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Dracaena trifasciata
A snake plant in a plain pot with a drainage hole
Most houseplants gamble on the new owner's light and routine. This one barely notices: it grows in anything from a dim interior to full sun, and it wants the soil to dry out completely between waterings, so a hectic month of unpacking will not finish it off. Overwatering is what usually does. Pot it in plain white ceramic or natural terracotta and it fits any room. One real caveat: it is toxic to cats and dogs, so ask about pets first or choose another plant.
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Kidde Pro 110 Fire Extinguisher
Nobody buys a fire extinguisher for themselves until the day they wish they had one, which makes it a quietly brilliant gift. The Pro 110 is a sensible home size, about 5 lb in total, and it is rated 1-A:10-B:C: ordinary combustibles like wood and paper, flammable liquids, and electrical equipment, which covers the kitchen and the garage. It has a metal valve and is rechargeable, so it can be refilled and kept in service rather than thrown away after use. Kidde backs it with a 6-year limited warranty. It is a modest spend, and it lives in a closet or under the sink, so it never has to match anything.
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Victorinox Fibrox Chef's Knife Extra Wide, 8 in
First kitchens tend to come with a block of mismatched knives or none at all. One good chef's knife does most of the cutting a home cook needs, and this is the gift that gets used on the first night. The Fibrox is Swiss made, with a 7.9-inch blade and an ergonomic non-slip handle, and Victorinox lists it as dishwasher safe and covers it with a lifetime warranty. It looks plain and utilitarian, which is exactly why it suits any kitchen, and it stays at the modest end of the budget.
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Stanley 65-Piece Homeowner's Tool Kit (94-248)
Moving day shows what a home is missing: a hammer for the mirror, a tape measure for the sofa, a screwdriver for the loose cabinet hinge. Stanley's 65-piece homeowner's kit covers those first jobs in one carry case, with a claw hammer, a 16-foot tape measure, a snap-off utility knife, long nose pliers, screwdrivers and a 1/4-inch drive ratchet with a bit holder. Stanley gives it a full lifetime warranty. It works as well for a first apartment as for a house, and the case slides into a closet, so style never comes into it.
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WaterHog Lattice Indoor/Outdoor Doormat, 2 x 3 ft
The doormat is the first thing every guest steps on and usually the first thing in a new home to wear out. A WaterHog mat is built for wet boots and muddy paws: its raised border, which Bungalow Flooring calls a Water Dam, keeps up to a gallon of water off the floor, and the rubber backing keeps it from skidding. The lattice pattern in gray or camel reads as plain texture rather than decoration, so it suits a porch or an apartment hallway equally well. It is made in the USA and cleans with a vacuum or a hose, which makes it an easy, modest gift that earns its keep from the first rainy day.
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Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Soy Candle, Lemon Verbena, 7.2 oz
A candle is the classic small housewarming gift, and it works best when the scent is light and the jar is plain. Mrs. Meyer's Lemon Verbena is a clean, citrusy, herbal scent rather than a heavy perfume, and the clear glass jar with a black lid sits quietly on a kitchen counter or bathroom shelf. It is made with soy and vegetable wax and a lead-free wick, and it is rated for about 35 hours of burning, enough for weeks of evenings in a place that still smells of cardboard boxes. It is an easy pick to grab on the way to the party.
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Lodge 10.25 in Cast Iron Skillet (L8SK3)
Where an enameled Dutch oven is a splurge, this is the kitchen gift at the modest end that nearly every cook ends up reaching for. Lodge's 10.25-inch skillet arrives preseasoned, so it can sear chicken or bake cornbread on the first night, and it goes straight from the stovetop into the oven. It is made in the USA, weighs about 5.6 lb, and asks only to be washed by hand and dried. Plain black cast iron looks at home in any kitchen, whatever the cabinets and countertops look like.
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DeWalt 20V MAX Compact Drill/Driver Kit (DCD771C2)
For a family member or close friend who has just bought a place, a cordless drill is the generous gift that keeps getting used: shelves, curtain rods, TV mounts and flat-pack furniture all ask for one. This DeWalt kit pairs the compact 20V MAX drill/driver with two batteries and a charger, so one battery can charge while the other works through the afternoon. It has two speeds and a 1/2-inch ratcheting chuck, and the warranty runs 3 years limited plus 1 year of free service. It is overkill for someone in a furnished rental; save it for an owner with walls they can drill.
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Staub La Cocotte 7 qt Round Dutch Oven
The splurge for a household that cooks. An enameled cast iron Dutch oven handles the food that makes a new place feel lived in: braises, soups, chili and bread. The 7-quart Staub is made in France, works on every stovetop including induction and goes in the oven up to 500°F. Its lid has spikes on the underside that drip moisture back onto the food, and the matte black enamel interior is made for browning. Staub also makes it in smaller sizes if 7 quarts is more pot than a couple needs. At about 15 lb empty, it suits someone who will leave it on the stove rather than lift it into a high cabinet.
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