saved by71 people, first byMike on 2006-03-02, last bypagetribe . on 2008-08-14
You already know why it's good!
-- Jeff Hoover
[After you flush the toilet, incoming water cycles up through the sink before going down to refill the toilet tank. Water is used twice: Once for hand washing, and a second time for the next flush. -- CP]
Toilet Lid Sink
$89
Available from Gaiam
Manufacturer not listed.
Previously listed on Cool Tools as a Source Wanted
Radio Shack has a new line of AA and AAA batteries (they seem to actually have been developed by Rayovac) that recharge in 15 minutes when you use their IC3 charger. The fastest rate of chargers I'd seen before this was an hour, and those were difficult to find. This acceleration makes a HUGE difference - the charge time has now passed the threshold where, in many cases, you can still have a fresh set of batteries before you leave the house even when you've forgotten to charge them beforehand. I've tested these out a bit, and they do indeed charge in slightly less than 15 minutes using their IC3 charger, and they seem to work as well as any other NiMH batteries (which is to say, very well in high-drain electronics). In a pinch the IC3 batteries can be charged in a "regular" NiMH charger, but then they take as long as regular NiMH batteries, and likewise, charging regular NiMH batteries in the IC3 charger doesn't speed them up.
-- Adam Fields
4-Pack AAA Radio Shack IC-3 15-minute Rechargeable Batteries
$6
Catalog #23-534
Radio Shack
Available for purchase in stores only
Editors' note, 9/25/07: RadioShack will be discontinuing this item, but we've seen a charger/battery line from Rayovac that looks promising. If you can report positively or negatively on Rayovac or any similar item,
please let us know.
This powder is a non-toxic, non-chlorine bleach. Chemically it works like hydrogen peroxide, which is a water molecule with an added unstable oxygen. OxyPower is chiefly sodium percarbonate, which is washing soda with additional unstable oxygen. As in hydrogen peroxide, the excitable oxygen bubbles off when it reacts, chemically oxidizing smells, films, germs and stains of all kinds. But because OxyPower is a dry powder it is far more durable and stable than hydrogen peroxide, easier to concentrate, and cheaper in bulk. (Drugstore hydrogen peroxide is 2% solution; OxyPower is equivalent to 27% peroxide.) Best of all, percarbonate degrades to simple oxygen and washing soda (sodium carbonate). Greenies love it, and it is sold in many environmental friendly stores. I feel comfortable using it in the kitchen, and will freely work it in my hands; it has an alkaline soapy feel and fizzes satisfyingly.
Dissolved in water, it works wonders on carpet stains, soiled clothing, weird gunk on counters, mildew, trash cans, refrigerator smell and so forth. American Test Kitchens tested all available cleaners and found that sodium percarbonate was the all-around champ on getting severe grease, food, coffee and wine stains from clothes. Generally, oxygen bleaches won't fade or affect colors like chlorine bleaches will.
Sodium percarbonate is an old chemical, but manufacturers only recently learned how to make this stuff in the vast quantities needed to be tossed by the cupfull into laundry machines. For around-the-house chores, I've found that a very little of this stuff will go a long way. You can mix it to your own preferred concentration. There are a number of powdered cleaners based on sodium percarbonate and they all have "oxy" in their names. (Liquid cleaners with "oxy" in the name are usually hydrogen peroxide.) But of these, OxyPower has the highest percentage of the active ingredient. OxiClean, from another manufacturer, is a best buy for laundry use. Most general stores, like Walmart and Target, carry it.
-- KK
Shout OxyPower Multi-Purpose Stain Remover
$4, for 24 oz.
Drugstore.com
Manufactured by Shout
This appears to be a book of tips for housekeeping, but it is as much about housekeeping as Moby Dick is about fishing. It's about doing mindless chores mindfully. If you cook, clean, and dress, why not do it with full knowledge of what the most scientific method is? There is something attractively nerdy about Mendelson's obsession with getting to a deep technical understanding of whatever needs to be done. So much good-spirited lore swims in this book, that you can pick it up anywhere and find yourself reading hours later about the absolute best way to iron. Ordinary chores are given a new life. I haven't seen such behavior-changing information in ages. I'm thinking I'll give each of my kids a copy when they depart for their own places.
-- KK
Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House
Cheryl Mendelson
1999, 884 pages
$24
Scribner
Amazon
Excerpts:
The terms "ironing" and "pressing" are often used interchangeably, but they are in fact different things. In ironing, you slide the iron back and forth over the cloth; in pressing, you simply press the iron in one spot and then lift it. Pressing is used on tailored and lined suits, especially on men's, on wool, on silk and some rayon, on net, and on pile fabrics. Pressing is used to avoid crushing the cloth, giving it a shine, or stretching or scorching or otherwise harming it with the heat of the iron. This is done partly by not sliding the iron and partly (and usually) by using a "pressing cloth." This is simply a cloth that you lay over the fabric, pressing through it rather than touching the iron directly to the garment.
*
Washing the Dishes. Begin with perfectly clean, hot, sudsy water. Wash the dishes that are least soiled first and progress to those that are most soiled, as this entails the fewest changes of water. As noted above, you usually begin with glass and silver or flatware, which need very hot water so that they dry quickly without streaks or spots.
*
*
As an experiment, I once sorted my laundry according to the exact instructions on the care labels. Although in quantity I had enough to make up three or four good-sized loads, if I had obeyed the labels I would have had to wash at least three times that many loads, as practically no two garments were labeled identically. No experienced home launderer actually washes twelve or more loads instead of four. Thus we all become care label skeptics, defying the labels without hesitation.
*
Inaccurate labeling and "low labeling" (labels that prescribe more conservative care than the garment really needs) are both quite common. Nonetheless, some of our skepticism about labels is in fact mistaken. We may fail to recognize that a label is accurate if (for example) a garment labeled "Dry-clean only" seems perfectly all right after being laundered. The effects of laundering may become apparent only after the third or fourth wash, and those effects may include shrinkage, fading, weakening, or the loss of beneficial treatments and finishes. By the time you discover that the label was right all along, it is too late to save the garment.
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The Scooba 5900 floor scrubber doesn't do as good a job as a professional house cleaner, but my wife and I are lazy, and we figured an automatic floor scrubber that washes the floor and does an ok job would still be better than the job I do. I used the same logic on vacuuming and bought a couple Roombas. We've come to find out these robots don't do just an ok job, they actually do a very good job each and every time they run. I'm always amazed at how dirty the water is when I clean out my 5900 and I cannot believe how clean our floors are. My floors are now automatically swept, then mopped every week. I only spend 10 minutes preparing the 5900 robot: adding hot water and a cup of the Scooba Clorox solution, then emptying the dirty water, cleaning a few parts and putting it on the charger for the day after tomorrow (we now sweep and mop up to three times a week). The robotic brothers and sisters all like to entertain. I clearly have the cleanest floors; and the best thing is I'm not the one doing the scrubbing anymore. I bought my Scooba brand new from distributors on eBay and ended up saving a lot of money and still have full warranties.
-- Don Tharpe
Scooba Floor Scrubber
$170
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by iRobot
Clorox Scooba Cleaning Solution
$10
Available from Amazon
[When this review was submitted almost a year ago, the Scooba retailed for $300 on Amazon. At that price, it was cool. The 40% price cut just made the Scooba even cooler. -- sl]
These woven vinyl floor coverings are synonymous with high-priced "design" boutiques and museum gift shops. Translation: $$$$. But boy are they resilient. After three years of countless beverage spills, dirt, dust, mud, food, foot traffic, and housebreaking a dog, the 5'10" x 9' rug we keep in our living room looks as pristine as the day we first laid it out. I thought a rubbery rug might feel a bit too industrial. It's functionality won me over. The entire backing is vinyl so it never slides around on our hardwood floors. Best of all, in the event of a spill or restless canine bladder, you wipe it down with a damp cloth. No trips to the cleaners, and less likelihood of stains, depending on the color (our tan/dark brown one has yet to harbor a permanent spot *knock wood*). You vacuum it as you would carpet or a hardwood floor. The only other maintenance is to scissor the edges if part of the weave frays (we've done that maybe three times in three years). Though we scored a substantial discount, I'd pay full price if another room in our home ever calls out for a rug. Chilewich also makes a variety of indoor/outdoor mats, coasters and place settings. The small kitchen mat we've had for two years has been sprayed with dishwater, food droppings, you name it, and it still looks great. It's also much kinder to bare feet than our home's frigid, wintertime tiles.
-- Steven Leckart
Chilewich Woven Vinyl Rugs
$100 - $500
Available from Unica Home
Manufactured by Sultan
Fresh2 makes fluorescent compact light bulbs coated with a titanium dioxide film. The fluorescent UV light causes a chemical reaction with the film, and the resulting oxidation eliminates odors. I know it sounds far fetched, but the things really work. I ordered a pair for my laundry room where I keep 3 cat litter boxes. Although I keep them clean, there has always been a persistent odor there. I replaced the room's 60W incandescent bulb (which I kept on all the time) with this new Fresh2 40w fluorescent fixture (already liking the fact that I'm saving a little electricity). Within one day, the odors were completely eliminated. I now swear by these bulbs. The only problem -- the air has to circulate around them. They work best in exposed sockets. Not necessarily the most attractive look.
A similar technology is being used in Japan on windows. In this application, exposure of the titanium dioxide to sunlight UV caused a reaction that effectively cleaned the windows of soot, grime, etc.
-- Gregory Winer
Fresh2 Compact Florescent Bulbs
$20 for 2
Fresh2
Also from Amazon
The American Woods is the life work of R.B. Hough, who assembled an astounding collection of more than 350 species and varieties of trees beginning in 1888. This updated edition emphasizes the scope and beauty of his work with two pages per tree: on the right, a gorgeous photo of three paper-thin slices taken from various points on the tree (radial, cross and tangential); on the left, a portrait of the tree's uses (i.e. tools, food, shelter), habitat, availability and a physical description in English, French and German. The subtle and striking range of colors, grains and patterns found in the same tree, let alone the same family, is truly remarkable. This is not a front to back read, but one that encourages haphazard flipping over time. Best to start with the introduction, though, which touches upon deforestation, colonialization, immigration, and the logging that decimated the seemingly inexhaustible American woods quite noticeably by the latter 1800s. With context, the book becomes a thick, visually-arresting reminder that consumption and conservation should go hand in hand.
-- Steven Leckart
The Woodbook
Romeyn Beck Hough, 1883-1913, 1938
Taschen 25th Anniversary, 2007
$27
Available from Amazon
Sample Excerpts:
Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:
The Gardener's Guide To Growing Temperate Bamboos
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Eneloops Rechargeable Batteries
$13
(4-pack of AA)
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Sanyo
Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:
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-- Steven Leckart
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
$6
(box of four)
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Procter & Gamble
I've been using this cleverly-designed scoop for more than four months and found it really cuts down on the amount of effort and time I have to put into one of my least favorite parts of the day. The tines are long (7 inches) and the slots are wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, so the clean litter passes through quickly and any lumps stay in the scoop. I don't have to make as many passes through the box (three quick passes does the job), and I don't have to shake the scoop to strain out the clean litter. Their web site looks awful, but the scoop is terrific. I will never switch back to those smaller, nasty old scoops I used to use.
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-- Vince Houmes
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Litter Lifter
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$8
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Available from
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Double-S
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Manufactured by
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Preferred Merchandising, Inc.
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More
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NeverScrub, formerly the Puricle 110, automatically dispenses a bleach-type cleaning agent into the overflow tube of a toilet at the conclusion of a flush. It is far more efficient and effective than the old "hockey puck" style of toilet bowl cleaner. It prevents all sorts of stains, mineral deposits, etc., and leaves the toilet bowl crystal clear (refills last about four months, depending on usage rate). It installs without tools in about 90 seconds (or 30 seconds if you've done it before). You just clip the unit to the inside of the tank and swap out the hose that feeds into the overflow tube for the hose attached to the unit.
The typical "hockey puck" cleaner dispenses a variable amount of cleaner (depending on how long it's been steeping) mostly into the bottom of the bowl, during the emptying phase of the flush cycle, which is wasteful and ineffective. This system releases the right amount of cleaning agent at the right place and time -- i.e. it dispenses a consistent, "measured dose" under the rim, during the refill phase (mostly), so it remains in and on the bowl, including above the waterline. It's amazing no inventor took advantage of this approach decades ago.
(The percentages that follow are guesstimates). When a toilet is flushed, water enters the bowl from two sources: the tank (about 80%) and water fed into the overflow tube through a small hose (about 20%). Once the tank has emptied, the tank's outlet valve closes and water flows into the bowl only from the refill tube (via the overflow pipe), slowly refilling it.
Consequently, less than 20% of the water that was in the tank remains in the bowl after a flush, so 80% of any hockey-puck cleaning agent absorbed by the tank-water is wasted. But over 80% of the water that enters the bowl through the refill tube remains in the bowl, so only a little of the cleaning agent dispensed in this manner "goes down the drain." Also, with the NeverScrub, the cleaning agent remains on the bowl's surface above the water line, because the last water to enter the bowl is treated water. With a hockey-puck cleaner, the last water to enter the bowl is untreated water from the refill tube, which rinses away the cleaning agent that entered under the rim during the initial phase of the flush.
Finally, with the NeverScrub, there is also a beneficial social side effect that is even more important than cleanliness: it can greatly reduce water consumption. I've found that toilets needn't be flushed after doing "number 1" because the product's cleaning agent bleaches and deodorizes it. (When this stops happening, add a refill cartridge.)
The agent is a deodorized form of bleach that employs bromine as well as chlorine: 1, 3-Dichoro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin. According to the company, the refills have an unlimited shelf life and the cleaning agent "breaks down and is harmless to septic systems and environment." Additionally, they claim that "Bowl water [is] not harmful to children or pets." They thoughtfully add, "However, it is not recommended that pets regularly drink water from the toilet."
A few things you should know: It's best to get the surface clean and smooth before installing the unit. I suggest scrubbing the bowl clean with a
-- Roger Knights
NeverScrub Toilet System
$15
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Puricle
Also advertised as the "Kaboom" NeverScrub
Most pesticides I've used are full of chemicals that are toxic to people and pets, but this spray doesn't have anything like that. The active ingredient is natural mint extract, which is a neuro-toxin to insects. It works just as well or better than any spray I've tried, and smells very minty. I've been fighting roaches this spring, mainly in the kitchen, and my dog has become pregnant. I have never been a fan of the toxic chemicals in most roach sprays, so when I found this at the hardware store I decided to give it a try (it was also less expensive than the more toxic stuff I'd been using). I sprayed the baseboards and everything in my kitchen, and I found that not only does it kill on contact, the roaches seem to avoid it like the plague for about a month. I have also used it to spray and kill spiders, and it was just as effective. The minty smell is nice in small doses, but when I do my entire kitchen the whole house kind of smells like toothpaste, which opening a door or window helps.
-- Jessica Boydston
Victor Poison-Free Ant & Roach Spray
$5
Available from Planet Natural
Also $12 (for 2 bottles) from Amazon
Manufactured by Woodstream Corporation
[There is also a Poison-Free Wasp & Hornet Killer by Victor, which has been recommended by the HortIdeas newsletter - sl]
This soy-based, biodegradable stripper is not the cheapest stuff around, but it's easy to use and can be used indoors because it doesn't have the harsh fumes of typical strippers. When I first used it about five years ago, I was shocked. I used two gallons to strip an entire room: it went on like honey and smelled almost as good. Three hours later, almost all the paint came right off in one fell swoop. I've since used it on several pieces of wood furniture and a metal gate.
There are several citrus-based strippers out there that are cheaper, but they're just not very strong. SoyGel really is the most impressive eco-friendly stripper I've run across. I've been restoring and renovating old homes and furniture for over 25 years, and always used those harsh chemical paint strippers that are environmentally unsound. I'll NEVER go back.
One recommendation: if you use SoyGel outside, watch for breezes that dry the stripper out too quickly. If this occurs, just brush on some more. You need the moisture for it to work. That said, it takes ages for this stuff to dry out - and frequently you can also cover whatever piece of furniture you are working on with thick plastic sheeting to keep the stripper moist longer.
Franmar also makes a Mastic Remover that works like a champ, and a great Marine Paint Remover that I used to strip my boat (ever try to remove anti-foulingpaint?!).
-- Justin Anthony
SoyGel Paint & Urethane Remover/Stripper
$20
Available from Amazon (1 quart)
$62
Also available from Amazon (1 gallon)
Manufactured by Franmar Chemical
This is the most satisfactory soap dish I've ever tried. If positioned away from the corner of the basin, all of the soap residue drains into the sink basin - not onto the sides of the sink. Some residue does accumulate on the Soap Saver itself, so every month or so it has to be rinsed and wiped clean, but that's the lesser of two evils. Overall, it reduces the amount of cleanup effort by 2/3 or more.
It's superior to the spike-holder type of dish, which is hard to clean, sometimes sticking to the soap, and tends to skitter across the sink top when knocked. In contrast, this plastic soap dish stays put because it's relatively heavy and because its descending downspout rests against the basin's edge. (This stability is a plus the vendor oddly fails to tout.) To make sure the soap itself doesn't slide around within the dish, I position one of its corners pointing down between the posts (not level, as shown in the vendor's photo). This also improves drainage a bit.
I'd previously used liquid soap until someone gave me twenty bars of handmade hemp-oil soap. When I've washed my way through that, I think I'll go back to liquid soap; but if you have a preference for solid soap (or if you too get such a gift), this Soap Saver is really handy.
-- Roger Knights
Waterfall Soap Saver
$4
Available from Colonial Medical
Manufactured by Jobar International, Inc.
Scotch (3M) sells three varieties of ready-made double-backed tape for sticking together two flat surfaces. Their Double Stick Tape (model #137) does what a self-connecting loop of ordinary tape does, but more tidily and sure. Their Double-Coated Tape (model #667) is similar but you can re-position the tape. For most uses - scrapbooks, posters, etc - I much prefer this kind. Their Photo Mounting Tape (Cat. 002) is double-side, not positionable, but acid-free. This is what you want to use for archival stuff.
--KK
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Double Stick Tape
$2
Available from Amazon
Double-Coated Tape
$4
Available from Amazon
Scotch Photo and Document Double Stick Tape
$7
Available from Art City
I've used these solar LED lights for reading at night for over a year. There are three models and I have one of each -- the Heavy Duty Compact model, the Compact model and the Mini, which I attach with Velcro to my backpack and then to my bike helmet when I need it for night riding. On full brightness, the Mini lasts 12 hours (recharge time is advertised as 7 hours).The Heavy Duty charges completely in 10 hours and, at full brightness, gives 12+ hours of light, while the Compact charges completely in 6 hours and, at full brightness, gives 12+ hours of light.
I've never run the lights until battery drain so I can't speak to recharge from zero. I use them for reading at night so that is usually only an hour or two a night and they are always connected to the solar panels in my south facing window.
I took all three lights on vacation to Jamaica last December, and used each of them except for the Mini (no biking). After the trip, I gave two sets of friends the extra lights I'd bought. Both couples like these lights, too.
They also offer a variety of connectors, which work with all models of the lights, that allow you to charge your phone, camera, computer, etc. I bought all to test for compatibility and found it to be a very good system (although at $20 a pop the connectors are a little pricey). It's worth noting, I use them only for demo purposes. I haven't tried to run my computer, for instance, on the Compact model.
I settled on this brand because they were the first I'd seen with a natural form factor. They looked sleek and useful and have turned out to be all that I expected. The only quibble I have is that there's a light sensor that will not allow the lamps to go on in the daytime. I'd prefer a switch so that I can decide when to turn them on or off without being overridden by the sensor. Still haven't seen anything that is comparable on the market.
Gotta tell ya, it makes me feel good to use these things. Finally, after all these years, this renter has one room that is solar powered. They made me an honest solar advocate, somebody who not only talks the talk but walks the walk as well.
-- George Mokray
Newlite Portable, Solar LED Lights
$29-75 (depending on model)
Available from Kansas Windpower
Manufactured by Newlite
This wonderful dual alarm clock is the best one we have found in 40 years. The display and control layout make it very easy to use and difficult to make a mistake. On the front display you see clearly, unambiguously, the status of everything: both alarms and the current time. The layout of the buttons really reduces the likelihood of hitting the wrong button. We frequently adjust our wakeup times and with other dual alarm clocks we made mistakes. With this clock, the controls for Alarm A and Alarm B are on opposite sides, so it's very clear and obvious to set. Also, because the LCD display allows you to see the current time and both Alarm A and B all at the same time, you don't have to press any buttons to see when you're wake up is set for.
In the old days we experienced things like pressing the wrong buttons in the dark, adjusting the radio off-station when we meant to adjust the volume, setting the time of day instead of the time of alarm, setting a time to PM when we meant AM, setting the alarm time but failing to turn the alarm on, one of us would get up ahead of our alarm time and turn off the wrong person's alarm, a power failure erasing all settings and we had to remember how to deal with a complex device, a power failure while sleeping and we failed to rise on time as no alarm sounded, etc.
With this clock, you don't have to decode -- or learn to decode -- what or how the clock is set. With a lot of clocks you simply get a bunch of different LEDs, such as green for AM and off for PM, green 'on' for radio ('off' for no radio). With this clock, the buttons are located and sized to eliminate, or at least reduce, confusion. The current time is displayed large enough to see it from across the room (we place the clock across the room to force a certain level of wakefulness). There's a lithium stand-by battery that preserves time of day and alarm settings just in case of a power outage. It also has sleep, snooze and nap functions, as well as two alarm setup modes: workweek and weekend.
The clock isn't as high end as some models by Boston Acoustics, and there are aspects that could be improved, like the buzzer/beeper. Since we keep ours across the room, we felt the buzzer/beeper was not loud enough. Still the volume of the radio and preset tunes is fine, so we use those. Also, the Time Zone, Daylight Savings mode and Time of Day buttons are located along the back edge on the top of the clock in a recessed well, so they do not protrude. Two of the functions are doubly protected, as you have to press one button then another to adjust time or time zone. However, Daylight savings mode just takes a single hit and that moves time by one hour forward or back. Nevertheless, there is a little Daylight icon on the front display to help you notice if there's a mistaken change.
Overall, if you're looking for a simple clock radio, it's really great. I was shopping for a teenager coming of age. At $29.99 this alarm clock was more expensive than I planned (and I don't often deviate from plan), but it has one feature that I found exciting: the display that lets you see everything. When I got home my wife was critical of the amount spent. Two weeks later, she sent me out for another one for our room. A week or two after that, I noticed the same device at Costco for $19.99. Upon telling my spouse, she put it on our list for purchase "just in case ours breaks someday and this is no longer available." So we now have a new alarm clock in a box in our basement. It is THAT good.
-- Jim of MN
Sony Dual Alarm Clock Radio
$25
Available from and Manufactured by Sony
Or $33 from Amazon
I have a 1927-type porcelain bathtub, and it once looked that old. I tried fruitlessly over the years to remove the dinginess at the bottom with scouring pads and liquid tile cleaners. Then someone gave me a pumice scouring stick and I was able to restore the tub to good-as-new condition (without marring the finish). It took ten or 15 minutes, and required several rinsings and re-scrubbing of spots I'd missed, or hadn't worked on hard enough. But in the end, it really worked; and annual touch-ups require three to five minutes. I wouldn't use these sticks on plastic, though. They're so abrasive they'd scour into anything softer than glass. As such, the sticks are also good for removing paint from concrete and tile, baked-on build-ups from ovens and grills, and rust from garden tools.
I got one recently for $8.50 at True Value. Pumie also makes a less fancy stick without the plastic handle that costs half as much at True Value ($4.50). I recommend spending the extra bucks: the handle makes it less yucky when scouring a toilet bowl ring, and it doesn't require you to wear gloves to protect your hands when scouring a tub. These sticks last long enough that it's worth spending more for convenience. Mine wore down about 30% while doing my tub the first time, and about another 7% getting out some nasty persistent stains in my toilet bowl.
-- Roger Knights
Pumie Toilet Bowl Ring Remover
$7
Available from Amazon
[If you're pinching pennies, are less squeamish and don't mind rubber gloves, you might prefer the no-frills Pumie scouring & cleaning stick sans handle. -- sl]
Pumie Scouring Stick
$3
Available from Amazon
Shaped like a worry stone, this low-tech scissors sharpener features a ceramic whetstone piece set in plastic. The tiny tool (about the size of a poker chip) is designed specifically for the user to sharpen the two blades simultaneously, a process that's safe and controlled due to its design. The textured tab is to be held between thumb and forefinger. Mounted inside is a small ceramic rod that serves as the whetstone. One blade is inserted below the rod and the other above. As you draw both blades through, the open scissors close themselves. The previously reviewed Jiff V Sharpener might be the best all-around inexpensive sharpener for the home -- it can handle knives and the blade is replaceable -- but it's still too big to keep in crowded or small spaces. The SewSharp is perfect for an office desk or sewing kit. It also costs half as much as the Jiff V, so you can buy multiples to stash in crafts kits, tool drawers, and scrapbooking boxes. The life of the ceramic rod is not indefinite, so I'd recommend buying more than one anyway.
-- Anne Morris
Fiskars SewSharp Scissors Sharpener
$3.50
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by and available from Fiskars
I borrowed one of these non-contact thermometers to test the heat dissipation around a new fireplace I'm finishing. It worked so well that it had me running around my house measuring the temperature of lots of things that I'd often wondered about but had no way of investigating. For instance I was curious about the results of extra insulation I put in last year. I also found myself using the device to follow heat contours around the house. I could follow heat contours in the air by using this device to measure the temperature of the skin of my hand. This method made a rigorous investigation into energy conservation fun as well as informative.
One attribute of IR thermometers I really appreciated is their instantaneous response, even across a distance. Since the device is based on an infrared light sensor, there is no lag, no hysteresis (like a thermostat), no memory, no need to even be close to the surface being measured, which is a lot different from how I am used to thinking about temperature.
With the ST pro model it was like I could reach across the room and touch the wall in the back of the fireplace to see how hot the fire was getting. I discovered all kinds of readings that affected my fireplace design. For instance it was around 400 degrees near the gas pipe I was sealing with fireplace caulk. I found that it got to a max of 70 degrees above the fireplace where I was thinking of mounting a plasma TV; that it was a max of 100 degrees about a foot in front of the fireplace at the level of the hearth, and that there was a temp gradient of about 40 degrees to the side edges of the hearth. (I figure that gradient was probably not a steep enough to cause levels of thermal stress that would crack the slate I was planning to use for the hearth). However I was able to measure a much sharper gradient across the metal face of the zero-clearance fireplace, where I planned to mount tile with special heat-tolerant silicon adhesive (thus needing to confirm the max temp of the metal face at around 210 degrees after 2 hours of fire). And so on.
As a homeowner it may be hard to justify buying one, but as a nerd (and especially if I had kids) I want one around. For me it has something to do with an Internet-biased mentality -- I hear an obscure concept, or someone has a question, and I almost reflexively reach for Google. Now it's like that for my home. Is that frying pan at exactly the right temperature for pancakes? Wait, I can get the IR thermometer out of the kitchen drawer...
-- Rick Botman
Raytek Mini Non-Contact Thermometer
Model MT4
$45
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Raytek
Wonder if you got this: It's the World Time Clock from designer Charlotte Van Der Waals. Think it's an incredibly clever piece. I appreciate a lot the ability of seeing "upside down" things and problems :)
-- hexholden
[There are four variations of the World Time Clock design. You can find them pictured together at Ameico. Each can be turned to one of 12 positions to indicate the time in selected global regions. I love the concept because I consider a regular 12-sided polygon (a dodecagon) to be the most aesthetically pleasing shape in nature. Maybe it's no accident that there are 12 hours in a day and 12 months in a year--also 12 pennies in an old English shilling, before the metric system came along and condemned us to the rule of 10, merely because we happen to have 5 digits on each hand. -- CP]
World Time Clock
$190
Available from Junro
My wife swears by this very Swiffer-like mop. It is basically a stick which you use to shove a towel around the floor with. The towels can then go in the wash.
The nice thing is that is uses very little liquid, so it can be used on laminates with (reasonable) safety. But the massive wave of towel seem to pick up debris quite well, and changing out your towel is far, far faster than with other replaceable head mops.
-- Sandi West
Cuban Mop
$13
Available from Cuban Food Market
It finally happened, an off-the-shelf household robot that works and pays back even the early-adopter price.
For less than $200 you get a vacuum cleaner the size of coffee-table book (though round) which has robotic smarts and its own battery. The main thing is, it works. It cleans rooms.
What makes it work is the combination of clever robot design AND clever vacuum cleaner design. Its job as a robot is to cover an entire room and not get trapped somewhere or wander off where it's not wanted. The first time you use it, you watch with fascination as the Roomba goes through its repetoire of exploration (spiral till a wall is encountered, then scrub along keeping the wall on the right, etc.) and avoidance of trouble (detect drop-offs and deflect; when blocked, keep rotating and trying again; etc.) It will happily go places that most vacuums don't, like under beds. For keeping it from openings into other rooms or from entangling wires or such, the Roomba comes with a separate device which puts out a keep-away beam up to 13 feet.
It does not mix well with pets or little kids, who torment it. It is perfect for bachelors of either sex who put off vacuuming chores for months (like I do in my office and storage container). Plugged into a wall socket for battery charge, the Roomba is always ready to grind away diligently in a room. Weekly, daily, who cares? After the first time, you'll leave it to work alone, or you'll find yourself giving it advice, which it does not need.
-- Stewart Brand
Roomba
4100
$144
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by iRobot
This tool has changed how I think about glue guns. My old glue gun got used about once every two years; this one gets used almost every day. I use it so much because it warms up quickly (you can start using it in less than a minute) and is very precise. In addition, it lives in my house rather than in the garage because it is so clean. No more drips! I haven't used it for design or shop projects yet, but it's earning its keep on incidental things--like gluing up a loose part on my running shoes, gluing the end caps on stool legs, plugging a leak in my snorkel, attaching a candle to a base, etc. It's nice to just turn it on and use it without having to plug it in and wait.
-- Kevin Fine
ColdHeat Glue Gun
$40
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by ColdHeat
Finally, a really worthwhile use for cellular technology. Global Pet Finder is essentially LoJack for dogs in case they get lost. If your dog wanders out of the area, it will transmit its location every minute to your cell phone, PDA, or pager. You can also check your dog's location on their website. Alternatively, you can manually locate your dog by dialing "FOUND" from your cellphone.
One other really cool feature is a temperature sensor, which will cause the unit to transmit a warning if the air temperature gets dangerously high or low.
-- Curt Nelson
GlobalPetFinder
$350 plus $35 activation fee and $18 to $20 monthly service fee
Manufactured by and available from Global Pet Finder
Also from Amazon
Moving Men Furniture Sliders are smooth frisbee-shaped polymer disks, either 7" or 3 1/2" in diameters, filled with a spongy material (they call it a special grip pad). They are an improvement on the "furniture coasters" my mother used to put under the sofa in that the special grip pad does really work, allowing you to move furniture easily. They work on carpet, though our experience has involved sliding things over berber and low-ply (we've never owned shag).
We have moved some pretty heavy furniture using them. You *might* be able to slide an upright piano this way -- but I would leave moving a grand piano to the professionals.
These also work well for slipping under boxes on moving day.
-- Martin Schwimmer
Moving Men Furniture Sliding Set
8 pieces
$8
Available from Amazon
I have been using a pretty cool detergent product that was launched recently. These are half ounce dissolvable packets of concentrated laundry detergent, so that you just throw one into the washer and you don't have to carry, measure, pour or waste detergent. Very cool and convenient!
--Kunal Bahl
[The manufacturer also emphasizes that its products are environmentally benign.]
Dropps
$13 for a 24-pack
Available from Cot'n Wash Inc.
I use these new Nickel Metal-Hydride batteries now in my radios, flashlights etc. I hate throwing away little environmental hazards in the form of Alkalines and I hate always having to buy batteries. These new cells have almost the same operational life as an ordinary Energizer but you can use them over and over and over.
-- Alexander Rose
Sanyo Batteries, among others
Amazon carries a variety of rechargeable NiMh batteries, like these Rayovacs.
If you have a storm door or screen door, you probably have a pneumatic device that closes it. And the device has a little washer thing that will hold the door open if you put down your bags, and the baby, and let the dog go free while you fiddle it down the bar, so it can jam against the piston. It's a hassle.
The Touch n' Hold is a device that makes this a happier moment. The Touch n' Hold door closer lets you set the door open with a simple tap of your toe or elbow. Then once you've got all your stuff inside, just nudge the door (not the thing) open a little more and it will go back into closing mode.
I use it every day, and it always makes me think of Cool Tools.
-- Thomas T. Ballantine
Touch n' Hold
$14
Available from Touch 'n Hold
While we wait for LED table lamps to emerge from the development phase and arrive at our local Wal-Marts, Hong Kong manufacturers have started selling ultra-high-output white LEDs direct to the consumer via eBay. These are the raw components, plus resistors for wiring them to a 12-volt car system, which is a popular application to create "undercar phantom glow" and other effects which will be familiar to those who have seen episodes of "Pimp My Ride" on cable.
The singularly named Light of Victory Led Store will send you, via airmail, 100 large size LEDs (1 cm diameter, 130,000 millicandles) for thirty-five bucks, including series resistors and air-mail postage. What a deal!
Of course you will have to do a little work at your end, drilling holes to mount the LEDs in a panel, and hooking them up to a power supply. The series resistors are not necessary if you buy a 3.5 AC adapter for house voltage, available for less than $10--check Froogle. Just remember to hook the shorter wire of each LED to your negative source, and the longer wire to your positive source. Each diode draws just 20 milliwatts, making them, I think, the most efficient known form of artificial light, already finding widespread use in flashlights, tail lights, and turn signals. Soon to be used for ambient indoor lighting in an RV near you?
I expect to be writing a build-your-own-LED-reading-lamp crafts project for Make magazine later this year. Meanwhile you can have fun playing with this almost magical device.
-- Charles Platt
Super White LED Lamp Product
$35 including air mail from Hong Kong
Sold by Light of Victory Led-Store
This is so simple. You plug your PC into the main socket, and then plug your printer, scanner, monitor etc into the other sockets. When you turn off your computer, the smart unit shuts the power off to the other sockets. Saves power from constantly-on transformers, saves the environment, and saves lives from electrical fires caused by overheated DC adaptors. Also works for AV equipment.
-- Bruce Richardson
Smart Strip Power Strip
$33
Available from
Amazon
OneClick Power Strip
Available in the UK from
OneClick
Lets you connect multiple devices, even with big power converters, to a single outlet.
-- Zimran Ahmed
PowerSquid
$10
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by PowerSquid
My sister gave a MysticMaid cleaning cloth to me for a birthday present. Prejudging the gift (a towel?) I feigned a thanks and a fake smile. Then I tried it. I cleaned my glasses and then my monitor. Wow! I'd swear I got a new prescription.
One of the best uses I found for it, was cleaning up items for online auctions. I cleaned an older digital camera to a nearly brand new state. Cleans CDs and DVDs, too.
Machine washable.
-- Russ Taber
MysticMaid
$10
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by MysticMaid
Like many people, I've had a lifetime of those round shopvacs on wheels with various attachments strung out around the house. The Pro Pack solves a lot of the problems that the traditional shopvacs had. It's in a rectangular form factor much like a giant toolbox, right down to a sturdy handle and storage compartments for all of the attachments and the power cord. The shape and light weight make it easy to carry and store, and because the vacuum is so powerful -- 5.0 peak HP -- you can pick up all sorts of things. To empty, just pop off the top and pour the contents out. It's easy enough to manage that I'll probably be using it around the house almost as much as my regular vacuum cleaner.
-- Annette S. Leung
Ridgid Pro Pack
$89
Available from Home Depot
Manufactured by Ridgid
This item converts any AA or AAA Maglite into an LED torch, with the same brightness as the original, the same ability to focus the bulb, much longer battery life, and eliminating the need to ever change the bulb again. It fits in the same way as the bulb, and does not require any modification to the Maglite. This is a way to keep on using the sturdy Maglite casing and benefit from LED technology.
-- Ellis Weinberger
TerraLUX TLE-10 MicroStar1 LED Replacement Bulb
$20
Available from
Pocket Lights
Also from Amazon
Manufactured by TerraLUX
A more thorough review can be found at Flashlight Reviews.
*
Easily and inexpensively upgrade those Mini-Mags lying around in your drawer to life long L.E.D bulbs and longer battery life. You lose the focus feature but who cares. Niteize has a bunch of other useful stuff as well.
-- Cliff Rediger
Nite Ize AA Mini Maglite LED Upgrade Kit
$10
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Nite Ize
As a remodeling contractor, I benefit greatly from a well-designed tool. One tool I especially like is the Tibet Almond Stick. I always have one in my toolbox. It is a remarkable quick fix for minor scratches in wood finishes. One swipe and the scratches disappear (or are greatly diminished!) Great for touching up wood floors, furniture, wood countertops, trim, etc. I have no idea how it works.
-- Rock Heindel
Tibet Almond Stick
$5
Available from
Amazon
Manufactured by Zenith Chemical Works
I find that compressed gases just don't work for me on computer accessories (e.g., keyboards and cases) or cameras -- the junk just gets blown deeper inside or I am afraid that the "condensate" will gum things up. A vacuum seems a better solution, but the teeny-tiny ones sold for these purposes don't suck enough(!). The answer -- an $8 Vacuum Micro Attachment Kit. This is an ingenious set of attachments and connectors that turns any upright or canister vacuum into a powerful "micro vacuum" that really does the trick on keyboards, PC cases, cameras (bodies and lenses) in a safe and effective manner.
-- Bryan Quattlebaum
Vacuum Micro Attachment Kit
Item #114 0210
$8
Available from Cyberguys
Also from Amazon
After living in a house with 3 animals for a while, I started to notice the usual hair balls scattered around. I needed a very light, powerful vacuum that could reach corners easily.
I tried a hand-held dustbuster type, but found that its incredibly small storage and lack of any useful way to hold debris inside was just a bad design. After investigating those "Shark" or small Oreck vacuums, I found their prices were much too high and their design didn't look very impressive either, so I passed.
I found my dream machine in the 2 Gallon Stinger Wet/Dry Vac for less than $30. What you get:
Lots of sucking power, very easy to dump out debris, lots of capacity, very light and easy to move around, gets into tight spaces, and much less expensive than those premium models! AND, it will pick up both dry and wet material, as the name implies!
This really is the perfect convenient vacuum for quick clean-ups. And at half to a third the price of those premium models, you can't go wrong.
-- Steven Deterling
Stinger 2 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum
Model WD2010
$27
Available from
Home Depot
Disposable alkaline batteries are not perceived by most people to be rechargeable, and that's how the manufacturers like it. Until digital pulse-technology chargers came out a few years ago, it was NOT an option for most people. Alkaline battery walls are very thin, and the heat generated by simple brute-force recharging frequently split them open with a bang.
There are new chip-controlled chargers which will safely and effectively recharge "disposable" alkaline batteries. I have a Buddy-L Super Charger, one of the first designed this way. Bought it about 7 years ago, and I still use it to recharge all my alkaline batteries. Saves me a BUNDLE!
The newest of the new chargers claim to be able to charge Ni-Cad, NiMH, AND Alkaline in the same unit. (Don't know if this means mixed types at the same time.)
-- Nestey
Battery Xtender
$40
Available from Battery Recharger
The Kensington SmartSockets Table Top is very nearly the best power strip I've ever used. It has excellent surge suppression with an indicator light when the suppression is gone, and a $50,000 equipment warranty on top of the lifetime warranty on the strip itself. Beyond that, the design is excellent. It's circular so you have a fighting chance of getting six AC adapters on it. The cord is 16 feet long, so you can get it to places without an extension cord, and the cord has an angled plug so you can use the socket below it. The plug is even ridged you you can grip it better when your arm is stretched behind cabinets and whatnot. Normal power strips tip and move around if they're off-balance from AC adapters. With the power switch in the dead center, and the pre-attached rubber feet, this thing is rock solid. I wish every product I used had the same attention to detail!
-- Bob Plankers
Kensington Tabletop SmartSockets Surge Protector
$60
Available from
Amazon
Manufactured by
Kensington
Robomaid is a low tech, very cheap version of Roomba cleaner. It doesn't clean rugs, but has done a great job on our wood, tile, and stone floors. The design is wonderful in its elegance: a powered ball propelling a sweeping "hat". Like Roomba it cleans along walls, under tables and desks, and in corners where it would be difficult to clean otherwise. It uses no intelligence, so it randomly changes direction, but is surprisingly thorough. Especially since I don't care how long it takes.
It has some lovable quirks: you need to block it from going down stairs (going down the stairs has not damaged it, but I worry). It does not find its way back to its recharger when done, so you need to locate it after it has cleaned. The electrostatic cleaning pads need replacing after 5-10 cleanings, and cost 30-40 cents each, so the cost per cleaning is 3 to 8 cents.
I got it for Christmas from friends who thought our pets would enjoy it. I had low expectations. Our pets ignored it after the first time, but it cleaned so well it has become a fixture around our house.
-- James Tierney
Robomaid
$8
Available from Amazon
I've been a reader for 35 years, and I'm finding it pretty useful these days. This old hippie magazine is the only place to keep current with back-to-the-land news. The old dream of thriving on a few acres of land is still serviced with enthusiasm here. Familiar subjects like backyard animals and all-year gardens are reliably addressed, but they also have solid reporting on the such technological innovations as the latest in modern cabin toilets, microgenerators, the best chain saws and solar panels, and so on. However, since a lot of homesteading chores haven't changed much, their website offers 35 years of back issues online -- some of the best stuff they published was written in the 1970s. (You can also get the archive on CDs).
At ten bucks per year, this magazine is essential reading for anyone attempting to homestead in the country, or to live self-reliantly in a town. But I also find it a great bargain for anyone with a do-it-yourself mentality. Despite the glossy sheen, the pages radiate with reports of reader's hands-on, can-do, think-different attitude.
Why I subscribe: Most magazines are about consuming. This one is about producing.
-- KK
Mother Earth News
$10 for 6 issues/year
Sample excerpts from one recent issue:
Tool Sharing Start Up Advice
Are you thinking of starting a tool-sharing program in your community or neighborhood? Here are some helpful tips:
* Hold a meeting to find out people's needs and available resources.
* Determine the scope of the program; it's often best to start with simpler hand tools.
* Determine storage-will tools be stored in homes or in a common space?
* Determine how costs will be covered for tool purchases and ongoing maintenance.
* Develop a clear set of lending, repair and tool-return rules.
* Develop a list of "experts" who can share skills.
* Organize a system to track checkout and return of tools.
* Assign responsibility for maintenance and repair.
You can easily make your own parched (dry-roasted) grain corn at home for a sweet, crunchy snack with "flavors like nothing you've ever tasted before. To get the full flavor from any type of culinary grain corn, Roberts says, it's essential for the corn to ripen and dry on the stalks. Slow drying, low-temperature milling and immediate refrigeration of freshly ground corn keep the flavors alive. Because whole-grain cornmeal retains its natural oils, you often don't need to add butter or other fats when baking with it. "I never add fat to corn bread, since the (corn) meal already has fat in it," says Zoe Caywood, owner of War Eagle Mill in Rogers, Ark.
*
It usually does cost a bit more to buy meat from heritage [pork] breeds, but Small says there are good reasons for the higher price tag: Heritage breeds take longer to reach market weight than conventional breeds, and because they also produce a higher percentage of body fat, fewer of those pounds consist of marketable cuts. Small says the high quality and great flavor of the meat nevertheless creates steady demand from customers willing to pay the premium. "Cost per pound of our meat is definitely higher than cheap factory-farm pork," she says. "What we tell our customers is to eat less meat, but eat better-quality meat."
I have been using these wonderful little Clear Removable Mounting Squares from Scotch for about 2 years now for holding things up and down and together and have loved them. I was desperately searching for an easy and elegant way to tack down my speaker wire for a new surround sound system when I stumbled upon these little gems and knew that I had found the answer. These squares are like a cross between Sticky Tack and the best Scotch tape you've ever used--they are gooey and very sticky, yet hold their form and are almost totally invisible. For tacking down speaker wire, many folks nail those little "U" shaped brackets into the wall; but these are so much better. I simply stuck one to the wall, stuck the speaker wire to it and then stuck another one over it to make a "sandwich" with the speaker wire in the middle. It looks fantastic, it's non-marring, it's easy and fast, and it really holds well! Not to mention that these hold up pictures, posters and even light objects with ease. They are truly an innovation and fill a need that many don't realize they have until they see the product. They are just great to have around.
-- Peter Lio
Scotch Clear Removable Mounting Squares
$2.60
Available from among others:
Amos
Also from Amazon
Manufactured by 3M
The dream of animating your house to automate the routine and alert you to the unexpected has reached the level where you need only four things:
1) An inexpensive software controller program for your PC or Mac.
2) Off-the-shelf X-10 components, which send signals along your 110 volt room wiring.
3) The Smarthome catalog of devices, hardware and parts.
4) This book, which tells you in satisfying detail how to use 1, 2, and 3 to accomplish (and extend) your fantasies.
-- KK
Smart Home Hacks
Gordon Meyer
2004, 328 pages
$16
Amazon
For an avalanche of smart products in mind-numbing diversity, see the previously reviewed Smarthome catalog.
Sample excerpts:
Not everyone in your household will be as enthusiastic about home automation as you are. That's to be expected -- everyone has different interests -- but unlike some hobbies, automating your home has a profound impact on others. If it's not done in a careful and considerate fashion, it can disrupt and bring frustration to a family's ultimate retreat: their home. For this reason, and just for common courtesy, it's a good idea to discuss your plans before you implement them. The results of some automation projects can be surprising, such as a talking house [Hack #28], so it's best to make sure you aren't the only one who will enjoy them.
*
The PowerLinc USB power-line interface
*
Hack #55. Know if the Garage Door is Open.
Use a magnetic switch and Powerflash module to keep track of the status of your garage door.
*
A keystone in my home automation system is that it knows when the house is unoccupied [Hack #70]. When the house is empty, the alarm system is activated, visitors coming to the front door are logged [Hack #74], and the network camera that I used to check in on my dog [Hack #82] is turned on. Furthermore, the first person who comes home to the previously unoccupied house is greeted with appropriate lighting and thermostat setting, and important reminders and announcements [Hack #28].
*
Hack #48. Put the House to Sleep for the Night.
When it's time to go to bed, have your house turn off all the lights, check to make sure things are secure, and ready your motion detectors to light the way should someone get up for a drink of water.
Here it comes, ready or not: the Smart House. A whole avalanche of products in mind-numbing diversity is available via this mail-order catalog and Web site. A lot of the equipment I find creepy (networks of concealed in-house mini-video cameras for "security" purposes), but some I covet right now (I want to be able to beep my front door open like I beep my car door open; $69 uninstalled). The rest can wait (the caller ID of your incoming phone call shows up on your TV). The avalanche is only picking up speed and this catalog, which has the widest collection I've seen, is the best way to keep up.
-- KK
Smarthome.com
800/762-7846
949/221-9200
I have lived on a boat since I was 13. We have tried just about every way of heating water (including one kettle at a time on a wood stove). Since boats usually don't have room for a big water heater, nor the natural gas hookup, we usually had a hardly-functioning on-demand propane water heater. They were infernally breaking down. However these "instantaneous" water heaters have finally come of age due to market pressures, so now you can buy a highly efficient mainstream tankless heater for home use.
I now have a Bosch Aquastar 125HX. Not only is it smaller and more efficient than any water heater that uses a tank, it gives endless hot water at good pressures, and has worked flawlessly in a marine environment for the last three years on my houseboat. This water heater instantly lights up a propane heating system automatically the moment I turn on the hot water, yet it does not need a power cord (important if your power goes off, or if you aren't on the grid). It does this by cle
