The Best Household Products, According to 40,000 Shoppers
Updated: Nov. 30, 2022
The votes are in—say hello to 2019's Products of the Year. From cleaners to crackers, these are the top picks, according to more than 40,000 consumers nationwide.
Automatic Dish Care
Those looking for a dish detergent that delivers sparkling clean dishes after every single wash without leaving behind residue in the detergent compartment will want to check out the FINISH Max-in-1 Powerball. In the category of Automatic Dish Care, Product of the Year survey respondents ranked it a reliable best bet. These Amazon products that have practically perfect reviews are also clear winners.
Air Care
When Product of the Year survey data was analyzed, the results were clear: Air Wick’s Essential Mist diffuser keeps spaces feeling fresh and clean. It operates intermittently, meaning that not only does this keep the room from being overpowered by a strong scent, but your product also lasts longer too.
Better For You Snack
If you have to eat on the go, and convenience store food is the most realistic option, drive thyself to the nearest CVS. The brand’s Gold Emblem abound White Cheddar Flavored Bite-sized Quinoa & Rice Cakes are a top pick for the salty, crunchy taste, all for 120 calories per serving.
Bread
As any savvy shopper already knows, ALDI is a treasure trove of grocery store savings, with more than its fair share of premium brand surprises—and here’s how they can keep their prices so dang cheap. This ALDI Specially Selected Sliced Sourdough Round is one of them, a top pick by Product the Year survey participants in a category that everyone takes seriously…ahh bread.
Breakfast
Yes, you know that meal prep has its advantages. But you also live in the real world and some weekends, there simply isn’t the time. When manic Monday arrives and you’re doing your level best to look alive in time for work, toss this Del Monte Fruit & Oats cup in your bag. In the Breakfast category, it was named a hands-down winner for its filling fiber content, Omega-3’s, and lack of artificial flavors and sweeteners.
Caffeinated Product
Cold brew coffee lovers, rejoice! In the competitive category of Caffeinated Product, guess what beat all? Java House Cold Brew, which you can make in a flash on your home Keurig. Psst!
Candy
All those years after Bart Simpson snarled that none of us dare lay a finger on his Butterfinger, the candy bar remains a fan favorite, and for good reason—it’s still awesome.
Car Care
It’s good to know that the best-loved product in the Car Care category is also one that can help you see the roads more clearly. Survey respondents raved over this Rain-X Waterless Car Wash & Rain Repellent. In a real downpour, that extra layer of protection can make a huge difference (not to mention extending the life of your wiper blades).
Cat Care
In the Cat Care category, The Clorox Company’s Fresh Step Clean Paws took top billing. A standout for its sustained performance, with low tracking and low dust being among the top cited reasons, this is one Product of the Year that will be a purr-fect fit for feline owners.
Convenience Meal
All hail the one-dish dinner! Even better when in it’s a can, costs less than $2, and tastes like it took serious effort. Bush’s Black Bean Fiesta delivers on all those points, a hearty side but also more than capable of standing on its own as an entree, which is why it garnered the award for Product of the Year’s 2019 Convenience Meal category.
Cookie
Survey respondents take their Cookie category seriously. And much-loved as Milk’s Favorite Cookie already is (oh Oreo, how we love you!), it’s no surprise that a sister product—Oreo Thins Bites—established its rightful place as 2019’s Product of the Year, Cookie category.
Dish Booster
Ever opened the dishwasher only to find contents that are um, less than clean? As far as dish boosters go, this is one of those products that consumers sometimes are wary about adding to their carts, with concerns about cost versus performance near the top of the list. This FINISH Jet-Dry Rinse Aid puts those fears to rest, producing pristine plates, glasses, and flatware wash-after-wash.
Dog Care
If your dog is one of those that goes into hiding at the first sound of thunder—and here’s why dogs do—Product of the Year’s Dog Care category winner might be of interest. Ditto for those whose furry friends experience anxiety. The vest is designed to give its wearers a soothing, swaddling-like effect.
Feminine Care
It’s uncomfortable and annoying enough to have your period, right? At least you can minimize the misery with a product that 40,000 consumers can agree on; in the Feminine Care product assessment, survey participants consistently recommended Playtex Simply Gently Glide Tampons. To help ease bloating and cramps, try these foods to eat during your period.
Fresh Entrée
When you want a fresh-tasting entrée that you don’t have to make yourself and waiting for delivery takes too long and costs too much, try Cooked Perfect Fresh Meatballs. These grab and go winners of the Fresh Entree category come in Beef & Pork flavors as well as Chicken.
Frozen Entrée
In the Frozen Entrée category, Lean Cuisine Origins earned the 2019 Product of the Year distinction. Reviewers selected Lean Cuisine Origins as the clear winner in the Frozen Entree category, in part because of its many flavors and varieties.
Gum
The minty freshness of a Tic Tac in chewing gum? Yes, please! Product of the Year consumers agreed, declaring Tic Tac Gum the indisputable winner in the crowded chewing gum category. Did you know that chewing gum can actually help improve your memory? It’s true—and that’s just one of the many surprising benefits of chewing gum.
Health System
If diabetes care is a part of your regimen, chances are you’re always on the lookout for high-quality meters and supplies that also won’t break the bank. The Contour Next One Smart Meter and App System monitors blood glucose monitoring and includes ten testing strips.
Healthy Beverage
In the Healthy Beverage category, Product of the Year consumers declared Zyn’s Holistic Wellness beverage tops. It comes in four flavors, Lemon Ginger, Mango Lychee, Mixed Berry, and Pomegranate Cranberry, each loaded with 200 milligrams of curcumin, the equivalent of what’s found in ten to 15 turmeric roots. Turmeric is known to be one of the healthiest spices you can add to your diet, and for good reason: here are 10 benefits of turmeric.
Household Cleaning
Give it up for everyone’s least favorite chore! At least you can make cleaning the toilet easier with Product of the Year’s 2019 winner in the Household Cleaning category. One of the best things about Scrubbing Bubbles Bubbly Beach Gel Toilet Bowl Cleaner is its bottle design; the S-shaped neck makes it easier to squirt this grime-eliminating liquid right at the rim, where most traditional-looking bottles are a total miss.
Household Essentials
In the Household Essentials category, Reynolds KITCHENS Quick Cut Plastic Wrap was cited time and again as the must-have, best-in-class option as a cover for leftovers and cooking.
Ice Cream
Go ahead and make ice cream your late night snack, the Nightfood brand won’t keep you up. With flavors including “Full Moon Vanilla” and “Cookies N’ Dreams,” the award-winning ice cream is made in consultation with behavioral sleep experts, a nutritionist who specializes in the connection between food and sleep, along with chef and restaurateur Chris Santos.
Immediate Relief
When you need something to soothe your child right away, Halls Kids Throat Pops are the answer. This Product of the Year winner in the Immediate Relief category comes in several kid-friendly flavors, including Cherry, Strawberry, and Vitamin C orange. Each includes the same cough suppressant formula for which Halls is known at a kid-safe level.
Kids Novelty Snack
For a grab-and-go treat you can toss in your bag, survey participants picked Kinder Joy as their go-to option. Each egg-shaped package includes wafers and milk cream, along with a surprise toy. Yum and fun!
Laundry Booster
There is laundry that meets the technical definition of “clean”, and then the stuff that smells so good it makes a trip to your closet feel like you’ve stepped into a meadow. Laundry boosters are to thank for these wondrous, lingering scents, but which one to choose? Survey results from 2019’s Product of the Year point to Purex Crystals. Just a half capful sprinkle in the wash can give you a fresh laundry scent that lasts for days.
Laundry Pacs
There is mighty cleaning power in those mini Tide Pods; the Ultra Oxi tablets are this year’s Product of the Year in the Laundry Pacs category, Instead of first having to pre-treat stains, users can toss one of these Pods into the wash. The Pods include color protector and other built-in treatments that can simplify the steps of your standard laundry routine.
Liquid Dish Soap
Dawn Platinum took top honors thanks to its cleaning performance, de-greasing properties, and value per ounce. And it does more than just wash pots and pans—try one of these extraordinary uses for dishwashing soap.
Liquid Laundry
If you prefer your laundry detergent in liquid form, take note that Tide Fresh Coral Blast stood out amongst all other competition in the Liquid Laundry category. Like other products in the Tide family, this detergent effectively cleans and refreshes garments, even in cold water.
Oral Care
Though it’s $6 price tag is a bit steep compared to your everyday toothpaste, Crest Gum Detoxify Deep Cleaning Toothpaste delivers superior gum care and prevents plaque buildup. These are the 14 teeth-whitening products dentists actually use themselves.
Paper Towels
If you’ve gone cheap on paper towels, you don’t know it until it’s too late. Brawny’s Tear-A-Square, on the other hand, with strong absorbent properties, will never disappoint.
Side Dish
When you need a side dish in a hot minute (err, make that four to six minutes), it’s Idahoan Mashed Potatoes for the win. This carton contains 65 servings, enough to feed a hungry crew, and then some.
Skin Protection
Before you pack your Spring Break bags, take heed of Honu Sunscreen. It comes with a spray wand too, sparing users the awkward agony of maneuvering hard to reach shoulders and backs during sunscreen applications.
Sugar Confections
When your sweet tooth strikes and it’s time for a sugar fix, you could do a lot worse than Product of the Year’s 2019 Sugar Confections winner. Black Forest Gummy Bears may not be a health food, but at 130 calories for a 15-piece serving, it’s a light-enough indulgence worth the occasional splurge.
Vegetarian Entrée
In the category of Vegetarian Entrée, ALDI’s Earth Grown Chickenless Patties and Tenders ranked as the best in its class. Read on for the 24 things you should always buy on Amazon.
Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
