These 10 household essentials are selling out across the country—here's where to get them
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In light of the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, people are taking precautions to stay healthy and stock their homes with all the supplies they might need to help disinfect surfaces and keep their hands clean, per recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
But many of the household essentials you might need to stay safe during this outbreak are selling out. From paper towels to hand sanitizer and more, these products can help you and your family stay safe and be prepared, no matter what happens.
We’ve rounded up 10 of the most essential household products to have during the coronavirus outbreak and where to get them before they sell out. Due to increased demand, some prices for select items may be higher than usual and there may be shipping delays, but we'll also be continuing to update this list as supplies dwindle, so be sure to check back often.
1. Hand sanitizer and wipes
Hand sanitizers from Purell and GermX are flying off the shelves right now, but you should be picky because the truth is, they’re not all the same. Some contain an alcohol substitute known as benzalkonium chloride, which isn’t as effective if you’re trying to stop the spread of germs. Instead, you want to look for a hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol content, according to the CDC.
But these items are selling out fast (seriously, you may even have to go in-store to grab them), so we definitely suggest you grab them as soon as possible. Or, you could just make your own, especially since the World Health Organization (WHO) just put together this do-it-yourself guide to creating your own sanitizer. Word of caution though—their step-by-step instructions do require 96% ethyl alcohol.
Get the Dial Professional Foaming Hand Sanitizer (15.2 oz.) at Staples for $17.57
Get the Germ-X 30-oz Original Hand Sanitizer Gel at Lowe's for $4.18
Get the Germ-X 1.5-Oz Original Hand Sanitizer Gel at Lowe's for $0.98
Get the Atlantic PocketBac Hand Sanitizers at Bath and Body Works for $8
Get the The Honest Company Hand Sanitizer Spray at Target for $2.99
Get the Purell Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Gel Refill, 450ml, 2/pack at Staples for $25.49
Get the Purell Education Advanced Gentle And Free Hand Sanitizer at Office Depot for $27.09
Get the Purell Hand Sanitizing Wipes at Office Depot (in-store pickup only) for $1.59
Get the Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer at Office Depot (in-store pickup only) for $3.29
2. Hand soap
According to the CDC, one of the best things you can do right now to prevent the spread of coronavirus is to wash your hands frequently. That means scrubbing them after you use the bathroom, ride public transportation, blow your nose, cough, or sneeze, as well as before you eat. The American Red Cross also recommends that you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds in order to effectively clean them. While antibacterial soap is crucial, just regular hand-washing is a crucial way to stop germs from spreading.
Get the Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap on Amazon for $9.87
Get the Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap at Walmart for $10.91
Get Dial Gold Antibacterial Foaming Hand Soap at Staples for $3.79
3. Toilet Paper
During natural disasters and other emergencies, toilet paper always seems to be the first thing to go out of stock. The thought of running out of wipes to do your business when you can’t leave the house is absolutely horrifying. While we ranked the Charmin Ultra Soft as the No. 1 toilet paper for your No. 2, in times like these, you’re better off taking what your can get—even if it’s one-ply. Here are all the places you can still order toilet paper from.
Get the Charmin Ultra Soft Toilet Paper, Family Mega Roll at Amazon for $11.90
Get the Charmin Ultra Soft Toilet Paper, 12 Super Mega Roll at Home Depot for $25.97
Get the Charmin Ultra Soft Toilet Paper Mega Rolls at Walgreens for $6.99
Get the Charmin Ultra-Soft Toilet Paper at Target for $12.99
4. Paper Towels
In most instances, paper towels can seem wasteful. While they’re definitely a popular household purchase—and we’ve even rounded up a list of the best paper towels you can buy right now—they’re not eco-friendly and they’re expensive, which can make them seem like a luxury to some households.
But the fact that paper towels are disposable actually could make them beneficial to have, particularly in homes where there’s already someone impacted by coronavirus. The CDC recommends paper towel usage for cleaning and disinfecting homes, which makes them good to have around, just in case.
5. Cleaning wipes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a list of disinfectants that are safe for American households to use right now to protect against the coronavirus. One of the top disinfectants on the list? Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. Made to kill up to 99.9% of surface bacteria and viruses, these wipes are easy to use, safe on most surfaces, and essential to have around the house right now.
Get the Seventh Generation Lemongrass Citrus Disinfecting Wipes at Target for $3.99
Get the Clorox 210-Count Disinfectant Wipes at Lowe's for $11.68
Get the Kimtech WetTask Disinfecting Wipes, 90/Box, 6 Boxes at Staples for $156.99
Get the Genuine Joe, Lemon Scent Disinfecting Cleaning Wipes at Walmart for $77.97
6. Dish soap
Dish soap is another household item, you’re going to want to have around. The CDC recommends that those who are affected by the coronavirus should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, or utensils. After these dishes have been used, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water. When we tested the best dish soap, we washed more than 125 plates, glasses, bowls, and spoons, and found that Dawn Ultra was the clear winner. Not only does it cut through grease, but it’s a great disinfectant as well.
Get the Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap (4 Pack) on Amazon for $14.56
Get the Dawn Ultra Original Scent Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap for $2.69 at Target
Get Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap, Original Scent at Walmart for $8.64
Get the Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap at CVS for $4.39
7. Trash bags
If you find yourself at home for an extended period of time, you’re going to find yourself accumulating a ton of trash—and you’re going to want enough garbage bags to contain it. Plus, you want one that’s not going to rip once it’s filled to the brim. We recommend the Glad ForceFlexPlus as they’re the best trash bags we’ve ever tested for their superior strength and odor-blocking material.
The CDC also recommends, dedicating a lined trash bag for anyone impacted by coronavirus as well as using gloves when removing garbage bags and disposing trash. Also, remember to wash your hands after disposing it.
Get the Glad ForceFlexPlusGrey Tall Kitchen Drawstring Trash Bags (30 Count) on Amazon for $14.12
Get the Glad ForceFlex Tall Kitchen Drawstring Trash Bags for $16.37 at Walmart
Get the Glad ForceFlexPlus Tall Kitchen Drawstring Trash Bags (50 Bags) at Target for $10.99
8. Disinfectant spray and cleaner
Similar to cleaning wipes, disinfectant spray can help clear surfaces of harmful bacteria and potentially guard against the spread of coronavirus. The CDC recommends sticking to household cleaners with at least 70% alcohol, and most EPA-registered disinfectants—like Lysol Clean & Fresh Multi-Surface Cleaner, for example—should be effective for regular use. If you haven’t already grabbed a bottle or two, you can get this on Amazon right now, but we’d suggest you hurry and snag it fast, as it’s selling out everywhere.
Get the Clorox Clean-Up All Purpose Cleaner with Bleach at Staples for $6.09
Get the Spray Nine 26832 Heavy Duty Degreaser and Disinfectant on Amazon for $13.07
Get the Great Value Fresh Linen Scent Disinfectant Spray at Walmart for $2.98
Get the Seventh Generation Lemongrass Citrus Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner at Target for $3.79
Get the Lysol Professional Disinfectant Spray, Case Of 12 at Office Depot for $142.19
9. Laundry detergent
One important but perhaps easy to forget household essential that’s crucial to have right now? Laundry detergent. The American Red Cross recommends having plenty of detergent stocked up, especially as the coronavirus situation spreads across the country. Our top pick for best laundry detergent is actually Persil ProClean Liquid Laundry Detergent, since it was better than Tide Original in our testing for getting rid of stains.
Get Persil ProClean Liquid Laundry Detergent on Amazon for $6.55
Get Persil ProClean Plus Stain Fighter (75 Loads) at Walmart for $15.97
10. Diapers
If you’re stuck at home for an extended period of time, you absolutely don’t want to run out of diapers—it could be a mess, literally and figuratively. As you’re trying to plan ahead, you may want to buy a few extra boxes worth of diapers, and these ones from Pampers are some of the most popular on Amazon. Featuring well over 7,000 reviews, these offer leak guard and up to 12 hours of protection for babies, plus you can find them in a variety of sizes. Every baby is different though, and some diaper brands may work better than others, so we recommend you grab your brand (whichever it may be) and stockpile them.
Get the Pampers Swaddlers Disposable Baby Diapers, 120 count at Amazon for $28.34
Get the Parent's Choice Diapers, 328 count at Walmart for $36.38
Get the Pampers Swaddlers Disposable Diapers Enormous Pack at Target for $39.99
Get the Huggies Little Snugglers 112-Pack at BuyBuyBaby for $39.99
Get the Pampers Swaddlers Diapers, 162-count at Sam's Club for $41.98
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
This article originally appeared on Reviewed.com: The top 10 household products that are selling out across the country