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: Roku Premiere | HD/4K/HDR Streaming Media Player

 

I have a few different Roku devices (two ultras, and one Express). The Roku Express crashed when trying to open apps like Netflix and Hulu, but worked with other apps. After trying to restart and factory reset it (and trying to replace the express with my old Firestick which got caught in a boot loop that I could not get it out of), I decided to replace it with the Premiere. So far, it is able to open all of the Apps without a problem and the stream quality is very good. The setup is very easy. You just go to the Roku website and enter the code on the screen. Then it will download the apps that you select, or if you already have a Roku account, whatever apps have already been downloaded on the other devices.

Overall, the interface and remote for the Roku to be much better and more user friendly than the FireStick/FireTV interface and remote. The only downside I have discovered with the Roku interface (aside from the issue of the Roku express crashing) is that you are forced to have all of the same apps on each device that are logged in under that account. So, if you have multiple TVs in your house, some of which only certain people watch, and each has a Roku device that is logged in under the same account, everyone has to have the same apps on their home screen. The apps on each device's home screens can be rearranged, however, and those are sticky to the particular device. So, while each TV is stuck with the same apps, regardless of whether the person who watches that TV watches them all or not, each person can have their home screen arranged how they prefer, with the apps they watch toward the top of the list. And, Roku will randomly put new Apps on the home screen, whether you want them or not. That is the biggest pain and drawback. But, other than that, Roku has a very nice interface and is easy to use.

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: WORX WX082L 4V ZipSnip Cordless Electric Scissors

 

This is definitely good for cutting thin things like wrapping paper, mesh (like screen material), etc. Basically, it can cut through anything that is relatively thin. It is not good for cutting stuff like thicker, cardboard, or anything much thicker than a couple of sheets of paper. But, for what it can cut, especially for long straight cuts that may be needed, it is much faster and easier than using scissors.

Product Review: TP-Link N300 WiFi Extender(RE105)

 

My townhouse is split-level and has dead zones on the upper level (my router is in my office in the basement). I bought two of them, and they definitely boost the signal on the upper levels and eliminate or reduce the dead zones. This is very easy to set up. You just plug it in near your router, push the WPS button on the router and the WPS button on the extender, then wait for the blinking light on the extender to turn solid. Then you can unplug the extender and move it to where you want the signal boost. Now I am getting the same Wi-Fi signal strength on the upper floors of my townhouse as I can in the basement. Given that these are relatively inexpensive, I definitely recommend this if you have a house that has Wi-Fi dead zones.

Product Review: Umbra Venti Swing-Top 16.5-Gallon Kitchen Trash Lid– Large, 35-inch Tall Garbage Can

 

The first can I received was shipped in a huge Amazon box, with a smaller inner box (with old labels on it) indicating that it may have been a returned item. The inner box was all bent up, and when I opened it, the can had two huge cracks on each side of the cylinder, which basically caused the thing to fall apart. Needless to say, I returned that one. I just received the replacement which was shipped in a smaller box, was packaged much better, and was not damaged at all.

I use the SimpleHuman "P" type trash bags which were way too big for my 10-gallon garbage can. They fit perfectly in this, and I am definitely not wasting a portion of the bag now with the can filling up before the bag does. I like that there is a ring to hold the bag in place and keep it from slipping down into the interior of the can. I am not a huge fan of the swing-type lid, but as long as you do not have something that is too stinky in the can it is not a huge issue. But, one thing that would make it better is a lid that fully closes the interior.

Product Review: Dial Liquid Hand Soap, Himalayan Pink Salt & Water Lily

 

I ordered this as a replacement for a subscribe and save item I had set up on Amazon. Usually, the soap I order through that comes inside a ziplock bag, and the top is screwed on well. This one was just plopped in a box with another item, and the top was loose (it did not come off all the way) causing some of the soap to leak out. Definitely not packaged as well as usual. The packaging issue aside, it does smell very good and is akin to the other non-foaming dial soaps.

Product Review: HDMI Switch 4K HDMI Splitter-Techole Aluminum Bi-Directional HDMI Switcher 2 Input 1 Output

 

I mounted my TV on the wall, and the mount covers one of the HDMI ports, making it impossible to access. So, I bought this so I could have both my Firestick and my blu-ray player connected to the TV without having to unplug a cable every time. A couple of things should be noted about this. First, it is a switch, not a splitter. So it does not allow for multiple displays on a single screen. It just allows you to switch between two devices by pushing the button on top of the unit. Second, it does not have its own power supply. It gets power by having something like a FireStick or Roku plugged into it (which is likely preferrable to most people). So, with those provisos, it works very well for what it is intended, and I definitely recommend it.

Product Review: Trianium Tempered Glass Screen Protector Designed for Apple iPhone 11

 

This is a screen protector for the iPhone 11. You get three glass protectors, which fit perfectly over the iPhone 11 screen. The instructions are very straightforward, and it took me all of 5 minutes to get it on. It fits just over the viewable area of the screen and does not get too close to the sides, which can interfere with getting a case on. There is a guide plate that goes over the phone to help get the screen protector on, which definitely helps get it lined up. Then, once I got it on I was able to get my case back onto the phone without any problem. I hope to never actually need three of these, but I definitely recommend them.

Product Review: Leviton 80709-W 2-Gang Toggle Device Switch Wallplate

 

I got these switchplate covers after I painted the walls of my townhouse. They fit a standard double switchplate, and I had no issues with missing screws. Definitely recommend them for an inexpensive switchplate replacement.

Product Review: Shark RV1001AE IQ Robot Self-Empty XL

 

I initially had this set up in my basement, which is partially finished with carpet. I closed the door to the mechanical room so it could not get in there. I watched it for part of the time while it was doing its run, and like the videos from Shark shows, it basically goes in rows across the floor. My basement is pretty much L-shaped, with a couch, bookcase, desk, a couple of DVD cabinets, and workout equipment against the walls. It was able to navigate to the obstructions, and once it figured out it could not go any farther, turned, and kept going. It seemed to get up the few specks on the floor well and returned to the base without a problem after about 35 minutes. It should be noted, that the carpet in the basement is basically brand new, and there are no kids or pets that go down there to get it dirty. Nor, do I have any area rugs or things that have caused other reviewers issues. One thing I do like is that the dust bin on the robot empties into the bin on the base. When the bin on the base gets full, you just empty it into the garbage. So, unlike the Roomba equivalent, it does not require bags (which for the Roomba are costly). 

I then moved it to the front entryway, which has vinyl plank flooring with rugs on it. Every so often it will get stuck on one of the rugs, but for the most part, it works just fine going over the rugs and transitioning from the hard floor and the rugs. I recently had to replace the battery, which is a bit of a pain in the ass, but it is working fine. One big point is that the app does not tell you that the battery needs to be replaced. It will just stop working and you kind of have to figure out what the issue is. 

Overall, I like it so far. If not for the weird issue with it coming off the base during the power outage, and not returning to it, I would have given it five stars. It does seem like when it is off the base the battery drains pretty quickly, but it does not take an extremely long time to charge up. 

Product Review: Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 indoor Grill with Air Fry, Roast, Bake & Dehydrate

 

This is the older model of the ninja grill. I purchased this because I do not need the extra features of the XL smart grill, and I liked that this one has a larger splatter guard, which covers the entire top interior of the cover. So far, I have used it to make air-fried tater tots and grill hamburgers (using pre-formed hamburger patties from the store).

Just from the couple of uses of the unit, I have found that when grilling it is a good idea to set the time for a couple minutes more than what the guide calls for, and then as you get to the last 5 minutes, check them to see if they are cooked to your desired level of doneness. On the preformed patties, 9 minutes cooked them to a doneness level between medium rare and medium. It will, of course, depend on the thickness of the meat. My version does not have the thermometer that plugs into the side of the unit, but I already have a digital meat thermometer, so I did not feel the need to pay extra for that.

The big pro is that this is very easy to clean. You simply pull out the inner container which holds the grill plate and the crisper basket when the unit is in use, get rid of the grease, then soak the container and grill plate and/or put them in the dishwasher. All the removable parts (the container, the grill plate, the crisper basket, and the splatter guard) are dishwasher safe.

Overall, it is much easier to use than an outdoor grill, especially if you are in a state with cold winters, and unlike some other indoor grills, it does not emit a lot of smoke. The instructions are easy to follow, and the food seems to turn out very well. If I need to update my review in the future I will do so, but so far with limited use of it, I am very satisfied.

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: OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Airtight POP Round Canister Set

 

This is a set of three food storage canisters. I have three sets of these now. They look great on a kitchen counter, or you can easily store them in a pantry or cupboard. There is a large, medium, and small canister, each of which holds a decent amount. The large canister can easily hold the contents of a 5-lb bag of flour and still have room to spare. While they do not vacuum seal, they are airtight so that air that is not already in them cannot get in once the lids are on, and they will definitely keep pests out (whether it is a random fly that gets in the house, or you have the misfortune of having mice getting into your kitchen), and unless you have an extremely smart pet, they will not be able to get into them either. I have flour, oatmeal, brown sugar, pasta, and cookies stored in my various canisters, and they work great for all of them. I definitely recommend these.

Product Review: HomeRight C800251 3/8 inch Roller Cover for Paint Power Roller

 

This is a replacement roller cover for the Wagner Spraytech Right PaintStick C800953.M Roller Applicator. The fibers do not shed on the wall, and you get good coverage with it. I love using the PaintStick for smaller areas where you need to use a paint roller.

Product Review: LITOM 30 LEDs Solar Motion Sensor Landscape Spotlights

 

This is a set of two solar-powered outdoor motion-detecting lights. I am using a couple of these in my back patio area. One I have mounted on a fence and one I used the stake to put it in the ground. The motion detection is great, both come on immediately when I open my patio door and throw a lot of light. They stay on for anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute after the motion stops. 

The idea is that you place them where they can get as much direct sunlight during the day, which will allow them to come on at night when the motion detection is tripped. The one mounted on the fence gets a lot of light until the afternoon when it is in the shade, and the one in the ground is partially obstructed by my satellite dish but still gets enough light that it works well. They are easy to install and you do not need to do any wiring or drilling (unless you want to mount it to the side of the house). I definitely recommend these and plan to get a couple more.

Product Review: Academic Wall Calendar 2020-2021

 

This is a  good calendar that can be hung on a wall or used on a desk. It has large blocks for the days that make keeping track of appointments or things like scheduling workouts easy. I definitely recommend it if you want a more functional calendar without pictures.