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From makeup mirrors to tweezers, here are some of the standout bathroom accessories and gadgets that help make Wirecutter staffers’ grooming time a bit more efficient, luxurious, and fun. Led Mirror
Simplehuman Mini Sensor MirrorCompact and cord-free Buying Options$130 from Amazon
With its sleek, cord-free look and its circle of LED light, the Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Fold (previously called the Simplehuman Mini) can make you feel like you’re in a futuristic spa. Its rubberized base protects the surface of wherever it sits. Senior editor Jennifer Hunter’s favorite feature is something she never knew she wanted: the sensor, which gradually flips on the glowing ring light as you approach and keeps it on until you step away. There’s something luxurious about never toggling a switch.
It’s a splurge, no doubt. Simplehuman bills this 5-inch version as a travel mirror, and it comes with a carrying case where it can fold flat. But this size is ideal for most basic tasks, such as tweezing your eyebrows or applying eyeliner. It offers 10x magnification instead of the 5x of the pricier 9-inch version, which shows your entire face. It’s the kind of purchase that you could get along without—but once you try it, you won’t want to go back to a lesser model.
Gehwol Wooden Pedicure FileDurable and ergonomic Buying Options$26 from Amazon $25 from Nordstrom
After trying multiple, ineffective drugstore foot files and pumice stones that ended in a chalky, gray mess, Anna Perling, author of several Wirecutter guides, tried the Gehwol Wooden Pedicure File, which her mom had been using for years. She initially balked at the price but eventually came around: Each use feels like a pedicure, and it takes only a few seconds on each foot to work its magic. The wooden handle is comfortable to hold, and its length leads to less jumping up and down on one foot to reach the sole of the other. Because it’s waterproof you can use it during or right after a shower and then give it a quick rinse to clean it off.
Green Mountain Diapers Cloth-eez Two-Sided WipesReusable and versatile Buying Options$15 from Green Mountain Diapers Buy from Amazon
As the name suggests, these Green Mountain Diapers reusable wipes are intended for use with babies. But when Winnie Yang, editor and author of various Wirecutter guides, was shopping for reusable face wipes, she remembered these baby wipes, which had been lying around unused for some time. They were exactly what she’d been looking for. The soft flannel side gently removes dirt and makeup with some micellar water (or soap and water), and the textured terry side works well for more thorough exfoliation when needed. At a compact 5 by 8 inches, they’re just the right size, without a lot of extra cloth slopping around when wet, and they dry quickly. And with a dozen on hand, you can use a clean one each night until it’s time to do the laundry again.
Flexo-LineEasy-to-use and travel-friendly Buying Options$15 from Red Oxx
Between nylon workout gear, expensive woolens, and bras and undies, there’s always something we’re nervous about throwing into the dryer. Hanging up delicates is so much easier with the Flexo-Line Clothesline; it’s the perfect alternative for people who have no space for a drying rack. (It’s also a pick in our guide to the best travel gear.) It’s made of grippy, braided latex and is easy to use at home but also compact enough to take on the go. You can stretch it between two ends of a bathroom and tuck socks or bra straps directly into the braided cord, no clothespins required.
Tweezerman Slant TipPrecise and sharp Buying Options$16 from Amazon
After testing half a dozen pairs of tweezers, we’ll be keeping our eyebrows shaped and chin hairs at bay with the Tweezerman Slant. These tweezers are sharp enough to grip fine hairs with minimal trouble but not so sharp that they’ll pinch your skin, and their angled tip is what experts recommend for plucking hairs. The tweezers come in a wide variety of colors and prints—Shannon Palus, writer of several Wirecutter guides, likes the pink pair because it stands out against the clutter on her makeup shelf. Tweezerman will even resharpen your pair for free, but this process takes a few weeks; if that’s too long for you to be without tweezers, splurge on a second pair and keep one in your travel kit. It’s just not worth going back to drugstore cheapos.
Salux Beauty Skin ClothQuick-drying and efficient Buying Options$13 from Amazon (pack of three) $17 from Walmart (pack of three)
If you like a slightly aggressive but thoroughly invigorating level of exfoliation, these Salux nylon bath towels are the ones to get. We like that the towels are thin but long enough to fold or wad up for just the right thickness; they’re also easy to rinse and quick to dry. Winnie Yang, editor and author of several Wirecutter guides, got some at a Japanese supermarket a decade ago, and they’ve remained a fixture in her shower that she has replaced annually ever since. She says the material also reduces the amount of soap or shower gel she uses with its exceptional lathering ability.
Home So Suction Cup Hook HolderSturdy and sleek Buying Options$19 from Amazon
Finding attractive hooks for any room is a challenge, let alone hooks that can withstand repeated exposure to moisture without rusting or collecting mildew. Enter the Home So Bathroom Hooks. These sturdy suction-cup hooks stick directly onto tile or glass, giving you a place to hang damp loofahs, swimsuits, or back brushes. They also look sleek compared with clunkier styles, such as hooks using 3M’s Command strips. Home So’s simple but chic design brings some much-needed functional storage into a space with few attractive options.
Simplehuman Adjustable Shower Caddy PlusBig and stable Buying Options$80 from Amazon $90 from Home Depot
While most shower caddies simply hang off the pipe, the Simplehuman Adjustable Shower Caddy Plus (the upgrade pick in our shower caddy review) has an adjustable attachment mechanism that seals with a screw for a much firmer grip. Combined with a suction-cup mounting plate at the bottom, this design creates an exceptionally stable platform for storing your various soaps and bathing accoutrements—it’s the next best thing to built-in shelving. Unlike built-ins, however, all three of this caddy’s shelves adjust vertically and horizontally to accommodate bottle configurations of all sizes, while considerately placed hooks allow you to hang accessories such as razors or bath brushes conveniently off the side. Supervising editor Daniela Gorny has had hers for over three years, and it still looks brand-new.
Mecheer Laundry ClipsStrong and sturdy Buying Options$7 from Amazon
These Mecheer hanging laundry clips are both a strong clip and a sturdy hook, which makes it easy to hang up everything from a single piece of underwear to adult jeans. Winnie Yang, author and editor of various Wirecutter guides, got these when she was tired of precariously balancing socks and swimsuits on hangers or getting rust stains from hanging items over a crappy shower rod, and she hasn’t looked back since.
Daniela Gorny is the supervising editor for the home section at Wirecutter, covering home decor, textiles, and furniture. She previously studied and worked as an architect and received a master’s degree in urban planning. You can usually find her exploring the hilly trails of Los Angeles or adventuring in the Mojave Desert.
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