40+ Unsexy New Home Essentials You’ll Need on Day One of Your Move

A sturdy pair of all-purpose scissors do wonders. Whether you’re wrapping gifts, cutting fabrics, or finding yourself needing scissors during a home project, opt for this sharp heavy-duty pair.

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These heavy-duty scissors can cut through wire if needed. While they’re strong for tough projects, they also do a stellar job at cutting flower stems if you’re prepping a bouquet.

You never know how much you’ll need a step stool until you can’t reach that shelf that’s juuuust an inch too high. This aluminum one from Target is a quality upgrade from a traditional plastic one.

Putting a basket in your bathroom, living room, or laundry room is an excellent way to store towels, linens, or blankets when not in use. It functions as a piece of decor that limits clutter and serves a purpose.

Hanging decor on your walls in your new home doesn’t have to be a pain when you have this picture hanging kit. It comes with different sized metal hanging hooks and nails that are safe to use on dry wall and wooden walls.

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Just moved into a rental and can’t drill holes into the walls? That’s no problem with this rental-friendly picture hanging kit from Command. These strips are easy to use and won’t damage your walls.

This basic toolset comes with everything you could possibly need, including a hammer, tape measure, a level, pliers, and more to get projects done around the house.

Building furniture and hanging up wall decor usually requires a drill. This starter drill is cordless, light weight, and simple to use. It’s also equipped with a light to help you see where you’re drilling for accuracy.

A fire extinguisher is a non-negotiable item in your home. This ready-to-use option is lightweight, designed for kitchen use, and will not damage your appliances.

If you’re setting up new appliances or gadgets in your space, you might need batteries. Pick up a variety pack before you start unpacking these items so you can use them and get settled right away.

Say so long to junk drawers and keep all your batteries in one place with this portable battery organizer that has compartments of multiple sizes to hold up to six different battery types. It also comes with a battery tester so you can see how much life your batteries still have.

No matter how perfect your new place is, there’s always going to be that one room that doesn’t have enough wall outlets. Avoid the stress of too-short cords and snag one of these power strips.

This 25-foot long extension cord comes with three outlets so you can get a lot of use out of it. It works indoors and outdoors and is one of the best tools you can have on hand for your home.

Tangled cables are never any fun. With this 192-piece cable management set, every corner of the house that you have cables in will be organized and tidy.

Hate the look of that bulky power strip? Hide it away in this chic-looking box. No one will even know it’s there.

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A soft white light bulb makes a home more comforting and inviting compared to the standard bright white lights that might already be installed when you move in. This option can connect to your Amazon Alexa or Google Home so you can control them with your voice or phone.

Not only does this electric box cutter open packages easily, but it also allows you to break down the boxes in a pinch. This product turns something that’s usually a chore into something super easy to get done.

Why is it that I always lose my hangers after every move? Prepare for the inevitable with this affordable pack from Amazon that can hold up to 10 pounds and prevents your garments from slipping off.

Hampers don’t often look chic, but this option will look like a piece of decor whether it’s sitting in your bedroom, laundry room, or bathroom. Plus, it has two separate compartments so you can separate your loads.

Paying attention to wash instructions turns out to be a whole lot easier when you have special laundry bags. You place your delicates in the bag, throw them in your washer, and they’re separated and protected while washing. No more lost or ruined delicates here.

If you’ve got a surplus of dirty clothes or linens after your move in day, it’s great to have laundry detergent handy so you can just toss things into the washer and do a quick load. This sustainable kit from Amazon comes with laundry detergent tablets, laundry booster, and wool dryer balls.

Buying new towels during a move is never a bad idea. This Move-In bundle from Brooklinen includes four bath towels, four hand towels, four washcloths, and a bath mat. They’re highly absorbent yet quick drying, extremely soft to the touch, and long-lasting.

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Out of everything on this list, a plunger is the last thing you’re going to want to forget during your move. Sure, you may not need one right away, but you will eventually. This one from OXO sits discreetly tucked away in your bathroom and comes equipped with a cover.

On that first day of moving in a new space, sometimes the smell of dust or cardboard boxes can be overwhelming. Combat the odor with this Fresh Air scented air freshener.

Storage space in a shower can sometimes be scarce. Make use of what you’ve got in the shower by adding hooks where you can to hold sponges or wash cloths.

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If you have a glass shower door, a squeegee is an absolute non-negotiable item to prevent water stains and soap scum from building up on the glass. This one from Amazon comes with a super strong adhesive that you can stick onto your shower wall or door. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself in the long run for getting this product.

Along with unpacking, moving comes with a ton of cleaning and organizing. Get ahead of the mess by organizing under the sink on day one. This under sink organizer fits perfectly around the pipes and will allow you easy access to all of your cleaning products.

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Having a portable caddy on hand is perfect for those days when you’re cleaning and don’t want to make trips back and forth to the supply closet. This one from Amazon is large enough to hold all your supplies and keeps them organized while doing so.

Getting hair stuck in the drain is truly unavoidable. If you have long hair, a drain snake is a must. They’re so simple to use and at just $2, there is seriously no reason not to have this on hand in your bathroom.

For some reason, a bathroom trash can be easily forgotten about during your move. This small one from Target is only $15 and can tuck away discreetly in any corner.

Despite wishful thinking, your place might not be 100 percent clean on move in day. Be ready for any kind of mess with this multipurpose duo from Stardrops.

These multipurpose cleaner concentrate bottles can easily be added to a spray bottle with water to create a strong and safe solution that’s ready for any kind of mess moving brings along.

When buying essentials for your move, don’t forget to pick up some hand soap. It could often be forgotten about, and is an absolute necessity in the kitchen and bathroom. This option from Mrs. Meyers has a light woody scent to get you in the mood for fall.

After cooking and eating, you’re not going to want to realize you forgot to pick up dish soap. Make sure you snag a bottle before it’s too late and the dishes start piling up.

Scrub Daddy’s sponges are well-loved for their flexible texture that soften when wet and act as a hard scrubber when dry. This three pack of sponges will last you long after you’ve settled in.

Transporting things to and from your car is a whole lot easier when you have grocery totes handy. This option from Amazon comes with three and can fit a ton of groceries and fold up neatly when not in use.

A paper towel roll looks so much better when it’s on a stand. Do yourself a favor and grab this one from Target, so yours isn’t floating around the house from room to room.

Set this bamboo dish drying rack on your counter to dry your kitchen items before putting them away. When it’s not in use, you can fold it and tuck it away, but the bamboo finish also looks nice when left on the counter.

Unpacking your utensils will go a lot smoother if you already have a utensil organizer. This option from Target has seven different compartments for everything you need to fit in your utensil drawer.

I like to line my drawers and cabinets with a liner that is durable and prevents my things from sliding around loosely in a drawer. This liner protects your surfaces and is washable for reuse.

Easily store your kitchen necessities on this turntable. It’ll fit excellently right next to your stove so you can access oils and spices or in your cabinet to maximize your storage space.

A good trash can in the kitchen really makes a difference. This option from Target has a sleek stainless steel finish and a motion activated lid.

Moving day is also famously a takeout day. Having food storage containers on hand, whether you cook or order in, is a must so you can keep your leftovers fresh.

Reusable food storage bags are ideal to keep food fresh in the fridge and taking it on the go. Stasher’s food storage bags are made of durable food-safe silicone, so you can be assured these will last all the way until your next move. Plus, because they can be washed and reused, you never have to worry about running out of bags again.

If you haven’t already upgraded from plastic cutting boards to a wooden cutting board, there’s no better time to than during a move. They’re a breeze to clean and can be stored on your countertop for easy access.

You can only burn your hand with a dish towel so often before you finally pull the plug and order some oven mitts. Rifle Paper Co.’s oven mitts protect your hands from high heat in style with this sweet cherry design.