Watts 500313 2-Stage Undercounter Lead, Cyst & VOC Reducing Drinking Water System Save 22% Off

• Removes entamoeba cryptosporidium and giardia from the water
• Reduces simazine, atrazine, benzene, trihalomethanes (TTHM), lindane, xylenes and more
• Reduces chlorine taste and odor
• Filters up to 600 gallons
• NSF Certified

It is strange to leave one star feedback for an item that works fine for what it was made. Yes, it makes good clean water and price is right. Why one star then? If you read about other Watts Premier products listed here, you can see that many people complain that the included manual was made for a different product. This one is not an exception. 500313 unit as actually WP-2 LCV per Watts Premier web site. Their next expensive one is WP2-BVC with designer faucet which has an electronic indicator. WP2BVC Amazon sells doesn''t come with designer faucet and is much overpriced compared to WP2LCV (500313). The Watts'' statement that 0.5 micron $33 BVC carbon filter is much better than 1 micron $28 LVC and safely cleans bacteria has nothing to do with real life. Bacteria range in size from 0.2 microns (spherical) and up to 10 microns (nonsperical species). The largest ones are from 100 microns in size. If you have bacteria in your water (the majority of drinking water violations since 2004 have occurred at water systems serving fewer than 20,000 residents) you need to boil your water and not to rely on filters with 0.5 micron holes they will help, but not much better than ones with 1 micron holes. The worst thing you need is a false sense of security you don''t really have.

OK, back to manual. The included manual (9 sheets stapled together with a staple :) is for WP2-BVC with a designer faucet to begin with. The only faucet Amazon sells with Watts units is a regular air gap one, not designer, and manual doesn''t mention that one at all. For years people complain that Watts Premier filters are shipped with wrong manual, but they still didn''t update it. Even the latest PDF manual on their site is for WP2-BVC only.

Designer BVC and regular LCV faucets have very different installation procedures. For designer one you use a screwdriver, it has white backing on gaskets and it has 3/8 lines. Regular air gap faucet doesn''t have anything mentioned, so in the middle of installation you will find yourself with a bunch of rubber, plastic and metal parts you don''t know where to insert. I spend 2 hours researching Internet how to put the damn thing together.

Another bad thing in the manual: they don''t mention Teflon tape at all. Per Watts, it is not needed for installation, period. You will need it, believe me. The manual has a horrible picture of a brass fitting in the green tube which isn''t inserted all the way, so when I tried to repeat the picture, I flooded my cabinet. Even with Teflon tape, it will take a lot of patience to make required 4 connections watertight. As another person mentioned, you may go to HD or Lowes and get real fortified 1/4 tubes to replace the included plastic ones. They have thick walls, yes, but the included end parts are pathetic and can ruin your kitchen one day (see my update below, the hose has ruptured after a month of use)

On a good note, the filter makes very good water after all, but frustrating installation process and included tubes call for one star. Watts should really listen what users are saying here and spend a few dollars to fix obvious problems.

=====================

Update, 3/5/2010.

I just found that Watts 2-PK Bio Premier 6-Month Microbiological Replacement Filter for Watts WP2BVC (Amazon sells it for $109) actually fits this LVC model. Watts states that it does not. The filter is the only difference LCV model has wich BVC Amazon sells for much more. So, when it is time to replace filter you can convert it to BVC one for no free. I will add images. The housing of my LCV system actually states "WP-2 BVC". Looks like they are trying to cut costs and made the housing universal now. Don''t buy Watts Premier 560088 filter (VOC) which is the only replacement stated in the manual. Go with microbiological BVC one. It may be helpful to clean some types of smaller bacteria and viruses VOC filter can not. The table Watts provided that LCV filter removes Lead and Chemicals and BVC is not, is false. In the manual for BVC it is stated that it cleans those as well. BVC carbon block is a 0.5 micron filter, original one is only 1 micron. It is only $4 more.

==============================

Another update LOL, you should never underestimate amount of damage you can do to your house with a ruptured water hose connected to the main water line. The inlet green hose has ruptured the night of 3/7, about a month after installation. It was so expected that it is even funny. Our cat was screaming in the kitchen seating on the table surrounded with an ocean of cold water.

I posted an image where the junky green hose has failed. The water pressure simply pushed it away leaving the end connector still attached to the supply fitting sending about 100 gallons of water into the kitchen and garage). I went to Lowe''s and got an ice maker supply hose which fits perfectly. The blue line which comes out of filter is a low pressure and should hold in theory. But you may want to replace it as well just to get rid of original plastic one.

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Ok, first off I have to say that giving products bad reviews because they come with the wrong manual is pretty stupid in my opinion. Yeah, mine came with the wrong manual too but the only difference with these things is faucet head and if you can''t figure that out then you should probably hire a plumber or handyman to install this.

This filter does what its supposed to do and does it well. I was pleasantly surprised at the flow of water that comes from the faucet. I was also pleasantly surprised at the quality of the faucet after reading some of the reviews. Its very solid except for the plastic lever but if you use it like a regular human being and not an oger it should do just fine. Install took me 10 minutes and that was taking my time. My filter came with the tubing already attached to the filter unit installed at the factory so if yours does too... DONT MESS WITH IT!! I am a contractor and know a lot about plumbing and any plastic fittings are sensitive to how much torque you put on them. NEVER OVER TIGHTEN PLASTIC FITTINGS!! If you tighten a plastic fitting too much it WILL leak or strip out. This system uses 1/4" poly pipe like that of an ice maker line for a fridge and comes with the compression sleeves and tip inserts. The tip inserts are those little plastic or brass flanged tubes and they go inside the tip of the pipe to keep the pipe from collapsing under the compression fitting. you also want to make sure the compression sleeves are facing the direction... plastic compression sleeves are often directional so the narrower side goes into the fitting or pipe and the bigger side is what the nut seats onto. Compression fittings do NOT require teflon tape or pipe dope and the tape can actually make your fitting worse if you use too much because you won''t be able to seat the compression fitting well enough to make a seal.

as far as the previous bad reviewer saying that the poly line blew out of the fitting.... its probably due to him putting too much teflon tape on it and not getting a proper compression fit.... either that or they have excessive water pressure which does happen on occasion and the only way to fix that is to have a whole house pressure reducer installed by a plumbing contactor. Excessive water pressure can also cause premature failure of hot water heaters too.

Bottom line is this is a good set up that gives you great tasting water and if you have some common sense like other reviewers you will install it just fine and won''t have any problems. one last tip... every two or three months or so for the first year you might want to check your fittings and re-tighten them if needed. I have found that after installing plastic plumbing, it tends to go through a settling process and fittings can loosen a bit over time. This may not happen since its on the cold water line but it does happen a lot with plastic p-traps since they get exposed to hot/warm water that causes the plastic to expand and contract.

Read Best Reviews of Watts 500313 2-Stage Undercounter Lead, Cyst & VOC Reducing Drinking Water System Here

I picked up this unit earlier this year due to notification of some chemical issues discovered in the water in the surrounding area. For the family I was specifically looking for a filter system that could take out chemicals from the water. After doing some research on water filters and looking at certified systems, I found this to be the best deal for our house.

The unit was pretty simple to install, in the end took about an hour to get in but I was taking my time with it. Everyone in the house now drinks only the water from the filter system. The filter takes out the chlorine as well as any chemicals that may be in the water (NSF Certified). The ability of the filter to remove lead and crypto is a side benefit.

Highly Recommended

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I installed this filter a week ago. It works well, and we are happy with it. The water tastes good, it flows reasonably fast, and the filter looks good. We got this to replace a PUR faucet filter. This solution seems more solid and out of the way.

It took some repeated assembly and disassembly until I got rid of all leaks. First, one of the hose connectors leaked. Then, after several hours, I realized the filter body itself was leaking. Teflon tape and patience helped getting the leaks fixed. However, the connectors that came with the unit were plastic. I replaced them with brass parts from Lowes.

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So I needed to get as clean as water as possible without going to reverse osmosis route as I think that''s just wasteful. I looked around at my neighborhood big DIY home improvement stores and though they showed similar products as this one on display (a dual stage unit), none of them carry dual stage systems any more. Luckily I found this unit here on Amazon.

I had no need for the included faucet, and didn''t feel like drilling a hole in my sink, plus the tubing that it comes with is a joke. I wanted to connect it to my existing kitchen faucet. I went to my local Ace hardware (also tried the big home improvement stores but none of them had anything or anyone who could help me). I took out the plastic tubing elbows and replaced those with "3/8 to 1/4" connectors. Also picked up a "24inch 3/8-IN 3/8-OUT" faucet supply line (your size/needs might be different). With those items and a little bit of teflon tape, I connect the system to my existing cold-side kitchen faucet. Water pressure did drop some but for me it''s very acceptable. My kitchen sprayer still works but if just using cold water pressure is a little low, just by turning on the hot-side too pressure is back to normal.

So I highly recommend this unit. Filters are easy to find (accepts most standard 10-inch drop-in filters, found at local hardware stores). I see no reason why it shouldn''t give me years & years of reliable service now that the weak parts of the system have been upgraded to quality parts.

Just FYI, this is the same as the Watts WP2BVC Premier Two-Stage Microbiological Purifier Water Filtration System but with different filters include. The microbiological filters work just fine with this unit.

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BISSELL Spotbot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner Save 27% Off

Summary: A real time saver for cleaning the numerous spills stains and messes from kids and pets. Semi-Automatically (see details) cleans vomit and other unpleasant messes.

We have 3 kids (ages 2, 4 and 7) and 2 cats. One of our cats (Pukey cat, AKA Natasha) is a Siamese and vomits regularly. Our youngest is potty trained but still doesn''t fully comprehend the concept of wiping one''s behind on toilet paper. Need I say more? We''re using this thing perhaps three times a week.

This device is a bit larger than you''d expect. At approx 8"x16"x16 it''s about as big as a small canister vacuum.

It cleans an 8" circle with each cycle. This is typically good enough, when a mess is just larger, I find that it''s easier to use the hand attachment (which also has a sprayer) to clean the "outlier" than to run another cycle. With a fresh pot of cleaning solution and an empty collector, it will run 4 cycles. Although it has a "Surface stain" and a "Set-in Stain" cycles, I have yet to find an organic stain (Vomit and stuff from the other end) that needed the "Set-in stain" cycle (which scrubs for six minutes instead of three.) We''re pretty good at keeping food on the tile and hardwood floors so far.

The carpet we''ve used it on are the very short berber (Basement) ~3/8" and 1/" nylon carpet, all light colored / off white. One is a "twist" carpet, the other a pretty standard style

Here are some tips for using it:

1) Use warm water to help soften dried on stains. This one doesn''t have an automatic heater (there is a model that does)

2) Don''t feel like you need a lot of cleaning solution. The warm water gets out most organic stains on the first try.

3) After each cycle the circle is pretty wet. Use the hand hose to suck out the excess water.

4) Rotate the upper cord stowage hook to quickly remove the cord all at once.

5) Be careful where you put it when you''re done you''re supposed to be able to leave water in the (clean) water tank and it''s not supposed to leak but we have found that occasionally it will drip or leave a few tablespoons of water on the floor. Some of this is probably residual water in the hoses. We wouldn''t want to leave it on a hardwood floor where this might be an issue.

A couple of minor complaints:

1) The hand attachment isn''t the easiest to remove and re-attach. It would be nicer if the button was larger.

2) The cleaning solution tank is no terribly stable. Be careful not to tip it over before putting the cap on Don''t ask me how I know this.

3) The unit is pretty big and storage is always tight

4) Despite the "Microban" the hose still gets a moldy/mildewy layer of crud super nasty. We run a pint of hot water with a little bleach through once a month. Run it through 3-4 times while vigourously shaking the hose and it breaks all that crud off. Then rinse.

I received this through the Amazon Vine program, if you found this review helpful or have questions or comments, please let me know!

As a dog breeder, I needed something to pickup the occasional "oops" on the floor. I had originally had a Little Green Spot Machine. I didn''t like that you had to use the hand brush, but I REALLY objected to the fact that when you cleaned organic messes, it stunk so bad you couldn''t have it in the house with you, no matter what you did (baking soda) etc.

Bissell finally got it right! The dirty water tank is treated with microbicide--stops that awful smell--and I believe the formulas have some special fresheners in them, because there is not any kind of a smell anymore. Hooray!

I also had a couple of spots of "carpet of horror" near my desk--red wine, chocolate and coffee, cigarette ashes and probably a dog mark too, all together--since the dogs would go up into my desk chair and try to have a "drink" of whatever I had. Clean on the first try! My goodness.

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I purchased a Bissell Spot Bot last month and I have two cats and a puppy and we are using the spot bot 2-3 times a week. I love it and it really works, on set-in stains and surface stains. Yes, it leaves "crop circles" in your carpet, but if you use the hose after you clean the spot you can pick up more water and you can also brush the carpet so you can''t see the circles anymore. If you are doing large areas or more than 4 spots you may get tired or adding and empty the water. For the 3 minute cycles you can do about 4-5 before you have to empty and add new water.

Read Best Reviews of BISSELL Spotbot Pet Handsfree Spot and Stain Cleaner Here

We have had a SpotBot for years and just replaced it with this newer model. Apparently this is the new, redesigned model of the previous model, which Amazon now says is not available. In some ways, we like the older model better The new "C" shaped formula container is harder to handle and holds less liquid. But this device is a real time and money saver. We have two Boxers and they are pretty well housetrained, but occasionally we have problems unexpected vomiting here, an overnight diarrhea there and you are looking at significant carpet cleaning bills, even if you go through the inconvenience of renting a machine at the grocery store. With SpotBot, the problem is solved in less than 5 minutes (10 if you have to mix up the formula). For "just happened" surface stains, the Bissell Pet Formula seems to work OK, but the 2-formula, OxyGen2-based mixture seems to work better for set in stains that somehow missed your detection for a day or two (on the back side of the dining room table, for example). Pick up any solids with paper towels (which we put in a Ziplock bag before we throw in the trash, to avoid odors) and put the SpotBot to use and like magic, your carpet generally looks like new. A stubborn stain might take a back-to-back second application. My wife loves this machine and would not be without it as long as we have dogs. When you need it, you really NEED it! One last tip: Shop around locally for the SpotBot. We found it on sale in a local big box store for half of the price being asked here!! Sorry, Amazon!

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We have 2 cats and a dog and well they have accidents every one in awhile. This is our 2nd SpotBot. The first one died after 3 years of solid use and just wouldn''t suck up the water anymore so we instantly bought another one. The new design is AWESOME and kinda of glad our other one product as this one seems to be build a little better.

The SpotBot works every time and I can honestly say it removes each and every stain with ease. It is so easy to use, you just fill up the container with water and the cleaning solutions, touch the right button and let it do its thing. Come back when you hear the beeping and the carpet is cleaned.

The only two negatives I can say are the cleaning solutions are not cheap and sometimes you might want to use the hose to clean up excess dampness.

If you have pets and been looking for a product like this, you will NOT be disappointed....this thing works.

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Pur Single Replacement Filter for Pur Plus Faucet-Mount Filtering Unit

• Replacement water filter for Pur''s Plus faucet-mount filtering unit
• Yields healthier, better tasting water; reduces lead, chlorine, pesticides, and other particulates
• Fits Pur models FM3000, FM3500, and FM3550

Awesome. Wonderful. Superb. I Love it. It is simply the best. I am tired of writing reviews that have to follow Amazons inane rules on length s for right now if I like something this is the review the product will get. Stupendous.

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Cuisinart DGB500BK Grind & Brew

I''ve been using this coffeemaker daily for about 9 months. I''m not completely satisfied with it.

The positive: It does what it''s supposed to do, most of the time.

Cons:

It''s a real pain to clean. There are six parts to clean after every pot of coffee. The worst is the two-piece grinder assembly. Due to the complete absence of venting and valving, by the end of the brew the entire grinder assembly is soaking wet from condensed water vapor. This means it is coated with a fine mud of pulverized coffee. The grinder assembly has plenty of annoying nooks and crannies; cleaning it means standing there with a few paper towels, jamming them into the crevices to get the old coffee out. After that, you have to clean the filter holder, the filter holder lid, the pot itself, and the pot lid. The pot lid is annoying, requiring two hands to remove I usually drop it once a day or so.

Fit and finish. Once you''ve passed the plastic parts through the dishwasher once, they never fit quite right again. About once a month, the filter holder pops out during brewing, spilling hot coffee all over my kitchen counter and floor; the cleanup from this invariably scatters wet grounds everywhere.

The machine ships with one tiny charcoal filter. Once it''s done, where do you get another one? I don''t bother; I just use Brita-filtered water to begin with.

The hot water jets out onto one spot, drilling a hole in the grounds, and then quickly fills up the flat-bottomed filter holder, floating the grounds and making a soup which then slowly drains. This isn''t the optimal way to extract coffee.

Bottom line it does what it''s supposed to, most of the time. Bad design, however, shows itself in the areas of cleaning, brewing, and operation (including occasional kitchen disasters.) I''m in the market for a different unit.

After being a long term Krups owner (my Krups carafe broke after 12 yrs of dutiful service), I recently purchased a 12 cup Cuisinart Grind & Brew. I always thought my old 10 cup Krups made a decent cup of coffee when using freshly ground beans. I initially shopped for a replacement Krups.

To me, the newer Krups models seemed flimsier than my 12 yr old model. The round carafe seemed problematic (and i''ve read that it is problematic.)

So I eyed the Cuisinart. I selected this Grind and Brew model because i was tired of getting coffee grounds all over my floor every day. It was a terrific decision.

Cuisinart has made the total "set it and forget it machine." At night I put my whole beans in with water that Cuisinart kindly filters and in the morning I get a fantastic cup of coffee.

I ONLY MENTION THIS ONE POINT: The machine has a "1-4" cup setting that will make sure the coffee is HOT when making small amounts. The manual says use this feature when making 4 or less cups. I use this feature every day when brewing my regular 6 cups. The coffee is and stays piping hot.

The machine seems to have many parts but it''s quite easy to clean. The charcoal filter in the water reserve is a plus. And the automatic shut off can be adjusted 1 4 hours.

The manual is easy to read and understand. I''m completely "machine phobic" but found the Cuisinart Grind and Brew easy to program, operate and clean.

I''ve used this machine for several events so far and have gotten rave reviews for taste and quality of the coffee.

I hope to have this machine longer than my Krups!! I LOVE IT.

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This is a great machine if you enjoy weak coffee. My wife prefers a strong cup however, and she seems barely satisfied with the results I am getting by filling the hamper with dark-roasted beans to make only eight cups of coffee. In theory you can make 12 cups of coffee with this machine, but they are 12 rather weak cups, which is fine for many people, myself included.

There is a bit more cleaning involved in setting this contraption up every night to produce freshly ground beans in the morning than there is when you grind your own beans the night before. Although I am not a particularly fastidious person I find I enjoy the process however. At the risk of stating the obvious: the reason you buy this machine is so the grinding happens automatically immediately before the coffee is brewed, first thing in the morning, before you''ve had your first cup of coffee. If that isn''t worth a little extra effort each evening before going to bed, or if you don''t mind getting up and grinding beans and brewing your coffee first thing in the morning, then there is no reason to buy a "grind and brew" machine in the first place.

You certainly would not want to buy this coffee maker for use in an office kitchen, for example, or anywhere else where you might want to make more than just one pot early in the morning.

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We''ve owned this machine for about 1 1/2yrs and bought them as gifts for two couples last fall. Having run this same coffeemaker over 400+ times, I would like to rebut some of the complaints often seen here.

[Electrical problems} None of us have ever had or heard of the hot plate problems I saw mentioned. It could have been damaged at any point of the shipping & handling process. As for the "friend" having the exact same problem, if the problem is so prevalent then why are they getting a new replacement from Quisinart?

[Cleaning] I hate to break the shocking news but..... you do have to clean your coffee maker. Yes this unit has a few extra parts. That''s because it has more functions, which is the reason we bought them in the first place. Every part is removable or accessible and therefore, cleanable. One reviewer in particular complained vehemently about the cleaning and then mentioned switching to a vacuum pot which has even more parts than a grind & brew!?

[Components] One most often mentioned is the slide out filter basket. It is on a rail system that can get gunked up when moisture and bean dust combine. So here''s a simple solution: vegetable oil and a Q-Tip. Apply it to the rails and voila! It slides out like a dream for 1 1/2yrs and counting.

The reasonable price, extra features & functions and its space saving design make for a sensible choice if a grind & brew machine is what you are in the market for. If a coffeehouse quality cup of coffee is what you want, you''ll have it.

I just get the feeling alot of people are just too busy to be bothered by having to clean and maintain. If that''s the case and you were smart enough to research first, don''t but it.

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I carefully read all the Amazon reviews for this machine before I purchased it last month. I was sold on the grind & brew concept and I ignored the complaints that the grinder was hard to clean and also produced a mess that was the result of the steam getting back up into the grinder. I wish I paid attention!

After one month, I am returning the machine to Bed, Bath & Beyond tomorrow. I faithfully cleaned the coffee maker every night but was unable to effectively clean out the mechanism that releases the basket. After just a few weeks, the coffee mess clogged up the drawer slides, making it almost impossible to get the coffee basket out. I read in other reviews here of people using steak knives to try to clean it out, since the mnufacturer failed to make this job easy. This is an inherent design flaw in the coffee maker and it should be pulled from the market. I emailed Cuisinart about this problem and they have failed to respond. I did look into the Melitta Mill & Brew coffee maker, and according to the Amazon reviews this problem is not evident. In fact, most of the reviews there are 5 stars.

I just ordered the Melitta Mill & Brew tonight and it looks promising that I will not have the same nightmare I experienced with Cuisinart. Heed my words, you will regret buying this model!

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Rive Savoy Glass Water Bottle Save 3% Off

I''ve been stalking this bottle on the internet for over a year hoping the price would go down, but finally caved after seeing that the price will never drop. 25 dollars for a bottle is a bit high and I''ll be incredibly sad if I ever got a crack in the bottle.

Review on the bottle:

1. This bottle is absolutely beautiful and I''ve gotten compliments from basically everyone I know.

2. I was a little disappointed to find that the trees and birds are actually painted onto an etched glass bottle, because for some reason I thought that the design was somehow normal glass that did not get etched. I''m unsure about how easily the paint scratches off since I am extremely careful with it because I''d rather not see the paint chip off.

3. The fact that it is a glass bottle leaves my water tasting like actual water, minus the plastic and metal taste from other bottles.

4. It is a very heavy bottle when filled up. Be warned.

Review on the cap:

1. The moment I received this bottle, I performed a leak test by putting water in it and shaking it up. Water does leak out of the cap if you shake really hard because it seeps through the turning/locking function of the cap. I didn''t return the bottle, though, because who really shakes a bottle up that much. For all intents and purposes, when you flip the bottle upside down, water does not come out. Don''t walk around with the bottle on its side, though, because the sloshing of the water back and forth when walking will cause it to leak. It''s better to keep the bottle upright.

2. The design of the cap really does change the way you drink water. I no longer unattractively engulf my water like a person lost in the desert would. You can certainly try, which I have, but you kind of just get water in your nose.

3. I was really uncertain about the turn-locking function of the cap. It works, but it is also kind of difficult to work with. For one, you unscrew the cap to refill it by turning the entire cap counter clockwise. You also open the locking function of the cap to reveal the hole to drink water by turning the upper portion of the cap to the right. Many times, I end up taking the entire cap off when I try to release the hole that lets water out. It''s kind of annoying. Also, when you turn the cap back to close the hole, you might end up over-tightening your bottle thereby making the actual removal of the cap to fill up or wash the bottle very difficult. It''s a good cap, but I wish it weren''t so difficult sometimes.

4. On something completely unrelated, I know it is my own fault for flooding my backpack . . . Make sure to check that the opening on the bottle is shut before you put it in your bag. It''s less obvious since the cap is always on the bottle, and I''ve ruined a few things because of this water bottle. It might be smart to leak-proof your bag when you first get this bottle. :)

Overall, my superficiality has led me to keep this bottle. I know that there are other glass water bottles out there, but I knew that if I purchased one of the other ones, deep down I would still want this Rive bottle because of how pretty it is.

I dig this bottle. The design is my favorite out of the Savoy collection. I receive compliments on it all the time from people passing by my workspace.

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I was so excited about this bottle for all the reasons the other reviewers have noted. When my two-year-old dropped it, I replaced it and bought three more as gifts. While my first bottle didn''t leak, the next four did. I returned those for four new bottles, of which two leaked. So my track record on this product is six out of nine that leak, which has to be a design flaw as opposed to a user error.

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Sorry, but I just got this bottle and I''m sorely disappointed.

I thought that the protective cover would be all over the entire exterior, but it''s not.

Only the tiny gray piece on the very top and bottom are either rubber or plastic.

The entire rest of the bottle is just frosted glass! This means that if you dropped it the wrong way,

it would shatter in the middle!

Also, IT LEAKS!!! I thought maybe I hadn''t closed it tight enough but I tried it several different

times closing it as hard as I could and the darn thing still leaks!

Forget about throwing into a bag or something. I did that and it leaked all over some important papers.

Unless you keep it totally upright, it will leak all over everything.

For the money spent, it definitely wasn''t worth it. I''m keeping it because it''s too much of a hassle and

too much expense to send it back but I''m just gonna leave it upright in the drink compartment of my car.

That''s pretty much the only thing it''s good for. Or I guess you could use it as a decorative vase, but they shouldn''t

sell this thing as a water bottle. A water bottle in my opinion, should NOT LEAK when closed!!!

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I was so excited about purchasing this bottle because of its gorgeous art and sophisticated (and slim) design and the fact that it is glass and won''t leave my water tasting like its container. I just received it and tried it out, and made sure the lid was tight. Let''s just say that when the drinking spout is closed, there were no problems with leaks. However, when I opened the drinking spout and tried to take a sip, the water spilled down the front of me. I tried tightening the lid again (as other reviewers had mentioned) to no avail. I was bummed about this as I was really looking forward to having such a beautiful water bottle.

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All Purpose Cleaner Spray+Wipe 32 Ounces Save 1% Off

After trying numerous natural cleaners, you begin to realize that many are all-purpose, but some just won''t do every task. If you run out of one cleaner, you can''t always use another to do the same task. With one bottle of Bi-O-Kleen, you can literally clean everything in your house. This product will even clean mirrors to a streak-free shine. You can use it in the kitchen, bathroom, on walls, for carpet cleaning, to remove laundry stains, clean stainless steel and chrome, shine up plant leaves and even clean toys, RVs, Cars and Boats.

Ingredients: Surfactants, wetting agents and degreaser from coconut, grapefruit seed and pulp extracts, cold pressed Valencia orange oil, linear sulfonate and filtered spring water.

This is a very safe cleaner and I feel good about using it on the floors and counters. I''m always worried about cleaners being used around my cats, but with this one, I don''t have to worry because there are no harsh fumes. I used to have to lock the cats out of the room I was cleaning, but now they happily sit at the open door, watching me work.

Added Bonuses:

Guilt-Free Cleaning Won''t harm rivers, streams, plants or wildlife.

Safety Factor Won''t harm vinyl, stainless steel, painted surfaces, chrome or porcelain.

Non-Flammable unlike other orange cleaners

Neutral PH

No Animal Testing

I love that I can use this on mirrors! It won''t cause you any respiratory problems like other glass cleaners can and I think it cleans glass perfectly.

~The Rebecca Review

I have been trying "greener" products for a few years, but I haven''t been to terribly successful. This All Purpose Spray and Wipe Cleaner delivers! It cleans everything without leaving a residue and it doesn''t have a strong scent (a big complaint I''ve had with a lot of the products I''ve tried). My husband and my kids even noticed what a fantastic job it does. Finally, a product that works as promised and that I can feel good about using!

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this is a great natural cleaner that doesn''t affect my chemical sensitivities. no fumes and works well!

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OK the cleaner itself, I give 5 starts. It is indeed all that and a bag of chips so to speak.

However, I''m sensitive to salicylates and something in this gives me awful respiratory reactions when I spray it. "Chemically sensitive" does not mean that every non-toxic, natural thing is OK (I''m allergic to aspirin, so aloe is a problem, etc.)

That isn''t the fault of the cleaner; the 3 stars is because if you''re having it shipped, buying the spray is silly. Much better to buy the 32 oz concentrate. Then you can mix it in a spray bottle at home, and you can use it in different strengths for different tasks.

OR, if you''re like me, buying the concentrate and not the spray means you can dilute it in a dish and dip the rag in -no spraying means no inhaling. Since it bugs me I wouldn''t want it in the air around my pets or baby.

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Allergy Machine Air Purification System Save 17% Off

I have severe chemical sensitivities. I''ve tried almost every filter on the market that is supposed to take fragrances, etc. out of the air, but I''ve found none that lives up to their promises like the ones with the carbon filters by Austin. I have this in my home and it is certainly worth every penny I spent. Any perfumes or other fragrances that enter my home are taken care of pretty efficiently by this. For my 1100 sq. ft. home I keep this one in my bedroom and the Healthmate plus (also by Austin Air) in the living room and together they really keep the air clean. In fact, I usually cannot tell if there is a skunk nearby unless I open a door or a window...and my house is certainly not air tight.

The main difference between this one and the Healthmate Plus is that the Healthmate Plus works the best on chemicals/fragrances in the air where this one is a good all purpose filter that also takes fragrances out of the air. This is why I keep it in my bedroom I have a dust allergy and while the Healthmate Plus is certainly good at taking dust out of the air but we chose the Allergy Machine for my bedroom.

There are three settings, low, medium and high. High is pretty loud, but not an irritating sound; low isn''t too loud, but it is certainly not silent. You don''t hear the motor, rather it is the airflow coming out that makes the sound. It is, what I consider, a gentle "white noise" sound.

It has wheels (they don''t lock) that move very well and I''ve never had one fall off. In fact, I find these machines very well made not shabby and I''ve had them for five years. They are made of metal and not plastic and I''ve never had to air one out.

If you buy this for chemical sensitivities make sure it is the one with the carbon zeolite filter. If it is missing that one (and therefore about $100 cheaper) the other filters can become contaminated with fragrances and don''t air out quickly. We accidentally didn''t order the right filter the first time and found out the hard way; after days of airing one out outside with the filter running on full it didn''t improve. We then ordered the carbon zeolite filter and were pleased that my husband didn''t have a hard time taking this apart to replace the filter; it wasn''t completely easy as the filter isn''t really light, but it was certainly doable.

One thing you should do is to vacuum the holes on the outside once in a while because they will start getting a little clogged up with dust after a couple years (or less if you don''t vacuum or dust often).

The filter is good for four years and if you contact the manufacturer before then needing a new one (we use ours ALL the time and so needed to replace ours after three) they will, as of a few months ago at least, prorate a replacement.

Overall, I''m very pleased and would highly recommend this.

I fell for it but it''s absolutely all hype! Machine has all the filters for every possible air problem...bound to make the air cleaner, right? Designed for 360-degree "intake", which sounds good, but I challenge anyone out there to demonstrate the efficiency of it. After reading reviews on lots of air purifiers, saying they do nothing more than make a lot of noise, I believed the hype on this one and paid the high price. Used it for a couple weeks and could not see that it was making any difference, tried to prove that it was. I set the unit, operating on "high", in middle of room with afternoon sun shining through windows. Sunlight illuminated tiny dust particles, not visible otherwise. Observed that the machine had no effect on dust particles in ambient air at all, not even those nearest the unit, except in front of the air outflow. Then lit a candle and held it a foot away from the unit on the side opposite the air outflow, blew the candle out and watched the smoke gently float toward the ceiling. Word of caution: This unit is expensive (your cost) to return in order to get your money refunded.

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This product is excellent and keeps the room clean and has three speeds very effective...would recommended it to anyone looking to keep their household air clean and fresh. Very durable construction..no weak plastic..solid metal.

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Austin Air Machine is a great purchase. It is a little bulky. One of the wheels was slightly bent on the frame. There was a sticker on the bottom of the filter that said "hema" filter instead of "hepa" and made me feel like I bought a foreign product or one made by FEMA!!

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this filter has performed admirably in the two years of use that i''ve had. i bought it new, and it has run ceaselessly since then.

if i could ask for any improvement, i''d want it to be a bit quieter at full speed. but i leave it on low all the time anyway, so it doesn''t matter.

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Jura 13421 ENA4 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center Save 46% Off

I lived in Switzerland for four years and while there my standards for coffee changed quite dramatically. Hence on my return to the US my first purchase was this machine. While I was living in Switzerland I went through two Nespresso machines which were a pain in the patootie to keep descaled and operational. Both were hosed by the time I left. I was impressed with the Jura machines owned by Swiss friends and neighbors. I have had this machine for 8 months now and have never regretted my decision to purchase it. It is smart enough to tell you when it needs cleaning and the instructions (unlike the Nespresso machinges I have owned) were very clear. Cleaning is automated and a snap to accomplish. Just initiate the program and it will be through by the time you finish doing the breakfast dishes. The one downside is that it is quite large so you will have to devote quite a bit of counter space to it and if you are big coffee drinkers you will also have to fill the rather small water reservoir quite often but other than that the machine is a dream and if you buy the right beans (hint: buy Lavazza beans here on Amazon on auto order VERY economical) you will have lovely coffee moments. No need for ''bucks unless you want WiFi.

I''ve had the jura for 4 months now and previously owned a gaggia automatic expresso machine and have made over 200 lattes so far with the jura. I love the small size of the jura, the coffee is great once you adjust it to suit your tastes. i like the fact that everything is automated and being warned stops me running out of water half way through an expresso like i did with the gaggia. it is easy to clean and is a great machine.

There are two flaws which is why I''m giving this 3 stars. Firstly the milk frothing wand comes lose and when it does sprays milk and stream over nearby surfaces and you. At first this happened rarely and i put it down to me not having the wand seated securely, however after 4 months of making lattes i check before every coffee and the wand will no longer stay on long enough to do enough milk for one latte. this is very annoying and potentially dangerous as steam and hot milk tend to go over your hand. The second problem is the water tank, it is fairly small but is around the back of the machine so if you have the machine on a kitchen surface with a cupboard above it is awkward to get the water tank out and more awkward getting it back in when filled with water.

would i buy one again? not sure have complained to jura and will see if they can fix the problem with the wand. I suspect it is a design flaw since I''ve seen other people also complain about this. if you are using mainly for lattes like me I wouldn''t buy this model.

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After weeks of research we ended up selecting the Jura-Capresso ENA 4.

I was a bit skeptical that this small little super automatic could really replace our larger manual and brew quality espresso. I went to a local retailer and was fortunate enough to be able to use a demo unit. I was amazed by how simple and intuitive the ENA 4 is to use; while at the same time provides a level of flexibility and control well beyond my expectations.

The Jura-Capresso site has some great video demos as well as other info that is worth checking out.If you''re looking for a super automatic, I highly recommend you take a look at the ENA. Our unit has exceeded our expectations. Great espresso and lattes!

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This is our second Jura Capresso machine, and, although we''ve only had it for a few weeks now, we couldn''t be happier with it. We bought it to replace a Jura Capresso Impresso machine that we had bought here on Amazon about a few years ago that just gave out on us. Before that, we had had a Saeco automatic machine, but we''ve found that we like the Jura one better: it puts out stronger coffee, looks sleeker and nicer sitting on the countertop, and is easier to keep clean. This ENA4 also has a smaller footprint than our past two machines.

This is also easy to use, and the instruction manual it comes with is very thorough.

My husband uses just cream in his coffee and espresso, but I usually drink mine as caffe lattes. For such, I use either skim milk, soy milk creamer, or coconut milk creamer, and it has steamed all three beautifully, leaving me with wonderful foam, if I desire it.

One big piece of advice is that when you have an automatic machine like this, you shouldn''t use oily or greasy beans. We buy beans from a local coffee brewer or stock up on the Lavazza Super Crema Espresso beans and get them on Subscribe and Save. Using the proper beans will ensure that you have a nice crema on the top of your coffee.

The upkeep of the Jura is also more expensive than that of a Saeco. The cleaning tablets and Clearyl filters you have to buy can add up, so just know that upkeep of this machine is another cost to factor in. I think we have to replace the filter about once every three to four months, that is with us making about five to ten shots of coffee/espresso each day.

Several other reviewers commented that the water tank is pretty small on this machine, and that is definitely true. I usually have to fill it each morning, but it''s not too much of a pain. Since the tank sits at the back of the machine on this model, though, you''ll need to be have room to slide it up and out of the back area.

A few other reviewers mentioned that this makes weak coffee, but I don''t agree at all. The type of beans you use makes a huge difference, and we''ve found that the Jura makes cafeor restaurant-quality espresso.

Additionally, be very careful when cleaning the dredge drawer (with the grounds in it) that you move the steamer wand out of the way. I accidentally bumped the one a few days after we''d gotten this, and didn''t realize that it had come dislodged; when I went to steam my milk, the bottom blew off, shooting out hot steam. I noticed that in a comment to another review for this machine, someone left a link for how to fix this.

Overall, we love our Jura! It''s one of our more expensive household "toys," but, if you''re serious about your coffee, you''ll love having one of these coffee centers. After all, it''s the little things in life that make a difference, right?

I will also try to update my review after we''ve had this awhile longer.

Salut!

UPDATE ON 8/5/10: We''re still loving this machine. As I mentioned in my original review, the upkeep on it is a bit expensive, but it makes incredible coffee, is easy to use, and is simple to clean.

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The little machine works fine except for the frother wand and beans stalling in the hopper as so many have mentioned. An easy fix for the frother wand blowing off is to visit an auto supply store and pick up one or several sizes of silicone "O" rings about 1 1/2" in diameter (we brought a pack set for about $4.50 to find the right size). Loop the O ring over the top of the metal frother connection to the machine and pull the frother open and push the bottom of the ring into the gap between the two rubber parts of the open frother. The "sling" works like a charm. It would seem that the Jura people could have come up with an equally easy fix.

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Bryant/Carrier Humidifier Water Panel P110-3545 Save 42% Off

Decent price, quick shipping. I had trouble determining if this would fit in my Bryant HUMBBLFP1418. One other website suggested it would. It does.

You need a new one of these every year, and this is a good, cheap way to buy them. It''s a quick ship and they come undamaged.

One thing I would counsel you about is to notice there in the picture the red dot on one end of the filter. That red dot has to go up when the filter is installed. These filters have a clear red dot. Another brand I purchased did not, and I guess I installed it upside down and it made one heck of a mess. You want the ones with the red dot clearly marked.

One final thing: these things are a bit prickly. I don''t use gloves to install them, but I am careful. If you drop one of these on your bare leg, you''re going to cut yourself all up. Be careful.

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Great price. Not much else to say. You have to replace water panels to help your furnace and for this price, you can''s pass this up.

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Omni Corporation RS1-DS Water Filter Replacement Filter Save 31% Off

• Lasts 3 months or 15,000 gal

The filters work as described for removing sediment. Just what I needed for my house/well system. This filter removes the sand that sometimes pulls up from my well.

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Bionaire BCM658-U Cool Mist Tower Humidifier

I recently bought the model BCM658-U and I didn''t expect it to

be able to humidify my 18''X 20''room because of its 1.3 gallon

holding tank. But to my surprise,it easily brought the humidity

level from 28% to my setting of 50% in just a couple of hours,

and it maintained that humidity through the night and well into

the afternoon before I needed to refill the tank. I was really

surprised at how it does a great job and it''s small and easy to

set up in a corner somewhere. I didn''t like the awkward way that

you have to hold the tank to refill it, but that''s a minor complaint

Fred G

Alpharetta,Ga

I''ve owned my Bionaire BCM658 for a year now just after I had bought a Vornado HU1 a few weeks prior. It wasn''t until I got the Vornado that it was apparent I needed a 2nd unit (large house), but but the shipping time was so long that I ran out and bought the BCM658 from Home Depot. I should have just paid for faster shipping on a second Vornado. Hindsight is 20-20.

Pros:

1)Good at getting the humidity up goes through the water fast. But no better than my Vornado HU1 which is a far superior in all other respects, and was even less expensive.

2) Water tank bottom filler cap is robust and makes a good seal.

3) Noise level is not bad even on high, as long as you''re in a different room. Unit is too loud to even consider using it in a bedroom even on low speed. So the MCM658 is relegated to the kitchen, and I use the quiet Vornado in my bedroom where it''s sound doesn''t bother me at all.

Cons:

1) Water tank is a ROYAL PAIN to fill a real issue because in dry conditions you''ll be doing this at least once every day. It couldn''t be a worse design for sitting upside down while you''re filling it from the bottom cap, making it very awkward to handle. To add insult to injury, the tank is so tall, it won''t fit underneath the faucet in my kitchen sink for a full filling. I can get it about half full that way, and then have to pour in the rest from a jug or something while trying to hold it upright; a task for which 3 hands are definitely needed.

2) Humidifier sensor is a joke. Reads 25% all the time On or Off. When the humidity gets up over 40%, I''ve caught it reading 26% a time or two.

3) #2 above also makes the automatic humidity setting useless tripe also.

4) The gauge on top that''s supposed to tell you when to change filters, always reads in the red ''change'' zone. It did that new just out of the box, and still that way after changing to new filters.

5) Absolutely no instructions are available for dissembling the unit to change filters. What I found at Bionaire''s site online was the same as what was in the box; changing filters was not addressed in the documentation at all. I managed to figure it out, but only after spending hours carefully disassembling everything in sight, only to find that 95% of the work was unnecessary.

I''ve not had the problem with the filters loading up with sediment as in other reviews, but I''m using an inexpensive water additive that is effective at preventing that. I also use an antibacterial water additive that keeps the mold & mildew under control. Both those are a must with any evaporative humidifier unless your want to buy TONS of distilled water, and you''ll have great biceps after carrying it all from the store into your house .

To Bionaire:

*You might just try have a real person use your products before putting them production and shipping them out. That water tank needs a SERIOUS re-design, and would have be PAINFULLY apparent if any Bionaire person had tried to fill the water tank at their kitchen sink like all the rest of us slogging mortals.

*Leave off the non-functioning gizmo junk that''s only intended sucker us into buying it, and put your resultant cost savings into ease of use and functionality.

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I have had the unit for about a year.. one needs to understand that when buying a small room filter such as this that

it CANNOT DO A WHOLE HOUSE, otherwise it will run all the time. If you have no whole home humidifier, then you need

to get your expectations in line. This is a good one-room humidifier or supplemental one for a dry area.

The unit has an AUTO humidity level function that actually works. As far as filters are concerned, I dont think

the permanent filter claim is really valid. It is washable but I would buy extras just in case. On low setting

it''s fairly quiet.

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This unit is great, if you have a standard tub in your house you can refill the water container in about 5 seconds, and the unit keeps a large sized room a good 50% humidity no problem. The container does only hold about a gallon and a half which it goes through daily during the winter, but that just lets you know how well it''s working. It really pumps out a good deal of moisture into the air without getting the floor or other items near it wet. This unit provides a really good bang for the buck.

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We had two of these machines for one year and the permanent wick in one became temporary as it crumbled. I''ve tried to contact customer service through their web site and had trouble with the submit button. I put the number of the replacement wick in the discussion and had to take it out as it did not accept numbers. This should be fixed!!!

The unit has worked well and maintained a 50% humidity range in the downstairs. We have a second in a bedroom and that''s doing well also. However, we will order 4 replacements once we find them. Securing replacements should be easier.

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3M Filtrete Water Pitcher Save 46% Off

• 12 Cup Pitcher
• Filters and fills 5X Faster than traditional filtering pitchers
• Holds more water in less space
• Filter lasts longer, filtering two and a half times more water than traditional pitcher filters (up to 100 gallons or for approximately three months)
• Reduces sediment, chlorine taste & odor

I just purchased this pitcher today at Walmart for $20 with an attached in store coupon for $5 off. Initially, I went to that aisle with the intentions of purchasing a new Brita filter but was attracted to the "5x faster" claim on the Filtrete box. I often forget to filter my water and Brita''s filtration process is so slow and annoying to me that sometimes when Im in a hurry I just drink tap. When comparing it to the Brita I own, I saw that not only was it 5x faster but the filter is good for 100 gallons to Brita''s 40 gallon capacity. It also holds a total of 12 cups to (my) Brita''s 8 cup capacity. I took this home skeptical and determined that if it didnt meet my expectations that it was going right back to the store and to my surprise it has exceeded them. Not only is there practically no wait with Filtrete but the overall filter design is more practical. It takes up less room leaving more room for water (hence the extra 4 cups) and stays in place while pouring, unlike Brita''s sometimes. It also has an automatic filter change indicator that you push to activate. This is much more convenient than the sticker that you must slide around to remember to change Brita''s filter. Annnnnd on top of all that it tastes great! I''m not sure if it''s better than Brita because I never did get that Brita filter. But it does have a clean, pure taste. If I had to list drawbacks which arent really drawbacks more than they are differences, it would be the fact that a new filter at Walmart is about $3 more expensive than Brita''s because of the extra 60 gallons. And the design of the pitcher has an awkward fit in the refrigerator but in my opinion is much more attractive. Overall... awesome product!

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I''ve never used a water filtering pitcher before, so I was happy to see it offered by the vine program (sent free to me in exchange for my writing a review). I washed the pitcher out and pre-rinsed the filter as directed, and then filled it from our kitchen tap.

It filled really fast, which is a good feature. It''s also very large 12 cups which is great for our large family. Our family drinks a lot of water and this pitcher would be suitable in size. We also have a large refrigerator so storing it there isn''t a problem. I would have to watch the smaller kids since it''s heavy and they''d need help using it.

The taste of the filtered water is good clear, clean and odorless. But we have great water already from our well, so it''s hard to tell if the pitcher actually improved it that way. I like that the pitcher is clear so you can see if there is anything floating around in the water.

What really threw me for a loop was reading that it *doesn''t* filter out heavy metals (copper, lead, mercury), or bacteria (coliforms, e coli), or parasites (giardia, cryptosporidium), or viruses (hepatitis). To me, the main reason to use a water pitcher is to remove these items and render the water safe to drink. It says in the literature that came with the pitcher that it is not for treating unsafe water, but I was surprised to find out that the only thing it does is filter out dirt and supposedly remove cholorine odor. I didn''t expect it to make pond water drinkable, but really it does very little. I could use a coffee filter and get the same results. A little research showed me that the replacement filters are $8-12 each.

I would not buy this filtering pitcher for my family. I was imagining using it in a public campground at the spigot, or maybe in hotels when traveling. But I''m afraid I''ll be donating it to someone who currently uses a water pitcher.

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We use a Brita pitcher at our house, but we''re always up for trying something that might be better -especially a faster filter. As most Brita users can attest, you could practically make a loaf of bread in the time it takes for the Brita to filter a half-gallon of water. So I was excited to try the Filtrete pitcher, as we generally like 3M (the parent company) and their innovative designs. My review is a comparison of the Filtrete pitcher versus the Brita pitcher.

Pros:

The Filtrete is super-fast. I mean, WOW: you can run water into this baby like there''s no tomorrow, and it passes right through into the basin.

The Filtrete filter lasts longer (3 months) and has a higher capacity (100 gallons) than a Brita filter (2 months/40 gallons).

Single Filtrete filters cost more than single Brita filters: it''s around 13 bucks for a Filtrete and 9 bucks for a Brita. However, simply taking their respective water capacities into account (and not the superior quality of the Brita filter; more on that just below), the Filtrete is cheaper per gallon.

Cons:

Filtrete''s biggest downside for me is that its filter isn''t even in the same ballpark as the Brita in terms of the contaminants it removes from the water. Filtrete''s filter removes only "chlorine and sediment," as noted on the package. On the other hand, the Brita filter removes lead, mercury, chlorine, copper, cadmium, and benzine. This might not be an issue for some people, but it''s a deal-breaker for us. (Why bother buying a filter if it doesn''t actually remove contaminants from the water?) I just can''t bring myself to use an inferior filter, no matter how fast it is, when I can get healthier, better-quality water just by using a different brand.

The Filtrete''s spout is totally open and uncovered. I don''t understand why 3M let this detail slip by them. We like to drink room-temperature water and thus keep our pitcher on top of the fridge; I don''t want dust particles floating down into my drinking water.

The shape and size of the Filtrete is cumbersome, awkward, ill-fitted to the door of a refrigerator, and, frankly, unattractive. It''s shaped like a frisbee on top of a flower pot. With a handle. That''s seriously the best way I can describe it. Granted, there''s not much the 3M/Filtrete designers could have done to make this pitcher fit in the fridge any better (or look any better), because the pitcher''s shape is dependent on the huge filter at the top.

The large, frisbee-sized lid doesn''t feel secure. Plus, it''s somewhat difficult to grip, as you can only attach/detach it by a tiny little knob. You can forget about removing the lid if your fingers are wet or oily.

I could never get the filter-change activator to work. I pressed it just like the directions said to, and it never "activated" (even after I went back and tried it again an hour later, and then again the next day, and the day after that), rendering itself totally useless.

Neutral:

Neither of us could taste a difference between the Filtrete-filtered water and the Brita-filtered water.

Bottom line: With a Filtrete, you get a faster, lower-quality filter that may not fit in your fridge, with an uncovered spout, costing less money per gallon than a Brita. However, with a Brita, you get a slower, better-quality filter that will likely fit in your fridge, with a covered spout, costing more money per gallon than a Filtrete.

Honestly, I''d only recommend the Filtrete if you need a lot of "filtered" water very quickly. For us, the benefits of the Brita outweigh those of the Filtrete, so we''re sticking with our Brita for now.

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I live in an area where the tap water tastes good, so I''ve never looked to filtration to improve the taste. What I want from a filter is to remove the things in water that might be harmful -heavy metals, bacteria, parasites, etc. Imagine my surprise when I read the instructions to this filtered water pitcher and learned it doesn''t filter out ANY of those things. What''s it good for, then?

On top of that, the pitcher is incredibly top-heavy. It takes up a HUGE amount of room in the fridge, and is very difficult for children to use because it''s so awkwardly designed. Finally, because the filtered lid doesn''t actually cover the spout, the thing sloshes water around in the fridge any time it gets knocked around by an over-eager rummager.

Sorry, 3M. I usually adore your products but this one needs to go back to the drawing board!

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This pitcher has gotten some use in our house! We go thru about a gallon a day and well it was getting expensive. This has paid for itself in less than a week!

The filter lasts 3 months and the replacements are priced around $10-12. The water filters very fast, in less than 2 minutes. It removes alot of stuff. We cannot drink our faucet water because it just tastes bad. With this filter and pitcher, it tastes like bottled water.

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GE SmartWater Inline Filter System (GXRLQ) Save 7% Off

• The GE GXRLQ can be used with any brand of refrigerator and is installed inline behind the refrigerator. The GE water filter improves the taste and odor of water and ice going through your refrigerator
• The compact design fits in tight spaces
• The GE GXRLQ system has a "Twist and Lock" mechanism that makes changing water filters easy
• The GE GXRLQ water filter system comes with everything you need to install the system and filter your water, including the GE GXRLQR water filter
• The replacement filter is the GE GXRLQR and is easily replaced. Simply unscrew the old filter and screw in the new water filter

This is really nothing more than a taste filter it does a pretty good job of making los Angeles water taste good I use this to run to the water and ice maker in my fridge.

However, doing an actual water test, it does not remove a lot of the dissolved solids and minerals.

The overall system is fairly well made it is easy to change filters and you do not have to turn of the water to do so as the filter head features an auto shut off when the filter is removed.

However, the attachment to the wall is a single screw, and the connectors for the water lines are not as robust as i might like (friction fit essentially but then it IS all plastic and not brass.) this is probably better to use with plastic water line, as the flexibility of the plastic line should reduce stress at the fitting. I of course am using copper line, and thus my concern over the robustness of the fittings.

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This is a great option for a fridge that does not have a built in filter. The filter is easy to install and easy to change. Water tastes good. I bought extra long tubing and ran it up to the cabinet above the fridge through a small hole made with a drill. Now it is totally concealed and accessible with a step stool.

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This part is exact replacement as advertised and arrived in new, shrink wrapped condition. Even after shipping it still saves me money over buying it at local hardware store.

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Simply put...it works. I had that "Water Hose" taste on Ice due to my lines are all plastic. It went away immediately after installation. I only took one star away because the installation instructions lack detail on where the filter is to be placed. But it was easy if you have plastic line from the refrigerator valve to the ice-maker. Enjoy.

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Installation was quick and easy. But somehow, I did not seat the plastic tubing in the fitting properly and later that night (bad things always happen when you''re not there!) the input line popped out and the entire kitchen and nook were under water.

I reinstalled the system with greater care (and performed major house repairs) and it has worked fine for five years. I does no major filtration, but the water in the cubes and dispenser are good. Works for us. The refer. has one built in, but it costs $60 to change out yearly, or more often. I''ll take the GE. Wish the fittings were a bit more secure, though!

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Rowenta IS9100 Precision Valet Commercial Full Size Garment Steamer Save 33% Off

I recently returned the Rowenta Pro Compact steamer in exchange for this "commercial" steamer.

It certainly is a big improvement. The extra 150 watts of steaming power makes a noticeable difference.

There are several features that make this a wonderful unit. The large 1 gallon water tank is clear and easy to remove and refill. The on/off switch and the automatic cord reel are both foot actuated. There are two onboard accessories bins that keep the attachments from disappearing. The steam is powerful, plentiful and literally rolling out in 60 seconds. Also, the unit is quite sturdy.

Unfortunately, there are a few design flaws and disappointing problems. The two large wheels do not roll on my hardwood floors nor on my carpet. Instead as you drag the machine it leaves a nice trail of marks on the floor. The telescoping handles are not secured into the base of the machine and pull out when you attempt to lift the machine. Also, this unit did not come with a handy plastic brush attachment that the cheaper unit did.

Having said all this, the Rowenta Precision Valet Steamer does a wonderful job of removing stubborn wrinkle quickly and easily.

I have used a steamer (different brand) for the last 4 years minus all the nice amenities that the Rowenta IS9100 model has. Last month it started leaking which could not be repaired so I was on the hunt for a new steamer.

I was going to buy the same steamer and then I saw this Rowenta Model IS9100 Commercial one and with all the amenities and I decided to buy this and give it a try. After researching "everything" that was out there on clothes steamers, the Rowenta rose to the top of my list for several reasons. The larger water resorvoir which is fabulous! I can steam many more items now without having to stop and refill it...VERY nice feature.

The adjustable handle is also quite nice, allowing me to push it down and slide it out of the way in my laundry room. The efficient and FAST operation of this unit is also very very good. Seems like you don''t even wait a minute or so and you have HOT steam and ready to rock and roll! (As much as you can rock and roll while steaming clothes ;-) Less expensive steamers take 3 to 4 times longer to heat up, so this is a great feature. Also very hot steam...be careful ladies, this is a wonderful feature for getting out those really stubborn wrinkles, but it really smarts if you accidentally get a thumb in the way ;-)

The automatic cord rewind is another great feature. Before with my old steamer I had to wind my cord around and around and around my stand, which usually fell down anyway.

The garment rack on top is also great...just throw your shirt, sweater over the shoulder forms and steam away....then slide your hanger on and hang up...viola...done...kaput....give me the next item to steam. It rolls great and overall this is one top notch steamer.

So, if you are in the market and looking for a solid steamer...you won''t find one better than this! I love mine! (If you couldn''t tell ;-) You really will not find one better. Remember that old saying "You get what you pay for"...well this is worth every cent!

Halle'' Hudson

Spring, TX

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I have to wear business attire to work everyday. I bought this steamer with the hope that I could cut down on my dry-cleaning bill and avoid the chemicals used by dry cleaners by doing my own ironing. I was particularly hoping that I could use this to handle washing and ironing my dress shirts, which become wrinkly after a single use and dirty after a couple wears. I have a regular table iron that I have used for over a decade to iron my clothes, but it simply takes too long to adequately iron a dress shirt. I was hoping this steamer was the answer to my dilemma; unfortunately, it isn''t.

The steamer simply cannot handle dress shirts adequately, other than taking out simple creases on the flat areas of the front and back. If you have a freshly washed cotton dress shirt that is nice and wrinkly out of the dryer, look elsewhere for help. And forget about ironing the sleeves; anything other than a minor touch-up and you''ll be disappointed. If you''ve seen the video of the unit on Bed, Bath and Beyond''s website, don''t be fooled (like I was). The unit doesn''t work quite as effectively on dress shirts as the video indicates.

The main issue -as far as I can tell -is that the unit suffers from a design flaw; there is no backboard against which one can press the shirt, so one has to akwardly pull down on the shirt, making it impossible to avoid unintended creasing. Perhaps if there was a clip on the bottom that one could use to keep the shirt stretched out (like the comparable Haan unit), it would be easier to maneuver around some of the tougher parts of the dress shirt, like the sides and sleeves. But because the unit has no such feature, you have to use your off hand to pull the bottom of the shirt so that it is straight enough to be ironed. Not only is this ineffective, but it''s dangerous, as you are constantly at risk of steaming your hand (which I almost did twice on my first try).

To Rowenta''s credit, the steam hose seemed to work well and the pressure of the steam was constant. I tried the unit on some of my dress slacks and suit coats, and it seemed okay for purposes of minor touch-ups as to those items of clothing. But I''m not convinced that this limited usefulness is worth the price tag. Also, I''ve read some reviews in which users complained about the wheels; the wheels are a little sticky, but I did not have major issues with transporting the unit around my apartment (on carpet, rug, or hard-wood floor). Overall, the unit is relatively sturdy, so I wasn''t really worried about tipping the unit over. A minor complaint is that the handle where the hose is supposed to rest is also where hangers are supposed to be placed, so you have to hold on to the hose when taking items on and off.

Bottom line for me: If the unit worked well enough to serve as an adequate substitute for dry-cleaning my dress shirts, I would definitely keep it. But because it doesn''t, I will be returning it. If you don''t need it for dress shirts (other than minor touch-ups), this might not be a bad option for you.

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Simply amazing!

I was shocked to see the wrinkles disappear from my pants and shirts. I never knew how clothes could be restored so easily. Using an iron never quite got the garment looking perfect. This unit does. It was fun just to steam everything in sight from neckties to polo shirts. It is a good investment. You will not be let down.

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The on/off operating button went kaput after three and a half months of use. My only recourse is to ship it to the closest service station (that would be in Colorado: so convenient that I''m in Minnesota) for a three week wait until they can look at it.

Seriously, how much freakin'' research do I have to do before I buy something? Colorado? Three weeks? My boutique can''t wait that long; guess I''ll have to buy another one that has far better customer service than Rowenta.

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Porcelain Water Dispenser Blue Stripe Save 19% Off

This is a good water dispenser. It was easy to assemble and it is sturdy. I think it looks nicer than the plastic/aluminum units I''ve rented from the bottled water companies. Well-worth the money.

I was pleased with the turn around time when ordering this product. The wooden stand was top quality and very easy to assemble and set-up. I am quite satisfied with this product and recommend this company highly.

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I was pleasantly surprised when I received this item: It has a sleek wooden stand and also a nice looking porcelain dispenser. It is so much sturdier than the previous plastic water dispenser I owned! I am glad I switched!

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The directions are not very clear how to assemble the stand. The all important missing line is "Tap the bottom of Part B to remove bottom wooden bar, then insert Part A, replace the bar on part B". The bar that I am referring to is put together with wooden pegs. After a half hour, we started tapping on the parts, and the bar finally came loose. It reminded me of a Chinese puzzle until then. ;-).

The product is excellent and the company is A1.

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We have really bad water where we live and have been extremely pleased with our water dispenser. We shopped around and could not believe the price that we got this for. Very fast shipping. Couldn''t be happier!

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Eureka RD Style Belts Save 1% Off

The belts were amazing. They were round just like the picture, and when they are installed on the vacuum, that''s when the fun really starts! The motor starts spinning and then the belts start spinning, which cause the brushes to spin and start to go to work on the carpet. If you have never seen a vacuum cleaner with new belts, you are in for a treat, because these belts really spin. They may be the best spinning, most roundest, belts ever. Boy oh boy do they spin.

These belts were generic knockoffs of Eureka belts. They were not packaged, just put into the shipping envelope with a printed sheet written in poor English. No indication of the country where the belts were manufacutured. This sheet told you what a good deal you got by the seller choosing to buy them in bulk from the manufacturer, and not having to waste packaging material. Isn''t that thoughtful? No printing or numbers on the belts.

Genuine Eureka belts come two to a package, have the Eureka name printed on it, and have "EU TYPE RD" engraved in each belt. Also, Eureka does not sell their belts in bulk to vendors.

Don''t be fooled by the words "Eureka Style." This is just weasel wording for a cheap imitation of the genuine Eureka belts. The price sounds like a real bargain, but it''s not. If it''s too good to be true, it probably is. I don''t like to be fooled.

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These are the real deal. AUTHENTIC Eureka belts for use with the Sanitaire''s and any other of the older style uprights that have the belt running down the middle of the brushroll. I have tried generic belts in the past and most have suffered from premature failure and "burnout". Some have even cracked and broke as a result of the heat and friction created when the motor is running. It all depends on the type--and quality--of the rubber folks. There is a reason manufacturers recommend sticking with genuine replacement parts. Though generic belts/bags *may* fill the void, my experience has always been less than positive. These fit my 30+ year old Eureka upright perfectly and make it run like new once again. I also refuse to part with this machine because I firmly believe it outperforms many of the newer models on the market today. What''s more, the maintenance and design of these older vacuums are such that you can usually do the work yourself. If you understand how these vacuums work and are mechanically inclined, they are virtually maintenance free. There is literally nothing that can go wrong on these machines except the belt and the occasional light burnout. I generally need to change my mine roughly every 2-3 months depending on use. Also, carpets with tassels and loose threads wreak havoc on these things--get rid of them. They are nothing but a nuisance anyway. Overall, I''m quite pleased and hope that Eureka continues to make these available for the long term.

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My current still usable Eureka belts came inside a Eureka bag from the Eureka factory,AND each belt has the Eureka initials printed on them along with other factory info.

The belts I received in the mail arrived in a shipping envelope by themselves,no Eureka bag,AND there was no Eureka initials nor any other info printed on the belts...I haven''t used one of these new belts yet (old belts not worn out),they look and feel like they''ll do the job,but I don''t think these belts are made by Eureka.I suspect that they''re foreign made copies.

So if these belts don''t work right or last,then I''ll know why...I really don''t like bait-and-switch or deceptive ads or packaging regardless of the merits of the product itself.Nor do I want to buy imported knockoffs no matter how cheap.

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I ordered this belt for my vacuum and it turned out to be the wrong one. GoVacuum customer service researched the correct belt and offered to not only give me a refund, but send the correct belt free of charge. Very nice people to deal with and extremely knowledgeable about products. They get a A+ from me.

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Frigidaire WF3CB-3 PureSource3 Replacement Water Filter (3-Pack) Save 20% Off

• Replacement for Frigidaire filters 242069601, 242086201, PureSource3 and WF3CB
• Genuine Frigidaire replacement filter
• Quick and easy filter replacement
• NSF-certified to reduce impurities and provide cleaner, better tasting water
• Reduces chlorine taste and odor as well as sediment

You save a few bucks buying these filters in a 3 pack, which matters to most of us when shopping.

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These purifiers were sold at a great price for the set of 3, which is much cheaper than buying one-and they fit as good as the original did. I will come back for a refill. Thanks. A++

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