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: Shark VacMop Multi-Surface Cleaner

 

This is for use in the shark vacmops, although I am sure it could be used in any robotic mop that allows for using more than just water. I use it on vinyl plank flooring on my main floor (which is waterproof and pretty much indestructible) and it works great on that kind of flooring. It claims to be multi-surface, so you should be able to use it on any hard surface, but I do know that they have a separate product that is specifically for hardwood floors. The scent is very nice, subtle, and not overpowering. And, it dries fairly quickly. It is reasonably priced, and lasts a long time, as long as you do not have to mop every day.