Old English, LemonOil, Trigger Sprayer Save 8% Off

We have a few outside "animals" carved from wood. They are very dry, so I started putting lemon oil on them to try to revive them It is working wonders. Instead of buying it at the grocery store, I ordered this. It was a better value than anything else I have found.

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Scotch 1801 "Instant Power" Main Line Cleaner 128 Oz

This product actually works as advertised!!!!!!!

My main sewer line was plugged enough that we suddenly had sewage backed up into the shower in the master bath at the rear of our house. My experience had always been that if the off the shelf products worked half as well as advertised that plumbers would be a lot more idle. At my wife''s prodding and, when the plumber I contacted the day before hadn''t even called by 1:30 that afternoon I reluctantly looked online for recommended products and found this one that was available at the big box home store near my house. I cancelled the plumber and used it according to the directions on the jug and, after waiting for about 7 hours did the hot water flush for 5 minutes followed with flushing all 3 toilets in the house in rapid succession to find nothing but a delightfully clear sewer line.

Bottom line: I was able to completely fix the problem for $12.00 and a little patience, compared to the $130.00 first hour charge from the plumber along with the mess from the equipment to root the line, the other plumber I contacted wanted over $200.00 to show up and had a machine charge to boot.

This product is now on my permanent list, I had even bought a second jug since I had a hard time believing that one would completely take care of the problem, my reserve stash is now ready for any future needs.

We''ve been having ''plumbing probs since we''ve moved into this house, but lately it''s been so bad that whenever we did a load of laundry had to jump up during the draining process and continually open the washer lid or it would back up into kitchen sink then overflow out of washer pipe end. Yesterday we decide to try to buy an auger (a.k.a. snake) to clean out the pipes.

We get the auger home and hubby gets to snaking the pipes but auger would only go so far before it would get stuck...So hubby ends up having to crawl under the house to try to check the clean out..so he gets under the house and checks it but since this house is over 40 years old, the clean-out cap is so rusted that it''s impossible to get it off without the right tools (which equals more money spent on the problem). So he finds another way into the pipe and ewwwww...won''t get into that...lets just say ''disgusting''! So many years of slime and grime buildup that there''s only a tiny hole for water to flow..hence the problem..

By now, Hubby is convinced that we either need to go to the home improvement store and buy some expensive machine to clean out the pipe,spend loads of money to replace the pipe (thats galvanized steel instead of pvc when apparently shows the age of house), or just call a plumber...I suggest that before going the expensive route, we go back to the home improvement store, explore our options, then decide.

We get to the store and look around...Hubby doesn''t think that any type of ''chemicals'' will work but all the things he thinks we will need are super expensive and taxing so I start reading the back of the chemical containers as he goes off to ask an associate for assistance...The guy comes back with hubby and we explain the problem and he suggests....dah dah! chemicals! So we buy a gallon of this main line cleaner for like 12 bucks,to which hubby only agrees to buy because it has a money-back guarantee. We later go back for another gallon just to be sure as it says on the back that 2 gallons may be needed for severe clogs.

Finally get this stuff in the sink drain and washer drain last night and let it soak overnight per the directions then rinsed out with hot water this morning again per the directions...Woot! not only is it not backing up anymore but the water from the washer is flowing better than it ever has in the almost 3 years since we''ve been here! This stuff is by far, unequivocally the best stuff on the market and will save you hundreds of dollars in plumbing repair costs! I''m sold and now so is my sweet "Mr. I Don''t Think".

Note: I would definitely try to find it at your local home improvement store first..1 gallon only cost us 12 dollars with tax included!

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We''ve lived in our house only 3 years and already I''ve spent over $1000 on two incidents of a clog in a waste pipe where the master bath drain comes down and meets with the kitchen waste line. Both times, my plumber came out with the power snake and spent hours trying to ream out this clog. It''s several feet from the kitchen sink so Liquid Plumber couldn''t get that far, and it probably wouldn''t have worked anyway. Last year, my plumber said, "OK, I fixed it again, but if this happens next year, we have to take off the siding and see what is wrong with that part of the line."

So, just a year later, like clockwork, I came downstairs to find my shower water backed up into the kitchen sink. On a Saturday, when no plumber will come out to our remote area.

I searched online and read about Instant Power Main Line Cleaner. I got directions to a Wal-Mart and bought all 3 bottles on the shelf. I poured one bottle into the upstairs shower drain and one bottle into the kitchen sink. These are 1-gallon bottles, so the liquid gets past the trap. My clog isn''t in the trap, it''s almost 4 feet farther than that.

I let it all sit for 18 hours. On Sunday morning, I filled my tea kettle and started pouring boiling water into both drains.

At first, I thought it didn''t work. There was a backup of water to the kitchen sink. But after pouring another tea kettle into the upstairs drain, the backup disappeared. I poured in a couple more gallons of boiling water for good measure. No backup. I ran the dishwasher and took a shower. No backup. I saved $500!!

I am not kidding myself that the pipe is good as new back there. I think I need to treat this area proactively, maybe once a month. But I could buy 70 bottles of Instant Power for the cost of a single plumber visit. Awesome stuff!

By the way, pay close attention to the safety warnings. This is EXTREMELY corrosive stuff. Don''t get it on your skin or clothing, and don''t let it splash onto natural stone like travertine.

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I purchased two gallons of this product in December to remove a clog from my main line. I applied the product in the lowest drain in the house, last thing before bed. I even shut off the water lines to all of the sinks and toilets in the house to give it every chance to work for eight hours uninterrupted. Nothing. I suspect that root growth in the line was causing the problem, so I''m not surprised dumping a bunch of lye down there didn''t work. At any rate, Scotch Corp. did refund the full cost of both of the bottles I bought, though it did take several weeks to process.

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This is the best product that I''ve used for the first time and it worked. I told the plumber, never mind to come and fix the problem. I gave him and my co-workers the name of your product: "main line cleaner". It''s real instant power! Thanks for saving me some mula. I know that my plumber was not happy but I am. (smile).

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DeLonghi ECAM23210B Compact Magnifica S Beverage Center Save 39% Off

Machine worked fantastic for about 8 months until the frother would no longer work. A call to Delonghi support (Oct ''11) resulted in a seven day wait for box to ship the unit to a repair facility (Nov ''11). That facility determined within a week it needed a new frother, but Delonghi took two months and never supplied the part the repairer. After 2.5 months (Jan ''12) of waiting I again called Delonghi and asked that they just send me a replacement unit so that I didn''t have to keep waiting. Ten days later, a replacement (refirb) unit showed up only to arrive broken (this time leaking water into the grounds tray). Initial calls to Delonghi were met with scripted "you''ll need to send us the unit and wait for our evaluation..." rather than them just shipping me out a replacement immediately and my returning the defective one. Sigh. Such an excellent product when it is working. Customer service just doesn''t think a $800+ product deserves better care. Delonghi should study Apple to learn how good customer service builds a strong brand.

I spent a LOT of time looking at the different sites for expresso machines. Most suggested staying away from the super automatics. I dont doubt that you can make an even finer cup of coffee if you have full control and spend the time to do it, but for those of us that want to grab a cup in the AM before heading out the door, this machine does a really nice job. I had a manual machine once in the past but never spent the time with it, plus it took 5 mins of prep work and cleanup was drag, I ended up giving it away. Yes it made great coffee, but it ended up sitting on a shelf next to the ice cream maker (never buy one of those :-)). This is a much better device for me.

The Compact Magnifica (23210) works great out of the box. The machine comes with a coupon for a tap water filter, but they really should have included it for those that want to use tap water and live in hard water cities. If you have filtered water at your place (or use a brita etc) this will not affect you. Within a half hour you will be churning out really nice drinks. The frother works well with 1% milk. Consider grabbing this:Krups XS5020 20-Ounce Stainless-Steel Milk Frothing Pitcher. It works nicely in concert. After running perhaps 3-4 cups through the 23210, the quality of the coffee levels off and is excellent (dont panic the first cup might be weak or bitter as the beans cycle through). Assuming you buy decent coffee (I used HEBs brand), you will have relatively quick cuppuccino, easy coffee and strong and tasty expresso in a few minutes. I find the cup warmer to be useless and I did need to ramp up to the hottest setting for the coffee to be the right temp, but otherwise the 23210 was tuned perfectly with preset factory settings. Cleanup is a breeze the frother is insulated in plastic so the wand is MUCH easier to clean than the non insulated wands on many machines. The tank is plenty big enough for AT LEAST 10 drinks (even if you use some steamed milk a few times). The footprint of the unit is nice and it wont hog space.

Overall, Im quite happy with the quality and build while plasticy, it doesnt seem cheap, it has a more euro look to it than the picture indicates I feel. If you are looking for a nice automatic and you are willing to make the trade off to spend quite a bit more, and perhaps lose a bit of artisinal control, youll definitely be rewarded by purchasing this. I was worried the coffee would taste like Keurig or the other quick makers this is MATERIALLY better coffee. If you can afford it, treat yourself, this maker wont disappoint. I especially recommend for parents who have little free time and busy professionals who dont want to spend time cleaning. This is a good machine. I have no idea what MORE Id want from a machine, assuming it continues to work, I dont see why a person would need a larger machine.

Update: I''ve had it a few months now and I''ve got a routine I now use so I thought I''d share. I set the bean strength to the highest setting and the water to the middle size and I make a double shot each time. That seems to be the flavor/size balance that works best for me. The reviews that suggest using a dry, European roast like illy over an oily dark roast like Starbucks are probably correct. I''ve been using lavazza which is well priced via amazon. Illy is fantastic but very $$$ and frankly I don''t notice the difference. Anyways after 5 months I''m still really digging this machine.Lavazza Super Crema Espresso Whole Bean Coffee, 2.2-Pound Bag

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One thing about this machine is that it makes great coffee. Great design that will fit most kitchen areas. Just decalcified the machine for the first time, also my first and it took about 40 min.. The directions in the manual were slightly different than how the machine prompted me but I followed the machines direction and all went well. I highly recommend this type of coffee maker, because of verity of coffee making choices, ease of use, and of course taste. I drink at least 4 cups a day.

I would buy this type of machine again.

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I studied different machines until I was dizzy. The only requirement: It was important to me to have a machine that loaded water from front. When you look at the dimensions, it is not much smaller than others. The product weighs a ton already, and I am happy it is not stainless.. It is reasonably as quiet as a coffee grinder could be and makes beautiful espresso consistently.. The DVD instructions are... well.. instructive.

To decide, ask yourself this question: If you were a smoker would you roll your own cigarettes, or buy a pack to smoke. That is the difference between a manual/semi automatic vs a superautomatic like this one.

You add one feature and the other and then you say do I really need all this?

Set expectations. It comes down to budget, ease of use, and space requirements.

The fact is that it was cyber Monday, I was going to buy a perfecta at a bargain price, the seller ran out, and gave me the compact which was more expensive for half the price. There is concern out there that super automatics in general break easily if you use hard water and don''t change the filter. If it works for two years for me, I will be happy. If it breaks, we will be coffee addicts and buy a semi automatic to experiment with our addictive urges.

My smart busy wife pushes one button. She is happy, the whole family is happy.

The product came with a year of free coffee from Illy that was not posted on the merchant''s web site ($140 value) :)

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I''ve had the compact Magnifica S for about a week now and have a good sense of what the machine delivers.

Pros:

Literal push-button automation/automagical coffee. Spend 15 minutes watching the video and reading the manual and you will have complete control of the machine.

Lovely frothing. As a cappuccino lover, good foam was at the top of my wish list. I won''t be making latte art any time soon, so I can''t speak to "pourability" of the foam. But for my milk-first, then espresso builds, it is ideal.

Really compact footprint. The unit takes up half the space of my old Krups duo.

Access to moving parts. It''s very easy to get to the bean hopper, water tank, bypass chute, etc.

Cons:

General superauto price point. I love the indulgence of the machine and got it as a Gold Box deal. It will take 100s of cups before I hit my value/price happy place.

Non-oily beans. I have to step away from my beloved dark-roast Peet''s in search of non-oily beans that won''t clog up the hopper. It takes away a bit from the flavor profile I love. But I''m experimenting with medium roast beans on the strongest setting and adjusting the grind.

Bypass chute. It only accepts one serving''s worth of ground beans at a time. Just a little extra effort to make a couple of cups of evening decaf.

Overall, "Maggi" and I have a good working relationship and I''m really enjoying the quality and ease of the coffee she produces. Sometimes I miss the more manual experience, but overall, this machine gives you the ease of a Keurig-style push-button set-up, but delivers a really good cuppa.

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NewCell Flow Water Ionizer / Portable Alkaline Water Machine Save 7% Off

I''ve owned a really pricey mircowater unit but wanted something simpler for my condo. For the money, just go ahead and alkalize your water with this. It''s so easy. It''ll do the job with no problem. The re-fills are what its about. They''re a little expensive but to me, worth it in the long run.

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Capresso Specialty Coffee Makers CM 200 Save 38% Off

EXCELLENT coffee maker (Capresso CM200). I am very picky about the temperature of coffee and this model makes a perfectly HOT, great tasting cup of coffee. It is a simple, sleek unit as well, most coffee makers these days are giant monsters! I have tried the newer krups and other units and they make horrible coffee, dumping water over grounds making watery coffee. We tried a Kerig and i really hated it. all of the coffee''s were terrible and the coffee was always lukewarm. Ahhh, it is back to Peets coffee nice and piping hot. I highly recommend.

After my last coffee maker broke, I was pretty apprehensive about replacing it. After being extremely unhappy with another maker, I was excited to find that this one is perfect! Its easy as pie to see how much water you have in the reservoir due to the nice clear tank. None of those hard to read gauges with the stupid ball that never floats right here! The controls are all simple, as well as easy to read with large text. I didn''t even need to read the manual to figure out how to program the time and the auto-on timer. Also, the coffee that this machine produces is RICH, strong and HOT. HOT, HOT, HOT. As someone who puts his coffee in a travel mug and likes to sip it for hours, this has to be the best thing about it. The last thing I have to say is how easy it is to clean, everything detaches for easy washing, including the water reservoir, unlike my previous machine which forced me to use wire brushes and other nonsense... My hand fits right in this one with a sponge.

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Other reviews are pretty much on target... great coffee, simple controls, removeable water tank, sleek design; HOWEVER, cheap construction is also true. It started to leak a bit after 7 months, sometimes leaving mysterious water puddles on the counter. Then one morning I woke up to the flood. It leaked all 10 cups of water from the seam between the hot base plate and upright silver-tone case. The first time I called, I gave up waiting on hold, declining to leave a message so they could call me back at my inconvenience. Then I emailed them, but their return email said I must call, so I call again I did, and waited it out. A helpful man took the info with several hold breaks for no apparent reason. Then he said I would have to send it in at my expense and they would replace it. I quoted from the bolded text on the printed warranty that came with it, which says I do not have to pay any shipping costs either way within the US. That''s when we entered the twilight zone. He claimed that on "the smaller machines" it is their policy that the customer pays to send it in. Policy, smolicy, I was reading directly from my printed warranty, and he admitted he was reading the same thing! After some more time on hold, I was told (as if they were doing me a favor) that they would send a prepaid shipping label, but I "was advised" that if anything went wrong with the replacement, it is not their policy to pay shipping. I said I certainly did not agree with that, since I was looking at the warranty which showed my rights in writing. He insisted he would get in trouble unless it was noted that I had "been advised" even if I didn''t agree. I talked to the supervisor at that point, and it became clear who the nuttiness was coming from. After an Alice in Wonderland style conversation, she finally agreed that they would have to honor the no shipping cost, even though it "is not our policy." Now why would a company want to alienate their customers with nonsense like this, anyway? Hmmm... maybe to cut down on shipping costs when so many of "the smaller machines" have to be returned?

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I like the coffee this makes and it makes/keeps it at the right temp, but have two design complaints that are real problems:

1) the carafe is impossible to pour out of without dripping a significant amount on the counter

2) inserting the carafe back into place after putting the filter and coffee into the upper piece is a struggle

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With its sleek and clean lines, the CM200 makes a wonderful cup of coffee. The overall size is perfect...most of all it is very simple to use. I highly recommend!

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PuriTeam CTUV UV Countertop Water Filter Save 23% Off

I installed this only to find that the filter needed to be removed as I was tasting plastic. When I took the filter out it showed dark brown in the center and smelled burnt

the same as I was tasting in the water. I took the cheap filter out and put a cover on the outside of the canister (as UV light is dangerous for eyes) That seemed to

be fine and seems the UV is cleaning the water for backteria. I have a undersink nice RO system so am using this as post treatment for the holding tank as over time the tanks

need to be sanitized-using UV to make sure if any bacteria in older holding tank (bladder) that the UV would take care of it. I don''t know why they don''t sell this with

a strong ceramic filter that won''t melt with the UV light but my experience is the light was too strong for the cheap poly. filter supplied with the unit.

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Under-the-Sink RO System 50GPD Save 23% Off

Easy to install. Appears to work efficiently. Water taste is good.

Ice cubes are very cloudy. I was hoping for a more clear ice.

I am very satisfied with this product. it was very easy to install. I emailed the company with a couple questions prior to ordering and they were very helpful. I highly recommend this unit.

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I was replacing an existing RO. This went in slick.. The documentation and all the little labels on the RO made it go smooth !

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I managed to get it all installed in about 35 minutes, mainly because I already had a waterline going to my ice maker, so I used the included Y-adapter and split the outflow of filtered water. One end led to the newly installed (and included) filtered water faucet and the other went right back to the ice maker as it did originally. Simply, great price and works as expected.

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TotalPond MF13010 Mechanical & Biological Filter For Up To 500 Gallon Ponds Save 12% Off

Great box, but doesn''t include the fountain. Had to buy the accessory large pond fountain kit for an additional $14.00.

had used these before, but the new ones were complete with the filters. love them , iwould buy them again

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Van Houtte Cafe Swiss Water Decaf, Fair Trade & Organic Light Roast Coffee

My family and I do not like the taste of most of the K-cups. We use the My K-Cup with our own fresh ground coffee. But for decaf in the afternoon, the Van Houtte Swiss Water Decaf tastes great -we think it''s just as good as our own fresh brewed caffeinated coffee.

There are a couple of problems I''m having with this brand. While the coffee itself tastes great, I think that maybe they are overfilled as it''s the only K-Cup I''ve ever used that leaves a fair amount of grounds in the cup and in the K-Cup holder after making a cup. The other problem I''ve had is the bottom needle has gotten plugged twice from using this brand of K-Cup. The plastic they use seems more prone to clogging the needle. I''ve run 100''s of k-cups through my B-60 and these are the only times I''ve had "problems" with it.

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This is an awesome decaf. It is not at all bitter and doesn''t have that burnt taste that alot of decaf coffee has. My husband and I love it!

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Long Story:

I have become interested in decaf coffee and recently learned about the swiss water decaffeination process. After working in at an employer that only serves coffee through K-cups, I wanted to stop drinking the regular style decafs and found the Van Houtte option. I just had my first cup and wow! I would say this taste better than most of the non decaffeinated coffee options we have.

Short Story:

If you are looking a great tasting swiss water decaf k-cup this is the option for you!

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One of the best decaf K-Cups I have ever had. Nice, smooth, consistent flavor. I will definitely order these again.

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Shark Steam Pocket Multi-Purpose Portable Steamer Save 10% Off

I bought my Shark steamer on a whim. We had just purchased a bank owned home and it had been left with a rotting chicken in the refrigerator. The tile had a dried stream of "blech" from the refrigerator to the lowest part of the floor where it had pooled. I bought the steamer to sanitize the floor along this path. Something amazing happened when I used itthe grout changed color DRAMATICALLY! I posted photos so you can see for yourself. At first I thought it was somehow bleaching the grout, but then I noticed that the grout around the perimeter of the room was indeed a much lighter colormatching the tile color. EWWWWW! I had previously mopped this floor several times with a regular mop and bucket, a Swiffer wetjet, and even along this same path with a toothbrush and cleaner on my hands and knees. Nothing did what the steamer did with just water and the nylon brush attachment. I dragged the whole family in to show them because I could not believe what I was seeing! I hated the floor when we moved in. I hated the dark grout and how chopped up the tile looked with the dark grout lines. After cleaningthe grout blends into the tile and the floor has a completely different look! It''s truly amazingcheck out my photosyou HAVE to see it to believe. I haven''t tried any of the other attachments, but I have received a steam burn on my hand from working so close to the nozzle on the floor. It''s hot, just as they warn. My only complaint is that you must hold the trigger for continuous steam, and when using it continuouslyit runs out of water fairly fast. Don''t know how it does if you are pumping it and steaming in short bursts. Frankly, I don''t careit has done more for my floor than I had hoped.

Okay, well, I can''t speak to the longevity of this product since I''ve only had it for one day but as for it''s functionality I do NOT understand what all the complaints are about.

Maybe I''m just lucky too like the other reviewer but mine steams like crazy! The catch seems to be not that you have to wait for it to heat up but you seem to have to hold the trigger down for a while before it REALLY starts to steam. It''s kind of like buying a 2000 Toyota Echo. You can slam down the gas pedal but it''s still going to accelerate at it''s own pace. Once it gets up to speed though, it''ll get going at a good clip!

I started in the kitchen and ran the thing over my stainless fridge. It left what appeared to be streaks but after it dried it was as good as when I would use Twinkle stainless cleaner.

Then I decided to really put it through its paces and go for the microwave. I have an Advantium so it''s also an oven. The inside top has tons of holes in it that lead to the components so I''ve never been able to spray Easy Off on the top. The top of my microwave has always grossed me out because I can never get it clean.

Using the scrubber end and a little elbow grease this thing took it all right off. This is the first time since I had my microwave I''ve been able to get the top clean. I was sold at this point.

I moved on to the bathroom and even though the steamer produced a lot of steam, there was just too much dust and hair stuff in the bathroom. I mean, my bathroom is REALLY clean by most standards, but it''s hard to use something like this when the pads keep getting gunked up with debris. I think a cursory wiping down before the real cleaning with the steamer would be better.

Lastly (and mostly because all my ends were now in need of a washing) I remembered that a friend told me she uses her steam mop to clean her walls. Thats just freaky. I have red walls in my living room and any time I try to dust them or wash them it leaves streaks that are worse than the dust that covers them so I haven''t cleaned the walls in a LONG time.

I tossed on the dusting attachment and buzzed over the walls quickly. No streaks. No dust. It did exactly what I wanted it to do.

I am VERY surprised at how well this worked given the nasty reviews. I really though I''d be returning it by now.

If I have any complaints its that this thing comes with nothing to carry your attachments in. A basket or a bag would have been nice. Also, some ends do not attach to the hose. Everything should be able to attach to the hose to get wherever you need to. Lastly, and most importantly, this thing REALLY needs a locking feature on the trigger so you don''t have to constantly hold it down. Sometimes you need to clean with both hands. It should just run without having to hold down the trigger if I want it to.

I hope I don''t have to come back here in a few weeks to amend this and say it broke... I really don''t want to do that.

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I purchased this item from my local Walmart wanting something RIGHT NOW to get some heavy duty cleaning done. Does it work, yes, absolutely! Could it be improved upon, yes, absolutely!

First of all, for those reporting lack of actual steam, not only must you let the unit warm up for the 30 45 seconds first, you must also hold the trigger in until the steam comes out of whatever attachment you are using. Note that the trigger, as mentioned before, could stand to have a locking mechanism so you don''t need to hold it constantly while cleaning I found a large hair clip did the job nicely.

Next, just having to tote the steamer jug around is a bit of a pain. It''s not terribly heavy, but it is a hindrance. A little longer length of hose could solve that issue, but I''m afraid the Euro-Pro people probably already tried that and found a great loss of steam power.

Now for the cleaning I used the large wedge for the job I chose to tackle which was the walls and ceiling of a 12'' X 12'' room. These surfaces had not been cleaned in a long time and had seen it all nicotine, heating oil residue, general grit and grime, etc. I was actually surprised at the amount of time I had to work between fill-ups and when the steamer needed to be refilled, I used that opportunity to rinse out the cloth cover for the wedge. I wrung out that cover and it worked just fine...even using it wet (which it eventually gets as you use it anyway), all surfaces dried quite quickly. I was working around shelving units and stuff piled up next to the walls so I didn''t exactly clean all of the walls, but I did get the entire ceiling and most of the wall surfaces done in about 20 minutes with 4 rinses of the cloth (these surfaces were dirty!!). The walls and ceiling are painted in a semi-gloss so I can not attest to how well it would work with a flat paint finish.

While you shouldn''t put anything but tap or distilled water into the steamer, I found that washing the cloth with a mild detergent before rinsing and wringing produced a nice deodorized, just cleaned scent.

September 24th addition to my review! Nine months later and my Shark Steam Pocket is still going strong! I have fixed the trigger issue by using a Velcro "cord keeper" strap I found at a hardware store so I no longer have to constantly hold that trigger in which is a huge help. I also sewed up some of my own pocket covers and use another Velcro cord keeper strap to keep them on the large steamer head, placing the cover over the head and using the strap as the elastic drawstring is used on the original covers. I was able to make some of fluffy terrycloth and made several using some cheap microfiber cleaning cloths that work well when I need a little elbow grease.

Since reviews are still mixed with people either loving or hating the Shark, I would highly recommend purchasing the unit either locally or at a good online retailer with free and easy returns in case you end up with a less than perfect unit.

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I bought this from a Bed Bath and Beyond because it was the only one I could find in a physical store that I could buy right away. I''d read so many unfavorable reviews about handheld steam cleaners that I didn''t expect much from this product. I made sure that I kept the receipt handy for the inevitable return. When I got home and opened the box, I was kinda freaked about by the number of accesories that came with it strange looking multi-pronged wand things.

So, after reading the instructions, I started in the bathroom. There was a mildew colony gaining ground in the shower that I wanted to obliterate. The cleaner started up after a few spurts and coughs, and eventually gave me a steady stream. The pressure was good, but as another reviewer mentioned, you have to get really close to the nozzle to get the kind of heat that''s going to make a difference. I was able to comfortably hold my hand in the steam stream six or seven inches from the nozzle. Any closer than that, and I would have been burnt (I actually did give myself a pretty smart burn in a moment of carelessness later on). The nice thing about the steamer was that is was able to clean out mildew from crevices that a brush could never reach, but again, you have to hold the nozzle very close to the area you want to clean for it to be effective. And if you''re expecting that using a steam cleaner is going to magically leave your shower sparkly clean with a few passes, I have to tell you that you''re going to be disappointed. I found that I still had to come around with a brush, a conventional spray cleaner, and some elbow grease to complete the job, although, it was not as much work as it would have been without the steam cleaner. It was very effective on the shower head blasting out more mildew from the crevices than I thought was actually there. Then I moved to the toilet bowl. Being a single man, there were a few ... um ... spills to deal with. The steamer was again very effective. I really felt that I was giving the bowl a thorough cleaning, although again, I had to follow up with some good old-fashioned wiping to finish the job.

Then I went to the kitchen, and tackled the filtiest appliance in everyone''s (or at least my) kitchen the microwave. I had to deal with a Tomato Cheddar Soup explosion that happened in there a while ago which I was turning a continuous blind eye to. The steamer was very effective in loosening up the old crud my microwave looked almost new after some follow up wiping off with a conventional spray cleaner, and a paper towel.

The one thing that I found when using the attachments (those strange looking wand things?) is that they significantly reduce the effectiveness/heat/pressure of the steam. As I mentioned before, I was able to comfortably hold my hand five inches from the nozzle without getting burned. Some of the attachment are more than a foot long. How effective could the cleaner be with those wand things added on? The stream that the cleaner produces just isn''t strong enough to support the use of those attachments. They simply put too much distance between the steam stream and the area you want to clean. I tried using the brush attachment (the smallest of the set) in the shower and it hindered far more than it helped. I basically paid for a lot of useless plastic. The one exception was the glass cleaner (looks like a small squeegee). It worked very well on the bathroom mirror, but it alone can''t justify all the other stuff they put in the box.

Hence, three stars. I would have given it 2.5 if that were an option. My recommendation to Shark: put less junk in the box and lower the price.

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So I ordered both the Shark Pocket mop and the Shark Portable Pocket steamer from the Shark web-site. The portable cleaner is complete garbage! I plugged it in ready to put it to the test and it smelled like it was burning AND it didn''t even steam properly. The directions very clearly say do not put your hand in front of the steam as it is very hot and will burn you, I put my hand less than 1/2 inch from the nozzle and it STILL wasn''t hot. I''ve been trying to return this product for over a week, the first time I called customer service I landed up overseas somewhere they didn''t speak English very well and was yelled at! I told this man to send me to someone I could understand so I was given a number in Canada, which is fine but the three times I''ve called they''ve kept me on hold for over 20 minutes! A waste of time and money!

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5 Gallon Water Bottle/Jug Hand Pump Save 73% Off

I bought this for a 5 gal bottle that we use to fill the dogs'' water bowl. For the most part it works. The bottle sits right next the water bowl so the extended spout is nice because it pours directly into the center of the bowl.

I am aware this item was less than $10 and I kept that consideration in mind while writing this. The item does what I intended, but I just wanted to point out issues I came across that might be useful or significant to others.

I believe the issues I have encountered are solely due to the quality of materials and build. First, the fastener where the pump sits on the bottle (lower portion with 2 threaded rings) does not hold the pump in place nor does it create a good seal. I find myself having to hold this part of the pump stationary with one hand while I pump with the other. Occasionally the pressure builds and forces the pump upwards thereby making it necessary to re-seat the pump on the bottle. Second, the threading for the white housing (surrounds the blue pump and spring)barely holds to the base of the pump. On occasion while pumping water I find that the white housing separates and I have to screw it back in place. Although I have found that it can be pushed back in place without screwing into the threads, which leads me to believe that the threads can and will wear out eventually. Lastly, I have noticed that the blue pump gets caught inside the pump frequently. It is easy to push down too far while pumping and when that happens the pump gets caught on the lip of the white housing.

Even with the abovementioned issues, I find that the pump does what I need. Since I only use it a few minutes each day, these are issues I can easily overlook.

The order was complete and I received it in a timely matter. I give the transaction a five star. However I give the product a one star for the following reason. It is piece of junk. Typical for an outsourced item like this made in China. The pump itself is made of extremely light gauge plastic. So light I thought at first there was nothing in the box when I took it out of the package. It is supposed to fit over your water bottle and tighten down with the plastic nut. You can not even tighten the nut by hand without it slipping off the threaded collar. This must be achieved to create a vacuum when you use the pump. I even tried a metal band clamp which worked. The problem is that air leaks through the pump itself so it doesn''t matter how tight the collar is. Would some one please let me know if any of these like products work any better. $10.00? This item isn''t worth the cost of the material it was made with. Again typical of outsourced crap made in other countries!

(Thanks Amazon for allowing us to return items like this with no questions asked.)

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I have the Dolphin hand pump just like this and bought this one to see how the cheaper one compares (needed a second pump at the office). This pump works reasonably well but the build quality is poor compared to the Dolphin: thinner plastic (moderately concerned about BPA leaching), much more movement in the pump (which can become lodged under the housing when pushed all the way down), and the tightening dial at the base does not hold the pump firmly to the water bottle (moves around while pumping). The cap on the end of the faucet is a nice addition, though, and it comes with a small cleaning brush. All in all, this feels like it would break pretty easily. I would advise spending the extra ten or fifteen (as shipping bumps this one up to around twelve anyway) to get one with better build quality, as you''ll probably want to use it for quite a while and pumps undergo frequent strain. If you''re only going to use it a short time and then toss it, it will serve for that purpose.

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I have a cup maker at work and I use this for filling the water from a 5 gal jug. Works great. Went to home depot and got a tube to go from the jug on the floor to the water tank on the coffee maker. No more running for water just pump and drink.

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what can i say its cheap, dont bother buying it totally not worth it. just spend a few more dollars and get a counter top model that is easy.

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Whirlpool 4396841 PUR Push Button Side-by-Side Refrigerator Water Filter Save 31% Off

• NSF certified refrigerator water filter retains beneficial fluoride in water while reducing chlorine taste and odor
• Also reduces particulates, lead, and mercury
• This model (4396841) can be used to replace filter models 4396842 and 8212650
• Does not reduce the amount of fluoride
• Replace every six months

We purchased a new Whirlpool refrigerator earlier this year. The new refrigerator has all the marvelous improvements developed in the last ten years for refrigerators, including a water filter.

The water filter really does deliver better water. However, the water filter seems quite expensive to me. Whirlpool, and other manufacturer''s that use this type of filter, recommend the filter be replaced twice a year, whether you need to replace the filter or not.

The filter is relatively easy to replace, but be aware of what happens when you pull the filter. To remove the old filter you push a button next to the filter, typically to the left of the filter. Then pull on the cap covering the filter and pull the filter out. Make a note of how the filter was oriented when you pull it out.

The filter will now begin dripping water, so have a paper towel or small bowl available to let the water drip into. You can either let the filter finish dripping into a sink, or throw it into a plastic bag that you can seal to keep the water from dripping out of the bag. Be sure you remove the cover from the filter before you toss it. On our Whirlpool the cover twists counterclockwise for removal.

Install the filter cover onto the new filter. It takes just a twist to lock it into place. Holding the filter so that the two straight pieces on the end of the filter are vertical, with the open portion of the filter cover oriented on the bottom, slide the new filter straight into the filter cavity until the button on the left clicks to let you know the new filter is locked into place. Note that these instructions are for a Whirlpool, but I believe most other refrigerators are similar. You should be ready to go!

Had I known refrigerator water filters were so expensive I might have gone with a refrigerator without one, though our local water has a lot of chlorine in it (which is filtered out by the filter).

As with many modern conveniences, this water filter represents a convenience that you did not know you needed until you had it. Now that I have it, I am wondering whether I want it since I have to spend a chunk of change each year in filter replacements. Oh well. I guess I can sleep more soundly knowing that the water filter is now removing a bunch of stuff from my water that my body either did not want or need.

Good luck!

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Overall we have found this to be a great water filter. But we have had our water tested by a professional, both at the tap, and at the filtered tap on the refrigerator. Both waters tested the same for chlorine content, however, the particle contaminants were greatly reduced by the filter on the refrigerator.

Something to note on your water filter.

The light is merely a timed indicator of when they want you to replace the filter. Think of it as a "countdown timer" that starts as soon as you reset it. It is in no way measuring the amount of water you are consuming... Personally, I used to change out the filter every 6 months when the indicator light came on, but we rarely use the water/ice now, so I haven''t changed it (or reset it) in over a year although I probably will soon. I actually cut the first one in half to see how "contaminated" the filter was and to my surprise, it looked like a brand new filter...

The life of a filter depends on a couple of things.

1. The amount of contaminants in your water (well water is typically the worst)

2. The amount of water that passes through the filter

If you have low contaminants and/or use very little filtered water, your filter will last much longer than 6 months. If you pay attention to the amount of water flow and the size of your ice cubes, you can more accurately determine the proper time to replace the filter.

I have county water and we also have installed a "whole house" water filtration system, so I can probably get closer to 2 years out of a filter. Obviously, not everyone has these installed though, just use common sense on when to replace your filter and you''ll be fine.

P.S. Why is it more expensive per unit to buy the 3-pack than it is to buy the 2-pack? Am I the only one that found this odd?

Read Best Reviews of Whirlpool 4396841 PUR Push Button Side-by-Side Refrigerator Water Filter Here

Since I had had previous experience with Pur water filters, we purchased a side-by-side water and ice dispenser Whirlpool fridge over a year ago that uses these filters and they have made a huge difference in the quality of our water. We live in Riverview, FL, a suburb of Tampa, and the water here is so foul that I sometimes wonder if I have an odor from it after I shower. Since it smelled that bad coming from the tap I knew I was not going to drink it, cook with it, nor give it to my cats. So, to save us the expense of buying bottled water, we bought the fridge. Yes, the filters are expensive, but they are Pur water filters which, in my opinion, are better than Brita. I would rather have the expense than get sick drinking nasty water. Since I use the filtered water for just about everything, I have to replace my filter more frequently, but it is well worth the cost.

To save a few bucks, I order my filter online and three at a time; this usually saves me $3-5.00 per filter. Just search for the item number of the filter and you will find several places that sell it either as a single, a three-pack, a four-pack or a six-pack. Obviously, the more you buy, the more you save.

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This filter lasted about 7 months for our family of four. It provides crystal clear and very good tasting drinking water. It''s very quick and easy to replace and it can be done in about 30 seconds. The only down side is the cost is a little on the high side and this filter only removes 4 different contaminants. I pay a few more dollars now and get the PUR 4396710 that removes 12 different contaminants including harmful substances like lead, mercury, asbestos. If you want good tasting water then this filter will do the trick. If you want good tasting and healthy water then get the PUR 4396710.

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I paid almost as much for this as I would have had to pay in the store, and it has never worked since the day I installed it. I kept thinking that maybe it needed to be in awhile and the bad taste would go away, but it has not. Once in awhile it tastes better for a glass or two, but most of the water and ice are terrible. I had a filter in that came with the refrigerator for two years and never had any bad ice or water, and ever since I changed to this one it has all been bad, so there must be something wrong with the filter. It is supposed to be the exact filter that came with my fridge when it was new according to the website, but it does not work the same. I am not entirely sure if it is even new, perhaps they are recycled or maybe it was just defective, but it is too difficult to try to fix it through the internet and the mail, so now I will be forced to go to the local store and buy another after just paying for a new one. If I were you, I would just get your replacements at a local store, if it doesn''t work right, at least you can take it back easily and exchange it. I will not order one this way again, I will use a hardware store or department or appliance store.

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Steramine Quaternary Sanitizing Tablets

It''s nice having sanitizer around for brewing and kitchen clean-up, but unfortunately, these tablets include WAY TOO MUCH blue dye; it''s turned several towels blue, which in turn have turned one of my chef coats blue as well. The dye even seems bleach-resistant. =/

I used these before when I was a bartender. We needed some for a Halloween party we were throwing and this was the best deal out there. WAY too many for what I''ll ever need though, maybe I can sell the other 5 bottles!

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Samsung DA29-00003G (3-PACK) Compatible Refrigerator Water and Ice Filter Save 17% Off

Our regrigerator is only 7 months old. Upon easily installing the new filter, we noticed a significant change in the the quality and taste of our water. We also saw an increase in the strength of the output of the water flow from the refrigerator. I would highly recommend this product, especially for the price!

Since the Samsung brand seems outrageously expensive, I was excited to find this product at such a great price. It fit easily without leaking. We ran the required amount of water through the system and didn''t have any odor. Water flowed easily and at a faster rate than before (especially since my previous filter was probably getting clogged.) I''m glad I bought the multi-pack and am considering buying more just to stay stocked up at this price!

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These filters are the perfect replacements for your Samsung fridge. When I found out how much the Samsung brand filters cost, I had to find something else. Just follow the instructions for replacement and you will be happy.

Read Best Reviews of Samsung DA29-00003G (3-PACK) Compatible Refrigerator Water and Ice Filter Here

I installed 3 OE Samsung filters previously, this one went in the same way, but the water pressure in my fridge went very high...so high that the water dispenser on the front was dripping water down the front door after i stopped the dispenser. I think it may have to do with the rubber O-rings, they are a little lighter weight. I did not try to return the other 2 out of the 3 pack, as it would be "tampered with" i didn''t even try to contact the seller. I''ll just buy the Samsung filter next time.

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Ordered this "compatible" 3-pack of filters for convenience and price. We seem to go through the filters quickly. Had a little minor trouble installing but the product is working well and performing every bit as well as the Samsung brand. The bonus is I have two more in the cabinet for when the need arises.

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Adya Ceramic Water Filtration System Save 17% Off

This system is amazing! It really creates clean crystal water, and is light weight to carry with you to

a vacation or anywhere you go and want to "make" your own water.

I heard that AdyaClarity.Biz has a Holiday special for a package deal with the entire filtration system, including a FREE 16oz bottle,

a squeeze bottle for measurements, and a FREE 1oz Miron Glass dropper (functional violet glass), beats any deal that you can find on the web!

You need to email them to get that price. They work directly with the owners of Adya Inc., so only original, clean product is sold there. Go to:

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CA35 Humidifier Water Panel by ClenAir for Aprilaire A35

I''ve shopped for these humidifier water panels at the big box retailers and you can''t always find them. Will buy online from now on. Decent price, too.

I''ve always bought Apriline water panel for my humidifier. I''ve decided to try something else this year. This CA35 panel looks identical to the Apriline panel I''m used to and is cheaper.

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Works great in my Aprilaire humidifier. Much cheaper than buying them from Aprilaire. I plan on using these again for the upcoming winter seasons.

Read Best Reviews of CA35 Humidifier Water Panel by ClenAir for Aprilaire A35 Here

Works perfect for my whole house humidifier. Disposable at the end of the season and the price was perfect. I can buy an extra filter for what I would have paid for gas and go find it in a store somewhere.

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I bought this as a replacement at the beginning of winter. It has worked good. It fit correctly and is cheaper than the brand name. Easy was to save a few bucks.

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Watts Premier (105341) RO Pure Carbon Post Filter GAC Filter (Blue) Save 5% Off

• Filters down to five microns
• Reduces Chlorine Taste & Odor
• Filter Rating 1 yearEasy to install

Did not fit. Product received was not what as advertised. Top of filter(opening) & label were different from other filters purchased. Again, not what was photographed on amazon post.

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We love the RO Pure system that we have and purchased as second one for our cabin. The water it dispenses is far better than the Arrowhead water that we previously had delivered. If you are a tea drinker, you will get crystal clear tea (vs. the murky/cloudy water). The replacement filters are easy to install.

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I enjoy using this Watts Premier water system because it keeps us from buying water bottles and disposing of lots of plastic. However, the cost to replace each canister (4) can get expensive. Though each filter has a certain time limit usually 3 months are more, it can get quite frustrating waiting for a replacement to come in. I keep an extra canister of each on hand so that when the warning light comes on, I can replace it and order another one.

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It works well for my refrigerator, water is taste much better now, kids love the ice cube. Highly recommend to every one.

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Krups XP7225 Compact Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

We bought this machine from Williams-Sonoma and liked it so much that we stuck with the coffee through four separate units, each of which failed within three weeks for a different reason. My wife and I each drink 2-3 shots of espresso per day, for a total of 6-8 cycles of the machine (including self rinsing): this is within their warranty rate of 10 cycles per day. We use non-greasy beans and reverse-osmosis water, both of which are recommended by the manufacturer. At first I thought we just got unlucky -every factory makes a few lemons -but after four machines and four independent failure modes I''m convinced they''re just poorly built.

For coffee : 4-5 stars. When they work, these machines are just adjustable enough for us you can adjust the grind, the water temperature, and the water volume independently to "sight in" your ideal shot. For reliability: -4 stars. I would give this product just a single star, but the titanium fronted one comes with a terrific milk-frothing assembly that makes great, silky foam every time. That alone is worth a second star.

Machine #1: worked for three weeks, then mysteriously failed with an error code "DE" on the screen. Krups support was baffled.

Machine #2: worked for 1.5 weeks, then the burr grinder broke motor would turn but wouldn''t grind coffee.

Machine #3: DOA on initial plug-in, entered an infinite loop of "calibrating machine" cycles. (I think an internal sensor was jammed).

Machine #4: worked for 3 weeks, then mysteriously started spewing acrid, electrical-insulator smoke.

I suggest a Delonghi Magnifica they can be found for under $1k and are actually designed to be maintainable or a semi-auto with built-in burr grinder (Breville makes one).

Loved it for the four weeks it actually worked. Krups had us send it to their service center. It came back after a month, still leaking out the bottom. Called Krups again and they wanted us to send it back to the service center once more-when it just came back from there with no change?! I said I didn''t want to do that again, that the unit is clearly defective (hey, we tried) and now it''s time for a replacement or a refund. The customer service agent said no, that my only option was to send it back to their service center.

If you are selling a defective product, and you know it, at least try to keep your company''s reputation intact by taking responsibility for it, you know?

Finally, amazon agreed to take it back and refund our money. Anybody recommend a good DeLonghi?

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Today I received my Krups XP7225 Compact Fully Automatic Espresso Machine after doing hours and hours of research. I liked the things I read about itsmall size, some control over output, flavor, crema, dependability compared to other models of interest.

I have to admit that I don''t usually drink espresso. I prefer to add milk to my coffee. I like to enjoy a latte or cappuccinno. I do not add syrups or sweetenersno flavorsno sugar.

So, I really need to bring out the sweetness of the milk, and to do that I need to get the milk to at least 140 degrees. When the milk hits 140 degrees the natural sweetness of milk bursts through, and you can enjoy a reasonably sweet and creamy beverage without using sugar, and fend off osteoporosis at the same time. I learned from a barista in Rome that lattes and cappuccinos do not have to be loaded with chocolate or caramel to taste sweet and delicious. You just have to know how to produce proper steamed milk! I had fun learning how to do make a great espresso drinks in Italy, and I long for the quality I enjoyed there. (or at least as close to it as I can come in the U.S. midwest)

Unfortunately, the Krups 7225 does not have enough staying power to heat the milk properly before or after brewing a shot of espresso. I wish it had an additional heating element! I followed the set up, rinsed the machine, did the initial run through, prepared 2 cups of espresso, and as directed, threw them out and began to make my first latte.

My initial attempt produced lovely foam, but the milk was much too cool to sweeten the milk. Not a good product. I returned to the manual (which is WONDERFULLY instructive) and adjusted steamer''s automatic timer. Better, but still the milk was not heated well.

Third time I let the steamer use the full cycle, then started the steamer again. It was a short wait, but my espresso was cooling on the cup warmer while I waited to generate steam again. Finally I got the milk to 140, added it to the espresso shot, and enjoyed a creamy, sweet latte. The foam was absolutely lovely, dense, creamy, sweetperfect. I just wish the machine would provide an adequate amount of steam.

In fairness, I am going to go tonight to get some mineral water and see if I can produce more steam. Today I used distilled water, hoping to avoid calcium buildup to keep the machine clean and running for years to come. I hope I can report that it makes a difference.

It is regrettable to spend so much for a machine that cannot produce sweet, frothy milk for one latte or cappucino. I feel disappointed. However, if you prefer to drink espresso or use just a little milk, this could be the machine for you.

Pro''s:

Very compact size

Easy to set up

Easy to adjust and customize for your particular taste

Easy to useexcept when steaming milk

Easy to understand manual

No more stops at the coffee shop on the way to work!

Con''s

Steam does not last long enough to produce a sweet, frothy large latte.

Less metal, more plastic than I expected.

Price seems a lot for the construction of the machine

Overall Impression:

If you don''t have a lot of space for your espresso machine, drink straight espresso or drinks with just a little milk, then stop looking and buy the Krups XP7225. However, if you''re like me and enjoy a large latte or cappuccino with sweet, creamy milk and dense, fluffy froth, this may not be the machine for you.

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I''ve been using my XP7225 for a couple of months now, and I think I can provide some insight into this machine.

Executive Summary: Great machine if you like pressure-brewed coffee or straight espresso shots. Not so great for cappuccinos as the steamer doesn''t get the milk hot enough fast enough. Bargains available online and in stores. I bought mine for $320 at BBB (with the 20 percent coupon).

Some observations:

-The Claris filter is optional. I don''t use it as it appears to cause problems for users and the troubleshooting guide mentions to remove it if you have problems. I have never had any problems going filterless. Instead, I use a Brita faucet filter to fill the machine. Also, the Claris filter costs $18 and must be changed every 2 months!

-Some users have complained about leaking. Note that the drip tray fills up from within the machine as the machine heats up. You need to empty the drip tray after each one or two uses. I am sure this is where the leaks come from. If you empty the tray often, no leaks.

-Although the milk steamer is effective to froth, the end-product is not hot enough after a one minute cycle. If you have the patience to run it for a second time, that solves the problem. However, cleaning the attachment is a pain (requires running steam through it but should also be removed and washed). I prefer to heat the milk in my cup for one minute in the microwave. This also heats up the cup nicely. I realize this is not steamed milk but rather heated milk. I really don''t have a big attachment to milk froth, but, if you do, this is not the machine for you.

-The pressure-brewed coffee is so delicious and non-bitter that I can drink it black without sugar. This is from someone who usually takes three teaspoons and lots of milk per 8 oz cup. The difference between this and a drip coffee machine is like night and day.

-I always run a rinse cycle (about 2 oz of water) after I am done with the machine and when I start it up.

-The standard size coffee is adjustable up to 4 oz. The long coffee (8 oz) is a double cycle. I mix 4 oz of steamed milk (from the microwave) with 4 oz of coffee. The result is very good and requires little or no sugar.

-The machine hates oily beans. Use a medium roast, dry bean for best results. I prefer the finest setting on the grinder. It produces lots of crema on the coffee.

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I reviewed semi-automatic machines like this one along with many others. My brother-in-law had introduced me to the concept of single-brew coffee and I had the opportunity to use similar machines while over in Austria.

It took me over a year before I made the purchase and I decided on this Krups machine.

I had experienced and read reviews that the temperature on other machines was not where it needed to be. In some cases, manufacturers suggested that you warm up the coffee mug to help with that issue. I didn''t want that to be a problem so this was top on my list of important features.

All in all, I would say:

Pros

1) Hot coffee 3 settings and I have dialed it down to setting 2. Very happy

2) Reliability I am seeing a few individuals suggest that they are having issues. I specifically chose this manufacturer since I have an older manual espresso that will probably last another 20 years. Their customer service is outstanding and the warranty was respectable. Reading the reviews where there were issues sounds like someone may have had some electrical issues in their house??? Also, I could see where someone could think the machine leaks since there will be water on the counter if you don''t empty the drip tray. I have had my machine for 8 months with zero problems.

3) Selectable options including temperature, grind setting (3), Amount of coffee/espresso per serving

4) Space this is a smaller unit than some of the other brands

5) Frother Works well as long as you use skim or a lower fat milk. The milk should also be cold when starting

6) Cost other machines like this are $1,000+ (new)

7) Convenience Excellent... wife would buy another one if this one should ever need replacing

8) Ease of use I think Krups did an excellent job with the user interface and controls. This is very simple to use.

Cons

1) Selectable options do not include brew strength. This can be controlled through a combination of grind setting and serving size since the amount of coffee can not change. This should be an option

2) Plastic controls The titanium look is a plastic look. Dials could be heavier metal but nothing has broken. This is a function of cost so you get what you pay for.

3) Serving size The machine will only dispense 4 oz of coffee as a single serving. If you want a full cup, you select the Long Coffee setting which will then run through 2-cycles of the 4 ounce option. It doesn''t take long to complete but it would be nice if 1-cycle could make 8 ounces. I am not sure why I say that other than the fact that it is different than what you would expect.... Don''t put a lot of weight on this comment

4) Noise I believe most machines are loud since they are grinding beans and using pressure to make the coffee/espresso but it will be nice when the machine is as quiet as a Miele Dishwasher.

In summary, I believe most of my purchases and satisfaction are a direct correlation between the price. I think this is an excellent choice at the price point. There are machines that are made out of heavier materials and provide some options that I talk about above. They are more expensive and I had concern over reliability.

*** update on 3/4/10 (8 months from purchase) machine started leaking and I had to return for a new one. I have to say that the idea of not having this was not an option. I thought about buying one of the other more expensive versions but then came to grips with everything that I liked about this one to begin with. I guess reliability may not be one of the strengths though... I can say that we use this way too much! ****

*** update on 10/2011 I had received a new machine back in March and it is now leaking all over the counter. I called Krups and they said that this is no longer under warranty and I would need to have it repaired. If it was the first occurrence, I would pay for it but this has proven to be a defect with the unit as evidenced by others and comments. I asked Krups to honor the product given the extenuating circumstances and they would not replace the machine. I have chosen to purchase a new Delonghi Magnificia and so far it is much better given the features and functionality. It also comes with 2 years of warranty and a white glove service line which I hope I do not have to use.

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KRUPS XP4600 Silver Art Collection Pump Espresso Machine Save 33% Off

I''m changing my review after a year of use and the 2nd steamer wand broke. The first two removeable steamer wands had 3 thin plastic tines that were supposed to snap onto a metal tube. The tines continued to snap off from the pressure of the steam. It was a design flaw and they knew about it and I''m happy to say, fixed it! When I called to request a 2nd wand, they sent me the old flawed design (w/i a week). But another week later they sent me a 3rd wand but with the new design! This new wand, though still with plastic parts, screws onto the metal arm! No breakable or cheap parts on this new design! If it breaks again I''ll let everyone know.

Krups customer service was curtious and I got my replacements within 10 days. Apparently, this machine is covered by a 5 yr warranty, which is not listed in the description on this Amazon site.

I''ve also been helped by you readers to end up with a nice dry puck of grinds! Thanks CJ and others!

11/2011 I''ve had it almost 1 week & made 10 double shots.) The machine is beautiful (chrome and stainless w/wood trim), compact, easy to use, heats quickly and cleans up easily. It has made good crema on the coffee.

The water reserve tank must be filled after 4 double shots of coffee are made (including the steaming of the milk) which is no big deal. The machine lets out water (internally) into the outside tray, to cool the machine after you froth your milk, but the tray comes right out and is easy to clean.

Tips: 1)Read the manual before using. 2)Before making the 1st cup of coffee each day, after the machine says it''s ready/hot, set the machine to make a double cup but don''t put the filter with the coffee in. Let the water come out into a cup to heat the machine lines (then discard water). Then put your filter with coffee in and tighten as much as it lets you and make the shot(s). This will make a hotter cup. 3)If you like steamed milk, buy a clip-on thermometer for your milk frothing pitcher so you know when it''s hot enough. 4)Experiment with the amount of coffee you put in the filter and with the grind.

I wanted to replace my recently non-working Starbucks Sirena(made by Saeco)and I did not want to spend more than I spent on the Sirena so this was one of the contenders for consideration. I chose it mostly because it said it had programmable buttons (like my Sirena, a feature that I loved)and secondly for the looks. I so dislike the looks of typical square machines. I was surprised how lightweight this machine is compared to any other espresso maker I have had. Most of the ones I had in the past weighed around 25 pounds and this was about 10! It''s basically all plastic with fake wood and chromed plastic to make it look metal. I was a little dubious about that part. And, upon reading the manual, I found that the programmable buttons will not stay programmed after it is turned off! What good is that?? So, I was going through the motions of priming it and making my first espressos and steamed milk for lattes and thinking I was not happy with this machine, so far. BUT, the espresso was wonderful and had lots of crema, not bitter at all. That seems unusual for a new machine. Usually they have to be broken in for a while. The milk did foam right away, but did so so fast that it did not have time enough to get warm. The top foam was actually still cold. I tried it again and was able to figure out how to get it hot as well. It''s just so different from any of the more "professional" machines that I have had that it will take some adjustments. You cannot adjust the steam because there is no knob. However, after all of this being said, I like the fact that the portafilter is all one piece and has a push-button on it to eject the puck. With other machines, I have had to bang the portafilter like hell to get the puck out (Gaggia) or it was always like soup (Sirena). This was neat and I had a bunch of nice little pucks in my garbage can. So, even though it is mostly plastic and lightweight and has no steam knob, it makes a nice beverage and I guess that is what matters!

Buy KRUPS XP4600 Silver Art Collection Pump Espresso Machine Now

My Starbucks bill gets high so my husband bought me this machine as a gift. I used to own De''Longhi EC155 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker a while and died less than a year. It''s the most beautiful looking machine, so my kitchen looks amazing for just having this unit. It''s very easy to use and clean. Heats up very quickly. I''m very happy with this gorgeous item in my kitchen and start a day with a Latte which does not cost $5.

Read Best Reviews of KRUPS XP4600 Silver Art Collection Pump Espresso Machine Here

I want to chime in. I''ve been looking at this cool espresso machine wanting it. But all the bad reviews on here about the nozzle keeps me from ordering. So? I decided to write Krups, and ask them about the nozzel..and if by chance have they corrected the problem. They wrote me back within 24 hours and told me it has been redesigned. you have to call customer service with your model number to see if you have the new improved wand since some of the original models are still out there.

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Finally after endless research, trying one of the Nespresso machines and finding it totally useless and sending it back, I came across this machine and bought it. I am not disappointed not only does it look amazing, it''s very easy to use and makes a wonderful latte. Features the automatic tamp from Krups and emptying the filter is a breeze at the push of a button. Love everything about it!

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