In case you missed it: We're in the final hours of Amazon's fall Prime Day. Most of us think of Amazon's big sales event as an opportunity to snag exciting deals on buzzy new tech, big-ticket items and luxury beauty we've been dying to try. But there are more savings to score than you might realize at first glance. It's so easy to get distracted by all of the big, shiny discounts on fun things that people often overlook the under-the-radar deals that might be saving them the most money.
So, here's to the boring stuff. Because, let's face it — there's always going to be more chores and organizing to tackle, more outfits to put together and more things to clean. The unsung heroes of fall Prime Day are Tide pods, dishwasher tablets and trash bags. The things you shove under your kitchen sink and don’t think to restock on until you’re running dangerously low. They're basic tank tops, toilet paper and batteries. The way we look at it, you’re going to need to buy these household essentials anyway, so you might as well snag them on sale.
Ready to restock? Our best essentials finds are below. Act fast to take advantage of these deals because Prime Day ends tonight!
Home essentials deals | Kitchen and food essentials deals | Fashion essentials deals | Sign up for SMS | How we chose
Prime Day home essentials deals
Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner (Pack of 2)
Okay, this may not be the most exciting product ever, but it is a practical find at a stellar value. Ringing up at under $4.50, you get two bottles of Clorox's bestselling clinging bleach gel, which should last months.
Pulidiki Car Cleaning Gel
Be honest, when was the last time you cleaned your car interior? If you're due for a refresh, stop struggling to pick up crumbs and debris with wipes. This cleaning gel makes it easy to get into all of the nooks and crannies of your car.
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Hand Soap Refill
If you prefer to keep a decorative hand soap on the counter and just refill it with your favorite soap, now’s the time to snag this 33 ounce jug from Mrs. Meyer’s in one of the brand's bestselling scents.
Arm & Hammer Power Sheets Laundry Detergent
Leave your days of lugging around heavy laundry detergent bottles behind. These laundry detergent sheets are compact, easy to use and even easier to store. Each sheet contains ultra concentrated detergent to tackle tough stains and leaves clothes smelling delightful with a fresh linen scent.
Tide Ultra OXI Power PODS with Odor Eliminators Laundry Detergent Pacs
Another smart laundry detergent we love? These bestselling odor-eliminating Tide Pods while they’re a couple bucks off for Amazon’s October Prime event. Since you can simply toss these right into the drum, you can skip the whole mess of measuring and pouring out standard detergent.
Amazon Basics 24 Count AA and AAA Batteries Value Pack
You can never have too many batteries. This value pack is a real steal at under $9. You’ll get 12 AA and 12 AAA high-performance 1.5 volt alkaline batteries.
Aidea Brite Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge Set
You know the saying: clean house is a happy house and this sponge set can help you achieve just that. With 24 sponges, you can clean get sparkling dishes, pots, pans, sinks, appliances, you name it.
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Durable
In our opinion, the Magic Eraser truly earns its name — cleaning with it and watching buildup, stray marks and messes disappear is almost like magic! This version of the beloved multitasking cleaning tool is designed to be extra durable, reducing the amount of scrubbing need by 80%, the brand claims.
Lysol Disinfectant Laundry Sanitizer & Scent Booster
It's flu season, so germs are everywhere this time of year. Give yourself peace of mind that your clothes are getting sanitized with every load of laundry when you add this sanitizer and scent booster to your usual cycle. According to the brand, it kills 99.9% of bacteria, without the harshness of bleach.
Philips Fabric Shaver
It’s time to break out our favorite sweaters and cardigans. If last year’s tops are looking a little worn, try this fabric shaver with over 120,000 ratings on Amazon to remove excess fuzz, lint and pills on sweaters and get them looking brand new again. It's under $10 right now!
Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner
Did you know you’re supposed to clean your washing machine? These throw-and-go tablets make it easy to cross off your to-do list. Each box comes with six tablets so you’re all set for half the year.
Lement KN95 Face Masks (Pack of 50)
Speaking of flu season... It's a smart idea to keep some face masks handy, and these bestselling black KN95 masks with over 70,000 ratings are a great buy right now at 67% off.
Colgate Max Fresh Whitening Toothpaste
Grab this four-pack of toothpaste while it's on sale and you won't have to think about restocking for a while. The fluoride toothpaste helps prevent cavities, whitens teeth and helps remove surface stains, the brand says.
Mold Remover Gel
We all have that corner of the shower, bit around the faucet or lining of the washing machine that could use some attention. Remove mildew, mold and more with this top-rated gel that requires no scrubbing to work its magic, per the brand.
Seventh Generation Dish Soap
For less than $16, you can get six bottles of dish soap from Seventh Generation in a lavender scent. The formula is designed to cut through grease and tough, dried-on food.
Sharpie S-Note Creative Markers (Pack of 24)
Just when you need a Sharpie, one never seems to be around — so now that this 24-pack of permanent markers is a jaw-dropping 68% off, it’s a fantastic idea to add some to your cart. More than 14,000 customers awarded this particular set a perfect five-star rating, which includes a rainbow of pastels that can even double as highlighters.
Lysol Disinfecting Wipes Bundle (Pack of 4)
In addition to our bathrooms and kitchens, we should probably be cleaning surfaces like our phones and luggage more often than we remember to. These disinfectant wipes can tackle all of the above, and they’re available on sale in a bulk pack of four right now.
Energizer AA Batteries (24 Count)
AA batteries are one of the most common batteries for household use, so they're smart to have on hand. This bulk pack of 24 batteries is good for up to 12 years, the brand says, so you can stock up now and store them worry-free for years.
Finish Ultimate Plus Infinity Shine Dishwasher Pods (62 Count)
You can trust these dishwasher pods to get the job done — no rinsing or scrubbing required. They come in a pack of 62, so you'll be set for ages after this restock.
Amazon Basics Tall Kitchen Drawstring Trash Bags
Anyone who has run out of trash bags knows that you can never have too many. Prime Day is a great time to stock up on household necessities like these, which come in a pack of 120 and are now under $15. They're a better value than leading competitor deals we're seeing, too.
Clorox ToiletWand Disposable Toilet Cleaning System
It's time to ditch your old toilet brush, because we just found something way better. This system allows you to skip the step of squirting cleaning gel or bleach and instead uses pad that are pre-loaded with cleaning solution, which you can easily pop off into the garbage after each clean for hands-free disposal.
Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner
Your dishwasher works hard. It needs a little TLC every now and then to keep it running its best and smelling fresh, and these once-a-month tablets will have you covered for a full year.
Wet & Forget Shower Cleaner
Do you dread scrubbing your shower or tub? Join the club — and scoop up this “wet and forget” cleaner that does all the work for you. One Shop TODAY writer says you simply spray it on, leave it to work its magic overnight and rinse clean in the morning. No elbow grease required!
Amazon Basics 2-Ply Flex-Sheets Paper Towels (12 Rolls)
Score 12 rolls of paper towels for under $20 with this deal from Amazon's brand of home supplies.
Seventh Generation Toilet Paper (12 Rolls)
One of life's little miseries is running out of toilet paper. Avoid that fate by adding a dozen rolls to your cart before the sale ends tonight. You'll save a little over $10.
Who Gives A Crap 100% Bamboo Toilet Paper (24 Rolls)
Want to be stocked up for months? Score 24 of these better-for-the-planet toilet paper rolls at 20% off. Plus, they're covered with this fun design, so they're cute enough to leave in plain sight.
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300
Consider adding this portable power station to your home emergency kit. It can be charged via wall outlet, car or solar panel, providing power to essential electronics and devices up to 300 watts, the brand says.
Prime Day kitchen and food essentials deals
Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat Organic Cough Drops
Cold and flu season is upon us, so it’s best to be prepared and grab some cough drops to have on hand. Because nothing’s worse than having to go to the store when you’re sick, or waiting for delivery when you need immediate relief. These are 40% off right now.
Trident Spearmint Sugar Free Gum (12 Packs)
Stick one of these in every purse and never be caught with bad breath again! This 12-pack of spearmint gum has over 30,000 perfect, five-star ratings from customers who enjoy minty fresh breath.
Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Granola Bars
These bars are an easy snack that you can pack in school lunches or grab as you run out the door. You'll get 30 bars for less than $10.
Ziploc Gallon Food Storage Bags (150 Count)
When’s the last time you restocked on Ziploc bags? Right now you can get 150 of the gallon size for less than $13 — that’s 43% off.
Quaker Instant Oatmeal, 4 Flavor Variety Pack
In a rush? You can have a delicious breakfast prepared in just a minute with this pack of instant oatmeal packs. The box comes with a mix of four different flavors, including maple and brown sugar, cinnamon and spice, apples and cinnamon and peaches and cream.
Liquid I.V. Lemon Lime Hydration Multiplier (Pack of 16)
Whether we’re traveling, ill, exercising or just busy with the day-to-day, we’re all guilty of forgetting to drink enough water from time to time. Thanks to these stir-in beverage supplements, you can rehydrate quickly and with three times the electrolytes of the leading sports drink brand per serving, according to the brand.
Happy Belly Medium Roast Coffee Pods (100 Count)
Of all things to run out of, you do not want coffee to be one of them. This deal on Amazon’s brand of coffee is so good, I’m personally adding it to cart. You can get 100 of the fan-favorite donut shop coffee pods for just over $22 — that’s about 22 cents per cup, which is the cheapest I’ve seen in a long time.
Prime Day fashion essentials deals
Gap Ribbed Tank
Yes, you read that right: you can snag a Gap tank top for less than $5 right now — that’s over 65% off. These everyday tanks are a basic you can wear as an undershirt or layer with a cardigan, which makes them an essential in our book. They come in a few colors and sizes go up to XXL.
Amazon Essentials Women’s Layering Long Sleeve V-Neck
Layering season will be here before we know it! And this long-sleeve V-neck will make the perfect base layer on colder days. You'll get two in a pack for just $21, thanks to this Prime Big Deal Days deal.
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How we chose the best Prime Day deals on essentials
We meticulously combed through over 340,000 products on sale during Amazon Prime Day 2024 to determine the absolute best October Prime Day essentials deals during the two-day event, identifying expert recommendations from previous reporting on Shop TODAY and staff-tested favorites. We also consider factors like a high average rating (of over four stars), the amount of verified shopper ratings and specific user feedback.
