The 25 most popular things our readers bought in August

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August might technically be the end of summer, but there’s a lot to look forward to during this sweltering hot month. Namely, it’s that time of year where retailers clear out their summer stocks and really bring out the deals, because people aren’t just shopping for back-to-school—they’re also shopping with fall in mind.

From big price drops on Amazon to mattress sales during Labor Day weekend, there are tons of great ways to save during August. And we would know, since we reported on all the biggest sales happening last month and our readers definitely took advantage. From the best mattresses in a box to robot vacuums and more, these are the products that our readers couldn’t get enough of in August.

1. Our favorite mattresses

What you sleep on actually matters a lot, especially if you’re trying to reduce aches and pains throughout the day. When it comes to getting a good night’s rest, Nectar is our current top choice for the best mattress and is really quite affordable compared to other mattresses out there now. Thanks to Labor Day sales on Nectar mattresses, many of our readers were able to save big and invested in a better mattress to kickstart the fall season, and you’ve still got time to get the savings too.

Get the Nectar Mattress (Queen Sized) from Nectar for $699 (Save $100)

2. Affordable true wireless earbuds

Our own Samantha Gordon swears by these earbuds, which she says will connect to your phone easily over Bluetooth and offer up to 3 hours of life before you need to recharge them, which is shorter than Airpods, but great for the low price. The recharging process takes around 15 minutes and these earbuds really do stay put. Our readers were especially excited over these, since they were on sale throughout the month of August. Another plus? They’re cheaper than Airpods, but just as comfortable to wear.

Get the Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds on Amazon for $39.99

3. Outdoor goods from REI

Love being outdoors, especially during the summer? REI’s end-of-season summer sale meant you could grab everything you wanted from leading brands like Patagonia, Eno, HydroFlask, and more for up to 40% off. It was definitely a huge sale, and our readers took advantage to stock up on water bottles, sweaters, rain jackets, head lamps, and so much more.

Shop at REI

4. Strainers that make sense…finally!

This innovative strainer is one of the most bizarre gadgets we’ve ever seen, but it’s also a big mainstay with our readers. During the month of August, it was on sale for a bit, which definitely helped to make this perpetually popular clip-on strainer even more of a big seller. Perfect for small spaces, this strainer takes up half the space a standard strainer does, it’s also dishwasher safe and so cute.

Get the Kitchen Gizmo Snap N’ Strainer on Amazon for $13.99

5. The quintessential Airpods

Apple products almost never go on sale—some might say it’s part of their appeal—so on the rare occasion when one does, it’s a big deal. During the month of August, Apple Airpods—a.k.a. the best true wireless earbuds we’ve ever tested—were on sale for $14 off their usual price, and our readers went bananas. They offer really incredible audio quality, plus ultra-long battery life. It’s definitely worth it if you’re an audiophile. You can still grab a set for this sale price, so you should definitely do it up while you can.

Get the Apple AirPods with Charging Case (Latest Model) on Amazon for $144.99

6. Our favorite way to make cold brew

Okay, so I know technically cold brew isn’t complicated to make. It’s just coffee that’s been sitting in cold water for 8-12 hours, essentially. But I’m really lazy—or maybe I’m just kitchen challenged. Either way, this easy-to-use cold brew coffee maker from Takeya feels heaven sent. Not only does it make cold brew simple, but it can save you money too. Our readers loved this during August (surprise, surprise) and it was a big seller.

Get the Takeya Patented Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker on Amazon for $16.99

7. The best flashlight (it’s rechargeable!)

You’ll never regret buying a flashlight. It’s as simple as that. From power outages to camping trips, so many occasions call for a flashlight, and it really is a great long-term investment no matter which way you look at it. Our favorite affordable flashlight was on sale in August, and readers really snatched it up it at its discounted price. The Anker Bolder LC40 offers 400 lumens of brightness, a powerful rechargeable battery, and its incredibly durable, too.

Get the Anker LC40 Flashlight on Amazon for $16.99

8. Charcoal toothpaste people can’t get enough of

Charcoal toothpaste is a surreal experience, since it’ll turn your teeth completely black and the paste itself can feel grainy inside your mouth. If you’re searching for a fluoride-free alternative to toothpaste, this option from Active Wow is a must-try. During August, it was on sale too, so of course our readers bought a ton of this stuff.

Get Active Wow Activated Charcoal Toothpaste on Amazon for $6.99

9. Nordstrom clothing, accessories, and more

During July, our readers were obsessed with the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (weren’t we all?), and that obsession spilled over into the month of August, too. Even after the sale ended on August 4, there were still plenty of quality offers happening at the store in August on everything from women’s to men’s apparel to accessories and more. There were even some top brands available to shop during the sale, from Madewell to BP to Spanx, and even better? You can still shop them now.

Shop at Nordstrom

10. Anthropologie sales

We love Anthropologie here at Reviewed, and it’s safe to say our readers feel the same way. Every time there’s a big Anthro sale, our readers use those savings to stock up on everything from Capri candles to cute dresses, and August was no exception. There were several decor sales happening throughout the month, so our readers were especially keen on grabbing stuff for around their homes. No matter what your preference happens to be, there’s no denying that Anthropologie is one of the best places to shop if you want to stay on-trend, regardless of the season.

Shop at Anthropologie

11. The most genius pizza cutter

This little pizza cutter wheel is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets ever, since it makes it so easy to get the perfect slice every time. During the month of August, this genius invention was on sale in green, and our readers bought a ton of them. Made with a built-in blade guard, your hands stay protected when you’re using this tool. It’s slim, ergonomically designed to fit in the palm of your hand, and doesn’t take up nearly as much space as traditional pizza rockers do in a drawer.

Get the Kitchy Pizza Cutter Wheel for $10.99

12. Reusable washcloths that are way better than loofahs

These Japanese nylon washcloths have a huge cult following on Amazon, and they’re perfect for hitting all those hard-to-reach areas. They’re essentially alternatives to loofahs, and they’re great for exfoliating skin and sloughing away dead skin cells. They can be rough to use at first, but they’re also stretchy and one of the best skincare products out there regardless of your gender. Reviewers went crazy for them in August, and we can definitely see why.

Get the Salux Nylon Japanese Beauty Skin Bath Wash Cloth 3-Pack on Amazon for $11.43

13. The best affordable robot vacuum ever

This is the best affordable robot vacuum we’ve ever tested, and every time it drops in price, our readers jump for it. Case in point: it’s even on sale right now for $20 off its usual price in black and white. If you’d rather spend your final days of summer outside, trust me, this robot vacuum is worth the additional expense. You won’t regret it.

Get the Eufy RoboVac 11S Robot Vacuum for $219.99

14. Our favorite affordable Bluetooth speaker

A good set of portable speakers can go a long way, especially during the summer months. Our readers clearly agreed, since the Soundcore was hands down one of our most popular pick-ups of July. It was on sale for under $25 in every color, which was the lowest price we ever saw, and while the price is back up, this is still the best portable Bluetooth speaker we’ve ever tested and so worth it.

Get the Anker SoundCore Bluetooth Speaker on Amazon for $22.94-$24.99

15. A car charger so you never have to worry on the road

I don’t know how I’d survive without my car charger. Literally, I spend half my time in my car and I rely on my phone constantly for directions. A lot of car chargers go on sale, but this one from Anker continues to be one of the most popular and reliable among our readers. It has three ports, fast-charge capabilities, and an app that helps you find your car.

Get the Roav SmartCharge Halo Car Charger on Amazon for $19.99

16. This super popular knife sharpener

Nobody likes a dull knife. It can take an otherwise enjoyable cooking session from 100 to 0 real quick, which is why our readers are buying this knife sharpener from KitchenIQ in droves. Not to mention it’s only $6, and can keep you from having to buy a new, expensive set of kitchen knives, which explains why it’s so popular.

Get the KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener on Amazon for $5.81

17. The best aromatherapy diffusers

Oil diffusers are pretty rad, and this one from Innogear is definitely our favorite aromatherapy diffuser. Our readers noticed how much we hype it up and continued to buy these up, even though they were slightly more during August than they were at Prime Day. If you missed out then there’s no need to fret, because it’s very affordable as is anyways and goes on sale quite frequently.

Get the InnoGear Upgraded Version Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser on Amazon for $14.98

18. DNA kits everyone loves

I had a lot of fun using Ancestry DNA to learn more about my family. In my case, I learned that I’m over 70% Irish (thanks, Dad), and on my mother’s side, I’m descended from Thomas and Ann Putnam—a.k.a the ringleaders of the Salem Witch Trials (they’re even characters in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible). All that means is that you could learn some pretty incredible things using Ancestry DNA, and in the lead-up to Labor Day, kits were on sale for their lowest price, so our readers definitely went for them. The kits are back up to normal price now, but it’s still a great deal.

Get the AncestryDNA Test Kit for $99

19. Incense sticks that will keep mosquitos at bay

Unless you’re an entomologist, odds are you don’t really want to be around mosquitos. Here in New England, we’ve been living under the shadow of EEE threats all summer, so our mosquito sense have been on high alert, and loads of our readers here and across the country are also trying to avoid the pesky and sometimes dangerous pests with the help of these highly rated mosquito sticks. They’re basically citronella incense, but they’re also infused with rosemary and lemongrass, which are both known to be undesirable to the flying biters.

Get the Murphy Mosquito Sticks on Amazon for $12

20. Reusable twist ties that will last

What’s better than finding something that solves an age-old problem? How about a solution that costs less than $5? Last month, we shared a list of highly rated Amazon finds under $7, which included these reusable rubber ties. They cost $3 for a set of four, and they’re effectively long-lasting twist ties that are easier to use than rubber bands and wire twist ties and velcro bands. No surprise people went so nuts for them.

Get these Nite Ize Original Gear Ties on Amazon for $2.98

21. The most popular face mask on Amazon

This is arguably the most popular beauty product on Amazon. Time and again, it’s a reader favorite, and that’s because it works! One of our contributors has been using Aztec Secret for years because it’s treated her skin so well. And for such a low price, there’s no real reason not to see if it will work for you too. At the very least, you’re bound to have a friend who’ll happily take the rest off your hands if the mask isn’t right for you.

Get the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay on Amazon for $9.99

22. Affordable and comfy comforters

Who doesn’t love the feeling of cozying up under a brand new comforter? Our readers seized the opportunity when these highly rated and affordable comforter went on sale for a few days in August. The price is still impressive, making it a great time to replace your old comforter if you’re past the point of washing it and actually having it come out looking and feeling clean and fluffy.

Get the Utopia Bedding Down Alternative Comforter on Amazon for $26.99-$34.99

23. Waterproof pouches for smartphones

Whether heading to the beach, lounging by the pool, or just being precautious, plenty of our readers invested in these ultra-affordable waterproof phone pouches. Not only do you get two in a pack, but the set costs less than $10. It keeps sand and water out, thanks to a hefty IPX8 waterproof certification, and you can still enjoy touchscreen functionality (except for touch ID).

Get the JOTO Universal Waterproof Phone Pouch Dry Bag on Amazon for $6.79

24. The best manual can openers

With loads of college students heading off to the dorms and first apartments, it’s no surprise this can opener is among the most popular purchases of August. Well, it’s also the best manual can opener so we’re pumped our readers (or their kids) are going to have no problem making those late night Spaghetti-Os.

Get the EZ-DUZ-IT Deluxe Can Opener on Amazon for $9.99

25. Wool dryer balls that can replace fabric softener

These adorable little things are meant to act as a natural fabric softener, making them great for people with sensitive skin or allergies to liquid fabric softeners or dryer sheets. They also claim to help your clothing dry faster, but we tested that theory out on a bunch of bath towels in our labs and found it to be untrue. However, for $17, this set of six has been a reader favorite many times, including last month.

Get the Smart Sheep Wool Dryer Balls for $16.95

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Prices are accurate at the time this article was published, but may change over time.