Oster Ironman 250-Watt Fitness Blender

Light Duty Blender Good For Athletes
This is a light duty blender useful for those who wish to mix and run. The chief feature which differentiates this product from similar ones is that the blender container is also a drinking bottle. Thus you can mix up whatever you choose in the blender and instead of decanting to a drinking bottle, you only need take the blending chamber with you.

Keep in mind that this is about 1/3 of a horsepower or 250 watts. This will do a good job of blending up powdered mixes or make smoothies from softer fruit but this isn't one of those 2 hp in which you can thrown all sorts of odd ingredients such as tree branches or peach pits and have a smooth mixture emerge.

The unit comes with one bottle / blending chamber. Most folks who train will wish more capacity than the one bottle but of course, you can buy more to your heart's delight.

The only downside to this device is that there is a lip inside the bottle / blending chamber which is hard to clean. If you're not...

Smoothie Solution
I have been using this daily for 2 weeks for smoothies and it is perfect for my situation (I have 10 minutes from waking up to getting my fiance out the door with his breakfast/lunch/coffee)

This is perfect for those with a grab-n-go lifestyle who do not need the power of a Vitamix/Blendtec

Blending power:
Semi-frozen fruit chunks - perfect
Kale - did really well and left only a few tiny identifiable bits
Whole flax seeds - not so good (mostly stayed whole)
Ground flax seeds - mixed them in, but they were still noticeable
Protein powder - complete mixed
(I have not tried ice or frozen fruit)

Bottle design:
The rubber grip and thumb loop make it easy to hold
The bottle is clear, but tinted; the stuff inside is mostly visable (not good when trying to sneak in kale)
Note: the bottle has indents for the grip that create ridges on the inside. Bits stick in ridges
The flip cap is not locked when closed...

Smart, Innovative and On The Go Product, but Watch it with the Ice
Great innovation. I wonder why it's taken so long to come to this kind of product.

Overall, this is a very capable little contraption that does pretty much exactly what's it's supposed to do, that is mix smoothies and by implication, sports powders and mixes. I do not believe that using it to chop or crush ice is a good idea (more below)

We had no trouble with this device or its operation. This is for a rugby-player dad, rugby-playing high school son and daughter, and morning-walking mom. All used the product, and all found it completely suitable and simple to use and clean.

The design is great, easy and simple to grasp and put into action. The removable mixing/blade unit is inspired. The flip cap on the screw-on lid--the user manual calls it the "spill-proof drinking lid"--though, is insufficient to securely seal this bottle. If you're mixing fruit smoothies to drink in the Prius on the way to work, then this is just fine n' dandy, but if...

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Bosch Part#462544 - Genuine Type G MEGAfilt SuperTEX Vacuum Bag (BBZ51AFG2U) - Fits Bosch Compact Series and Formula Series Vacuums - 5/Package

Bosch Vacuum Bags
This was a great buy for this product. I have paid a lot more for these at stores and they are the same quality.

Genuine Bosch product
Price is the same I've been paying for last five years from Fry's, but I don't have to drive to the store (30mins!) or call to see if it's in stock, and it's a genuine Bosch product.

This one fits
my machine. Others I have purchased without the Bosch label do not. The price was very good. Will order again.

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Black & Decker - Slice Toaster Oven, White

Very useful little convection toaster oven
I've owned my toaster oven for over a year and I use it nearly every day in my SOHO (computer room/Small office Home Office). I too bought it from a Mart with very high Wals as another reviewer mentioned. He gave it only two stars based upon a prior bias but listed no pros so I shall list the things that I found useful about this oven as well as a few cons.

Pros:

1. It's a convection oven that means quicker and more even baking. It's great for small roasting (2 - 3 pounds)tasks without turning (but it's still recommended for larger food items like whole chickens and hams/rump roasts), chops and ribs. Its fan is quiet.
2. The temp is accurate even if it takes nearly a 15 minutes to attain 450 degrees. Not too many foods require that temp (pizza comes to mind though). I keep an oven thermometer in it to check for accuracy.
3. Top can be used as a food warmer and to heat up breads wrapped in foil while baking.
4. Light weight (14.5 lbs) compact size...

Downgraded features?
Several features in this toaster are missing, downgraded, or poorly executed compared to older models.

1. No "pizza bump". It's a round slight out-pocketing of the rear wall, intended to accommodate a pizza. It's extra space. This one doesn't have it.
2. Getting "medium" toast is tricky because the space between "dark" and "light" on the timer dial is too narrow for easy "eyeballing". Most of the time, my toast is slightly darker than I want it.
3. The tray is shallower and less wide than the older version. I have concerns for foods that drip a lot of juices. (I just bought it, so I haven't cooked juicy meats yet. But I did have the older version of this toaster.) The tray doesn't have that much volume.
4. The tray, when inserted under the grate (the grate holds the tray beneath it) is too close to the lower heating element. This may create problems with cooking or with safety.
5. This toaster comes with only 1 grate. The older version came with...

WONDERFUL !
This white Black and Decker toaster/roaster is not only handsome in the kitchen it works like a charm. Like our pizza for lunch today was baked 10 minutes and then another two at higher temp and without the slide tray to make it crisp on the bottom. Tried doing hamburger in shallow pan instead of stove fry pan and was great. Baked scalloped potatoes were delicious. etc etc But I read 153 reviews on another website before I bought......

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Aprilaire Humidifier Filter, Genuine Media for Aprilaire Models 112, 224, 440, 445A, 445, 136

Being used in a different application
I am using this for a completely different humidifier that is out of production. I have to cut it down to fit but it works well and has lasted quite a long time now.

Genuine... or not?
This water panel was priced right and arrived quickly. But although it has the appearance of genuine Aprilaire media, it was not packaged in an Aprilaire-labeled box. So unless Aprilaire is allowing third parties to sell its media without the Aprilaire name attached, it would appear that the item is not genuine Aprilaire media.

Cheaper than calling the technician!
I'm a DIY person, so when my tech told me that replacing the water panel would require time to take things apart, that equated to $'s to me for his time. You can learn a lot of how-to from the Internet!
Seller was accurate with product info and shipping was fast.
Saved myself a lot of money.

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Square drive pin for Oster & Osterizer blenders, short type.

It fits- but poor quality
This fit's my 1959 Oster beehive blender perfectly. But after about 3 weeks of use, it's rusted. Still works but, hello?! My old one never rusted over 50+ years (before the rubber blew chunks)
I TRY my darndest to stick to old, beefy, trusted gear- then only to get poorly produced replacement parts. It's a nut with a washer that needs to have some water resistance- not that hard to produce- or so i thought. Are we all getting sucked into the vortex of mediocrity?

Fixed and working
We have owned our oster blender for years. My kids had taken to making smoothies every morning for breakfast. When it no longer functioned because the pin that comes out of the base was stripped on the sides, they were devestated. (A bit drastic I know, but they are kids.) I started researching blenders but could not decide on a new one. Instead I found that, through Amazon, we could get a simple piece to fix it. It was very inexpensive, came quickly and now our blender works like new again. We have two jars for this bender and I am thrilled that it is use instead of in a landfill. And all for a few dollars. Oster 4094 Classic Osterizer Blender, Chrome

Awesome
I am si happy this is a very acurate product and the shipment was so fast thank you, now you have another happy costumer

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Hide-Away Ironing Board Cover & Pad Set - 815 Grey - 12" x up to 43"

ironing board replacement cover
Great replacement cover. I had been trying to find one for some time and was glad to find one at an affordable price. I couldn't be happier.

Tight fit
Let me start by saying this replacement cover is well made and I am happy overall. But... I purchased this for an in-wall ironing board and the measurements were exactly what the cover was advertised to be. It took me about 20-minutes to get the cover on my board and de-wrinkled. It was very tight and I gently stretched it (I was afraid of tearing the seams, but didn't). I eventually got it over the plywood frame, but getting the wrinkles out proved equally challenging. This cover either needs a larger elastic seam or it need to be slightly larger.

Perfit Fit
I was really glad to see I could order from the internet and did not have to go searching for a cover for my fold out ironing board. The padding was made into the cover and the edges had elastic which made for an easy fit. Would definitely purchase again.

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Breville BOV800PC13 13-Inch Pizza Crisper for use with the BOV800XL Smart Oven

Breville Pizza Crisper Pan
I love the pan. I use it for anything that I want to be crisper, like fries, fried shrimp, as well as pizza. It is non stick, but can't say it's Telfon...same coating as the regular Pizza Pan that comes with the oven. If you like the regular Pizza Pan, you'll love this one for as a crisper...works great for me. I would recommend this pan to a friend.

Perfect crisper
Used this with my Breville oven and it made the perfect pizza. Crust was crispy and it protected my oven from pizza toppings spilling over. Great quality item.

a must have for pizza
If you eat frozen pizza or are warming leftovers...this crisper is a must. As in most
Breville products, the quality is impeccable!

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Dirt Devil 3-920750-001 Type U bags- Microfresh 3 Pack

Makes such a difference
It's hard to think that a vacuum cleaner bag would make any kind of difference in my home, but this HEPA bag did! When I vacuumed with regular U-type bags, I would have to dust afterward -- I like in Chicago city proper, meaning there is alot of "city dust" when I open the windows, which makes it's way into the carpet. Using the HEPA bags, the "vacuuming odor" was virtually eliminated, and there was no significant dust kicked up out of the carpet -- i.e the HEPA bag basically trapped all the dust. This means there is less dust and particulates to breathe in my apartment thanks to these bags.

"Dirt Devil Type U Bags Microfresh 3 Pack"
MicroFresh vacuum bags cost more than those that come in a package of ten, and they fill up faster. I changed an old MicroFresh bag from the vacuum to replace it, and there wasn't any dusty smell, nor was there any powdery white material all over the inside of the vacuum cleaner cover. This is because MicroFresh bags catch the fine particles that regular bags cannot, a great benefit for those concerned with their health and breathing. Just knowing what the regular bags leave behind will convince most people to go with the MicroFresh bags, even though they cost more.

Vacuum odors still present
Maybe my nose is sensitive but I can still smell dust after I vacuum when I stand next to my Featherlite. The bags are thicker than the standard ones and probably do filter more allergans, odors etc. but don't be fooled into thinking this will transform your upright into a true Hepa machine. That being said, because it is better than the regular bags, I will probably continue to buy these packs as long as the price stays reasonable.

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West 6130 Bend Raclette Party Grill

Worth the money, considering.
We used it when my in-laws came in. The granite (for warming foods) is beautiful and likely expensive which is probably why the engineer/designer went cheap with the metal top that actually grills the meat.

The metal grilling portion is very thin/light. When we began cooking the thinly sliced steak and salmon, we brought it right out from the fridge. With the rapid change in temperature, the top did begin to ((warp/bend)). However, when it cooled off, it went right back to normal. Was slightly disturbed when it happened because it was a pretty drastic change in shape. The heat this racelette grill gives off is perfect and certainly hot enough to cook the foods we prepared.

If you do not mind spending more money for this size then go get the Swissmar but we only use it during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Overall, worth the money.

Amazon did a nice job with packaging! With quick shipping as well!

A great buy.
This is the second raclette grill we have purchased. The first one is a Swissmar KF-77081 8-Person Stelvio Raclette for $134, twice the price of this one! Our family enjoyed it so much that we've given a raclette to each of our kids when they went to college. We didn't want to spend as much as on the first one, so I searched till I found this one. And it's great! I thought only the higher end priced items would have a quality unit and the granite stone, but this one does, too, although it wasn't mentioned in the description. It works great. It's the right size for 8 people, and you can even make it work for twelve, with a little sharing. The unit heats up quickly, the granite is good quality, and grill is a little less bulky than the rectangular swissmar. We have bought this for several others as graduation gifts for other family and friends, and wedding gifts, too. I think that speaks well for its quality, and if I had to do it over again, I would skip the swissmar and get...

A bit hesitant at first, but ended up quite pleased.
I travel to Switzerland regularly on business and have enjoyed raclette there, either using a grill or scraped off the large wheel. I bring home the cheese occasionally and we've melted it (carefully!) under the broiler, which is not the best way and you have to be really careful not to burn it. We've been looking for a reasonably priced raclette grill for some time now, and liked this one, but had some doubts after reading some negative comments. We finally decided to go for it, and so far we're glad we did. It melted the cheese nicely and the grill top kept our vegetables and meats warm (or if left longer, actually cooked them a bit). We haven't used the stone top yet, but will try it next time. One thing we're very happy with is that the heat doesn't travel to the table top. We tried it on a counter and were comfortable that the bottom stayed cool, so we next tried it on our glass top table (with lots of padding just in case). Happy to say the glass was cool the whole time, and...

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IMUSA GAU-18200 Elecric Espresso / Cappuccino Maker with Milk Frother 4-Cup, Black

I'm no barista, but this thing's great!
I ordered this to replace a Bialetti stove-top maker. I have had it a couple of months and it is great. I saw some reviews about some machines within this price category being flimsy and unreliable. The Imusa is terrific. Easy to clean (Bialetti was awful!), and makes up to a quad in under 5 minutes. It is lightweight, but sturdy; and makes thick rich foam, even with skim milk. I am a former chef and have had some fancy machines that cost thousands of dollars in my kitchens, Imusa gets it done for me at home. I even went back and ordered a second as a gift.

Adding on to this review: If you haven't been using your old espresso/cappuccino maker because it isn't easy, or a pain to clean up, then this is the machine for you.

good, cheap espresso machine
I'm going to start out stating I am no barista.

But I love coffee and simply don't like paying $4+ a cup and inconveniencing myself in the morning making an out-of-the-way, time-consuming stop during my commute.

That said, this is my first espresso machine. As with many things I don't know if I'll ever use again, I purchase the absolute cheapest low-end model, and if I like it, I research and splurge (or ask Santa.) I feel I really lucked out with this machine since it cost half of other machines I was looking at, and it works. I followed the directions (and a youtube) and with some trial and error (actually only the first try was really bad) I am able to make espresso mocha's in the morning for my wife and I.

I've gotten so good at it that I can make two cups with ~2 shots each, a squirt of chocolate syrup each, about 10oz steamed milk, and clean it all up in under 10 minutes.

Notes and experiences about this machine:

-When you...

One great little machine
For the money, this is one great little machine. It heats quickly, foams the milk easily and promptly, is easy to clean up, and looks cute on the counter. This is our fourth (and least expensive) cappuccino maker - it is also the best.

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Whirlpool W10355049 Affresh Stainless Steel Cleaning Wipes, 35-Wipes

Worth it!
I've been so frustrated with keeping our stainless steel refrigerator clean since we purchased it. I was really regretting buying it after it seemed so difficult to keep clean. I had bought a stainless steel cleaner but it just didn't work and left awful streaks no matter how much I tried. I finally resorted to using a cleaning method with baking soda/ vinegar/ water that I found online which was working better but not great. I happened upon these wipes at another store and took a chance on them. I am so happy I did! Just used it for the first time and it was so easy to get the refrigerator clean. Highly recommend!

Amazing!
I have tried several different brands of spray stainless cleaner for my stainless steel appliances. They all performed marginally and required several do-overs. The overspray from these products also made my floor dangerously slick even though I tried to cover the immediate area with towels. While shopping at Lowe's, I stopped at the appliance section and asked the salesperson what they used to keep all the floor models clean. She showed me a container of wipes that said Whirlpool on it. They looked to be an industrial package. I looked on Amazon for these Whirlpool wipes and found these affresh wipes. Since they are made by whirlpool I hoped that they would be the same ones. They must be. These wipes are absolutely amazing. I followed the minimal directions and wiped down my fridge thoroughly but only once. That's all that was needed. Completely cleaned all smudges and fingerprints and left a nice shine. I was seriously regretting switching to stainless steel appliances because of...

A Miracle!!
This worked like a charm~ after a visit came into my house, left smudges into the fridge, I tried with the Pledge Multi-Purpose Wipes dint work...so I tried the affresh ones....WOW I was amazed with only a swipe the smudges were gone!!! I'll order more.

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MaxiMatic EMT-503B Elite Gourmet 130-Watt Die-Cast-Aluminum Electric Food Slicer, Black

Premium, Precise Slicer
Let me start by saying that the majority of my meal consist of Chef's Salads with LOTS of stuff in them. One essential ingredient is Red/Purple sweet onion. And no matter how hard I tried, I could never slice the onion to my desired thickness and and consistency. This resulted in much tedious work and usually a lot of waste and I hate to waste ANYTHING. This slicer has taken a major stress point out of my life. I couldn't be happier and don't know why I didn't make this purchase a long time ago. I just received it in the last 30 days, so I haven't had a chance to experiment or try it on other things. But I can already see how I can save $$$$ on buying meat in bulk sizes (whole not sliced) , saving money just on the bulk purchase, then saving money on slicing it just the way I want it and not wasting anything due to inconsistent slicing and I have some of the best cutlery you can buy. This is a must have for anyone that needs and appreciates precision, accuracy and saving money. I can...

Just like the deli
Now I don't have to stand around in the market deli waiting for my meat and/or cheese to be sliced. I buy it by the piece and slice it the thickness that I like, at home. Sometimes i go to the wholesale ware house, buy a 5# pkg at a greatly reduced price compared to the supermarket, slice it up and put it in hte freezer. I've also sliced a beef roast, BBQ brisket, roasted turkey breast, whole pineapple (rind removed)....Highly recommend the purchase.

Well worth the money
And that is the key....it's worth the price. It's not one you would find at a deli costing many times more! But, it works very well. We have cut roasts with it, onions, potatoes...and it does a great job. You have to cut a a reasonable pace. I would buy it agan.

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Broan Model 157 Low-Profile Solid Wire Element Ceiling Heater

Works GREAT!
Sorry to read another reviewer who had problems with his Model 157. Mine has worked perfectly for several months now. I chose the Model 157 rather than the Model 154 in spite of that reviewers comments. I'm glad I did.

UPDATE: It has been working perfectly for over a year now!

I installed it above the open stall of my elderly mother's doorless shower directly in the rising mist and high humidity. I run it (and another 1250 watt portable heater) for several minutes before her shower and total running time each use is probably about 30-45 minutes. It has never failed and the (large) bathroom warms up a LOT. Haven't measured the temperature, but it gets "toasty" in there (and as humid as a sauna.) I was worried the high temperature and moisture would be an issue, but they have not been a problem. In other words, it gets plenty warm in there without tripping any high-temperature safety feature in the unit.

I chose the Model 157 because of the heavy-duty...

Broan Model 157 Low-Profile Wire Element Ceiling Heater
I bought this item to replace one that had gone bad after 40 years. It was an 85 year old lady friend of mine and she said I was a 'gift from God' after I put it in. This was the easiest bathroom appliance I have ever had to istall. A monkey could put this in. a silicone grommett or washer for the screw holding the screen on could cut down on some chatter/vibration I heard. Other than that it works great.

Must use with timer!
This heater is great...it really cranks out the heat. I live in an older house, and replaced the Broan model 158. However, I've learned the hard way that the thermal switch on this unit is not reliable. Once the unit turns itself off via the thermal switch, it won't come back on. I've went through three thermal units before I learned my lesson. With the 158 the thermal switch would reset itself and I would be able to use the unit again. So if you really want this unit, buy a timer switch to go with it.

If I had to do it over again, I wish I would have gone with another 158. It worked fine on the old fashioned toggle switch.

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Optimus H-7247 Portable Oscillating Ceramic Heater with Thermostat

Great Heater!
I didnt go into this buy with much expectation. but upon receiving the heater, it was a little smaller looking than the picture leads it to be. What it lacks in size it makes up for in functionality. I am currently deployed and live in a 15x20 shack with two other guys, and it easily keeps us all warm at night on just the low setting. Also has a tip over switch on the base that keeps me from worrying about any mid-night fires. The small size has actually grown on me since we have very limited space to begin with. GREAT BUY!

Small but does a good job
The heater is smaller than expected; it's barely a foot tall, but it does the job admirably. It has two heat settings and when the room is warm, I turn the heater off and the room stays toasty for hours. Unlike another reviewer, I have not had problems with the oscillator making noise, but even without oscillating the heater still heats a room; the oscillator is just a bonus. It also has a fan setting that I will try out in warmer weather.

quiet & warm
This heater produces enough heat to warm an office with floor to ceiling windows on north side of building. The oscillating feature allows it to distribute more evenly through the space. Heater is very quiet.

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Moo Mixer Supreme

Do not buy!
I purchased this mixer after owning the smaller one for many years (the plastic cup eventually cracked). This one is a POJ (piece of junk). We used it 3 times. It leaks terribly into the motorized area. There is no way to prevent the leaking as it goes through the cup where the milk is placed- right into the motor. We diligently cleaned and dried the cup and motorized area each time it was used, but it's dead now and we wasted $15. Again- DO NOT BUY THIS!

Moo Mixer Fun
The moo mixer works great and it is easy to use - just pour in the ingredients and hold the handle to start the mixer. It is also easy to clean because the cup part of it can be removed for washing. My kid loves this item.

FOR THE CHOCOLATE MILK LOVER!
My Mom got the MOO MIXER for me for Christmas because I LOVE chocolate milk! It is the coolest thing in the world! It mixes well and quickly! A must have if you love chocolate milk!

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Dap 18354 Seal 'N Peel Removable Caulk, 10.1-Ounce

DAP "Seal-n-Peel" removable caulk
After a month the caulk is holding well, but has shrunken a lot and will need a second layer in some places. The other thing to be aware of is that the fumes are very strong as it cures -- allow good ventilation for at least two days.

Great for Older Windows; Saves a Lot of Money
This product is terrific.

I live in a 95 year-old house in Boston with 25 wooden, double-hung windows. When I bought the house 15 years ago, I realized it would cost me a good $6,000+ to replace all the old windows, not to mention the architectural impact of losing my classic windows. So I looked around for a solution. While double-glazing unquestionably saves heat, experts agree that air infiltration is a bigger culprit with regard to energy loss and discomfort. Enter Seal 'N Peel.

I caulked up all but one or two of my windows with this product and noticed an AMAZING difference in my house. While I can't quantify the savings on heat (plus I've done a ton of other things like insulating, caulking outdoors, etc.), I can say that the comfort level of the house increased MASSIVELY. The house is MUCH more comfortable in winter now.

Usage -- my windows are roughly 30"x60", traditional double-hung. I've found I can do about 2 1/2 windows per tube, sometimes...

Stinky!!
I am giving this item 3 stars only because of the SMELL!! When the product is curing it gives off a very strong odor. Be sure you have plenty of ventilation when using this product.

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L'Equip 306200 500-Watt 6-Tray Food Dehydrator, Gray

Great Product
I have been dehydrating food for years and have been disappointed with the quality of the less expensive products (the trays melt and deform with time etc). Not wanting to keep filling landfills, I decided to invest in a product with a decent warranty...the L'equip Dehydrator has a 12 year warranty. It is fabulous! The tempature control feature is nice. And, probably most amazingly, when I had a question, I called customer service, got a REAL person who knew what they were talking about!

Highly recommend this product. (You can purchase additional trays etc from other retailers/etailers..)

WORKS GREAT,PERFECT SIZE AND VERY QUIET!
I did my research on food dehydrators and the L'Equip was recommended above all. I like the rectangular shape that makes it easy to sit on your counter top without looking bulky and taking up much needed space. It is about the size of a small microwave. It is nice and quiet, comes with the fruit trays and the mesh sheets for the six trays so you do not have to buy a lot of "extras" like you do with the American Harvest brand. I considered buying their model but after you add on all of the mesh sheets and fruit leather trays plus 2 extra stacking trays to equal what this unit offers it is really not any less expensive. I did not like the way it was round and would take up a lot more space. The L' Equip motor and fan is on the bottom but it is covered so nothing will fall into it. I have dried apples,pineapple,coconut and bananas on it so far and it takes anywhere from 6 to 10 hours. They turned out great. I plan on using this often to make healthy sulfite free snacks and ingredients...

You get what you pay for
A great product! This product has a lot going for it - starting with a real instruction book, expansion and solid construction. The trays are firm and each is outfitted with a removable fine mesh, so those smaller items don't fall through. The motor is reaonsably quiet and it does a fine job drying food without cooking the food. One thing to consider about this rectangular unit instead of a round unit - it fits nicely on a shelf and doesn't consume so much room when not in use.

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BonJour Automatic Battery-Powered Primo Latte Frother

Primo, Dude... Works Well and TRIPLES the volume!
Update: 2010

Still going strong; however, I have some reservations about the stand. After several years of use, I now feel that the stand is too easily tipped over (but only because accidents do happen--if you never brushed against it, the stand wouldn't tip over), and that led to a bent "wand" when the frother hit the floor. I just received the Aerolatte as a gift (available also at Amazon.com) and am very pleased with it. However, I've only had it a few days; the reliable Bonjour frother worked well for over four years, and was slightly bent only because of an accident. Still make a fantastic (and relatively inexpensive) gift for the coffee connoisseur or the casual cocoa fan! Still highly recommendedbut you might want to compare this with the Aerolatte on features and price. Happy drinking!

Update: Feb 20, 2006

I've upgraded this from a 4.5 to a full 5* since purchasing it back in December. Initially, it seemed difficult to insert the batteries,...

Doubles the volume!
Actually, I LOVE this thing - and when I got it as a gift, I thought it was pretty hokey. I used to work at Starbucks and I know there's no faking frothy, steamed milk.

But this guy does it!

To clean it I just dab a drop of dishsoap on it and send it spinning under the hot tap.

To change the batteries, make sure to squeeze *both* sides of the case.

This makes giant, fluffy hot chocolates - it does an amazing job with the marshmallows! As dorky as it is, I now have it in high rotation in my kitchen!

nice gaget, but doesn't last long...
I've had three of these already and found that they just don't last long. After being used once a day for about a month or two, it just doesn't spin as well as it did when newer. Yes, I have been changing the batteries when it slows and it no longer makes a difference in the function. It is so slow, that it only makes a couple of bubbles now, no froth. When new it works better than expected and makes mountains of foam and that's the reason I keep purchasing another every couple of months. Maybe some moisture is getting in to the battery compartment?? - not sure why the problem.

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Honeywell 7 Fin Oil Filled Radiator Heater with Digital Controls, HZ-709

WOW! This heater really works!!!!
The Honeywell HZ-709 comes very well packaged with solid styrofoam wrapped around the unit all inside a heavy duty cardboard box. When I opened mine I wasn't surprised that there wasn't a scratch on it. It comes with the radiator unit, four plastic casters, two brackets, two u-bolts, owners manual, and warranty card. There is basic tool-free assembly required to put on the casters, but its so easy a cave man could do it. The instructions to do this are also very easy to understand.

Once the unit is assembled then it is time to plug it in. The digital settings are very easy to adjust with one power button and three two-way switches. One switch is for adjusting the thermostat, which can be set to the max of eighty five degrees fahrenheit. Another is for setting the power low (600 watts), medium (900 watts), and high (1500 watts). The last switch is for setting a hourly timer for shutting the unit off. The temperature switch can also be used to change from fahrenheit to...

Best heater on the market
THE HONEYWELL HZ-709: I'm on my sixth oil-filled radiator heater. It's a Honeywell HZ-709, the only satisfactory one I've found currently on the market. The first Honeywell I bought worked very well for one season. When I began experiencing problems, I found customer service to be very responsive and responsible.

THE OTHERS: I had a Lakewood which worked very well, but Lakewood doesn't make these heaters anymore. I've also tried two different DeLonghi radiators. Both of them continued to put out irritating fumes even after the break in period. Back they went. Likewise for the Holmes I bought. It gave off a low-level odor that I didn't find too noxious at first; but after the first few hours I developed a continuous and worsening headache + nausea that wouldn't quit unless I left the house. It didn't put out as much heat as the Honeywell either. I gave it two days to prove itself, then gave up on it.

THE WARRANTY: So I've purchased a second Honeywell. As I...

Quiet
I just bought this unit from Target, and it is great.
First of all, it is very quiet. The only noise is the sound of oil percolating around in metal housing, which is actually soothing. It is powerful enough to heat our average size bedroom (about 15'x15') even on the lowest setting, and it is below freezing outside.
It is really nice to have a thermostat. You can set it and it will keep your room at a constant temperature. The non-digital model is about $20 cheaper, but just get this one. I've used heaters with no thermostat, and you can never get it to hold constant at a nice temperature. You will wake up too hot or too cold.
The Honeywell costs a little more than the cheap-o brand, but it is WELL worth it. The first radiator heater I bought was cheap-o from Walmart. It made a really loud electrical arcing noise every time it kicked on. It was loud enough to wake us up. It sounded like those weapons from War of the Worlds.

Update: Durable too...

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Hunter 90400 12-Inch Portable Table Fan, Brushed Nickel

Great tabletop fan
I picked this fan up from Target for the same price as on Amazon. It's well built, stylish, and quiet. I was primarily concerned about noise and this little fan is sufficiently quiet. Of course you still hear the air movement, but there's hardly any noise made at the low setting. It has a 5 year warranty which is fantastic. It's lightweight and easy to carry from room to room with the handle on top. It has settings of low, medium, and high; oscillating or not; and a tilt feature. Nice embossed logo in the center and the finish is done with quality. It looks great. Why spend $250 on a Casablanca retro-looking fan when you can get this one for 1/5 the price? It's a great buy. I'm quite pleased.

Lack of a solid base renews a pet peeve...
Taking the advice of others in these reviews, I opted for a quality fan that would last and that would be quiet. Couple that with the overall good reputation of the Hunter Fan Company, I clicked on "place order".

The fan arrived quickly and the overall appearance and quality of the fan impressed me. Then I turned it on. As long as you don't use it on the "low" speed, it's fine. However, I enjoy a nice, gentle breeze - the type traditionally given with any desktop fan of similar size on low. I can't necessarily say that Hunter chintzed, but the net result is a fan that is NOT "whisper Quiet" as stated right on the box when on the "low" setting.

You see, rather than make the base out of either solid metal (or even with a weighty filler of some sort), Hunter opted to incorporate the switch assembly into the base (rather than on the motor itself), leaving a hollowed shell with a plastic cover screwed onto the underside of it. The...

Very attractive and effective fan!
I purchased this fan as a "boost" to my central area conditioning system in my sunroom (no ductwork in this room, only in the kitchen, which is adjacent to this room). As I am into interior design, I welcome any item that "fits in" with the decor of the room (not often easy to find in an electronic item or appliance). This fan looks so good, I haven't any issue with it working with my decor; in addition, it is also well-made, and quite efficient. (There is an oscillating knob, along with a tilt feature, three fan speeds and a handle.) I don't consider it a noisy fan by any means, and I rarely need to operate it above the second speed. I believe this fan is a great investment and is sturdy enough to last many years. There aren't many companies that know more about cooling than Hunter, as they have been successfully making ceiling fans for quite a long time. (I also own a Hunter ceiling fan in my kitchen; I've had it for many years and it's never failed me.)

If you are...

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GE WB2X9998 Flat Oven Ignitor

Easy to install and worked perfectly.
When my GE oven would not turn on this past Sunday night, I needed a quick replacement. I knew nothing about ovens, but I dreaded calling for a technician. A little internet research showed that my ignitor was likely the culprit. After identifying my original ignitor as a Norton 501A, I found this product on Amazon. As others have mentioned, this is an genuine Norton 501A GE replacement part. After replacing the ignitor, the oven worked perfectly and the flames came on within a minute. I had everything up and working by Tuesday. It was a very simple repair and only requires a screwdriver (to unmount/mount the ignitor) and a set of pliers (to cut, strip and splice the wires). Here's a few notes for others who may have never had experience with this type of repair.

- You may notice that no gas flows and believe it's an issue with gas and not an issue with the ignitor. But the gas valve is connected in series with the ignitor. If the current through the ignitor is not...

Cheap, fairly easy fix.
Our Maytag oven had been working erratically for a while. After you set the baking temperature it would take several minutes for the burner to light, then as long as 45 minutes to pre-heat. While the burner was on, you could hear it pulsing, (Hiss.. Hiss.. Hiss.. Hiss.. etc). After talking with a local appliance repair man, we determined the ignitor was the problem. The old ignitor still "worked", but it was not drawing enough current to keep the gas valve open. The ignitor should draw at least 3 amps to open the gas valve. Mine was drawing about 2.7 amps (measured with a clamp-type amp meter). He said the part would cost $75-80. I thought this seemed expensive. [...] wanted $45 for an OEM part. The GE ignitor seemed like it was worth a shot for $18 with shipping. All I needed was a screwdriver to remove the old ignitor and a panel, and a pair of wire strippers to cut the plug off the old ignitor and splice it to the new. Within 15 minutes I was finished and our oven works...

It does what i got it to do.
We bought this oven ignitor when our oven failed to get hot. The gas company came over and tested it for very small fee and confirmed the problem, but they're not allowed to repair appliances so I did some looking online. This flat oven ignitor works in my Magic Chef range just fine. In fact, I think it'll work in almost any gas range that takes a flat ignitor. Installation was quite easy if you're not afraid of your range or minor electrical repairs. No soldering or cutting is required. All you need to do is remove the old one and install the new one and twist the wires on. It's a great deal compared with the cost of a repairman or a new range.

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Swissmar KF-77043 8-Person Classic Raclette Party Grill, Red Enamel

great quality
This raclette grill is authentic and functional. For the little space it takes, you can cook a delicious dinner without using other pans. The grilled food tastes like it was cooked at a barbecue grill. The grill on top has slightly higher edges to catch any sauce or liquid from spilling. Cleans very easily. The temperature knob is great. Highly recommended.

Swissmar Raclette: Endless Possibilities + Family Fun!
We just had our first day with this item... the family loved it! We had a big lunch (the traditional potatoes with cheeses & lunchmeats) then later, used it to make melty desserts like crepes, s'mores & mini tarte flambes (pre-cut toasted tortilla squares with sliced bananas & dark chocolate).
The recipe possibilities are endless. Mini-pizzas, sliders, baked pasta, etc., + the temp control is a good feature.

The product is light and pretty portable. Easy to clean and stow. Best feature I noticed right away; my family was having fun together! We're gonna keep this to ourselves awhile before we share with guests. I highly recommend!!!

Higher Price, better option
I really like the square pans, they're much easier to use than the wedge-shaped ones. Everything is coated in non stick so it cleans up like a breeze. The temperature knob is a nice touch, just watch your fuses, whenever it kicks on my lights flicker. It's a good time for when you want to say to your guests, cook it your damn'd self.

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Bosch 9000 077104 UltraClarity REPLFLTR10 Refrigerator Water Filter

Comparable Product
Excellent product properly described and meeting or exceeding expectations.
This filter is exactly the same as the water filter provided with the Thermador freezer.

Needed to replace my filter on the Refrigerator
Exactly what I needed, good quality, received on time even though I was not able to ship directly to my APO mailbox. Was interesting trying to find where it needed to be installed on my refrigerator? It took a little hunting to find and then twisting to get into place. Works very well.

works
Just make sure to match up the correct number and this filter is as good as any I recommend it

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Oster 3152 Tall Can Opener, Red

works great
Well worth the little extra money. Cheaper openers need to line up the can, but if you get it close this one will grab it and open it.

Oster did it again!
Quality that is associated with Oster does not disapppoint! Great sharp opener, holds the can and works quietly and efficiently. My grip opener has started to hurt my wrists and fingers, this product has made the kitchen more user friendly for sure.

Nice Can Opener
Looks nice; work great and received it fast! What more could you want for this price! Thanks, Oster and Amazon!

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Oster FPSTCN1300 Electric Can Opener, Stainless Steel

waiting on second opinion
Received this item on the 19th of November, was shipped and arrived to us in about a weeks time, the stainless look really blended in well with our kitchen and appliances, and as you know,there's always a "but" :)
After about one week, unfortunately on Thanksgiving Day, the cutting blade would recess to far up for any can to be opened. The only thing that keeps the blade from pushing up inside the can opener is a welded little notch on the cutting blade that when a can is to be punctured is supposed to catch and not allow it to recess any further in. I'm not sure if that notch was just made to small or what, but anytime we tried to open a can it would not puncture and just push up inside. That is the reason for only two stars, trying to be fair and see if the next one is any better.

So at this time, we're sending it back for a replacement, hopefully this one will work much better and longer. We will try to do a follow up on the new one once we've had it for awhile...

Horrrible!
I HATE this can opener. It doesn't open cans. It's a torture device. And it falls apart constantly. The stupid lever that holds the magnet keeps slipping out. Now today, the magnet fell off the lever and it won't stay in. This is the most frustrating device I have ever come across. You'd think they'd have it nailed by now. But no, not Oster. You want to frustrate someone to tears? Buy them this can opener. I've had mine 3 months and it's time for the trash can!

Oster Stainless Can Opener
I just remodeled my kitchen from white appliances to stainless. Not knowing if this can opener would match I was hesitant to purchase it sight unseen. I'm so glad I did as it is a perfect match. It is easy to operate, fast and quiet. It even allows for hands free after inital puncture and holds can in place. I'm so glad I decided to go with this Oster model. I've had several Oster products and never had a problem with any of them.

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Nostalgia Electrics Coca-Cola Series OFP501COKE Hot Air Popcorn Maker

Great gift for my 10 year old Nephew!
This was a hit for my 10 year old nephews birthday. He loves pop corn and all kids are intrigued by the pop corn maker ordeal. We plugged it in, added some kernels and boom we had a bowl full of pop corn. Great concept and size for a kid. And easy enough for them to use. Great gift idea!

Great little hot air popper
Love this little popper, so adorable and works great. It was a much appreciated gift. It it a little smaller than a standard hot air popper but not by too much.

Fine Corn Popper!
Chose this popper over all the other (usually much higher priced) poppers that came up first based on the Coca-Cola theme and secondly as a hot air popper. We bought 3 as gifts and a 4th stays in our kitchen for the grandkids and all work fine. Would recommend this unit to anyone looking for a low priced hot air popper. Follow the directions!

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Hoover Type A Upright Vacuum Cleaner Replacement Bags, Package of 10

good solid bags
I guess I was a little hesitant on reviewing about vacuum bags, but these are pretty good.

Though I know it may not be necessary for those without a Hoover Upright vacuum cleaner, and that they must be bought for a Hoover user, these are still good bags. If you are thinking of buying a vacuum cleaner, you should consider not only the power and quality of its cleaning power, but how easy it is to clean it's container or change its bags. And Hoover makes changing bags easy, plus the bags are quite strong. Did you ever see those garbage bag commercials where they test bags by rolling them down a hill? Well, these bags are stronger.

A great dirt bag shouldn't be a reason to buy the Hoover Vacuum, which is a great vacuum by the way, but it should be one of the considerations you make.

Great price!
No complaints with this item! These are genuine Hoover Type A bags (they fit my 10-year-old Hoover Elite hard-case vacuum). Target charges $5.99 plus tax for 3 bags--this package of 10 is a great deal.

Good price
Hey, they're vacuum cleaner bags, what can one say? I needed to spend a bit more money to get free shipping on my order and this fit the bill, for a little over a buck apiece. These should last me for years!

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10 Washing Machine Lint Traps Aluminum Mesh With Clamps

Not 10 traps
As another reviewer pointed out, this is totally misleading. There are only 2 traps for $10 even though the title says 10.

Not what I expected! Garbage.
I am so disappointed with this product. When you unroll the lint trap it curves inward and is dificult to puff out so the lint can get to the bottom and it is so thin that it barly holds its tube shape. The ties also are poor quality because they don't tighten to well. I know now to stay away from this product! P.s. before thinking of getting them, try your local dollar store. I found better ones there after recieveing this JUNK that is messing up my drains!

The first one I opened had holes in it
I do not recommend this item. The first one I opened had some holes (tears in the mesh). The mesh appears to be somewhat brittle and not sturdy. I am a little concerned that the metal will break up during the wash. I will monitor for problems.
Better off buying a different brand.

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HOMEIMAGE 3.2 Liter Electric Thermo Hot Pot - HI-EKA32L

More than comparable to Tatung
Prior to purchasing this one, I had a Tatung 3 liter hot water dispenser. It is one of the most commonly-owned brands in places like Taiwan and China. So naturally I was a bit wary of going with a different brand. Considering the similar price point, I'm going to compare the Homeimage model with the Tatung model.

- This model features 3 different levels of water temperature, 98, 85, and 60. Remember, though, if you usually keep your water at 98 degrees, it doesn't go down to 85 or 60 degrees instantly. Tatung keeps it at just 1 temperature setting 98 degrees.

- This model features 3 different ways of dispenser water, air-pot (pressurized button at top), electronic dispensing (press unlock button then dispense button), or a cup sensor (touchless). Tatung has just electronic dispensing.

- Tatung has magnetic safety power cord (think Macbooks), this one uses a standard three-prong power cord that comes standard with desktop computers. What it means...

It's not perfect, but it's a nice hot pot with reasonable price
Well, if you are going to buy a hot pot, doesn't want to spend too much money on it, (for a student like me), you will like this product very much.

first of all, the price is unbeatable! with 3 different types of water dispensing system, and can keep the water in 3 different temperature as well; normally it costs more than 80 or sometime 100, if its from Japan. However, this one only cost you less than 40.

also, when heating or dispensing water, it;s really quite!! you don't have to worry to disturb others during the night when you want to have a cup of tea or enjoy ur instant noodle.

However, this product is not perfect!!
the cutting edge of certain part of this pot is not smooth, and it cannot turn 360 degree very smoothly.
However, those are just small flaws and I can live with it :D
After all, its a realy nice product and I like it!!

Hot water dispenser
The Homeimage hot pot works very well. It keeps the water warm at 3 different temperatures and has 3 different ways to dispense the water. My daughter took it on a picnic after heating the water and it kept the water hot a long time. The only complaint I have is the water level gauge is not lined up properly. It quits dispensing water just a little below 1/4 full. Once you get used to it, it is not a problem.

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MAYTAG DISHWASHER SILVERWARE BASKET 99001576

Great size and perfect spacing
Great size and perfect spacing. It fits perfectly in any dishwasher and works very well. I would recommend to anybody.

It works
It works. Fits into the space. Looks just like the one I replaced. Met all of my expectations. What more can I say.

A little bigger than I expected but well made
A little bigger than I expected but well made
It replaces them junk that came with my dishwasher
I find I like the extra room more than I mind the loss of dish space

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Oster FPST2574CRBW 6 Speed Hand Mixer with Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl

Great for High-Speed Mixing...
This is a nice mixer for the price. It has a sleek, modern look and the stainless steel bowl comes with a lid that fits easily and makes it ideal for storing both mixed food, as well as the mixer itself. The settings though don't offer a lot of control - even the lowest setting is quite high, and the high speed setting has an almost "turbo" quality to it! Using it for the first time with some instant pudding created a bit of a mess initially because I wasn't expecting the lowest setting to be quite so forceful! So, if a high-speed mixer is what you are looking for, look no further. But, other hand mixers seem to have more range as far as the settings go. Perhaps with age and use, the low speed will slow down, but for now, I will only be pulling this out when I want to use a high-speed mixer.

A fine mixer for today
When I left home at the age of 20 (this is decades ago now), my mother gifted me her ancient hand-mixer. And it seemed like I had that thing forever. It was virtually indestructible. Now, I no longer remember why I eventually replaced it, but in the years since, I've never had a hand-mixer like it. These days, things seem to be built with planned obsolescence in mind. I've gone through at least a half-dozen mixers in the years since. They're not built to last.

Still, there's always pleasure in acquiring a shiny, new tool for the kitchen, and the Oster FPST2574CRBW 6 Speed Hand Mixer with Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl has several nice features. Now, I haven't exactly been scouring the hand-mixer market, but I've never before owned one that comes with its own bowl. It's a really useful size (not too big and not too small), has its own lid (perfect for stashing leftover cookie dough in the fridge, etc.), and is ideal for storing the mixer in. It's nice and neat, no...

great mixer
This hand held mixer is the best I have owned. It is aerodynamic and lightweight, yet sturdy like a professional mix. This mixer is a great addition to any kitchen.

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Battery for Dyson DC16

Battery is Junk now. Not a good value.
Bought the battery in May of 2010. It worked great from the start. It just didn't last nearly as long as the Dyson battery.

Now, I happen to have two Dyson's that we use, pretty much side by side. So think my test is pretty valid.

Bought the original Dyson in 2005, and the Dyson battery lasted 5 years. Bought the second Dyson in 2008. Battery is still going strong, now in 2012.

Bought this replacement battery in 2010, and it didn't outlast the 2-year old Dyson battery. Replacement battery is already dead, as of January 2012 (and was dying quickly in September 2011).

Save yourself some money in the long run - buy the real thing. Not these cheap imitations.

Li-Ion? Perhaps they're lyin'
We bought this in Sept. 2010. It worked great until now (Aug 2011). It no longer holds a charge. The vacuum works fine for about two minutes, then *poof*, the battery quits. If it were a Ni-Cad, I might understand, as we use our handheld on a daily basis. I cannot recommend this battery.

off brand battery for hand-held Dyson
I give this product a 3 star rating but in reality I would give it a 5 for price and shipping from company and about a 1.5 on how it works. Battery has a different fit than the OEM version and stays in the charger when I pull the vac out. I also have to make sure there is positive contact regularly as the connection is a bit dicey. Otherwise it works OK. I still have problems with the unit not staying on, but I think the issue is with the loose contact with the vac. All in all this battery is better than nothing and I wasn't willing to spend so much on the OEM version. I have only had the replacement battery for a short while, but if I don't get long life out of it, I will not purchase another.

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Homedics HUM-HDDC4-6CTM Demineralization Cartridges

Worked as intended
These work as intended to work. They were hard to find in stores. Was glad to find them on line.

Got 4 Instead of 1.
It's just what I needed and I got 4 when I was expecting 1. What more could you ask for?

Pretty basic
Does its job. Came quickly and fits the humidifier perfectly. No sure I needed so many but I couldn't find a smaller pack.

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Mr. Heater 30,000 BTU Natural Gas Blue Flame Vent Free Heater

Pro's and Con's, in a nutshell
First off, I got this nat gas heater at the end of November of 2010 for a 17'x 22' finished basement room with a 7' drop ceiling. I live in the Northeast so we get pretty cold winters here. This heater was purchased for a secondary back up heating system in the event of a power failure however, I use it daily and love it. My initial concerns before the unit was installed: plumbing gas pipe, ventless emmissions, CO2, odors and function(s). I'll address all the concerns as best I can.

-Plumbing gas pipe: Don't do it yourself, hire a professional, you'll sleep a lot sounder, a small price to pay for safety (it'll pay for itself in the long run anyway)
-Ventless Emissions: I researched here and there and everywhere, this camp is split from what I can see, some say there is and some say there isn't any, I don't know. The next thing I cover may or may not be related to this.
-CO2 and odors: I installed $40 Kidde CO2 detector 12 feet away from the heater and it still...

It's good but not fantastic
The only glitch on this heater is the picture of a digital reading on amazon's site. The heater came in with a sticker where the digital reading should have been. Set up was easy, I had a guy at lowes plumbing dept help me with the parts. Make sure and buy the leak checker fluid and watch for bubbles. I also used a flexible coil they use for gas stoves and dryers. The flexible hose also has a built in union so you don't have to install one. The heater works really well with a cracked window or overhead fan on to keep humidity down. The room heats up fast but does have some cool spots. It's ok for what we are using it for. There is an odor and will go away in time. The odor is not natural gas but the heater itself burning off impurities. The built in thermostat works well shutting on & off the heat on its own. I would suggest getting a cheap digital thermometer to help you regulate the heat.

Effective home heater
After a few power outages last winter, we purchased this heater today and installed it. Wow! It adequately heats our living room and kitchen and if the downstairs bathroom door is left open, covers that as well. Better yet, with it running, our furnace has yet to kick on with the thermostat set at 68 (it's 37 outside right now with a wind chill of 30).

The only con I can think of is that the blower really isn't very efficient. We are using a small pole fan behind the unit to distribute the warm air more evenly, although a ceiling fan would do the same if you have one.

Definitely well worth the purchase price. We were debating whether to get this one or a different non-vented natural gas heater with logs and "flames" but decided for $100 less, we could do without the esthetics and stick with pure function.

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Range Kleen 11920-4X GE Drip Pans Containing 2 Units each 119A, 120A, Chrome

Why scrub?
OMG! This is so worth not having to scour for hours! A new set and your stove sparkles!

Well worth the money
These drip pans are well worth the money. The quality is great and they clean up in a snap. Throw them in the dish washer or scrub them with a a brillo pad....they keep on gleaming. I have used the discount drip pans in the past and find I need to replace them, often. I have had the Range Kleen drip pans for almost a year now. Wonderful product.

Great!
Awsome! these fit my GE stove like the originals and make it look brand new! Cheaper than brillo pads!

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Vitamix 1723 Professional Series 200, Onyx

A-MAH-ZING!
This thing is AWESOME. I'm so glad we took the plunge! This blender is the BEST one I have EVER used. Blends ice perfectly, leaving no chunks, easy clean up, makes soup. I'm pretty sure it would chop up rocks if you tried. My husband and I have been using this to make shakes in the mornings. I put strawberries, other frozen fruits, halves of apples (with the core and seeds still in tact), ice...everything comes out perfectly for a smoothie. The seeds from the strawberries don't even make it through the blend.

I can pull out my fruits, blend a smoothie, and clean up in less than 2 minutes.

Don't deceive yourself into thinking, though, that you will never use the damper. If you make thick shakes, you will use the damper every time....

For those that don't know, you can make your own soups (add your veggies and broth) and run the blender for a full minute or two. It will heat your ingredients right up.

Clean up is as simple as adding a...

Excellent
Yesterday, I received the Vita Mix 1723 Professional Series 200 blender. First impressions out of the box. The lid and perhaps the carafe handle impart a strong plastic smell that permeates the whole box. The carafe is BPA free not sure about the lid. The carafe looks beautiful. It is made out of a clear yet strong and light weight polycarbonate material. The base its a bit bulky but expected as it houses a 2HP motor. However it is not heavy for its size. Also included are a tamper tool, a recipe book, and a DVD.

I washed the carafe and the lid with warm soapy water and noticed that the smell of plastic still lingers from the lid. I am thinking it will be sometime before it goes away.

The overall height of the blender is about about 20 inches. I had no problem placing it on the edge of the counter. Thus it does not fit directly underneath the kitchen cabinets. The carafe has plenty of room to blend different types of fruits and vegetables at once, which is a huge...

Amazing machine. Made a Veggie-Lover Out of Me!
I am middle-aged and MUST MUST MUST get more veggies in my diet. I dislike many vegetables and am ambivalent to the rest. The Vitamix and a couple of good green smoothie books like Green Smoothie Revolution: The Radical Leap Towards Natural Health have fixed the problem COMPLETELY! I am eating lots of raw greens and enjoying them so much I look forward to the next time I get to have one! So is my hubby. I have been using the blender on my Bosch Universal Mixer for years. I thought it was powerful. Boy, was I wrong. It's like the difference between a moped and a Harley.

I thought about the Blend-Tec. My kids showed me all the funny videos, but honestly, I do not need to blend my iPad. I wanted a blender from a company that has been making the same product for a long time (85 years!) I also wanted the 7 year unconditional guarantee. I have known about the Vitamix all my life. Additionally, I...

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Skuttle A04-1725-052 Replacment Media, Filter, with Wick for 2000,2100

Works- some mild decline in quality
Decent product and works well- the only thing keeping it from an excellent rating is that some of the quality has gone down on these
1.) Up until last year they had a color stripe that would change color when it needed to be replaced.- the last two I bought didn't have that
2.) I am not going through 2 a season- (even with milder winter last year)

When I was a kid, finding replacement filters was one of life's torments.
I remember my dad looking for a source of various filters (humidifier, dehumidifier, furnace, air conditioner, drinking water) for various appliances with increasing grimness. The appliance might still be in good shape, but the store that sold it went out of business, and nobody else carried the same line. Or the manufacturer made some minor tweaks to the design, which just happened to require a different filter, which just happened to make our unit obsolete. Or it would simply be sold out, and nobody knew exactly when more would arrive. Dad was a guy who worried, and finding replacement filters provided maybe 5% of his life's quota of worry.

How he would have enjoyed Amazon. Exactly the right filter, often available from multiple manufacturers, cheap, and delivered within a few days. Searchable by appliance model number. Nice clear pictures. User reviews which point out obscure features and problems. Every time I order a filter from Amazon, I feel a little burst...

Water where you need it
How much can be said about a woven mesh that water dribbles across. It fit in the hole provided and water dribbled on top and dispersed across the media face. I was SOOOOOOOOO excited.

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Panasonic MC-V194H HEPA Filter, 1-Pack

If you have a 7500 series from Panasonic, buy this!
If you read your manual, it recommends replacing this every year. We had our vacuum for two years before replacing this. Now the vacuum works back up to original specs-you can't smell dust any more, and it sucks harder.

You probably want to replace the pleated filter after a year or two also, no matter how good you are at cleaning it.

Excellent filter
I bought this filter to replace original filter that was included with vacuum cleaner. It works very well and completely eliminates dust odors of vacuum cleaner. Recommended.

Good price for essential vacuum filter
Very good price on essential vacuum part - better than you can get at vacuum stores and other retailers.
Recommended.

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Tomlinson Ceramic Crock Lever Faucet - Ivory White

nice replacement spigot
Bought these spigots to replace some cheap ones that came with some drink dispensers we purchased elsewhere. The Tomlinson faucets were easy to install, didn't leak, and had a good flow rate. The resin material is easy to clean in the dishwasher. Well worth the price.

Exact Replacement
After years of service, the handle on our old lever faucet gave up the ghost. This fits the bill nicely. The price is reasonable, and the lever comes with two washers. (the original had only one) This gives it extra protection against leaks, and requires very little torque to get a leak free seal. Took about one minute to replace. I don't know what else to say other than this is the one to get to fix your ceramic water crock!

spigot
I bought these for a friend and gave them to him...He installed it and its still working fine. The item has good quality and was very reasonably priced

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Flanders PrecisionAire 10155.012424 24 by 24 by 1 Flat Panel EZ Air Filter, 12-Pack

Good value filters
I use this filters for my buisness and usually by them by the box to get it cheaper. But i used to pay $42 in ACE untill i saw the same in Amazon for $17. What a bargain!!!





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Frigidaire Range Control Board 316455400

Easy fix to my oven not baking or broiling!
Took less than 20 minutes to replace this control and no special tools were needed. Now my oven is back working the same as it did before the old control went out (which resulted in no bake or broil, but could still use the stove top). This was much cheaper than calling a repair person, or buying a new oven.

Seems to do the trick
My oven stopped heating. Everything else was working fine. All research indicated this part would fix it. I ordered it from Amazon because it was cheapest. When I got it, I was able to install it with no trouble and it is working fine. The one I got did look a little greasy. I have to clean it off before the front facade would glue on. But maybe this was just left over from manufacturing? Anyway, who cares, it works.

**EDIT March 2013**
This item is still working very well. Have had no trouble at all out of it since I installed it. Continues to heat the oven bake and broil without any issues.

Saved me money, cost me little time.
My oven stopped working the other day. The range still worked and the clock still kept time, but the oven would not heat up. After using a multimeter to determine that the heating element and thermometer were not faulty there was nothing else to fix other than the control panel. This is the same Frigidaire clock/control that came with my original unit. It took me about 20 minutes to install and it works like a charm. All you need is a screwdriver and the ability to match up a few color coded wires. Simple, and way better than buying a new oven. I would recommend this product to anyone who has the same issue.

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The Original Handy Cooler Small Fan & Mini-Air Conditioner, Blue

Video review of the handy cooler


Better than a fan!


I like it so far.
I'm in the Navy, therefore I sleep in a tiny, tiny, often hot space with no air circulation. I ordered this because there is only so much night-sweat and dude-funk one can take in this sort of environment. It just came in the other day, but it appears sufficient to cool a cramped, curtained, coffin-like enclosure! The noise at high-speed is a total non-issue; trust me, the engines drown it out completely. If you're ordering one of these for your sailor, I recommend the pink one. The guys who've seen it all want one, but nobody is going to steal something in pink.

Honestly, I wish it were less expensive, but the build quality is solid enough that I think it'll survive until I get back, and that's really all that counts.

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Bissell 314-9162 Tough Stain 3 Tool Assembly for Bissell Tank

Works with SpotBot
After countless accidents by my two cats, the original hand tool for my SpotBot finally chipped and broke enough to need to be replaced. Even through this one is a smokey clear version of the original, it still functions and fits the same.

Get the real thing....
I got 3 of these for our Green Machines at work (Fairgrounds). A "knock-off" tool was bought to replace one that got broken but it had only one line of brush instead of 3 that this one has. Big difference in performance when cleaning our cloth padded chairs every winter. These are well worth the money!!!

Works perfectly
I bought this to replace the brush that came with my Spotbot Pet after it had cracked and would no longer fit on the hose. This brush fits the hose, and has yet to crack despite months of weekly use. Since the last one did crack from all the pressure I kept putting on it, I am a little more careful with this one. I'm sure, just based on usage, that this one will eventually suffer the same fate. When it happens, I will happily repurchase.

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Electrolux s-bag Anti-Odor Vacuum Bags EL203B - 3 Pack

eliminates the dog odor smell when vacuuming
These are a bit pricey, which lowers it one star, but they are sturdily made. I purchased them because we have dogs and there is a doggy odor after vacuuming that bothers my husband. These worked very well for preventing that problem.

Reduces Smell
I hate that dusty bag vacuum cleaner smell that seems to come out of any vac no matter how much you pay for it. Sure enough eliminates the problem. Nothing but air with no dusty smell even when nearly full.

Allergy Suffer's It helps
I have used the product for several years and I use to hide when my wife vaccumed. This seems to trap most everything and my allergies say thank you.
Also we have pets and the oder trap seems to work.

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Graco Humidifier Replacement Filter for 4.0 Gallon, 4 Pack

Great!
Nice affordable purchase for my humidifier that I use all winter for my babies. Hope I can get the same price when I need more.

Worth the Cash
May be a tad pricey, but worth it for clean air, right? Our house can get very dry in the winter especially with he heat constantly running. It's helped tremendously with our 18 month old's cough.



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Nesco American Harvest BJH-6 Jerky Spice Works, Hot and Spicy Flavor, 6.9oz box

Hard to Beat
This makes some gooooooooooooooood jerky. That is if you like your jerky spicy. I like to mix this with original flavor. I make 3 lbs. of jerky at a time. I use I pack of Hot and Spicy and 2 packs of original flavor. That gives me the spicy flavor I love without totaly setting my mouth on fire.

Lots of flavor
I know people experiment with their own flavorings, but for those of us too lazy or just too inexperienced, this is a great starting point. I made my first ground beef jerky with this mix and took it to a small social event that evening. All the men loved it and several of the women did too. Not for the mild of heart because there is a kick to this flavor.

Excellent
This spice was just as easy as all the other nesco jerky spice kits. Usually when something is marketed as hot and spicy, it's not really all that hot or spicy... but this is. It has a very good flavor to go along with the spice. The heat is not over bearing, but it is there, and it is good.

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Mr. Coffee TF4GTF 4-Cup Switch Coffeemaker, White with Gold Tone Filter

Good for one or two
It is very easy to spill, unless you pour VERY slowly. It also makes coffee quickly, with no trouble. It's not slower or faster than any other similar coffee maker. But the first couple of pots will taste like plastic, even if you wash it, so I recommend brewing using vinegar a few times and then nothing but water for a couple of times before you use it to make coffee. They should tell you that in the instructions. My only other real complaint is that if you use the permanent plastic filter instead of a paper one, the coffee will be very weak. Also, if you are a heavy coffee drinker, buy yourself a regular coffee maker, not this one. The cups are only 5 oz each, not 8 oz. If you fill the pot to the rim it makes just enough coffee to fill two regular cups or travel mugs (not the jumbo kind). Perfect for one or two people who only need a single cup.

Great little coffee maker
I have had several of this type and thought it was time for a new one. Did not really need timer/clock and other complications and things to fail. Price is right, if you do not like the permanent filters buy the even cheaper one here. I have usually not cared for the permanent filters and this one does leave a little (very little) fine stuff in cup. I think the rinse and put back in is better than fighting to get just one filter out of a stack. My old 4 cup Mr C could use standard size filters (3 1/2 " 8-12 cup), think this one will also. It is very easy to dump a disposable filter out without dripping all the way to the trash can.

The top is a little hard to open but needs to be because it must hold down the pause and serve valve. It is fine after you get used to it. I ran three runs of water through before I made coffee and I feel that it makes great coffee. I timed it today and it was about 6 minutes from turn on to finished.

It could use a little better...

Excellent
I've bought many coffee pots through out the years and this one is by far the best. Easy to use and clean. Does not continue to drip coffee after being turned off. The heating plate is great, stays in pristine condition after months of use. I purposely waited to review it because I thought it would not hold up for this long, it's been almost four months and still in perfect shape. One of my best buys yet!

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