Eight Taobao Finds to Improve Your Life

A little while ago, we wrote about some Taobao travel essentials to improve your next trip, and now we're turning our attention to the home. Here, we've found a few items you can find on Taobao, or your preferred shopping app, that we think will definitely improve your life. Plus, with Double 11 coming soon, you'll be able to get a lot of these items on sale! 

Drain Covers

We've written before about why a lot of bathrooms in China can be smellier than in other countries, and one easy solution that can solve, or at least significantly help with, this problem is drain covers. As many Chinese wastewater plumbing systems don't incorporate P-traps, also known as U-bends, smelly gases can leak back into your house, so a drain cover prevents this. The most likely drains causing the bad smells in your bathroom are the shower drain, washing machine drain and bathroom sink. You can get a drain cover to fit each of them, and you can even get some super cute designs. 

Search for: 地漏盖 (dìlòu gài) for shower drains, 下水道防臭密封圈 (xiàshuǐdào fángchòu mìfēngquān) for washing machine drains and 面盆下水器 (miànpén xiàshuǐqì) for bathroom sinks. 

Wall-Sticking Power Socket/Power-Strip Holder 

If you're apartment is full of messy clusters of chargers and power strips, or if you've got a random power strip dangling from the wall, then this one is for you. These self-adhesive brackets just stick directly onto the wall and then the other side sticks to the power strip so that you can slot it into place. The power strip-holders are great for both making your home tidier and also installing a power strip in an awkward spot where it may otherwise get in the way or have nothing to rest on. 

Search for: 免打孔排插固定器墙面 (miǎn dǎkǒng páichā gùdìngqì qiángmiàn)

Vacuum Storage Bags

Storage space in Beijing can be a major problem, with most of us living in places that don't have a large storage cupboard, attic or garage where you can store things like summer clothes during winter or vice versa. Well, vacuum storage bags can help with that, or at least majorly cut down the size of the items you're storing, especially for bulky winter items like coats and duvets. There are tons of cheap options on Taobao, and if you don't own a vacuum cleaner, many of them come with a free mini hand pump or electric pump to suck the air out.  

Search for: 真空压缩袋 (zhēnkōng yāsuō dài)

Over-the-Door Coat Hooks 

Carrying on with the lack of storage theme, a traditional coat rack can take up a lot of vital space, especially during the winter months when it's loaded with thick, down jackets. Instead, over-the-door coat hooks use already existing space and since they fit over the door, you don't need to drill any holes. Also, if you make sure to buy a strong, good-quality one, they can also be a lot stronger and sturdier than a normal coat rack. 

Search for: 门背挂钩 (mén bèi guàgōu)

Retractable Box Cutter

As you might be able to guess from the fact that I'm writing this post, I am an avid Taobao shopper, so with the amount of parcels I regularly get, one of these is a must. Invest in one of these and you won't have to risk injury hacking at overly taped-up packages with a pair of scissors anymore. The best ones come with a safety lock and replaceable blades. Just remember when using them to always cut away from and never towards yourself!

Search for: 美工刀 (měigōng dāo)

Gas Hob Heat Diffuser

Unlike hobs in places like the UK or US, where you'll have multiple-sized hobs, in China, it's more of a one-size-fits-all approach, and that size is: big. This can be a problem if you're using a small pan or want to simmer something for a long time because even the lowest temperature on your average Chinese hob is still too high. This is where a gas hob heat diffuser comes in. They work by evenly distributing heat throughout the entire cookware so you don't get a middle-of-the-pan hot spot forming. 

They're great if you want to cook something at a more gentle heat and also help protect the bottom of pans as well. A few things to note if using one, though: Firstly, they do take a while to heat up, so factor that into your cooking time, and secondly, they stay hot for a long time after the hob has been turned off, so be mindful of that.  

Search for: 煤气炉散热板 (méiqì lú sànrè bǎn)

Robot Vacuum 

Vacuuming is one of my most hated chores, which is not ideal when living in Beijing with its perpetual layer of dust, so for me a robot vacuum cleaner is a lifesaver. You can even get ones on Taobao that also double up with a mop setting so you can say goodbye to that chore as well. Plus, they are also relatively affordable, though be mindful that the cheaper models will be that price for a reason, so it may be worth spending a bit more for the long-term benefits. Many of the more advanced models can also link up with an app so you can do things like set it up on a timer for when you're out. 

 Search for: 扫地机器人 (sǎodì jīqìrén)

Collapsible Bath

For years after moving to Beijing, I missed having a bath and was amazed when I found out that you can buy collapsible ones on Taobao. They have many different sizes and styles available, from large, solid-framed ones to lightweight ones made from foldable material. If you're lucky enough to have a bathroom with ample space, then you can even get a collapsible full-sized tub. For those with smaller bathrooms, there are also corner-style bathtubs available that will fit right in your shower. 

Search for: 折叠浴桶 (zhédié yùtǒng)

READ: Ten Taobao Travel Essentials to Up Your Travel Game

Images: Canva, Unsplash, Taobao