Vandor LLC 53333 Marvel''s The Avengers 24-Ounce Stainless Steel Water Bottle Save 8% Off

Exactly what I expected. Shipped in a fast manner. And my Grandson loved it. He loves the avengers a lot.

This is a nice steel water bottle with a plastic lid. It holds 750ml which seems adequate to me as a water bottle. Opening is fairly large so I can get ice in it.

I notice there is no black widow on this water bottle. I cannot figure out why, I mean if your gonna leave one off a character leave off Hawkeye, not black widow.

The flap lid on top could be more secure but works fine, I worry about its longevity.

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I love this water bottle! Its wonderfully designed and useful. I do wish there was a larger plastic version of it. But this one will work for now!

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Port-A-Cool PAC-FRAME-48 Filter and Frame Package

• Filter and frame for Port-A-Cool 48 inch models
• Helps keep KUUL pads evaporative cooling media clear of debris
• Fits all 48 inch units old or new
• Extend life of cooling media
• Easily attaches to units

If you live in areas with lots of cottonwood trees, you will need this filter to keep your evaporative media from plugging up. A little bit of a pain to install because the pipe couplings are placed where they interfere with screws in the frame, but not a problem to modify.

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KRUPS XP2280 Espresso Machine and Coffee Maker Save 25% Off

I was searching for a budget minded machine in the $350 price range that would be a combination espresso/coffee maker and stumbled upon the XP2280. mind you, I am a novice machine purchaser but avid coffee lover. I liked the overall appearance of the XP2280 and simplicity of the design and controls. I searched the internet for a review and alas there were none. I took a chance and bought it and am very satisfied thus far. It makes a very good cup of coffee with #4 cone filters, although a gold tone should be and was not included in the purchase. I also programmed it to start brewing before I wake up, VERY NICE. I would have been more satisfied with an extra two cups of coffee, my previous coffee maker being a 12 cup, but the coffee it does make is great tasting. The espresso side is literally idiot proof with the built in tamper system and makes a fine one or two serving with either scoops or the option of ESE pods (44mm Dia. 7g size). I used the Illy dark roast and it made two espresso servings with the right amount of foam, coloration, aroma, and taste that you would find in many popular "indie" coffee shops. I used the steam function for foaming milk for a cappuccino and was very satisfied with the outcome. It was quieter than other machines for the sole purpose of making espresso/ cappuccino while still making a full 15 bars of pressure. The unit is easy to clean and care for and will be a fine addition to your counter-top.

The reason for 4 stars and not 5

1. lack of gold tone filter, it should be included for the price I paid

2. 10 cup maker not 12, I drink alot of coffee

3. coffee making process can be heard from a few rooms away, not loud, but louder than my previous machine

4. no pressure indicator for espresso maker

It is so rare that I take the time to write a review but I feel I must to prevent others from buying this machine and with the hope that the former excellent manufacturer sees how disappointed I am with this product. I am not a novice espresso maker and in fact had an older model Krups combo coffee / espresso machine for more than 10-years previous to this. That machine was so good, brewed perfect coffee, espresso and froth milk without a problem or touchy process.

Let me start by saying what I love about this machine THE LOOKS (lipstick on a pig???), the little compartment for the coffee spoon and the release button for used espresso grounds. These items do not have a thing to do with brewing or making a good coffee drink.

The machine I have does not make very hot coffee, it''s very warm but not super hot. As for the espresso and frothing capability they just don''t work according to the VERY fragmented instructions. There are so many references to figures 1.... and you have to keep going back and forth. The espresso does not brew after waiting for the light to turn solid and simply pushing 1 or two cup selection. I often have to push 3 or more times and it still doesn''t work. Then I start the "warming" process, etc. all over again.

As for the "froth" it simply doesn''t work everytime or well and worse of all it pushes water into the milk. Instead of froth it makes barely luke warm water filled milk. This machine generally sucks (a word I dislike and rarely use).

I am so disappointed with this machine and for the money it''s really bad. I want to know when we started to think that spending $300.00 on a coffee maker was cheap. Why on earth is it necessary to spend $700.00 on a coffee maker? This product is not worth $40.00, let alone $300.00.

Don''t buy it. I promise it''s not worth any amount of money. Too bad because it looks great!

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I received this item as a Christmas gift. It looks beautiful on my counter top and for the first month it worked flawlessly. Other reviews are accurate concerning confusing instructions but once you figure out how it works, it works well.

The biggest issue is the frothing nozzle, MS-622874, broke within the first month. The internal assembly is plastic with a metal sheath. After my machine wouldn''t froth milk the way it used to, I opened it up to clean it to notice that the threaded plastic assembly broke. This must be due to the high heat temperatures that can occur in the steaming process. When I try to purchase a replacement (ranges from $11 to 20 online) I cannot find one in stock ANYWHERE! This is a key part that works on several of Krups'' cappuccino machines and its lack of availability (including from he Krups store itself) leads me to believe this is a very widespread problem!

The unit did come with an alternative device that attaches and still ''works'' but it operates differently than the primary nozzle (it draws milk through a nozzle from a tube). This method produces lattes and cappuccinos that are nowhere near hot enough and not as good as the original part. It also tends to spit milk all over the place which is annoying. That said, I am glad it came with this back-up piece because otherwise I would be totally out of luck in the froth department. It would have also lead to a 1 star rating.

This was a great gift and I love it but I am bummed that this key part was so poorly engineered. It is even more frustrating that I cannot find a replacement. Perhaps they are working on a re-engineered version and no longer making the crappy original?

I have only brewed drip coffee a couple of times and the results are fine.

UPDATE 4-27-12: This is my third update to this review. I had filed a warranty claim with Krups concerning the frothing part which broke within the first month. They contacted me and informed me that it was being re-designed and they would send me a new one. I noted this in a comment in March. Well today I received the new part from UPS. It installed easily (although there were no installation instructions only cleaning instructions) but after I figured out that the plastic fitting attached to the metal tube could be unscrewed with care and replaced with the new fitting and gasket I was good to go. Anyhow, the new design actually looks better. The inner structure, which caused the problem on the original part, is made from a much more solid piece that does not require you to unscrew anything along it in order to take it apart. That was the primary design flaw of the original part. You had a piece of plastic that was subject to heat and then would be subject to the twisting force of the screw assembly. The new design eliminates this completely and relies on a silicone seal to keep the metal housing in place.

The performance of the new steam nozzle is even improved over the old one! I made my first cappuccino and it was awesome. Clean up was a snap. Obviously I will have to see how it performs over a longer period of time but it appears that the primary issue with this machine has been addressed. Krups replaced the part for free and while it took some time, and they didn''t include instructions on how to replace and install it, it was intuitive enough to figure out. Raised the rating from 3 stars to 5 stars. Back in business!

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I have been making Espresso/Coffee at home for too many years to count, and I have been a big fan of Krups over the years. But this is the worst Krups machine I''ve ever come across, Krups engineers really screwed up here. It makes great coffee on the coffee maker side, and it will make great espresso even with E.S.E. pods. There are two problems with this machine: 1. The foaming wand has too many cheap plastic parts for a $400 machine, and the foaming wand leaks water while you are making an espresso. In fact, after only a few uses, the plastic foaming steam wand cracked which caused it to lose pressure thereby preventing the proper foaming of the milk. 2. The portafilter is too small for two pods. You can do it, but not without struggling to attach the portafilter to the locking holder. There are better machines out there for the money, save yourself a lot of grief! Krups should do the right thing and offer a free simple one piece stainless steel screw-on replacement steam wand that is built to last.

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While it worked it made coffee just fine. My husband had A LOT of difficulty making any quality espresso with this machine. Overall the machine was very hard to work (as newbie espresso makers). Big reason for the 2 stars? Espresso side of the machine broke after 3 years and the machine stopped working all together (no power/no nothing), just shy of 4 years. For $400? I don''t think so.

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Capresso 153.04 C3000 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center

[T]he C3000 has the most effective auto-frother I''ve ever seen. You just fill a detachable plastic container partway with milk, plug it into the milk feed, and press a button for frothed milk. An adjustable plastic valve lets you control the milk/steam ratio to adjust frothiness. Since it''s a 2-boiler system, you can run the steamer immediately before or after (but not during, presumably due to power constraints) espresso preparation. My only complaint is that you can''t effectively use the steam wand to just steam milk because it is too short and not height-adjustable. With my Magic Deluxe, I can use the steam wand to make hot chocolate, or simply to heat my steamed milk to the temperature I want. With the C3000, if you don''t get the milk temperature right the first time, you have to microwave it. Running it through the forthing system again doesn''t work because it will scald the milk and also leave a bunch of foam behind in the milk container.

I was also disappointed that the system can''t be plumbed in. There are semi-automatic machines ...that can be plumbed in. Also, it has a vibration pump, rather than the rotary pump used in almost all commercial machines and some...semi-commercial machines.

That said, though, the quality of the espresso it produces still compares quite favorably with what I''ve gotten from commercial equipment. Making espresso is trivial, involving only pressing a button and waiting. Every factor except the water pressure can be controlled to your liking, and the automatic cleaning and descaling cycles are easy to use, once you figure out how to read the manual.

If you want a machine that every coffee drinker in the house can use to get top quality espresso, and aren''t too picky about price, this is the machine for you. If you want to economize a bit (and don''t mind learning frothing techniques), get the Saeco Magic DeLuxe. Don''t buy the Capresso C1000, though. Despite the similar name, that machine is far inferior to the C3000, and also inferior to the Saeco Magic DeLuxe, in my opinion.

As advertised, this machine is a marvel of automation, with coffee and espresso available at the touch of a button. The unit cleans and monitors itself. It''s really quite easy to use; there is a helpful video included with it. The coffee is "crema coffee" which is very flavorful; devotees of drip coffee may find it a bit stronger than what they''re used to. Everything is customizable and programmable.

If you''ve had espresso/cappucino machines before, you know that the milk frothing is a total inconvenience. Not so with the c3000; just hook up the included milk container to the steam arm and you have LIMITLESS steamed milk. Great for hot chocolate (or Cafe and Coco)......

The only downside is that there is more plastic used in the construction of the unit than I would expect given the rather staggering price.

Enjoy....you deserve it!

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If you''re like me you''re probably thinking "HOW MUCH for a *&%$ cappucinno machine???? You''ve got to be kidding me." The fact of the matter is that it''s worth every penny to me. You see, I''m a Starbucks addict, an affliction that I probably figure costs my wife and I upwards of $10/day, or, should I say, used to cost us $10/day.

I''m a little bit of a coffee snob, and have 3 cappuccino machines sitting in my garage gathering dust. The problem was, THEY ALL (...). Really. Way too much time to make a latte, a huge mess, and it NEVER TASTED quite right. If you''re reading this, you know what I''m talking about.

This machine does it all. It grinds, it taps, it brews, and it makes PERFECT latte''s (yes, just like Starbucks). There''s a small canister that holds the milk that you can keep in the fridge. When you want to steam, pull it out of the fridge, plug it into the machine, and that''s it. When it''s all said and done, I don''t think it takes me more than 3 minutes to set up, make 2 lattes, and clean up. Between the time I save schlepping to Starbucks AND the $10/day, I''m way ahead of the game.

Besides, you can knock out cappuccino for yourself and a half dozen of your snobby friends in less than 10 minutes!!!!

If a coffee house quality drink is important to you and you don''t want to end up with one more useless machine, bite the bullet and buy something you''ll be happy with.

The ONLY negative I can possibly think of to say about this machine is that I figured that for as much as they were charging for this machine, the thing should probably have been in some sort of cool looking brushed metal or copper, not plastic (the picture makes it look like metal, at least I thought it did).

Hope this helps.

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This machine does it all one team at work invested in one, and they''re the caffeinated pride of the office. However, don''t compare the coffee as "just as good as Starbucks". Assuming you don''t use Starbucks''s 30''-overroasted beans, this machine will make coffee that''s BETTER than Starbucks. Trust me there are enough coffee choices here in Seattle for me to judge. :)

In short, though, excellent investment.

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I am totally blown away at how great a cup of coffee or cappucino this machine makes! It rivals the best that you have ever had, in either Italy or the best restaurants in the world, it simply doesn''t get any better. And it is so cool to use! Just push a button and have a perfect cup! It is so technologicaly cool, it puts a smile on your face. It adds such a sense of enjoyment to mornings and after dinner. I will probably use this device more than any other appliance or gadget I own, which makes the cost look that much more reasonable. Ain''t life wonderful!

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Starbucks Sirena Espresso Machine

Bottom line up front: I''m happy with the Sirena.

I''m not a coffee snob and don''t really care one way or another what name comes on the outside of the machine. I like strong espresso and this machine doesn''t disappoint. There are a couple of things that I like and a couple of things that I don''t. Here they are:

Like:

Easy to use

Can grow with you, i.e. if you want to pull out the Pressurizing disc and start tamping your own shots, you can, and after some practice, will probably get a better quality of crema and espresso. Bean quality, grind, etc... dependent.

Quick heat up time (less than 2 mins in the morning) and quick steam (less than 10 seconds.

Good micro-foam on the steamer. My wife likes capuccinos and the good quality foam makes her very happy.

Dislike:

The water level sensor drives me crazy. It comes on, I refill the container, and it doesn''t go off. I have to mess with the container where it attaches to the machine to get it to turn off....eventually. I''ve read more than a few reviews about this problem. Small overall, but annoying.

Price. I purchased this machine at the X-mas special (499 w/grinder, barista kit, 1lb coffee with a 30% employee discount ($375 paid in the end). It was an incredible deal...that made it very worth the money. Full price...I don''t know. I like this machine, but I''m cheap and I''d rather pay for quality and performance than looks. This machine offers both, but without the discount it would''ve made my choice more difficult.

There is a great thread on coffeegeek.com about the Sirena. A guy named Wayne, a.k.a. roastaroma, has made it his mission in life to break this machine apart and extract every bit of usefullness out of it. For true coffee lovers looking for a great machine his insights might help make up your mind.

Happy Shopping.

6 month update (1 July 2008).

The steam knob stripped out about 3 weeks ago. One minute I was frothing milk, the next I was trying to get a scalding hot jet of steam to stop...awesome. I contacted SB and they gave me the number to their warranty dept. I called their warranty dept and they told me that SAECO not SB warranted the item. Okay, so I call SAECO and was not exactly pleased with the response. First, they confirmed that the unit was under warranty..good. Second, they sent me a form to fill out detailing the problems with the machine. They had me fax that form back to their warranty dept...okay so far. Third, they informed me that I was responsible for packing and shipping the machine back to them with no reimbursement. Fourth, they told me that if anything other than the previously faxed deficiencies were discovered that it would be repaired at my cost. Bottomline, if something breaks during shipment, you pay for it out of pocket along with the shipping and handling you''ve already spent sending a defective item back to the manufacturer.

I haven''t had a lot of problems getting things serviced in the past. SAECO''s warranty repair system seems a little too involved and isn''t user friendly in my opinion. I contacted the Starbucks that I purchased the machine from and was able to swap out the machine...but the less than ideal experience with SAECO is important to share.

Other than that the machine is still working well and am still happy that I purchased it. Starbucks customer service made up for the problems with SAECO.

The Sirena has a bit of a learning curve but once you realize that you do so much better without the "self-tamper" you''ll be on your way. My problem was the machine backed up all the time until I read that I should remove the disk and the rubber self tamper -it made all the difference between HATING this machine and loving it. I can now pack a lot of coffee into the basket without the thing blowing up. Also, I did not realize there was a whole world of tampers. Now that I have a good tamper, not a plastic one!, my espresso has changed considerably.

The good:

1) Once you remove the tamper the coffee is great.

2) You can reprogram the coffee levels

3) Looks great

4) Easy clean-up

5) Decent foaming

The bad:

1) Sprays a little too much water while steaming milk

2) If you have your machine under the counter, it''s a little hard to pull the water tank out

3) A learning curve

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I bought this machine from a local Starbucks as a replacement to our Solis Crema sl70. We had the Solis for 10 years and loved it. The Sirena was at the same price point and looked great so we opted to change. What a disappointment. The Sirena has a plug, rubber gasket and basket, all of which are challenging to remove for cleaning. There is also wait time to which we were not accustom; wait for the machine to heat up, make espresso, wait again for the espresso to heat so you can select steam and wait for that to heat up. The steam pump would produce a good amount of water before actually pumping steam. We allowed time for us to get used to the new machine however after 10 days of use, we took it back for a refund. Positive note about Starbucks; they took it back without any hassles stating they stand behind their products.

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Ok I spent hours pouring over reviews of machines before purchasing the Sirena. Because I wanted to do everything just right, I took an hour after the purchase to set it up following the extended instructions word by word. (For more experienced users, the quick setup would work and you would have your drink quick!) My first latte was amazing! I didn''t even use syrup it tasted great.

My initial concern: long time to brew espresso/confusion as to the purpose of the "self-tamper". It took a long time for my shots to pull, mostly just dripping. So, I reread thoroughly all the Amazon reviews (much better than those on the SB website) and found that:

FIRST those with major issues probably had faulty machines or it was user-error. (no offense)

SECOND there is some trial and error required for grind, etc.

MOST IMPORTANT if your shots pull slowly (drip) simply POKE A LARGER HOLE IN THE RUBBER GASKET (self tamper).

Although I tried removing the self-tamper completely as some suggested it produced zero creme. By simply using a sewing needle to open the hole a bit more, my espresso flowed smoothly out of the portafilter in seconds and it had the most beautiful creme. I AM THRILLED! I tested the heat of the straight shot and it was quite warm but when added to frothed milk at a temp of 160 or more it was the most delightful latte I have ever had definitely rivals that of SB!

This machine is great for quality espresso, quality froth and good looks.

Oh one more thing I do agree with other reviewers that the need to drain the excess water from the steam wand before steaming is annoying, however, I have a system. Here is my method:

1. Turn on and warm up, meanwhile warm your mug with hot water

2. Once machine is ready, run 2 shots of water through to heat up the portafilter (I have the two most perfect glasses I use to hold the shot they are tall slender juice glasses that fit perfectly under the portafilter)

3. Leave the portafilter connected while steaming/frothing milk

a. use one of the juice glasses (or another tall glass) to collect the excess water from the steam wand before steaming milk in stainless steel pitcher.

b. steam/froth milk to at least 160 degrees. I am able to steam first, then froth the top or visa versa. The frother is great!

4. Set milk aside or on warmer (the warmer isn''t that warm, so don''t count on it for "heat")

5. Remove hot portafilter, wipe out extra water/grounds and fill for one or two shots

6. Replace portafilter and choose your shot size (the time it took to add your espresso grounds is exactly enough to rewarm the machine)

7. Pull your shots, pour into mug and add milk immediately.

**Starbucks trains that you should add your milk to shots within 10 seconds for best results. That is why frothing first is important!

I have it down to a science now after just owning the machine for 4 days. If I learn anything new, I will update/edit my review. I think reviews are so important for others considering a product or having problems. They sure helped me and I hope I helped someone else!

God Bless and Happy Latte!

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The machine was easy to unpack and the quick-start guide had me up and running in a few minutes. With my old machine, I could never get the coffee tamped right in the filter. Now I just grind the coffee, scoop it into the portafilter, attach it to the machine, and push a button to pull the shot. The machine gets up to temp quickly, especially the steam wand. I''m really pleased with the performance (consistent espresso shots and quick, easy steaming) of this espresso maker, and would certainly recommend it to others. And the clean design looks fantastic on my counter-top...

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Adagio Teas Ingenuitea Teapot

My wife bought one of these when we were vacationing in Eureka Springs a year ago, and I thought it was another gizmo to add to the cupboard. Was I wrong. I started using it more and more, mostly for green tea, and thought it would be good to have one for work as well. So I ordered one from Cooking.com and use it all the time. I just put the tea leaves in the container, add hot water, let it sit for 5 minutes, then set it on top of my cup. The valve on the bottom opens up and the tea pours into the cup, with out the leaves (with the green tea I buy from China, the leaves are full leaves, and I can get another 2 cups out of it, so refilling is easy). The nice thing is, I can use it for coffee as well as black tea. The coffee, especially if you grind your own, tastes so much better. To clean, I just invert in a trash can, and rinse out what''s left.

Length:: 3:03 Mins

A quick demonstration of the Ingenuitea teapot. We like the ease of use of this product and especially how easy it is to clean. We tend to not use tea bags and prefer loose leaf tea. This little infuser has us drinking tea more frequently. Watch how easy it is to make a nice cup of tea:

Update December 2012:

We still use this unit all the time and it has held up quite well. One note is that the coaster in the video no longer comes with the unit. We misplaced it a long time ago anyway.

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I got a pot of tea at a cafe recently and they served it up in an Ingenuitea. Within about 5 seconds, I realized this was the perfect way to make tea or coffee, actually, and that this is how tea should be made. If you like loose tea and tea balls are awkward not to mention hot to take out, etc. the Ingenuitea is the BEST. No drip, no mess, no nothin''... simply tea. Ingenious, indeed!

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TIP: I''ve had this ''teacup'' (16 oz.) for a while now. I recently became frustrated with it. I use green tea (leaves never bags) and I re-infuse the leaves. Normally I would pour the hot water into the cup, steep the tea the enjoy my cuppa.

A few weeks ago, I decided to try using cold water and popping it into the microwave as suggested. That, I thought, would eliminate the step of boiling a kettle full of water for 16 oz of tea. True, but the little strainer at the bottom of the cup kept popping out, and the leaves would then strain into my cup annoying me and wasting my leaves. I was not a happy camper.

Well it finally dawned on me yesterday that the hot water worked to seal the little strainer. So now I have completely abandoned the microwave idea (probably wasn''t good for me anyway). I pour a bit of hot water into the cup, wait 3 seconds, gently press on the strainer with my spoon, listen to it pop into place and seal. THEN and only then do I add my precious tea leaves and more hot water and wait 2 to 3 minutes for gratification.

When re-infusing the leaves, I press first with the spoon while carefully adding a bit of hot water. If I don''t, when the strainer pops out the leaves already in there will slip under and end up in my cup.

I''ve noted that even when using the hot water, if you pour all at once the strainer will pop out. I don''t know why this is happening now or if it happens only with mine, but the above is my solution if you encounter the same issue.

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I just purchased one of these after using a friend''s, and I love it. This is the perfect way to make loose leaf tea for one. Unlike with tea balls or spoon-size infusers, the leaves have plenty of room to unfurl as the tea steeps and there''s no clasp to come undone. Unlike with basket infusers, there''s no dripping or mess when it''s time to remove the leaves. You simply get perfectly brewed tea with no mess every time. I can''t recommend this enough.

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Pro Products HP41N Neutra Sul Professional Grade Oxidizer

I have highly mineralized sulfur smelling water. Last year I switched from bleach to Neutra Sul. I am very pleased with the results.

The Neutra Sul is a little more expensive, but the results are much more consistent than with bleach. With the bleach I would sometimes get the sulfur odor breaking through, and would have to increase the concentration to a point where I could smell the chlorine. Breakthough odor doesn''t happen with the Neutra Sul and there''s no nasty chlorine smell or residue. It''s easy enough to monitor for excess peroxide in the water by looking for effervescence.

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HC26 Honeywell Furnace Humidifier Replacement Water Panel

I have been using these filters for a long time.

So happy I found them on amazon. They do a great

job and the price is right. Thanks for a great

product !!

Easy install (did it myself) and bought an extra or 2 for the future. I ruined the previous filter by accidentally "washing off" the coating on the filter.... That isn''t "build up" or hard water deposits left from use, it is supposed to be there to help with the water absorb and distribute the water to the humidifier more evenly. Don''t do what I did...

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Omega 1000 Juicer Save 16% Off

My experience is limited to the Omega 1000 and 4000. Both are very good machines, but one of them has some distinct advantages.

As the other reviewers have noted, this machine is very solidly built & should easily outlast the 15 year warranty. In fact, it might outlive the 4000.

Why? Because the 4000 is so much more pleasant to use that you will use it more, because the operating principle is a little different.

Both machines have a chute that you feed fruits & vegatables into. At the bottom of the chute is a stainless steel disc/blade that grinds up the food into a pulp.

On the 1000 model, the pulp is thrown out by centrifugal force into a drum that is just like a washing machine drum it is perforated stainless that traps the pulp on the inside and allows the juice to strain out. Just like on a washing machine spin cycle, it is possible to get the contents out of balance so that the whole machine shakes & makes a real racket! This is very easy to do on the 1000 if you load apples or other foods with skins, because the skin will often stay intact so it has to go on one spot on the drum, throwing it out of balance like a pair of jeans. There are some "tricks" that help in this case, such as saving some carrots for this emergency. Many times feeding a carrot will stop the shaking.

Another consequence of the "spin-cycle" approach is that after you have feed a few pieces of fruit, the pulp in the drum can clog, trapping all the juice inside. This happens especially when you try to juice bananas, pineapple or strawberries. I am able to do strawberries & bananas with the 4000 as long as I alternate fruits. The bananas still goo up the insides, but a couple slices of apple get things flowing again. With the 1000, it was a lost cause.

The model 4000 works differently because the spinning drum is cone-shaped, which forces the pulp to ride up the sides of the drum for a brief period & then it flies out into a pulp ejector chute. This means the 4000 never gets the shakes like the 1000, and also the drum stays much cleaner, which allows you to keep juicing much longer. For example, this morning I juiced apples, carrots, celery and grapes in that order on both the 4000 and 1000. Although in both cases I got exactly 12.5 ounces of juice, the juice from the 1000 had no grape color and less grape flavor, because a thick layer of pulp had built up on the inside, which absorbed most of the grape juice.

The other advantage of the 4000 is that it when you turn it off, it stops in just a few seconds. On the 1000, it continues to spin for much longer because of the heavy food in the drum, dribbling all the while and sometimes walking across your countertop!

So I give 5 stars to the 4000, and only 4 stars to the 1000. The 1000 does have an optional citrus juicing attachment that is rather nice. If you can''t stand pulp, the 1000 also accepts some very inexpensive coffee-filter-like filters that virtually eliminate pulp from the apple-carrot-celery etc. types of juices and make cleanup easier. You really can''t use them with tomatoes, strawberries, etc., because it will clog instantly.

Cleanup is pretty easy on both, once you get the hang of it. The only tricky part is getting the pulp out of the strainer. I use a stainless scrubby pad gently on both sides, which seems to work well on both models.

The 1000 is better than I am describing, but loses a star for occasional vices.

This juicer has been great. It juices anything we throw at it. Very powerful motor. Very little vibration. Super high quality!

We''ve made all kinds of juices, but especially like vegetable (beets, carrots, etc.) and fruit (cherries, strawberries, etc.) mixes.

The only drawback I''ve found is that the basket that holds the pulp is a little hard to clean. It''s not as bad as it could be, but does require a bit of time to get all the pulp out. We''ve found that a vegetable (stiff bristled) brush makes this go a lot faster.

I didn''t rate it 5 stars because of that (somewhat hard to clean) and also that the capacity of juicing is smaller than what some people might need. I suspect you could get about 2, maybe 3 cups of juice before having to remove the pulp. If you wanted more you could just start over. I can imagine for some people (or commercial operations) this would be a drawback.

If I were to get another juicer, I''d definitely buy an Omega. The quality surpasses others I have seen.

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I''ve had my Omega 1000 juicer for about a year. I used it around 30 times when POOF! That was it, the motor burned out. Then I spent five minutes on the Web to discover that it''s a "1/3 horsepower" juicer. That''s a little less than 250 watts.

Other models like the L''Equip 110.5 Mini Pulp Ejector Juicer (rated better and less expensive than the Omega 1000) put out 600 watts. Even the Omega 8005 produces only 1/3 horsepower.

If you go to Bizrate.com, on the page where the 8005 is displayed, it posts a power rating of 1/3 hp. Yet if you click on the "" next to the "Power" heading, you''re told:

"Power: Determine the wattage rating on the juicer. If you''re juicing hard produce, the more watts, the better. A motor rating of 450 watts or greater is recommended."

Translated to hp, Bizrate.com recommends a bit more than 1/2 horsepower as the minimum acceptable hp. Shame on me for not spending the time to research this before buying.

I''m not abusive with mechanical devices. I was grinding a tough material, parsley. That''s supposed to be OK. I let up evertime the RPM''s slowed significantly, i.e., I was careful. Bizrate.com''s advice is right on the mark: 250 watts (1/3 hp) just isn''t enough. Don''t buy this or any sub-.5 hp juicer unless you''re juicing material that''s already soft.

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I bought this juice from my local health food store a couple of months ago. I should have done more research before buying it.

A few folks have commented about the off-balance spin cycle effect of this juicer. I thought that would just be a minor issue. I''ve since discovered that it''s anything but minor. When off balance, the whole juicer literally jumps around the counter, vibrating out of control. It''s more than just a big racket. When it happens, I can''t even get to the on/off switch, so I have to unplug it to get it to stop. By then I have a real mess on my hands. It''s downright scary when this happens. I am apparently not skilled enough to consistently feed this juicer with the right size or balance of fruits and vegetables. I''ve decided to quit using the juicer, just out of safety concerns.

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I had this unit since early 1999 and juice often. While it is true this machine doesn''t eject the pulp as you go, it''s more efficient at extracting juice. I typically can juice a large cucumber along with a large, entire stalk of celery, before there''s just too much in the unit, and it gets out of balance. When the unit gets heavily out of balance, it will vibrate rather loudly, but the solution is simple: turn it off, wait until it stops spinning, clean it out, and off you go. This vibration is what another reviewer ignorantly writes about, and said he had to send his unit back in. That''s simply not fair or well-informed feedback on this wonderful unit.

This is like the Maytag of juicers!

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Watts Premier 560088 Lead, Cyst, VOC Carbon Block Two Stage Replacement Filter Pack Save 25% Off

• Replacement filters with water filtration system can save over 4,500 half liter bottles per filter
• Reduce environmental impact of filter, certified for 600 gallons
• Specially formulated carbon block NSF certified for the reduction of lead, cryptosporidium, giardia, and entamoeba
• Also certified for harmful volatile organic chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, and more
• Fits all standard under counter and counter top filtration systems

Bought this to use with my Costco purchased Watts Premier WP2-BVC. Note that these are the filters for the WP2-LCV system but are fully compatible with either system. I was looking for these filters because they are optimized (marketing?) for reduction of volatile chemical contamination in addition to reducing contamination by biological organisms. Very good price (at least a third cheaper than other vendors I considered). I called Watts Premier customer service and they confirmed that these are the same as their sku 560030.

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Watts and all vendors have discontinued the original filter set for the Watts Premier WP2-BVC. This set is a perfect replacement and includes some additional filtering on VOC''s. They do have slightly different sealing surfaces and no longer have a protruding neck on one of the filters. Rest assured though, these filters fit just fine and work great. For all of you who bought the WP2-BVC at Costco or other locations, this is your new replacement set. Great price too. Good ol Amazon saves the day.

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I have previously purchased filters, that this time around were no longer available. No problem, as there is a replacement. The information was rather vague, as to exactly which filter(s) to replace my obsolete ones with! Took my best, educated guess, and was successful. Moral Selection could be made a bit clearer to end user! Additionally the filters that came were not exact replacements, in that the coupling on the filter was different. First thought was "oh boy" wrong filter. It worked fine, but again it would have been helpful to have enclosed some written notification stating the new configuration was workable, and perhaps an explanation of the difference. Otherwise satisfied.

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I purchased these as a first time replacement for my Watts 2 Stage Water Filtration unit and I am so glad I did! First of all, they are about half the price of ordering straight from Watts and amazingly, the water tastes better with these replacement filters than it tasted with the original filters that came with the unit! They are supposed to be the same filters as those but there is definitely a difference in the taste of the water! Tastes cleaner! Go figure...

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I purchased the 560088 two years ago for a replacement. The designed changed from the original. That was not a problem, it still worked.

I just purchased another set and after installation the unit made a LOUD whistling sound. So I removed everything cleaned o-rings, installed again, and still the same LOUD annoying sound.

So I took it apart again and see the problem. The carbon filter that I removed has a white tip on each end where the water would flow through. That tip does not exist on the new model. If you take the new model and blow some air through it you will hear the sound, do the same with the old model, no sound.

I returned to Amazon and sent Watts an email. If I cannot get a replacement that works I will now have to replace the entire unit. If so the next unit WILL NOT be a Watts.

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Instapure F-2C Teledyne Water Pik Faucet Water Filter (Chrome)

• Faucet water filter reduces bad taste, odor, and chlorine in drinking water
• Built-in knob extends filter cartridge life by allowing choice of filtered or unfiltered water
• Chrome finish and clear cover fit modern decor
• Includes faucet filter system and 3-month filter cartridge
• 1-year warranty

i had problems with leaks like some other reviewers stated. but then i contacted instapure and got the manual to re-do the installation. after reading the manual and adding 2+2 i figured out that the large black washer goes between the faucet and the double-threaded adapter. the red one is to be used between that adapter and the filter holder. once i had reassembled it all, no more leaks were noticeable at all and the water quality is just perfect.

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Over the years we''ve tried several Britta and Pur units, and have spent many $$ for their replacement cartridges. We''re now on our second Instapure 2, which is exactly the same as the Teledyne-branded one we used to have, and uses exactly the same filter elements. The lowest cost Instapure filter elements -R2 -in 4-packs are about the least expensive water filter elements there are from anyone. There are also Instapure R5 and R7 models for more money, but we''re just using the filter to make city tap water tastier, not to remove contaminants.

Our coffee, tea, bourbon & water and even ice cubes now taste better than they did in pre-filter days, and the Instapure units are easy to install, seem to last a year or more, and are cheap to replace if they start leaking.

The "lasts a year or more" is the only reason for 4 stars instead of five. But then, I might be wrong. This is only my second one after we had its predecessor for a year, and I probably could have stopped the old one from leaking if I''d replaced the filter and tightened it correctly. No big deal either way.

The Culligan filters also look decent, but we haven''t tried them.

One tip: you know your Instapure filter needs changing when it starts to run slow. No blinking lights needed.

Another tip: my wife likes to keep a cold pitcher of water in the refrigerator and used to use a Britta pitcher. Now she just keeps her cold-water jug filled with filtered water from the sink -and she also refills 20 oz. travel-size water bottles from the filter-equipped tap so we have tasty water when we''re outdoors in the hot Flora Duh sun.

Last tip: I have a Cuisinart Grind & Brew coffee machine with a built-in filter that costs a bunch to replace. So I haven''t replaced it in 2 years. Once again, filtered tap water does the job and saves $$$.

Read Best Reviews of Instapure F-2C Teledyne Water Pik Faucet Water Filter (Chrome) Here

We bought the Instapure F-2C faucet mounting water filter back in 1993. Since then, we have had it installed in two different places in Germany, 2 different houses in Kentucky, our house in England, and our house here in Maryland.

In 2003 when we moved to Maryland. We decided to buy a new filter since you could see some water build up on our old filter. We have lived in a couple places with really harsh water. We ended up buying a PUR water filter on sale at the local hardware store. Unfortunately, the PUR''s case started developing structural pressure stress cracks throughout the canister body and eventually led to spraying water from a half dozen cracks after only about 6 months of use. We took the PUR system off and pitched it in the trash.

We reattached our trusty Instapure system and it has been working like a champ for many more years. It finally failed this past weekend and no longer switches between normal and filtered water. Water just comes out of both all the time. But considering it is 18 years old and has survived 4 trans-Atlantic moves and installation in 6 different homes, I''d say it''s a pretty good and reliable product. Never had any of the leaking issues other people have mentioned (except the one time I had the washer inserted wrong, but that was easily fixed by taking it off and reattaching with the washer in the proper place). It''s not any more difficult to install than a shower head or other faucet attachment like the PUR system we had for a few months. And yes, it''s not really chrome, it is a chrome painted plastic, but still looks really nice and is very durable. Our 18 year old one still looks new except for the little bit of mineral build-up at the water exits and you would never guess it is that old.

I''m glad to see the current model looks exactly like the one I bought 18 years ago. Hopefully we will get 18 years out of this one too. Also note that you can mount it with the filter to the left or the right of the faucet, depending on which hand you would rather have flip the lever.

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I read all the reviews about water filters, and went to Lowe''s looking for the Culligan one. But, nothing from that brand was there, and they had this Instapure filter, in addition to the PUR and the Brita. But I read a lot of bad reviews about the last 2, but did not know of Instapure. Given that it was real cheap, I decided to try it.

So far, so good. When I first installed it, it had a lot of leaks where it attaches. After removing it a few times, I discovered that when I tightened it a lot, the seal would get into the metal adapter. So the next time, I tightened enough so that the filter doesn''t swing loosely, but not enough to make the seal pop into the adapter. That eliminated all leaks.

Also, instead of first installing the adapter on the faucet, and then on the Filter, I first attached it to the filter, tightened it, and then spun the whole filter into the Faucet. This made it really easy to install.

The best thing about the design is that it is easy to see when the filter needs to be changed. The switch that allows you to change between filtered and unfiltered water is large and comfortable to use. And its overall streamlined design with the rest of the unit means that you are not constantly bumping into or hooking your sleeve on the knob when not in use. None of our general and hardware stores that used to sell this seem to have the replacement filters in stock anymore. Thank goodness they are available on-line!

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Single Stage Countertop Water Filter System

This is our second Countertop H20 Filter. The last one worked for well over the 5 years promised. It removes that odd taste from chlorine. We change the filter cartridge about every 6 months and that is all the maintenance that is needed.

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Aqua-Pure AP110 Whole House Replacement Filter (Pack of 2) Save 37% Off

• 5-micron rated filtration helps reduce the smallest problem particles
• Multi-stage filter construction maximizes dirt-holding capacity
• Ridged design maximizes surface area, increasing overall filter life
• Flow rate of 8 gallons/30.3 liters per minute provides a steady supply of filtered water for drinking, laundry, and bath
• Disposable filter cartridges simplify system maintenance

I took a chance and lucked out. These filters are finer than the more expensive oines I''ve been using. They seem to last the right amount of time (couple three months) and my water is cleaner than ever.

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Good filter for a good price. Been using this filter type for 25 years. Keeps out dirt and rust and other objects from the drinking water.

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After trying out several water filter systems, I have found that Aqua-pure makes the best filtration system in the low priced house filtration business. Not only does the housing unscrew easily for filter changing, the filter itself screens out all particular matter that is visible to my eye.

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Product arrived on schedule and exactly what we ordered. I wish they had this available on subscribe and save. I will continue to buy this through Amazon as it is most convenient...

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This was as I expected it and fit our water tank. It works just like the one that we replaced.

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DirtTamer® Ultima V2510 Cordless Wet/Dry Hand Vac Save 24% Off

I bought this vac after reading all the reviews I could find on it.. they all sounded very positive. One big reason for buying this model was that it has a HEPA filter, which is very important to us since we live in the dusty desert and have to deal with allergies as well.

The basic vac is pretty darn nice... it has a nice comfortable, balanced feel and pretty good suction. It has not run the battery down any time I have used it so far... seems pretty strong.

I immediately noticed two problems with the basic unit though, and did some ''engineering changes'' to improve it:

(1) The on-off switch was almost impossible to operate using just one hand. It is a smooth, dished button that you have to slide with the thumb of the hand holding the handle. Good idea, except that it was so smooth that my thumg couldn''t get a grip on it, especially to turn it off, so I would use my other hand to work the switch. I cured that problem by ''dimpling'' the button with dots of super-glue, then using super-glue to make a strong ridge across the middle (side-to-side) that my thumb could get in front or back of to turn it on and off.

(2) The ''headlight'' shines back into your eyes making it hard to see what you are doing in dark areas. I solved that one by putting a small piece of aluminum duct tape across the top part of the lens. It not only keeps the light out of your eyes but also reflects more light toward the area you want to see... works much better.

The one problem I have yet to solve involves the HEPA filter. You remove the foam filter that comes installed in the vac, then install the HEPA filter in its place. Problem is, HEPA filters are usually used as a FINAL filter, after the air has passed through the normal filters. Also, the HEPA filter for this vac is pretty darn small in area. Using it as the main filter as they do with this vac, it plugs up almost immediately since it has to catch ALL the dust-type of contamination coming through the vac (the larger debris is caught in the large basket-type prefilter that you remove to empty). I have to clean the HEPA filter after just a few minutes of operation or the suction really decreases... very inconvenient! I have temporarily installed the original foam filter in front of the HEPA filter to see if that helps. Trouble is, they didn''t design it to work that way and there is really not very much room for the foam filter. I have not used it enough to know if this is going to solve the problem. If not, guess it''s time to try the Dyson DC16 hand vac and sell this one.

DirtTamer Ultima 14.4V...V2510 Model. While looking for a replacement filter after using our vac for 3 years, I was surprised to see the poor reviews. Perhaps they were not the Ultima model. This has been an excellent vac for quick vaccuuming of bathroom and kitchen floors and especially our carpeted stairs. Compared to our previous Black and Decker DustBuster hand-held vacs, this is a dream. I am able to run it for a good 10 minutes without losing power. I have not tried it on wet surfaces. When this one goes, I will definitely purchase another.

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I''ve had two of the older V2210 model for at least six years, one in the house and one in the garage. I think both are still going on the original batteries. Unlike some cheaper rechargeable vacs, you can, and should, leave it on the powered charging base when the vac is not in use. Unlike those others, it will always be charged when you need to use it.

I find it more powerful than DustBuster and it stays powerful for several minutes.

Although the charging base can be mounted either horizontally or vertically, it is important to secure the base so it doesn''t slide when you dock the unit. If you try to dock it and the loose base slides away, the charging pads may not make good contact.

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I have owned the Ultima v2510 for at least 4 years. I have consistently used it at least once a week during that period. It is a very powerful hand vac, MUCH more powerful than my previous B&D Dustbuster. It is a bit on the loud side, but that''s the price for good suction. About a year ago, I noticed that it began to die much more quickly than it used to. But I''ve solved this problem. Every few months, I let the unit completely discharge and then fully charge it again before use. This has given the unit new life, it is as powerful as ever. The batteries are NiCad and that is typical care for this type of battery--they must be occasionally fully discharged for longer useful life. There are replacement batteries available from Filterstream (go to their website, you''ll see), but you should be able to get several years out of the original batteries, as I have. If you think the battery is not charging, take a multimeter, set it to "VDC" and measure the voltage at the charger contacts. It should read 25V or so. If it is lower, then it may not be properly charging the battery. Anyway, I highly recommend this product, it is a portable hand vacuum that exceeds expectations and is fully worth the cost over its cheap competitors.

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I used to run a professional cleaning company and am very picky about the products I use. I''ve had plenty of hand held vacuum cleaners over the years, and this little machine has been the exclusive one I use now (though mine says "Nexxtech" on it, perhaps because it was purchased at a Canadian Tire Store several years ago they no longer carry it). Hands-down the best and most powerful cordless I have ever had, excellent around all areas of the house & workshop. It is well worth the price; I am going to buy another one!

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Oreck Rinse-A-Matic Steamer Ultra Floor Cleaner Save 2% Off

I have tried 2 other steam cleaners, the Bissel Heat pro and the Hoover (not sure which one). Of the three, the oreck has the best suction. Since it pulls up more water, the floors dry more quickly. As far as getting the floor cleaner, they are pretty close in performance but the Oreck comes out a little ahead. The best part of the oreck to me is that it is the easiest to fill with water and the easiest and cleanest to empty. It is all in one tank that is quick and easy to remove. I find I clean the floors more frequently because it is so quick and easy to use. Also, I didn''t like being stuck with using Orecks cleaning liquid. There is a very easy way around that. Set the unit to RINSE mode and add the detergent directly to the clean water. That way you bypass using the Oreck brand cleaner in the little bottles. I have been using Resolve carpet cleaning soap with excellent results. It is cheaper that way and cleans just as good as the Oreck detergent. I would definitely recommend the Oreck steam cleaner.

*It works well on a heavily soiled carpet, but of course is best when used routinely as with most cleaners. It is a pain if you break the latch. If there were a better method of holding the tank in place this would be perfect. I also broke the ALCI plug by stepping on it when I backed up; also an inconvenient feature because now the cleaner is unusable. Hopefully Oreck can assist me with fixing it without charging an arm, and leg. Wish me luck...

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I just purchased my rinse a matic from goodwill for 9.99 and its like new. They say it sat there forever and it was reduced. I planned on selling it on here but my girlfriend won''t part with it. I mix resolve in the canister and it works perfectly. This is by far one of the best if not the best on the market.

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This carpet cleaner has been around for many years. There''s even a newer version that, from what I understand, is basically the same machine with a different colored plastic exterior. So if you''re reading this review you are probably considering a used one from craigslist or somewhere else.

I got my Rinse-A-Matic at a neighborhood garage sale. It had been sitting in this guys garage for years. I was told it didn''t work. In fact it had never worked. --the machine had never been used- Since I''m a handy person, and the price was right (free), I thought I''d give it a try. I took it apart, fixed the problem (a piece of plastic lodged in one of the tubes) and voila'' it worked. I will say that under the cheap plastic exterior are some quality parts. A strong vacuum motor, a quality ''Italian made'' pump, etc.

Anyway... I put the thing back together, gave it a try, and it worked great. Because of all the plastic, it''s relatively light and easy to maneuver. Much easier to use than a rug doctor I once rented.

CONS: The water tank is small. It''s a pain to constantly stop cleaning to refill the tank. At least you''ll always be cleaning with hot water because it runs out before the water cools.

The Oreck cleaning solution comes in small cartridges that are relatively expensive. You must have a cartridge plugged into the machine for it to work. You will go through a lot of cleaner. My solution: (a tip from another review) I bought a 48 oz bottle of Resolve Steam carpet cleaner ($10) at my local grocery store (Ralphs) and refilled the Oreck bottles. It worked as well as the Oreck shampoo at a much cheaper price. Just take a knife and pop off the top of the Oreck bottle and refill. I used Resolve but I''m sure other carpet cleaners would work as well.

SUGGESTIONS: Practice on a small area before the real thing. I used some floor mats made from carpet remnants.

Spray and brush the stains with a carpet spot remover before you shampoo. I used Folex. You could probably get many of the stains out with the Oreck machine by going back and forth several time from different angles. But if you do it like that, you''ll go through a lot of carpet cleaner and overly saturate the carpet.

I followed these directions. "Shampoo-Dry-Rinse-Dry" ...Be sure to rinse thoroughly. Rinsing does more than just remove the soap residue. You''ll be surprised at how dirty the water is in the recovery tank after you rinse. Take your time on the final dry. Several slow passes. You''ll be glad you did when the carpet is dry the next morning.

CONCLUSSION: This machine cleans very well and is easy to use, once you get the hang of it. I gave it 4 stars not 5 because I''m a little concerned about the quality control. The fact that my machine obviously didn''t work when it left the factory. With my machine it takes a lot of force to close the latch that hold the water tank in place. I pull the tank up firmly with one hand while pulling the latch with the other, to be sure I don''t break the latch. My cleaner leaks water/shampoo out of the back. It doesn''t affect anything and I think it will be an easy fix, but I''ll have to take it apart again.

I like this cleaner. I hope it lasts.

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This has been one of my favorite household appliances. There is no real steam involved, hence the name "steemer," but that doesn''t matter. I''ve cleaned every carpet in our home--from synthetic to wool, and the results are incredible. I work in small sections, and it''s very simple and quick. The extracted water is always absolutely filthy, and the carpets immediately look brighter and smell fresh; and they don''t take very long to dry. It is important to start with a well-vacuumed carpet, because pet hair will cause clogs. Do not get annoyed if your "steemer" stops working. It happened to me today, so I called the Oreck customer service number that is printed on my rug cleaner (800-989-3535) and a very helpful, polite lady answered immediately. I explained that the water was not moving through the unit and she said that the water tubes can get clogged with crystalized shampoo. She recommended using extremely hot tap water and holding the button down to release water for a long time. She said it might even take more than five minutes, and she was right. After that, it worked perfectly. Some people might not like having to buy the special Oreck shampoo that is needed. To avoid that, you could probably just pry the lid off the empty shampoo bottle and use your own mixture. I like to use their shampoo, though, and I don''t recall it being too expensive. I only use the "steemer" a few times a year, so it seems like a worthy investment to use the proper rug shampoo. With children and pets, this Oreck rug cleaner has been invaluable. It''s held up really well, so I expect to get at least another five years out of it.

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Brentwood 1.5 Liter Stainless Steel Tea Kettle Model KT-1780 Save 49% Off

I bought this electric kettle after my stove top kettle needed replacement. It is great -it boils water very quickly and turns itself off automatically which is a great safety feature. I did a lot of research before I purchased this model, I highly recommend this one -it gets good reviews and there is no plastic inside the kettle -many of the others have plastic viewers that are immersed in the hot water, I did not want my hot water in contact with plastic. I haven''t found any negative aspects to this kettle and have been using it daily for over three months.

I have always used a stove top kettle, so I was leery to try out an electric kettle. When I received the product it was easy to get going. The first time I filled the entire kettle with cold water and boiled it through. It boiled very quickly and the automatic shut off worked great!

One of the reasons I tried an electric kettle is because I could never find a stove top kettle that poured smooth and didn''t run all over the counter. This product pours smoother than anything I have found and doesn''t agitate the tea bag.

Over all this is a great product and I would recommend this to anyone.

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As one who constantly burned up traditional kettles, I liked the idea of electric kettles that shut themselves off. My first one was plastic-with the heating element in the water. While I closer to the concept, it was not really what I wanted. I saw this kettle design and I love it. It is stainless steel, and the heating element is in the pad below and not in the water itself. It heats quickly, and shuts itself off. The stainless keeps the temperatures warm for qute some time after shutting off. So, even if I do not catch it right away, the water is usually still hot by the time I want to use it. It looks attractive sitting on the counter, and is easy to keep clean.

Would definitely buy another!!

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After I received the Brentwood Kettle I noticed the underside of the box had a WARNING: Made with HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS. The warning was not only on the bottom of the box but it was also concealed by a barcode sticker! This warning should have been advertised more clearly. I then became concerned that the plastic lid that is exposed to the hot water interior of the kettle was made with toxic plastic. I called Brentwood up and asked if the plastic used was BPA-free? The customer service told me that NO it was NOT BPA FREE! So please people do your research and always call the manufacturers when you have any doubts. Corporations often don''t care about the safety of their products for the consumer and will often cut corners at the public''s expense. Of course in a perfect world these corporations would be more highly regulated and suffer more severe punishment than just paying fines. It is actually quite evil that they can make decisions to poison the consumer just to make a buck.

BPA PLASTIC is known to release TOXINS when exposed to high temperatures and these corporations know this. Don''t buy toxic products from corporations that bite the hand that feeds them.

Help make this a better world by demanding these corporations comply by honoring and respecting the people who buy their products by making them safe and toxin free. If these corporations want to be treated by law as individual citizens then they should suffer the same punishment that an individual would if caught intentionally poisoning someone.

We need a world driven by benevolence not cold corporations.

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Length:: 2:34 Mins

I have mixed reviews about the different features of this kettle. Check out the video for specifics.

-----UPDATE-------

I have returned this kettle. The main reasons for me was the barely visible light, the hard to read level indicator, and the slow boil speed.

I have since replaced it with Aroma AWK-115S Hot H20 X-Press 1-1/2-Liter Cordless Water Kettle and I absolutely LOVE that kettle. It has a very clear water level indicator on the outside. It has a bright LED light and it boils about a full minute faster than this unit.

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Chemex Drip Coffee Carafe - 6 Cup Save 8% Off

There is a dirty little secret that many of these appliance companies don''t want you to know. Manual drip coffee from a simple cone device makes the best coffee. Here''s why. You need to have two tablespoons of coffee for every cup. The water must be just below the boiling point when it hits the grounds. Water which is poured in one little stream on top of dry grounds will cause a funnel effect an most of the grounds won''t immersed effectively.

The fancy auto-drip coffee makers don''t heat the grounds effectively and don''t cover them with water properly in the brewing process. If most people really looked at the back of their coffee maker and looked at where the water is kept in reserve, they would call a Haz-Mat team to clean it up.

Why get this instead of a cheap plastic cone, the filter paper is thicker with the Chemex, retains more bitter oils and the thick glass of the Chemex will keep the coffee warm enough for a second cup (I would suggest getting the glass lid for it also.

Note: I got the 8 cup version

I''ve been through a lot of coffee makers, and hated them all till now.

My biggest issue has always been cleanup! I''d leave coffee-grounds in, be too lazy to clean it up later, get mold growing in the coffee maker''s reservoir, and on and on.

The Chemex solves all these problems AND makes a stunning cup of coffee. Making the coffee takes a bit longer, as you basically have to spend about 5 minutes or so watching and pouring... however, it''s fun to do! I actually look forward to the task. You find yourself making fine adjustments to your coffee making methods every day, just to see the differences you can make.

Cleanup is where you make up for the 5 minutes of pour time... Takes about 15 seconds... Drop the filter in the garbage, rinse the chemex out, put it back on the shelf. If you use hot water to rinse, it dries instantly... No small parts, no reservoirs that remain damp 24/7 collecting fungus, no series of tubes and tunnels that can never be cleaned. And the coffee is as perfect as you make it.

I''ll never use another coffee maker.

Note, I also purchased the lid and stove grid. Helps a lot... I brew 8 cups of coffee in the morning, put it on the stove with the mesh, turn my range to low-medium, and put the lid on. Keeps my 8 cups hot and fresh all day.

Update: Well, I''ve had this coffee maker for about 8 months now, and I''m still loving it.

Update: Well, I''ve had this coffee maker for over 3 years now, and I''m STILL loving it. Works as well as it did the day I got it.

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I could never figure out why the coffee I made at home didn''t taste as good as the coffee I bought at Starbucks and other gourmet makers even though I buy high quality beans and grind them myself. The answer, apparently, is that drip home brewers just don''t brew at the right temperature. A chemex brewer is a "back to basics" system of making coffee where you pour boiling hot water directly over the grounds. You control the temperature and the special filters remove any bitterness from coffee. This is an inexpensive way to make great coffee at home. The only inconvenience is that you have to boil the water yourself in a kettle and you have to pour water into the chemex 2-3 times to make a full pot, so you can''t just walk away while it''s brewing. Also, the chemex doesn''t keep the coffee warm, so I find myself putting second and third cups into the microwave. Nevertheless, the taste of the coffee is so outstanding that I can''t bear to go back to my Mr. Coffee machine.

Read Best Reviews of Chemex Drip Coffee Carafe - 6 Cup Here

It is a very pretty maker, and coffee is made under perfect conditions. The price is good through Amazon, just make sure you use suggested filters, the other DO NOT work... (learned from experience).

If premium coffee is your "thing" and pretty is a bonus, this maker is the answer

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Some information for those considering the Chemex, the Bodum French Press, and the Aeropress...

I used the Bodum French Press twice a day for years. It makes a good, strong cup of coffee. But there are some negatives to consider.

With only a filter screen, the Bodum lets a lot of solids through. Many argue that this contributes to the complexities of the taste. The downside is that you get an unavoidable layer of sludge at the bottom of your cup. A Bodum cup of coffee also starts to go bitter pretty quickly (from what I understand, this is also related to the presence of the solids). Unlike a Chemex cup of coffee (see below), a sip of a cool cup of Bodum coffee an hour after brewing will be quite bitter.

The Bodum is a real pain to clean up. I found that the grounds had to go down the sink (difficult to get them into the garbage). The filter has three different components. Ideally, it should be disassembled and washed daily, but that''s unrealistic. I usually just rinsed the assembled filter every day and then ran the disassembled components through the dishwasher a couple of times a week. But that means that you''re using a "not totally clean" filter for a good part of the week.

For some reason, I eventually began to tire of the Bodum taste and explored other options. I first tried out Aerobie''s Aeropress. It makes a great espresso-like cup of coffee, but the volume of coffee brewed relative to the amount of grounds is a bit crazy, even when you dilute it with water to make an Americano. I just felt like I was wasting huge amounts of expensive coffee.

I purchased a Chemex several months ago, and have been thrilled with it. It makes a delicious, balanced cup of coffee--perhaps not quite as hard-hitting as the Bodum, but not wimpy either. It contains no solids, so stays fresh for hours (or even days if kept in the fridge for iced coffee). Cleanup couldn''t be more simple--throw out the filter, rinse out the glass, and you''re done. Night and day versus the Bodum. The only negative with the Chemex is that it uses large, thick filters--not great for the environment.

I also find that the Chemex is a bit of a Zen coffeemaking experience. You have to slow down and live in the moment to brew. This is not the solution for you if you''re rushing out the door every morning. Its simple design is also quite a beautiful.

Happy brewing!

EDIT (seven months later): still very happy with the quality of the Chemex and the coffee. To illustrate how much easier cleanup is with the Chemex (vs. the Bodum)--I have never once had to wash the Chemex! I always rinse it out immediately after use, and it stays perfectly clean. Granted, I should probably wash it twice a year. But try that with the Bodum.

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Austin Air Purifier Plus

Austin Air Plus and the Superblend running everyday for two years, three years and beyond in several different homes (we own 6 units)and they work. This unit is not whisper quiet but on low it will remind you of white noise piped in at your office and is not bad. Medium and High fan speeds will move the air and can clear a sudden problem. These units have been effective in negating carpets that have had too much cleaning with that dry powder,chem-dry type of carpet cleaner that never comes all the way out of the carpet and later on causes the "lung slime" problems. They offset the dust and pollen blowing in from the road and storms and seasonal build-ups, they stop the stink of the dog and the cat box, they eliminate that stinky feet smell from an old bedroom and catch the cloud of insecticide that the neighbor''s pest control man hoses around the yard. Any wonder these units were at ground-zero? Heavy use of the unit may result in need for replacement filters which although they should last 5-years sometime only go 1 or 2-years before they start blowing a funky smell (my sign it''s time to change). Replacement filters are expensive at $200 to $250, representing half the cost of new unit. The switches on a few units that had lots of back and forth switching have stopped working properly but can be sent in for warranty work. Steel case and casters is a plus for this heavyweight.

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Shark Cordless Floor-and-Carpet Cleaner Save 20% Off

It''s a little deceptive. This vac makes very little noise and the battery powered brush doesn''t appear to really be doing much. But then your floors and carpets get clean. It really does a pretty good job! It''s perfect for ''in-between'' use. I use it once or twice a week just to keep the floors in good shape.

Now for the bad news. Battery life does in fact seem to...well...suck. I''ve had this little guy for about 3 weeks and already I can sense the battery losing charge much more quickly than the first few runs. As this isn''t a powerful vac, a full strong battery charge is important.

There''s even a sticker on the vac that instructs you to replace the battery every 9-12 months. Not a good sign if you ask me.

So overall, I''m disappointed. It''s a good little vac with a cheap battery. With any luck, Shark will take these reviews to heart and really delve into improving the battery life. If and when they do, my review will go straight to 5 stars.

Update: after a total of about 6 hours of use, while rolling the unit over bare marble floors, the main drive has broken. I guess this speaks to the quality of this unit terrible?

I just bought this today so I cant tell you how wonderful it still works after many uses but I can tell you that it worked absolutely wonderfully on my very yuckie, dirty, Cheerio crumb infested (toddler in the house) kitchen floor. I will never use a broom and dust pan again. Well, maybe the broom, but only to quickly sweep the stuff the Shark can''t reach under the lower cupboards (we live in an old apt which may have something to do with that). Not a big deal. I just swept it into the middle of the floor and then sucked it all right up with the Shark. It picks up much more than the broom/dust pan method, even better than my Hoover on the "hard floor" setting! It made mopping the old fashioned not so "yuckie." Now Im starting to eye the steam mops. Here''s to no more getting on my hands and knees to clean the floors!

I also tried it out on the carpet (more crumbs!) and it worked the same. Great! This product obviously wont replace your regular vacuum, but for quick, light clean ups, and for "pre-mopping" vacuuming it does the job very well.

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Please do not buy this. Use a dust pan and a broom. If you read the reviews, the only high star marks are from those that have used the product for a short time and the low reviews are from those with a little bit of history with the product. I have found, after a whopping 2 months of working with this item that it is terrible. First off, you have to baby the battery...don''t have it charging too long, don''t let it charge too short, let the charge completely die before you charge again... and even after all of that you will STILL need to replace the battery after 6-12 months. This is a level of time commitment and care that I don''t usually put into relationships much less a piece of plastic. And what is the advantage of this needy battery? As far as I can see, not much. It is a glorified sweeper-the battery only drives the brush which spins around and gets hung up on only moderately high carpets. Then, after treating it better than my new boyfriend, it broke. First, the charge kept getting weaker and weaker, then it would die more frequently-I only have 800 square feet of space here and it wouldn''t make the rounds twice on one charge. Then the brush started working sporatically and then, the last straw, it started making a horrible loud noise. Amazing how this crap battery, that could not keep a charge longer than 5 hours, can be responsible for anything that could make a noise like that. Well, I guess I won''t have to buy that replacement battery now.

Shark should honestly be ashamed of themselves for putting a product like this out. It is disappointing when new, lasts only 2 months, dies in a drawn out and annoying way and ultimately becomes a piece of trash within a couple of months. Not only will I never buy another one of their sweepers, but I will never buy another Shark product.

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After using this product on my entire house for the first time, I find it easy and convenient. It is small enough to get under many things that are difficult for my real vacuum to reach. It is easy to carry upstairs. It seems to work fairly well on carpet, which was a surprise. I find my vacuuming is done faster.

I have many uncarpeted surfaces, though, and found it a bit substandard on those. I had to go over my kitchen and hardwood floors several times in some spots to gather the dirt/dust there. My hardwood floors have grooves between the wide boards, as well, which my regular vacuum does a great job on, but the Shark leaves most dirt in those grooves.

I did try it around the litter box, and after some repeated passes, it did pick up most of the cat litter, except any left in grooves.

The place it did the poorest was on my hardwood stairs. It really did a lousy job, which is a shame, because this is one of the places that is real pain to use my regular vacuum on.

I also felt that on some surfaces, such as the stairs, the Shark v1930 seemed to kick up a lot of dust into the air. My regular vacuum does a much better job keeping the air clean.

That said, I may keep this as my go-to cleaner and save my regular vacuum for better cleaning efforts that I may get to every two weeks or so. It''s just so easy to use. It''s also so quiet that I can still listen to the TV or music and not bother the rest of the household while using it. That''s a big plus.

We are trying to decide whether to return it and opt for the more expensive x3 model. This may be the way we ultimately go.

D. Sansoucie

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I love Shark products and have owned many Shark cordless sweepers. I sweep every day so I need something reliable. When having to replace my last Shark, I didn''t hesitate to buy another. Even though the reports / reviews weren''t so glowing about this model, I disregarded them. However, I''m kicking myself for not listening THIS MODEL STINKS! It never seems to have enough power and stops running shortly thereafter. Forget about it picking up the slightest bit on carpet. Please listen to the reviews and find another Shark.

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