Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference in enjoying a day—whether you’re making dinner, taking a shower, relaxing in bed, heading to work or hanging out at the beach. So we asked veteran gadget guru Jon Jesse of the International Housewares Association to pick his favorites from the more than 2,200 companies from more than 45 countries that exhibited at the latest International Home and Housewares Show. Here’s what he likes.

They are all available online and in major home stores, and some directly from the manufacturer…

IN YOUR KITCHEN

Longer-lasting fruits and vegetables: FreshPaper. Double, triple, even quadruple the life of your spinach, berries and other produce by laying down a sheet of this paper in your refrigerator’s produce bin. It contains organic spices that inhibit bacterial and fungal growth. Each sheet lasts about a month (until its maple-syrup-like scent—from fenugreek—fades.) An 8-sheet pack costs about $10. Fenugreen.com/freshpaper

Bonus item: This product wasn’t at the show but it’s a cool one…

No more hunting for the oregano: SpiceBands. To easily find the spice you want among the sea of lookalikes in your cabinet, wrap one of these brightly-colored bands around the top of each jar. A set of 20 in nine different colors includes 16 pre-printed with the names of popular spices and four you can label with a dry erase marker. Bonus: The silicon bands provide a better grip on the lid for easier opening. About $10. eBase4.com/spicebands

IN YOUR DINING ROOM

Elegant table linens you don’t have to clean: Sassafras Paper Table Linens. Now that your salad greens are staying fresher and you can find the herbs de Provence, why not throw a fancy dinner party? These disposable linens let you set a classy spread without having to wash and iron (or dry clean) them the next day. That’s especially convenient for away-from-home meals like picnics and tailgating parties. The Italian-made tablecloths and napkins look, feel and drape like cloth with an attractive slight sheen. The damask pattern (damascato), in burgundy or champagne, would pair well with a Thanksgiving tablescape, while the contemporary bollicine (Italian for bubbles) pattern would be a nice fit for a baby shower…or cocktail soiree. Two tablecloths 39″ square or one tablecloth 55” square about $10. Larger sizes also available. Napkins are about $8 for a set of 20. SassafrasStore.com/paper-table-linens

IN YOUR BATHROOM

No more clogged showers: ShowerShroom. This clever gadget keeps hair from ever clogging your drain. The small, cylindrical silicone device fits inside standard stall-shower drain openings (you place it underneath the drain cover) and catches hair with minimal disruption to the flow of water. Pop it out every few weeks, swipe the hair off with a paper towel and put it back. There’s also a TubShroom and SinkShroom for bathtubs and sinks, respectively. About $13. TubShroom.com

IN YOUR BEDROOM

Make romance hot and live to tell about it: Candle Impressions flameless candle. Candles in your bedroom (or living room) set a romantic mood—but so do these easy-to-use and surprisingly realistic battery-powered LED “candles.” They’re made of wax and feature a “burnt” wick at the top to support a flickering “flame.” (And all with no fire risk.) A timer lets you program them to burn whenever you please. Two ‘AA’ batteries provide up to 1,000 hours of romantic light. About $30 for a set of five. CandleImpressions.com

ON THE GO

Carry your lunch in style: Iceware Insulated Lunch Purse. These faux-leather totes, with insulated reflective lining to keep foods hot or cold, are dead ringers for fashion-forward women’s purses. They come in a wide variety of styles and colors—even chic bowler-bag designs. About $50 and up, depending on the size. Larger ones can be your lunch bag and purse at the same time.

Drink the H2O you need: Hidrate Spark 2.0. It’s easy to forget to drink enough water when you’re out and about. This smart bottle lights up to remind you to sip more. An internal sensor tracks how many ounces you’ve gulped. You can customize your “hydration goal”—and, if you want, use the free Hidrate app to sync the bottle to your smartphone, Apple Watch or Fitbit or other selected fitness trackers. About $55. HidrateSpark.com

Best new beach tote: Bogg Bag. This roomy rubber-like tote is punctuated with ventilation holes and has a unique treaded, flat-bottom design so it resists tipping. Made of a durable, antimicrobial EVA material, it’s great for the beach or farmers market—rinse away any sand or dirt with a hose. It also works well for grocery shopping, the gym or pool, sporting events, camping, boating, picnics and gardening. Available in 12 colors. Comes with a clear plastic zipper pouch insert to secure keys, a wallet, phone, etc. Original size (19″x15″x9.5″) costs about $65, and the Baby Bogg (15″x13″x5.25″) about $45. BoggBag.com

A better umbrella: Revers-A-Brella. The clever mechanics of this product mean that when you come in from the rain and close your umbrella, it doesn’t drip all over you—because the umbrella folds upward like a bowl rather than downward, trapping water inside it—you can then just shake out the water. The upward folding also keeps you drier getting in and out of your car. There are automatic- and manual-opening models of various sizes and designs. About $20.

Bottom Line Personal interviewed Jon Jesse, vice president for industry development at the International Housewares Association (IHA). He is a former senior vice president of Kohl’s and, prior to that, was a housewares buyer for Marshall Field’s in Chicago. Housewares.org

Note: From time-to-time we may recommend or promote a product or service from selected companies.  In full transparency, please note that we may earn commissions and fees from these referrals.

Related Articles