Amazon expands instant-order Dash button program

SAN FRANCISCO — Amazon's goal of being the go-to source for purchases in the home took another step forward Wednesday with the addition of gum, trash bags, probiotic supplements and more to its list of instant-order products available through the Dash button.

The program, which launched in March, is now open to all Amazon customers with Prime accounts. Previously it had been by invitation only.

"This has been very popular with our customers," said Peter Larsen, vice president, Amazon Devices. "You never have to run out of your most-used items."

The Dash button is small electronic device about the size of a pack of gum. Each is labeled with the name of the product it orders.

Users press the button and the device sends a message to their Amazon Prime account, automatically ordering another box of whatever's almost out.

The buttons mount using an adhesive strip on the back or a plastic clip.

The idea is that customers will put them up next to items they frequently run out of; in the laundry room for Tide, in the bathroom for Cottonelle toilet paper.

With the broader roll-out, Amazon is now charging customers $4.99 for each button — but giving a credit of $4.99 the first time the customer orders using the service.

"So it's effectively free," said Larsen.

He keeps a Dash button by his desk to order Gatorade to stock his office fridge, as well as one for Orbit gum "which I was always running out of."

Dash buttons are now available for 29 different brands that include more than 500 products.

They include Ice Breakers mints, Orbit gum, Greenies Dental Chews, Hefty trash bags, Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products, Ziploc bags, Depend underwear, Finish dish washing detergent, Digestive Advantage probiotic supplements, Dixie products and Optimum Nutrition whey protein.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Elizabeth Weise on Twitter: @eweise.