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1. A two-pack of drain snakes, because being able to clear out your own drains is an Adult 101 skill your folks would absolutely want you to have. It is astonishing what this deceptively simple little tool can dig out of the depths of your pipes. (Spoiler alert: It is mostly hair, and it is gross.) Sink clogs, begone!
2. A pair of striped cotton kitchen towels that tick both the “effective” and “pretty” boxes. Made of soft, 100% cotton terry, they’re excellent at their actual job — that is, drying dishes — but they also come in such lovely shades that they do double duty as kitchen décor, too. And hey, as your parents have probably told you time and time again, there’s no such thing as having too many dish towels.
3. A hand-held combination garment steamer and iron because it just wouldn't do to go around with wrinkled shirts all the time, now, would it? Usable both horizontally and vertically, it can handle traditional ironing and quicker steaming; heck, you can even use it on curtains, upholstery, or bedding to smooth out wrinkles and kill bacteria. And since it’s so compact, storing it is a cinch, too.
4. A lightweight, bagless, cordless Dyson vacuum that’ll make keeping your floors clean a breeze. Yes, it’s an investment, but as any person of a certain age will tell you, a good vacuum is 100% worth it — and this one absolutely is. It’s so much easier to move around your home than the huge, corded vacuums of yore, and it comes with tons of attachments and a wall-mounted charging dock for easy use and storage.
5. A durable, reliable cast-iron skillet from Lodge, because this extremely versatile piece is a kitchen arsenal must-have — and if you care for it right, it will last for-ev-er. This pick comes pre-seasoned for ease of use and even has an assist handle in addition to the primary handle to make draining meat or transferring the whole skillet to the oven a heck of a lot simpler than it would be otherwise.
6. And a 6-quart enameled cast-iron Dutch oven, also from Lodge, that proves your workhorse cookware can be functional, beautiful, *and* affordable — all qualities your parents will undoubtedly appreciate.
7. AND a good nonstick pan since some things just need a lighter touch. (Eggs are great. Trying to scrape stuck eggs out of a cast-iron pan without destroying either the pan or the eggs is not.) Caraway’s 4.5-quart ceramic sauté pan is the ideal size for an everyday, use-it-for-everything piece of cookware; it even comes with a vented lid to avoid pressure-induced kitchen disasters. It’s practical like your parents would want — and it’s ~aesthetically pleasing~ for you because cooking is so much more fun when you enjoy the tools you use to get the job done.
8. A pack of 32 felt furniture pads, so you can keep all your floors scuff-free and make sure you’ll get your security deposit back when you move out. Slap some of these self-adhesive suckers on the bottoms of any heavy pieces you’ve got sitting directly on your hardwood, and bam: Instant protection of both your floor and your bank account. Look at how responsible you are!
9. A big ol’ bag of Arm & Hammer baking soda, because if your parents taught you nothing else, it's that baking soda is good for everything. Smelly cat box? Add a sprinkle of baking soda to the litter. Grubby-looking stainless steel? Scrub it with baking soda. Stinky fridge? Pop some baking soda in there. Anywhere you need some scouring power or some serious odor-fighting, baking soda is there for you. Thanks, baking soda.
10. A set of dishwasher- and microwave-safe stoneware dishes that’ll dress up your dining table with some understated sophistication... and also maybe finally stop your 'rents from harping on you for still using the same five mismatched pieces you’ve had since college. This 16-piece service for four includes dinner plates, salad plates, mugs, and bowls — everything you need to entertain/impress your family when they visit.
11. A couple of thermal blackout curtain panels, so you can finally get the shut-eye you need while saving some cash on your climate control bills. (Your parents would be so proud of your budgeting know-how.) These curtain panels have a cool, modern feel, thanks to the grommets at the top — and with both temperature-regulating abilities and blackout capabilities, they’ll create the ideal sleeping environment for you without you needing to do anything other than, y’know, hang them. Handy!
12. A KitchenAid stand mixer, because this is another heirloom piece that's worth the investment. Beloved by bakers everywhere — including, probably, your parents — this kitchen staple can do everything from cream butter in 30 seconds flat (source: me; I do this with mine all the time and I love it for it) to whip up a gorgeous meringue in minutes — and it looks darn good doing it, too.
13. A good household tool kit, so you can DIY your own fix-it needs without needing to borrow anything from your folks' admittedly sizable tool shed. This 40-piece set packs everything you need to handle most common household needs; included are a tape measurer, a claw hammer, pliers, a bunch of hex keys, a ratchet screwdriver with a ton of bits, scissors, a utility knife, some precision screwdrivers, a magnetic bit holder, and a case to keep it all in.
14. A really good electric toothbrush, because you only get one set of teeth, so you’d better take care of them properly. This Sonicare option is geared towards gum health; accordingly, it features a pressure censor to keep you from brushing too hard, three modes so you can tailor your cleaning precisely to what you need, and even a tracker to let you know when it’s time to replace your brush head.
15. A mini sewing kit, so you can mend your own rips and reattach your own buttons all by yourself. (Your parents would be so proud!) From Fiskars, this handy little box contains everything you need to patch up your own clothing whenever the need arises: Scissors, needles, four spools of thread, straight pins, safety pins, extra buttons, a measuring tape, tape strips, marking pencils, and even a threader.
16. And a fabric shaver that’ll keep everything from your wardrobe to your furniture free of random loose threads or pilling. No need to toss your favorite sweater if it’s looking unnaturally fuzzy; with this tool in your closet, you’ll get the most out of every piece you own.
17. A first aid kit, because, I mean, every household should have one, including yours. This kit from Welly includes a variety of adhesive bandages in different sizes, a roll of tape, nonstick pads, cleansing wipes, butterfly strips, antibiotic ointment packets, hydrocortisone ointment packets, and even some ibuprofen — and the bandages are all super fun, too. Who says your first aid tools have to be beige and boring?
18. And an auto safety kit, so you’ll be prepared for anything while you’re on the road. Not only does this kit include the sorts of things your car might need if it runs into trouble — think: jumper cables and a tow strap — it also has things for you, too, like a headlamp, a poncho, and a first aid kit. And, to top it all off, the kit comes with one year of complimentary roadside assistance (info on how to enroll is included in a card inside the kit). Your loved ones will rest easy knowing you’ve got this bag of tricks with you!
19. A convertible sofa meant to fold down into a bed for overnight guests because nothing beats multi-functional furniture in the practicality department. This cozy pick makes for the perfect hangout spot by day, and an equally perfect place to bunk down in at night. A little hospitality goes a long way!
20. A powerful oxy stain remover that’ll keep your carpets and upholstery in tip-top shape. The formula in this neat-o “blotter bottle” from Bissell can tackle everything from pet messes to red wine stains; all you have to do is apply it, let it sit for 30 seconds to a minute, then scrub it a little bit with the included brush, and voila: Instant stain removal. If your parents impressed upon you the importance of taking care of your things, then you’ll definitely know how valuable a good stain remover can be!
21. And a bottle of Shout's most advanced stain remover spray, so you can rescue your wardrobe from the horrors of red wine-induced doom, too. Spritz some of this unique gel formula on the stain, and then leave it alone for a bit — up to a whopping seven days. Then, the next time you throw the item in the wash, a stain-free piece will emerge, just like that! Your parents will be so impressed at your mess-removing abilities, you capable adult, you.
22. An Instant Pot with air fryer capabilities because your parents just want to make sure you’re feeding yourself properly, okay? Luckily, with this gadget in your kitchen, dinner is always just a few minutes away, no matter what you feel like eating or how you want to prepare it. Seriously — this device handles 11 different functions, including but not limited to roasting, baking, pressure cooking, slow cooking, sauté-ing, steaming, and (of course) air frying.
23. A pair of blue-light-filtering glasses, so you can give your tired peepers a break from the strain of our constantly plugged-in world. If you spend a lot of time in front of your computer (and you 100% know that your parents think you do), these specs will cut down on the amount of blue light you're exposed to, which in turn might help you sleep better and eliminate headaches caused by stressed-out eyeballs.
24. A good ol’ fashioned filing cabinet, because your parents are right: Even in our increasingly paperless world, you're still going to want a safe place to stash hard copies of certain important documents — your lease or mortgage, your tax forms, medical papers… all that adulting stuff. This two-drawer filer will help you stay organized — and since it isn’t super "office-y," it’ll look super cute doing it, too.
25. A sign for your dishwasher that’ll tell you whether it’s clean or dirty, because this tiny upgrade makes a huge difference in your home life. With one of these on hand, never again will you accidentally find yourself putting a dirty fork in with the clean ones before you remember that you ran the dishwasher last night.
26. A wire storage basket or two, because it’s high time you got all that clutter off your floor (especially if your parents are on their way to visit, quick, clean everything now, they're almost here). These bins look as cool as they are useful, with their steel construction letting you see what’s inside while also making sure all your odds and ends stay neatly corralled.
27. And an insulated, stainless-steel water bottle, so you can make sure you’re drinking enough water every day. This 32-ounce pick from Owala has a push-button lid, an optional straw, and — most importantly — excellent insulation, ensuring that your H2O stays cold for hours. Plus, it comes in a bunch of bright colors — and isn’t everything better when it’s fun?
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