Products curated from the most popular purchases on Amazon.
Tap a group to open its picks.
Bedding you can sleep in tonight3 options
This is night one, and night one is non-negotiable. A comforter set that arrives as one item means the bed is done in a single decision instead of five.
- Check the set includes the sheets, because many list a comforter and shams only
- Match the size to the mattress you actually bought, not the room
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Bedsure PureWoven 100% Rayon Derived from Bamboo, Queen Sheets, 4 Pieces | Cooling Sheets for Hot Sleepers, Breathable & Silky Soft, 16" Deep Pocket, Hotel Luxury Bedding, Dark GreyCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
CozyLux Queen Comforter Set with Sheets Dark Grey - 7 Pieces Bed in a Bag | OEKO-TEX Certified, All Season, 240GSM Down-Al...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Bedsure PureWoven 100% Viscose Derived from Bamboo, Queen Sheets, 4PCS | Organically Grown, Cooling Bed Sheet for Hot Sleepers, 18" Deep Pocket with Corner Straps, Luxury Silky Soft, WhiteCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
A shower curtain, a liner and the rings3 options
Almost every first-apartment list forgets that these are three separate things. Without the liner, water goes on the floor; without the rings, nothing hangs at all.
- Buy them as a set so nothing is missing
- Check the liner is weighted at the hem, which is what keeps it from wrapping around you, and that the length matches a standard rail height
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Vipfree 3 in 1 Shower Curtain Set, Waffle Shower Curtain and Liner Set with 12 Double Sided Shower Curtain Hooks, 258GSM L...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
LiBa Shower Curtain PEVA 10G, 72x72 Inch Frosted with 12 Rings | Heavy duty, includes 12 rings, waterproof plastic shower ...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Amazon Basics Water Resistant 8-Gauge PEVA Shower Curtain Liner with Rust-Proof Metal Grommets and Plastic Hooks, 72"L x 7...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Towels for the bathroom3 options
You need two sets minimum: one in use, one clean, because you will not do laundry on the day you need a towel. This is the second thing people find missing on night one.
- Cotton dries the body better than a microfibre blend
- Check the set actually includes hand towels and washcloths, which are the ones people forget entirely
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
POLYTE 430 GSM Poly Blend Microfiber Quick Dry Waffle Bath Towel Set of 6 | 2-Body Towels, 2-Hand Towels, 2-Wash cloths, Oversize, Lint FreeCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Amazon Basics 6-Piece Fade-Resistant 100% Cotton Towel Set for Bathroom, Soft and Absorbent, 2 Bath Towels, 2 Hand Towels,...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Preboun 12 Pcs Bath Towels Set Washcloths Microfiber,4 Colors | Quick Dry Coral Velvet, Highly Absorbent for Beach Pool Gy...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A basic tool kit3 options
The first week of a new place is entirely small jobs: a curtain rail, a wobbly toilet seat, a flat-pack shelf, a picture. Borrowing a screwdriver from a neighbour you have not met yet is not the plan.
- Look for a kit with a claw hammer, both screwdriver types, pliers, an adjustable wrench and a tape measure
- A case that closes matters more than the piece count on the box
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Amazon Basics 142-Piece Household Tool Kit for Home Repair, Hand Tools with Storage Case, 13.39 x 9.25 x 2.95 inch, TurquoiseCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
CARTMAN 39-Piece Household Tool Set, Orange Hand Kit With Storage Case | Complete assortment for home repairs, DIY project...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
8V Cordless Drill Set, 132-Piece Home Tool Set for DIY & Home Improvement | Rechargeable Drill with LED Light & Accessorie...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A cordless drill3 options
Every curtain rail, shelf, mirror and TV mount needs one, and a screwdriver by hand into a wall plug is a genuinely bad hour. This is the item people borrow most and end up buying anyway.
- A 12V or 18V drill-driver is plenty for a flat
- Check it comes with a battery, a charger and a bit set, because a bare tool needs all three bought separately
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill Driver Set, 2 Speed, High Performance Motor, Includes 2 XR 1.3Ah Li-Ion Batteries, Charger and Contractor Bag (DCD771C2)Check price on Amazon (paid link)
DEWALT Tools 5 Tool Power Tool Combo Kit, Cordless Drill Impact Driver Saw Oscillating Multi-tool Set with 20V MAX Battery and Charger (DCK551D1M1)Check price on Amazon (paid link)
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT Cordless Drill Driver Kit with Drill Bit Set and Sockets, 100 pc. Tool Kit for Home, Ba...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A first cookware set3 options
Two pans and a saucepan cover almost everything you will cook in year one. Buying a fourteen-piece set is how people end up with three items in use and eleven in a cupboard.
- Check whether your hob is induction, because a lot of basic sets will not work on one at all
- Look for oven-safe handles, which doubles what each pan can do
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
HexClad 10QT Hybrid Nonstick Braiser Stock Pot with Lid, Induction Ready | Stay-Cool Handles, Dishwasher and Oven Safe up to 900°F, Compatible with All CooktopsCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
HexClad 8QT Hybrid Nonstick Braiser Stock Pot with Lid, Induction Ready | Stay-Cool Handles, Dishwasher and Oven Safe up to 900°F, Compatible with All CooktopsCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
HexClad 12QT Hybrid Nonstick Braiser Stock Pot with Lid, Induction Ready | Stay-Cool Handles, Dishwasher and Oven Safe up to 900°F, Compatible with All CooktopsCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
A knife and a board3 options
One good chef's knife does more than a block of eight bad ones. A blunt knife is also the one most likely to cut you, because it slips instead of cutting.
- An 8-inch chef's knife covers nearly everything
- Check whether a sharpener is included, because a knife is only good while it is sharp
- Get a board that fits in your sink to wash it
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
imarku 15-Piece Knife Block Set Built-in Sharpener, Japanese High Carbon Stainless Steel Kitchen Knife Set, Dishwasher Safe, Chef Knife Set with Wooden Knife Block, Santoku Knives for Kitchen Cooking | Japanese High Carbon Stainless Steel Kitchen Knife Set, Dishwasher Safe, Chef Knife Set with Wooden Knife BlockCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
imarku 14-Piece Knife Set. Pro power, home ease | Self-sharpening builds skill. Razor-sharp high carbon steel. Grip boosts confidence. Steady, non-slip prep.Check price on Amazon (paid link)
imarku 14Pcs Knife Set, Sleek White Minimalist Kitchen Cutlery Set | Built-in Sharpener, High Carbon Stainless Steel Kitchen Knives, Dishwasher Safe, Gift for Home Cooks & Chefs, Utility KnivesCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Plates, bowls and flatware for four3 options
Four is the right number, not two: two means washing up before anyone can visit, and eight is storage you do not have. This is also the first thing you will want when someone comes over.
- Look for stoneware or porcelain over melamine if it is going in a microwave
- Check the set is dishwasher safe and stackable, because cupboard space in a first flat is the real constraint
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Amazon Basics 16-Piece Porcelain Dinnerware Set, Microwave and Dishwasher Safe, Service for 4, Plates, Bowls and Mugs, WhiteCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Gibson Home Rockaway 12-Piece Stoneware Dinnerware Set, Matte Finish, Service for 4, Modern Ceramic Plates and Bowls, Micr...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Pfaltzgraff Sadie 16-Piece Cream Dinnerware Set, Service for 4, Durable Stoneware Plates and Bowls with Classic Design, Mi...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Cleaning basics in one go3 options
A new place needs cleaning before you unpack into it, and the shops are the last place you want to be on move day. Buying it as a bundle means you are not making six decisions about spray bottles.
- Check it covers bathroom, kitchen and floors, which are three different products
- Microfibre cloths beat paper towels for cost and for glass
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
kelamayi Upgrade Broom and Dustpan Set, Large Size and with Long Handle, Upright,Ideal for Indoor Outdoor Garage Kitchen Room Office Lobby Use (Green)Check price on Amazon (paid link)
kelamayi Broom and Dustpan Set for Home, Office, Indoor&Outdoor Sweeping, Stand Up Broom and Dustpan (Black&Gray)Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Swiffer Sweeper 2-in-1 Mops for Floor Cleaning, Dry and Wet Multi Surface Floor Cleaner, Sweeping and Mopping Starter Kit,...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A vacuum that fits in a closet3 options
A full upright will not fit anywhere in a small flat, so it stays in a corner and becomes furniture. A cordless stick lives on a wall bracket and gets used because it is easy to reach.
- Check the run time against the size of the flat, and check whether it comes with a wall mount and a crevice tool
- A washable filter saves buying replacements
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Tikom V500 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for Home, 40000Pa/450W Stick Vacuum with LED Touch Screen, Charging Wall Dock, Anti-Tan...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
KARDV Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, 500W/40Kpa Vacuum Cleaners for Home, 60Mins Stick Vacuum with LED Display, Anti-Tangle & Wa...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Upgraded 650W 55KPA 70Mins Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with Self-Standing and Touch Screen, Ant...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A surge protector with USB in it3 options
Older flats have one socket per wall and it is behind the sofa. A strip with USB built in gets a lamp, a TV, a laptop and two phones running off the one outlet you can actually reach.
- Check the cord length in feet - this is the whole point
- Look for a real joule rating, and confirm it says surge protector rather than power strip
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Bawmwim Surge Protector Power Strip, 8 Outlets(1850W/15A/14AWG), 6 USB Charging Ports(2 USB C), 6FT Flat Plug Extension Cord Outlet Extender with Overload Protection, ETL Certified for OfficeCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Surge Protector Power Strip 4800J, LeZone 10Ft Long Extension Cord Flat Plug, 12 Outlets 2 USB C 2 USB Ports, Wall Mountab...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Extension Cord 15 Ft, Flat Plug Surge Protector Power Strip 15 Ft Long Cord | Long Extension Cord with 8 Outlets 4 USB Por...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A laundry hamper you can carry full3 options
In a flat, laundry means carrying it to a basement, a laundrette or a car. A rigid basket you cannot get through a door with is why the pile stays on the floor.
- Straps or a backpack style beat a rigid basket if there are stairs
- Check it holds a whole load rather than half of one, and that it stands up on its own when empty
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Dalykate Backpack Laundry Bag, 115L Large Hamper with Shoulder Straps, Drawstring Closure, Mesh Pocket, KhakiCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Dalykate Laundry Backpack with Shoulder Straps and Mesh Pocket Durable Nylon Clothes Hamper Bag with Drawstring Closure for College, Travel, Laundromat, ApartmentCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Vorspack Laundry Backpack with Shoulder Straps, Extra Large Hamper, Black | Heavy Duty 2 in 1 Laundry Basket, Structured S...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A bin and the bags that fit it3 options
The bin is the single most-forgotten first-apartment item, and the bags are forgotten twice, because people buy a bin and then discover the bag size is not the one in the drawer.
- Check the litre or gallon rating and buy bags to match it, not to match a memory of the last place
- A lid matters more in a small flat where the kitchen is the living room
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Glad Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection | Plastic Bin, 13 Gal, Black | Kitchen Waste Bin | Hands Free with Step On Foot...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
Glad Premium Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection, 13 Gallon, Black | Plastic Kitchen Waste Bin | Hands Free with Stainle...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
BestOffice | 13 Gallon Stainless Steel Trash Can with Lid | Steel | Automatic Touchless Garbage Can | Odor Control | Moder...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A smoke alarm and a small fire extinguisher3 options
A landlord's alarm may be years old and a rented kitchen may have no extinguisher at all. A pan fire is the most likely emergency in a first place and the one most easily handled in the first ten seconds.
- Check the alarm's printed replacement date, because sensors expire whether or not they have been used
- For the kitchen, look for an extinguisher rated for both grease and electrical fires
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
Ougist Signature ABC Fire Extinguisher for Home, 2.5 lb, 1 Pack | 1-A:10-B:C Rated Dry Chemical Extinguisher Designed For Initial Household Fires In Kitchens, Garages And Living AreasCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Ougist ABC Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher, 5 lb – 2-A:10-B：C Rated for Home, Office & Vehicle, Quick Release, Easy-Grip Handle, Ideal for Electrical & Grease Fires, Car Extinguisher, Model FF2KGCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
First Alert Fire Extinguisher, Standard Home Use | HOME1, UL RATED 1-A:10-B:C, Red 1-PackCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
A plunger and a drain snake3 options
A blocked toilet in a flat is an emergency with a deadline, and it always happens outside office hours. These two live in a cupboard for a year and then save an entire evening.
- Look for a flange plunger, which seals a toilet properly - the flat cup type is for sinks and will not work
- A plastic hair snake handles a shower drain without any chemicals
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
MR.SIGA Toilet Plunger with Holder, Plungers for Bathroom Heavy Duty, Black | Automatic lid design, sturdy long handle, heavy duty toilet plunger and holder set, toilet clog removerCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
POPULO Electric Toilet Plunger, Air Powered Toilet Clog Remover, Heavy Duty Power Plunger, High Pressure Drain Unclogger f...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
AMPFORCE Electric Toilet Plunger for Bathroom, High-Pressure Air Plunger, Heavy-Duty Clog Remover for Toilets, Toilet Dra...Check price on Amazon (paid link)
A folding step stool3 options
A first flat has a light fitting you cannot reach, a top cupboard you cannot see into, and a smoke alarm that will beep at 3am. Standing on a chair is how the first-week injury happens.
- Check the folded thickness so it fits beside a fridge or in a closet
- A two-step with a handrail is more stable than a taller one with nothing to hold
3 options — pick the one that fits, then tap through for the current price on Amazon.
HBTower Step Ladder, Folding Step Stool with Wide Anti-Slip Pedal | Sturdy Steel Ladder, Convenient Handrail, Lightweight, Portable Steel Step StoolCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
HBTower 2 Step Ladder, Step Stool for Adults | 2 Step Ladder Folding Step Stool with Wide Pedal Ergonomic DesignCheck price on Amazon (paid link)
Step Stool for Adults,2 Step Ladder Folding 330lbs Anti Slip Step Stool,Foldable Ergonomic 2 Steel Stool with Wide Pedal f...Check price on Amazon (paid link)