Tired of getting home after a long day of work, changing into your comfy clothes, plopping down in your favorite chair to relax a little with a good book or TV show…and then realizing that you are out of toilet paper, toothpaste, and/or garbage bags, and must trudge back out to the store? That means fighting rush hour traffic, locating your needed supplies (which will inevitably be located in an illogical and/or far-away aisle), fighting hoards of other people, standing in line, and once again fighting the traffic home. It’s the last thing you want to do.

Luckily, now there are other options. Thanks to the Internet and some creative thinkers, you can now buy necessary household items online and have them delivered to your door—no crowds, no traffic, no hassle, and no having to leave your evening comforts. I used a grocery shopping service after my second child was born and it was the best thing I could have done.

Alice.com

Alice.com allows you to enjoy your relaxation time without rushing off to the store. On Alice.com, you can order items such as laundry detergent, toothpaste, toilet paper, foil, garbage bags, shampoo, deodorant, stamps, and cleaning supplies to be delivered to your door free of charge. Alice allows you to buy direct from manufacturers in most cases, eliminating the retailer markups you would find at a grocery store and allowing you to save money—not to mention time, gas, and hassle.

But what if you are too busy to anticipate when you will need items? Not to worry. Alice tracks how often you buy certain items—shampoo, for example—and sends you a reminder when you may be running low. This ensures that you will order your supplies in time for them to arrive when you need them, eliminating any emergency trips to the store.

Other Options

Though Alice.com is different than other online shopping options in that it allows manufacturers to sell directly to consumers, it has several online competitors when it comes to selling household items. Drugstore.com sells prescription medications along with household supplies, contact lenses, and personal care items. Many parents use Diapers.com, which sells infant supplies like diapers, formula, bath products, and toys. Finally, many consumers use Amazon.com as a source for products of all kinds, from electronic equipment to clothing to entertainment to household items.

Most of these sites require users to create an account, which allows the site to track common items ordered and make recommendations for future purchases.

Image Credit: anyjazz65, Flickr