Home and Kitchen Reviews

Well, sounds like most of the reviewers here have a different product than I do. I had a Westinghouse mini food processor for a few years that I loved until I finally broke the lid. So, this is the replacement (my second one of these by the way). I didn't like it the first time, and I don't like it now. It emits an ear-piercing squeal every time I turn it on, and it doesn't chop very well. I ofen have to run it for a long time and/or mix up the contents several times to get it to chop everything -- and it didn't chop my parsley like it did another reviewers. I would recommend avoiding it, even despite the low cost.

I have had two Cuisinart Mini-Chop machines prior to buying the Black & Decker HC3000 Food Chopper. While each did a fair job of chopping small quantities, they were hard to clean, and died within a fairly short time. Vowing never to buy another Cuisinart product, I tried the Black & Decker. I love it. It does a great job of chopping, the container is a perfect size for the kinds of things I need to chop (garlic, ginger, onions), and the on/off button is particularly good for my somewhat impaired hands. It is also easy to wash.

My mother-in-law got me one of these when I started feeding my first son baby food. Before, I would just mash up our food with a fork. This is much easier. I've had it for three years now and it's still working great.

I use it for everything, now. My husband doesn't like veggies, and I when I cook I usually put onion, celery, and bell pepper in everything. Now we get the taste of my beloved vegtables, and he doesn't have to deal with the chunks. Great product!

The picture and description is deceiving. I thought that I was buying the Bissell that was on display at Wallmart. The picture and description fit. Wallmart did not restock their shelves fast enough, so I thought I was buying the same Bissell Cleaner and saving $10 in the meantime. This on-line version is a much smaller version of the cleaner, with half the power, and the tank capactity does not hold 1/2 gallon as advertised. If you want to continously fill and empty tanks, then buy this one. Otherwise, go to Wallmart and get a much better deal on a larger capacity, Larger rollers, and more powerful amp machine for $10 more.

Very easy to use carpet cleaner for regular light maintenance. However, I was looking for a carpet cleaner to get out some traffic and light stain spots - some deep cleaning with a powerbrush - and this didn't do the trick.
Preferring to spend no more than $100, I checked amazon for reviews on others, and found the Hoover SteamVac Jr is highly rated for deep cleaning - for the SUCTION it has. As fun + easy as using the Bissell was (about 5x now on same 2 carpets), I'll be returning to where I bought and will check into wet-dry shop vacs, as their suction is unbeatable. Might also mean the carpets would be dry in less than 8 hours.
The "powerbrush" on this is a misnomer, as the brush rolls back + forth by.....you! no motor on it. not enough bristles on it to call it a brush. also misleading is "steamer" and "deep cleaner".
The definite positives were that it's extremely easy and even fun to use, seems very well-designed, and it's terrific for light maintenance. 5 stars for all of that. Wish Bissell had advertised it as that so I wouldn't be stuck having to return it.

but,for the price, it rated 4 stars for me. So far, no leaking issues and the brush bar does rotate, as long as the front piece that holds the sucked up dirty liquid is replaced properly. If it is not, it leaks like a sieve and there is next to no suction. Regarding the time it takes for the carpet to dry, it really is not bad, if you just move slowly and give the machine a chance to suck up the liquid. If you move fast, much is left behind and it takes extra long to dry. Expect dissapointment if you want to get your whole house done in a day. The brush head is small and the machine is not very powerful, so for the cleaning to be effective you will need to take your time and make sure you get everything up. This machine is best for those without big stain problems and is best suited for those that clean their carpets with some regularity. If your carpet is trashed and really dirty, you need something bigger and more powerful (or professionals).

I recently compared the Holmes and Honeywell (Kaz) twin window fans side by side. Both were reasonably quiet, electronically reversible, and were similarly priced (Lowes and Target, respectively). The Holmes fan is more attractively designed but the Honeywell had 2 to 3 times the blowing strength as the Holmes. Also, the Honeywell fan (but not the Holmes fan) has angled louvers which can be turned to direct the flow from each fan in a different direction. I don't know which fan is built more to last, but based on the airflow, I purchased the Honeywell.

It does what I want it to - intake and exhaust. I like the sleep feature as well. It looks good and doesn't take up very much space.

We recently moved from the High Desert of California (which was very hot and dry)to Hawaii (which is very hot and humid). In California, we surrvived using a swamp cooler to provide cool, moist air. In Hawaii, good air flow is necessary to surrvive the humidity. Room fans just blow hot, humid air around inside the house. It is better than nothing, but not very effective.

We found the Holmes Window Fan which features both Intake and Exhaust options. One is installed in our kitchen window to Exhaust hot air when cooking and Intake cool air the rest of the time. Other fans are installed in bedroom windows. The one on the cool side of the house is set to Intake cool air and the other one is set to Exhaust hot air. This provides constant circulation and makes our home very comfrontable.

The only complaint we have is cleaning. One side of the fan comes completely off for easy cleaning. The other side is attached to the motors. We have to unscrew the motors and put them in zip lock baggies while we clean the rest of the fan. This could be easily corrected by making both sides independent of the motors.

Even with this inconvenience, this is the Best product we have found to keep our home cool and comfortable in a humid climate.

I've had my Swiffer Wet Jet for over a year, and I have never been impressed with it. I have to use so much cleaning solution, and you have to keep buying the cleaning pads (which don't last long, and don't really pick up anything!) All the Wet Jet does is just push around the dust and hair on my floor. If there is any actual spot that is hard to get off, you are supposed to be able to use this rough part of the Swiffer to scrape it off. However, it is just like the rough part of velcro and doesn't work very well. I end up having to grunt and break out a sweat pushing the Wet Jet back and forth over the spot. Don't buy this, it is too expensive and doesn't work well enough!

I still waiting to receive my product from the seller. I have not received a notification that the item was on back-order. I' am very upset.

My first Swiffer Wet Jet finally broke down after three years of use, not bad for a product that you can buy here for $18.99, and usually find even cheaper in stores.

Since I live in Guatemala, I had to wait months for a new one to arrive. Now, I am the furthest thing from a "neat freak," (as mom would readily attest) but I certainly did miss it.

Although, only when I walked...

Even though I had to pay an extra $26 for shipping and customs, it was still an incredible bargain.

Not only are my floors finally clean again, but I don't procrastinate doing them like I did when I only had a useless old mop.

While waiting for the Wet Jet to arrive, once I did try smearing filthy putrid water from a mop bucket, and I swore never again. I just let my floors get dirty until the Wet Jet finally came.

The criticisms I have read here are ridiculous. People actually complained because they have to sweep the floor before they mop?

How lazy can one be?

I would hate to see the filth on their floors if they never even sweep before they mop!

Yes, the cleaner does spray out a few inches in front of the mophead. I couldn't imagine wanting it any other way. If you are trying to hit a particular spot, just step back a few inches, dude.

Duh...

It is best to first sweep with a broom, then go over the floor with the Swiffer sweeper which statically attracts hairs and fine particles that the regular broom misses, and then finish with the Wet Jet. Three passes, but mopping with the Wet Jet is just as easy as sweeping - no bending, no wringing, no mess.

Just put it to the barefoot test and you'll be amazed. Walk around before and after it dries, and you will cannot help but see and feel the difference on the soles of your feet.

I also have some allergies, but the cleaner doesn't bother me at all.

The only negative is that you can go through the floor cleaner quickly, and it is not cheap. However, the pads are hardly a significant expense.

Thank god I got my Wet Jet back!

...Which is why I award the high rating of four stars. I am not star-struck like the previous reviewer, seeing only positives, no negatives. You know, I get a little bit suspicious of reviewers that grant five stars, with a two-sentence review. Like, maybe they are the actual manufacturer or seller of the product? Duh. Like we consumers were born yesterday.

Well, ok, I bought this here Taylor and also a second remote unit so that I have two remote units for two greenhouses in my backyard. Have been in use for two weeks now.

PROS :

1. I *absolutely love* the concept and think that other manufacturers have missed a big boat to big profits. It is VERY NICE to be able to monitor the outside temp from inside, and to note the MIN and MAX, as this unit allows. I spent HOURS researching other remote temp sensors, esp. ones that interfact with a PC and allow you to create a spreadsheet showing temperatures. But other manufacturers are major A-holes and want $200+. They interface via Serial Cable which was O.K. for the 1970s, but not the 2000s. Basically, other manufacturers are Retarded, and do not want to stay in business. Taylor apparently wants to stay in business, so that is Good.

2. I like the fact Taylor uses common "AA" batteries rather than some odd type like 9 volt. It is easy to obtain "AA" rechargables.
3. I like the large, legible LCD display.
4. This item WORKS. Period.

CONS:
1. I was unable to get remote #2 to work on Channel 2. Possibly due to interference from another source. So, I had to switch it to channel 3. It works OK now.
2. I am not sure how fast this thing updates the temperature reading. It said 90 F one time. I went out to the greenhouse, curious, and it didn't feel anything like 90 F. So, I have to question the accuracy/speed of the temperature reading. I am not ready at this point to trust this unit totally.
3. I DO NOT LIKE the four screws holding the batteries in place. This makes it a royal pain in the tuckus to replace batteries! What a retarded design point. This is a major annoyance and almost moved me to give this thing three, instead of four, stars.
4. Sometimes readings on channel 1 or channel 3 fail, and no temperature ("--") is available. With NEW batteries. This is starting to piss me off. If the remote technology is so Iffy, then my suggestion to the manufacturer is, just make a 100' cable. I have no prob installing such a beast and don't mind paying an extra $50, either.
5. After three months I can say, this thing eats up those AA batteries. I have had to recharge the batteries in the main unit thrice - which averages out to once a month! Come on, make this thing AC compatible already, Taylor! What a royal pain in the tuckus!

SUGGESTIONS to the manufacturer:
-redesign the unit to accept AC power, and simplify battery replacement.
-quicken temp update
-make channel switching automatic, requiring no adjustment on the part of the user, if readings do not arrive to the indoor unit

BOTTOM LINE:
Buy. Good product for the price. Reliability... unknown. This item is totally plastic and made in China. Uh... I hope for the best.

Excellet product. Light weight and easy to read from across the room. Has all the features you need for a remote thermometer.

A great product and a good price!
The Large Read Out is Great.But,
I will agree with one of the reviewers!
I suggest if You live in a Cold climate,
Go ahead and spring for the
Lithium Batteries Because, the 4 screws on the
Remote Sensor are tiny!(Eye Glass Size)not to
mention the tiny rubber gasket!
Follow instructions to the letter (Synchronizing)!
Your down to the "tenths", right out the back door!!

I was reluctant to part with the money for All-Clad, but I wanted made in USA cookware, and I needed flat bottoms for a ceramic cook top. Started with the LTD set and soon found that the cookware heated faster at lower settings, with no hot spots (like the old copper bottom Revereware clones) and it cleans up with little effort. The handles are heavy duty and riveted on, not attached with flimsy little spot welds. Polished stainless lids fit perfectly and clean easily, and the sauce pan lid fits the fry pan - keeping any spatter inside, so unless you need both pans at the same time one lid works. The stainless interiors clean easily with Barkeeper's Friend just as the instructions recommend. I was so impressed with the quality and performance that I ordered two All-Clad non-stick fry pans. Nothing works for eggs and fish like non-stick, and just because it's non-stick doesn't mean I can't toss butter, olive oil, minced garlic and onion in with the coated halibut! All-Clad non-stick is nothing like the other stuff - believe me. This stuff cooks perfectly, at low heat (you gotta keep the heat low as the thermal transfer of this stuff is incredible), doesn't burn, discolor or scratch. It cleans up with a drop of dishsoap and a swish of a dish rag, rinse and its done. Folks it's worth the money, and will last a life time.

It took my wife and I a long time to finally decide to purchase All-Clad stainless cookware. Thanks to Amazon for their frequent specials, we picked up 2 of the 1qt. stainless saucepans for a very low price on Amazon and those pans conviced us to buy nothing else after that. A couple of months ago one of our local department stores had their All-Clad open stock severely marked down so we started buying a few pieces each couple of weeks, by the time we were done we had expanded our collection to 20 pieces (not counting lids).

This cookware is just flat-out amazing. Others have already said this but I will say it again, food cooked in All-Clad actually tastes better. Whether it is the heat control, the quality of the stainless, or whatever. Saute a steak or cook up a pot of oatmeal, it taste amazing.

The only complaint we had was cleaning. After a couple of years the 2 original saucepans had gotten dull on the inside, the outside still had its original gleam. When our new pans started to look the same, we went looking for a solution. By the way, even though the stainless is dishwasher safe, we always hand-wash our cookware. Anyway, imagine our surprise when the $2.00 solution recommended by All-Clad, namely the Barkeeper's Friend cleaning powder, really really worked wonderfully to clean all our pans. Even the old originals cleaned up to look as good as the new.

Anyway, in summary, don't let the price scare you off. If you like to cook, consider it a well-deserved tool that you will use for the rest of your life. Buy the All-clad, clean it with Barkeepers Friend, and enjoy!

We received a set of Calphalon One for our wedding, and it functioned well for nonstick. As I got more into cooking, though, I wanted to try stainless, and I thought All-Clad would be the best. It is! There's nothing better than the sight and smell of onions sauteing in olive oil in an All-Clad pan.

I don't use any more oil than I did in the nonstick pans, but I get more delicious fond for pan sauces. With stainless pans, you can cook healthy meals without sacrificing flavor or texture.

Of the set, my favorite pieces are the 3-quart covered casserole and 3-quart saute pan. The casserole is perfect for making smaller batches of soup, and the saute pan is perfect for wilting spinach and cooking large batches of vegetables or meats.

I've never had a problem with cleanup -- we just put them in the dishwasher on the "pots and pans" cycle. They come out beautifully every time.

As other reviewers have mentioned, it's good to keep a nonstick skillet or omelette pan on hand for cooking eggs. I also prefer nonstick for pan-frying tofu.

This set of All-Clad has completely lived up to my expectations and has made cooking even more enjoyable.

Great sizes. Nice texture to the bowls, making them simple yet attractive for serving or storing. Lids fit well, and smooth insides make for easy cleaning.

these bowls can go from refridgerator to microwave. Just vent the lid and go!

Because I often make things and bring them to family gatherings, these bowls and lids have become indispensable to me. I will NEVER get rid of them or give them away.

The sculptured design is attractive, timeless, and presentable on the dining table. It's also easy to clean and doesn't hold dirt. Because I hand wash, having no dishwasher in my dinky studio apartment, this minor detail is tremendously important.

I like that these are clear class with no coloring; you can easily see the contents of the bowl. The glass also doesn't stain and scratch like plastic storage containers do over time. Mine have some scratches from years of use, but nothing like the gouges you see in old plastic containers.

The dark navy lids do not show stains and that's important for plastics that are used year after year. The lids still fit very well and they're easy to clean on the inside, unlike the aggravating grooves in my mother's old Tupperware containers. If I want to be certain that no leaking occurs during transport to a gathering, depending upon the contents, I cover the bowl with plastic wrap and then put the lid on. So far, so good.

I happened to see this set on display at a grocery store, thought it over a bit and bought it. It's one of the best kitchen purchases I've ever made. It's unfortunate that this set has been discontinued because I consider my set to be invaluable.

If you're very much the practical cook and you often bring food to gatherings, I'd suggest grabbing this set if you ever happen to see it somewhere at a good price.

Easy to assemble and use. If you have only a few area rugs in your home, I think you would be satisfied with this product. If you have many area rugs or larger ones or especially, if you have carpeting, you should buy a larger unit with rotating brushes and a larger water storage capacity. I like mine a lot for ease of use and cleaning our few area rugs.

From the initial appearance I doubted its ability, but it proved me wrong. Despite the light weight it sucks up a disgustingly impressive amount of dirt.

I purchased this Bissel QuickSteamer about six weeks ago. I purchased it specifically due to our incontinent beagle. I have used the big $400 carpet cleaners before, and while this little Bissel is not in the same league, it still is a very good cleaner. And worth much more than its meager $55 price tag.

It is light, easy to use, and even comes with a bottle of carpet shampoo. You fill the little container up with hot water, add some cleaner, slap it into the steamer body and you're ready to clean up your carpet. Just squeeze the trigger on the handle to squirt out the cleaner and let it go for it to be kind of sucked back into the steamer.

Now if you have a massive 3,000 square foot house then obviously this steamer is not for you. But for working in smaller carpeted areas and rooms, this is perfect. If you want to clean an entire room's carpet extremely well, you may have to re-fill the water/shampoo cannister once or twice. But the re-fill process is quick and the emptying of the dirty water only takes a moment, so this really isn't a problem at all. This steamer isn't designed for huge jobs.

The only problem I've ran into is that if you do not fill up the cannister to the "fill line" when you begin your cleaning, the trigger button may not work. I looked at the troubleshooting on the Bissel website and it says that the steamer functions on a "gravity process" or something of that nature, and that the steamer needs filled completely to get the whole gravity thing going. So, when you start make sure its filled completely.

Anyways, for the super-low price and the steamer's excellent performance, I can't imagine that you could find a better machine for a better price. This is an excellent product that I'd highly recommend to anyone.

I had bought this thinking that I wouldn't ever have to plug roomba in to charge. That didn't happen. If Roomba is in another room when the battery is running low, he won't make it to the charger. So you still have to pick it up and carry it to the charger, so what is the point? (I have an "L" shaped living area, and it isn't even that big)
You have to "babysit" roomba anyway. Sometimes his back cover falls off and you have to put it back on (very annoying, why won't it stay on?) Roomba can also get stuck in places or pick up something you forgot to get out of the way and run until the motor burns out (at least they gave me a replacement)
So it just isn't worth the money. I just bend over and plug it in myself and saved the 50 bucks.

The manufacturer states that after Roomba has completed its "mission" or the battery is running low, it will automatically seek the home base to recharge. However, after its "mission" is completed it simply stops and emits plaintive signals until it is turned off. On the other hand, when the battery is running low, it does attempt to return to the base but not always successfully since it moves about randomly and may exhaust its battery before the base is found. It is otherwise a good product and a great convenience.

When Roomba is getting low it WILL seek out its home base. You do however need to place the base in the middle of the cleaning area with plenty of visiblity. If this is done, Roomba will find its way home. This feature is also nice because it will charge the Red in 3 hours instead of 7.

If you have an L shape floor, well that is what the virtual wall is for. For example, you clean one area (living room, Dining room) and then you do the other area (Family room, Kitchen). Not to tough to figure out.

I bout the bodum Assam tea pot and was dissaponited because the inside container that holds your tea is plastic. You would think for that kind of money the infuser would be glass.

This teapot was a good buy all in all. It's true about how the leaves container doesn't stay in a static position... this concerned me at first, but it hasn't been a problem. The tea press will slide down over time without leaves in the pot, I put it in the leaves container on an angle and this stops that from happening. I have never had a problem loosing heat to fast from this pot, contrary to previous reviews. Yeah, some things could be better quality... but considering the price I'd call it a good buy.

I've been using Bodum's Assam Tea Presses for over a decade. I'm currently on my third. My husband and I are T-holics and it gets used almost every day. It's perfect for the black & green loose tea we buy in bulk. It makes enough for 2 mugs. And, the clean up is easy since everything goes in the dishwasher. We are very pleased with this product. The only problem we have ever encountered is with chai tea, which is--at least from our vendor--very fine and seeps out thru the holes in this and every other tea strainer.