Want more deals? Visit CNN Underscored’s Guide to Prime Day for wall-to-wall coverage of the best discounts to be found during Amazon’s massive sale.
As associate writers at CNN Underscored, both of us — Joe Bloss and Maxwell Shukuya — get our hands on new products and find out if they’re worth your money. That often means testing a new vacuum or rhapsodizing about our favorite coffee maker, but there are plenty of instances where everyday items are under our testing microscope. We’re talking about the things that jump in our cart during a Target run or the refills we have automated on our Amazon Prime accounts.
Those are the Amazon Prime Day deals we’re focused on here: dish soap, batteries, trash bags and more of the stuff you’re going to have restock on eventually. Because as nice as it is to save hundreds on a new TV or the latest fall fashion deals, budgeting for the essentials is something we all have to do. But be sure to act fast if something catches your eye, as Amazon’s Prime Day ends tonight.
Our readers consistently love the whitening effects of these dental strips from Crest. The price on this pack falls this low only during major sale events.
That roll of garbage bags is going to run out eventually. These stretchy bags are on sale in a variety of scents or without any fragrance at all.
Premium dishwasher pods like these usually aren't cheap. But at this price — the lowest ever recorded — the unscented pods are definitely worth the investment.
This combo pack of 28 AA and 28 AAA batteries will come in handy the next time the remote dies or your kid gets a new toy that annoyingly comes without the required power supply. Our price tracking has this bundle near its lowest price ever.
I bought these batteries during summer Prime Day and they came in so clutch when I had to replace the ones in my AirTags. Once you pop them in, they should last about a year.
I'm probably guilty of waiting too long to replace my water filter at times. No excuses when a set of four of them is 25% off.
A trio of portable tubes of this dentist-approved toothpaste is rarely this affordable. I keep a full-size tube at my sink at all times and will be buying these for upcoming travels.
Something so healthy shouldn't taste this good — or be this cheap. Yet here we are, seeing a 34% discount that has been bested just once all year.
As long as you have a dog, you're going to have a dog that poops. I have a supply of these bags stashed at home at all times, and you already know I'll be stocking up at this all-time low price.
A pair of 25-packs brings the price down to $0.21 per wipe. I don't have to actually wear makeup to know that's a heck of a beauty deal.
Tide's Free & Gentle pods haven't been marked down this far on Amazon since March. With 15% off, you'll spend roughly just 22 cents per load of laundry.
Now 42% off and just shy of its lowest price this year, this hydrating gel cream is a great way to get ahead of the dry air — and skin — of winter.
This case has been at full price often lately, so snag 36 boxes of 100 tissues at 15% off before sniffle season takes over.
Not only does this bundle, discounted by 20%, give you three smiling scrubbers, it also includes a trio of cleaning pastes for various surfaces.
A bunch of flavors of Celsius are marked down now, including this standard variety pack. I'm a big fan of these cans when I need a boost but don't want coffee.
Refreshing my rotation of undershirts is maybe the most satisfying thing I can do with my wardrobe. It's an obvious call to make for just $8.
We don't see this bundle of disinfecting wipes discounted often. You'll get two packs of lemon and lime blossom scent, one crisp linen and one mango and hibiscus.
The 330 pieces of candy here are obviously for the trick-or-treaters that will be knocking at your door in a few weeks and definitely not just for yourself.
The savings might be small, but the impact is huge. Our cleaning expert Jolie Kerr defends Scotch Brite Dobie Pads for their ability to clean surfaces without scratching.
Whether your last cord is lost or broken, or if you're on the verge of upgrading, you're going to need a USB-C cable eventually. I've stopped buying charging cables from any brand but Anker.
Having stackable, storable containers like these has been a game changer for me when it comes to not wasting food. I'll be restocking my cabinet with this deal.
You don't want to face the wrath of a disappointed dentist. These floss picks, now matching the cheapest price we've seen all year, are key to a healthy oral hygiene routine.
The price for this berry-flavored pack of 18 seltzers usually hovers around $14. Cheers to hydration — and a 34% discount.
Colder, drier days are coming, and having a reliable lotion is going to matter when they arrive.
At just 15 cents a load (the lowest price ever), these convenient laundry detergent sheets are both cheap and easy to use. Simply drop one into your wash machine and it'll dissolve right into your load.
Pets are expensive. But stock up on this discounted double pack of clumping litter that includes two 18.5-pound boxes, and you can cut your monthly bill down significantly.
Upgrade your toilet brush with this affordable cleaning wand, which comes bundled with 16 disposable scrubbing pad refills and a storage caddy. It's hit its lowest price in months.
If you've got kids (or just love snacks), this is a no-brainer purchase, especially since this 40-pack hasn't been this cheap in more than a year.
How we chose the best home essential Amazon Prime Day deals
Kicking our usual day-to-day deals hunting into overdrive, our editors comb the internet to find the best of the best price cuts. For the 48-hour event that is October Prime Day, we’re working around the clock to surface only the most notable discounts. Each member of our team is dialed in to a specific beat to help surface the best of the best deals.
On top of bringing years of deals expertise to its coverage, CNN Underscored leverages experts in other areas of the commerce space to help you find the best deals. We’re constantly reviewing and testing the latest tech, beauty products and home goods, and that hands-on experience means we can recommend the products we’ve used ourselves.
Why you should trust CNN Underscored
CNN Underscored editors have been covering deals for decades and have plenty of experience saving readers money. We do everything we can to help you get the best bang for your buck. As associate writers who write about everything from air purifiers to coffee makers, Joe Bloss and Maxwell Shukuya will always recommend products that have their full stamp of approval.