Housewares Reviews

My husband bought the OXO salad spinner (the only one available in most of the local stores) when my previous salad spinner, a Zyliss, was lost in a move.

I was disappointed from the beginning. The OXO spinner's action is inferior to the Zyliss, which spins in two directions and gets the greens much drier in less time. Also, the construction of the lid allows water to collect between two "layers" where it is impossible to wash properly or to dry, allowing mildew to grow.

After two years of almost daily use, the push-down mechanism in the lid became completely inoperable and I had to discard the lid as useless. (I'm keeping the inner basket to plant summer bulbs in to make them easier to lift and store in the fall.)

I have just purchased another
Zyliss Salad Spinner from Amazon and was astounded to see that it is only half the price of the OXO. It arrived this week and I couldn't be happier with it. Don't spend twice the money for an inferior product!

Sora Colvin

This is a great unit for washing salad. If you don't like soppy wet leaves resisting the coating of dressing, then you can wave your washed lettuce in a French collapsing basket dramatically on your deck (habit of a very nice friend of mine from France) or you can use this salad spinner.

This spinner is attractive, the knob is easy to manipulate and the bowl works as storage. It is a lot better than others I've used and really essential to our salad-o-mania at home. Dinner is frequently grilled something or tuna-from-the-can and salad, so we put this through its paces. I recommend it to anyone who likes romaine lettuce or Boston lettuce, or red-leaf. These need washing like mad, and the spinner dries them afterwards easily. Great item, and pretty as well.

I LOVE IT! I absolutely love this Salad Spinner! We grow our own lettuce and let me tell you how dirty it is when I cut it and have to wash it off! It was a pain to try and dry the lettuce before now. This is so easy and works great! I would recommend this to anyone!!! This is a must for anyone who loves to cook! Enjoy!

I researched santoku knives before I bought this one. I have a Wusthof Santoku with the dimples in the blade that is supposed keep items you're slicing from sticking to the blade, it doesn't. The Wusthof is light and just didn't perform like I expected it too. I checked a professional chef's site that rated Santoku knives from 1 to 10 and #1 was Shun. Wusthof and Henckels tied at number 7. The Wall Street Journal also recommended Shun highly. In fact, everything I read about Shun was positive. When I received my Shun, I liked the heft and the handle immediately, it is extremely sharp right out of the box. It slices cleanly, no problems with thin skinned or stringy fruits or veggies. Working with this knife doesn't require the effort that the Wusthof knife does. The only downside to owning this Shun, is that you want to replace all your other knives with Shun.

Shun knife's are unbelievably sharp and well made. I started my knife collection with Global, not bad but nothing like Shun. When I was in Sydney, I found a knife ship at the fish market that had a great selection and was introduced to Shun. I've wanted a Santoku and was going to go Global to go with the collection but when I was told about Shun (did some research on the web at my hotel that night), I went back the next day and purchased this knife. It's very, very sharp, keeps an edge much longer than my Global's ever did. If you're looking for the ultimate knife, this is it. Since then, I've picked up a Shun pairing knife which I love as well.

Absolutely the best vegetable knife ever, I do have small hands, and while these are heavy, they are ergonomic and so comfortable to hold. The blade has stayed sharp with months of heavy duty vegetable cutting use and the dishwasher too... I've spent a lot more on german and french knives whose ergonomics don't work for me, and those knives did not hold their edge as long, I just freshen with a sharpening steel every few days so far.

The other reviewer was absolutely right, I am going to forgo a little LCD for my kitchen and will indulge in more of these Shun classic knives instead. Just gave away two knife blocks and their contents ! I can slice 4 lbs of beets to transclucent slices without my hands feeling fatigued -- this knife has made cooking a so much fun, I don't groan when I look at that huge pile of veg I picked up at the farm market since I know it will be a breeze to slice thro them. I don't feel compelled to turn to the mandoline as often. I can see how I would want to own and treasure these for a lifetime. Makes me feel silly in the kitchen -- can imagine myself in the kitchen stadium iron chefing away almost. I plan on getting the Alton angle set tho, can see how the angle would make this fabulous knife even better! Plus I bought this on Alton Brown's recommendation.

there is no auto shut-off,there is no off/on control at all,just unplug or plug in.On positive side makes great steam and does have non-stick soleplate.The fabric select dial is very difficult to turn.I got it for my sewing room,it takes care of my needs there,didn't pay much for it,so guess I got what I paid for.(Friday Sale 9.99)

I'm impressed with this iron because the price is so reasonable and the product is reliable. It's easy to spend more money on something that may seem to be better because of it's BRAND name but why pay more when this iron is just as good or better. I will definatley buy another Black & Decker iron.

I purchased this item based on the reviews. It really is very very light. I was suprised at how quickly its heated up and ready to go and how quickly it cools down and can be easily stored. Its design allows the heated part of the iron not to touch when you set it down and it also acts as a wrap for the cord. The steam is great and powerful. It comes with it's own water pouring cup for steam too. Very satisfied!

Received the item in good condition and within a week. Very satisfied with the waffle iron. Also satisfied with the company I purchased it from.

I did not register for this waffle iron but received it as a wedding gift and I am so glad I did! I come from a waffle loving family and the Villaware 3000 is so much better than anything we've ever used. We have friends and family over for brunch and they love our waffles - they come out a perfect crisp medium brown every time and any extra waffle residue is easy to clean. I love that the beeper knows the perfect amount of time to cook so we can work on other breakfast cooking while the waffles are going. My parents liked it so much they just ordered one for their brunches. For waffle lovers I would definately recommend!

I read all the reviews and finally decided on the VillaWare V3000 Classic Waffler. I made waffles for the first time on my new VillaWare this morning. Everyone was so right! I expected for first time use, that my first couple of waffles would come out either sticking to the grill, not quite done, or overdone. Well, I was so surprise when the whistle blew and I opened up the waffler maker to find a perfectly done waffle. I have a big family so I had to make 12 waffles. Every single waffle came out perfect!! I love the fact that it notifies me when each waffle is done. My family loved the waffles. It was quick and so easy and clean up was a breeze. I am sooo glad I purchased the VillaWare V3000. I never thought I could find the perfect waffle maker, but this is definitely it!!

So far this can opener has worked perfectly. The tops remain attached to the magnet, it's a breeze to clean and the size adjusts to the size of the can to be opened. A really good product.

After many years of faithful service my old Sunbeam Adjustable Can Opener was ready to retire. I went out and purchased a different can opener, but it just didn't compare. So, I'm now on my second Sunbeam Adjustable Can Opener. I highly recommend this product.

I purchased
this a few weeks ago and have been very pleased with it. The pizzelle's came out very well, and the clean up was so easy. I would highly recommend this model to anyone.

This pizzelle maker is wonderful! Easy to use - easy to clean up. Cooks quickly - 30 seconds. Yummy. The pizzelles come out very similar to the ones my mother-in-law makes with her cast iron maker that you have to hold over the stove and make one at a time.

Okay, I grew up eating my families pizzelles, so I consider myself an expert on how they should look, feel and taste! We have a guarded secret recipe that is only passed down generation to generation. Everyone that has ever had my families pizzelles, has said that they have just tasted heaven!

Now, for this iron, I highly recommend it! It heats up so quick, has the indicator light and their not lying to you when they say 30 seconds for 2 pizzelles! And it does come with a recipe book, there's one in there that is very close to ours, it's by an italian lady, so I would follow her recipe. Use Anise oil in your batter!!!
1st thing, before you even plug it in, rub the iron down with vegetable or olive oil, trust me. For cleaning, it's so easy, just wipe it down with a paper towel. DO NOT PUT IN DISHWASHER, I don't care what the manual says!! You don't need to remove the grates, while it's cooling down and you've unplugged, simply wipe it down with a paper towel, that's it!! Folds great for storage on the counter or cupboard.

I have tried many irons, and this one is the best. After I bought it, my Mom and Mommom ordered the same. 3 generations can't be wrong!

I really enjoy this coffee. I think it has great taste for being decaf. I will definatley buy this again.

I live in South Florida and bought the newest Ultra model in Sept. 2005. We have a serious asian tiger mosquito (they kind of look striped) problem here. These mosquitos are very aggressive and bite 24 hours a day. I am allergic to mosquito bites and blow up like hives soon after. We have a pretty big yard with lots of tropical landscaping and places for them to breed and hide. Essentially, the machine works but I have a few complaints.

First, I used it without the C02 for 2 weeks and it only caught moths and other harmless insects. With the C02 it caught about 60 mosquitos in 3 days (mostly asian tiger mosquitos), too many no-see-ums to count and some other bugs I didn't recognize. The 20lb CO2 tank costs about $120 and $20 to fill it. I didn't know this but you will pay $120 or so initially for a used tank that they switch out for $20 every time you need a refill so they don't actually refill "your" tank. Local companies will be cheaper (look under industrial gas suppliers in your phone book). Praxair wanted more money and was quite a drive for me.

Second, the machine is very cheaply made with cheap plastics presumably in some third world country. The cheap plastic door that must be opened each time to clean the catch bag is very inconvenient since it has no hinges and must be pulled out and squeezed in each time. The lock and key is also made of this flexible low grade plastic material. You would think that for $450 or so they could afford to put a real door on this thing. Also, my machine arrived with a defective regulator (very poorly made). I called the local number on the limited warranty and they wanted to sell me a new regulator or have the manufacturer get back to me. I hung up and sent the manufacturer a direct email and a new regulator was sent to me in two weeks. By the way the company is located in New Zealand hence the two weeks. The rep who sent me the new regulator requested that I send him the defective one back. They did not include a paid envelope so the shipping cost of sending it back and hassle would be enough to convince you to just buy a new regulator from the local distributor for $25 more. Because of the poor workmanship, I don't think the machine will last very long but who knows.

All that being said and done, the machine catches a lot of mosquitos. I don't think anything could totally eliminate them but it has been raining all week and I was outside for a half hour today during dusk before one found me. I'm assuming they are coming from farther away? Also no swarms. I used to get swarmed by a group of them. One or two I can deal with. The manual says it takes 6-8 weeks to break the breeding cycle so I am curious to see what will happen then. (...)

UPDATE..I've had this thing 9 months now and I love it. I have taken back my yard. I opened it, cleaned it and replaced the UV bulb once (fairly easy to do). I wish I had 2 more but expensive! Only inconvenience is that the gas shop closes at 4:30 but still worth it. The CO2 lasts about 4 weeks on setting 3. I leave it on 10 hours a day during the week and 24hrs a day on the weekends. Highly recommend it.

I live on the edge of a Florida swamp. Just one of these significantly reduced the number of mosquitos in my somewhat untamed yard. It also catches biting flies. Very few other bugs are caught (unlike bug zappers which kill as many beneficial bugs as biters). Downsides are the initial cost of getting a co2 canister and the monthly refill trip. Also, the uv light burns out quickly. Luckily, it's not really needed. The co2 does most of the attracting.

I wish I could afford 3-4 of these. Then my multi-acre yard would probably be mostly mosquito free.

The Dirt Devil works great and is very handy to clean furniture. The rotating head cleans very deep and thorough.

I have 2 large dogs (akita mix with 2 coats)who shed constantly so I needed a vacuum with lots of suction. But, I also have wooden floors so I didn't want to spend $300.00 just to vacuum a few area rugs and furniture. This product was perfect for me. It was powerful AND inexpensive. This little vacuum is amazing. It's easy to maneuver and operate. I love the fact that I can empty the canister immediately after use and with such ease. The attachments are easy to use, too, although I have to admit, I don't use them that often. I have bought this vacuum as gifts for family members and they are all as impressed with this product as I am. I would recommend this hand-vac to anyone who desires alot of power for little money. In fact, I have.

Seems pretty sturdy, like the the ease of emptying the dirt, good suction, not as loud as my old dirt devil with the bag

I love this machine! I've not sewn for years and this was just the ticket to get me excited about it all over again. It's been so much fun playing with all the embroidery designs and trying out different approaches. It's probably not a "beginner" machine but with a little practice, you can sew like a pro. It does everything but walk the dog!

I have just purchased this SE-270D. I had a very tough time finding one in stock - NEW. I had an older machine Euro-Pro that I just loved but it quit sewing stitches. I am thrilled that after researching this Brother uses the exact same bobbins (I have 60+ of SA156). It also uses Low Shank Quick attaching feet that all my specialty rufflers, etc. will easily adapt to. It has an extra thread holder that mounts on top of the thread cartridge so you can use twin needles or your favorite thread. It is very versatile. The *.pes format for embroidery is very popular and many companies offer FREE downloads of graphics. You must check it out, and Amazon is the best place I know of. Thank You, Jeanne from Western Montana It has opened up a whole new world of sewing fun and adventures. PERFECT & Flawless, they have included ease of use for everything. It has never been so much fun to sew. Thank You Amazon

I've had this machine appox. 3 months,really do like it, had to sent it back for some more"reconditioning",it had a habit of shutting off in middle of embroderdering,lost two projects.It will use Amazing Designs,OESD,White and all Brother and Disney cards.If you look on the internet you can find cards in your price range.I might add I have a couple Singer embroidery machine,but this opens up a wider range of possibilites,as I really like to embroider and sew.I do highly recommend this little Brother.