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Summer essentials: 9 home gadgets under $25 on Amazon
This summer is the perfect time to invest in home gadgets. Get some smart tech, upgrade your office setup, improve your TV viewing experience and get the most from your essential oils.
Worried about the cost? Don’t be. You can get all the cool gadgets you need to improve your office, kitchen, living room, bathroom and even your garden, all for less than $25.
Wondering which products are the best buys? We picked some great tech, so here are nine home gadgets under $25 for you to choose from.
1. Get smart
The simplest way to make your place a smart home is to purchase smart plugs. This plug is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, meaning Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT can control when to turn it on and off. The best part? It works just as well outside as it does inside so that you can connect it to anything anywhere.
Promising review: “These smart plugs are the bomb! I have this lamp in my bedroom behind my bed that is almost impossible to reach, so I used one of the plugs for that. The lamp has a dimmer switch, so I set it where I want it and then Alexa does the rest. I used the other in another hard-to-get-to spot. I used to use a timer there. Honestly, that worked fine, too. It’s amazing how we’ve ever done without these little luxuries.”
2. Enjoy some bubbly
When you’re throwing a party and the good times are flowing, this handy electric wine opener is invaluable. No one has to pass around an old-fashioned manual wine opener anymore. Simply reach for this electric version that promises wine in 6 seconds.
Promising review: “Works great. My wife and I have had this new opener for nearly a year and have not had any problems with it. We like to leave it plugged in all the time and […] sitting on top of our wine refrigerator (which also has blue LED lights inside). The blue glowing lights compl[e]ment each other and look cool. We enjoyed this opener so much, we purchased another one for a friend as a birthday gift.”
3. Never lose a screw again
Are you ready to upgrade your home? When you’re installing new shelving, putting together furniture or setting up your new tech, it’s easy to misplace or lose loose nuts, bolts, nails and screws. But with a little help from this magnetic wristband, losing small pieces becomes a thing of the past.
Promising review: “This magnetic wristband is also amazing for sewing! Perfect for my little clips and needles! My husband also used it to do some of his woodworking and loved how convenient it was for nails and screws! I definitely recommend this magnetic wristband to pretty much anybody because it has several uses!”
4. Keep it hot
Don’t you hate it when you brew yourself a nice hot cup of joe, but by the time you reach for it, your tasty drink is cold? Say goodbye to lukewarm coffee. This Mr. Coffee mug warmer is all you need. Place your mug on this portable warmer to keep your beverages nice and hot till the last drop.
Promising review: “I bought this to keep my tea warm. I figured I could use it on the cup but actually decided to try it on the pot. I have a small 24 oz. pot, and I sip on tea all day, and it stays quite hot to where I have to let it cool a bit before I can drink it.”
5. Get tech-savvy
When you’re ready to get smart plugs, turn to Kasa. These smart plugs work with Alexa and Google Home Assistant so you can power your appliances on or off from anywhere. Connect them to your smartphone with the case app and set schedules, use a timer or countdown schedule and trust that your appliances, tools and gadgets will bend to your will.
Promising review: “This is very easy to set up and make your home smart. I’m very bad and lazy in switching off lights, so this smart plug really help[s] me. […] The build quality is very good. It is sturdy and certainly doesn’t feel flimsy or cheap. Size is small and doesn’t cover another plug. Works well with Alexa, too.“
6. Green thumb?
When you’re always busy in the garden, you know good tools are definite time savers. Whether you’re just getting interested in gardening or you’re a green thumb veteran, these pruning shears will come in handy. They have a safety lock to help keep the blades sharp and clean when you’re not using them, and you get one straight, one serrated and one curved blade to handle any garden project.
Promising review: “These 3 garden tools are just want I wanted. Easy to open packaging. They are very sharp and easy to use. The lock on each one works well and is easy to engage and disengage. I used them within minutes and was delighted with how well they cut.“
7. Watch all your favorites
Does your spare bedroom need better access to your streaming services? Maybe you have a BnB and it could really use some more entertainment tech. Wherever you use it, this Roku Express is perfect for streaming all your favorite TV shows and movies. This compact Roku is great for vacations, trailers, tiny homes, guest bedrooms, kid’s rooms and even the living room.
Promising review: “I bought this for my second television and it is much faster than the Roku stick I have in the other television. For the price, you can’t beat it! Extremely easy to set up and use. No complaints. I’m going to replace my Roku stick with this device.”
8. Nice and clean
Dish-drying cloths are convenient ways to dry your hand-wash dishes, but you have to wash them now and then to avoid mold and unpleasant odors. That’s why you should invest in this foldable stainless steel wire drying rack instead. Open it up, let everything drip dry — including the rack — then fold it up and put it away for next time.
Promising review: “This is one of the best purchase[s] I bought recently. We moved to a condo with a double sink and little counter space. I needed a dish rack for pots and pans and small items that need a quick wash, and this is exactly what I needed. Bonus: It’s nice-looking.“
9. Small wonders
Summer can be brutal — especially when you’re stuck in a stuffy office with a strict dress code. When you can’t get away with wearing flip-flops and shorts in the office, this clip-on table fan is a small miracle. Keep cool with this 2-speed fan. Its blades move quietly while delivering cool air in your direction, and you can clip it to the edge of your desk, cubicle, side table and more.
Promising review: “I like that it clips onto my desk. I use it after my daily walk and whenever I feel overheated. I did a lot of research to find the best desk fan for me, and I am happy with my decision to buy this one. It’s easy to position it exactly how you need it and reposition it as needed as well. I like the two speeds. It is not loud enough to bother my cubicle neighbors so that is great as well.”
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
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