The 5 Biggest Things Kitchn Editors Regret Buying So Far This Year
Whenever I’m shopping online for something I can’t pick up in person, I spend an absurd amount of time researching, asking around, and reading other customers’ reviews, doing everything in my power to avoid buyer’s remorse. But it’s not always that easy — in the event that I’m shopping for something that no one in my circle has gotten their hands on, or, even worse, not a single person on the internet has reviewed, online shopping is the ultimate leap of faith (hinging upon the generosity of the selected retailer’s return policy).
Out of sheer curiosity, I asked my coworkers if they made any purchases they regret this year (it happens to the best of us!) followed by the all important question: What do you wish you bought instead? Here’s what they had to say.
1. What I bought: Char-Griller Wood Grill Brush, $13 at Lowe’s
“I bought this wood grill scraper to clean my grill because it definitely won’t leave dangerous wire bristles behind like brushes can. Even though it has molded to my grill’s grates, the wood doesn’t get the job done in the corners.” — Patty Catalano, Contributor
What I wish I bought: Stainless Steel Barbecue Cleaner, $13
“I’ve been using a wad of aluminum foil while I decide on a different bristle-free alternative, but I think I’m going to buy this one because it has really good reviews.”
2. What I bought: Generic Plastic Bags
“I bought generic zip-top baggies the other day out of desperation and now I’m no better off than when I started! They’re so thin that many of the bottoms aren’t even sealed! I’ve had to throw out at least every other one I pull out of the box.” — Lisa Freedman, Lifestyle Director
What I wish I bought: Stasher Bags, $41 for a set of three
“I really with I had just gotten reliable Ziplocs or, better yet, more Stasher bags.”
3. What I bought: Free & Clear Liquid Hand Soap, $3 for 12-ounces at Target
“I bought a bunch of stuff from Target’s new eco-friendly line and was not the biggest fan of the unscented hand soap. It does have a faint scent, and it leaves a weird residue on my hands … I never feel like I’m really washing it all off!” — Lauren Kodiak, Managing Editor
What I wish I bought: Clearly Natural Liquid Hand Soap, $15 for three 12-ounce bottles
4. What I bought: PowerLix Handheld Milk Frother, $15
“So, in classic mom fashion I asked for an inexpensive milk-frothing wand for Christmas. Then I let one of my kiddos use it for chocolate milk and now it’s toast.” —Meghan Splawn, Associate Food Editor
What I wish I bought: Breville Cafe Milk Frother, $130
“This heavy-duty frother is on my list instead. My friend has this Breville one so I’ve gotten to test drive it, and it works really well for lattes and afternoon matchas too. It’s a lot more expensive but I’m guessing I could easily go through 10 of those cheap-o ones.”
5. What I bought: Brita Large 10-Cup Water Filter, $27
“Los Angeles water is rough so we got this Brita, which is great, but it doesn’t hold enough water for me.” — Ariel Knutson, News and Culture Editor
What I wish I bought: Big Berkey Gravity Fed Water Filter, $300
“Of the other options I’m considering, the Berkey is one of them. I’m still on the fence (it’s so pricey!), but this would definitely solve the size issue.”
What do you regret buying this year? And what do you wish you got instead?