Not all home appliances deliver on their promises. Some simply cost a lot of money without providing any real value; others unnecessarily make a simple process more complicated. Let’s uncover which popular home gadgets might not be worth the investment.
Electric Wine Openers
Electric wine openers can seem like a sleek, convenient tool for wine enthusiasts. However, they are often bulky, require charging or batteries, and don’t perform significantly better than a traditional manual wine opener. For most casual wine drinkers, the added complexity and cost do not justify the slight ease of use.
Banana Slicers
A banana slicer might cut down on the seconds it takes to prepare a banana using a regular knife. Yet, it’s a single-use tool that clutters kitchen drawers and is not much faster than a knife. Considering its very specific function, a banana slicer is a gimmicky gadget that’s easily replaceable by any standard knife.
Electric Facial Brushes
Electric facial brushes are marketed as a must-have for deep cleaning pores. While they promise to improve skin health, they can be harsh on sensitive skin and may lead to irritation or breakouts. Regular, gentle hand washing can achieve similar results without the high cost or risk.
Egg and Pancake Makers
Egg and pancake makers promise to simplify your breakfast routine, but they often end up being more trouble than they’re worth. These gadgets require setup, cooking, and cleaning that can take longer than traditional pans. Plus, they take up valuable counter space.
Herb Scissors
Herb scissors might seem like a convenient way to chop herbs, but they can be difficult to clean and aren’t much more efficient than a good chef’s knife. The multiple blades can make cleaning cumbersome, and they do not significantly speed up meal prep.
Avocado Savers
Avocado savers claim to keep cut avocados fresh longer, but their effectiveness is questionable. Often, a simple airtight container or plastic wrap does the job equally well, if not better.
Tea Steep Timers
Tea steep timers are designed to ensure the perfect brew, but they often overcomplicate a relatively simple process. A regular kitchen timer or even a smartphone app can set the appropriate steeping time without needing a dedicated device.
Electric Can Openers
Electric can openers are helpful for those with limited hand strength, but for most people, they are just another bulky appliance on the countertop. They can be prone to malfunction and are often slower than their manual counterparts. A good-quality manual can opener is more reliable.
CD and DVD Cleaners
With digital streaming now dominant, CD and DVD cleaners have become virtually obsolete for the few who still use physical discs; simple home remedies often work, as well as specialized cleaning machines.
Ionic Air Purifiers
Ionic air purifiers are marketed as superior air cleaners, but studies have shown they can produce ozone, a harmful lung irritant. They also tend to be less effective at filtering air than HEPA models. For improving indoor air quality, a HEPA filter is usually safer and more effective.
Automatic Makeup Brush Cleaners
Automatic makeup brush cleaners offer convenience but at a high price point, and they often don’t clean any better than handwashing. They can be more of a novelty than a necessity, with the added downside of potential damage to delicate bristles.
Bagel Slicers
Bagel slicers provide a uniform cut but are often more dangerous than a standard bread knife and can be difficult to clean. Plus, they use up valuable counter space without providing much convenience.
UV Sanitizers for Phones
UV sanitizers for phones tap into hygiene concerns but often come with a hefty price tag and questionable efficacy in daily use. Cleaning a phone with a suitable disinfectant wipe is just as effective and much cheaper. The cost and practicality of UV sanitizers make them impractical.
Dedicated Yogurt Makers
While making yogurt at home can be fulfilling, dedicated yogurt makers are largely unnecessary. The same results can often be achieved with a multi-functional device like an instant pot or even with no special equipment at all. Investing in a single-function yogurt maker can be costly.
Silver Polishers
Silver polishers promise to maintain the shine of your silverware with minimal effort, but manual polishing is just as effective and much less costly. These devices can be expensive and take up space, while traditional methods do the job efficiently.
Bluetooth Item Trackers
Bluetooth item trackers can be useful for finding lost keys or wallets but often come with subscription fees and privacy concerns. These trackers are a high-tech solution to a problem that might be better solved with a little organization.
Over-the-Top Showerheads
Multi-functional luxury showerheads can transform a simple shower into a spa-like experience, but their installation can be complex, and their water usage is high. In many cases, a standard shower head with a single good setting is sufficient and much more economical.
Fancy Electric Toothbrushes
While electric toothbrushes do offer dental health benefits, the very high-end models come with features that have marginal utility over basic versions. Features like Bluetooth connectivity and multiple modes can inflate the price without providing proportional benefits. A basic electric toothbrush often offers the best balance of cost and effectiveness.
Milk Frothers
Milk frothers are great for those who love their coffee with foam, but the cost can be hard to justify if you only occasionally enjoy frothy drinks. A simple hand whisk or shaking in a jar can achieve similar results for casual use.
Smart Home Hubs
Smart home hubs centralize control of various smart home devices, but they can be expensive and complex to set up. Often, individual apps for each device suffice, or a more comprehensive smart home system might include a compatible hub.
Gourmet Sandwich Presses
Gourmet sandwich presses promise cafe-quality paninis at home, but their use is often limited beyond the initial novelty phase. A good skillet and some pressure with a spatula can achieve similar results.
Motion Sensor Trash Cans
Motion sensor trash cans offer a touchless waste disposal experience but come at a premium price. Regular trash cans perform the same basic function without the need for batteries or electronic components that can fail.
Electric Griddles
Electric griddles provide a large cooking surface for family breakfasts, but their size and cleaning difficulty can make them impractical for daily use. They take up significant storage space, and similar results can be achieved with a good stovetop griddle or pan.
