What you consider *superior* products (II)

[Sunset]

The DIYVAC. It's a gizmo for cleaning out the condensate line on a central A/C by attaching to your shop vac and then slip it over the condensate line to pull the stuff out when it gets clogged. A lot easier and faster than any other way I can think of. Kinda overpriced at $18.50 + shipping considering that it's three pieces of plastic but given that it's so much easier I bought one. Will be nice to have the next time the line clogs.

https://www.diyvac.com/

Interesting, our condensate pipe is inside the house, but same idea applies.
This is something folks ignore, and it can really cause a wet floor when the algae builds up.
I just wrote a note, to pour some bleach water down our pipe, to make sure it is clear.

 

[USA]

NSS Pacer 12ue Vacuum. Very simple. Hepa. I can repair/replace all parts myself. Smart purchase and I don’t expect to buy another vac. in my lifetime.

 

[pb4uski]

I'm a big fan of our Dyson cordless vaccum... very light and easy to use... does a good job cleaning.. and can also be used in our vehicles. Expensive... but worth it.

 

[TrvlBug]

Huge Dyson fan here. I have their cordless for quick cleanups and their Animal for kitty hair. The Animal really sucks .

 

[zinger1457]

Anyone have a favorite set of bed sheets they would add to the 'superior products' list? Haven't had much luck with the last couple of sets I purchased, quality not very good. Usually go with 100% cotton sheets.

 

[Gumby]

Anyone have a favorite set of bed sheets they would add to the 'superior products' list? Haven't had much luck with the last couple of sets I purchased, quality not very good. Usually go with 100% cotton sheets.

We just got a set of sheets and pillowcases from Brooklinen. 100% cotton percale 270 thread count. I can tell you that they were nicely smooth even before going through the wash. Neither the sheet nor the pillowcases have any raised seams or decorative trim, which the young wife particularly hates. Nothing but smooth, crisp and cool cotton. One neat feature is that the pillowcases have an interior pocket on the open end to keep the case from slipping off the pillow in the night. I can't speak to durability, since we just got them a few weeks ago, but I'm very happy so far.

 

[Jerry1]

We just got a set of sheets and pillowcases from Brooklinen. 100% cotton percale 270 thread count. I can tell you that they were nicely smooth even before going through the wash. Neither the sheet nor the pillowcases have any raised seams or decorative trim, which the young wife particularly hates. Nothing but smooth, crisp and cool cotton. One neat feature is that the pillowcases have an interior pocket on the open end to keep the case from slipping off the pillow in the night. I can't speak to durability, since we just got them a few weeks ago, but I'm very happy so far.

I went to a boutique hotel once. Noted for being "green". I was so impressed with the sheets that I had to look them up. The felt like the old soft cotton sheets that my dad has. They probably started out rough like a pair of jeans and with time, wear and washing, end up soft and feeling good.

Much to my surprise, the sheets were actually bamboo. Might want to try a set out. I know I will be next time we get some new ones (unless I end up with my dad's, but he's still going strong at 87 so I can't wait around for that )

 

[Meadbh]

I went to a boutique hotel once. Noted for being "green". I was so impressed with the sheets that I had to look them up. The felt like the old soft cotton sheets that my dad has. They probably started out rough like a pair of jeans and with time, wear and washing, end up soft and feeling good.

Much to my surprise, the sheets were actually bamboo. Might want to try a set out. I know I will be next time we get some new ones (unless I end up with my dad's, but he's still going strong at 87 so I can't wait around for that )

I have one set of bamboo sheets. They have a small textured pattern. They wrinkle in the wash around this pattern, so if I want them to look their best, I have to iron them. Next time I will be buying cotton sheets.

 

[pb4uski]

We have a set of bamboo sheets as well... very comfortable.

 

[orangehairfella]

Trouble Free Pools TF-100 Test Kit

No pool owner should be without one of these. The $70 you spend now will save you hundreds, maybe thousands. It takes all the mystery (of which, it turns out, is very little) out of pool chemistry.

The pool might be a bad decision, but a proper test kit isn't.

 

[NW-Bound]

... Leather Honey - Leather Conditioner.

I have some leather shoes that I want to preserve. Some I keep out on a shelf in the garage, and the dry heat causes the leather to harden. If the shoes were worn in that condition, the dry and brittle leather would crack and the shoes would be ruined.

I searched on the Web and found the aforementioned leather conditioner. Reviewers rave about it, so I thought I would give it a shot. I am happy to report that I was able to recondition 5 pairs that were dried out. The leather is now soft and flexible. The stuff is thick as molasses, yet it soaks into the leather and is gone in an hour after application. One pair of shoes was so dry, it took 3 applications.

So, I went gunho and did the better and newer dress shoes in my closet. The stuff is expensive at $18 for an 8 oz bottle, but still cheap for rescuing many shoes costing a lot more. After 9 pairs, I still have more than 1/2 bottle left.

I think it is also good for other leather goods such as women's purses, although it might darken lighter shades of leather or turn it blotchy. It is also not for suede.

PS. There are other similar products on the market that are cheaper. If you have good experience with them, please share. I do not mind using this top-rated Leather Honey on shoes, but to use it on car leather seats or leather furniture will cost a pretty penny.

While I was into repairing my shoes, I found another good product: Shoe Goo. It's a glue meant for shoes, a bit messy to apply, but works great.

 

[travelover]

While I was into repairing my shoes, I found another good product: Shoe Goo. It's a glue meant for shoes, a bit messy to apply, but works great.

This stuff is amazing. I've patched up hiking boots with it even though they get rough service.

 

[Chuckanut]

This stuff is amazing. I've patched up hiking boots with it even though they get rough service.

+1 an shoe goo. I have used it to glue soles coming of some hiking shoes back onto the shoe. I got several more months of usage form the shoe.

 

[tmm99]

I bought this in Canada, but it doesn't have to be this brand.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B074QLCN3D/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Just do a search on "neck massager" on amazon.com. There are tons of similar items and most seem to have the same functionalities.

OMG, I LOVE THIS THING!!! I used to have a small back massager, but that was all it could do, but with this, I can move it to where I want it, not just my neck but pretty much anywhere.

This is just perfect for between massage therapy visits. Mine reverses directions and it feels like a real person-massage (except for the whirring noise), especially when it reverses the direction of the movement. You can adjust how you hold the straps to adjust the strength of the massage, etc.

Mine is cordless, and it comes with a car charger too. I think it would bug me to use something like this while driving, but I guess some people with a bad back might enjoy it.

 

[pb4uski]

Not sure if superior, but still handy.... we bought a Hover Cover... a microwave cover that has microwave safe magnets on the top so when the cover isn't being used it just attaches magnetically to the ceiling of the interior of the microwave so it is handy when you need it yet still high enough to just leave in there when making microwave popcorn or warming up a cup of coffee. Blow that Dough!

 

[Walt34]

Ariens Delux 24" snow blower. I bought this a almost a year ago (December 2017) but didn't have a chance to really exercise it until last Thursday when we got 5" of heavy wet snow, the "heart attack" kind. Last winter we didn't get much snow so I couldn't really try it out. Around here it's a crap shoot, some years very little, other years we get buried.

I bought this one as a replacement for the 20+ year-old Ariens because the older one has a straight shaft axle and turning around at the end of a row was an upper body workout because I had to drag one or both wheels on the ground. Being 67 at the time I was whipped by the time I was done and could see I wasn't going to be able to do that much longer. Still easier than shoveling to be sure, but a workout nonetheless.

The new one has a feature they call "auto turn" and instead of a straight shaft it has sort of a differential-like arrangement that means it will turn in response to just a nudge from a hip or thigh, making it a LOT easier to turn. So much easier that when I was done with my driveway, I still had energy to do one and a half of the neighbor's (one guy had his halfway shoveled out by the time I got there). I hadn't been able to do that for a couple of years.

Yes it is pricey at a bit over $1k with sales tax and such. But worth it to me.

 

[braumeister]

I absolutely agree; it's a great machine; I had one at the last house and loved it. My neighbor came over to borrow it one time and nearly kept it. Be sure to give it some silicone spray lube on all the moving parts once in a while.

 

[W2R]

The specs give the weight as 245.5 lbs . That's a lot. I understand that you don't have to pick it up in order to use it, but still! Gee. You don't have to pick up a vacuum cleaner to use it either, but I sure like my fairly new vacuum cleaner, which is much lighter than my old one.

OK, fine for you strong manly guys, have at it, but I'm so glad that I haven't had to shovel or throw snow (or slip in ice, or have the pipes freeze) in over half a century.

 

[Walt34]

The specs give the weight as 245.5 lbs . That's a lot. I understand that you don't have to pick it up in order to use it, but still! Gee.

It's self-propelled and has the equivalent of power steering, so not hard to handle at all. Certainly it weighs less than that Toyota Venza that you've been wheeling around. Sort of the same idea.

 

[W2R]

It's self-propelled and has the equivalent of power steering, so not hard to handle at all. Certainly it weighs less than that Toyota Venza that you've been wheeling around. Sort of the same idea.

Good point.

 

[Amethyst]

But we got spoiled by the UK kettles, which use 240 volts and heat up water in a trice. In the U.S., the trice turns into several minutes, for a full kettle.

When I first visited the US I was shocked to find that electric kettles were not standard kitchen equipment there. In many other parts of the world, they are ubiquitous.

 

[kimcdougc]

Our 2017 Honda CRV is the best vehicle we have ever owned. (We have owned over 125 vehicles, new, used, fixed up to sale over our 40 years of marriage. DH is a car freak.)

Paid cash of course.

 

[deserat]

+2

+3

For my list - my Kitchenaid mixer
Cuisinart Food Processor
Oleana sweaters
All Clad cookware

Still thinking - will probably add to this list

 

[TDub]

Ugg slippers. Bought mine for $80 in a sales-tax-free state 7 years ago and they’re still warm and comfortable. I replace the sheepskin insoles every few years for $10 and they feel like new.

 

[Rianne]

Taking my 10 year old Merrell suede shoes (normally $120 new) to the dry cleaners. They clean them like new. I have 8 pairs of Merrell's because they are the most comfortable shoes on the market, IMHO. And they last forever.