Frugal folks know there are a ton of products that make little sense to buy. Of course, they're in every room of the home, including the one where we primp, unwind, and answer nature's call: the bathroom. Whether they don't deliver on their promises, complicate a simple task, or serve little purpose in the first place, here are more than two dozen bathroom buys that aren't worth your hard-earned cash.
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Smart scales connect to Wi-Fi, which means they can record your weight in the app of your choice automatically — a process that may take a whole five seconds if you do it manually. Some smart scales also try to measure your body fat, but as CNET notes, they are notoriously inaccurate. Given all that, paying at least three times the cost of a traditional scale doesn't make a whole lot of sense to us.
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Not only are flushable wipes pricey, they can also cost you big when you have to call a plumber. Why? Despite what the label says, they can easily clog your plumbing or sewer line because they don't disintegrate like toilet paper. If you want extra assurance that you're clean down there, we suggest a bidet attachment — or, if you've just gotta have your wipes — pitching them in the trash instead of flushing them.
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Bath bombs are fun, but if you're expecting them to do anything more than fizz a bit and turn your water a different color, save your pennies. While some may contain moisturizers, experts say, many also contain ingredients that may irritate sensitive skin. And when you're done relaxing, you'll probably have to contend with a colorful ring around your tub. Pass.
File cellulite creams under "things we sure wish actually worked, but don't." Experts caution that any sort of cream promising to do away with lumpy, bumpy thighs is unlikely to do much, no matter the price tag. Pricey laser treatments are a better bet, experts say, but we'd recommend the cheapest option of all: Loving your body, dimples and all.
Here's another entry for our "we wish it worked" file. Sadly, there is little evidence to suggest that over-the-counter weight-loss pills are effective, and anyone who remembers ephedra knows regulators won't guarantee their safety. Save your pennies and don't fall for this weight-loss gimmick.
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The air-freshener industry continues to rake in the cash, and it's no wonder: Scented-oil refills for an outlet freshener can cost $2.50 a pop, and you'll often find them running low after just a couple of weeks. Even worse, nearly 20% of people say air fresheners can trigger headaches, breathing issues or other health issues. Try neutralizing odors naturally and more economically, with baking soda and a few drops of essential oil.
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We're on board with at-home spa days, but fancy sheet masks probably aren't worth your hard-earned dollars. "Cosmetics cop" Paula Begoun, founder of Paula's Choice, calls out sheet masks because they're impractical compared with other products and do a poor job delivering their ingredients to the skin.
Will brushing with this toothpaste mean whiter teeth? Charcoal toothpaste is certainly one of the trendiest products in the oral-health aisle, but it may be bad for your smile in the long run, experts caution. It's too abrasive, they say, and can actually remove enamel and ultimately weaken teeth.
Automatic toilet cleaners, often sold in the form of drop-in tablets, contain chemicals that can wear out the working parts inside your toilet tank, plumbers warn. To help keep a toilet bowl from getting too gnarly between deep cleans, try distilled white vinegar. Pour a half cup inside the tank and a half cup inside the overflow pipe in the middle of the tank, Florida-based Hefner Plumbing recommends.
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Everyone loves a nice-smelling, rich-lathering shampoo, but your hair will get just as clean whether you spend $2 or $20. That's because they all contain similar surfactants, the compounds that whisk away dirt and oil. Of course, if you find a pricier version leaves your hair more manageable, splurge away. But if you just want clean hair and more money in the bank, get the cheap stuff.
If you're like most people, you already wrap a towel around yourself for a few minutes when you step outside the shower, no elastic or special design required. You probably also have a bathrobe. Between the two, we'd say you're covered — literally.
We get it: This is one place you really don't want to get your hands dirty. But toilet wands that use disposable brushes produce a lot of extra waste when thinking of the brushes and scrubbers as well as their packaging. The cost of the refills adds up — you'll pay around $8 for 20 brushes. And as experts caution, the flimsy wands often snap, and the brushes aren't great for scrubbing. Stick with an old-fashioned toilet brush and preferred toilet cleaner. You'll be able to clean with a lot more force for a lot less cash.
The ugly truth of this medicine-cabinet staple: Many medicines that promise to relieve a stuffy nose just don't do much. Studies have found that phenylephrine, a common decongestant, is only as effective as a placebo. Pseudoephedrine, another common decongestant, isn't much better, experts say. Still desperate? There are plenty of time-tested home remedies to try that cost a lot less.
You probably have a box of cotton swabs at the ready for post-shower ear cleaning. But cotton swabs can actually push ear wax further into your ear, leading to pain and discomfort, or could even seriously damage your eardrum. To remove excess ear wax safely, it should be softened, then flushed out.
This is strictly a luxury item, so if you're concerned with pinching pennies, the towel warmer is an easy addition to any "waste of money" list. Moreover, most warmers only keep your towel toasty for about 30 seconds, Wired has found. For a product that can cost hundreds of dollars, that's a pretty poor return on investment.
There's some evidence that electric toothbrushes have a very slight edge over the old-fashioned kind when it comes to effectiveness. That said, why pay $200 for one that connects to your phone? Experts with The Wirecutter agree they're unnecessary. Moreover, as they note, "toothbrushing provides a twice-daily respite from staring at a screen." Embrace it.
When's the last time you wished your toilet bowl could turn a rainbow of colors during your middle-of-the-night bathroom break? If the answer is never, you can skip these gimmicky motion-sensing LEDs.
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Yes, indeed, Kohler has given us the Moxie, a showerhead with a magnetic wireless speaker right in the middle. Considering you can pick up a compact waterproof speaker for $20 or $30, we'd say that makes a little more sense than replacing your whole showerhead just to facilitate your watery warbling.
Can't sleep? Join the club. But experts caution that relief rarely comes in the form of a sleeping pill. Most sleeping pills offer very limited short-term aid, experts say, and that often comes with trade-offs: drowsiness, confusion, and other unsavory side effects. Even more dangerous: potential interactions with alcohol or other medications. Lifestyle changes and even therapy are safer and more effective in the long run, experts say.
Everyone seems to have a grandmother who prides herself on that powder-room bowl of shell- or flower-shaped hand soaps. Others can't resist soap with exotic botanicals or embedded exfoliants. But from a practical point of view, plain, basic soap will do as good a job as the more expensive stuff — what matters far more is how you wash.
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Whether you opt for cheapie disposables or are locked into a fancy razor system that demands its own special cartridges, the cost of these things adds up shockingly fast. According to a comparison by the Christian Science Monitor, the cheapest shaving option is also the most old-school: a trusty safety razor. Another way to save if you can't part with disposables: getting a blade sharpener to extend their usefulness.
While there are some exceptions, especially in the case of folic acid for pregnant women, experts have long said vitamins and supplements don't do much, if anything, for our health. A much better bet, researchers with Johns Hopkins say: Eating a balanced diet with plenty of produce, grains, low-fat dairy, and protein. Whatever you decide, remember that vitamins and supplements are only loosely regulated, and be skeptical of any (illegal) claims that popping a pill will treat or prevent a disease.
Women, repeat after us: Despite the incessant marketing of feminine washes and wipes, you really don't need anything special to clean your special parts. In fact, as experts note, anything more than your regular soap-and-water routine can actually disrupt the natural acidity that is the body's way of helping ward off infections.
We speak from personal experience: It's so hard to avoid spilling water when filling or emptying a foot bath that it's tempting to just use it in the tub anyway. Which begs the question — why not just treat your tired toes to a bath in the first place? Sure, there may not be fancy massaging rollers or vibrations, but you can always pick up a cheap foot scrub to provide a little luxury for less.
You probably won't find the fountain of youth at the beauty counter of a pricey department store. Experts tell Insider that the only cream that can really help keep you looking youthful is — surprise, surprise — sunscreen. Outside of that, they say products containing retinols and retinoids may offer minor benefits, and you can fortunately find plenty of them on the cheap.
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