gloves on. (BTW - I do keep 2 pairs of good rubber gloves around. I have a pair each for the kitchen and the bathroom.)
• Hydrogen Peroxide 
• Isopropyl Alcohol - I usually keep the 70% type around.
• Eye drops/eye wash. This is not just for people who wear contacts. (BTW, make sure you find a brand that is not popping up on any FDA recall alerts!)
• Bottled water. I know that some people hate the idea of bottled water. It's always a good idea to have at least a couple gallons or one case of bottles in case of weather-related emergencies.
• A heating pad.
• Cold packs. (I actually make my cold packs.) This page explains how to make heat and cold packs.
• Topical iodine
• Listerine (the original, old-school burn off your tastebuds variety). I posted about it here on a page of other goodies.

I will be updating this list when I can. There will be other categories hopefully.

DISCLAIMER - I am not compensated in any way for any of the items on this list. I link to some items that I have used but suggest you shop around for your own choices. 

Also, I am not an expert in any area of the products listed. I am simply listing suggestions that may be useful. Do your own research and use your common sense in purchasing and/or using anything recommended or suggested online by me or anyone else.