Housewares Reviews

I sealed products & when I pulled it out it had gone bad.

Thank goodness I only use it once in a while. The first day I tried using it and it didn't work. I call customer service and they had me remove the rubber seal and make sure there wasn't any dirt and placed it back. It finally did work. The product is simple to use and it seal nicely when it works. The seal doesn't always seal properly. I just have to cross my fingers and hope for the best. I wouldn't purchase another one.

I'm very pleased with this foodsaver and it's easy to use. I not only use it to keep food fresh (cookies, steaks, leftovers, etc.) but use it for odds-and-ends, like small beads and children's toys. What's great, also about this is that you can reuse many of the bags, so I cut off a nice-sized portion to begin with. Much better than any ziploc bag.

we have had 5 different smoothie makers by BACK TO BASICS, and within 2 months of only using them on an average of 2 x a week, they either, crack at the blade, or base. yesterday I bought this one and it laste 30 seconds and quit! We are not hard on our appliances at all! This was a JOKE, and to top it off, there is NO replacement parts for any of them. If it has any defect, it is trashed. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY

I previously owned the Back to Basics Smoothie Plus 600 Model and was pretty satisfied except for the cheaply made plastic pitcher which had a spout that broke early on. This model comes with a glass pitcher and seems better made overall. Still loud when operating, but I guess most smoothie makers are.
Price is reasonable compared to what else is out there.

My boyfriend and I are smoothie fanatics, and I often make giant smoothies for both of us, so I needed a blender powerful enough to take care of lots of frozen fruit at once. Man, does this thing do the trick! The pitcher is really wide, so ingredients at the top are more easily sucked down to the blades, and it almost never develops that annoying air pocket that prevents anything from happening at the bottom. My old blender would do that so often, it would take me forever just to make a smoothie for myself, and no way could it handle two at the same time. This one has a stir stick to keep things going, and since it's exactly the right length, I don't have to worry about it hitting the blades while the blender's on - when I have to use it at all. I can fill the pitcher literally to the brim and it has no trouble mixing really thick smoothies (frozen mangoes, strawberries, pineapple, melon, bananas, etc.) really well. I thought the pour spout would be a hassle, but it's very sturdy, never leaks and keeps things really clean - plus, you can take it off and replace it with a cap (included) if you want. The base is featureless except for the dial on the side, so it's super easy to clean too - when I have to, which is almost never. I just can't say enough about this blender. It's awesome!

I work for a kitchen cutlery company called CUTCO..some of you may have heard it before. This company teaches you everything there is to know about knives. SAM" knows what he is talking about too. HIGH carbon steel blades will rust but..maintain a sharper edge longer though. Stainless steel blades wont rust but are much softer which will make them dull quicker. Sam was right when he said 420 grade steel is the best steel for kitchen cutlery without taking exotic steps to make it better. Well just to let you guys know CUTCO has a 440 grade steel...that wont rust. There is alot more to discover from cutco..so just visit CUTCO's website. Youll love the "forever guarantee".

These knives are amazing for the price. you can't beat it! they are sturdy, cut amazingly well, never need to be sharpened and i haven't had any problems with rust! I never put them in the dishwasher because i know that they would probably start to rust. its so easy just to hand wash them. Nothing will stick the to blade so its an easy rinse wipe and your done!! For anyone looking to buy great knives but don't want to spend a lot of dough, this is the buy for sure!

Obviously the people who gave a bad review on these knives all just lazily threw their knives into the dishwasher. GOOD QUALITY KNIVES SHOULDN'T BE THROWN IN A DISHWASHER. HAND WASH ONLY! I don't care if the label said it was dish washer safe. Don't always believe what you read. Dish washer safe is on alot of things, but sometimes the dish washer doesn't even do the best of jobs. ALL KNIVES ARE TO BE HAND WASHED! The dish washer will damage the blade. And you must have the common sense to think that anything sharp thrown into a dish washer is going to get thrown around and the tip banging against things will eventually become worn to the point where you can't even sharpen it the best anymore. Oh...and...STAINLESS STEEL MEANS SPOT-FREE WHEN IT DRIES AND SUCH, NOT RUST-FREE!!!!!! Some people shouldn't be given knives.

The water filter makes a big difference. The sleek design matches our appliances. If the carafe is too full, it tends to spill a little bit when pouring...not a big deal. Overall, we like it though. Highly recommended!!!!

Love it! We were replacing a 12-year old Braun coffee maker (which is still working!), so the Braun brand name was a plus for us. The coffee tastes better. We love the gold cone filter and were happy to be rid of the paper variety. The machine runs well without the Britta water filter in place, but we enjoy that feature and use it. We also like the programmable turn-on/shut-off feature and the coffee is REALLY hot!

This is a great product, and you can get it, along with any other products on Amazon up to $500 Free! Participate in this special promotion and get a free $500 Amazon Gift Card at this web site: stuffgratis.biz/amazon

This is a 5 star item.
I've never owned a slow cooker and was a bit concerned after reading that Rival slow cookers received significantly lower ratings than other brands of slow cookers. This one works like a charm. I was also concerned because I read that older models of slow cookers cooked more slowly on low, and that some newer slow cookers cooked at a heat that was too high.

Not to worry. On low, it's exactly that. Perfect and slow and will cook roasts to perfection in 8-10 hours. On high, it works perfectly too. It's a lovely looking black ceramic stoneware insert too. I'm on my way to being a crock pot fanatic. I am a brand new fan.

I love this Slow Cooker. My friend recommended it to me about three years ago but the only thing I cooked in it was whole chickens. Then I moved to SD and my mother-in-law showed me how to use it for EVERYTHING. Now I cook roasts, steaks, sooups, and even spaghetti in this thing. It's a time saver! And so easy to clean up.

The Dirt Devil Reaction Dual Cyclonic works GREAT! We replaced a Bagless Wind Tunnel Hoover that we hated! Wish we would have made the switch sooner!

This Dirt Devil has a Great design, easy cleaning chambers at a great price!

We LOVE IT!

Hands down the best vacuum I've ever owned, suction is amazing, the dust cup is easy to empty, and the tools are nice too. I really enjoy being able to clearly see the progress in the dust cup as I clean and the spinning vortex of dirt and pet hair is just darn cool. It is easy to maneuver, lightweight in my opinion, much less so than our old bagged Dirt Devil, and it doesn't pull itself forward like my Mom's Hoover.

HEPA filtration is also a cool feature, although none of us have any allergies. I've been checking the filter and it only seems to need cleaning every half a dozen uses or so, which is a simple matter of rinsing in the sink. Also, it sounds different than any vacuum I've ever owned, not the sustained mechanical whirring I was used too; it varies in pitch which I assume is part of the mechanism that maintains constant suction. It is fairly loud, but not obnoxiously so, although when the rotating brush attachment is used it sounds like a spooling turbine.

My favorite things about it:
1)Suction power
2)32ft cord
3)Clear flexi-hose
4)Rotating brush attachment (works pet hair laden furniture)
5)Foot operated power switch (no bending over)

What would have been nice:
1)A way to disable the brushroll for hard wood floors
2)Fold away or collapsible handle for easier storage

I couldn't afford a Dyson and as best as I could figure this was the next best thing in the sub $200 category, over both Empower and Fusion. It certainly is enough vacuum for us and I hope it will last (4yr warranty is nice just in case).

I just bought the Reaction last week, but 6 months ago I bought the Dirt Devil Jaguar bagless, and stick with me because if you're evaulating vacuums, this is relevant.

Before buying the Jaguar, I checked the reviews on amazon. At that point, every review was 5 stars and every reviewer "loved" the vacuum. So OK, I went to Target and bought it, schlepped it home, and spent 15 minutes screwing all the parts together. I have wood floors and area rugs in most of the house, tile in the bathrooms, and carpeting in the bedrooms. Well the Jaguar has an 'exhaust' (for lack of a better term) in the front of the machine, toward the bottom. So as you approach the stuff that needs vacuuming up, the air coming from the exhaust blows it up in the air and all over the room! NOW - here's the thing. I wrote a review of the Jaguar noting this design flaw, and then EVERY review after mine mentions this problem! So, first everyone 'loves' it, then everyone 'hates' it. SO when I read the reviews here, as you can imagine, I was very skeptical. After calling the company's customer support number, I decided to buy the Reaction, and I decided that I would take it back to Target if it wasn't perfect.

Let me cut to the chase and say BELIEVE THE HYPE. This is a great vacuum cleaner, with a few small caveats.

* Very powerful
* Very easy to use on-board tools/hose
* Very easy to empty dirt 'cup'
* Excellent long power cord
* HEPA filter just needs rinsing occasionally, not replacing

Caveats:

* Relatively heavy. Not a problem if you are youngish and/or like a bit of a workout, but this is not a machine for your 86 year old mother.
* Relataively wide beater bar area. Not a problem unless you have a small house or apartment and/or lots of furniture close together, in which case I would think that the width would be a bit cumbersome. But then again maybe not.
* Too powerful for small, light area rugs. It will suck them up.

Bottom line: I love this vacuum. I love that it sucks up an unbelievable amount of dust/dirt. I love how easy it is to empty. I love that I only have to move the plug once to do the whole house. I love that I can do the baseboards just by pulling out the hose and sticking the crevice tool on it. I love that I can do the upholstered furniture with the little whiring brush attachment. And personally, I love that I get some exercise while I clean. The best vacuum I have ever owned (better than my $500+ Miele).

I thought I would try this fan as a replacement for my Lakewood 18-inch window fan, which looks almost exactly the same in the ads. I have gone through three of the Lakewood fans over the last 18 years, and they were great for drawing cool air through my entire house. Unfortunately, the Lasko fan is less than half as powerful (0.83 amps vs. 2.0 amps). The high speed on this fan produces about as much wind as the low speed on the Lakewood fan. I will be returning this fan.

The first fan I purchased like this was in 1992 from Sears. It had their name on it, but it was obviously built by Lasko. That original is still functional, but after 14 years, it was time for a new one. Must be a proven, solid design to have been in production this long. It moves the air through my home easily, but my house is smallish, only about 1500 square ft. My only gripe concerns the fan guard, or grill, which faces towards the outside, through the open window. This grill is plastic, which we all know doesn't last forever. Exposed to direct sunlight and the elements, this grill will eventually become brittle. It takes several years for that to happen, but that's what happened with the first fan.
I hope that Lasko will in the future consider making this grill out of metal, like the one facing the inside.
One last thing........if, like me, you're sick of seeing "Made in China" stamped on everything, this fan is American-made.

I purchased this fan 15 years ago and replaced it with another one this past summer because the old one clonked out on me. What I noticed about this new one is it has a different blade from the older model. It is also quieter and more powerful than the older model. I did not bother with the Storm Guard feature of screwing the fan in the window for safety reasons. If in the event of a fire and the window was my only means of getting out, the fan would get in the way. The fan takes up a lot of window space, so if you are one of those people who like your outdoor view, do not purchase this fan. If you want a fan that is powerful and will last for a good number of years, this is the fan for you.

We bought one for Christmas and love the food sealer. We also bought this kit. We loved everything EXCEPT the canisters. All the canisters have cracked. So far, still holding the seal, but they are getting progressively worse, so it's just a matter of time. These aren't exactly cheap, so I think it's safe to say that we should expect bettter. If you read the review for the 3-piece canister set, you will see extensive complaints about the cannisters.

Just check the Product Descriptions for the $49.95 Completer Set and the Deluxe Completer Set for $79,95, and you will find that they are exactly the same list of products. So you get nothing extra for the extra $30. Are they crazy???

First, physical weaknesses: The pitchers crack and warp slowly but steadily, so won't last forever. You can replace them for about ten bucks, but with shipping that's half the cost of an entirely new unit. And you can't put them in the dishwasher, so you'll probably want at least several up front anyway, so that you can clean them.

Second, cleaning problems. Unlke the Hamilton Beach tea makers, the bags here go in the brewing housing, which has to be removed and cleaned separately from the pitcher. And if you forget to do that, you'll have yucky (even moldy) tea bags the next time you go to make tea, even if that's within two days.

Hamilton Beach instead keeps the bags' brewing area inside the pitcher itself, which you can refridgerate and prevent yuck and mold from occuring. Plus, the Mr Coffee station drips TEA on the counter as soon as you remove the pitcher, whereas the Hamilton Beach only drips WATER since the tea process is all contained in the pitcher itself.

Further, the Mr Coffee series requires that the pitcher get very close to the brew housing station, with the tea just BARELY getting into the spout, or else you'll get tea dripped on the counter WHILE brewing. That messiness increases as the pitcher begins to warp and crack. Hamilton Beach bests that both by including a pull-out tray that HOLDS the pitcher in the correct position, and by having the tea drip directly to the center of the pitcher rather than milimeters from the edge of the spout.

Above all, the Hamilton Beach series simply makes better tea. It includes a dial that allows you to make weak, medium, or strong tea, and that's all automated. The Mr Coffee series has no such setting, but requires you to "close" the brewing area for a period and then turn a dial to "open" before it starts putting tea in the pitcher. That manual step both slows down the tea production, and risks making quite the mess if you forget to go back and open the dial.

Finally, the Mr Coffee pitcher is a large and obtrusive ROUND cylinder that takes up lots of space in the fridge, even when there's only a glass or so left in the pitcher. The Hamilton Beach pitchers are instead elongated OVAL shapes, that fit in more places in the fridge, even in the fridge door, and are *shorter* so that you can put them on a shelf with a lower overhead.

Mr. Coffee: bigger mess, more manual, more cleaning, more risk, lower longevity, and lamer tea.

Hamilton Beach: no mess, no manual revisit, easy to clean, no risk, lasts longer, better tea, and more options when you make it.

No contest!

I noticed by reading some of the other reviews here, that most are not using loose tea. I have only used loose tea, both green and black teas, and I must say that this little gadget does a remarkable job. I personally like my tea fresh, so the 2 quart limit is great, as I'll be able to make more soon enough. In fact, my only complaint is that I have to wait for my freezer to make ice between batches, so if you're making a large amount of tea, say for a picnic or something, use bagged ice.

As a final thought, while not perfect for any one type of tea (some need boiling water, some just under boiling for best flavor) it does brew on average a pretty wicked pitcher. Make a simple sugar syrup with lemon and mint for an extra kick that will make your southern guests think of home.

I LOVE IT, thats all I can really say, we use ours daily and it has lasted 7 yrs. I bought it when I was breastfeeding my 7 yr old. I would always crave ice tea!
We still have BOTH of the original pitchers without a crack or many scratches through daily ice tea making and in and out of the dishwasher! Are people putting ice in them BEFORE letting the hot tea hit the pitcher?? You have to put the ice in so the hot water wont just fill the pitcher! I always use 2 family size Lipton tea bags and one Earl Grey small bag, it makes the BEST TEA! Everyone loves it! I recommend this FOR everyone needing to save some calories or who just love Ice Tea!

Same thing happened to me as to another reviewer. I was mixing a small amount of aleady grated Parmesan cheese with breadcrumbs I had just made in the processor, and the blade must have hit a small chunk of cheese and went right through the side of the bowl, putting a hole in it and breaking in half. Scared the heck out of me, breadcrumbs all over the place, and a broken blade and bowl. Would cost me $24 to replace both, so I might as well buy a new one (a different brand, of course!). I'm mostly just glad I didn't get hurt.

I have had this model for about 2 years and I found it very disappointing. In order for it chop up an onion, for example, you need to hand cut the onion into several *very small* pieces -- otherwise the blades chop some of the onion and leave other parts unchopped. It's good for items that are already small --like nuts, but it's a nusiance for chopping vegetables. Another issue: the plastic lid is of poor quality -- the lid has developed a small hole on top and now I have to keep my finger over the top to prevent liquid from spraying out. This mini chopper is a good idea with poor execution. I am surprised these are still being made.

I own an 11 cup Cuisinart and use it all the time for many cooking tasks but there are times when I just wish it was smaller. Like when I want to mince maybe 10 - 20 garlic cloves or a shallot or just make a small amount of vinagrette. This is the perfect companion to my full sized processor. It also works great for grinding spices or coffee. You can't go wrong having this in your kitchen as a companion piece to a full sized Cuisinart.