Dyson Aftermarket DC07 All Floors Hose Silver/Yellow #904125-14

You get what you pay for - not worth the money
I read the other people's reviews, the complaints about the size of the tube, the loose plastic clip, etc... and I thought, "It can't be that bad. Plus it's almost 50 dollars less than the Dyson hose, so it has to be worth it."
Well, I was wrong. And the others were right. I had to fight just to get the wand to slide down the tube. Then I had to force the handle clip down to lock in place. Now it is on the vacuum, but I am hesitant to try and use the hand attachment because I don't want to have to fight to put it back together.
My advice is: don't look at spending 50 dollars more with Dyson as a waste - look at it as a guarantee that you will get a hose that fits properly. Don't buy this one.
.

DO NOT BUY THIS HOSE!!!!!
When my original hose broke, I used duct tape to make it work until I got a new one (that was mistake number 1). When I received the new hose, I removed the broken hose from the wand, and the old hose ripped and the plastic got stuck up in the wand. SO, now I had a new hose with a broken wand. I was frustrated and was NOT going to buy anything else at that moment. I finally decided to buy a new wand (from Dyson). It just arrived and I was soooo excited to have a good wand and a good hose. Well, the Dyson wand does not fit into the hose. I used a little bit of Pam to slide it in. And the hose is too long. I cannot snap the wand onto the vacuum. And I am afraid that if I use all of my weight and shove the wand into the hose onto the vacuum, the hose will get stuck in the wand and I will have to buy another wand! Unfortunately, since I bought the hose a couple of months ago, I am sure that the return policy is null and void! I might check since I have nothing to lose...

Great price and speedy shipping
This is the product I needed at the price I was willing to pay. It was 10$ cheaper than the "genuine" Dyson product and it works just as well. It shipped quickly and fit easily onto the Dyson. I had the old hose off and the new one on in less than a minute.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Emerson HDC-12 Replacement Moistair Wicking Humidifier Filter, 4-Pack

Stop wicking quickly
I have an Emerson console-type humidifier that is allegedly capable of putting 13 gallons of water into the air in a 24-hour period. It came with filters from the factory that seem to stand up to this claim. The factory filters are pleated paper, not these fibrous, spongy type that are commonly described as "OEM" replacements.

These honeycomb, fibrous filters work well for a couple of days and then start to lose their ability to draw water up into themselves. Within two weeks they are hard as a rock and no longer wick. This is my second season with these things. I go through an entire case of them (8 sets of 4) in 3 months. The original-style filters, while more expensive, would last me almost 2 months and put much more water into the air (10 gallons a day on the 'medium' fan setting).

It is now difficult to find the pleated, accordian type filters but they are the only ones that work. My advice is to try to find the originals.

Not What I Expected
The product was listed with the title "HDC-12 Emerson Humidifier Replacement Filter". I assumed the filter was made by Emerson. It was not. It was a generic replacement and it was in my opinion of lesser quality than a genuine Emerson filter. I sent an email to the seller. The seller immediately sent a return mailing label (prepaid) and promptly refunded my full purchase price upon return of the item. So, my experience with the "merchant" was excellent and was all that I could have expected. BE CAREFUL THAT YOU UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE PURCHASING.

They seem to be better than other filters in my humidifier
These filters I believe are improved over whatever ones I bought last year. The box says they'll repel bacteria and that's a real plus in a humidifier.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Aprilaire Manual Digital Control Humidistat

Arrived and works
Arrived on time and works, matched my existing one. No warranty information provided, fixed the issue of the water valve not opening.

It was just what I needed, easy to install and it worked from the start. Arrived in a timely fashion and saved me $130.
Arrived in a timely fashion and saved me $130, repairman wanted to charge to install the part. I will be ordering the filters online too.

just as expected
wanted to convert the automatic (digital) controls on my aprilaire 700 to manual...this did the trick without any issues...quick delivery

Click to Editorial Reviews

Rada Cutlery Quick Edge Knife Sharpener with Hardened Steel Wheels (Designed for Rada Knives), R119

Excellent for steeling any knife
This product is listed as a knife sharpener but that isnt what it really does. Its similiar to a butcher's steel. Its purpose is to take a knife that is already sharp and put a stright edge on it. You should only have to sharpen your knife once a year or so but should steel it frequently. When you use your knife the sharp edge gets bent over at the microscopic level and it no longer feels sharp. Using a steel realigns the edge and restores its sharpness.

The photo looks more imposing that it is. Its actually small and lightweight, made out of plastic. Its composed of two steel wheels. Draw the knife between them a few times and your edge will be restored at the proper angle. Its a good buy and recommended for any knife.

Works well on thin blades
This works great on thin bladed knives but falls a bit short on heavy blades. Its very well made and easy to operate. My Wife, who tends to ruin blades with a chef's steel, can use this without problems, this was the reason it was bought

Rada knife sharpener
Everyone loves my Rada knives. I have given several sets as gifts and always include a sharpener. It it a MUST have for any Rada knife owner. Easy to use, easy to store and works great! Usually 4 to 5 pulls through the sharpener gives it a "like new" edge. Great product and wouldn't be without one.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Hamilton Beach 76389R OpenStation Can Opener, Black

Great Can Opener, once you get the sticker off
Like everyone else, I wanted this can opener for all the features it offers. But the sticker is the "kicker". The first one I bought, I simply could not get it off. So I returned it. Then I found somehow who wrote a review saying what to do. And it worked !!!! So for those of you who really want this can opener (and you will love it) first pull off the plastic on the sticker. Next soak the paper part of the sticker and pull that off. This will leave the gluey, sticky part - the part that is impossible....but hang in there. Spread the sticky area with butter - yes butter and let it absorb. Then wipe off. It may take a couple of applications of butter, but IT WORKS. I rated this a 5 because I love this can opener....and although it took a lot of effort to get the sticker of, it's well worth it. Good luck to all of you.

Greatest invention since the Can Opener LOL
Like most of you, I have gone through a multitude of can openers in the past. They just either don't have a long life, or they just don't do the job without frustrating you and making a mess. This one is the best thing I have ever seen. I tested many in the stores before deciding on this one. With all the additional applications like the bottle opener, it's something every household should have. Instead of giving a toaster to a newlywed couple...give them this!!

Good product
My mother has bad rheumatoid arthritis, and just can't use a hand held can opener. I looked through the electric ones that Amazon had, as well as the better hand held. My sister had taught me that it was a good idea to read the buyers reviews before choosing, which I did. This opener also comes with a rubber, size adjustable, bottle top opener. This has proved to be great. Better than any of the other type of cloths, or rubber cloths to open, say, a bottle of pickles, etc. This opener also turns down the sharp edges of the cut top of the cans, so it is not so easy to cut yourself. I am glad that I purchased this one. I live here too, so it has been very good.

Click to Editorial Reviews

LG Refrigerator Water Filter (ADQ36006101, LT700P), 2-P

Bad taste reducer
The water and ice from the dispenser was beginning to taste funny. I inserted a new filter and the bad taste disappeared immediately. Easy to install. Sure wish they lasted longer and weren't so expensive.

Always use the recommended filter
It is the same as the one provided by the LG Corp. A perfect fit and provides what is says at a lower price than the company (LG).

Perfect Replacement
These are an exact replacement at a great place, better than other brands that are compatible at Home Depot or Lowes, at a better price.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Vornado Ultra3 Whole Room Ultrasonic Humidifier

Perfect for my needs
I purchased this humidifier 4 weeks ago. I run it 24 hours a day. I go through a gallon of water in 1.5 - 2 days. Sometimes I run it on high and sometimes on low, thus the water consumption varies. I keep it on the floor right next to my bed. The sound does not bother me - although I will write that when I set it on high I have to raise the volume on my TV. I use only distilled water for the humidifier. I have nothing but good things to write about this humidifier. It is the best humidifier I have ever owned. It does not deposit any water at all on the floor or the surrounding area. It is supposed to cover an area of 600 square feet. My condo is 1000 square feet and every single window reflects humidity, so I know it humidifies the entire 1000 square feet. I run it day and night to assist with a respiratory issue and it has helped me tremendously. It has filters that are affordable.

Much better than I thought
It has a filter!! How come I didn't notice before I purchase it? It was not clearly described in the spec!!!

The filter filtrates the water to prevent calcium deposit. The filter is affordable but not a super cheap kind. I don't know how long it will need to be replaced. Actually it's not something bad but it's not I expect so it's kinda one of the reasons I took one star out.

After filling up the tank with water, the humidifier needs a few minutes to be able to see the fog coming out. If you don't want to wait, I guess you can fill some water in the filter so the water can stream into button quickly.

Let's talk about noise. High speed fan setting does create apparent noise, but low fan setting is acceptable. The fan blow the fog up high and circulate well in the room. You won't see any water deposit around the surrounding floor.

Water consumption is satisfied. Set it to auto mode and it last around 2 days.

In regards of...

Wonderful product. Sleeping through the night with no stuffy morning nose.
This is a must have product for everyone. I use to wake up several times a night with dry mouth. No problem immediately since using the humidifier. Thank you for the speedy delivery. Your price was $20.00 less than all the other sites and stores shopped at.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Whirlpool 4392894SRB Ice Cube and Freezer Deodorizer

It Works
My freezer has stunk for the last couple of years and I have never been able to figure out why. G.E. refrigerators I have had in the past have never smelled like my Maytag does. I have been using baking soda in both the freezer and fridge to help get rid of the smell but it never fully disappeared. I had read about using activated charcoal but couldn't find any in the local stores so I ordered the Whirlpool Ice Cube and Freezer Deodorizer from Amazon.
It was like magic; I replaced all my old ice cube trays(bought last year)because the smell had impregnated them, and put the activated charcoal deodorizer in the freezer. By the next day the smell was gone. Some day I hope to replace this refrigerator with one that won't stink but until then I will be buying Whirlpools Cube and Freezer Deodorizer. I highly recommend it.

Did a great job
I'll keep it short, this product completely removed the odor and taste from our ice cubes. Put it in the freezer, along with the Whirlpool 8171398SRB Refrigerator Deodorizer and pitched the ice in the freezer for the next few days. Just need to remind myself to replace both before the odors come back.

It works!
Unless you keep something rotten in your fridge, this product will eliminate the smell. Stops working after several months so be prepared to replace soon. For the first time your homemade ice cubes will not smell like plastic. Fits perfectly in a small compartment of my whirlpool's door.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Dyson DC56 Hard- Hardfloor Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Work as advertised: for dirt and grime (only)
I am owner of a DC-31 handheld. Loved it so much I got a DC-44 animal for general hard floor and carpet sections. I also own a lot of hard floor tools such as Swiffer (dry and wet pads), and Swiffer WetJet (push button electric power sprayer), and the Evolution Robotic "Swiffer".

My steps for cleaning kitchen/nook area's hard floor (15' x 10' area) after a meal are:
1. Use DC-31 or DC-44 to vacuum up breadcrumbs, loose rice, and other small food bits
2. Use wet Swiffer, and re-wet pad once or twice if needed

So when I first heard about this new invention and saw the videos, I was very excited in hope to consolidate two steps into one (suction and wiping). So excited that I headed directly to a local retailer to get one on launch day! I opened the box, charged the unit, and waited to use it after dinner.

Normally I dread for choirs after a meal, mainly because of my two kids (a.k.a. leaky food processors). But not this day! I encouraged...

Not as good as I'd hoped
The suction is good like other Dyson vacs, but the opening won't pick op anything other than small dirt and dust particles. Pet hair and other larger particles just gather at the front of the cleaner head and need to be picked off. A glob of dirty,wet dog hair is what I had to deal with every few minutes. The soft squeegee projection in the cleaner head is the cause. The cleaning wipes dry out too soon because of the airflow around them.I just took the floor attachment off and used the open end of the hose to pick up larger particles of debris. I got half-way through a 12 x 12 room and the wipe was dry. There are other attachments for cleaning above the floor and they work well because of the larger opening. If you want to dry vac and use the cleaner head as a floor vacuum with out the wet wipe attachment,it won't pick up anything but dust. I think I'll buy the floor vac attachment for $39.99 and just use it as a cordless vac.

Unfortunate name, good little machine
I live in a very small apartment with hardwood floors plus have two very hairy dogs. I went ahead and spent the money and purchased the Dyson Hard. I've been using it for a few days now and here are some of my thoughts.

1. Simple to setup and use. It was easy to get started, although I at first thought it wasn't charging because the light on the unit did not light up when I plugged it in (no, I did not read the directions). I realized the light on the actual plug shows you when it has charged.
2. I bought a 36 pack of Swiffer wet mopping refills and they work with the Hard just fine. I found the Dyson wet pads do not last very long, although they do smell nice. They also left some streaking on a laminate hardwood floor in a portion of my apartment.
3. It doesn't pick up everything. It has some trouble with large "dust bunnies" and they tend to get wet and spit back out on another portion of the floor.
4. I wish the unit had an adjustable height - I find...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Bissell 2101-2 Sweep-Up Sweeper, blue

Blue Model has lots of brushes
Amazon could sell more of these if they showed a closeup of the underside. What sold me on this sweeper is 1 long lrg soft brush, 2 long thin stiff brushes, 4 corner brushes. Yes, you still need a regular vacuum, for heavy cleaning and corners.

Handle is threaded + not cheapy. For $20, it's a sweet deal. The sweeper is light, and easy to use while sitting or standing. Cleans about an 8 inch path. Easy to stow. Anyone who's been without power for a few days, can use this!

Carpet:
When a car hit me while in my bike (yes she was ticketed), it was game-over for all housework. My carpet has 1/2" pile and the Bissell Sweep up 2101-2 (blue) works great.

The proof? I ran the Sweep Up left-right-top-bottom (4 times) across 6X14' area where I do Physical Therapy exercises. Usually the pants + shirt are covered in hair. I found 7 hairs. So I swept just once more and re-tried. Only one hair!

Bare floors:
Picks up food crumbs and stuff. But a...

Very Impressed!
I did not purchase this from Amazon, but from a local big-box home improvement store. I have to say that I am more than impressed with this Sweeper, I was skeptical but this little thing is amazing.

Besides being able to quickly clean up area rugs and regular carpet I have to put out there that this thing picks up cat litter in one swipe! That in itself is a reason to purchase this. You do have put a little bit of muscle into it, more than a motorized vacuum but not much. For minor carpet cleaning this is a gem. Last minute guests? Use this for thirty seconds and no one will know the difference.

One thing I have to add; the pictures show it going from Hardwood to Carpet. While it does an incredible job on carpet and area rugs I feel it's not suited for hardwood at all, it just can't grab litter and other crumbs or debris.

Emptying the Sweep Up is also easy. Push at the indicated points and the trays that are held by magnets pop open. Cleaning the...

Works Great
I love this little sweeper. My 4 yr old zooms all over the house sweeping up any mess he can find. I works well on both carpet and hard floors. It seems to do really well with pet hair and small crumbs(it also picks up christmas tree needles very well). It will not replace a standard vaccum but it allows me a much longer stretch of time between whole house vaccums. It seems pretty sturdy and this was a great price. I had this model recommended to me by a friend because it is so easy to empty and I agree completely. I would surely recommend it to anyone for small pick up jobs.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Lasko 675945 Stanley 12-Inch Ceramic Utility Heater

Incredibly Versatile Space Heater
It sounds silly, but the handle on the top of this space heater increases its portability tenfold. It's very light, and because it only takes one hand to move it around, I'm constantly switching it from the floor to an end table. The many different heat settings mean that you can be very picky about the heat blasting out at you.

Another feature that I find preferable is that it heats constantly, unlike some space heaters which practically light you on fire but come on only intermittently. This handy space heater stays at the temperature you choose the entire time. I've run this thing for 10 hours at a time with no ill effects. It lasted through last winter and is still going strong this winter. When I had the flu for a couple of weeks, I hunkered down on my couch with this on the coffee table and baked myself every single night for the entire night.

I adore this thing and I'm about to order another to keep in my office. (I live in a house that was built in...

Good heater despite a directional issue.....
I bought this heater in November 2010 from another seller. I first used it in a room that did not have a carpeted floor and it provided good heat for its size although the temperature was only about 60-degrees F so it really wasn't much of a test. At the end of the month when the temperature dropped to the 40s and 30s at night, I used the heater in a rather small 15' x 13' carpeted room and almost froze until I realized this: the heater blows its heat downward toward the floor. I was about to return it for being defective until I decided to try sitting it on a small box I had. After I put it on the box, it started heating the entire room with no problem at all - even getting too hot at the highest setting. The fact that it blows downward could be a defect, but I am thinking that because this is actually a utility heater, it is made for non-carpeted rooms which helps bounce the heat around the room or keep it from igniting items directly in front of it - although I could be...

best bang for the tiny little buck


Click to Editorial Reviews

Rps #dfk Waterbed Drain/fill Kit

Exactly what was needed, when it was needed.
Problem: waterbed needed draining. Would have simply siphoned it out the window, except that the window was on the 15th floor. Bad idea. Right-priced kit delivered promptly. Good idea. Problem solved.

Great Price and Works as It Should - Soft Plastic, Though
I should probably disclose up front that I bought this to create a siphon for my aquarium. Those "Phython" brand siphons are ridiculously priced when one of these and some clear tubing from a local hardware store makes the same thing for 1/4 the price.

That said, this functions well as a siphon with one caveat! The plastic of which it is composed is very soft. It took only a few runs of screwing it on, siphoning/filling up and unscrewing it before the threads were stripped and started leaking something fierce. It's better to add this to a more durable connection and seal this one up with something like plumber's tape or pipe dope or adhesive. The plastic is just too soft for the repeated on/off that you would use this for.

Do not order this if you have to use the "faucet converter" that comes with it.
If this product is connected directly to a faucet using a hose connection, it works great. If you have to use the faucet converter/ adapter, go to Ace Hardware and purchase a metallic "hose thread adapter 2/9C (15/18"- 27 dual thread to 3/4" hose thread) to replace the crappy plastic adapter provide with this product. The plastic on the faucet converter provided with this product is so soft it keeps popping off the faucet with obvious results. I was able to snugly fit the converter on the faucet for my bathroom sink, but when the water is turned on and water pressure is applied to the unit, it will work for a time and then pop off. I was able to fill my waterbed about 3/4 full and then the unit would pop off under any water pressure. Very poorly made product. I finished filling the waterbed with the metallic faucet converter/adapter.

Click to Editorial Reviews

T-fal FZ700050 ActiFry Low-Fat Healthy Dishwasher Safe Multi-Cooker, White

Excellent fried food, cheap materials
I have received my Actifry this week. The potatoes I fried here came out perfectly fried. Imagine the best french fries you have tasted but without the greasy feeling and oil dripping from them. The oil you will find on the fries once they are ready is virtually invisible. If you want them very crispy, just let them fry a little longer than the specified time. If you like them tender on the inside, follow the specified time provided on the user's manual which is around 40 minutes for 2 1/5 pounds.

So far I have tried frying potatoes, bananas, nuggets and onions. All came out with brilliant results and what's best, using minimal oil. They all looked and tasted just like fried but were not greasy. And they were very crispy.

The only drawback is the quality of this gadget that was clearly not made to last. I have used mine 6 times only and the paddle has already stopped working twice for no apparent reason. The paddle was attached correctly and no food was blocking...

Excellent Idea - Questionable quality for the price
I've had the T-Fal Actifry for 3 months now, and I've loved it for making large batches of low-fat fries, sauteed onions, mushrooms, and vegetables.

After what I consider light to normal use (using it every few days for a cooking task) the gray plastic molded piece underneath the removable pan has developed a crack. The crack doesn't affect the cooking (yet) and I'll be continuing to use the machine for large batches, but at $250, the ActiFry machine seems very overpriced for something that only holds up to 3 months of light use before developing cracks.

Based on other reviews here, I also recently purchased a KitchenStir KS1000 Chef's Stir Pan, and I'd like to point out the differences between the two machines for those thinking of purchasing one.

The KitchenStir (roughly $80) is a much smaller machine, so you cannot get as large a batch cooked as with the Actifry. (On the plus side, the KitchenStir has a much smaller footprint, which makes storage a...

Not perfect, but great
I bought this in 2008 in Germany and use it every day for perfect fries and everything else pre-cooked or pre-fried. First of all: it is important to understand that it's more like an oven than a frier. Never made home-made fries, frozen works for me. In less than 20 mins I get my side order. If you cook more, like 2 pounds, you will need more time.
I have never had a serious issue with the machine. I broke the lid while cleaning it (it is NOT dish-washer safe as I learned) and Tefal sent me a new one next day for free (I am happy we have 2-year-warranties in Europe, it's the law here). I also bake frozen rolls, spring rolls, fish sticks, breaded shrimp, chroissants, even small pizza slices etc. etc. Maybe it is not good to share this, but sometimes I just take the rotating arm out (for bigger items) and use it without - which is against instructions but works great.
What bothers me is that the 'timer' does not switch the machine off and its' signal is drowned in the...

Click to Editorial Reviews

MaxiMatic EGL-3450 Elite Cuisine 13-Inch Countertop Non-Stick Grill, Black

We Love It!
This has been a great purchase for our kitchen counter top. This is the perfect item for rainy days when you don't want to grill outside. I have had no issues with this product so far and it cooks staek and chicken perfectly the way my girlfriend and I like it. The grill surface isn't very big but it's great for two people. Fantastic for grilling veggies too!

Very nice grill for the price
I wanted to save a buck by buying a less expensive grill but was worried the quality or grilling power wouldnt be as good. Turns out it works great! I've already used it 4 times and so far so good. Nice grill marks and the temperature appears to get very hot just like a regular grill. Very nice to use when the weather is bad or you just dont feel like messing with the big gas grill.
I do reccommend using this on top of the stove with the vents on high as this will absorb the small amount of smoke that grilling causes. The house is less stinky that way and you also have free counter space. Just a thought.

Maxi Matic EGL3450 13 inc indoor grill
I bought this for my sister and she loves it! It's easy to use, grills great and easy to clean!
I also have this grill and use it all the time. I highly recommend this product.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Hamilton Beach 33141 4-Quart Oval Slow Cooker

Not all slow cookers are equal
There are 2 kinds of slow cookers, depending on where the heat source is. This Hamilton Beach unit has heat coils around the sides which stay hot, as opposed to slow cookers with heat sources in the base, which turn on and off intermittently. I have found that with this type of constant heat slow cooker (with the coils around the sides) I don't need to add as much liquid. In fact I cut the liquid (water or stock) by half of what the recipes call for when I use this cooker. The 4 quart size is good for roasts up to 3 or so pounds. If you slow cook chicken or game hens in it, cut the bird up into pieces and remove the skins. Don't slow cook a whole uncut bird (in any kind of slow cooker).

This is a nice little slow cooker for a single, a couple, or a small family. I have had no problems with the knob* (as yet).

*The knob problem probably arises from the close proximity of the heating element to the knob, as opposed to slow cookers that heat from the bottom, away...

Loved it, for a while
I bought this cooker seven months ago, and really liked it. It's quite handsome, and I have no complaints about how it works. I've made many fine meals in it. Sadly, the knob broke a few weeks or a month ago. I glued it back together, but today it broke apart again. I don't think it will take a second gluing any better than the first, so now if I want to use it I have to use pliers or something, and I have to count clicks--which are not as distinct as I'd like--to know quite which setting it's on.

Such a shame this otherwise great cooker is now incredibly difficult to use because of such a "small" detail!

This was my first full size slow cooker (I have a 1.5 qt one too) and I've learned a couple of things I'll share for people looking for their first. The 4 quart size has been really good. I first bought it when I was living alone, so I'd have lots of leftovers, which I love. Now I live with my boyfriend, and the size is still good--we usually have enough...

good slow cooker - and a fix for broken knobs
I agree with the several other reviews on this site which rate this crock pot high in its quality - other than its cheap plastic knob, which broke. Like others, I was really disappointed, having to take pliers to turn the knob. My husband told me Radio Shack has knobs of all kinds and sizes and offered to get one for me. And that was the perfect fix! He got a 1 1/4" Hexagonal control knob, "skirted and indexed" - package of 2, for approximately $3. It has the set screw to tighten against the post, and it fits perfectly inside the opening. Extremely durable. I was thrilled! Now I'm back to having dinner ready when we get home from work!
(Hamilton Beach should take a lesson and make a deal with Radio Shack to change those knobs on BEFORE people buy the pot so they can have fully satisfied customers.)

Click to Editorial Reviews

Universal Thermostatic Ceiling Fan and Light Remote Control Conversion Kit

Take Control of your Ceiling Fans.
I have a couple of ceiling fans made by Hunter which came with remote control units. In less than 6 months both remote units failed in two different ways. Instead of throwing my money away on two more replacement kits by hunter, I opted to purchase a couple of these units instead.

Unlike most of the fan remote control units these have more features than on, off, and the three fan speeds.

Including the three fan speeds, you can also dim the lights, set the lights at lower level by default, set auto timing for lights and fans to come on and go off on a schedule you would like; and you can also set a room temperature on the remotes to automatically make the fans turn on and off as simple climate control feature.

The remotes and control units have a basic four dip switch ID system on each so you can use multiple remotes and controllers on separate fans in the same house, or like in my living room, I have multiple fans and lights running off of a single...

Thermostatic Ceiling Fan and Light Remote Control
I fitted this on another brand of ceiling fan and it worked no problem. The thermostatic control works great. You adjust the set temperature via 2 buttons on the remote and when the room gets up to that temperature, the fan starts. The higher the room temperature, as measured at the remote control unit, gets above the set temperature, the faster the fan goes (within the limits of the fan of course - mine had 3 speeds). You can turn on or off the thermostatic control as well. If off, then you can use it as a manual remote control. It also turns on/off/dims the light if your fan is so equipped. The remote also has a delay for light so you can leave the room with the light on and it will turn off automatically. This is a nice feature as the fan light is the main light in my office room. Finally, the remote also has a fan timer. This allows you to set the fan to run for a certain number of hours (by the half-hour) and then it turns off.

Installation was simple and...

These are terrific for wireless controls and thermostatic as well
I have three of these in my house, two came from Amazon. The first came from that Depot store several years ago and is working well, so the durability seems good. The two newest ones were the "unbranded" ones offered here that were the lowest price. They came in labelled "Hampton Bay" (just like the one I already had)and works as well. They are not the same as the old one, with a thinner depth, but are otherwise identical. The manufacture date on the controls indicates they were made just a few months ago, so they aren't "old" stock. If you can't have a hardwired control, or just want wireless options, this gets my nod.

All is not perfect though. The receiver that you connect in the fan mount area is smaller than many of these things, but still a bit clumsy to mount in the case of my Hampton Bay fans (Go Figure!) It doesn't fit into the bracket as the instructions recommend, but I had to put it above the bracket and fabricate a cover for it. Not the end of the world, but...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Lansky Super Sapphire Polishing Hone

Doesn't work as advertised!
I am not going to tell you that it isn't worth buying, and I'll get to the reason why later.

First I am going to tell you that this thing DOES NOT polish as well as the yellow Ultra Fine Stone. It leaves a nice looking edge, but the yellow one makes it shiny like a mirror! In that sense alone this product fails. It's advertised as a "Polishing Hone." It just doesn't do it.

Now, for the ironic part. You should consider buying it.

If you use this hone either after the blue Fine Stone, or in place of it, it leaves your knife CRAZY SHARP! It works up a burr better than the Fine Stone(and maybe even the Medium Stone) can. I can't get an edge like that with the Deluxe system alone, no matter how hard I try. What I do is sharpen like normal, then use the Sapphire to put the final edge on, then I use the yellow Ultra Fine to polish the knife to a mirror finish, being careful not to ruin the edge that the sapphire makes.

I'm still really...

Very Nice Finishing Stone
I purchased this sapphire stone after reading some of the other reviews on the net. It does put a extremely nice, factory looking, finish on the blade that wasn't possible with the yellow "very fine" stone that comes with the deluxe kit. The only down side, and it seems like this is the case with the yellow stone as well, is that it needs to be cleaned after very few strokes. If putting the finishing touches on a blade much larger than 6", it will take a while. I also noticed that if you are sharpening a blade that is coated black or gray, it needs to be cleaned even more ofter. If you are patient go ahead and get it as it is worth the money, if your aren't I'd say skip it.

Excellent finishing stone - has more bite than the Ultra-Fine.
Lansky bills the Super Sapphire as the ultimate finishing stone for the Lansky system and I'm not going to disagree. I find that the super sapphire has a bit of a granular feel, with more bite than the pink fine or white ultra fine stones. It feels like it removes more metal than either of those, I get a robust burr pretty quickly - but the edge produced is blamelessly sharp. I've had it for a month now and always use it after the pink fine stone and marvel at how well and quickly it raises a burr compared to the pink or white stones. I find that a bit mystifying given that the grit is finer. Maybe the super sapphire is finer grit but softer? In any case it's an awesome finishing stone. My knives have a razor-like finish.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Hydrosorbent OSG-40 Silica Gel Dehumidifier Desiccant 40 Gram Orange NO Cobalt (II) Chloride

Orange to white....Easy, Simple, Affective
I purchased these are reading and finding out that the ones with the blue crystals have a product in them that causes cancer and since you need to put these in your oven at 300 degrees for 3 hours to dry that is not a good thing to have. So I decided to switch to these ones that dont have that chemical in them and they work great. you put them in wherever moisture is present and the crystals soak up the moisture. After the crystals have soaked up the moisture they will slowly turn to a white color letting you know it is time to dry it out again. There is no expiration date because these things last forever. Great product.

Great value, works as advertised
I bought these to keep inside my waterproof/fireproof safe. I never knew how humid it got inside a safe, until one day I opened it and my paperwork was noticeably damp, with signs of mildew growth. I decided to buy this pack, specifically without calcium chloride (which I read could cause corrosion on metal). My safe has been dry ever since. I have not recharged it yet, so no comments on how well that works yet.

These are the ONLY way to go...
The blue to pink desiccant is TOXIC AND CARCINOGENIC...there is ample research and concern for this all over the internet.

Please ONLY buy the safe orange desiccant and keep you and your family safe.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Thunder Group Syrup Dispenser with Cast Zinc Top, 14-Ounce

Great dispenser
These dispensers are just like granny used to have. Work well as long as they are not over tightened. Remember to release the lever before tilting jar back to upright position.

Excellent product - Does what it says!
I looked at so many, but this was the honey dispenser I decided on. It works perfectly and is ideal for dispensing honey. No more sticky honey jars!

Excellent for sugar dispensing!
I got this because my old sugar dispenser was getting, well, worn out. It's heavy, thick glass, and the handle is SO easy to use and makes pouring sugar a breeze. SO glad I purchased this - love it!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Proctor Silex 32oz Hot pot

Excellent product, super-fast delivery by Ontrac
I ordered this hot pot to replace the Proctor Silex K2070 1-Quart Automatic electric kettle I had bought a couple of months ago because I discovered that the kettle was not designed for liquids other than water, and I had expected to be able to reheat all sorts of beverages or soups and keep them warm. The little kettle is perfect -- just as efficient as the automatic kettle, but without the limitations. I plugged it into a heavy duty grounded power strip with a illuminated on-off switch. That solves the problem with the lacking switch other reviewers noted. Obviously, it should not be left unattended, since there is no automatic shutoff.

Faulty temperature controls
I've been using this for a little over a week, and while it does rapidly bring water to a boil, the temperature control is useless. It boils water on even the lowest setting, which is not what I am looking for when making coffee with my Aeropress which calls for a temp between 175-185 degrees. If all you need to do is boil water cheaply and quickly, this would do the job, otherwise pass on this.

Unreliable heat control renders this item virtually useless


Click to Editorial Reviews

Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press

J'adore ma petit panini grill! Or something like that.
I feel like I am back on the streets of Paris every time I plug in my beautiful Cuisinart Panini and Sandwich Press. This press makes the best grilled cheese sandwich you ever ate, I guarantee it. I love how you can stick a whole hoagie roll or chunk of french bread loaf with sandwich makings inside into it and squish it into a hot & yummy hunk of cheese-oozong goodness. Or, you can use regular bread and make toasty club sandwiches or grilled cheese.

This guy hangs out in the cupboard and is easy to pull out, just plug in and wait for the green light to come on. You can have a quick french dip dinner ready in 5 minutes that everyone will love- also perfect for grilled cheese and tomato soup night- or just want to make some garlic bread to go with your spaghetti without heating up the whole oven? I LOVE my panini press.

It is really easy to clean- although I haven't tried grilling meats or anything beyond sandwiches and bread. Gooey cheese comes off easily...

Panini anyone? You know it!
Normally I'm not one to go crazy over kitchen appliances but I am compelled to sing the praises of this little wonder. This is sad, but my wife and I eat grilled cheese sandwiches a couple of nights a week because we love them so much. It's sort of our dirty little secret. This little miracle has opened up a whole new universe of possibilities. Our old-style Salton grilled-cheese maker would invariable push the top slice of bread out from the rest of the sandwich because of the operation of the hinge, and forget about putting anything in there other than bread and a couple of slices of cheese because it couldn't handle the thickness. With the GR-1 though, you can put a Dagwood-sized sandwich (the floating hinge allows HUGE sandwiches) in and in just a few minutes, the weight of the top plate has compressed the whole thing into a critical mass of concentrated goodness. Anything I can put between two piecs of bread is becoming a panini these days. This will probably take five years off...

Ignore the cost and go for it!
After reading the reviews of similar products and this one and knowing that I'm always disappointed when I go for the cheap stuff, I bought this one. I am SO glad I did. My son has been a big fan of grilled cheese sandwiches for 5 years now and it's not slowing down. I hate getting out the frying pan (and the butter) and making them the old-fashioned way. With the Cuisinart, I don't have to use butter. The taste is still great! My son gives it a thumbs up. Plus in less time than it takes me to make one the old-fashioned way I can make two. And my son can use it too. It's so easy, just put the cheese in the bread, wait for the green light, put the sandwich on the griddler and watch it do all the work. I've experimented with other kinds of sandwiches and they all turn out perfectly. I even use it to do quesadillas and heat up fish sticks. It works and makes them crunchy. Plus it doesn't heat up the whole house like the oven does.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Roadpro 12V Hot Pot, 20 oz.

Yes, Folks, It Can Boil Water
I bought this hot pot, along with a 4-pack of Melitta Ready, Set Joe kits, for a road trip during which stopping for coffee, tea and hot chocolate was not an option. My executive summary of the product is that it works well (and, for those wondering about product longevity, still works even after multiple uses) and that it can boil water. We're very happy with it.

Read on to find out why I give the product 4 stars instead of 5.

The product description could do a better job of managing customer expectations. While this hot pot will boil water, it does take 35 minutes or so to bring a full 20 ounces of it to a boil. This isn't due to any defect in the product's design. It has everything to do with the fact that a car's 12-volt, direct current electrical system isn't made for high-wattage appliances. My minivan can supply up to 120W per outlet, i.e., up to 10A at 12VDC, which is not very much, and I assume this is fairly standard. In contrast, conventional hot pots...

Works good, not the best
This unit works far better than the Max Burton version. The hardwired plug prevents the unit from shorting out. A cup of water almost boils in about 5 minutes. Would be nice if it were sealable like a thermos, and helpful if the measurements on the side were in cups as well as milliliters. about 250 milliliters to a cup. And like my Max Burton review, Nothing but water in these things. They say soups work in these things but even the protein in milk will burn on the heating elements. ONLY WATER! so instant add water drinks, oatmeal, ramen noodles, mashed potatoes.

Works as advertised
I purchased this to use in an RV while boondocking. I have a solar system installed in my RV, and use a 12 volt system, so I needed something to boil water or to at least get water hot enough to make coffee. Well, this hot pot does the job! It definitely boils water with no problem. It takes a while if you have it to the full mark, but that's not a problem for me, as I'm just happy that it works and I don't have to use my propane stove and can now s ave money by using this 12 volt hot pot on power generated by the sun. Works perfect!

UPDATE: When it worked it worked great, but for some reason it stopped heating, but the light still works. I have since requested a replacement, and will return the defective one. I will update in a few months to let you guys know if the new one is still working.

UPDATE #2: I received the replacement unit, and it works fine, but I truly believe the first one stopped working because I left it on after it reached the boiling...

Click to Editorial Reviews

BUNN ST Velocity Brew 10-Cup Thermal Carafe Home Coffee Brewer

Great coffee every time
I was one of the first customers of this STX brewer. Full disclosure: Bunn awarded me this Bunn as a result of me winning their video contest earlier this summer. I have used Bunn brewers for about 10 years. This particular thermal model is solidly built compared to their last model which was all plastic, and would kind of bend at the slightest pressure if any were given on the top of the machine. Not so with this one. The quality can even be seen in the grounds basket - not your usual thin plastic basket. This one is very sturdy thick plastic, surrounded by stainless steel. The coffee produced is the usual Bunn quality - great. I've used this brewer every day and it consistently gives me the same quality pot of coffee. An even better value when purchased via stores like Amazon where the price is better than what can be had in your regular retail stores.

Good, but not great
We've had the Bunn STX coffee maker for a couple of months now. It replaced out 10 year old Bunn BT-10 that develop a leak.
Pluses:
Design. It's gorgeous! Looks like something Jonathan Ivee of Apple would design. Form follows function here (always a good thing) but form is fantastic!
Good hot coffee fast. Less than 5 minutes for a carafe full of perfect coffee. Can't beat that.
Customer service. As good as it gets.
Minuses:
The carafe. You cannot pour out all the coffee in the carafe without taking the lid off. Towards the end of the carafe, coffee will start to come out of the hole in the lid. And the rubber seal in the top of the lid was not well thought out. It comes out easily. I washed the lid in the dishwasher (top rack) and it must've come out. I didn't notice it till later. I emailed Bunn customer service and they sent me two of them for free. I love their customer service. With the old BT-10, the deliming tool was a steel spring-type contraption...

How Bunn STaX up...
Coffee is my beverage of choice. Drink it constantly. I'm not a compulsive gourmand, but over the years I've gained enough knowledge to be sophisticated and demanding of a decent drink.

Coffee pots have a simple mission, really. To properly heat and immerse the grounds in water so that what goes into the carafe is hot and flavorful. There are a lot of other nuances about the beans, the grind, the water; but that's not the pot's problem. In our self imposed spaz world of multitask, no-time-to-do-anything-intelligently, insanity we need clocks and timers on everything to ensure we can snatch at a premade cup of joe on our way to the car.

The Bunn home system answer to these issues is that they promise a 3 minute brewed pot, on demand, of nice hot coffee. Who needs timers. It's that quick.

Welllll.

You have to understand that Bunn's are preload immersion heaters. When you first unbox the pot, before you ever turn the pot on, you will need to...

Click to Editorial Reviews

LG LT500P-3 Vertical Refrigerator Water Filter, 3 Pack

Not the cheapest, but certainly effective
I purchased this 3-pack of water filters and I'm definitely impressed. Perhaps it's the fact that I still had the original water filter from when I purchased my fridge back in October 2010, and the water and ice had a funky bitter taste to it. The funky taste is now gone, and my water and ice have a crisp, clean taste to them.

These new filters cleared that up since new charcoal is always a lot better than old charcoal.

One thing to note is that these filters are not built by LG itself, by by a company authorized/contracted by LG to make these filters, if that matters to you.

While these filters aren't cheap (around $30 a piece), I ultimately decided to go this route rather than have to deal with some other shady vendors on Amazon, specifically a company that sold Swift Green filters for a low price that absolutely did not match the product description that they had on their Amazon webpage (they stated 900 gallons per filter, but it was only 300...

LG LT500P-3 Vertical Refrigerator Water Filter, 3 Pack
They are an exact replacement for the original filter that came in the refrigerator, they are easy to replace as each has filtered all the water it is designed to filter.

Great price for 3 filters
These were exactly what I needed for a great price! I recommend these to anyone needing this type of filter.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Hamilton Beach 51108 Stainless Single Serve Blender with Travel Lid

Basic Smoothie Maker
I want to start out by saying that this little gadget works perfectly for my needs. However, I only gave it 4 stars because it doesn't do well crushing ice and green veggies but for the price how much can you expect. I always make protein with frozen fruit smoothies for breakfast. Don't count on this for your green smoothies either.

This is my personal smoothie maker and I just love it!! My recipe is: add the frozen fruit first, then protein powder, and finally fill almost to the top with cool water. I blend away, stir, blend to smoothest consistency, and head out the door in the mornings drinking out of the cup that blended in. So...if you are looking for an ice crushing blender or to make green smoothies, you will need more power. If you want an individual blender for your basic needs at home or work (especially at this price), this blender is definitely for you.

Outstanding product and customer service at Hamilton Beach
I had the red model and it was outstanding. So easy to make drinks but with smoothies, even better. The blender chopped up nuts, spinach, strawberries, ice, watercress and a breeze to clean. I needed extra jars and Nicole Martinez at Hamilton Beach Customer Care was outstanding. She did not waste my time, she was concise, helpful, has aptitude and very professional. This is a well run Ametican company. GO for it!

it slices, it dices...
This personal blender does just what it says. It blends. I am on the HMR diet in which I blend and drink 3 or more shakes per day. These are mixed powder and ice cubes and this blender handles it all great. Add fruit, no problem. It is more quiet than my big blender I use at home for larger portions. Best of all it sits on a desk taking up no more space than the cup itself. Perfect!

Click to Editorial Reviews

M.Block & Sons 00316 "Keurig" B31 Mini Plus Coffee Brewer, Red

No Drip?? Paper Clip - upper and lower needles.
The brewer makes excellent coffee.

I am giving it only 3 stars because there is a maintenance procedure you need to do that is NOT in the user manual.

If the brewer does not drip out all the water you put in, there are TWO needles that need to be unclogged using a paper clip. The user manual describes how to do the lower one, the "exit needle". You also need to clean out THREE holes in the UPPER needle, the "entrance needle".

The procedure is shown in a Keurig-produced Youtube video called "How to Clean the Needles and K-Cup

Livart LV-982 Electric Barbecue Grill, Orange

Excellent for "Korean Style" BBQ! No smoke and very easy to clean
I bought this at Murakai Supermarket in Cupertino, CA after seeing it on display. Well, I had bought some Kobe style beef and other meaty slices to replicate the indoor Korean BBQs. My wife suggested I use our existing "skillet style" grills, which to me is not the same. For one thing I hate it when the meat "bathes" in it's own meat sauce as it is cooking and consequently doesn't give that authentic grill flavor. Therein lies the Livart Orange BBQ grill, which on a side note is actually made by LG, definitely makes thin slices of beef takes a 100 times better then if it was cooked on a skillet. What I didn't expect was a lack of smoke and as such it makes grilling indoors that much more enjoyable.

The grill itself seems to be very well built and a no-brainer to assemble. It comes with a pan that you will have to fill with water every time you grill. The water in the pan catches the fat drippings and makes cleaning a breeze. The description on the box said the grill...

Good info on this "Perfect Product"
I'm very happy, but heres some information I wanted to know before I purchased this. 115 volt, 1200 watts, 2 store bought bugers fit with room to spare, but 3 do not fit. Perfect for 1 or 2 people.

I can barely hold my hand to 3 Mississipi, estimating the temp. over 800 F degrees. The temp is there, but, the heat lacks the volume propane grills have. Figure 1 to 2 minutes longer per side.

Less important info. As teenager I started with charcoal, switched to propane for conveinance. I down sized to a small compact propane for more convienance. Nothing beats this electric for conveinance, heck I BBQ my beacon while frying eggs on the stove. I use this 1 to 3 times per day.

The instruction's tell me to turn off and unplug between uses, I just unplug mine. Also, cleaning and fat draining is recomended after use, I dont do that either, I clean after 3 days.

Exactly what I was looking for.
I've been looking for a Korean or Japanese style grill that is electrice and yet perform like a charcoal grill. Tried some of the other electric grills from DeLonghi to George Forman - they all work well but never did create the 'char-broil' meat I wanted. I was visiting Japan a couple of month ago and saw a grill exactly like the Livart Grill, so I decided to give this a try. Boy ... this was the grill I've been looking for.

Cooking: There are two height placements on this grill, I chose the lower setting because it sears the meat quicker. I tried fish fillet (cod) that's about 1" thick - cooked beautifully. I tried beef and pork medallion (all around 1" or less) marinated in Korean BBQ sauce - turn out wonderfully, just like what you get at the Korean BBQ restaurant. I even grilled a whole squad for my kids, and they loved it.
One advice I have is to preheat the grill before you start cooking. You know you are cooking when you hear the sizzle of the meat when...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Hunter 30928 Replacement Filter for HEPAtech Air Purfiers

necessary but expensive
I bought the Hunter air purifier for my basement. The unit itself was about $60 and the replacement filters are about $30.00, every three months. So, it is rather like a printer that is cheap to buy, but they get you with the replacement of the ink.
The air purifier works well with these filters.

A true hepa filter for my Hunter 30124
This a replacement filter I bought to eventually replace the original hepa filter in my Hunter air filter. As a matter of info: I used this filter to help remove airborne sanding dust in a small room one day and I tried to clean it up using a air compressor to blow it clean. This didn't work well. It still was noticably dirty from the sanding dust even after blowing it out. I guess you could say this filter really grabs and holds the contaminates it traps. Good filter!

Breathe Better
I love my Hunter Air Purifiers! I have had so many different brands that either grew louder in time or they stopped making the filters, but these two have been pumping non-stop for years now! When they first came due for filters, I priced them all over the internet because my Lowe's doesn't carry this size. Amazon was cheaper than even Hunter for them, and with free shipping, I don't have to worry about it! I even checked at HSN where I had bought the units...Amazon's pricing and shipping beat them as well!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Whirlpool 660532 Surface Element for Range

Wow! Hot!
After 20+ years, the stove elements finally began to give out. When we got down to one we bit the bullet and bought:

two Whirlpool 660532 Surface Element for Range (the small burners)
two Whirlpool Stove 8-inch Surface Burner Element 9761345 / 8053268 (the big burners)
one Whirlpool W10278125 Drip Pan Kit, Chrome (the drip pans under them)
one Whirlpool WHIRLPOOL 12001676 SURFACE BURNER ELEMENT REWIRE KIT (the electrical sockets under them)

It took an hour or so -- I always take my time around 240 VAC wiring even when the circuit breaker is off thank you! -- and the results were phenomenal! I ended up burning the first couple pancakes (we do them in a fry pan) because I had forgotten just how fast and hot electric can be! LoL...

Not exact fit.
I ordered both an 8" and 6". Delivery was on-time. The 6" doesn't fit perfectly, I have to make the hole on the aluminum pan larger to make the coil fit. It works. Then the 8" coil doesn't lay flat, so pots don't sit right. It heats up pretty good though.

element does not fit into drip pan
Although I ordered elements for a Whirlpool range, the elements barely fit into the drip pan. I had to file the edge of one of the
tripod supporting the coil. It stuck out too far

Click to Editorial Reviews

Blendtec TB-621-20 Total Blender, Black

The Blendtec vs. Vita-Mix dilemma
I must give you a little bit of history before reviewing the Blendtec . . .
Our local Costco was having a Vita-Mix road show and i bought it knowing that I really liked everything I had ever read about a Blendtec. A couple of my friends raved about the Vita-Mix, so I felt I needed to pay a little attention. A large purchase like this deserved a little research so that I wouldn't have any regrets. I watched the demo, was impressed and took home the Vita-Mix that day. I was anxious to make a smoothie with it because I had been using the Magic Bullet for five months. I made my first smoothie with it, and it turned out great but the "honeymon" didn't last very long. I did not like the sheer size of the Vita-Mix! It sat VERY high on my counter, wouldn't fit under the cabinet and it looked like it belonged in a commercial-sized kitchen, not mine. I absolutely disliked everything about the lid, except the ability to drizzle liquids in from the opening. The lid was not easy to...

In the long run it is many times more expensive than the vitamix: do the math
My honeymoon ended with this blender after 2 years, which up to this point my review would have been as glowing as the other 5 star reveiws. My suggestion is not to believe any review from someone who has not owned and used this mixer everyday for 2 years (which I have done). Bottom line: in 12 years this will cost you $300 more than the price you are paying. Here is why...

FACT: the seals will go on the blender top in 2 years if you use it daily. Do not believe that this is the exception (in my reading of reviews, i often ignore the 1 star reviews thinking they are manufacturer flukes). THIS IS NOT THE CASE! Google it, read the reviews here and you will discover that there is a designflaw in the jar in the bottom seal which requires the jar to be replaced regularly. K-tel knows about the problem, and rather than paying for the huge expense of creating a new tooling machine to produce a new seal/blade, they extended the jar warranty from two years to three (which is not...

A blender with a lawnmower motor?
I am a smoothie person who drinks at least one smoothie a day. I got tired of spending ten minutes a day making smoothie with one of the cheap blenders, so I decided to buy a more high powered blender.

The Breville 550 was my first choice for its reasonable price/power and great looks. Unfortunately, my first smoothie was a disaster. I filled the smoothie 2/3 with fruits and ice, and I stood there pushing the smoothie button three consecutive times to no avail. Then I smelled something burning and figured it was the motor. After spending 10 minutes getting the thing to make smoothie, the result was no better than my old cheap Cuisinart blender. Apparently, 610 watts is just not enough if you want to make thick, smooth smoothie.

I promptly returned the Breville. I then went on a mission to research for a real blender. Apparently, when it comes down to power and industrial strength blenders, it comes down to either a Vita-Mix or a Blendtec. A Costco near me had a...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Rabbit Air BioGS replacement HEPA filter for models SPA-421A & SPA-582A

Works as promised. Lasted longer than stated.
This item was a direct OEM replacement to the filter that came with my unit. There was NO discrepancies between this one and the original.

Aside from the obvious shipping materials (which were ample): The packaging for this product is minimal: only a purple bag around it. No pointless extra box or other materials you just end up throwing away. The purple bag is "PE rated for recycling.

My last filter lasted 3 years, which is 18 months longer than suggested. How I knew it was time to change out the filter was that the unit began to suck air around the filter instead of through it. I would recommend NOT going quite this long, maybe 24 months.

I did, however, vacuum the filter every month or so with a good HEPA rated vacuum. This will prolong the life of your filter to 24 months, depending on your environment.

Pricey but does the job
I have asthma and allergies and an air cleaner for me is a must. Even though my apartment building is a non-smoking building, some of the tenants smoke and don't always obey the rules. But almost everything else that has an odor or a presence in the air can choke me. This cleaner works well for the price of the unit. The filters need to be changed at least every six months, but they are pretty pricey - if they were not so expensive I'd change them every three months.

Love Rabbit Air
Have used a rabbit air for several years and it keeps dust, dander, and allergens out of the air. Works great for those of you non-smokers who are living with someone who does smoke, or if you smoke and want to clean the air in your space.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Presto 05462 Digital ProFry Immersion-Element 9-Cup Deep Fryer

Decent replacement for my old fryer
I love to deep fry food using canola oil. It's actually healthier and more certain than pan frying, especially when dealing with food that needs to be cooked thoroughly before eating, like poultry and fish.

I have a small round fryer that does a good job but it's a NIGHTMARE to clean. The oil reservoir is gritty, so everything sticks to it very well - a major annoyance. It's also difficult to dump the oil without spilling.

Enter this deep fryer. So far I've got no complaints, it's very easy to fry the food, and the basket is a very nice touch that my old fryer doesn't have. One minor nitpick is the basket I just raved about; I wish it were more "mesh" than "fence". Meaning I wish the holes were a lot smaller, so it would act as an effective crumb catcher. That would make the unit a lot easier to clean, and I can see how that might get to be a problem in time. But again, it's a nitpick of mine.

Update 12/28: Ok, I've got complaints. First, the...

Presto Fryer Works Great
I purchased this Presto model after some research. Why this model? First off, 1800 watts is pretty much the maximum electricity that can be handled by a household 110v outlet. More watts would need a 220v line. Next, bigger capacity of oil, say 12 cups means more oil to heat with relatively less wattage. Now, for my evaluation of the unit. The outer shiny metal container that holds the cooking pot is thin metal with some sharp edges. It could be made thicker, but that would add to the cost. Replacements from Presto are cheap. If you want a better one, have your local metal fabricator build it for you or do it yourself in a tech class. The basket is adequately sized and I have cleaned it several times including in the dishwasher with no rusting. This too can be purchased from Presto inexpensively. Also note: food can be cooked without the basket if desired. The cooking pot is heavy duty metal, will last for years and no food residue sticks to it. It is dishwasher safe,...

A great home fryer for a new cook
I've been using this fryer for about six months and so far it has worked very well. I have no other experience with fryers like this so nothing to compare it to but I do have a lot of small appliances and as far as cleaning and maintenance and storage this unit is better than most. It is easy to disassemble, clean, and to pour the oil out if you like to filter and reuse. The basket is serviceable but I've noticed some rust forming on the handle screws despite that I hand wash everything. It may not fare well in the dishwasher even though it says you can put it in there (another reviewed had a bad experience--I haven't tried it). The handle is a tad flimsy but mainly because it folds in, a nice feature, so I'm okay with that. Other than that everything is solid and well built. The basket hooks onto the rim to allow the food to drain but the bottom can still touch the oil if the unit is at the MAX oil mark. I like the fact that it holds exactly the amount of oil in a typical...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Gaggia 14101 Classic Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel

A true classic
When I got my Gaggia more than several decades ago, it was not yet called a Classic. It was called a Coffee Gaggia. About 20 years ago, some minor changes were made, and the unit was renamed Classic. The new "Coffee Gaggia" is not the same as this machine.

This machine has a robust build, and high quality parts. Its tank heats the water quickly, and to a proper temperature, and the pump is powerful enough to do the job properly. I would strongly recommend using filtered water, especially with a low mineral content, so that deposits do not build up in the tank.

My version has an all metal frothing wand, which does as good a job as the skills of the operator will allow for. The newer versions have a "turbo frother," and an optional milk frother that will take the guess work out of frothing and place foamed milk directly into the cup. I can't comment on these newer features, but perhaps they will allow a better job to be done by those with less experience...

Tips for the newbie espresso snobs; Gaggia vs. Breville
I bougt the $200 breville ESP8XL when I started my bean habit and was considerably satisfied. With the breville I learned just how tempermentle espresso can be. The grind, the tamp pressure (with a twist) as well as the temerature of every item the coffee contacts in the pull will effect the taste of your espresso. (To warm up cups fast, fill them with water and put them in the microwave for a minute and your set.)
I learned alot in 2 weeks and now considered my capucchino concoction worthy and much better than chain coffee houses. I use Lavazza preground espresso coffee and love it, its smooth satisfying and has an excellent crema. I'm considering a grinder but with the Lavazza (black can) I'm putting it off for a while.

I ordered the Gaggia Classic on impulse due to a sale hoping to improve my pulls with the presumably better machine. Which is better, well the short story is I packed the Breville up for return 2 days later.

The Gaggia arived well packed...

Great espresso, poor steaming wand
For the price, I'd give the espresso making part of this machine 5 stars. The portafilter and brew group are substantial and well-made. I've worked at two espresso shops with commercial machines, and the parts on this moderately priced Gaggia are nearly as heavy and substantial as the big multiple-thousands of dollars machines. I've had the machine for 4 days and have been brewing shots with Starbuck$ pods. The toggle switches are easy to use, the reservoir is easy to fill, and the shots are aromatic and full of crema every time. However, the steaming wand takes a star away from this machine. It does not rotate in every direction like the comparably priced Starbucks machine. This makes it hard to remove a cup full of frothed milk from under the wand without spilling. Also, the plastic frother contraption is silly. Actual frothing capability is pretty good, though the plain metal tips on the commercial machines produced finer microfroth, and were more fine-tuned to the trained...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Homz 4760211 Professional Ironing System Platinum Leg Khaki

FABULOUS!!!
I had to replace a very old ironing board that was my grandmother's. It finally gave out. Well, it is not true that they don't make them like they used to. This one is fantastic! I had gone out to get a new ironing board and checked all the usual places. I was alarmed by the prices. Either you would have to spend about $25 to $35. Or nearly $100!! Wow! So I went for the higher priced of the cheaper boards. Bought 2. One at a time. And returned both. Went on Amazon & paid about $75 for this one. Easier for UPS to bring it to me rather than drag yet another big board home. Worth every penny. Please learn from my experiences. The cheaper boards were all wobbly. Nothing scarier than a wobbly ironing board with a hot iron & a can of spray sizing about to crash to the ground. This board has large & stable legs to keep it steady while you are ironing. And because this one is wider, you can iron the whole pants leg or half of a shirt without moving and adjusting them around. Nice &...

LOVE IT
I got this ironing board recently. LOVE IT! It is very solid, comfortable to use and gives that feeling of the real quality of good product.

Comes with poor quality "ironing pad" and cover
This is my first review for any product. Although I buy a lot of stuff online, I have never been inspired enough by the quality of a product (good or bad) to write a review about it. This time I am. I bought this ironing board to replace an inexpensive one that I had for years, that was finally giving out. Most of the reviewers of this board said that it was worth the extra cost because it was very well made, exceptionally sturdy and stable, etc.

I agree that the board seems sturdy, but I never had a problem with my old inexpensive board falling over. The added stability of this ironing board, if it in fact has an advantage over others, is totally outweighed by two drawbacks that come with this board.

First, the ironing board comes with an extremely cheap / poor quality "ironing pad." I put that in quotations because the "pad" is a 1/8" thick piece of foam. If you actually decide to iron with the factory-supplied foam, you will have a metal mesh imprint on...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Whirlpool 279311 Igniter for Dryer

Do It Yourself and Save Money
The part worked perfectly. If you don't think you can repair your dryer yourself, you're wrong. It is ridiculously easy and if you have any doubts, there are an infinite amount of "how-to's" on YouTube to show you how. I saved a lot of money by avoiding a repair man and by not buying the part from the manufacturer. Amazon's vendor prices where easily better, by half the cost or more, than the manufacturers price.

Fast Shipping
Got the part super fast. Worked great. Now my Dryer is heating again.
Instructions were easy to follow and got it fixed in about twenty minutes

First time appliance repairman
Saved myself ~$300 for not calling a repairman. Found the instructions on the Internet and was able to fix my dryer. Relatively simple, but could be daunting for the non-daring.

Since I was that deep into the dryer, I decided to replace all the other accessable parts too. All told, about $36.00 in parts.

Part fit perfectly and came with its own instructions as well.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Microwave Glass Turntable for Whirlpool 4393799

Seems lighter than the original.
It seems lighter than the original. I purchased this after accidentally breaking the one that came with our microwave. Even though it seems lighter, it fits perfectly. Just be sure you get the correct turntable for your model. Not all Whirlpool turntables are the same.

Perfect plate
The plate showed up in one piece and the dimensions were accurate. Works just great and fits the microwave perfectly.

right size, wrong bottom
Right size turnable but knoches under bottom were to far apart, so it does not turn while microwave is running

Click to Editorial Reviews

Hoover CH3000 - Commercial Portapower Vacuum Cleaner, 8.3 lbs, Black

Totally Perfect for Apartments, At An Awesome Price: Skip the More expensive ones!
For starters, consider that high-quality consumer vacs are running $200-$300, and substantially more if you go with a Dyson or something. We seriously considered a Dyson canister, and I'm very, very happy that we skipped it. It not only would have been a waste of money, it would have been less convenient.

We have a triplex (3-story) apartment in New York. All hardwood floors, and lots of stairs. This thing is absolutely, totally perfect for it. The suction is huge, even after weeks of use in an apartment full of dog hair. It's designed so effectively that all the hair gets sucked deep into the bag, and doesn't block the airflow. The bag is a long-lasting cloth bag that's very easy to remove and empty, and there is no additional cost for consumables. However, if you'd prefer a paper bag that you don't need to empty, you can use those instead. Either way, it works great. It also works great on our area rugs, because the suction is very good.

It's very lightweight,...

A Serious New Flaw, But Still a Good Vacuum
I have owned and used three of these vacuums in my business over the last 25 years and have always loved them. Good Price, Great Suction, Small, Easy to Use, etc. I can echo all of the other user comments in that this is a great vacuum.

But, they changed one thing on the most recent vacuum I bought that I just hate. They made the hose a short springy thing instead of a longer non-springy deal. So, when you set the vacuum down and start using it to clean up, and pull on the hose to extend it, it yanks on the vacuum, even banging it into things or dragging it around. No more setting the vacuum on a ladder to clean something higher up, or setting it on stairs; it would tumble down in an instant. And the hose is so short that you are always pulling on the vacuum with it. I took my old vacuum hose and put it on the new vacuum. Hopefully I won't accidentally step on it and crush it as I have done before, since now I can't replace it except with the new springy one...

just what I wanted!
I have been looking for a portable vacuum for my home for some time. We have hardwood and tile and was disappointed with the other canister vacuums we have used. Finding bags was a real hassle, the tools were cheaply made, the hoses were plastic, the cords too short ect. This vacuum is powerful, not to loud and is high quality. Metal wands,durable flexible hose and tools that are well made. The hose,wands and tools attach with ease and stay connected! I love the fact that you can hang it on your shoulder while cleaning versus of dragging it behind you and it tipping over. The long heavy duty cord is great because you can move about without having to constantly find an outlet. It comes with a reusable cloth bag which is a huge plus. One of the upholstery brushes (you get two)has a rubber comb along with soft brushes and it picked up the cat hair from our sofa with one swipe! I like that it doubles as a blower to keep my outdoor patio free of debris. Although it is tagged as a...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Whirlpool 4396395 Refrigerator Water Filter

Whirlpool Water Filter
Works great! It was quite a bit cheaper than the ones I've bought at home improvement stores. For quality and price, you can't beat it.

DIDN'T NEED IT
MY FRIDGE NEED WORK ON THE COMPUTER PART BUT I WILL KEEP IT FOR FARTHER USE. I STILL CAN USE IT



Click to Editorial Reviews

Mr. Coffee TF5 4-Cup Switch Coffeemaker, Black

A great 4 cup coffee maker !
I have owned several Mr. Coffee 4 cup models, going back to the one that looks like it was made in the 1970's (with the floating orange water indicator) - This one is the best one to date.

The high points:

1) It's small and light

2) While the lid is up, the water will simply cycle through the resovoir ( a great way to preheat your water is to simply keep the lid up while the machine is running until it gets (quite) hot - then close the lid. )

3) It came with a re-usable basket filter (a nice feature considering the machine was only ~ 20$)

The negative

1) The carafe is just a tad difficult to pour from. Do not get me wrong, if you concentrate and proceed with caution, it does function without error. However, without due attention you might notice some drops spilling over the edge. That said, when pouring out the last few ounces at the end you will feel the steam/vapor rising up to your hand - it is HOT.

For...

A great replacement
I finally had to admit: My Krupps 4-cup coffee maker no longer made good coffee. I faithfully cleaned it with vinegar, kept coffee oils wiped off, but to no avail. After weeks I had to admit that the "Folger's in my cup" no longer had the power to make me sing. I turned to Community coffee--egads! How was this possible? Even my strong Louisiana coffee was lacking. Then I tried Starbuck's. No deal there either. OK, it's my old coffee maker, I thought. That made me sad--my long-time companion had to go.

I searched everywhere and finally settled on Mr. Coffee TF4-4-cup Switch Coffeemaker, white, of course, and couldn't be happier! With the very first cup, I was back in business--the business of taste and looking forward to that cup in the morning. I should say mug (equals about one and 1/2 cups of regular-sized coffee cups).

Here are the reasons I like this new coffee maker:
1. It is easy and convenient to lift the lid and place the filter.
2. Of course,...

Proven Brand at a Bargain Price
I've owned an older generation 4-cup Mr. Coffee maker, and used it daily for 12 years. It worked perfectly! (I retired it only because it was getting too dirty to clean, after 12 years of use.) Amazing!
This newer sibling to the tried-and-true is thus far living up to the task, and very well I might add. I like how the lighted on/off switch is located on the front of the coffee maker, not hidden on the side where you have to feel for where it's placed. The reusable filter (included) is a nice extra - costing about 4 bucks if you buy separately. And it's much more convenient than the paper filters.
By the way, don't waste your money on a model with a timer. It's small 4-cup capacity brews a full pot in only five or six minutes. Simply click it on as soon as you wake up, and before you know it, coffee's ready!
I can whole-heartedly recommend Mr. Coffee. Anyone who can produce a coffee maker that lasts for 12 years has my vote!
Note: If you use a regular...

Click to Editorial Reviews