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Where to buy household items: Toilet paper, cleaning wipes, hand sanitizer, and more

Nov 11, 2023

— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.

Editor's note: This story is no longer being updated, but you can find in-stock household items in our updated story here.

As most of the country remains under stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, people are continuing to stock up on cleaning and household essentials, per recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And as a result, those essentials are selling out at many online retailers.

From hand sanitizer to toilet paper to thermometers, these products can help you and those you live with feel prepared during a self-quarantine or if anyone gets sick. But they are becoming hard to find online, which can be especially stressful when you're trying to shop without leaving the house.

We’ve rounded up 10 of the most hard-to-find household products to have during the coronavirus outbreak and where to get them while you still can. There may be shipping delays because of increased demand, but we'll be including the products most likely to get to you the fastest. We'll also continue to update this list as supplies dwindle and restocks, so be sure to check back often.

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Hand sanitizers from Purell and GermX are flying off the shelves right now, but you should be picky because the truth is, they’re not all the same. Some contain an alcohol substitute known as benzalkonium chloride, which isn't as effective if you’re trying to stop the spread of germs. Instead, you want to look for a hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol content, according to the CDC.

But these items are selling out fast (seriously, you may even have to go in-store to grab them), so we definitely suggest you grab them as soon as possible. Or, you could just make your own, especially since the World Health Organization (WHO) just put together this do-it-yourself guide to creating your own sanitizer. Word of caution though—their step-by-step instructions do require 96% ethyl alcohol.

According to the CDC, one of the best things you can do right now to prevent the spread of coronavirus is to wash your hands frequently. That means scrubbing them after you use the bathroom, ride public transportation, blow your nose, cough, or sneeze, as well as before you eat. The American Red Cross also recommends that you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds in order to effectively clean them. While antibacterial soap is crucial, just regular hand-washing is a crucial way to stop germs from spreading.

During natural disasters and other emergencies, toilet paper always seems to be the first thing to go out of stock. The thought of running out of wipes to do your business when you can't leave the house is absolutely horrifying. While we ranked the Charmin Ultra Soft as the No. 1 toilet paper for your No. 2, in times like these, you’re better off taking what your can get—even if it's one-ply. Here are all the places you can still order toilet paper from.

In most instances, paper towels can seem wasteful. While they’re definitely a popular household purchase—and we’ve even rounded up a list of the best paper towels you can buy right now—they’re not eco-friendly and they’re expensive, which can make them seem like a luxury to some households.

But the fact that paper towels are disposable actually could make them beneficial to have, particularly in homes where there's already someone impacted by coronavirus. The CDC recommends paper towel usage for cleaning and disinfecting homes, which makes them good to have around, just in case.

Dish soap is another household item, you’re going to want to have around. The CDC recommends that those who are affected by the coronavirus should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, or utensils. After these dishes have been used, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water. When we tested the best dish soap, we washed more than 125 plates, glasses, bowls, and spoons, and found that Dawn Ultra was the clear winner. Not only does it cut through grease, but it's a great disinfectant as well.

A thermometer is essential for knowing whether or not you have a fever, which is one of the main symptoms of the coronavirus, according to the CDC. With many people attempting to grab a thermometer that they're missing from their medicine drawer, there are very slim pickings in-store and online right now. Thankfully, you can still find a few online—though they may take a few days (or even weeks) to ship.

Similar to cleaning wipes, disinfectant spray can help clear surfaces of harmful bacteria and potentially guard against the spread of coronavirus. The CDC recommends sticking to household cleaners with at least 70% alcohol, and most EPA-registered disinfectants—like Lysol Clean & Fresh Multi-Surface Cleaner, for example—should be effective for regular use. If you haven't already grabbed a bottle or two, you can get this on Amazon right now, but we’d suggest you hurry and snag it fast, as it's selling out everywhere.

If you’re stuck at home for an extended period of time, you absolutely don't want to run out of diapers—it could be a mess, literally and figuratively. As you’re trying to plan ahead, you may want to buy a few extra boxes worth of diapers. Every baby is different though, and some diaper brands may work better than others, so we recommend you grab your brand (whichever it may be) and stockpile them.

Although the major symptoms of coronavirus include a dry cough, fever, and shortness of breath, according to the CDC, it's always a good idea to have an extra box of tissues lying around. You could wind up with a runny nose due to allergies or get the cold or flu. After testing nine different boxes (and blowing many noses), we found that Puffs Ultra Soft are the best tissues and won't irritate your nose. You can stock up on these on Amazon right now. Other brands still have tissues in stock, too.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a list of disinfectants that are safe for American households to use right now to protect against the coronavirus. One of the top disinfectants on the list? Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. Made to kill up to 99.9% of surface bacteria and viruses, these wipes are easy to use, safe on most surfaces, and essential to have around the house right now.

Editor's note: There are currently no cleaning wipes available, but we'll update this as soon as they are back in stock.

These aren't the only things selling out, non-essential items like fitness products, board games, and more are going quickly too. We'll be covering the inventory of these high-demand items, too:

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, reviews, and more.

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

Need help finding products? Sign up for our weekly newsletter. It's free and you can unsubscribe at any time. Get the Pipette Hand Sanitizer for $4.99 Get the Muse Hand Sanitizer for $9.99 at Muse Get the Hempz Herbal Triple Moisture Hand Sanitizer at Staples for $14.99 Get the Tonymoly Aloe Chok Chok Hand Sanitizing Gel at ULTA for $4 Get the Milk + Honey Lavender, Eucalyptus Hand Purifier No.08 at Ulta for $6 Get the SpaRoom Mist Hand Sanitizer at Target for $3.99 Get the Megababe Squeaky Clean Hand Sanitizer at Target for $5.99 Get the Grapefruit or Unscented Hand Sanitizer at by Humankind for $20 Get the Zoya Hand Sanitizer With Sprayer at Zoya for $8.50 Get the Black Cherry Merlot Pocketbac, 5-Pack at Bath & Body Works for $8 Get the Dove Coconut Water and Almond Milk Foaming Liquid Hand Wash at Target for $2.99 Get the Mrs. Meyers Peony Hand Soap at Target for $3.99 Get the Raw Sugar Foaming Hand Wash at Target for $3.39 Get the Ulta Freshwater Foaming Mist Hand Soap at Ulta for $6 Get the Spa of the World Tahitian Tiaré Hand Soap at The Body Shop for $12 Get the Angel Soft Toilet Paper, 12 Mega Rolls at Walmart for $9.97 Get the Scott ComfortPlus Toilet Paper, 12 Mega Rolls Get the Quilted Northern Ultra Plush Toilet Paper, 18 Mega Rolls at Walmart for $17.48 Get the Kleenex Cottonelle Coreless 2-Ply Toilet Paper, 36 Rolls at Office Depot for $65.92 Get the Tork Universal Bathroom Tissue, 96 Rolls at Office Depot for $65.44 Get the Sparkle Pick-A-Size Paper Towels, 6 Double Rolls at Walmart for $6.44 Get the Viva Signature Cloth Choose-A-Sheet Kitchen Paper Towels, 6 Double Rolls at Walmart for $9.98 Get the Bounty Select-A-Size Paper Towels, 8 Rolls at Office Depot for $15.19 Get the Coastwide Professional Jumbo Kitchen Paper Towels, 12 Rolls at Office Staples for $35.29 Get the Perk Choose-A-Size Kitchen Paper Towels, 8 Rolls at Staples for $14.99 Get the Bounty Essentials Full Sheet Kitchen Rolls Paper Towels, 40 Rolls at Staples for $41.89 Get the Palmolive Ultra Liquid Dish Soap at Target for $1.99 Get the Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Liquid Dish Soap at Target for $3.89 Get the Joy Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap at Walmart for $2.57 Get the Dawn Dish Detergent Lemon Scent at Staples for $9.49 Get the Capri Essentials Dish Soap at Home Depot for $7.50 Get the Caring Mill Digital Pacifier Thermometer at FSA Store for $12.99 Get the Caring Mill Instant Ear Thermometer at FSA Store for $24.99 Get the Safety 1st 2-in-1 Quick-Read Thermometer at Bed Bath & Beyond for $9.99 Get the Vicks ComfortFlex Thermometer at Walmart for $9.98 G et the iProven Digital Thermometer at Walmart for $19.99 Get the Braun ThermoScan Ear Thermometer With ExactTemp Technology at Target for $42.99 Get the Method Antibacterial Bathroom Cleaner at Target for $3.49 Get the Seventh Generation Lemongrass Citrus Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner at Target for $3.99 Get the Bona PowerPlus Hard Surface Antibacterial Cleaner Spray at Target for $7.99 Get the Scrubbing Bubbles Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner at Staples for $4.89 Get the In-Cide, 2 Pack Disinfectant at Walmart for $14.98 Get the Diversey Crew Disinfectant, 2 Pack at Staples for $53.99 Get the Parent's Choice Diapers, 328 Count at Walmart for $36.38 Get the Seventh Generation Disposable Overnight Diapers, 24 Count at Target for $11.99 Get the Honest 76-Pack Size 2 Diapers at BuyBuyBaby for $25.99 Get the Puffs Ultra Soft Non-Lotion Facial Tissues, 4 Mega Cubes at Walmart for $5.98 Get the Kleenex Box Tissue at Home Depot for $4.32 Get the Kleenex 2-Ply Facial Tissue, 6 Boxes at Office Depot for $12.53 Get the Perk Ultra Soft Standard Tissue, 6 Boxes at Staples for $11.99 Editor's note: There are currently no cleaning wipes available, but we'll update this as soon as they are back in stock. Fitness products that are selling out Where you can still buy Britas and other water filter pitchers Canned goods and non-perishables that are selling out Where to buy office supplies online if you're working from home Household essentials you can still buy online at CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid Here's where you can still buy puzzles and board games