Product Review: iRobot Braava Jet 200 Series Damp Sweeping Pads

 

These are the damp pads for the Braava 200 series of robot mops from iRobot. Meaning, when one of these pads is on the mop it will spray some water on the floor and make a couple passes, but does not do as "deep" a cleaning as it does with the wet pad. There is a bit of a scented solution of some kind on the bottom of the pad that gives off a scent as the robot mops up the water. I am not sure if it contributes anything more than scent or if it actually helps clean, however.

The mop knows which type of pad is attached based on the perforations in the "card" (for those old enough to remember the punch cards that were used for computer programming years ago, it is like that) that slips into the base of the mop to attach the pad. It is akin to a Swiffer dusting sheet. Depending on how large a room you are mopping you may have to use more than one pad and one cleaning cycle to get the entire room clean. You do want to make sure that if there are any bigger lint balls or more than just a minimal amount of dust or dirt on the floor, you use a vacuum and/or a dry pad (which is like a Swiffer sheet), otherwise, this will just push them around. These are best used if your floor just needs relatively light cleaning (for example, if you clean them once or twice a week on a regular basis) or in relatively low-traffic areas that have a hard surface floor.

Product Review: iRobot Braava Jet 200 Series Dry Sweeping Pads

 

These are the dry pads for the Braava 200 series of robot mops from iRobot. Meaning, when one of these pads is on the mop it will just sweep the floor (like using a Swiffer dusting cloth) and will not spray any water. The mop knows which type of pad is attached based on the perforations in the "card" (for those old enough to remember the punch cards that were used for computer programming years ago, it is like that) that slips into the base of the mop to attach the pad. 

Depending on how large a room you are sweeping you may have to use more than one pad and one cleaning cycle to get everything up. Also, it is good for dust and lint on the floor, but it will not get up big particles, just put them around. So, you may have to make a pass with a vacuum to get bigger things up.

Product Review: iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot Mop

 

I have used this a couple of times in a smaller half-bath/powder room which has tile flooring. I fully admit I hate cleaning floors so the floor had dust bunnies and hair in the corners. So, I went over it with a stick vacuum and then used the dry pad (which is akin to a dry Swiffer duster) and then I used the wet cleaning pad on the mop. Note, that there are three types of pads, wet, damp, and dry. All the pads themselves are actually dry. The damp and wet refers to how much water the unit will spray while cleaning. When the damp pad is connected the unit will spray less water than with the wet pad connected. The robot knows which pad is connected based on holes in the pad attachment that slip into the base of the robot. They look like old-school programming punch cards (for those who are old enough to remember what those were) and based on the configuration of the holes, the robot knows how much, if any, water to spray while cleaning. The robot holds 150 mL of water (so just over half a cup), which is strangely not in the documentation provided with the unit but can be found on the iRobot website. 

The first time I cleaned the bathroom it took quite long. It probably took 30 minutes with the dry pad and another 30 with the wet pad. The second time, just using the wet pad took about 15-20 minutes. After the cleaning cycle, the floor was damp, but not extremely wet. So, the pad did a good job getting up most of the water that was sprayed. How clean it will get your floor will largely depend on how clean you kept it up to the point of using the mop the first time. After the first use of the wet pad, I had to pick up some wet dust/hair clumps that were left on the floor. After the second use, there were almost none of those and the floor was cleaner. So, if you use it once a week or once every two weeks, it seems like it will do a great job keeping the floors clean.

Here are some pros and cons I have noticed after the first couple of uses:

Pros:

1. It is small and can maneuver around tight spaces. It had no problems getting around the back of the toilet and between the toilet and vanity in a small bathroom.

2. The pads are reasonably priced for replacement disposable pads, and there are washable pads available as well, so it ends up being very cost-efficient.

3. The pads can be ejected after you run it by a slide-type button, so you do not have to touch the pad to get it off the unit. Definitely a plus after cleaning a bathroom.

4. It is very light, even with water in it, and has a handle so you can pick it up without touching the bottom.

5. It has a rechargeable battery. While it does not have a docking station that the unit reconnects to and charges from like the more expensive units do, it does have a battery that pops in and out of the unit and plugs into a charging dock (which itself plugs into a regular wall outlet) to charge. It takes a couple of hours for the battery to charge, and when the robot is connected to the app, it has a battery indicator so you know how full the battery is.

Cons:

1. It does not have all the bells and whistles that the higher-priced units have, like a docking station, the ability to schedule times to clean, etc. It does have some "smartness" to it, such as a virtual wall feature that will allow you to set it down and not clean anything behind where the unit starts out, but that is about it. Personally, I just put it toward the back wall of the bathroom and shut the door, and do not bother engaging the virtual wall. It will stop cleaning roughly where it started, so if you do not start it in front of the door, you will be able to open the door when it is done without it blocking the door (if the door swings into the room being cleaned).

2. It does not turn off on its own right away after the cleaning cycle stops. It is just a small point, but it would be nice if it just powered down right away after it stops so it does not waste battery power needlessly.

If I think of any other pros or cons as I use it, I will update the review. But, so far, after just a couple of uses, I really like this, and definitely recommend it, especially if you are not cleaning large areas.

Product Review: Tile Mate 4 Pack

 

This is a good source to keep track of things like keys, wallets, purses, etc., as long as they are in close proximity. I am sure everyone has done the "mad scramble" to find their keys or wallet while trying to leave for work, or just head somewhere that he or she has to get to within a certain amount of time. These will totally eliminate that. If you are used to setting up internet-connected devices, these are very simple to set up. They connect via Bluetooth to your phone via the Tile app. You name each tile, and from then on, you can find that particular tile (if it is in range of your phone) by choosing "find wallet" in the app, and it will play a tone from the tile that gets louder the longer it takes you to find it. Conversely, if you have a tile at hand but cannot find your phone, you can click the button on the tile and it will ring your phone. If a tile is out of range of the phone it will show on a map the last location it was before the phone lost connection so you can see if you left it at work, a restaurant, etc. Those are all the free features, and Tile does have a fee-based membership that adds features like notifying you via a phone alert if you leave the tile at home or work (basically if you move out of range of a tile), allowing you to send a notice to other tile users that something is lost, and notify you if someone finds it. Etc.

Overall, I love these. If you are going to put one in a wallet I would suggest getting a pack that includes the "slim" tiles, because the regular ones are fairly thick. That said, I was able to move some things around in my slim wallet and put a regular tile in one of the credit card slots and it works fine. I definitely recommend these, as long as you do not want something that will give you a precise location (that will get you within feet of what you are looking for) in the app.

Product Review: VicTsing Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo

 

I bought this was looking for a better wireless keyboard-mouse combination, mainly because my old wireless mouse was a total pain to use. This is much better than my old one, but not perfect, and not as good as the more expensive Logitech models. The only thing that the keyboard is missing that would be nice to have is a hotkey for the calculator. Aside from that, it has a nice feel (but the keys could be softer), and the mouse is responsive and does not have issues with scrolling that my old one did. I am not sure that it would be all that good for a gaming keyboard, but if you mainly your computer to surf the internet and use Word or Excel or something like that, this is a decent to good, inexpensive option. But, if you really prefer softer touch keyboard keys, this will not be a good option for you.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 57

Day 57 is the start of Phase 3 in 645, which meant the lower body strength workout. This is really a total body workout as you are doing some arm work (by doing a lot of rows) and a lot of core work. In this workout, we go back to 15 reps and increase the pace. There is less downtime between exercises, so you get a lot more of a cardio effect than in the prior weeks.

For XB I did the lower back routine. My back and hips get so tight overnight that it takes about halfway through the six minutes for things to loosen back up. By the end of it my back always feels much better and a lot looser.

Product Review: Evelots 2 Pack VHS Storage Bag

 

If you are those who shelled out quite a bit of money on Disney VHS tapes over the years and do not want to part with them but want to store them out of the way, these are perfect. They are much like the DVD storage bags Evelots put out with three sections because of the inner plastic pieces that reinforce the seams. They will keep dust and water out, allowing you to keep them organized and stored on a shelf or in a closet without taking up a ton of space.

Product Review: Dyson V7 Motorhead Cordless Stick Vacuum

 

I have a multi-level townhome with open stairs that get very dirty and can be a pain to keep clean, especially with a regular vacuum, I have tried other handheld vacuums that just do not have enough power to get the dirt up, especially if I have gone a couple of weeks (or longer) between vacuuming the stairs. This has absolutely solved the issue.

The vacuum comes with a docking station that mounts to the wall, a charger, whose cord mounts in the docking station so it will not get lost and can constantly charge the battery when it is docked, a telescoping tool to allow you to reach up high, a floor tool that allows it to act as a "regular" vacuum, a crevice tool, and a small head that allows for vacuuming the stairs or vents. There are two levels of suction, regular and max. The max setting uses more battery power but will pick up pretty much anything. Even with the floor attachment on it is very lightweight and easy to maneuver up a flight of stairs. The battery comes about twenty percent charged, and it takes a couple of hours to fully charge it the first time. After that, the charging time really depends on how long you use it before putting it back on the docking station. I have used it a few times now and did not fully drain the battery.

There are a few drawbacks. First, the container is very small and fills up quickly. Second, if the rollers on the floor tool get stuck because of hair or other debris, or it gets a clog in any portion, it will not power at all when you pull the trigger. So, it is easy to think that it is broken when it really just needs to be uncloged or unstuck. It is however very easy to empty and you can do it without ever having to touch the dirt and dust. Also, there is no way to lock the trigger in the ON position, you have to constantly hold it down for it to run. So, depending on how much you have to do, your hand may get tired, but it takes less than a minute to do a flight of stairs, and a couple of minutes to do a small area like a front entryway landing, or the like.

While this is not likely a vacuum you would use to do your entire house, especially if you have a lot of floor space to cover, it is perfect to pair with a robotic vacuum to get in places the other cannot go, such as stairs. Aside from the two points I mentioned above, which for me are very minor issues, I have no complaints so far. I will update this review when I need to replace the battery. I know that some people have found that the battery requires replacing (due to the inability to hold a charge) far too quickly, which would cause me to knock it down a couple of stars, but so far I have no complaints.

Product Review: OAGear Backpack Cooler

 

I use this to bring my lunch to work, as well as a protein drink I have later in the afternoon. I usually put about 4 of the small, flat, ice blocks in the insulated middle portion of the bag and it kept everything cool, as advertised. In fact, when I get home and take the ice packs out, they are usually still partially frozen. The insulating capability of this is much better than the lunch bag I was using before. In that, the same ice blocks were melted by the time I left work. The only thing I would change is to make the non-insulated front compartment larger so more items will fit in that. That aside, it works as advertised, and I definitely recommend it.

Product Review: PWR+ 6.5 Ft Samsung-Galaxy-Tab Table

 

I have one of the old Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets which has a 30-pin connector. The charging cable that came with it is starting to break down, so I got this to replace it. The tablet recognized it right away, and the cable charged it normally. Since this is one of the Samsung products found to infringe on Apple's products, it is no longer supported so having an off-brand replacement cable available is great.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 56

For Day 56, I did the Realign routine in XB. I think I have a bit more mobility and range of motion in this routine. I attribute that to all the hip and lower back work that is in 645 and doing the lower back and lower body routines during the week in XB. Most of the stretches in Realign are ones that are more challenging for me, but I am making improvements.

App Review: YouTube

 

This is a good stand-alone app that allows you to watch YouTube videos without having to use an internet browser through the TV. If you sign in with your Google credentials it will allow you access to all your saved videos, playlists, etc., and allows you to keep your phone free for other things (and watch videos on a larger screen).

Product Review: GREENSKY Compatible Toner Cartridge Replacement for Samsung Laser Printer

 

These are for the Samsung series of color laser printers (the CX series). You get the best of an inkjet with individual color cartridges, with the speed and printing quality of a laser printer. The big downside is that if you purchase the Samsung brand toner, it is very expensive. About $50+ per cartridge. This allows you to get all the colors in one pack for about $80. It is still expensive, and yes, kind of a rip-off given how inexpensive it is to actually make toner and the cartridges themselves. But, unless you want to buy a new printer each time ink or toner runs out, this is the most cost-efficient option I have found to get replacement toner for these printers. I had no issue with the printer not recognizing or accepting the toner cartridges (at least the one I have replaced so far), and they do last a long time. This is a subscribe and save item on Amazon so you can have replacements sent at whatever interval works for you.

Product Review: Skin-Friendly Non Latex Resistance Loop Bands Set of 4

 

These are a set of rubber resistance loops that can be used for a variety of different workouts. For example, the Chalean Extreme Beachbody workout uses loops quite a bit, as does the Job-1 program. They give you different levels of resistance with each band, so you can use the lighter resistance bands for exercises you need them on and use higher resistance bands as you improve. I would describe them as skin-friendly to an extent. They can still roll up and pinch, especially if you have hairy legs or ankles. There is also a lighter set (the bottom one in the picture) and a heavier set (the top one) that has bands with a higher amount of resistance. So, depending on your fitness level you can choose the set that is right for you (or get both and work your way into using the heavier set). I definitely recommend them.

App Review: Disney+

 

I have subscribed to Disney+ since its launch, mostly to watch the Star Wars and Marvel content, but I do, from time to time, watch some of the older movies that I watched as a kid. While the app is free to download, you do have to pay for a subscription, just like is the case with Netflix, Hulu, etc. It has a big chunk of the Disney catalog (with more being added pretty consistently) including many of the older movies and shows that people who are over 40 grew up with.

There are numerous ways to navigate around the content in the app, such as searching, browsing just TV shows, just movies, and by content (e.g. Star Wars, Marvel, National Geographic, etc.). You can also browse content by the decade of release. One great thing is that you do not have to pay extra for the material that is available in 4K. If you have a 4K television, you can play 4k content without having to upgrade your subscription ala Netflix. Another thing that is really nice is that you get bonus content, mostly for the newer movies, much like would be included with the physical DVD or Blu-ray discs which is sometimes missing when you opt just to stream material.

You also can set up multiple profiles so each person in the house can have their own watchlist, and get their own recommendations based on what is viewed under the profile. And, you can set any additional profiles (there is a pre-set main/default profile that cannot be altered aside from assigning it a name and icon) as a "kids" profile to limit what content can be watched under it. As I mentioned above, each profile can also be assigned an icon of pretty much any character from the shows/movies on the service.

I have not had any of the streaming issues or error messages that some are getting. I was able to download and sign in without a problem, although I did so pretty early on the morning launch day. Overall, you get a ton of content for your money, including movies that are harder to find on physical media because they have gone out of print. It is a great value, especially if you signed up for the three-year deal that was offered a few months, or if you already have Hulu (you can basically pay a dollar per month more (if you subscribe to commercial-free Hulu) to bundle Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+.

One thing to note is that after you sign in, it will require you to verify your email address, basically by emailing you a code that you then enter into the app. Although, the system does not make this very obvious because there is no box that pops up instructing you to verify your email. What happens is, on the menu (which is on a sidebar) there is a settings icon (a gear icon), that will have an exclamation point over it. When you click into the settings you will then see that you have to verify your email, then it will send the code. I am not sure what will happen if you do not verify or how much time you have to do so. Most likely it will kick you out after a while, but it is ultimately a very easy process. I definitely recommend it.

Product Review: Adoric Wasp Trap Catcher

 

I have had wasps getting into my townhouse for years and tried this a few summers ago, putting it outside of my patio door. It took a while to catch anything, just using sugar water, but then did get a bunch of wasps. Later in the summer, however, it did get a honeybee. When the flowers in my garden were blooming the bees pretty much ignored it, but after things started dying off, the bee got caught in it. After that, I did not use it again. Over the course of the spring and summer, just one wasp got in the house, which is much better than in prior years when I would get at least 3-5.

Product Review: Flurhrt F-01 Nylon Zip Ties

 

These are great heavy-duty ties. I use one on the hose from my washer to the laundry sink to keep the lint trap on (since the zip ties that come with the metal mesh lint traps have become more and more flimsy over the years) and one to secure the manual garage door opener handle so it cannot be pulled from the outside using a coat hanger. They are good for each purpose, or for something like cable management. The pack gives you more of them than most people will likely ever need, but even so, they are useful when you do need them and I definitely recommend them.

Product Review: Bodyprox Ankle Support Brace

 

I use these when I am doing high-intensity plyometric and/or martial arts workouts. I have had issues with my ankles rolling for years, and these do a great job of keeping them stable. I love the fact that they have wrap-around straps. Those are much better for stability than the type of supports that slip over your foot. They are a bit bulkier than the slip-on supports which means, depending on your shoes, you may have a harder time getting your shoes on and tying them. It would also be nice if they were offered as a discounted two-pack, so those who want more than one could purchase a single pack. That aside, I definitely recommend these if you have issues with your ankles.

Product Review: OXO Good Grips Rice & Small Grains Washing Colander

 

I make quinoa quite a bit, and it has always been a pain to clean prior to cooking (you are supposed to rinse it before you cook it). This makes it very easy. The grains do not fall through at all, and the holes on the upper sides make it easy to get excess water out that does not drain through the bottom, without dumping a bunch of quinoa down the sink drain. I definitely recommend this.

Product Review: AGPTEK® SATA/PATA/IDE Drive to USB 2.0 Adapter Converter Cable for Hard Drive Disk

 

I have a couple of old drives that I was hoping to use this on. It works great on an older SATA drive that it works just fine on, powers and connects easily, and allows for file transfer to my newer computer. The other drive I was hoping that it would be able to power long enough for me to transfer files from seems, unfortunately, to just be dead. While all the connections fit (it is a parallel connection), the drive would not power.

The kit comes with a power adapter, and different power cables to attach to your drive, depending on the connection. Then there is a piece that attaches the drive to your computer (via USB) which allows for a variety of different attachments. As long as your drive can be powered, this is a good, inexpensive option to transfer files from an old internal or non-USB external drive. If the drive is totally dead, however, then this will not work to revive it.

App Review: YouTube TV

 

I made the switch to YouTube TV from DirecTVNow (now AT&T NOW) in 2019 after getting fed up with DirecTV Now's streaming issues, limited DVR space and functionality, and their last price hike. On the whole, I liked YouTube TV better than DirecTV Now but switched to Sling TV after YouTube TV removed content that I watched and raised its prices beyond what I felt it was worth. It originally had a pretty good channel lineup (the only channel I watched regularly, that was not on the service was Comedy Central), included all my local channels, including the local Fox Sports channels (which were add-ons for AT&TNOW) and I had a lot less buffering issues with this. Plus you get 6 streams so you do not have to worry about logging out of it on one TV if you want to switch rooms. However, it did remove some of the Fox Sports content and some of the local content that I watched, which is why I switched after they raised their prices.

The other thing that was a plus for me (and something I wish Sling would do) is that it allows you to set up a custom channel lineup, and to set the channel order in the guide so you can put the channels you watch more often at the beginning of the guide and the things you do not watch as much at the end (or even hide them from the channel list entirely). The only drawback to that feature is that you had to do that from the online website, and could not do it in the Firestick app, or the Roku app, but your custom lineups do carry over to those apps. That is still one advantage over Sling.

The big minus to me is the DVR interface. You do get to "record" unlimited shows, but you do not get a traditional recording list. Basically, you add a show to your library and it will record that show as it airs and put the icon/graphic for the show at the top of your library saying that a new episode is available. But it does not categorize the recordings by date (meaning you cannot get a list of the shows that were recorded on a given date) or keep the list of shows recorded in alphabetical order. And, the most irritating point is that if you exit out of watching a recording you have to start all over again and find where you left off. In that way, it is kind of like stopping a blu-ray disc that loads to the main menu when you turn it back on. You can pause a show as you are watching it, and pick back up where you leave off, but if you exit out of the recording and watch a new show, take a break, etc., then you have to fast forward through the recording to find where you left off when you start it up again. Also, some shows do not actually record but get "released" which means that you still have to sit through the commercials as opposed to being able to fast-forward through them. I assume this has to do with copyright/licensing issues, but it is a minor annoyance. Hopefully, those things will be something that will get changed down the line.

Overall, you get a good channel line-up and when it was $50 it was a good deal. The app itself is free to download and you get a free 7-day trial, but after that, you had to pay at least $50, more if you choose to add other services like Showtime. And, the service had some good original series as well. But, I did not think it was worth the price hike above $50, especially when I was losing content. This is especially true when the interface was not as user-friendly as it could have been and the DVR was not user-friendly at all.

Product Review: Simplehuman Code P Trash Bags

 

I got these when I was looking for a new set of trash bags after the member's mark brand that I bought in bulk at Sam's Club reduced the size of their bags (and raised the price) making them almost too small for my kitchen trashcan. These are great, both in size, and durability. They come in a box that has three packages of bags within it. The packages are about the same size as the packages of many flushable wipes so they will not take up a ton of space in your closet or under the sink. 

If you get them through Amazon they are available as a subscribe-and-save item so you can set up a delivery schedule that suits your needs. They are a bit pricey compared to even the name-brand tall kitchen bags (although they are not much more expensive than those) but hold more and are sturdier than many similar bags (especially generic bags). So, if you are looking for good tall kitchen trash bags I definitely recommend these.

Product Review: Blue Sky 2020 Monthly Wall Calendar

 

This is a good spiral-bound wall calendar with oversized blocks that allow you to easily write down appointments, workouts, or whatever you need to keep track of on a daily basis (as long as you are not looking to write a novel on the calendar). 

It is not really good for a desk calendar, although you could use it as one. But it is reasonably priced, and good if you are not interested in, or do not feel the need for, a calendar that has a bunch of pictures.

Product Review: Gya Labs Pure Vanilla Essential Oil

 

I love the scent of Vanilla essential oil but it is (at least in my area) hard to find in regular stores at a reasonable price. I mostly use it in my body wash to give it a vanilla "accent" scent. I just use enough (about 5 drops) to give it a bit of a vanilla scent without it being overpowering. So for my purposes, it works well.

Product Review: New Replacement Remote Control for Toshiba Blu-ray DVD Player

 

I got this when I thought the remote for my player died, and it was the exact same remote for the Toshiba BDK players, but it did not work on mine.  The original remote stopped working, despite the player itself being able to turn on and load discs. This one was not able to turn on or control the player either, so there is a chance that there was an issue with the player itself. The player was never dropped and I made sure the IR sensor was not obstructed, and there was no response to anything from the remote. So I ended up returning the remote and recycling the player.