My Airbnb didn't have a carbon monoxide detector, so I bought this portable one — it's down to $18 at Amazon

For better or worse, the phrase "better safe than sorry" has become my motto as an adult. That means, among other things, carbon monoxide detectors on every floor — and they have to work! If you can't remember the last time you replaced yours, it's probably time for a new one. My recommendation? This No. 1 bestselling Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector, which is portable enough to travel with. Plus, it's currently marked down at Amazon.

Amazon

Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector

$18$28Save $10

Tens of thousands of Amazon shoppers swear by this little lifesaver. 

$18 at Amazon

Why is it a good deal?

You can't put a price on safety, but $18 is extremely reasonable for a product that could save literally save lives. This isn't the absolute lowest price we've seen on this model, but it's close to the best price we've seen in the past year.

Why do I need this?

True story: Because I'm a safety obsessive, I check every hotel room and Airbnb I stay in to see whether there's a carbon monoxide detector. Recently, I was at an Airbnb that only had smoke detectors. So what did I do? I went out and bought the Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector.

It might seem a little extreme, but I'd rather err on the side of caution. Since this portable model is quite compact, I plan on keeping it in my suitcase juuust in case. After all, vacation is much more enjoyable with some peace of mind!

At under half a pound and 5 inches wide, the Kidde makes a smart travel mate, but it's ideal for at-home use as well. It calls for two AA batteries (included) and can be mounted to a wall or placed on a table or other flat surface. To ensure it's working, press the test button (it's loud). The green light means it's on, but a red light and beeping means you should go outside immediately.

This compact carbon monoxide detector comes with a 10-year limited manufacturer warranty, but you'll want to make sure the batteries are always in working order. (Speaking of batteries: Because it doesn't plug into an outlet, it'll keep working during power outages.)

What reviewers say

Over 24,000 Amazon customers are sleeping easier with the Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector.

"This product possibly saved my and the lives of my family," shared one relieved shopper. "I decided to replace the ones I had mounted from several years ago; two weeks after and at 4 a.m., it began alerting near my boiler room. After having an army of plumbers come in, it was found that there was a CO leak from my old boiler that was not persistent, so it wasn't at a level to set off my old alarm. It was explained that the issue was progressive and would have gotten worse, so the early alerting gave me an opportunity to address the problem before it got to a point where it could have caused real physical damage or possibly much worse."

"We got this to take to Cozumel with us," shared a savvy jetsetter. "It was very lightweight and easy to pack. I highly recommend taking one when traveling abroad. I don't think you can ever be too safe."

"A must-have!" exclaimed a final fan. "I like that you can either hook it up on a wall or you can leave it on a different surface." Their one note? "I wish it had a plug-in option." (Psst: I also have this plug-in model in my house, though it's less travel-friendly.)

Amazon

Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector

$18$28Save $10

Safety first: Snag one of these for every floor of your home (and another for your travel bag) while they're on sale.

$18 at Amazon

While we're at it, need a new smoke detector?

Amazon

First Alert Battery-Powered Ionization Smoke Alarm

$21

There's no such thing as too many smoke detectors. At just $10 each, these battery-operated essentials should be a fixture in your home. 

"Works well and VERY sensitive to ANY smoke!" wrote a pleased user. "Was making toast and the sensor in my hallway down from my kitchen went off, no smoke even was visible! And it was SUPER loud. But I like that! Only happened once, but I still like that it was very loud and works well."

$21 at Amazon

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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