Product Review: Dishwasher Magnet Clean Dirty Sign

 

This is a small rectangular magnetic sign that can go on the front of the dishwasher. It has a door that can slide left and right to show whether the dishes in the dishwasher are clean or dirty. It is small enough (about 6 inches long and 2 inches high) to fit above most dishwashers' handles. And the magnet is strong enough to keep it in place. It also has a couple of adhesive stickers that you can use if the front of your dishwasher is not magnetic (e.g., if you have a cabinet panel on the front of your dishwasher). It is handy, especially if you have multiple people in your household.

Product Review: Lasko 5435 Max-Endurance Oscillating Ceramic Heater

 

I use this as a space heater at work because my office can get a bit cold in the winter, even with the building heater running. It works very well to keep a relatively small space warm. It is a bit loud, so if you do have to be on the phone quite a bit, you may have to turn it off to hear the phone call. Other than that, however, it is a good option if you need extra heat in a single room.

Product Review: DG Casa Bardy Upholstered Panel Bed Frame

 

I have a king-size bed on an adjustable base that my dog is small enough to get under. I am worried about him getting under there when I don't know it and getting hurt when I use the adjustable base, so I was looking for a frame that I could put around the bed to keep the dog (a 15-pound schoodle) from going under it. This is a bed kit (headboard, side rails, footboard, and crossbars) that will fit around an adjustable base (at least the Purple regular king adjustable base), but it is not a perfect fit (at least if the adjustable base is set up first). If you are putting it around an adjustable base you will use all the pieces except the crossbars.

The box is smaller than you would expect because most of the pieces are zipped into the back of the headboard. When you get it delivered, the box is just under 80lbs and it is helpful to have two people move it. But, once you get the headboard out and unzip the back, one person can move all of the pieces pretty comfortably (albeit not necessarily easily). There is some assembly required. For example, you do have to attach the legs and the sides to the headboard frame, connect the side boards together, and put the feet on the footboard. The instruction page is fairly clear on what all of the parts are, and what parts are to be used in which steps. All of the screws and washers are in a single bag, so it is very helpful to sort them out ahead of time which will make putting everything together much easier. The hardest part, if you are putting it together around an existing adjustable base will be to connect the side boards to the headboard and footboard. Basically, there are 8 screws, two on each side of the headboard and two on each side of the footboard that brackets on the side boards slip over and then you tighten the screws. It is not easy to get at the screws on the second side once you get one side put together. That said, the end product is very good.

I put this together by myself in about an hour and a half (aside from the crossbars which I obviously did not need). I love having a headboard that prevents my pillows from falling between the bed and the wall, and it looks nice. And, it does a good job preventing the dog from getting under the bed which was the main purpose I got this for. I absolutely recommend it.

Product Review: Amazon Basics Upholstered Storage Rectangular Ottoman and Entryway Bench

 

This is a storage bench that is about the size of one and a half of those mid-sized plastic storage bins that you can get from any store. I use mine in my front entryway to store off-season coats, hats, gloves, etc. It is the perfect size for that. It is also something that you can easily put in a living room to store things like kid's toys, pet toys, or anything that you just want to keep out of the way and use as a footrest in front of a couch. 

The best thing about it is that you do not have to assemble anything. It is put together (including the legs) right out of the box. So, the hardest part will actually be getting it out of the shipping box. It is a great value for the money (as long as it is still in the $75-$95 range). If it is being sold for higher than that, then you may want to look for something else because I do not think it is worth more than $100. I definitely recommend it if you are looking for some kind of "hidden" storage solution.

Product Review: Ring Indoor Cam (1st Gen)

 

This is a set of two indoor Ring Cameras. I got them mainly to be able to keep an eye on and communicate with, a disabled parent, aimed at the staircases so I can be alerted of motion on the stairs and monitor for falls. They are very easy to set up (basically you download the ring app, select the option to add a new device, scan the QR code on the back of the camera, and follow the instructions). If you are familiar with setting up devices like Amazon Echo, smart speakers, or the like, you can easily set these up. The App has a free tier and a paid monthly subscription tier. The big difference between the paid tier and the free version is that movement activity will not be recorded on the free tier, so you cannot see what happened earlier. You can only get a live view.

Once you set them up, you can customize zones in the camera's view to detect motion, and you can turn the motion detection schedule on and off, for example, if you only want to detect motion from a camera overnight, or when you are out of the house, at work, or something like that, you can. That will keep you from getting notifications when you do not need them. You can also snooze notifications for a period of time. You can also, under the privacy settings, set up zones in the camera's field of view that will not be recorded. So, yes are some privacy options, although it does not appear that you can totally turn off the camera for a duration without unplugging it. You can also set the motion detection to alert only when a person is moving, so it does not chime every time a pet moves around (during the free trial and then if you pay for the subscription after that).

The video is very good. Even at night with all the lights off, you can see very well. Much better than old grainy security cameras where everything looks like pixelated blobs. The only con is that they do lose connection to the wireless signal from time to time. Sometimes it is very easy to get them reconnected just using the app, and sometimes you have to unplug the cameras and plug them back in to get them to reconnect. Overall, however, I am very happy with the purchase and definitely recommend these.

Product Review: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Original

 

This is a pack of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers in an assortment of sizes. They go from the size of a standard sponge to a larger square. So, you can clean a range of surfaces easily. And, they are able to get something like a sink that may have limescale built up in it clean without having to use a ton of cleaner (sometimes without using any cleaner). They are definitely worth the pickup and great to have as a subscribe and save item on Amazon so you can have them delivered on a schedule that fits your needs.

Product Review: Medog 12x16 Picture Frame Black For Pictures 12" x 16"

 

This is a 12"x 16" picture frame. They are not all that flashy looking and are a bit lightweight, but they are much better than the snap-together frames. They include a piece of plexiglass to cover the picture or whatever you are putting in it. The only complaint I have is that the metal pieces on the cardboard back that secure the backing to the frame are a bit hard to get back in place if you are putting a picture in that has a thick matte around it. Otherwise, these are a good option for an inexpensive frame.

Product Review: Outlet Covers Wall Plates

 

This is a pack of wall outlet covers that I bought when I repainted many of the rooms in my townhouse and the old 1970s "almond" colored plate covers did not look all that nice against the new wall color. While this got me more outlet covers than I needed, it is a better value to get them in a pack like this than it is to order them individually. They fit any standard outlet and come with a screw to mount them, so you do not have to save and reuse the old screws.

Product Review: Joseph Joseph Drawer Store - Compact Cutlery Drawer Organizer

 

I originally purchased the two-pack of these silverware holders, but I had enough silverware left over that I got a single one to put the rest in. These fit easily in a drawer and are much better at keeping silverware organized than the trays that require you to stack pieces on top of each other. And, they take up a lot less space than those, so you can get items that would not fit in a regular tray in the drawer as well. I definitely recommend these.

Product Review: 120PCS Push Pins, Plastic Head Transparent Thumb Tacks

 

This is a pretty basic collection of standard-sized thumb-tacks/push-pins. The small box they come in does not close very tightly, however, so you may want to transfer them into something that closes a bit better. During shipping, the small box had popped open inside the Amazon box it was shipped in, and tacks were all over the inside. Not a huge issue for me, but a bit of a pain nonetheless.

Product Review: 28 PCs Large Food Storage Containers with Airtight Lids

 

Overall, this is a great set of food storage containers. They are easy to store and clean and the snap-lids are very nice. The only change I would make is to get rid of the small, round containers and add one additional larger container. Although the small round containers are good for bringing things like salad dressing or cheese with your lunch to work, they are not all that great when it comes to actually storing leftovers, which was my main purpose for getting this set. That said, I still recommend it.

Product Review: Leviton 80701-W 1-Gang Toggle Device Switch Wallplate

 

I recently repainted my walls and wanted white switchplates to better match the wall color. These will fit a standard switch and includes the screws needed to install it, so you do not have to save the old screws which will probably be a different color if you are replacing an almond-colored switchplate, for example. These are sturdy, look good, and are a good value. I definitely recommend picking them up.

Product Review: Elrene Home Fashions Elegant Woven Leaves Jacquard Damask Tablecloth, 60" x 84"

 

I have a wooden kitchen/dining table that is a 6-foot long oval shape when the leaf is put in. The surface of the table has seen better days, so I got this to cover it up until I can get it resurfaced. The 60" x 84" oval tablecloth fits perfectly with just the right amount of overhang along the sides. 

Product Review: Cable Matters 2-Pack Braided Low Profile Flat Power Cord 6 ft

 

These are not one of those extension cords you can plug multiple things into. I am using these to plug in a power recliner that is kind of in the middle of my living room. The good thing about these is that they are low profile enough that they can sit under a rug. While they will not be absolutely flat, will allow a rug to lie mostly flat. I definitely recommend them.

Product Review: Hoover SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner with Spot Chaser Stain Remover Wand

 

I had to use this a lot sooner than expected to clean up a pet mess. So, I essentially had to put it together (very easy), figure out how to use it (also easy), and clean the carpet at the same time. It did a great job cleaning up the leftover mess/stains on the floor after the dog got left alone for too long. The spot chaser in the handle did a great job pre-treating the stains, and then "vacuuming" over the area got everything up, dried the carpet pretty well, and left the carpet smelling great. The one quirk to it is that you need to make sure the tank that collects the dirty water is on correctly. If it is not the water will go into the carpet but will not be sucked back up. I definitely recommend this both for monthly or every few months of carpet cleaning to keep your carpets fresh, and any pet emergencies that may come up.

Product Review: Accord ABSWWH2126 Sidewall/Ceiling Register with 2-Way Design, 12-Inch x 6-Inch(Duct Opening Measurements)

 

When I had my townhouse renovated I painted most of the walls. All of the vent covers and registers were original to when the place was built in the 1970s, so I decided to replace as many of them as possible and I got these for a couple of sidewall vents. They are easy to install and fit well as long as you measure your ducts correctly. Depending on the size of your existing vent covers, the holes may line up easily, otherwise, you may have to drill new holes. I personally like the slider to open and close the vents.

Product Review: 10x6 3-Way Wall Register

 

I recently finished my basement, and the old ceiling registers that were likely original to my townhouse, which was built in the early 1970s looked old and grungy. I definitely did not want to put the old ones back on in what was essentially a brand-new room, so I got these as replacements. As long as you measure the duct correctly these fit perfectly and are very easy to install, and are an easy way to spruce up a room.

Product Review: LED Edison Light Bulbs

 

I got these for new pendant lights to go over my kitchen island. They look great and throw a lot of light. If you like the look of Edison bulbs, these are definitely great looking. And, because they are LED bulbs, they will likely last a lot longer than traditional filament bulbs.

Product Review: Emliviar Mini Pendant Light

 

I got two of these when I had my kitchen remodeled back in 2020 to put over the newly installed kitchen island. I was looking initially at a slightly different light which was sold out and decided to go with these. I am not sure how easy they were to install, I had an electrician install them, but he did not seem to have any issues and had them up in about 10 minutes per light if that. I used LED Edison bulbs in them which look awesome in the fixture. Everything was well packed and nothing was broken in either of the lights I received. I am definitely happy with the purchase and highly recommend these if you are looking for nice-looking, affordable, pendant lights.

Product Review: Mr. LongArm Trim Smart Paint Edger

 

When I was renovating my townhome back in 2020, I was doing a lot of painting, including painting vaulted ceilings. This definitely came in very handy to do the edge work. And, it gets a nice coating of paint, much better than a lot of brushes and rollers. The contractors that I used who helped with some of the painting also really love these. The only drawback is that it is hard to keep paint off the wheels, so it is almost impossible to keep all the paint from getting on the connecting wall to the one you are edging, but that is really only an issue if you are going to do an accent wall. Otherwise, these are wonderful.