- Economically priced cartridge with large capacity for less frequent changes
- Provides sub micron filtration
Everpure EV9601-00 4C Replacement Filter Cartridge Save 44% Off
PUR Fm-3700 Vertical Faucet Water Filter Save 41% Off
Hamilton Beach Stainless Steel Ensemble Electric Kettle Save 9% Off
My criteria
Stainless steel with as little plastic contact as possible.
Hidden heating element.
Simple functions, the less bells and whistles the less to break
Good spout
Inexpensively priced.
What I like about this kettle:
It met all my criteria.
After brewing and discarding 4 kettle fulls there is no discernible aftertaste.
No plastic contact inside, there is a plastic water level but it isn''t in direct contact with the largest body of water in the kettle. Also, the tube for the boiling shut off is made from stainless as well, not plastic which is really nice.
Is real metal not just plasticy coated metal imitator I saw on a few of the models.
The inside bottom is a stainless plate with the heating element underneath making clean up easy.
The outside bottom is plastic and gets warm not burning hot so it can be placed onto a surface.
Slides onto the base easily.
Auto shutoff works well.
What worries me: I say worries because it isn''t a problem right now but may be a few months down the line.
The lid opens with a button which if it breaks could potentially be a problem, not to fill the kettle as the spout provides adequate room to fill it with, but to clean it.
After two brews i took the little filter out. I am using it only to heat water and only with filtered water so to me it seems unnecessary.
The switch at the bottom, it doesn''t seem flimsy per say but it does seem to be a little loose, its not a push button so I worry it may give out.
Duh, or common sense things that people seem to have an issue with:
It gets hot. Yes. It''s supposed to. Since the body is stainless steel, which is a good conductor of heat, it will be hot. The handle provides ample room to grab though.
It will be heavy if completely full. Yes, water in larger amounts does get heavy. The kettle itself isn''t much heaver than a standard coffee carafe so it should not add much to the overall weight.
It can be a bit loud. Its boiling water, the kettle doesn''t have any sound or heat insulation so yes you will be able to hear it. Honestly for me its not really a bother. The kettle sits on its own table next to my desk and I find it kind of soothing. Plus if I am heating water for green tea or white tea I can listen in and shut it off before it comes full boil.
Along those lines, if you leave water in it for some time yes the water will cool. It is not a warmer nor is it a thermos that will keep it to the same temperature all day.
Overall:
I am very satisfied with this product. I have already recommended it to several people and it has been serving me well. Its not a fancy appliance so it does its job and doesn''t require a tremendous effort on my part which was exactly what I was looking for.Researched electric kettles no end without finding a good buy with good performance. Picked this one up at Costco, trusting in the return policy.
I''ve had no thought of returning it: Heats fast, and the hot water has no taste or smell. Base is light but stays put--it''s no effort at all to set it on the base or lift it off.
Cons:
* The metal outside gets hot. Fortunately, you have no reason to touch it. The handle is large and comfortable and your knuckles are protected from accidental brushes, so the heat of the metal is not likely to matter.
* The trigger on the top of the handle opens the lid. A minor annoyance: this usually flings a few droplets of water about. If you use the trigger to open the lid just after boiling, though, those droplets will be very hot. Fortunately, there''s no reason to do this unless you''re starting another kettle-full just after finishing one. When you''re pouring normally, you''ll be pouring through the spout and the top needn''t be open.
Buy Hamilton Beach Stainless Steel Ensemble Electric Kettle Now
I went thru three cordless electronic kettles like this one and was not satisfied, but this one is a keeper, I love it, it boils water fast, keeps it hot/warm for a long time, water doesn''t taste funny, no problem with top not opening properly, it''s all around the best that I''ve used, I''ll recommend it to everyone~~~Read Best Reviews of Hamilton Beach Stainless Steel Ensemble Electric Kettle Here
I bought one from Costco. It works perfect. There is no rubber smell. I have a very sensitive nose when drinking my earl grey tea. Performance so far is just as good as the Cuisine Art that we keep upstairs which tends to break down after a year of use. We will see which one will lasts longer without breaking down.Want Hamilton Beach Stainless Steel Ensemble Electric Kettle Discount?
In fact, I picked this up from Cosco today, sure that once I got it home and used it, I would be just as disappointed in the smell and tainted water as I have been with the last 9 Chinese-made electric cordless kettles with top brand names. And I knew I could then march it back to Cosco for a full refund ($19.99). So far, so good. Light stainless, nothing elegant or expensive about this, but as long as my water makes an untainted ccup of tea I''ll be impressed & happy.Tribest SS-9002 Solo Star-II Single-Auger Juice Extractor Save 19% Off
My SoloStar II has been plagued by problems. In less than a year, many of the outer parts have broken. The juicing screen ($35.00) has broken three times. When the juicing screens break, it happens before the pulp container is even full. As a result, the auger and juicing screen need to be cleaned constantly within a session. The screen locking cap ($5.80) has also broken. Speaking of the auger, even that cracked ($35.00). Several times, I e-mailed customer service about such issues with no reply. When I called, Tribest Life promptly sent out free replacement parts.
Benefits
When the parts aren''t breaking, the SoloStar II works very well. It''s simple to assembly and operate. The actual extraction process seems efficient. Cleaning is a breeze since most of the parts rinse under the sink. The only cleaning challenge is the juicing screen. Along these lines, the modified toothbrush that comes with the unit is worthless. I now use a steel auto detailing brush that does a great job. The SoloStar II is visually pleasing and the unit operates at a good volume. I was inspired to purchase the juicer after watching the online video as hosted on the Tribest Life web page. It accompanies the juicer in VHS format. Being a first time juicer, this was extremely helpful.
In conclusion, there are benefits and drawbacks to the SoloStar II. While it may have been a good introduction to the juicing world, I definitely look forward to an upgrade. Talking to juicers (people who juice, not the machines;), it seems that you really need to spend around $350.00-$400.00 before getting a quality juicer. Should you decide to purchase the SoloStar II, make certain that you send in the warranty/registration card. That was essential in getting parts replaced at no charge.
Buy Tribest SS-9002 Solo Star-II Single-Auger Juice Extractor Now
I have to stop and comment about how much i enjoy this juicer. I am new to the juicing experience and so I bought this one based on the reviews of SOLOSTAR I. I got it, used it and was disappointed. The pulp seemed too wet. I then went to Target and bought another juicer with higher rpms. I could throw whole apples in this one and it would grind it up really fast. Not only was the "Jack L-" juicer VERY time consuming to clean up but the juice tasted "cooked" and not fresh. I then tried the SOLOSTAR again and relized I was juicing wrong. Now I have returned the "Jack" juicer and i am enjoying the SOLOSTAR. It even juiced the heck out of spinich! The clean up is all too easy and the little brush it comes with helps a lot. I read a book on juicing and there were a few factors one should consider when buying a juicer #1 ability to produce "live" juice and dry pulp #2 Cost your willing to spend #3 Clean -upIf you are looking for a juicer that is easy to clean-up, produces "live" and not cooked juice (BIG DIFFERENCE in taste and nutrient content, and is affordable (Affordable great quality machine) Get this.
Read Best Reviews of Tribest SS-9002 Solo Star-II Single-Auger Juice Extractor Here
This is my first juicer, and I think for what I spent, I received a good value. There are some flaws however, which is why I did not give it 5 stars.1) The pulp from everything I juice is almost always wet, and while I do get more juice from running the pulp through again, it is wetter than I expected it to be, given the advertisements for the high yield of juice it is supposed to produce. While you can''t help the pulp wetness with some veggies like tomatoes or any fruit with high water content, I really expected it to wring the heck out of everything and not produce such wet pulp. But, I believe that you really cannot get every single last drop, no matter how much you spend.
2) Sometimes, a good amount of produce gets trapped in the groves of the auger. I discovered this after taking it apart after a juicing. When I see it through the auger housing, I try to push it out by juicing some more pieces of veggie or fruit, but it doesn''t help. Granted, it''s not an enormous quantity, but I am sure that if the bits didn''t get stuck before they reached the crushing process, there would be a greater juice yield. Maybe in the future there will be juicers that have a squeegee type mechanism that will scrape and force every last bit through.
3.) The pulp coils out and looks rather funny; you will understand what I mean when you see it for yourself. However, it will come out 3/4ths of the way and break off, and the rest is stuck until you put something else through to push it out(which will also get stuck) or take it apart to clean it. I just wish there was a mechanism that pushed all of the pulp through. It''s really quite minor though because when you take it apart, the pulp that gets stuck is easily cleaned out.
Aside from those three flaws, I am happy with the juicer. While I am aware it won''t get every last drop, it has actually produced a large quantity of great quality juice from just a few items. The quality of your juice will of course depend on what you put in it. But, I think you can spend a fortune on an expensive juicer and not really get anything any better than this or any other inexpensive machine; granted, at $212 it''s more than I thought I''d spend for a juicer, and compared to Target or Wal-mart brands, it''s a lot more expensive, but this machine "retails" for a little over $300 so in the end it is a good value for me. It seems very sturdy and that it will last for a very long time. I am very glad I bought it because I am enjoying drinking different fruits and veggies and feel much healthier.
It does produce juice at a fairly moderate pace, at least as fast as you are shoveling in pieces for it to juice. I recommend having all of your ingredients prepared ahead of time (washed, chopped) so that you don''t let your juice sit there while you chop or wash the next ingredient. You are supposed to drink it pretty fast, at least according to the information I read on the Internet. The chute does accomodate medium sized chunks, so you will have to do some chopping, but if you are serious about juicing, it is not that big of a deal.
Assembling, disassembling, and cleaning the Solostar II is very easy. A kindergartener could do it. Once you get used to it and do it a few times you will become more proficient. I don''t know about the prior person who said it took her half an hour to scrub the mesh screen. A toothbrush is included as an accessory, and if you use it to clean the mesh screen under running water with a smidge of soap, everything comes off easily, that is, if you do it right away. If you let the mess dry, it will take more time. I always clean it immediately so it is ready for me the next time I juice. If I had to estimate how long it takes to disassemble and clean after juicing, I would say about 3 minutes, because under running water, the pulp and other mess rinses right off of the pieces of the juicer (except for the mesh screen, you have to scrub the bits out of it), and the rest of the cleaning is just a matter of using a soapy sponge and running warm/hot water through the various pieces and letting them dry on a rack.
I recommend purchasing this over the centrifugal juicers, since it slowly masticates and doesn''t create unnecessary heat that would damage the juice or its content. A centrifugal juicer would be ideal if you didn''t mind losing some of the nutritional value. The Solostar II does get a nice quantity of juice from leafy vegetables. I have never juiced wheatgrass but I have juiced cilantro and parsley and a great deal of juice comes out of a small bunch. I am assuming if it juiced cilantro and parsley then wheat grass would not be a problem. The pulp from the leafy greens, celery, and carrots tends to come out fairly dry. The wettest vegetable pulp I have seen is from cucumbers and tomatoes. Fruit wise, citrus fruits have drier pulp while cantaloupe and grapes will have wetter pulp. But if you are very concerned about a few lost drops then you can always run the pulp through a second or third time.
All said, I highly recommend this juicer if you are thinking about getting a juicer and are wondering which brand/type to choose. It has a couple of flaws, but they are mitigated by the fact that it juices everything imaginable, that it can make pasta and homogenize (although I have not used these features just yet), and that it is easy to assemble/disassemble/clean. It does work very well and is a great deal of fun to use.
Want Tribest SS-9002 Solo Star-II Single-Auger Juice Extractor Discount?
I have never written a review before. I consider them untrustworthy. Nevertheless, I am writing this one.I have had this juicer for 4 years. The filter has broken more times than I can remember. I finally tracked it and realized that it broke on the average of every six months. Once it broke after 10 days! The first time I replaced it the company failed to tell me I had a warranty on ALL parts and I paid full price. The second time they finally told me the truth. Now they refuse to honor their warranty and I am buying another juicer from another company as the filter is breaking yet once again. The rest of the juicer held up but without a filter . . . . So, if you wish to be frustrated with a second rate product this juicer is for you. If I could give it no stars I would.
Everpure H-1200 Water Filtration System EV9282-00
Buy Everpure H-1200 Water Filtration System EV9282-00 Now
Received the system within a week of ordering, but I haven''t had it installed yet as I am waiting for the countertops to be installed. The product was packed with newspaper in a box but there were no installation instructions and all the fittings and parts were in a ziploc bag. Only one of the filter cannisters was shrink wrapped and the other was damaged.Read Best Reviews of Everpure H-1200 Water Filtration System EV9282-00 Here
The product is excellent. Been using Everpure for more than a decade. In this case, I liked the dealer (through this page) who sold it, but now we seem to have other dealers who are charging way too much. Price for these should be around $150.Want Everpure H-1200 Water Filtration System EV9282-00 Discount?
10 Washing Machine Lint Traps Aluminum Mesh With Clamps
Buy 10 Washing Machine Lint Traps Aluminum Mesh With Clamps Now
I do not recommend this item. The first one I opened had some holes (tears in the mesh). The mesh appears to be somewhat brittle and not sturdy. I am a little concerned that the metal will break up during the wash. I will monitor for problems.Better off buying a different brand.
Read Best Reviews of 10 Washing Machine Lint Traps Aluminum Mesh With Clamps Here
Like other reviewers, I only received one package of 2 lint traps, not 5 like the description states. I was able to get a refund for the missing 4 packs. I''m kind of glad I only got one though, the traps were not very good. Cheap material and the mesh is too wide.Want 10 Washing Machine Lint Traps Aluminum Mesh With Clamps Discount?
I am actually using two of these traps together, since one would not really trap lint properly as its holes are not fine enough.Tupperware New Classic Sheer 1-gallon Gal. Pitcher Save 59% Off
Buy Tupperware New Classic Sheer 1-gallon Gal. Pitcher Now
This pitcher looks just like in the pictures. It was shipped and arrived by that date promised. Just what we wanted.Read Best Reviews of Tupperware New Classic Sheer 1-gallon Gal. Pitcher Here
I''ts the little things that can really drive you crazy! Well, nothing about this pitcher drives me crazy! It seals great, has a large capacity, is a stone-ax simple pitcher. I know, it''s just a pitcher, but in these days of exotic whiz bang plastics and product sourcing from 10 different countries made by companies I never heard of, this works. Rubbermaid. ''Nuff said. I need another one because when one is cooling in the fridge, I can have another one ready to go. I go through a pitcher a day of lemon/lime water so it''s worth it. I wish I could get a different color but hey, that''s REALLY nit picking.Want Tupperware New Classic Sheer 1-gallon Gal. Pitcher Discount?
This product was exactly as it appeared in the ad and it was shipped and it was received very timely.BISSELL Steam Mop Select, Titanium
It does a wonderful job in cleaning any dirt and I haven''t had a problem spots that I couldn''t get out by using the steam mop. I love that it has a triangle head so that I can get into the corners really easily. The covers (that are machine washable) work really well. I do take them off about halfway through the kitchen to rinse them off in the sink so that they stay fairly clean while I''m washing.
My only complaint is that the cord is not long enough. When doing the kitchen, I have to unplug it and move to a different plug because the cord is not long enough to reach the other end of the room. But other than that, I have no complaints and I''m extremely happy with the steam mop.My kitchen floor is textured vinyl with crevices everywhere. Nothing I tried got the floor clean in one pass until now. This little steam mop made my day! No more going over and over the floor to get it clean. The steam even cleaned out the crevices. And I, for one, do NOT miss the "clean fresh smell" of Pine Sol (gag!).
Buy BISSELL Steam Mop Select, Titanium Now
I have never owned a steam mop before and have always wondered whether it would be worth the money or not. I saw this and grabbed at the chance to own it. Upon arrival I open up the box and quickly put it together and this is with me being 8 months pregnant. If you have put this types of items together before you probably won''t even need to look at the instructions it is so easy. Most of my floor is tile downstairs and then I also have some wood. Up unto now I have been using the Swiffer. The steam mop comes with 2 pads and has a triangle shaped head. The water tank is see through so you can easily see how much water is left in it. I was a little concerned about the size but it did three rooms in my house easily and was not empty at the end. It is a light and easy to use model. The steam came out quickly and before long my whole floor was mopped. As with all mopping you have to sweep the floor first before you mop to get a good clean. I just used tap water and it worked fine. The reason I gave it 4 stars is for two reasons: 1. I would have liked a longer cord. It is not a bad length but an extra couple of feet would be better for getting around those corners without have to unplug. 2. You have to hold all the steam switch all the time while you are mopping to get a constant flow. The steam stops coming after a couple of seconds.Overall this is a great product. I am not sure I will be throwing my swiffer out the door just yet as I do miss that clean smell and also having to wash the mop heads will just annoy me at times but I do plan on keeping a steam mop in my cleaning products. I am sure that it is better for the environment and also my purse. Overall I like it and if I ever need another one at some point I would consider getting it again.
Read Best Reviews of BISSELL Steam Mop Select, Titanium Here
Wow! I am amazed at the quality of this steam mop.I admit to having never owned a steam mop before, though I am not sure why I never did. I have hardwood floors, and this mop did a fantastic job of cleaning them without ruining the staining. It also really good on lineoleum -it picks up kitchen grime nicely and it does not leave a residue. I am so excited to have received this product, and highly recommend it.
Want BISSELL Steam Mop Select, Titanium Discount?
Overall, I think this is a nice steam mop. Definitely preferable to getting down on my hands and knees with rags!The set up for this mop is easy. Within a few minutes of opening the box, I had it ready to use (it comes in 3 pieces and you just have to pop them together and then fill the tank with water). Next, I spent a couple of minutes looking for the on/off button, but after consulting the instructions realized that there is not one. Once it is plugged in, it takes 30 seconds to warm up and then it is ready to go.
I was a bit confused about the steam part of the mop at first and had to consult the manual again. Unless you are holding the steam trigger down, steam does not come out (it would just be a wet pad on the bottom). I was surprised to learn that in order to sanitize an area of your floor you have to have the mop on that spot for a minimum of 15 seconds with continuous steam.
Since I wanted to benefit of the steam while I was mopping, I held down the trigger the whole time which cramped up my hand. This is the main reason why I did not give this mop 5 stars because it does not have a setting to have the steam continuously on.
My floors looked great after mopping. I was most impressed by the mops ability to remove a paint scratch that was on our hardwood floors (I used the pad with built-in scrubbing strips for this).
Other things to note:
I read in the product description online that you can use normal tap water but in the users manual and on the tank it recommends you use distilled water to "prolong the life of your Steam Mop."
The mop pads are machine washable for reuse and have a nice bungie cord fastener for easy on and off.
The tank looks really small but I was able steam my entire kitchen without it running out.
The triangular shape of the mop head is nice for getting into corners.
It is light, compact and easy to store.
KX Technologies MATRIKX-CTO2-HD20 MatrikX Whole House Filter Replacement Cartridge
After 3 or 4 years of trial and error tinkering, this KX Filter was the final piece of the puzzle!
We eliminated nearly all odor problems with the sanitizer, and cleaned up the occasional odor flare up with tinkering(changing salt brands for cleaner salt/less brine tank maintenance; adding 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide to the brine tank semi-weekly to fight residual bacteria; adding 1 cup dissolved potash product to the brine tank per month to aid in reduction of tannins from the high mineral content of our water).
We have notoriously hard water with high iron and mineral content.
The final piece of the puzzle was knocking out the faint rusty/metallic taste, and the mild, but noticeable metallic "taint" of the water when showering.
We tried 4 different types of filters before finally settling on this CTO 20 5 micron carbon block.
Finally, the last piece of the puzzle.
We can now drink directly from the tap and the water tastes clean and fresh.
Zero odor, zero metallic aftertaste.
Also, no noticeable change in water pressure after passing through the 5 mic carbon.
5 big stars for KX Matrikx.I normally buy a 20 inch carbon block filter from one of the big home improvement stores, but like everything else they decided to stop selling them. I was paying over $65.00 per filter. The KX Matrikx filter is an awesome buy, at $47.00 and it works very well. I purchase these filters because I have the "rotten egg" smell from my well water. This filter does the trick.
Buy KX Technologies MATRIKX-CTO2-HD20 MatrikX Whole House Filter Replacement Cartridge Now
Eva-Dry E-333 Mini-Dehumidifier
My only complaint is that it is sometimes hard to tell what color those crystals are exactly..... No biggie, though just set a regular schedule to plug them in and don''t worry about it!I love the concept of these items. I have them hanging in 2 small closets that always had a musty smell. They have been there now for several days, but the musty smell has not completely gone away. I seem to notice somewhat of a difference, and hope that after several more days the odor will be gone for good. Not sure how many days it takes to get rid of the odor. One closet has less of a musty smell than the other, so I think they do work, but do take longer than I expected to get rid of the initial odor. If the odor is completely removed then I recommend, but as of right now it is just too soon since some of the odor is still present. I will give it another week or so before I come to a conclusion. I am hopeful that they will help since I have been buying damp rid, and to have to replace damp rid it does get expensive, so if these work they will save me some money. Like I said I love the concept, but perhaps they have not been in the closet long enough yet. I hope this helps someone else who is interested in pruchasing these products. I have had them in my closet now for a week or so. One closet the smell is almost gone, and the other closet may take a few extra days since it does still smell musty. I am now ready to edit my review since I have had the product long enough to charge it by plugging it into the wall. In my opinion it really does not work that well, and I am disappointed. I purchased two of these, and initially was hopful that they were working, but the closets still have that musty smell, and they are very small guest closets in my foyer area. I could not recommend these to anyone.
DuPont WFFMC103X High Protection 100-Gallon Faucet Mount Water Filtration Cartridge (pack of 3) Save 36% Off
- 100-Gallon Filter Capacity
- Advanced Four Phase Protection and Filtration Systems Improves The Quality and Taste Of Your Water
- Easy to Replace with Color-Coded Packaging
- Works With Any DuPont Faucet Mount Water Filter Cartridge
- Sold in Package of Three
tea, coffee, cooking or just splashing in!Quick ship and good product. Priced well for a combination package. Arrived exactly as described and was easy to installI WILL BUY MORE OF THESE FILTERS WHEN NEEDED AS THEY ARE RATED SO HIGHLY FOR PURIFICATION! The are easy to install too, into their handsome white faucet tank.There''s little that needs to be said about this product.
It fits my filter housing.
It filters my water and leaves it tasting and smelling better.
It works exactly as it''s supposed to, and exactly as one would expect.Got it quick and happy with it. They were hard to find and I found new ones at a surplus shop

