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Posted: 2021-08-03T14:53:51Z | Updated: 2021-08-03T14:53:51Z 24 Practical Things Your Parents Totally Want You To Buy | HuffPost Life

24 Practical Things Your Parents Totally Want You To Buy

A duvet cover tool, reusable bamboo towels and more practical items that parents swear by.

Living on your own for the first time is exciting, and it’s great to have guests stop by, including your parents. Before they visit, you may want to stock up on a few essentials that’ll help you fix squeaky doors, clean up messes and make your bed. From cordless vacuums to duvet cover tools, here are some products that’ll earn a seal of approval from your parents. 

HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability subject to change.

1
A duvet cover-changing accessory
Make your bed with ease thanks to this small tool that'll come in especially handy if your duvet cover tends to bunch up.

Promising review: "Honestly, having to change (wrestle) the duvet cover onto the duvet is the reason I don't change the sheets more often. Gross, I know. I feel like I have to actually schedule the time to get this task done, especially with a king-size mattress. However, ever since I discovered the Duvaid: fresh duvet covers on the reg. It's like having an extra set of hands. Tuck the grips under the mattress, insert the corner of the covered duvet into the clamps and then just pull the cover over the rest of the comforter. It's not magic, you still have to make the bed but it's just so much easier now!" John Mihaly

Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
2
A pack of silicone trivet mats
They're safe for the oven, freezer, microwave and dishwasher, and they'll protect your kitchen countertops from heat damage.

Promising review: "Great trivets. I have been looking for something like these for quite some time. Perfect sizes and shapes. I have found many uses for these items. Great potholders and jar opener. Fast shipping and reasonably priced. I liked them so much, that I ordered a few more sets for gifts." Mr. Lee

Get it from Amazon for $12.97 (available in 17 colors).
3
A Shark cordless hard floor vacuum/mop
This mop and vacuum in one will suck up debris like crumbs, dirt and pet hair and spray and wipe all your floors with a disposable pad. Yes to getting your space squeaky clean!

Promising review: "More time spent indoors means dirt, dust and general messes tend to pile up quicker (or at the very least, I'm noticing that a lot more). With a toddler, a dog and three adults in an apartment, I needed a more efficient way to vacuum and mop my very messy hardwood floors that was relatively quick and painless. So I picked up this Shark "Mopvac" and boy did it get the job done. And it's actually pretty fun to hit the spray button, see those lights turn on and then glimpse the clean floor this Shark leaves in its wake." John Mihaly

Get it from Amazon for $88.
4
A USB power strip
Charge multiple devices at once without taking up precious outlet space. It also has a fire-retardant casing and overload protection.

Promising review: "So I bought this because we have an extension cord by our couch full of chargers. Sometimes I want to plug in my laptop there and watch TV while I do some work but have to sacrifice charging something else to charge it. Bought this to fix that problem. I can plug in my phone, my boyfriend's phone and my iPad or whatever and have three extra outlets and it looks clean and not like a mess. I also mounted it under the coffee table so its not an eyesore on the floor. Its hidden away. I love that. Also, can we talk about how fast it charges things? My phone charges in half the time. If I need to charge my phone before leaving and Im in a rush, I plug it into this and Im usually pretty set. Great purchase. Im glad I found it." Sarah K. Jenkins

Get it from Amazon for $15.19+ (available in three sizes and two colors).
5
A Brita Ultra Max filtering dispenser
It holds and filters up to 18 cups of tap water at a time, so you can stay hydrated and not waste money on plastic water bottles.

Promising review: "I love this product. I don't know why people complain about it being too tall; it's as tall as a standard jug of milk. It does get kind of heavy, but the handles on the side are fine. The water is fresh and crisp just like a normal Brita filter. Our last one cracked after many years so we upgraded to this. Highly recommend." SirFrankoman

Get it from Amazon for $31.88 (available in two colors).
6
A roll-up dish drying rack
If you have a small kitchen, this compact drying rack will be great for wet cups, plates and utensils. And when you're not using it, just fold it up and put it away!

Promising review: "It fits perfectly over the sink. It takes up only half or less of the open space and it drains into the sink. Can be rolled up and put away easily. I use it every day. It stays in place and can be used for drying dishes or fruit and veggies just washed." CKnaplesdenver

Get it from Amazon for $11+ (available in five sizes).
7
A Simplehuman step trash can
Taking out the trash is annoying, but you can make it a little less stressful with this stainless steel gem. It has a stay-open/silent-close lid that'll keep garbage and recyclables separated.

Promising review: "Never paid this much for a garbage can but have no regrets. Works perfectly for my household. I live alone and most of my trash gets recycled so I use the larger bin for recycling and the small bin for garbage. Item arrived in perfect condition. Have had for several months now, no issues to date. Love being able to open the lid hands free; soft-close feature is a wonderful bonus." Grandmalice

Get it from Amazon for $149.99.
8
A pack of furniture sliders
Moving furniture will be a breeze, because you'll only have to slide these under your coffee table or couch and glide them across the floor (no heavy lifting required!).

Promising review: "Should have gotten these years ago. They are absolutely wonderful. I can move heavy furniture easily without damaging hardwood floors or getting stuck in area rugs. Because the legs of my furniture are thick and cover them almost completely, I keep them under everything and can move furniture to vacuum. Really great!" MMLELL

Get a 16-pack from Amazon for $11.89.
9
A container of WD-40
Squeaky ladders and rusty screws will be the least of your problems with this multi-use lubricant that's so handy for maintenance jobs.

Promising review: "Always used WD-40 and it's clearly superior in the field, but what makes it even better is when the introduces the dual-use head. Where you can spray it out of the normal sprayer, or lift the arm up to use that. They've gone a step further and made that arm flexible. The best part about this new arm is while flexible, it holds the shape you bend it to well and can easily be straightened out when done." JT Thompson

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $17.76.
10
A set of 100% Turkish linen bath towels
You'll be prepared if you have to host guests at the last minute. Plus, you'll dry off quicker after taking showers.

Promising review: "Ive used and washed them several times now and they are still soft, fluffy and absorbent. I soaked them in cold water for about six hours before washing them the first time. Ive seen a couple of reviews that said the towels left fuzz all over them when they dried off. I have not experienced that at all." Juli B.

Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in 11 colors).
11
And hilarious kitchen towels
Dry off your veggies and add a little humor to your kitchen with these fun absorbent towels.

Do Take It Personally is small business based in Trosky, Minnesota that sells personalized coffee mugs and pun-adorned kitchen towels.

Promising review: "Bought it as a birthday gift and the recipient absolutely loved it! Blown away by the quick and efficient service. Quality is great, everything is as pictured. The cute tags are a hidden bonus." Alena

Get it from Do Take It Personally on Etsy for $11.95+.

Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
12
A Blueair Blue Pure 411+ air purifier
It filters allergens, mold spores, pet dander, smoke and more pesky airborne pollutants in your living space.

Promising review: "Bought this because my boyfriend has terrible seasonal and pet allergies so being at my home (where I leave my windows open and I have two huskies) was like a circle of hell for him. This helped significantly! There are three settings on it (three levels of intensity?). Really great product. Best for smaller rooms." MFajardo

Get it from Amazon for $119.99+ (three options available).
13
A set of steel-wire utility clips
If your favorite snacks are always going stale, use one of these handy clips to keep bags sealed shut.

Promising review: "These clips are sturdy, dishwasher-safe and can be used for just about anything. They keep my cereal and chip bags closed tightly, can clip several items together on my desk and look great when hanging student work in my classroom." TwistedChick

Get a 30-pack from Amazon for $7.83.
14
A pair of lightweight LED lanterns
With up to 30 hours of light and a compact design, you'll be prepared for unexpected power outages and weekend camping trips.

Promising review: "In early January of this year, I was on holiday in Puerto Rico and early in the morning of our last full day there, my wife and I were awoken to a magnitude 6.4 earthquake. The power went out immediately but luckily our Airbnb host stocked the house with these powerful (and collapsable) lanterns. Who knows what we would have done without them but they were a lifesaver for getting through one last, very dark night before returning home. This is a reminder to purchase a few for my home. Plus they're kind of fun to play with because they look and feel like props from a sci-fi film." John Mihaly

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $12.74.
15
A bottle of Goo Gone adhesive remover
Remove sticky glitter, gum, labels and tar without leaving a gooey mess on your furniture.

Promising review: "Easily removes sticker residue. The only thing I would recommend is don't remove the silver foil at the mouth of the bottle, instead pierce the foil with a pin and then use it as a squirty bottle. This will be much easier to manage the flow of the liquid as you only need a very small amount." Joe90

Get it from Amazon for $7.15.
16
A Wi-Fi-connected smart plug
Save on your monthly electric bill by scheduling devices to automatically turn on or shut off. It's also compatible with Alexa!

Promising review: "I bought some other smart plugs last year and tried to use them for turning on lamps in my kids' rooms, but they were never very reliable, so they only worked sometimes. It was frustrating and I eventually just unplugged them. When I saw these by Amazon, I tried them and the setup was super easy and I haven't had any issues with them not working! Since this was already synced to my account, setup was as easy as plugging it in and pressing the on button on the side of the plug. It connected instantly with my Wi-Fi network and all I had to do was rename the plug in my Alexa app. I would definitely recommend these over any off-brand if you're looking to use them with Alexa." Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
17
A memory foam bath mat
Take a shower and safely step out without sliding, thanks to this non-slip, machine-washable bath mat that'll feel so soft on your feet.

Promising review: "I love how my feet just sink into this mat. It almost feels like its air-filled when it goes down, and it pops up again like new. It's durable and can stand lots of moisture, especially if used next to shower/tub. The bottom has some kind of slip-proof material to help keep it in place so that you don't slip when trying to get out of the shower." Jessica C.

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in eight sizes and in 21 colors).
18
An inflatable air bed
Inflate it in less than five minutes and make sleep accommodations comfy for guests. Don't forget an extra set of sheets!

Promising review: "Easy to unroll, inflates quickly and is very comfortable. Queen sheets fit nicely and stay on all night. Deflates easily and rolls up without too much trouble and with practice you can even get it into the storage bag that comes with it. Helps if you were a Girl Scout and you camped a lot. Good practice rolling up all those tents. It is a wee bit on the heavy side, but it's well-constructed and will withstand your 17-year-old daughter when she takes a flying leap at it from the door." R. M. Talleur

Get it from Amazon for $74.99+ (available in three sizes and three elevations).
19
A roll of reusable bamboo towels
Paper towels are costly to the planet and your wallet, but these reusable towels are a good alternative. They're made with heavy-duty bamboo and are washable between cleanups.

Promising review: "You don't realize how many paper towels you go through in a day until you run out of them (and can't easily restock your supply). Using these bamboo towels (which were recommended by a coworker) changed the way I approached cleaning up household messes. These were great for taking care of the kitchen countertop throughout the day (especially while trying to feed a toddler). Didn't quite make it to the six-month mark on one roll, but that's certainly a goal!" John Mihaly

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (also available in packs of two and four).
20
A pack of Command small wire hooks
Securely hang up baseball caps, jackets and more wardrobe essentials without damaging your walls.

Promising review: "I love these hooks. I have them in our closets (for hats, scarves and light jackets) and in our kitchen (for measuring cups and spoons). I love how easy they are to put up and take down. If you make a mistake and put it in the wrong spot, no problem! Just take it off and use one of the extra adhesives to put it on the right spot." A. Tran

Get a 28-pack from Amazon for $19.98.
21
A Black + Decker four-slice toaster oven
Bake, broil and toast food with this easy-to-use appliance that'll help you cook like a pro in the kitchen.

Promising review: "I love my toaster oven. It has a sleek stainless-steel design that goes perfectly with the decor I have in my apartment. The variety of settings makes it even better. This is why I chose to invest in a toaster oven instead of just a toaster. You can do so much with it. I use it for toast/bagels, proteins (fish, chicken etc.) and vegetables. It's also useful because I can avoid turning on the bigger oven which has a bigger impact on the power bill." Claudi Padilla

Get it from Amazon for $44.89.
22
A rolling metal storage organizer
Declutter any spot at home with this rolling organizer that has three shelves and looks really cool in a corner.

Promising review: "This nice cart was a breeze to put together, is sturdy and has a very nice coat of paint. I don't have drawers in my bathroom sink cabinet. It worked out perfectly to put everything that was on my bathroom counter into the cart, and hair dryers and brushes in the second bin. I just roll it into the bathroom closet and roll it out when I need it. No more counter clutter." Zinnia

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in four colors).
23
A non-slip indoor/outdoor mat
If your front door is prone to a lot of foot traffic, this mat will be so helpful for wiping down shoes and minimizing mud tracks.

Promising review: "The design and colors are perfect for my kitchen. I have one in front of the patio door to keep my dog and cat from tracking dirty wet paw marks across my wood floor. After searching around on Amazon, I had ordered one that did not work at all as it stated in the description. Then I saw this rug and had my doubts, but its keeping my floors clean from dirt, debris and wet paw marks. Hooray!" Rhonda

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in five sizes and in two colors).
24
A Brother P-Touch label maker
Sorting through boxes isn't fun, but this gadget can help you print labels for each of them. You'll be glad you didn't have to search hours for important documents!

Promising review: "Its great! Did everything I wanted it to do and more. For the other reviewers who are complaining it wastes tape obviously didnt read the directions. To fix the 'problem' they are having you just have to change the margins, which are full, half or narrow. I attached a picture with the difference between full margins and narrow. Its all pretty simple and I cant wait to label everything!" SaRee Voth

Get it from Amazon for $34.99.

Before You Go

Kitchen Products That Look Cool *And* Work Well
A magnetic utensil set(01 of20)
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These fit together nicely on your counter and take up minimal space while still being super easy to grab when you're cooking dinner. The set comes with a slotted spatula, spaghetti server, slotted spoon, solid spoon and ladle. They're all dishwasher-safe and heat-safe up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit.

Promising review: "I have been eyeballing this product for some time and just decided to buy it. It is functional and space-saving which I love. The utensils themselves are very sturdy and thick, not flimsy at all. The magnets are not as strong as I thought they would be but they hold up, so it's not a problem. Overall, they are really nice, and I love the colors too!" Diana M.

Get a set from Amazon for $28+ (available in two different color varieties).
(credit:Amazon)
A colander(02 of20)
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Designed to expand and fit perfectly into your sink, this colander can easily strain and wash your food without awkwardly trying to balance it all in your sink.

Promising review: "Im obsessed with this. I leave it in my sink always. It makes washing fruits or draining pasta so much easier and has such a simple clean up. It also adds a nice pop of color to my kitchen. I highly recommend it." Alyssa

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in five colors).
(credit:Amazon)
A sleek silverware tray(03 of20)
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Just letting your utensils sit in a pile really shouldn't ~slide~ anymore. You're better than that.

Promising review: "I have a tiny kitchen with only three drawers, so space is at a premium. My silverware organizer took up almost all of one drawer, so this organizer is a godsend. You can fit quite a few spoons etc. in each slot. My beater attachments fit perfectly into the top two hollows. I will say I have to flip my forks over face down in order to be able to shut and open my drawer, but then the drawer itself is kind of shallow. You NEED this if you have a small kitchen with few drawers!" mialro

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
(credit:Amazon)
A Kochblume spill stopper(04 of20)
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You can put this on top of your pot and then can walk away knowing that the water won't overflow onto the stove whenever it *finally* decides to boil.

Promising review: "Wow wow wow, I have no words to describe how great this product is. I'm a mom with a large family who cooks and bakes all the time, and there is never a time that something doesn't spill over even when standing and watching the pot. With this, life has just gotten easy. I think I'm throwing out all my pot covers after using this." Rackel

Get it from Amazon for $19.23.
(credit:Amazon)
A wine decanter(05 of20)
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This will make that cheap bottle you bought seem not as cheap.

Promising review: "This is perfect for a cocktail party. It is really attractive and unique. Its quite lightweight but looks elegant and expensive." Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $28.99.
(credit:Amazon)
A flower trivet mat(06 of20)
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Meant to protect your tabletop from hot dishes, these mats also act as super cute wall decor when you're not using them.

Promising review: "I simply love these trivets. I used them as a decoration on my kitchen wall. When needed, I just place them on the table for my hot dishes. They clean in a breeze and the color is great. The price is so reasonable that if I didn't need them, I still would have bought them. You will not be disappointed with this item." redhead

Get a set of three from Amazon for $10.77+ (available in 12 colors).
(credit:Amazon)
Swedish dish cloths(07 of20)
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Made to absorb up to 15 times their own weight, you can use these cloths to clean your whole kitchen in one swoop and then throw them in the dishwasher when you're done. They can also be put in the washing machine!

Promising review: "I originally picked these up to use in lieu of nasty, nasty dishrags that invoke my inner THIS IS NOT CLEAN demon. Since then, I have used them for everything from cleaning the kitchen to wiping up spills. After I use then, I just toss in the wash and they are ready to go again. They are the perfect size and do an excellent job on every task to which I have applied them. They come in a variety of fun prints, and I have yet to wear one out. Paper towel usage has taken a real nosedive, which is a good thing given its relative scarcity at present." sandra simpson-kraft

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $15.37 (available in 12 styles).
(credit:Amazon)
A soy sauce cruet(08 of20)
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You'll be ~soy~ glad you have on hand when you order your favorite dumplings, and they forget to add the soy sauce...again.

BTW East Fork is a small business offering ceramics and glassware from Asheville, North Carolina. This cruet is made by Hiroto Glass, a glassware brand out of Tokyo and is designed for soy sauce but can also be used for vinegars and oils.

Get it from East Fork for $52.
(credit:East Fork)
A set of dip dishes(09 of20)
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These are perfectly sized to hold small things, such as sauces during dinner or even a snack. You'll be surprised by how often you use these little things.

BTW Year & Day is a small business creating ceramics, flatware and glass in Los Angeles that is then made in Europe. The set includes one dish of each color: grey, pink, white, and black. The dishes are dishwasher, freezer, and microwave safe, and they can even be put in the oven up to 480 degrees.

Get the set of four from Year & Day for $32.
(credit:Year & Day)
Waterproof plastic bag holders(10 of20)
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Hang these on the wall to disguise the plastic bags you accumulate but still make it simple to grab one whenever you need.

Promising review: "These are really cute and they can hold a ton of plastic bags! I had an entire cabinet where we would throw bags every time we came home from shopping. I stuffed all of those bags into these and now I have a free cabinet to use! I love these little things!" Maquillaje by Mollie

Get a set of two from Amazon for $6.77.
(credit:Amazon)
A measuring cup set(11 of20)
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You'll feel absolutely regal using as you binge "The Great British Bake-Off "and then decide to try baking something for yourself.

Promising review: "These are beautiful! It's a wonderful set! They are heavy-duty and have a great expensive look without costing a fortune!" K. LaNou

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in five colors).
(credit:Amazon)
A glass juicer(12 of20)
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This just might be the ~zest~ addition to your cooking collection because you can easily pour the juice from the dish after you're done juicing the fruit.

Promising review: "What a beautiful and well-made juicer. I find myself using it more often than expected, so thats a plus!" Kimberly C .

Get it from Food52 for $42 (available in four colors).
(credit:Food 52)
Color-coded cutting boards(13 of20)
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There are handy little symbols on each of the cutting boards so that you don't accidentally cut your veggies on the same board as your meat. This set includes one bamboo cutting board and seven color-coded mats. The mats can be stored inside the bamboo board.

Promising review: "One of our biggest issues in the kitchen is always the prep space! I loved the idea of this cutting board simply because of the different mats that come with it. Since there are many mats that are labeled for different purposes, cross-contamination is never an issue. Additionally, cleanup is really easy as we no longer have to clean a wooden board and then maintain the board after washing damage. Great purchase!" K. Vance

Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
(credit:Amazon)
A cold brew tea bottle(14 of20)
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This has a built-in filter so you can make tea and store it in your fridge to be ready for your next ~tea time~.

Promising review: "I've only had this teapot for a few days but it's making excellent cold brew iced tea that's helping me get through the first week in July in New York without an air conditioner. I'm considering buying a second! As another reviewer noted, I don't think it would be good for tea that's mostly fannings, but for larger leaf, it should be fine. I bet you could make a mean gyokuru in this sucker!" Amy

Get it from Amazon for $22.44+ (available in five sizes and seven colors and styles).
(credit:Amazon)
A utensil set(15 of20)
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Designed with a silicone head and wood base, this set has a sleek yet useful design so you can replace the mismatched set you've been using for a few too many years now.

BTW Karibe is a Black-owned small business that sells durable cookware from New Jersey. This set of utensils should be hand-washed.

Get the 10-piece set from Karibe for $45.99.
(credit:Karibe)
A set of stainless steel teaspoons(16 of20)
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You can use these to stir in said cream in your coffee and bring an added bit of happiness to your morning.

Promising review: "I love these little spoons. Theyre kept in a jar next to the coffee maker so I can pick a flower for the day. Theyve all been run through the dishwasher numerous times and dont show any wear after several months. I also ordered them as a gift for a friend after purchasing them for myself." GBohnes

Get a set of eight from Amazon for $10.68.
(credit:Amazon)
A fruit slicer set(17 of20)
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It comes with a watermelon slicer and scooper, a strawberry slicer and a peach pitter to make cutting and thus enjoying fruit a tad bit easier.

Get the set of three from Food 52 for $35.99.
(credit:Food 52)
A genie lamp stopper(18 of20)
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This will (sadly) only grant one wish: easy and controlled pouring. (credit:Amazon)
An Always pan(19 of20)
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Designed to replace eight pieces of cookware, this pan looks good while doing it. This means you can have a decluttered cabinet and yet still make all the different kinds of food you want.

Our Place is a WOC-founded brand bringing inventive cookware and kitchen products. You can braise, sear, steam, strain, saute, fry, boil and more with this pan. The spatula is designed with an integrated spoon rest. The pan is dishwasher-safe and only weighs 3 lbs. (Just keep in mind that it's NOT oven-safe.)

Promising review: "This pan is EVERYTHING! I went from making pasta in the basket to steaming broccoli in it and then finishing my meal in there. Then I forgot about cleaning it because Im lazy and the nonstick cleaned up so easily. The sponge they include is incredible, I do all my dishes with it now. Also, it looks really cute sitting on my stove all day." Darby S.

Get it from Our Place for $145 (available in eight colors).
(credit:Our Place)
And an absolutely beautiful colored stemware set(20 of20)
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These glasses are worth the investment because you'll love drinking wine from them for years to come.

BTW Estelle Colored Glass is a Black woman-owned business creating hand-blown glassware. The glasses are hand wash only.

Get a set of six from Estelle Colored Glass for $175.
(credit:Estelle Colored Glass)

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