BestAir 3US-6 Ultratreat Ultrasonic/Vaporizer Water Treatment 32 oz.

I did a lot of searching for a product that would help curtail the white dust that is created by a humidifier. This does what it says it will, am very happy with the results. Our water is medium hard and this works great. We run the ultra sonic humidifier every night so is important to have this product which is made for the ultra sonic machines. Only a cap full per tank. I ordered 3 bottles of this, it was shipped VERY fast! I will reorder when I need more.

I am in CA & get the white dust when use the humidifier. Was optimistic about this, & it does help a little if you use double the amount, but didn''t work as great as I''d hoped. The seller was great & shipped it very quickly, just not sure if there is a cure for white dust other than a filter humidifier.

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After installing an ionizer we had the white powder and an irritation in the throat. After adding this, both were reduced. However, if I use this AND filtered water, we don''t seem to get the powder or the irritation.

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I bought a Sunbeam ultrasonic humidifier that works well except that it requires water treatment tablets in order to prevent scaling and a white film being intoduced into the room. The problem was that the tablets are almost impossible to find in stores or online. I bought this product, put two capfulls into the water tank and now there is no more scaling and no more white film on my furniture. Compared to the tablets its also a lot cheaper. No complaints on this one.

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I bought this product to help reduce or eliminate the white dust caused by my ultrasonic humidifier. It is also supposed to help prevent buildup on the inner workings of the unit. I can''t speak for the inside of the unit, but I can truly say it did not help with the white dust issue at all. I will either have to use distilled water or buy a new humidifier.

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Carbona Color and Dirt Grabber Save 7% Off

I used it in a load containing a red dress that bleeds like crazy even in cold water. Other items, pastels, even whites remained the color they are supposed to be. Cloth is thick and hefty and absorbs dyes like mad. Just Wonderful. Ad has one error. There are NOT 30 cloths. THERE IS ONLY ONE CLOTH per box AND ITs SUPPOSED TO LAST THROUGH 30 WASHINGS.

Product doesn''t contribute any fragrance to the laundry.

Product doesn''t alter the feel of laundered fabrics.

Drop it in the washer and leave it there. Easy as that!

Personally I do let it dry so it doesn''t mold and smell from being kept wet inside a closed washer, perhaps it has a chemical protection against that I don''t know, not giving that outcome a chance to arise.

I really like both Carbona''s reusable Dye Grabber cloth AND these smaller one time use Color & Dirt Grabber sheets. Both products not only help protect against color bleeding, but allow any dingy white and light colored fabrics to gradually become whiter and brighter over a succession of washes. There appears to have been some past confusion as to which of the two excellent Carbona products were ordered/shipped, but my box of 30 one time use sheets arrived exactly as pictured and described.

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I like what it does witrh the laundry, but had bought one that you reused for 30 loads and thought that was what I was buying.

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i used to use the Color Catchers, but this seems to do the same thing at a cheaper price. I only wish that i was better at keeping track of how many times I''ve used it, since it supposedly only works for 30 times.

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I can wash loads of white and colored clothing without the chance of coming out with pink underwear. New jeans and white things come out of the wash perfectly. I don''t know how I lived without this product. And don''t worry about chemicals! This product is made of lamb''s wool which attracts all the free dye in the wash. Quilters use it to get excess dye out of the cloth before cutting it. It even works with prior color bleeding. I use it in every load.

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Capture Carpet Dry Cleaner 4lb

Best product ever for cleaning carpets. Great for touching up stains and dirty spots. Just remember to clean further than spot and taper so you clean less as you go further out. Also order Pre Mist. Capture Deep Cleaning Powder 8lb

Love this product. I first purchased it at Sears. When they stopped carrying it, I turned to Amazon. The powder, along with the spray pre-treating mist, works great. We have 4 dogs and 2 cats and a light carpet. Accidents and hair balls happen periodically. Capture always rescues us. Yes, sometimes I have to repeat the process on subborn stains but I''ve never been dissapointed. Our worst experience was when one of our dogs was sick after surgery and up came this greenish black bile in the living room. I thought our cream colored carpet was ruined but Capture got up every thing after 3 applications. Note: definitely try to pick up most of the offending "material" with paper towels or a rag first w/o rubbing anything in.

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I can not say enough about this product. When used with the premist soil release spray, it will clean any stain I have ever had. I have two cats and one dog, but cleaning stains is never a worry. It works on wool as well as other carpet fibers. I have used it on upolstry as well. I have used this product since 1998 and it has never failed to take out a stain. Pet stains, wine, food stains, you name it, it cleans it up. The stain also does not reappear. It does not discolor fabrics or carpet. Simply put, it''s the best!

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I have been using "Capture Dry carpet cleaner" for years on my rental property and was getting pretty good results. Just spent and hour applying and working in "Capture" to some really bad spots which lightened them by 40%. Decided to try a can of "409 carpet foam cleaner". It took less than 10 min to apply and work in the same spots ... and at a fraction of the cost.

Wow ... I was shocked at the great results ... and it was so easy to apply.

In Summary: Capture is far more expensive compared to 409 carpet foam, takes a lot of effort to work into the carpet and does not work as well.

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The results of this product are directly correlated to the amount of intellect and elbow-grease that the user puts into the job. Given other reviews we have read some seem to expect to just be able to dust the stain with the powder, count to three, run a vacuum over it, and have the stain magically vanish.

Instead, set aside time to do the job right. Get the pretreatment mist (Capture Soil Release Pre Mist 24oz) and spray it liberally on the stain, let it soak, even use a brush to work it in a bit, and do it again if a bad stain. THEN use the powder and a brush to work it in a bit, and then GIVE IT TIME to work... maybe an hour or so... and then vacuum it up. We had one stain (copier toner spilled on a berber rug) that we let sit overnight and this stuff worked!

Bad stains might require a couple goes at it, but I can tell you that even red wine on a white carpet was no match for this stuff.

Seriously. The smarter and more aggressive your effort, the better your results will be. If you are willing to give it a good try, we recommend this stuff highly.

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T-fal BF6520003 Vitesses 1.7-Liter 7-Cup Electric Kettle Save 47% Off

I spent hours researching every electric kettle available (and looking at them in person, in stores) before settling on this one. I''ve owned it for about 6 months now, and it''s been great. The concealed heating element and the simple one-piece plastic jug design make it very easy to clean (not that I''ve needed to) and leak resistant (I assume, from a design perspective, since mine has no leaks yet). The only way it could leak is if the grommet sealing the metal bottom piece to the plastic jug developed a leak, whereas most of the stainless steel kettles being sold have several parts, many seams, and thus many places a leak could develop. There is some mild browning of the plastic inside the jug, I suppose a reaction to the high heat. This same thing happened with my roommate''s older plastic electric kettle, so it''s to be expected. People complain about plastic vs. stainless steel, I settled on plastic for one primary reason: it is a better insulator, so not only will it keep the water hotter for longer, it will be safer to handle in general (ie. it won''t burn you or a child if it is accidentally picked up by its sides while it contains hot water). People complain about plastic "leeching chemicals" into the water, I haven''t noticed any difference in taste, personally, and I doubt stainless steel would be much "safer" than plastic in this respect. The switch works great, and mine has never spilled water or over-boiled it (as long as it contains the minimum recommended amount of water). The spout and handle shapes make it easy to pour, and the locking top makes it pretty tough to spill. Definitely recommended, I''m buying another one for my parents right now.

PS While researching electric kettles, I frequently saw complaints of how kettles designed for use in the USA don''t heat water as fast as those in the UK. This is for a very simple reason: UK uses 240 volt power, USA uses 120 volts. Most electrical receptacles are rated for 15 amps (though the kitchen are often has at least two 20-amp circuits, per NEC recommendations). Watts = volts * amps, which means that UK kettles can get up to 240 volts * 15 amps = 3600 watts, while USA kettles can get up to 120 volts * 15 amps = 1800 watts. Manufacturers might sometimes avoid approaching this limit, perhaps due to safety or liability issues? Just note that this 1750 watt Tfal kettle is very close to the typical USA receptacle wattage rating. It''s just about as high as you''ll be able to get in the USA...most other USA electric kettles only go up to 1500 watts.

I got more than I expected. Which is good, because it seemed over priced when I bought it. But it was the only one I could find with a truly variable temp control. Now, I think the price was fair.

Pro''s

Variable temprature: This is why I picked this product. I wanted full control of the temp of the water.

Filtered spout: I don''t use it. Could be useful for keeping tea or any other particles in the pot while pouring.

Dock station: The pot is easily removed from doc, so there is no cord in the way when pouring.

Hidden Cord: Cord winds up inside the dock. Makes it easy to hide extra cord, if you have that luxury. See Cons :(.

Insulated: Keeps water hot for a long time.

Auto off: Turns of when it gets to temperature.

Cons

4ft cord: I could use 1 more foot :(.

Wish list:

Stay On Option: Keeping water at temperature would be a nice option. Rather than letting it slowly cool down.

Thermometer: Doesn''t tell you the actual temperature of the water. Not even an estimate on the temperature knob.

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I can''t imagine anyone not loving this electric kettle. My first one was a gift, received about 5 years ago. It''s used numerous times every day and still brings water to a boil as fast as it did for that first cup of tea. The microwave and stove lose the race to the T-Fal. Once the water is at the boiling point for about 15 seconds the kettle turns off automatically. That safety feature rates high on my list of kudos for this product. The handle is extremely comfortable, the pot is easy to fill and pour. We always take our T-Fal Electric Kettle with us when we travel(we have a 4 cup version as well as a 7 cup...I''m sorry they no longer make the small one). I''ve only been able to find them on line but believe me I never want to be without one.

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We''ve used this electric kettle about twice a day every day for over three and a half years. It''s still boiling (or, more often, not-quite-boiling) away!

The big attraction was the temperature control. Being able to set-and-forget for green tea was essential. Ignore the continuous orange arc over the dial: there are three distinct temperature settings: not-quite-boiled, boiled, and a hearty rolling boil suitable for strong black tea, pasta, and clearing drains. I''ve accidentally knocked the knob off a few times, but no matter I just pop it back on again in the appropriate position (it goes on only one way). At any rate, since we drink green tea and black tea, we use all three settings constantly so the switch itself gets a fair daily workout too and it''s held up well.

Another big attraction was the power of the thing. This electric kettle draws more power than most, but the result is a faster boil time. It can boil up a full load of water in about the time it takes me to set up the teapot. We have huge teapots, so we''re usually heating up a full 1.7 liters.

The plastic exterior does get hot to the touch, but the handle stays cool. Unfortunately, the interior is plastic except for the steel bottom, which encloses the heating element. That said, we''ve noticed no off tastes throughout its long life. Or maybe we''re just used to it by now. We''re past the age of worrying about birth defects, and as for harmful outgassing, well, we have two boys. You don''t know harmful outgassing until you''ve lived in a tent with two boys.

Actually, come to think of it and writing this review makes me remember this we really meant to return this kettle over 3-1/2 years ago because of the plastic interior, which was a deal-killer. But, we needed a kettle in the meantime. Like a mangy mutt that follows you home, this thing just settled into our kitchen and we never got around to kicking it out. For what it''s worth, it has lasted longer than two previous steel-interior kettles we''ve had, both of which fell victim to corrosion and leaked shorting out the whole device and, in one case, causing some small excitement in the process.

As for care, we might have cleaned it once or twice, probably when we were still thinking of returning it. In the past couple years, we''ve probably never cleaned it. (You: "Gross!" Us: *shrug*) We generally use filtered water in it, except when we''re boiling water to pour into slow drains or onto barbarian hordes.

I''d recommend it unreservedly if it wasn''t for that plastic interior, and I totally understand if that''s a deal-killer for you. But, for what it is a large capacity, plastic-interiored electric kettle with a temperature control it''s a five-star product.

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I bought this electric kettle mostly for making coffee in my french press. However, I use it for much more. I never realized how much an electric kettle would help around the house. I now use it for the following... coffee, tea, cocoa, instant oatmeal, ramen, any cooking/baking that calls for boiled water, pre-boiling water for pasta, and even hot water for cleaning around the house.

Pros

-Heats water FAST! (1750 watts, as another poster listed, is just under the 1800 W US limit)

-Keeps the water hot for a good bit of time. (Put it this way, I make coffee, throw it in a thermos, and leave for work. When my wife wakes up 45 minutes later, it''s still plenty hot to make instant oatmeal)

-Cordless pouring/filling

-Adjustable temp (drinkable cocoa temp to full boil)

-I haven''t experienced any plastic taste that other commenter mentioned, even when allowing the water to cool as he/she mentioned. (Anyone who feels a need to mention their credentials in an online product review is usually over-critical or full of poo... in my humble opinion)

-Viewing window for filling/knowing how much water is left.

-Cheaper than most comparable kettles out there right now.

Cons

-Yes, the outside of the unit gets hot to the touch in some points, but I have yet to find a kettle that doesn''t.

-It does get a bit noisy, but that is just a byproduct of the water having to heat so fast.

I can''t imagine living without this thing, and when I finally wear it out, I hope the same model is still available, or I can find something similar. I honestly can''t think of anything I would want to change on this unit.

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Salt Therpy Ultrasonic Salinizer For Chronic Respiratory Diseases

Short version:

The Saltair Domo is a scaled-down ultrasonic humidifier with a nearly non-existent output. The amount of salt they recommend you put in is minuscule and would hardly make a difference if you were directly nebulizing it, and is completely useless as a tool for altering the ambient air. It seems to be an attempt to cash in on the popularity of halotherapy.

Long version:

I bought this item hoping that we could use it to simulate some ocean air in our bedroom for our 6-month old with cystic fibrosis. Unfortunately, my opinion on this item is that it fails miserably at what it purports to do, which is to place salt ions into the air. I base my opinion not on experimental results, but logic and common sense, some basic biology, and my own experience.

One of the first things I noticed was the manual''s recommended maximum amount of salt for the 2.5 cups (0.6L) maximum tank capacity: 1/4 teaspoon.

I''m not a biologist, but I have been teaching myself biology through text book and MIT OCW courses, and was interested in how this ratio of salt to water compares to isotonic saline, hypertonic saline, and ocean water. The percentages given when discussing saline are w/v measures. Normal saline is about 0.9%. Hypertonic saline can be found varying concentrations, from 3, to 5, to 7 and 9%. Sea water varies, but on average is said to be around 3.5%. For 1/4tsp of salt in 2c of water, which is more salt per volume than the manual recommends, would be 0.3%. Normal saline is close to the same concentration of NaCl as your blood, so the saline they have you create could be considered to be hypotonic, not hypertonic, relative to normal saline.

Studies have been conducted to see if hypertonic saline (7%) could help people with CF. It was found that normal saline (0.9%) did not significantly impact on the number of exacerbation in patients. It was found to be ineffective. It was only the hypertonic saline that made a difference, specifically, 7%. Spending time at the beach has been shown to have benefit for people with CF. Sea water is also hypertonic, 3.5%.

The expected response to this would be that the device is intended to be run over many days. Surely that can make up for the low concentration of salt. This may be true, if the device actually had a decent airflow. It has such a low airflow that you cannot feel it with your hand unless it is within an inch of the air outlet. The manual clearly states that the device should be empty after 8-9 nights of use. Let''s say a typical night is 7 hours, so 9 nights would equal 63 hours to dispense 1/4 teaspoon of salt. You don''t have to be a scientist to realize that this is simply a joke.

And to go even further, you must assume that very little of this air will actually enter the lungs of your sick child. Here in the south, during the summer, the air conditioner is constantly running, pulling air out of the room, replenishing it with filtered air. I''m convinced that, given the low airflow of the device, there was essentially 0 salt ions getting into my lungs when I tested it 1 ft away from my face over a period of two nights. It simply is not enough to overcome other sources of airflow that are present in a typical middle-class household here in the southern United States. The only way to overcome ambient airflows is for the device to pump the air high and far enough so that it could be directed to someone.

One very troubling aspect of this product was the fact that the manual lacks any mention of proper cleaning of the device to prevent bacterial and other microscopic organism growth. They do mention cleaning it, but it''s to ensure proper operation. It leaves you with the impression that you don''t have to worry about bacteria with this device. In fact, the nice lady who sold it o me was under the impression that you didn''t have to worry about bacteria in it because salt is anti-bacterial.

Another issue was the manual''s lack of recognition of white dust as a problem. This product is essentially an extremely low airflow ultrasonic humidifier. One of the risks associated with using ultrasonic humidifiers is that they will place whatever happens to be in your solution into the air, be it bacteria, minerals, etc. Some of that stuff will settle on your furniture, floor, etc. The manual doesn''t mention any of this. In fact, the manual specifically tells you to use tap water, which is probably the worst thing to use if you are breathing in the contents of the solution. More importantly than impurities and white dust, bacteria that may grown in the water will also be projected into the air. This is why some ultrasonic humidifiers come with some type of silver stick, or other type of anti-bacterial agent. I think the omission of any warnings of these two problems is telling. Perhaps there is no risk of these 2 problems because the air from the device is not really getting into your lungs. It''s seeping out onto your floor, and being swept out into your A/C filter, or pushed down into your carpet by your fan.

Wonderful Product.. I sleep well when it''s in use and my asthma symptoms are relieved. The machine is sturdy and I don''t foresee having to purchase another one any time soon...

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WE USED TO HAVE SINUS PROBLEMS AT NIGHT BUT THIS DEVICE SEEMS TO HAVE HELPED TREMENDOUSLY.

IT''S VERY QUIET AND THE SALT WATER IN THE RESEVOIR LASTS A LONG TIME. I WOULD RECOMMEND IT!

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I purchased the Salt therapy machine from

I really like the machine. It is quiet and very effective. I have one at my office, one in our bedroom and one in my home office. I grew up near the ocean as a child and this machine does recreate that salt air.

I recommend the product to my clients as well since I have a holistic psychotherapy practice in Toronto.

Good customer service as well.

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Absolutely useless item! Air flow is so small that even in a small room you have no effect. If you try to increase concentration of salt solution soon enough you will find air flow channel blocked with salt. Two times salt managed to build up on the motor and stop in from spinning! look for a different product, and READ reviews! Good shopping :)

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MAF-1 Emerson MoistAIR Humidifier Wick Filter

I also received a BestAir brand, not the MoistAIR brand as advertised....

It''s shorter than the Kenmore Brand I should be using, but it works well in our humidifyer. It has a wire-type exterior ''frame'' for better reinforcement, and it costs much less than the Kenmore Brand. This, combined with the humidifyer treatment I found for $2 a bottle at Walmart makes a much less expensive way to keep our home humidity up. Keep in mind that you must use humidifyer treatment if your filter gums up or becomes yellow and hardens...that means you have hard water and the water cannot wick up the filster. The life of your filter will be dramatically less if you don''t use a treatment.

I ordered a MAF-1 Emerson MoistAir humidifier filter and received a sub called BestAir Humidwick. When I said would return them , they said these should be as good as the originals. I have no way of knowing until I use them! THAT MEANS i WON''T know until about two months down the road.

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Although the item description plainly states "Emerson MoistAIR Humidifier Replacement filter", what I actually received was an "RPS Products BestAir Humidi-Wick" aftermarket replacement. I feel this is misleading and fraudulent the description should include wording that "this is not a genuine Emerson product" or something to that effect.

Since it looks to be equal in quality to the orignal, I wouldn''t have minded too much if it actually fit correctly! Unfortunately, it''s nearly two inches too short in length, so the ends won''t butt up against one another as delivered. In order for it to work properly, I had to grab both ends and stretch it out to the correct length before installation. That should not be necessary and isn''t with genuine Emerson filters. I definitely will not be buying these on Amazon ever again...

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Ask if this is a GENUINE filter before you order it. The one I ordered (with the same name but from a company called "thepartsbiz") was not. It might be as good but, then again, it might not. However, by using the "MoistAIR" name, it implies it is a genuine filter. I eMailed the company (through Amazon) but they haven''t bothered to respond. Guess who I''m not buying from again? Looks like a number of vendors sell this product so who knows what they''re selling?

(I''m rating it "one star" only because it wasn''t as represented.)

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Like some others I received a BestAir brand instead of Bemis brand. It was ordered from the seller ''Buy-it-now-store''. I cannot vouch for the other sellers.

It lasted less than a month, turned rusty brown along the top within days and stank upon initial use. I went back on Amazon and ordered some Essick Air Products brand replacements (not realizing I was buying from the same seller). I had paid $7.89 for the Bemis brand the first time and $9.99 for the Essick the second time and received the same BestAir brand filters. I will not be ordering from ''Buy-it-now-store''

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Watts 531204 2-Stage Filter Pure Save 2% Off

• Reduces sand, silt, sediment, rust, chlorine tastes and odors from the water
• Long reach high quality faucet
• Sanitary push button filters for easy filter change out
• Quick connect fittings for easy installation
• Small frame is perfect for fitting in to small areas

This review is being written for Amazon.com on 11/27/2010 for the Watts 531204 2-stage water filter.

This is a compact under-sink filter supplied with a dedicated water faucet for kitchen sink applications.

Easier to install if:

You already have a hole in the sink area to install the dedicated faucet (such as by eliminating an existing sink sprayer or lotion dispenser already installed in your home)

Your plumbing is fairly modern with standard size fittings

Your existing water shutoff valves function OK.

Your existing faucet to shutoff valve piping is flexible hose vs. hard pipe.

Harder to install if:

You need to drill a hole for the faucet mounting.

Your home has older water piping, such as iron pipe with non-standard fitting sizes.

Your shutoff valves are stuck and will not close.

Your existing faucet to shutoff valve connection is hard pipe vs. flexible hose.

Pro''s:

compact unit does not take too much space under the sink

much easier filter change than the average under-sink water filter

Con''s:

proprietary filters not widely available

This water filter is not fancy, does not do "reverse osmosis" and so forth. It''s a basic carbon filter with a sediment pre-filter.

Installation:

Turn off the cold water sink shutoff valve under the sink, open the faucet to verify the water truly shuts off. If no, then you may need to shutoff you whole house water supply (and replace the sink shutoff valve sometimes, too).

Mount the dedicated faucet (drilling hole to mount it if you do not already have one). Attach the plastic water tubing to the bottom of the faucet.

Mount the filter frame to the side of the kitchen cabinetry below your sink.

Remove the cold water supply going from the shutoff valve to the faucet.

Install the tee valve on the shutoff valve.

Re-install the cold water supply from the tee valve to the faucet (easy if the piping was flexible tubing. If hard piping, then the piping may need to be cut and fit).

Install the plastic tubing from the tee valve to the filter assembly intake.

Install the plastic tubing form the dedicated faucet to the filter output.

Open the dedicated faucet.

Turn on the cold water shutoff valve, and allow the water to run for several minutes to flush the system.

Check for leaks.

In my case, I had a hard iron pipe installation with frozen connectors, no shutoff valves under the sink, and a hard pipe water supply to the existing faucet. I found the easiest method was to buy an adapter from the iron pipe to the standard faucet connector, installed new shut-off ball valves there, and I replaced the existing faucet with a modern one that could use the flexible hose supply connections.

The quality of the dedicated faucet is not superb, but approximately what I expected for the price of this kit. The faucet spout moves when the valve is turned to the on position or back to off. However, after a year of usage, the system has not leaked.

Filter change of this unit is very easy compared to the average undersink filter kit. You turn off the cold water shutoff valve, push a button on the filter housing and remove/replace the filters (six month interval suggested). On the downside, these filters are proprietary (order from the manufacturer website as they are generally not available in stores).

I''ve used several different undersink filter kits over the years, and this one gets top marks for ease of filter change. It gets OK marks for completeness of the kit. And OK marks for quality of the dedicated faucet.

The water in this household has sediment/rust issues (related to the old iron pipes), so the 1st stage of prefilter helps there. I was wondering if the sediment would clog the screening leading into the filter or within the filter itself, and that has not happened. The second stage of the filter is a carbon block and performs the main filtering function. Water tastes OK from the unit. It''s best to always let it run a bit before using in order to flush the filter.

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Had a problem with installation parts. Service assistance

was outstanding. Problem fixed easily. Looks and works well

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Sebo G1 Essential Upright Vacuum Cleaner Save 43% Off

I have owned this vacuum for 6 years, after turning in a Kenmore upright that was a piece of heavy junk I had owned for 2 years. I purchased the vacuum at a local store, and can either get filters and bags there, or on line. No problem! I went on a cruise to Bermuda from NY 2 years ago and I saw the ship cleaning crew using the exact same vacuum. It is really light weight, never ever clogs and is powerful, and will not tear up rugs or hurt utility cords when you clean over them. I had a RICCAR for 12 years, prior to the Kenmore, and thought it was the best vacuum, but this beats even the RICCAR.

This is a fantastic hoover which tackles pet fur with ease. Not too heavy to push around. Only negative is trying to get spares ie filters for this machine. I''m still looking unsuccessfully!Anyone have any ideas. I have contacted Sebo and they said they didn''t know this model.

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Water Wise Distiller Model 8800 Save 20% Off

• Distiller
• Clean Water
• Purified Water
• Waterwise
• Water Wise

I''ve had this distiller for a couple of years now and make 2-3 gallons of water PER DAY for my family. It is EXCELLENT. (Make sure and read my tip below if you do buy one).

To comment on the previous reviewer''s statement that there''s no point in distilling water and then keeping it in a plastic container -the water doesn''t stay in the container for any significant length of time to contaminate it. If there is a concern, the water can be easily poured into a glass jug and stored that way. With water this pure, I''ve found we drink more than ever and feel great about the health advantages and cost savings. The pitcher holds a gallon and that amount is easily used by most people within a day, given the amount we drink and cook with (i.e. water added in cooking to make oatmeal, rice, etc.).

The main reason we purchased this unit to begin with was that we moved into a home that has a water softener unit which automatically deposits salt and chemicals into the main water system. I watered houseplants with that water and within a week the plants died!! We simply didn''t want to drink that water, but we like our water softener for other reasons (no hard water deposits) and didn''t want to remove it.

The cost to produce the water in this distiller has not made any significant difference in our electricity bill, and we''ve found it to be cheaper and much more convenient than purchasing bottled water (who even knows what impurities bottled water contains!).

One TIP that I would recommend which allows the water to distill a lot faster: FILL THE KETTLE WITH THE HOTTEST POSSIBLE TAP WATER INSTEAD OF COLD WATER. It will cut down on the time it takes to make a gallon, as the unit won''t have to work as long to bring the kettle to the boiling temperature required. This unit is easy to us -just fill the kettle with hot water and press a button.

I''ve found the Waterwise company to be very helpful with my questions, etc. over the phone. I would highly recommend this product. I can''t imagine a glass of any other kind of water now!

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I purchased this a few weeks ago for my girlfriend, who only drinks distilled water.

Positives:

The water tastes great

Making distilled water at home is easy and SO convenient.

Easy to clean, design is nice and contemporary.

When you see what''s left in the kettle, you may never drink tap water again. There is about a teaspoon of chemicals (fluoride, chlorine, etc.) and salts left after each gallon I distill (Los Angeles city water...)

Negatives:

The carafe is annoying to pour from when full. Almost impossible to not spill a littleI have now gotten in the habit of immediately moving the distilled water into another jug and starting a new pot right away.

I would give this product 5 stars except for the carafe issue.

Note: I agree with other posters that suggest that you start with hot water in the kettle. This saves at least 20-30 minutes in the process.

Update: 2 years later. Steam pipe broken, small hairline cracks in base, kettle basically done and needing replacement. We run this about 2 times per day, so I''d say for a 300-400 distiller it should have held up better in less than 1000 uses. Rating changed to 3 stars...

I contacted Waterwise and asked about help. They told me that my warranty was good for 12 months and now it''s on me to replace parts as needed. This is true and understandable, but it got me heated anyway (no pun intended).

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I have wanted a water distiller for a long time, as it is the best drinking water available. Found this one on Amazon for a great price. I was interested in this one because of the water production in a gallon, not smaller quantities.

Quick shipping, quality packaging. Just remove from box, insert filter, and you''re ready to operate. Makes 1 gallon of clean, odorless, drinkable water in 4 hours. I love it and wouldn''t trade it for anything!

I have previously written a review for this item. However, after reading the one comment that wasn''t so eloquently stated about the carafe being plastic and contaminating the water is rediculous. Had the rating customer read the information the carafe is made of #5 plastic which does not leach (break down and create toxins) when heated.

I use this distiller nearly ever day. I love it, it''s a great product for the size of production. The water is clean and the results are very clear when you reopen your stainless steel container and see the reminantes of what didn''t go into your drinking water after distilling!

I only give my dogs and cats distilled water now as well. I''m sure after seeing what''s left in the distiller there is no doubt that would contribute to a shorter life span for man and beast alike!

updated 7/22/08

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Waterwise 8800 Water Distiller Purifier (Water Wise) Distill

This very same product( Waterwise 8800 ) was marketed by Sears as their Kenmore Brand Water Distiller at $99.95 five years ago, and was an OK product at a fair price. Using it to make a gallon a day, it would last for 2-3 years, then break down. The most vulnerable part was and is the cooling coil tube above the distiller jug, which would begin to leak, also dust and debris collect outside and inside the cooling fan, which are impossible to remove. This is designed to be virtually or actually impossible for a mechanically apt person to dismantle and repair, necessitating upwards of or multiples of $80 to ship and repair.

When Waterwise took over this product, they jacked up the price to $600 plus, with Waterwise themselves and secondary marketers selling it at "discounted" prices between $399.99 and $499.99. If you buy steam distilled water from the Water Store (in CA) @ 60c a gallon, and use 1-2 gallons a day, you still come out ahead if the $400 unit lasts the average of 2-3 years (not considering the cost of electricity or supplies see following:)

Instead of using slightly or moderately toxic descaling solutions, use distilled white vinegar (available for 99c a quart at discount stores)after every use, 1/8 cup left in the container after mild scrubbing with a green Scotchgard-type scrubber for 1 hr +, then scrubbed out and rinsed with tap water; fill with hot water before distilling. Before shelling out $35 for filters, use a $2 pack of Aquarium charcoal filter inserts (also contain pharmaceutical grade charcoal), or simmer the old filter in 2 cups of tapwater with 1 tablespoon of salt for 10 minutes, then rinse with 2 cups of distilled water before using.

The polycarbonate collecting jug is hard plastic which contains tiny amounts of Bisphenyl A plasticizer. This has a minimal androgen-mimic action, compared to the significant estrogen-mimic (''feminine-izing'') action of the dimethyl or methyl-ethyl phthalates used in most other softer plastics, not to speak of the cancer-inducing vinyl chloride leached from PVC containing plastics. The WW 9000 and newer models have glass collection containers. As regards the "plastic" taste, this comes from polyethylene or PVC storage containers. Distilled water is, well, tasteless: for drinking, this can be remedied by adding a tiny amount (a "pinch" or 100mg) of Calcium Carbonate or Sulfate, or Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) food grade, or a pinch of baking soda, which in a gallon of distilled water adds a trivial amount of Sodium. The soda also alkalinizes the water as will a pinch of Calcium Hydroxide (lime). Of course, you may wish to pay $5000 for some highly touted "Kangaroo Water Maker" with which you can "dial-up to an alkaline pH" and obtain incredibly-hyped but scientifically dubious health benefits.

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I knew we needed to drink clean water. Our water has so many minerals in it and it took them all out. I had no idea the difference in taste. My coffee and tea taste a world of difference. I also use it for cooking. The food even tastes better. No more buying plastic tasting bottled water!!! I will never be without this machine. I am even taking it in our motorhome. One thing I learned, a rinse between distilling with vinegar keeps the unit just like new.

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Saeco Aroma - Espresso Machine Save 27% Off

This machine works great, it is heavy duty metal case and does delicious creamy espresso. This machine does not leak like the gaggia I tryed before and for the price it is far the best I used. If you get it from Amazon you will get the best service ever! The water tank on the back is removable to fill and clean, the water retention tank for the coffee drops below is also removable, easy to clean, big enough and of very good quality. The metal grill does not rust and the portafila is solid. Saeco is the perfect Italian espresso lover''s machine and it is so solid that it''s like it was German made and not Italian :) I checked a lot of brands, models and review and that''s from far the best I found for the bucks. I owned fully automatic machines for 10x the price paid here and that one is doing better espresso than any of them... This machine is a hit!

+ You wake up in the morning, feeling like quite "non-energetic".. Head over to the saeco aroma, turn it on, and by the time you have your milk outta the fridge and on the counter(20 seconds), your toast into the toaster (40 seconds), your shot glasses under the portafilter (4seconds), brought out your cappuccino cup from the cupboard (7.6 seconds), and then placed ground coffee in the portafilter, along with a little milk and your favorite all-natural latte flavoring into the frothing pitcher (63 seconds if your fast like me) :)........ the machine is ready to brew up two delicious espresso shots. How convenient! The local Sbux doesn''t know what to do, was i kidnapped? did I move across country? where have I been? .......Yea well i''m at home making my own coffee treats from now on, I expect the machine to pay itself off in one year, best purchase I''ve made for quite a while.

+ This is a compact machine, I propped mine 2.5 inches off my granite countertop with a solid block of aluminum, anything will do, seattle coffee gear even sells actual espresso stands, however they can be considered expensive by some people.

+ Before pulling a shot, be sure to preheat the portafilter with 5 seconds of brew-button-time, the shot will be much more creamy...(crema)

Saeco Vienna Plus SuperAutomatic is convenient but will not last long, Gaggis classic has all the same features this has for a slightly unjustifiable price increase, Rancilio will do everything this machine can do with just nicer parts, Basically you can make an excellent coffee drink with either machine, it wouldn''t matter..

+ Yes,, I have timed the Saeco Aroma. It takes EXACTLY 102 seconds from the time the switch is flipped until it is ready to brew. ( when the brew light is activated)

+ One of the most competitive machines in the sub $450 price range, if not the best..

+ Machine heats up very fast. I would say under 2 minutes and its ready to brew.. That''s faster than I can boil a cup of water in my 800watt microwave! and much faster than brewing drip coffee__>__

+ Cup warmer is a nice addition, but actually by the time the water boiler is hot and ready to brew the cup warmer (which is heated by the water boiler) has only begun to start warming up, thus the cups really wont be warm unless the aroma has been on for about 20mins.. I usually preheat by brewing the hot water into the empty cups, (which the instruction booklet recommends)

+ None of the stainless parts will rust, including the grate under the cups

+ I myself think the frothing wand is fine out of the box, (please read up on milk frothing guides online to get the best out of this machine.) With a little skill and a good 20oz frothing pitcher, I was making sweet creamy cappuccinos with dense micro-foam in no-time at all. (Seattle Coffee gear sells a nice panarello upgrade on their site for around $40 usd).

+ Portafilter is very solid and heavy duty, I feel very confident using it.

+ Large water tank, big enough to fill once a week (one individual).

+ Solid, Easy to clean stainless steel housing.

+ Fashionable design, simple and modern.

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I am not a coffee aficionado however I do love good espresso. I have had the Saeco Aroma machine for 2 months now. My main criticism regards the milk steamer wand with panerello. Because of the configuration and compact size of the machine, the panerello is very awkward to use. To fit a pitcher of milk under it and remove it without spilling I set the machine at the edge of a table with the wand overhanging. I was not particularly happy with the quality of the foam so I completely removed the plastic panerello assembly from the wand and now steam milk using the bare stainless steel tube. This is a reasonable solution except that the tube is very short without the panerello. Regarding the espresso quality, although I have made many a good cup of espresso, I have yet to coax a superior shot out of the pressurized portafilter. In fact, I got equal results with my old $60 Krups that had a non-pressurized portafilter and lacked a steam pump, working on steam pressure only. I was also disappointed to find that the steam valve knob is of plastic, not stainless steel like the body of the machine and has a cheap feel and look. The jury is still out. Maybe for the price this is as good as it gets. I recommend checking this machine out at a store before buying on-line because the steam wand configuration may be a deal breaker for you.

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I''ve been looking for an espresso machine to replace a 12-year-old Krups steam-driven espresso machine which finally died (the steam wand gave out). None of the machines under $300 seem to get consistently good reviews on Amazon but the Saeco Aroma Espresso got the best reviews of the cheaper-end machines. So, I ordered it through Amazon. After it arrived, I was looking forward to enjoying good espresso coffee (but a little apprehensive about the steam wand problems other users reported). The first thing I did was to run a tank of water through the machine to clean it (recommended by the manual before first use). Well, guess what: the steam wand wasn''t a problem no trouble getting my milk pitcher under the wand and no leaks! Ah, I thought this machine is going to work out after all.

But the next step was to run water through the pressurized portafilter and that''s where I ran into problems. The portafilter leaked like crazy! Most of the hot water dripped into the cup under the portafilter but a lot of it leaked out above the portafilter and ran down the handle to my kitchen counter. I removed the portafilter and ran hot water directly into the cup with no problems. So the problem was with the portafilter water just wasn''t getting through it as it should. I looked at the rubber gasket inside the portafilter and it appeared intact; so there must have been an obstruction somewhere else inside the portafilter. I wasn''t going to disassemble it find out. It''s a new machine, never used before, and it should have worked right out of the box.

So, I''m going to contact Amazon about returning this machine. I''m undecided about whether to ask for a replacement machine or just give up on the idea of being able to make my own espresso coffee at a reasonable price. Maybe a moka pot is the way to go to get an espresso-like coffee. It''s certainly cheaper and simpler to use than these big machines, which take up a lot of counter space and break down at a remarkably high rate.

I''ll update this review when I decide which way I''m going to go.

UPDATE: Amazon won''t replace it only refund my money when I return the machine. That''s too bad because I''ll never know if the machine was badly made or just this particular portafilter was broken. I''m back to square 1 again.

UPDATE: I decided to call Saeco and ask for a replacement for the faulty portafilter and they agreed to send me one. I''ll update my review when I receive and use it.

UPDATE: I received the replacement portafilter from Saeco (no charge) and I''m going to raise my rating to 4 stars, based on the espresso maker''s performance with the replacement. It works very well and I''ve enjoyed several cups of espresso made with the Saeco Aroma machine. It is simple and easy to use and makes an excellent espresso with nice crema. I''m still a bit leery regarding its durability since some reviews on this site suggest it could fail at any time. I haven''t tried the steam wand yet; since I drink espressos rather than lattes or cappuccinos. But I may try to brew some of those to try out the steam wand. In any case, if my experience with this espresso maker causes me to further revise my opinion to any great degree, I''ll provide another update later.

UPDATE: I ran into an unexpected problem with this machine. The first month I used ground coffee to brew espresso but then I decided to see how it would handle E.S.E pods. I followed the instructions remove the ground coffee basket from the portafilter and insert the E.S.E. basket included with the machine. There''s just one major obstacle: I can''t lock the portafilter into the machine with the E.S.E basket in it. It looks like there isn''t quite enough clearance for the portafilter to lock into place with pod basket in it. So, it seems as though I can''t use E.S.E pods a major flaw! And an odd one, considering I''m using the E.S.E. basket Saeco provided. I don''t know if it''s a problem only with the machine I bought or a design flaw with the machine. So, if you plan to brew espresso using pods, you should be aware of this potential problem. I''ll contact Saeco to see if they have a solution, e.g, replacing the E.S.E basket. If I get this resolved, I''ll update my review.

UPDATE: I called Saeco and the company sent me a replacement rubber gasket for the E.S.E pod basket in the hope this would fix the problem. But it didn''t. Either the rubber gaskets provided with the E.S.E pod baskets are too thick or some part of the brew head is projecting too far into the pod basket to allow the portafilter to lock in. I still don''t know if this is a general problem or a problem peculiar to my machine. I doubt it can be resolved short of returning it to Saeco for examination and/or repair. I''m not willing to risk that since the machine works well otherwise. I suppose I''ll just have to forgo using pods to brew espresso with this particular machine.

UPDATE: Thanks to a reviewer''s comment, I''ve revised my rating and review of this product. I was using the equipment incorrectly and it was not at fault I was! Now I''m enjoying delicious cups of espresso using pods! Please read the instructions closely and don''t make the mistake I was making. I highly recommend this product now!

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Bought two of these. One in 2008 (under two bills for the stainless) which is still workign with some problems, and one in 2010 (about 10% more).

The first one died with multiple problems at two years: permanently leaking stream wand, profuse leaking above porta-filter (this despite filter being well cleaned with the tiny holes all open).

The second one, which is clearly a lower build quality failed at thirteen months with even more issues. The thermostat failed causing boiler to go to steam temps when set at brew temps and resulting in burned espresso. If you are curious about Seaco service, give them a call even before you buy, and describe one of the three or four known problems posted here. In essence forget about repair. In-warranty is bad enough with exorbitant handling charges; out-of-warranty, any repair will net cost you 3/4 the cost of a new machine.

Be VERY cautious about the well meaning early reviews here. My guess is that the reviews from over two years go are not revisited and that those machines are DEAD. You can see this on espresso aficionado forums where the glowing reviews on forums from two years ago now show people''s machines died in very high number and Saeco was not helpful at all. Their attitude seems to want to squeeze even more moeny by charging just short of replacement cost for any repair, even the smallest. More alarming yet is that one can clearly see the build quality is lower and Saeco is coasting on the early good reviews it got and now shipping inferior made product. e''en the portafilter is a different cheaper material.

Al that said, if you go into expecting an average of one to two years this is a decent machine at about two bills that you can find it at from time to time.

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Dr. Fill''s Water Tunnel - The All Fill Save 33% Off

I love my Dr. Fill''s water tunnel because I no longer have to wipe up spilled water after re-filling my plastic water bottles. I like to reuse my bottles several times to save myself time and money, as well as to create a smaller environmental impact. Thanks for creating this wonderful product that makes my life a little easier!

At first I didn''t think it would be really worth it but it has changed my mind. I use it more than I thought I would. Makes it easier to get those little tops to line up with the water instead of splashing all around it. Good idea!

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Steramine Quaternary Sanitizing Tablets

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

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

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Pentek R50-BB Pleated Filter Save $0.06 Off

• Reusable drop-in cartridge for extended filter life
• Pleated design maximizes dirt-holding capacity

These are generic filters that are interchangeable with other brands, all of which work in the large filtration canisters sold by GE, Culligan, Pentek and other filtration system makers, so I just buy whichever brand is cheapest by the case.

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We use these for our water well. They filter the water and removes sand. Very easy to install. I would buy again.

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Perfect fit for american plumber whole house filter. Less expensive than brand name filter. Fits model w10-pr housing.Very easy to swap filters.

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This filter fit and worked okay, but was advertised as "reusable." Nothing on the packaging that the filter arrived in so indicated. After 3 mos, I removed the filter and attempted to clean for re-use. I did not have success, this filter seems exactly like the non reusable filters I have used; not reusable.

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Features says 50 Micron. Description says 30 micron. Paper label with filter says 50. So that is probably the correct number.

Bought 2 to replace a pair in tall housing. the inner hole measures 1 in. Apparently that changes with brand or something. My old filter joiner that lets me stack a pair in the housing wouldn''t work with these filters.The old one was too big.

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Hario VKB-120HSV V60 Coffee Drip Kettle Buono Save 22% Off

Things you need to know before buying:

I used a regular pot with a pour spout 3 months before I purchased this kettle. The following points are based primarily on the differences I noticed between the regular pot and the kettle.

1. The pour control with the kettle is VASTLY superior to the control you get with a product with a normal "spout" area. The kettle''s thin spout and long distance the water has to travel gives you a small, smooth stream in which to pour on your coffee grounds.

2. Because of the points in #1, the kettle allows you to pour water over the coffee smoothly and at a consistent pace, therefore giving you an EVEN extraction of your coffee, which translates to a nice, consistent taste in your cup. This is what you''re going for.

3. The kettle holds enough water for about 5 regular cups of coffee (i.e. it holds ~40 ounces of water). I own the 40oz Chemex coffee maker, so for me, a full kettle = a full pot of coffee.

4. The kettle is SAFE to boil your water with. However, the conductivity of the kettle''s metal is not as good as a standard pot, so it will take you roughly twice as long to boil water in the kettle versus boiling it in a pot. (I bought a separate water kettle for this reason.)

5. As mentioned in other reviews, this kettle is hard to clean. The opening is hard to get your hand into, and the small spout makes everything but a pipe cleaner impossible to clean the inside. If you live in an area with hard water (like I do), then you''ll want to filter your water before using this kettle to cut down on the deposit build up.

Hands-down, this kettle gives you the control you need to make an excellent cup of coffee. If you brew your coffee through a pour over method (such as the Chemex), then this is the kettle for you. Other than the cleaning difficulty and long(ish) time it takes for this kettle to boil water, I highly recommend this product.

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I knew what every review said about this product, but I couldn''t justify the price. So instead for my pour over (either hario v60 or chemex) I would pour out of a 12 ounce frothing pitcher with a good spout on it.

Let me tell you. The Buono kettle is in a whole different league. The amount of control is amazing. I didn''t really think it would make that big of a difference. But I am now a true believer in what all the reviews say. I would almost go as far as recommending saving up to buy this kettle first, then buy your V60 or Chemex pour over brewing device second (not really...but you get what I am saying).

The only comment I would give, the kettle is pretty thin metal. The bottom is not like a regular kettle''s thickness. So I hear and think it is fine to put on a gas stove, but since I do not have to, I am going to hold out.

Also the kettle holds a constant temperature pretty well. Starting with a not preheated kettle. I poured boiling water in, put the lid on a 30 seconds later the temp was 206. Once it got down to 203 I started my pour. 2 minutes into my pour my temp was 200 and at the end of my pour it was down to about 198.

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This product has one thing--and only one thing--going for it: its spout, which allows you to control the flow of water when brewing coffee using the pour-over method.

Otherwise, it has a few things going against it:

1. The price: it simply costs too much for what it offers.

2. The quality: it is very light-weight, flimsy stainless steel, and it rusts on the bottom (which is inexcusable for a tea kettle costing this much).

3. The design: It narrows toward the top, making it very inconvenient to wash and dry the inside (my had cannot fit through the top, and water gets trapped in the edges of the much wider base). If you fill the kettle and bring it to a rolling boil, water will actually boil out of the spout. Finally, it does not have any calibration lines on the inside indicating how many cups of water are in the kettle, which would have been handy.

Unless Hario happens to hold a patent on a kettle with a spout like this, there is room here for another company to design a much more solid, better designed product, in my opinion. Ideally, someone would make an electric kettle of this design (all stainless steel, no plastic of any kind anywhere, a narrow pour spout) that allowed you to set the temperature you want the water to reach and maintain. Hard to believe this is unavailable at any price, but I have yet to find it (please let me know in comments if you know of one!).

For now, we''re stuck with the Hario, which does the job adequately, if a bit expensively.

UPDATE: Our wait is over, folks; the perfect kettle has arrived: Bonavita 1-Liter Variable Temperature Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle

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I love this kettle, it is perfect for pour over coffee and it feels wonderful in the hand. There is one HUGE problem and that is RUST!!! On the inside of the kettle, around the seams at the base, rust has developed. Not a lot of rust, but after two weeks this should not have occured. Mind you, when I am finished using my kettle in the morning, I always wipe it down inside and out. I think Japanese made and that usually means impeccable quality, but somehow this kettle fails to perform. I love the design and feel of this kettle, but where is the quality control???

UPDATE 2-17-2012: I checked at my local coffee shop, Catalina Coffee, and their Hario kettles are perfect with no rust. Maybe in their rush to make new kettles due to the popularity of the pourover, Hario''s quality control slipped a bit.

UPDATE 2-23-2012: I tried to return this with the company I purchased with on Amazon called M Deals, here is a segment of their response to me about my return request: "Unfortunately, we cannot accept return at this moment. You have been using this kettle for 3 weeks. The item you carry is exactly same item with the one from your local coffee shop. Hario kettle we are selling is the original made in Japan product. You need to use drinking water and clean it after each use. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Thank you for contacting M Deals." WHAT?????!!!!!! I have used it for 3 weeks and it developed rust, and that''s acceptable to them? I need to use drinking water????!!!!! What do they think that I have been putting in there to make my coffee?? Unfortunately you run into a bad vendor on Amazon, and M DEALS DOES NOT STAND BEHIND WHAT THEY SELL and they do a horrible job of taking care of their customers. Buy the Hario kettle from anybody but M Deals!!!

UPDATE 5-20-2012: In March, I purchased a new non rusting Hario kettle from the nice folks at Seattle Coffee Gear. I love it!! My other rusting Hario kettle has been reassigned to watering herbs in my garden and for watering my Bonsai trees. It performs like a champ in its new job!!

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Purchased both Hario V60 and Bonavita BV3825ST non-electric gooseneck kettles from Amazon.

Country of Origin:

Hario: Made in Japan.

Bonavita: Made in China.

Capacity:

Hario: Practical capacity: .8 liter. Full capacity 1.2 liters.

Bonavita: Capacity: 1 liter.

Spout:

Hario: Gooseneck spout attached to body at lower point. Less water remains pooled at the bottom after complete pouring.

Bonavita: Gooseneck spout attached to body at higher point. More water remains pooled at the bottom after complete pouring.

Ergonomics:

Hario: Straight handle. Ergonomics not optimal.

Bonavita: Curved handle. Ergonomics better.

Product Material:

Hario: Stainless steel heavier and thicker. Seems higher quality steel. Handle good.

Bonavita: Stainless steel lighter and thinner. Handle good.

Quality of Construction:

Hario: Spout and handle attached with quality hardware. Seems more secure.

Bonavita: Spout and handle securely attached, but hardware appears to be less durable.

Design:

Hario: Lid does not fit tight. Will fall out when tipped at certain angle.

Bonavita: Lid fits tight. Will not fall out when tipped at certain angle. Handle has two screws located on underside at top, which impact finger comfort. Body has unfinished/uncurved inside top lip, which impacts hand comfort when cleaning inside body.

Appearance: Both look nice. Bonavita sits about an inch taller because of the design of the lid.

Pour Rate: Practically the same.

Recommendation: Both Hario and Bonavita will get the job done. I chose to keep Hario, because of the quality. But if money or style is a factor, Bonavita will work just fine. An alternative to these kettles, which I have not tried but appears to be of a very high quality, is the Kalita Wave Pot Kettle from Japan, priced at $107.Kalita 52073 Wave Pot Kettle

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Venta Airwasher Save 32% Off

At low speed you won''t even know it''s on and it''s still quiet at med. and high speed too. We normally run it on medium or high speed when the weather is 35 or colder here in New England and turn it down to low if the temperature outside goes up or it''s raining out. Doing this keeps the humidity in the house a pretty constant 40-45 per cent. We have a Colonial house and keep the upstairs bedrooms closed so the unit is just taking care of aboout 1100 ft. downstairs. I fill it in the morning and just before bedtime. They only hold a few gallons of water, but what a difference they make. We have had hardly any colds since we bought ours a couple of years ago, and we''re not constantly having to put on lip balm or hand lotions like we used to. Your skin will thank you for it. But wait...there''s more...hehe...Wait til you empty and clean it like I do every 2 weeks. The water you dump in the sink...unbelieveable what this unit takes out of the air. Remember, it''s an air purifier too. It''s amazing to see the junk that''s in the dirty water. Stuff you would normally be breathing in.

It''s light weight and small enough to be unobtrusive. I had a problem with mine the second year...called the company and within 3 days had a replacement part that was a snap to install, free of charge of course. Fantastic 10 year warranty.

Proof of how much we love this unit...the day it broke was a Sunday and dry as a bone...temp in the teens. Within an hour I was home from Bed and Bath with a new unit. Didn''t even want to go 3 days without one running. Now we run them both on low speed most of the winter.

Check out their website...commercial buildings all over Europe use them as well as musicians with expensive wooden instruments to protect. Little known product just introduced to the US a couple of years ago. Highly recommended.

My family owns two Venta Airwashers: this one and the Venta #5014436 LW14 Grey Airwasher. I am writing this after having used them for about two years. We live in a dry apartment, and we are also musicians with wood instruments, so it is important for us to keep our apartment well humidified. We are also sensitive to sound, so we need to make sure that whatever machines we purchase work quietly.

Before we purchased these, we measured our apartment to make sure we were purchasing the appropriate models for the space we live in. I think this is crucial, as you cannot expect a model that is too small to properly humidify a space that is too large, and vice-versa. This seems obvious, but I think a lot of people overlook this and purchase the wrong model.

I think people are missing the point when they complain about the level of humidity and whether it reaches an optimum level or not. Ventas humidify and purify at the same time, and once a room has a certain level of moisture, it will essentially stay that way if you leave it set to a certain level. It''s not like it ill keep ramping up the moisture until you are living in a rainforest. It can only humidify so much, unless you use the largest model in a closet-sized space.

Regarding the noise issue with the fan, I found that when it starts making that subtle clicking noise that some reviewers mention, it is because the fan mechanism has lost lubrication. A few drops of light oil (such as lemon oil) clears up the noise immediately.

As long as you follow their directions--and we all know how much Germans love accuracy and directions--these will last a long time and provide and work excellently.

The reason I am giving this four stars is because I am convinced that they could have designed these with less hard-to-clean crevices. There are many hard-to-clean spots, and a few spaces that are almost impossible to clean. Granted, you won''t see them as they are deep inside, but I like to know that I can clean every bit of gunk that I see. You really need to thoroughly clean the Venta every month or so, which should only take a few minutes, but there are an awful lot of crevices.

Another tip: the way to clean the rotating disc assembly inside the Venta is to use a soft brush, and scrub in-between the discs, and it can also be washed in the top rack of a dishwasher. They offer a special substance that also cleans gunk from inside and off the bottom half of the Venta, but vinegar works just as well.

Also, as mentioned by others, you need to use their additive in order to allow the water to sheet off the rotating plastic disc assembly. Some folks mention using a few drops of dish washing soap instead, but I haven''t tried that yet. When you consider that other models by other companies require you to purchase filters and the like, I think buying a few bottles of this additive is not so bad. Each bottle lasts ca. 3-4 months.

Now the crucial information: does it really clean the air and humidify well? Although we have not tested our air with any gauges to see if there is a marked difference, I can assuredly say that the air in our apartment is cleaner and definitely moister. The air even seems to smell cleaner. Our wooden floors creak when we don''t run the Ventas, and after a day of running them, they are silent. The truth is in the water: when we clean the Ventas and replace the additive every two weeks, the water is definitely filthy. The Ventas must be doing something right.

All in all, we have no regrets. These are simple, yet well-built humidifiers, albeit a little pricey. They are a little difficult to clean, but if you are even somewhat attentive and can follow directions, they should serve you well.

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We have two of these units. They work well and humidify efficiently and quietly. I find them easier to clean than other humidifiers and like the fact that I don''t have to buy filters that cost $20-$40 depending on the brand. I gave it three stars, because the fan mechanism seems to be poorly made. In both units the fan was defective and had to be replaced. The first did not engage the discs, while the second made a rattling noise. Venta sent me replacement parts without questions, however that should not happen at that price level.

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It''s of course bogus to point out the German social system as reason for the price. A free market is characterized by supply and demand setting the price. I asssume there is a free market in the U.S.?. What you effectively pay for in this humdifier is the idea and patent, not the material. It''s the same why an Armani suite costs 2000$ and why Microsoft Office costs more than the CD it is burned on.

I have this humidifier now for a year. I am an allergy sufferer and dry air makes it worse. I live in CA. Thye humidifier extends on the principle of what my Mom always recommended: Put a bowl with water in your room. Since it does not heat the air you don''t have problems with overheated air that then condenses on windows etc. The dryer the air the more it will pick up the humidity. It''s kind of self regulating.

It does the job for me. I measure it and I get usually a jump from 45% to 55% of humidity in my room. I personally think cleaning is very easy. You have to use their cleaner, I do it every 8 weeks or so. It''s true there will be mineral deposits on the air cleaner. I wipe them away every 2.5 months. It''s not a problem as you can dissassemble this thing completely.

I think this is the best humdifier out there. It avoids all the problems of heated humdifiers and it''s self regulation is ingenious. I don''t believe it does a good job of cleaning the air however. That''s why I have Friedrich B as well. BTW speaking of which it costs 500$ and is a set of metal plates with a fan made in the U.S.

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I purchased the smallest version, the LW 14, for the purpose of cleaning the air in a small kitchen without windows.

Air ionizers didn''t rid the air of the frying smells, but this appliance works.

The initial price is high, but not the cost to keep the Venta running. Water is cheap. Power consumption on highest setting is about 35 Watt. For whisper-quiet use in a bedroom a lower setting is better. Any air-con would be much louder anyways and drown out the Venta on the highest setting.

The motor used to power the machine is indeed very silent, and possible can''t be manufactured for 30$. The other components are ruggedly constructed and hopefully last many years.

The device can also be used for aromatherapy, which I''m just testing with some natural Mint oil against my cold.

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Kenmore 14906 Humidifier Filter

The original filter in my Kenmore humidifier had finally gotten to where it was not doing anything worth while, so I ordered this one. The wording on Amazon makes me believe that this is a factory Kenmore filter, and it works great, so I believe it probably is. My humidifier is a lot more efficient now and is putting a lot more moisture in the air than it did with my old worn out (clogged / dirty) filter.

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WF813 ReliOn Humidifier Wick Filter (2 Pack)

I ordered what was called "WF813 ReliOn Humidifier Replacement Filter (2 Pack)" just to find out they are NOT ReliOn brand filters. They are another brand that come close to fitting some ReliOn humidifier models. However, the filter isn''t quite as big as a real ReliOn WF813 filter, so it doesn''t truly fit as well as it should. These are BestAir brand filters, and the box lists the humidifier models that these filters fit, and ReliOn is NOT one of them. These filters will probably do the job, but this ad is deceptive. I won''t buy from this seller again.

This was what I wanted but found the shipping costs to be very high for the weight. Make sure you order more than 1 to make up for it.

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For those who only have experience with filter that comes "free" with the ReliOn''s I was expecting pretty much the same thing -a filter that after about a week you tried as hard as you could to not touch or move it as the whole thing just disintegrates in short order.

So I ordered like four boxes, each containing 2 filters. The first of these replacement filters has been in my humidifier that runs about 18 hours a day for over a month -they are still strong, all in one piece, and I can wash them, extending their life. You can tell the difference in them, they are much heavier the the filter that comes with the original humidifier.

Stock up, good value.

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This was not the same as what came in the box...the dimensions are slightly different. yes it works but it is not the same. I won''t buy it again.

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they should have rate the product and then rate the company. i paid about $ 23.00 for the relion ( kaz )

humidifier and now dish out$ 13.75 for 2 filters. the " the filter is fine " , but it''s the price that is unbelievable. but i gotta have it. sorry , all i can say is it''s a real shame. don barajas

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Acme Juicerator Juice Extractor Save 46% Off

Acme juicers are made by Waring now as they have been for the past twenty years or so. One can buy the identical juicer as the Waring Commercial, so price shopping may prove fruitful.

I''ll state that I''ve used Acme juicers for 30 years and the one I own now I''ve had for a number of years. The design hasn''t changed, though, and my juicer uses the same supplies and parts.

Though the Acme appears quite similar to the Omega 1000/9000 series, there is one important design difference. If you look at the photo of the Acme you will see there are no moving arms on either side to hold the lid down. Apparently these arms are an Achilles'' heel for Omega owners, breaking over time. The Acme uses no arms. The lid is placed on top of the bowl, then a short twist locks the lid to the side arms. No hanging, moving parts to break, and it''s extremely quick and easy and secure. I''m sure when the guys breaking away from Acme decided to essentially copy the Acme design they couldn''t take this with them, so they went with breakable arms. I can only say that after thousands of openings and closings with my Acme, the lid is as secure and workable as it was when new.

As can be seen, this isn''t one of the so-popular pulp ejectors with the slanted slotted basket to throw pulp out. Upon opening the lid and looking inside, the sheer size of the straight-sided pulp catcher is impressive after looking at so many little slanted baskets. The pulp catcher is large enough to easily accommodate my man''s hand for cleaning. And, of course, the outer stainless steel container is even larger. Because those of us who do serious juicing know that periodically the cutting blades will dull and need replacement, the cutting blades are on a very heavy stainless weighted disc, separate. At this time the cost is around $30 to replace this heavy cutting disc; full-sized Omegas and Acmes use the same disc. And, of course, the big juice bar commercial juicers also feature replaceable cutting discs. There is a large threaded shaft coming up from the motor in the middle. A large, easily-handled knob with built-in spring clutch threads on the shaft after dropping the heavy cutting disc on the shaft. Alignment of the cutting disc is automatic, no fiddling required. Total assembly of the stainless steel basket, outer container, cutting disc and lid is extremely easy and fast compared to so many newer generation juicers. Just a classic design that truly hasn''t been improved.

This is a massive and heavy appliance and it sets on a dozen or so rubber feet; in years I''ve never known the thing to walk an inch. These big rubber feet (some are visible in the photo) dampen vibration perfectly. Upon turning the machine on, the noise level is quite low compared to so many juicers, rather a low, whooshing noise. The basket spins at 60rpm/second. This may not be as fast as some machines, but one must remember the large diameter of the pulp basket. It gains speed quickly in a few seconds is at operating speed. I''m not going to jam produce into any juicer like some of those idiots on infomercials, and this juicer easily takes care of firm vegetables. The best method for leafy greens is to roll them up into a roll or a ball to give sufficient firmness for the cutting disc. No, this juicer doesn''t extract the same amount of juice for leafy greens. Buy a masticator if you want primarily those.

After use, it does take a half minute or so for the basket to slowly return to idle. I will say this juicer will easily produce a couple of 16-ounce glasses of carrot/beet/celery type juice before requiring cleaning of the pulp container. And boy, is it dry! Can''t squeeze a drop out. I keep reading how much harder this basket is to clean than pulp ejectors. Not in my opinion. Because of its great size, I can easily reach inside. Not only that, because it isn''t slanted on the circumference, pulp somehow doesn''t get a grip. I never have to use a brush on this basket, just running water and my hand.

I know this review is long, but there isn''t a lot of publicity about a juicer that was one of the bedrocks of juicing, and still should be. Unlike so many of these little foreign-made machines selling like hotcakes now, this juicer will be around for your grandchildren--and parts are still completely available. Hope this helps those considering--and compare the lid lock with Omega!

The 6001 makes fantastic quality juice, without the pulp. I can''t stand much pulp, nor can I stand fruits & veggies in general.

It can make about 16-24 oz of juice before you have to change the filter. The filters are not 100% mandatory, but if you don''t use them, your cleanup time triples easily. So use them.

I have a routine in the morning where I can assemble, juice, and clean in about 18-20 minutes. That gives me about 16oz or so of the best quality juice you can imagine.

Keep in mind filters make easy cleanup, keep your fruit/veggies in the fridge overnight before juicing (keeps the blade temp down which prevents the death of the good stuff in your produce before you drink it), and cleanup should happen pretty much right after you juice, or it gets harder to clean.

The 5001 has some plastic, and I prefer all stainless-steel, so that is why I got the 6001. No stains long term with the all stainless product.

If you hate eating your fruits & vegetables, then this product is probably one of the best ways to get essential living nutrients in 20 minutes per day.

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This juicer does a wonderful job separating juice from pulp! It will quickly and efficiently juice carrots, radishes, beets, pineapple, apple, strawberries, kiwi, celery, etc.

Pros: Quickly turns fruit and veggies into juice, relatively quiet, simple to clean when using a filter, many very good recipes available online.

Cons: Can only make about 2 pints before the filter should be changed, can be difficult to clean if you do not use a filter.

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Acme was the standard for juicers when we purchased ours 15 years ago. It still does everything -soft, hard, and green leafy vegetables, fruits, and root vegetables. The pulp from carrot and celery make the base for a great "un-chicken" salad.

The citrus attachment is a worthwhile accesssory for orange and grapefruit juices. It is rock-solid and has never needed any part repaired or replaced.

On the down side, it is heavy, bulky, a bit noisy. The newer juicers appear more ergonomic and boast more features, but I''m not sure if they can lay claim to the durablility of the Acme.

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I bought an Acme Juicerator in 1978, use it several times a week and it is still going strong! It works great, it''s easy to use, and to clean. I highly recommend it. The strong motor and stainless steel disc blades powers through whatever I put in it, and the fresh juice is fabulous.

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