this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2025
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askchapo
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Half of this is expensive, but the higher quality stuff usually is.
I highly recommend trying to buy good cookware (if you cook a lot). Even just one good stainless steel pan is a game changer. I've had some for 20 years and they still look new and aren't even coated in poison. I have no idea how much they cost these days, but I expect a lot more than a cheap one. Cast iron is a good alternative to stainless steel, but harder to maintain and can retain tastes/smells
An air filter if you live anywhere with air pollution (every city) or a fire season. The cheap option is to get a box fan and put a big central AC filter on it.
A plunger for the toilet and one for the sink/shower/tub.
Something to trap hair before it goes down the drain and maybe you won't need a plunger
A fire extinguisher
For cookware I found this handy list of kitchen essentials (apologies for google): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nKkPjKHh9D9jBHzBDXbXRO54vdX41jdDCbr8L7j_omU
Seconded on the plunger. One for every toilet in the house. Because when you need a plunger, you need it urgently.
Re: Cookware, a good chef’s knife is a fucking game changer. Not a set, just one high quality ~8in knife that you like, you will use it for nearly everything.
I have this one from Misen, its made anything I do in the kitchen way easier than when I just had like a $30 set of knives
Yeah I've cycled through around 4 pans at this point they all go to shit. Definitely should invest in a good one.. Will look for BIFL essentially
Yeah I live in hazardous pollution all the time and nobody gives a fuck (I wear a mask, also for covid). How would it work, need to mount on windows? Never tried sorry for silly question
For hair down the drain I just use toxic chemicals that burn it overnight
For the air filters, the lowest cost but least effective is to literally just tape a square/rectangular filter to the intake of the fan, turn it up a notch, and put it in the room you spend the most time in or that gets the worst of it.
More effective is setting up a Corsi-Rosenthal box with the fan, a few filters, and some duct tape.
After that, you can buy something like a cheap a Levoit purifier with the smoke filters. Sorry for Amazon link. I use one of these though and turn it up to high on days when the smoke is bad, but just run it 24/7 on low otherwise.
For real big ones, you usually need to mount them in the window and have large ducts/block off the rest of the window, etc. They're way more expensive and complicated/limiting. More effective too, but only marginally so over something like the Corsi unless you live in a very large space.
For hair in the drain, a dollar drain catch like this is great.
Woah thank you, amazingly useful I'll check this out later thanks!!
The liquid plumber stuff can eat through older pipes, so depending on where you're moving to it might be better to invest in one of these:
Ah I see. I dont think its an issue where I'm currently at but yeah might be as I move, thank you!
I got a Winix air purifier and am very happy with it. ~$100+ for a "luxury" (health) item though
Stainless steel for cookware is the way to go
Lotion, keep your skin hydrated
If you own a car, one of those "jumper pumper" battery packs is a game changer. Can charge or power household items during power outages, is great for camping, and can jump start a battery or pump a flat tire. Around $100 at Costco
Edit: and yes, a robo vacuum is a game changer. I also got an electric mop (still gotta hand push it, but it has rotating heads and a sprayer) and it makes mopping a lot less miserable
I have an air purifier but doesnt seem to do that much and I have to run it with windows closed which sucks in the summer when allergies peak
I dont really use lotion as I have greasy-ish skin but dunno
Thanks!!