The Best Alexa Commands for Everyday Convenience
Simple Ways to Get More Out of Your Echo Device and Smart Home Setup
Do you ever feel like you’re constantly juggling a million things—cooking dinner, responding to texts, trying not to burn the garlic bread? Same here. That’s why I’ve come to rely on what I consider to be the best Alexa commands to make everyday tasks easier and more convenient.
Whether it’s setting kitchen timers, controlling smart home devices, or getting the weather first thing in the morning, Alexa voice commands have quietly become one of the best ways to save time and simplify daily routines. And no, you don’t have to be “techy” to use them.
Here are the best Alexa commands my family and I use all the time that can make everyday life a whole lot smoother.
Here’s a Rundown of the Best Alexa Commands
1. Cooking: “Alexa, Set a Timer for 10 Minutes”
Whether I’m baking, boiling pasta, or doing a quick cleanup sprint, this is hands-down the command I use the most. You can even set multiple timers at once and name them—like “Pizza Timer” or “Laundry Timer.”
2. Shopping: “Alexa, Add Milk to My Shopping List”
Alexa can keep track of your shopping list, which you can view and edit in the app—perfect for those “we’re out of this” moments. You can also ask her to add items to your Amazon or Whole Foods shopping cart if you use those services. If you prefer another grocery service like Instacart, you’ll need to add items manually, but Alexa still works great for keeping track of what you need.
3. Weather Updates: “Alexa, What’s the Weather?”
A quick check before heading out the door is way easier than pulling out your phone. You can also ask for the weather in another city if you’re traveling, or get a forecast for the week ahead. Smart speakers with built-in displays, like the Echo Show, even provide a visual forecast.
4. Smart Home Control: “Alexa, Turn Off the Kitchen Lights”
If you have smart home devices like smart bulbs, plugs, or switches, this one’s a game changer—especially when your hands are full, wet, or covered in cookie dough. We use a smart bulb for our porch light so we can turn it on by voice when someone’s dropping off groceries or delivery. We also use a smart plug for our Christmas tree and include it in a routine that turns on all the lights at dusk and turns everything off when we go to bed.
Even if you don’t have smart bulbs, smart switches are a great option for controlling regular lights or ceiling fans. You can group devices together by room or set routines to manage them all at once. If you’re expanding your smart home setup, Alexa-compatible devices like smart thermostats, locks, and security cameras can also be controlled by voice.
When my Schlage smart lock stopped responding, I found the problem—and fixed it for just $5. Here’s how I brought it back online.
5. Reminders: “Alexa, Remind Me to Switch the Laundry in 30 Minutes”
Reminders are great for those “don’t let me forget!” moments throughout the day. You can set them by time or even by location through the app. Super helpful when you’ve got a lot on your plate.
6. Communication Commands: “Alexa, Call [Name]” or “Alexa, Drop in on [Name of Echo Device]”
You can use Alexa to call or drop in on other Echo devices in your household, like letting everyone know dinner’s ready without yelling across the house. It’s especially handy with kids or in multi-level homes. You can also just say, “Alexa, announce dinner time” to let everyone know dinner’s ready and she’ll announce it on all Echo devices on your account.
7. Routines: “Alexa, Good Morning”
This is where routines really shine. Saying “Good morning” can trigger a full wake-up sequence—turning on lights, adjusting the thermostat, sharing the day’s weather and news, or starting your favorite playlist. You can also create your own custom phrases for any routine.
In our house, we even created a special command to play music that Alexa kept getting wrong. Let’s just say it involved Fink, Pink, and a little creativity.
Final Thoughts on the Best Alexa Commands
If you’re looking for even more command ideas, Amazon provides a full list of what Alexa can do here: Alexa Commands Overview.
The best Alexa commands can feel like a novelty at first—but once you start using them for everyday tasks, they just become part of your routine. And the more you personalize them, the more helpful they get.
If you’ve got an Alexa or Google Home device, start with one or two of these ideas. You might be surprised at how quickly they become second nature.
And if you want to explore more smart tech tips, check out these helpful posts:
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