I recently bought an inexpensive robot vacuum cleaner after years of easily resisting the trend. After a very bad ankle break last summer that won’t heal, and two knee replacements in recent months, I have mobility challenges that keep me from a lot of chores I used to keep up with easily.
I am far from Suzy Homemaker, and I don’t keep an immaculate house, but I have a thing about thorough dusting and well cleaned floors. My husband took on many things, including vacuuming, and my daughter in law helps, as well as grandchildren. Still, I decided to try out the little robot, just to help out.
I am pleased to say that my $89 investment has paid off big time. The vacuum cleaner isn’t perfect, but it is so much better than I expected that it satisfies even floor picky me. If you really want it to work its best, put away clutter, of course, and put chairs and barstools up. It will really clean under couches and beds, go from room to room, and it has little stiff brushes sticking out that rotate and clean at baseboards and in corners.
It has been a pretty long time since I’ve spent under a hundred dollars and been so well pleased. So, I decided, for curiosity’s sake, to see what else you guys come up with. What is your favorite buy lately, large or small?
If this post is enjoyed, I think I’ll do one soon on home improvement and repair items. I spent many years working in the home improvement industry, from my start selling kitchen and bath fixtures, cabinets, appliances and electrical fixtures, moving on the my greater love for lumber, building materials, and milwork, including high end windows and doors. Hint: when I win the lottery my modest home on the banks of the Tennessee River, or one of her lakes, will have only Marvin Windows in it. Unless Kolbe and Kolbe has closed the gap in the years since I left the trade.
But that passion of mine is for a later post. Today it is all about hickeydoodles and hooti, a plural for hootus. That’s a favorite WeeWeed term that makes me smile.
Nice to hear some advice on Windows–Am renovating a Historic home that needs new windows and have not had much luck figuring out the best brands, was told to avoid the “P”s, Pella and Peachtree.
You were told right. Either Marvin or Kolbe will make windows to custom sizes, a must for an historic home. Another piece of advice I’d give you is to make sure you find a salesperson who is great, not with just product features, but the ability to really know the construction process and anticipate all the questions that must be answered.
It’s a LOT more than rough opening size. Jamb thickness, masonry or siding, brickmold or some other Tim, or no trim at all, in which case how long should the sill horn be? Slope of the sill, how will the interior be trimmed, type of glazing best for your home and climate, exterior and interior finishes that will best serve your needs, including historic authenticity. These and many other questions must be answered. Some of them can’t be modified to work if they are wrong, and I’ve seen some people get stuck with some expensive mistakes. Your contractor will almost certainly not have this knowledge, it’s a highly specialized skill set.
When you make major home improvement or building material purchases, you should have the mindset that you are paying for knowledge and customer service as well as product. Hope this helps you out.
Thoughts on Anderson windows? Last home had them and so easy to clean and in 5+ years no lost vacuum in the panes. Obviously not dealing in historic category.
When we had our new built 3 years ago, we went with Anderson. They seemed to be a great investment.
A really good window, but only available in stock sizes, so really intended for new construction. In terms of features and quality Andersen is way above your stock vinyl or wood windows available at Home Depot or building centers but nowhere near the quality of Marvin or K&K.
Is Marvin windows the same as M&W?
Oh no!
Andersen, with two “e’s” went bankrupt years ago. I built my house with Andersen windows in 1978 and had problems with frames and seals for the lifetime warranty windows. I had to replace at my cost as bankrupt companies have really poor warranty service.
Anderson is great.
Thank you. we may be building or remodeling in a year or so.
How about Jeld-Wen?
I wouldn’t.
I made a home out of a large 1840’s railroad station. I spent months painstakingly rebuilding the 30 original 6 over six double hung windows – many with original hand blown glass.
Years later I sold the place (sads) and the first thing the new owner did was replace all the windows with vinyl nasties.
We replaced our single pane aluminum frame window sliders with Milguard double pane, double hung windows. They were on sale at Friedman’s and after years of putting it off, we did it. They look great and make a real difference in warmth and appearance of our house. I am pretty sure Milguard is not a top notch brand but they are nice windows. I grew up with double hung windows and love them.
The house we live in, built in 2018, but not by us, has run of the mill vinyl windows. They look good, are energy efficient, and all this house needs. It’s a nice home, very energy efficient, I think it is beautiful, but it simply isn’t worth expensive windows, it would be a poor investment when the vinyl windows look good and perform well.
Now that is heartbreak. Thanks for the picture. I love old glass, it thrills me to see the old wavy stuff, and if I can find a seed glass vase I’m so happy!
I guarantee you would have fallen in love with the old sashcord windows in the UK. Beautiful and functional, so we could raise them for the lovely fresh air of which there was plenty. And best of all the leaded ones that added so much character to the charming cottages. Sigh…
A century ago homes here in the US had double hung windows with sash weights. People nowadays have no idea that dropping the top pane and raising the bottom each half way created a natural circulation that made homes a lot more comfortable than one might think.
As the warm air rose and exited the top cooler air was drawn into the bottom.
No they don’t, as I didn’t until we moved into our 1869 built house in a Welsh village named Glyndyfrdwy. Our houses were all named. Ours was Plas y Glyn, which meant Manor in the Valley. I loved living there, and sashcords were a revelation. Back now in Texas, I wouldn’t consider opening a window, but there? In the summer, they were open more than closed.
Sash cords would rot and so required periodic maintenance and were difficult to make air tight. Personally not air tight is a feature not a bug because modern houses tend to have high levels of indoor pollution.
We lived in our Welsh home for 20 years, and I’m pretty certain the people who occupied it before us never touched them, as we didn’t. We always had coal fires in our little morning room so a little undetectable inexactness for the windows was welcome. As you say, a feature, definitely not a bug All I know is that it was the coziest place on earth during cold winters. Builders in houses that old knew how to build them to last. Craftsmen of the truest sort.
My late Mother, our family’s heating/cooling engineer, did exactly that. She loved the house because there are many windows on all sides so great cross ventilation. In Southern California, where it can be very hot, they never had central A/C or even a window air conditioner. I finally put in the latter.
Vintage 1938 house. Built by architect/builder for his own family. Has the beautiful double hung sash cord windows with the multiple panes in the front of the house – living room and one bedroom – and single panes in the other windows. My late parents bought it when it was nearly new as the builder’s wife became ill and they had to move to the desert. (Probably TB.) Solid hardwood floors, beauful deep crown moldings, solid panel doors with brass mortice locks in exterior doors and in every room except the bathroom…
I’m so envious!!!!! My Welsh house was built like that. Minton tiled entry floors, slate roof, horse hair walls (1869 built) so warm in the winter, and since we we’re smack dab in the most beautiful valley where the winter winds came through with force sometimes, very efficient and welcome.
Your house, as mine was, was built by people who had skills that are no longer. It’s a tremendous loss. I’m sure you appreciate where you are every day.
I am not familiar with horse hair walls but I was raised in southern Arizona in a old adobe house with thick adobe walls and tile floors.
The house was U shaped with a small fountain in the middle of the U.
The thick walls, tile floors and water running in the fountain seemed to keep things cool way back in the 1950s long before my parents put air con in during the 70s.
People who lived in areas and knew how to build for the seasons ( mine was heat yours was cold) did a pretty good job with what they had.
The main part of my parents house was built in the early 1900s.
I have tried to think about that when remodeling our house here in Colorado.
Wouldn’t a swamp cooler be more energy efficient than A/C ?
Dadgum!!!! Philistines!!!
“the first thing the new owner did was replace all the windows with vinyl nasties.”
That’s a crime against humanity.
Times a million
I’d have cried!
It really is a desecration.
I was young and ambitious… and ignorant. 17 years of my life and all my money went to that abandoned structure. Was beautiful when I sold it. Living room was 57′ long with ten foot ceilings.
I didn’t know about capitol gains !@#$%^&*()
Yes I cried a lot.
It’s the season for all those window replacement companies advertising for replacements. We’ve been staring out at windows that have popped, knowing that time was well past but trembling with the thought of the cost, discount or no. As seniors with a tight and shrinking budget, we’d been putting it off until a rock thrown by our neighbor’s mower went into one, and we decided to bite the bullet.
We tried to get a number of quotes from different companies, all of which were large well known names. Horrifyingly, the time frame for replacement was anywhere between 3-4 months! Well into winter.
We finally contacted a local company which came out within a week and told us there was no need to replace the windows completely. Just the glass, which cut our cost in half or more. Two weeks later the job was done beautifully…9 window panes, 2 window arches, no fuss, no muss, done by 2 lovely local lads. We provided donuts and kalachis and drinks to keep them going. They were very appreciative, God bless them.
My story is a bit long, but I wanted to pass it on, Menagerie, since you mentioned windows. The main point being if you can go local on a big costly item like this, it would support those in your community, as the great Catherine Austin Fitts suggests. But also, this local company was honest enough to not try to upsell us. I suspect a larger company would not have apprised us of the less expensive alternatives.
Oh, and those calls we made for quotes? Two weeks AFTER the job was done, we received a call back from one of those well known companies for which we’d left our number asking for a quote. Nuff said.
Great option if and only if your jambs and framing are solid and not rotting. Another option, more costly than your alternative, would be Marvin’s Tilt Pac sets, made to replace double or single hung window sashes.
What you did also means no expense inside or out if you aren’t replacing siding or trim. Again, I emphasize even more so, get a good company and a really, really knowledgeable salesperson to work with. There will almost always be a few issues down the road. Know what their service and warranty policies are, and ask for a list of prior jobs you can check out.
Yes, this we knew. And we were lucky no doubt. But we’ve found that with some companies the idea that they shouldn’t sell the whole package is not on their radar. So indeed we do know that the basic structure must be solid. The other point of finding someone local IF possible, and I realize for many that is not possible, is perhaps the first place to start looking…and branch out from there.
We would love to replace our single-pane wood frame sash windows, but for the cost and difficulty. Where most such windows have wood trim between the window frame and sheetrock to cover the gap, ours are finished with quarter-round steel (galvanized) corner beads and painted. I’ve never seen the like before. The interior doors are finished in the same way – 1/4 round from the edge of the door frame to the plaster wall. It makes for a sleek looking install – unique for a 1950’s era rambler. I imagine an R&R job of any door or window would involve ripping out the 1/4 round and some plaster repair before installing finish molding between the window frame and wall. Thankfully, whoever installed the windows used a metal spring-loaded sash (stiles) channel (?) for the windows to run up/down on and hold them in place. To remove a window just tighten the 3 spring-loaded screws to retract the channels and remove the window. They’re all in good shape and the exterior mounted single-pane storm windows provide additional protection / insulation. Another impediment to simple window replacement is the exterior sills, etc. have all been wrapped with powder coated aluminum and vinyl siding.
I can’t imagine replacing the windows with double-pane with wood interior would ever pay for themselves in my lifetime. So it’s DAP 33 and replacement panes from the hardware store for me. Re-glazing windows isn’t so bad with a wall-paper steamer – but cleaning them regularly is a PIA.
My favorite gadget – if they can be called that – are point of use hot water heaters (Bosch) under the kitchen sink (4 gal) and remote bathroom sink (2.5 gal). Previously it took 30-45 seconds respectively to get hot water to the tap – now it’s 2 seconds. Energy use is negligible.
Oh my!!! 2 seconds!!I’d say getting hot water from the heater to our bathroom which is the furtherest from that heater is well over a minute. Your Bosches should pay for themselves with the amount of water you’ll not be wasting. Now that’s a find.
Installing at the kitchen sink was simple as there was an outlet for the garbage disposal (removed as the house is on septic). 4 gallons is enough to wash dishes. The back bath required a new outlet in the under-sink cabinet. We used to laugh about turning on the hot water before using the loo and it still wasn’t warm by the time we were done. 😉
Living in Germany for 6 years absolutely spoiled me for point of use and tankless waterheaters. When we rebuilt our home I insisted on having a whole house tankless. Loved it. Sold the house to move east from the left coast.
I’m going to look into the point of use ones for our home here in MS. Seems to take forever to get hot water into our back bathroom.
I’d have liked a whole house tankless, but the breaker panel is maxed out. We’re on acreage with a well, cistern and septic all of which have 220v 30a (?) breakers. Half the breakers on the generator sub-panel are just for water/septic services – when there’s a power outage, we can’t even flush the toilet without a generator. Upside – no water bills. Downside, it took 10 years for the water system to pay for itself in city water bill savings. 😀
Avoid the big box stores and find a builders supply that caters to the contractor’s market. They will be in industrial areas and in plain buildings. Seek them out. They will have availability to custom products that you would not know existed. You will pay more, but you will get what you need. They may not sell directly to you, but they will nearly always work with any licensed contractor.
I have to disagree on this one. Kind of. I worked both sides of this. Started at a wholesale distributor to local lumber yards, then went to work for one of my customers. Then I went on to Home Depot, where I woked my way into management. At that time, no one gave customer service better than Home Depot, and they would stand behind services and products into the tens of thousands of dollars, if need be. No independent will ever do that. OTOH, I worked with some great people at independence lumber yards and building centers, and their people were often far more knowledgeable of basic lumber and building material products and needs. For example, you’ll never get a lumber takeoff from Home Depot, or at least not when I was there.
There is an old lumber mill not too far from where we live and it is the best place to get your lumber. They deliver promptly and cut to size.
My new house is being built with all Pella windows so I will have to live with them. Do you happen to know what problems are associated with these windows and what might be done to prevent them?
Pella is a really good brand, especially for new construction. And if their doors are as good as they used to be when I was in the business that’s what I’d use for patio doors.
My Pella patio door is still good after 20 years. It replaced a rotted out Peachtree door. I have heard that Peachtree is much better now.
Good to hear. I won’t worry now. Thanks a bunch.
I think Pella, like some other large window manufacturers, makes different kinds of windows and what I’ve learned over the years is that depending on the type of window, some brand names w/a good reputation may or may not be the way to go for that type of window, ie, aluminum frame w/wood cladding vs vinyl, new construction vs replacement windows, etc, etc, etc. Also, the technology has developed so much over time that it’s amazing how many features there are to compare side-by-side for any window manufacturer. And lastly, don’t forget that the window itself is only 50% of the final end result. The other 50% is the install. If you have a great window and a crappy installation, then it’s no good. Ach! It’s tiring how complicated things can become.
After sitting in mothballs for two years, my wife finally got the one I bought her out and set it up. It works pretty good for dog hair on the wood floors, and I was surprised our dog didn’t seem too scared of it.
The kids got one for a wedding gift. They have 2 dogs. Once when I was babysitting, I decided to inspect. I found it was plum packed. I laughed. After cleaning up, it worked very well. The grandchild was terrified while it ran, but had to go push button when quiet
We’ve got one we named Hazel. It serves as a sweeper of the tile floors, gets tangled occasionally in an electrical cord absently left out but does a decent job. And yes we have a dog that sheds short hair. Hazel simply enters a room, the dog vacates in a hurry and soon the job is completed. Usually we find Hazel recharging, ready to be emptied then forgotten until the next go around.
Was Hazel named after the maid (played by Shirley Booth) in the 1960s tv series with the same name?
A combination of the comic strip and tv series.
Oh wow – I forgot about the comic strip. That ran a lot longer than the tv series.
My little sheltie would charge at it, barking and yapping then back off, then charge again…a game…
Too bad you have no cats. I’ve seen videos of those cheeky moggies (as we called them in Britain) jumping on for a joyride around their castles. They looked awfully content as they surveyed their kingdoms.?
Automatyczny odkurzacz i Maine Coon (CARBONES KOTY THOMASA*PL) – YouTube
YES!!! just like that! He has accommodating staff.
Hahahahahahaha! That is too much! And I guess the fluffy tail picks up a bit of whatever dust the robot leaves behind!
Here’s something more low-tech. Maru, the famous Japanese cat that’s obsessed w/boxes, pushing a little cart. If the owner rigged up a broom she could make Maru be productive. But, alas, he’s just charming w/no end result beyond a smile on your face!
How does it deal with errant paperclips ?
I don’t know, we’ve never had that issue.
Thank you for this post. The similarities between your universe & mine are amazingly alike. Thank you for the tip on windows too.
I bought a common brand at HD on sale earlier this year. Other than when it found a small-dog, misplaced turd that took me 45 minutes to clean out, I love it. It’s amazing how much it picks up in 45 minted roaming on its own.
‘Minutes’ not minted. Darn autocorrect.
My niece came home one day to find her large dog had apparently had digestive problems before the vacuum ran. It was all over the house. Her preschooler refused to enter the house until her mother had it all cleaned up, and it was a terrible job.
I guess that should be a causation to dog owners. ?
Lol. We have dogs, and because of stories like this, we run our vacuums at night while everyone is in bed.
Renovating or updating (on a budget) a well built, older but sturdy home is a great past time.
We’ve built one new, and renovated 3 living in each one various lengths of time, ( 7-20) years.
The secret is to do a room or two at a time, and as you can afford it, because sticking to your master plan often gets sidetracked by life.
There is something to be said about creating or recreating something beautiful from something that was neglected. Everyone likes a makeover, even a structure of brick, stone, concrete and wood.
I’m a self employed floor covering installer. I’ve been told a few times by folks such as yourself that doing a room at a time is the way to go. Their reasoning was that by going back and forth into your “new” room each time one was done renewed the excitement of the project each time and you never felt like giving up.
Ultimately, this way would usually be more expensive and take longer but if it keeps you on track and out of divorce court it is actually the least expensive way.
Keeping a large bowl of marshmallows in the newest online room helps many folks.
Check the model and small print on these things; I remember reading something when they first appeared on the market about how they were transmitting the layout of ones home back to the “company” for “possible marketing purposes.”
When our kids were small, you could eat off the kitchen floor–literally for a day or two. My best gadget lately is the Bosch 12 volt cordless drill with multiple quick change heads, including the offset bit holder that lets you get right up to the edge in a corner.
I have a Ryobi saws all, a grass clipper and small chain saw style shrub trimmer, all use the same battery size, my favorite is the fan that I use at dog shows…battery holds a long charge…
My husband and I were just talking yesterday about a great purchase we made close to 10 years ago at Walmart. We needed a new toaster but ended up buying a toaster oven/ convection oven by Oster for $69. We use it at least once a day to make toast, reheat leftovers, cook bread, bake potatoes etc. It was a spur of the moment purchase that we had not researched, but it is a workhorse of my kitchen!
My husband wanted an air fryer, not that he would ever cook in it, but he felt it would help us make healthier meals. I researched them and decided I wanted the one that looks like a toaster oven, rather than the round basket ones. It replaced our toaster and does indeed cook some really good meals. My only complaint is it fits really small pans if you aren’t air frying in the basket, and I like to have leftovers for later. Makes the best salmon we’ve ever prepared. I hate it on the counter all the time, but I’m not moving it in and out of the pantry every time I want to use it.
We use ours at least 2x a day. Love to roast fresh veggies and chicken. HEALTHY and delicious in very little time thanks to the convection.
Toast, baked goods, you name it.
And because it’s only the 2 of us, smaller pans are no problem.
Heats up 4x faster than our regular oven. And much easier to clean.
I don’t have one and have been thinking that it would be a nice addition. Do you have a brand recommendation? I’m also trying to purchase items made anywhere but China.
Air Fryer’s are the best! We have two…both are Philips…
I got mine at Costco. It’s a Cuisinart.
Dollar Tree has round and rectangle aluminum pans (like Chinese take out) that fit perfect in my air fryer. 4 pans/$1.
I use my air fryer 3-4x’s a week. Cooks great plus saves on electricity (2 ways; cooking and A/C because I am not using the big oven).
I have found that round baking pans will often fit where the rectangular ones don’t (I have a Cuisinart convection toaster oven). For example, I have a 10″ round casserole, and a 3 quart Cuisinart covered casserole that fit. I have done a small pot roast in the Cuisinart.
Another favorite purchase I made. There are cheaper ones, but I stuck to this because of positive reviews and the fact that this small business is nearby. When we sold our cabin several years ago and moved to a new home it did not have a fireplace, one of my favorite things in a home. One of these days maybe I’ll get one. For now this entertains me and makes me happy. It’s way, way better than the candles I also love when I’m in the mood for a little fire.
I love this. Reminds me: As a child I tried to roast marshmallows on my grandparents kitchen table in tinfoil. It was a Formica table and created quite a bubble. Oops.
Durability would be an interesting thing to learn. Some things last, others, not so much.
I quit buying hedge trimmers and weed whackers because I can’t seem to get more than 1-1 1/2 seasons out of them. Now I rent hedge trimmers biannually, and to heck with the weed whacking; if the mower can’t get it, it doesn’t get done (unless of course I pull it by hand…pshaw).
Dehumidifiers for the basement seldom last more than two summers, and they’re pretty expensive.
“I am far from Suzy Homemaker, and I don’t keep an immaculate house” This is the kindest way to describe me.
I’ve had my Worx battery weed eater for well over 5 years. Still works great.
My wife purchased a Black & Decker battery operated one about 15 years ago. I used it only a few times because it is too light duty for the things I was using it for. I am pretty sure that would still work once I recharged the batteries.
I’ve had my Worx trimmer for over 10 years. Well worth the money and lifetime of free spools. You just have to pay shipping. It’s also very lightweight. I love mine.
Interesting. My husband has two weed eaters he’s had over 20 years.
Me too. Secret is buy top brands like Stihl, Echo or, my favorite, Husqvarna and use Stabil in the gas. Battery power is convenient but lacks the grunt of gas powered equipment.
I only buy Stihl products. They just keep on starting and running.
I have three chainsaws.
Two gas-powered and one electric.
Initially, I was a bit skeptical about the electric saw, but lately I’ve found myself grabbing it for most jobs.
It’s great for trimming limbs and smaller trees.
I also use it for rough cuts on certain building projects.
It’s nice not to have to fool with gas.
That said, for the serious jobs I break out the Husqvarna gasser.
I had a sweet McCulloch that my father purchased back around 1979, but he eventually reclaimed it
The hedge trimmer I rent is an Echo. I never heard of the brand before my first rental, but it is an exceptional piece of equipment.
Yep, he buys good stuff and takes really good care of it.
I did family history work on the Poulan bros. They make fabulous outdoor products, since 1946.
Every maker of powered yard tools that I know about has at least three quality levels. I call them Homeowner, Farmer, Professional. I buy the farmer grade and only use fuel in a can. Yes, it is expensive. So are fuel system repairs. Exception is the leaf blower as that monster drinks fuel. For that one, I use no-alchohol gas for the premix. I also use the no-alcohol for all of the 4-cycle engines, mowers, generators, lawn vac, etc.
Ditto on the no-alcohol gas.
Yes, I think this is exactly the key.
I was looking for the least expensive Homeowner level for these two outdoor products. I should have gotten the upgraded units. I could tell immediately the first time I rented the hedge trimmer, it cut through like butter.
Thank you for this very good information.
The mower and snow blower are each in their 22nd year of use.
Maintenance is the key. I still use a Weedeater Featherlite straight shaft trimmer I bought in March 2000. It’s old enough to vote and buy alcohol! I’ve replaced the primer bulb, spark plug, and fuel tank once. The fuel filter has been replaced half dozen times, and the foam air cleaner is the original (washed and re-oiled every season).
I bought it because it was cheap and figured I’d use it for a year or two and then buy a better one. Ha! That trimmer will outlive me! A few years ago I did buy a better trimmer, but it’s heavier and I rarely use it. The little Featherlite I can hold out straight with one hand. Plus, it starts on the second or third pull. Beat that, Stihl.
Oh, and my riding mower is the same age – bought from Lowe’s at the same time as the trimmer.
Yes, an excellent point. I am dilligent about servicing thelarger items (mower, snow blower) before each season, but i think my neglect for the others may be part of the reason their life was shortened.
Marvin windows, we chose all wood about 30 years ago, the real divided light 4/4 is unbeatable when it comes to looks inside and out, a couple have lost their double-hung system and need to be propped open, MOST have rotted sills (the factory finish did not hold up to Upstate NY climate) but because they are wood any carpenter or handy homeowner can chisel the sill out and replace with 2×6 pressure-treated wood or cedar, along with the brick mold which also tends to go bad after time (i’m getting the foam stuff instead of wood)—the windows, locked, have withstood 70mph straight line winds, and do not leak, and are very good at blocking drafts.
So tl/dr nice windows but some pain factor down the road.
Marvin will have a record of your purchase, but your window probably has some identifiable info on it. You can contact a dealer for info about replacement jamb liners which the sash will fit into and be operable again, and it shouldn’t be very expensive. Marvin is very, very good about helping out their customers.
If your sill rotted to that extent I’d search for water problems, unless you just have really bad exposure to some severe rainstorms with no overhang or protection such as good flashing. Most good windows are made up north for a reason, harsh climates. Marvin in Warroad MN, Kolbe in Wisconsin, Pella in Iowa, to name a few.
I was given one of these as a gift. I thought it was more of a gimmick until I ran the device one day. I was amazed at how much they pick up. And the version I have docks itself to recharge once it has completed the job. It does well with both our wood floors and the rugs.
Not really a thingamajig, but just a few tips from a friend that have helped me this past year.
Another tip about plastic wrap: Don’t buy Saran wrap. The best (which I recently discovered) is Stretch-Tite. I bought a 250 sq. ft. roll for $4.69. It is heavier weight, sticks better to bowls/pans, and has a slide cutter. Recommended by America’s Test Kitchen, and they are right!
Stretch-Tite is sold at Costco. Have used it for years. When I last bought any (ages ago! I am just now working on Roll 2) there were two large rolls, like Stella describes, bundled together. 750 sq.ft./roll. About $12.00. Lasts a long, long time. (Each roll comes with a terrific slide cutter.)
Air Fryer! Best way to reheat restaurant leftover (especially the ones that are fried).
Another is heavy duty zip ties. So useful!
It’s magic for pizza leftovers.
Occasionally, I watch this show called Roadkill Garage and they’re always using zip ties for emergency auto repairs.
I have a large supply of them in my barn, along with lots of duct tape.
Lots of duct tape.
In the Zombie Apocalypse duct tape will be our salvation. ?
I love mine as well. I was aggravated when my husband wagged mine into the house as I didn’t think it would be worth a flip. Then he did Buffalo wings with it. I was shocked that they were even better than those we do in grease and it makes perfect wings every time. We’ve cooked quite a few things in it and have yet to have a loser. It also gets him to cook more often which is great for me. :).
BONUS!
I cant help myself from sharing
https://www.scarymommy.com/roomba-meets-pile-of-poop-jesse-newton/
That’s a pretty funny story, if not a sobering warning to Roomba-owning families with pets.
Roomba sent me an email guaranteeing me that theirs will not rum over pet poo. If it does, they will supposedly send you a replacement roomba. We have a few Yorkies that use puppy pads if they have to go and I’ve forgotten to take them out. I told my roomba where they are; so it goes around them and I keep the pads in the exact same place to not risk confusing the roomba.
Prayers for healing of all your ails and wounds, and for patience as you heal. Please know that your posts here are true blessings. Many thanks.
Thank you Tom, so appreciated.
Ditto!
I actually really enjoyed that post. It was a pleasant relief from the world gone mad.
I tried one of those robot things ten years ago and it was a disaster. Of course having two dogs, two cats, and two slobs in the house the poor thing would probably do what the last one did, commit suicide by throwing itself down the stairs in despair.
??
Thanks for the much needed chuckle…..
Good laugh! I also had to end up selling mine.
It wasn’t that it didn’t do a good cleaning job – it did. But my two cats were terrified of it. And as a musician, my floors are frequently covered with a mess of cables. It wasn’t worth the time to move them just so the roomba could do its thing.
I’m a huge fan of the Swiffer. Again because of the cats I don’t have rugs. The swiffer gets the cat hair, which is the main thing.
The item I’m pleased with has been solar power outdoor motion lights. They don’t seem to hold up for too many years and so they get replaced but I like them well enough that they do get replaced.
We have them too. They are great for our dog when she goes outside at night. Ours seem to last about 3 or four year.
Solar is unproven for large uses but for outdoor lighting it is excellent.
Even in New England I leave my collection of pathway and solar string lights outside in the snow – they collect some power from the bright snowy days and then make pinwheel patterns in it at night I can see from upstairs window.
My favorite solar gadget is the one that makes a fountain out of a birdbath. Yes, it’s of Chinese manufacture (sigh), but it really transforms an outdoor space for cheap (about $15). You float it in the birdbath and as long as it catches sun, it fountains.
One tip: it comes with a set of fancy nozzles that spray the water high, but they can empty the birdbath in under an hour. I take off the nozzle and use it without one, and the fountaining water can last up to 48 hours, obviously more if it rains.
We have a creek (street run off) with little fish etc. I put one of these (anchored) in it and birds love it! A heron came to inspect it!
Idk, my friend has a 10kWh rooftop solar. They use it to charge their car and still have enough to run their house and sell back electricity to the electric company. The city uses net-metering, so if you don’t use everything you produce, they credit your bill (like in the winter when your power output goes down). They don’t pay electric bills anymore or it’s minimal like when all the kids are home at the holidays with all the extra power usage. And the one car has no gas bill for daily commuting.
We have a lot more sun in Colorado than in most places. We’re putting a 6kWh system on the roof of our new build…should be more than enough to offset our empty-nester electrical needs.
You’re lucky. Up here in blueMA simply not enough ? for me to even consider the $$.
yep, it’s very dependent on sun angle and sunshine, that’s for sure! I do not miss living in the northeast. (grew up in northern PA)
We bought our daughter an Air Fryer. She entertains a lot so we went a size. She loves it.
Best gadget I have is my sawsall with a pruning blade for larger jobs. No more fighting with the pruning shears and no more backaches.
I forgot to mention my sawzall! I love mine too. My neighbor had one and showed me how to use it to cut big roots in planting holes. I love that you can push it right into the dirt and it still works fine.
Hey, that’s a great idea!
Thanks.
A tip: put super glue in a baggy and keep it in the freezer.
Years ago, a repair man passed this tip on to me. I never throw out a partially used tube of super glue, it is east to locate & ready to use.
That is interesting. I often buy the multipacks because the tubes tend to harden before I need to use it again. I am going to try that. Thank you for the tip.
I’ve had a Roomba for 17 years. It’s not perfect, but I run it every other day so it keeps the floors fairly clean until I can manually do them.
Just bought 6 tubes of Ivermectin at $5.50 per pop…for my “horses”, of course.
I actually have horses. And I take their Ivermectin once a week. I dose for 100 lbs bc I weigh 120 & it is too hard to adjust dosage.
We have horses too but I had read there’s a difference between what we give horses and the Rx for humans?? I’m a little frustrated over what’s accurate and not. I had signed up for consult with American Frontline drs for husband and me only to receive an email 2 wks later that they were so back logged that they wouldn’t be able to schedule us. Was so surprised and disappointed with them.
Contacted AFLDS about ~1 1/2 wks ago. Got approved, then contacted online pharmacy on their list and meds came few days ago. Was HCQ not IVM, plus zinc, but I am not complaining. Have the horse toothpaste already from local ag/feed store. Good luck.
Check out the list of docs on the FLCCC website. Remember that you can consult w/anyone via a teledoc appt. They don’t need to be local.
https://covid19criticalcare.com/ivermectin-in-covid-19/how-to-get-ivermectin/
Thank you Sarah. Will get in touch with one of them.
Where did you buy your Ivermectin? Everyone who is vaxxed or unvaxxed needs to be realistic about the fact that the vaxxed are superspreaders of the bioweapon currently best known as COVID-19 and that everyone is potentially in danger of being infected eventually. I take vitamin C, D3, E, and Zinc; but, believe having a supply of Ivermectin on hand would be prudent.
Tractor Supply
Be sure to only buy the tubes with 1.87% ivermectin and no other active ingredients.
Would you share the source?
That would be handy to have just in case, around “the barn”.
Thanks in advance!
I harvested some Hopi Tobacco, its like 9 percent nicotine, help keep the vid at bay.
ivermectin = dead parasites = no covid
covid vaccine = dead people
A small side step here….I love the concept of the robot vacuum but it does not work for me…I have two shelties. They shed twice a year–January to June and then again from July to December…
I would spend a lot of time unclogging it.
However, go retro in time, there was a woman, in Charleston, SC oh about 1983…who collected dog hair and spun it into wool and then knitted sweaters from it! I have no idea what type of thingamajig that she used before the knitting needles…
All y’all Treepers know how I feel about repurposing…that has to be the ultimate!
? PerPETual allergies!
I saw a woman on TV once that stuffed homemade pillows with dryer lint! ?
Dryer lint is fabulous for fire starters! Put it in a toilet paper tube.
Do folks wearing her sweaters now have a thing for chasing cars?
Or barking at the neighbors?
Instant Pot
I’m not a gadget person but I bought one years ago and it is still one of my favorite cooking vessels. I love the no fuss ease and quick clean-up.
I bought one about four years ago. If all I ever used it for was cooking potatoes and making boiled eggs, it would still be worth every penny I paid for it! The hubs and I gave our son and our daughter and son-in-law each one for Christmas a couple of years ago. The Instant Pots are in constant use in all three households. I ended up purchasing the larger 8 quart size as well a couple of years ago for large batch cooking. I was always scared to use the stovetop pressure cookers but the electric Instant Pot is just about idiot proof!
Eggs are so easy to peel when done in the Instant Pot! Even fresh from the nest, they literally just pop out of the shell. Ribs in kraut is another quick favorite of mine.
Instant pot eggs, perfect. 5/5/5 Easy to remember and perfect eggs every time. 5 minutes high, 5 minute off cycle then manual depressurize, 5 minutes in a ice water bath (the key). I use about 14 ounces of water in the bottom with eggs on a silicone trivet.
My wife has perfected making ribs in ours. My job is to toss them on the grill to carmelize them a bit, but otherwise, they are fall-off-the-bone awesome.
Extra nice now that we’re heading into true “soup season”…
Great for making yogurt too.
I bought one four or five years ago and never liked it. My son is an owner/operator trucker and likes to cook rather than eat junk. He’s got his truck well furnished and bought an instapot. He likes it.
I invested in one a few months ago after a hip replacement. One of the best purchases I’ve ever made and would definitely recommend getting one. Not much good though if you’re a person with a very cluttered home.
Or not much counter space!
My brother has the robot floor that mops and swears it is by far his favorite gadget of all time. Mine hands down is the Haan detachable steam cleaner. One lemon from my meyer lemon tree and I can have the counters in this place gleaming like they were just installed.
What kind of counters do you have? I keep my granite sealed pretty frequently and wonder if that would remove it.
I adore mine too. It’s wonderful to just let that run instead of dragging the mop all over the floors.
Menagerie, would you be willing to tell the brand of $89 robot vacuum?
Doesn’t help to rave over a product if you don’t share the details! :-O
Brand and model of your $89 surprise?
It’s a Deebot DO3G.12, very probably obsolete as I got it from a clearance place.
What brand floor sweeper did you find for $89?????
See above
By far, I would vote for my Instapot. From start to finish in 1 hour, a pot of dried beans is finished. Also great for soups, roasts, or anything requiring long cook times.
I may give the little robot a try. We just refinished our foyer and kitchen floors. They are quarter sawn maple random width planks and although beautiful, they are very high maintenance. I am picky about my floors like you. If my floors are clean, the whole house looks clean no matter its condition. LOL
Oooh, maple. I’ve owned two houses – the first was a 1902 Victorian with original hard maple floors throughout.
In the morning the sun would make them look like a big pool of butter.
My current house is much more modest in size and also has mostly wood floors but not maple. How I miss that…
Ours were originally finished with oil-based poly which turned too yellowy for our tastes. This time the floor pro suggested water-based and the maple are a beautiful blonde color, very natural looking. He says they will stay this color due to using the water based poly.
You’re the musician? If all your floors are bare do you need to do anything to keep down echo? Acoustic ceilings – carpeting on walls – drapes? I’m a drummer and I pay a lot of attention to sound deadening but not for the neighbor’s sake … I live in a commercial area with no neighbors. If a room is too “live” we have a hard time hearing what we play over the echo.
Hi Boogy – We’re acoustic with no drums, so when we echo, it only makes our vocals sound better than they may actually be. ? I agree that drums are very different & require another approach.
All my drums are maple shells and acoustic (They’re not miked) and when I jam with acoustic guitar players I usually play with brushes or rods. It’s a real drumming talent to play quietly. It has always been a big gripe of mine that so many non professional bands drown out the vocalist … and I’m a drummer.
I have a Shark robot and wouldn’t be without it. It does a fabulous job and the customer service from the company is great.
Lovely thread to take our minds off the daily chaos – thank you!
I have three items. The first should be for anyone who cooks. Oxo makes measuring cups that you can read from above, so you don’t have to hold them up and try to judge from the side. Extremely nifty especially if you do a lot of baking.
The second is for gardeners. My honey bought me a Vermont cart. They are expensive but it’s at least doubled the types of tasks I can do and shortened the time to do them. I was unsure that I could handle it because of arthritic hands, but it basically drives itself over any surface, turns on a dime, leverages very heavy weight and saves my back – it’s a dream. Worth every penny.
And then, for guitar players. Many of us who are older have spent years playing expensive guitars (mine is not top of the line but I finally have the Martin I always wanted in college).
However, most play these guitars with flatpicks that cost $1 or $2.
For the cost of all those cheap picks that clutter up the house, get in the laundry, get inside the guitar, etc. – try a BlueChip pick. Most of the players I know laugh uproariously at the idea of a $30-$40 flatpick. Then they try it. And then (not for all, but many), the addiction often starts…
I can’t describe why it works so well; it just does. Every note you pull out with it rings crisply, has more volume, more presence, more confidence. I also find it’s just far easier to play. My main instrument is keyboard and I was mostly a rhythm guitar player but now I do all sorts of motifs and leads – they just sort of happen.
Oh, and, it’s spooky, but it’s not as easy to drop accidentally as a cheap pick.
Hope someone gets enjoyment out of these ideas…
Going to check out the Vermont Cart!
I have been looking at Vermont Carts for awhile. The large wheels make gardening easy.
I spent a large part of last evening watching Chet Atkins videos.
Such a great player…
You play any bass? I own a few guitars and a small hollow body, double cut away electric bass. Everyone who sees it refers to it as a “Beatle Bass”, of course, referring to Paul McCartney’s famous Hofner 500/1 violin bass. My bass was made in Japan in the early ’70s and has a SCROLL neck. It is the most beautiful guitar I have ever seen. I keep it on a guitar stand in my living room so I can view it as the piece of art it is!
Not bass for me – but that instrument sounds terrific!
My favorite is my manditar (mandolin-guitar). Body is mando, but the 6 strings are tuned just like a guitar one octave higher. In a jam with guitars and real mandos I’m sonically in between. Also play a small accordion (2 piano octaves I can hang around my neck).
A gift from my daughter was ,The Pick-a-Palooza.
Simple to use, create custom guitar picks from old credit cards, gift cards, hotel room key cards, driver’s licenses or any thin piece of plastic laying around the house.
Works great…
Been using a Jack La Laine Power Juicer for years..They are great for blending veggies, greens + fruits, especially berries, melons. The drink is heavenly! The only downside is cleaning out the pulp from the filters, it’s time consuming.
Then I came across the Nutri Bullet cylinder blender. It blends everything and no pulp ! It’s just a small cylinder. I mix protein powder/drinks with spinach, fruit, etc.. Nothing to clean but the one container, they are various prices, under $ 50.
Both machines are a great way to get so many nutrients. Also, there’s a noticeable improvement in my hair and skin!
I love my Nutri bullet, never use the big blender, I should get rid of it.
You might want to hold on to the big one. I think that canning jars fit the blade part.
Random Thoughts by Sundance…. LOL (I know… menagerie, but thinking Sundance deals with the same crap we all do is funnier)
I also love my Roomba and want a second one. My Keurig is a daily joy and I don’t know why I waited so long to get one. (The Keurig coffee club is fun, too.)
I switched out or original Keurig for the one that has the foamer on the side so I can make cappuccinos and lattes. We bought some reusable K-cups online that are much cheaper than the Keurig brand. So now we buy different types of coffees that we can grind or regrind at home (I like extra-fine grinds) and store in airtight containers. The end result is no more Starbucks or expensive coffee shop stops when I’m close to home and less trash in the bin.
I’ve been very skeptical about these things. We have a 55 year old Nutone central system that can still suck the wallpaper off the walls, and a couple older Kirbys for the dog hair. All wonderful USA made machines.
But I’m like you now, in that it is an increasing effort to haul out all the hoses and attachments to keep up with things. The Kirbys are like driving a car around … and weigh about as much. We have tumbleweeds in a couple rooms because it has become such a chore. And I don’t like dirty floors.
Your good experience gives me hope that perhaps these gadgets are worth another look.
Think of it this way. They won’t replace your need to vacuum, but you can haul out the old trusted ones less frequently. I probably get my house about once a month now, although I’d like to do it no more than every two weeks. But I have no pets, and my floors are a really awesome LVP that never shows dirt, not that I don’t like them clean. I had Asian walnut floors in our cabin. To me they looked like hickory, were very beautiful, but so hard to keep clean. And these floors are really kid proof too, I have 8 grandkids.
LVP … Luxury Vinyl Planks?
That’s it, yes.
this may be too big to qualify as a gadget, but hands down the absolute best household helper purchased in decades has got to be my battery powered snow blower (the red&black brand that starts with a “T” ?).
charge the batteries inside, pop one in and go.
throws as far as you want, one battery lasts for the full expanse of my double driveway, quiet, no fumes, no mixing, no starting hassle!
got to kinda chip at big snowplow drifts (over 3′ ), but it gets it done.
plus the headlight is sooo cool!??
Hi, Sorry to hear about the barnacles of your body but nice to hear your pleasure with the robo-vac. We borrowed our son-in-laws’ power washer initially to wash porch and because of the ability to control the strength of the stream, my husband cleaned the fence, the cement foundation and even the venetian blinds from our windows. He, like you, was impressed with the outcome.
I was just telling housemate recently that he needs to borrow one to clean the screens. Ours get really yucky very quickly.
Great article! While I have nothing to contribute, I’m certainly interested in hearing about favorite gadgets that might be helpful. I hate vacuuming, even after enticing myself to do it by buying a (used) Dyson. But having a little robot vacuum cleaner sounds like a great idea. I have pets, which makes vacuuming important. I’m not Suzy Homemaker either, which makes vacuuming (and dusting) a horrible chore. I’ll have to look into this little robot. I have a feeling I’m going to be really interested in this…….
I’m replying to my own post. I’m in Ireland. After reading this article, I started searching for ‘cheap’ robotic vacuum cleaners…..Good Lord, the cheapest one I can find here (so far) is well over $300.
Brother and his wife bought one of these little doo-hickey’s and it works like a champ. : )
My “gadget” transition will be to the EGO system for yard maintenance. Also, the blower can be used to run over the car after being washed (must be polished 🙂 ) so drying is minimal.
The reviews are insane, nearly 5 star with well over 5,000+ on each of their products. They are a little pricier than their gas alternatives, but I’ll no longer need to store gas (or worrying about borrowing the wife’s truck to fill up without transporting it inside my vehicle), change the oil, wear out my arm starting the flooded trimmer, change the spark plugs and change the oil filter. Their push mowers fold up for nice storage. All the products use the same battery (just different amp hours).
I eventually want to get the “generator”. Can be used inside, lasts a really long time if you use 4 10-amp hour batteries. It’ll just take a little time to purchase all the items.
Never thought I’d be excited about battery powered yard equipment, but they’ve done it right and I’m more than willing to pay the extra premium to reduce the hassle. Also, the noise reduction would be nice. 20+ years in the fire department with the loud diesel engines, sirens and operating power equipment like chainsaws, circular saws, generator, etc have done a number on my hearing. It was always a treat when the circular saw would fire up no problem in the morning during checkout and then you arrive at a building fire and it wouldn’t start. I remember many times sitting in the blazing 105+ degree heat of the Coachella Valley in full turnout gear trying for minutes trying to get saws to start, it wears ya out.
Here’s there site if you’re interested: https://egopowerplus.com. They’re available at Lowes and Ace Hardware. There are many YouTube videos of people doing reviews. A guy did a review of their Zero turn mower and was able to use his phone while mowing!!
Oh, and it’s probably obvious in this crowd ?, but the My Pillows really are the best I’ve ever had.
Same with the sheets and the towels.
Jack Posobeic posted on Gettr not long ago that it’s really important to follow the instructions on a new My Pillow and put it through the drier to activate the fill. It’s easy and works very well.
And yes, they do wash and dry with no problem at all. Nice technology…
Ditto, I love the My Pillow. You can mold it anyway you want and it STAYS there. The sheets are great; towels are great; and the mattress cover is great. Support My Pillow and get good things very reasonable for the quality.
DeWalt…drills, impact drivers, weed eater, leaf blower, hedge trimmer, and saws (pole saw, hack saw, circular saw). Those are my favorite gadgets.
The one gadget we use frequently is the magnetic microwave splatter cover. It sticks to the top of the microwave and can be pulled down for use. It’s easy to clean and splatter doesn’t get all over the microwave. There’s only just the two of us so the microwave gets some heavy use. Cooking for two as you get older becomes more infrequent/problematic.
I’ll have to look for that, thanks.
Devin Nunes likes his windows clean with no streaks
?
Electric Kettle. We use ours every day. If is amazing how often you just need some boiling water.
We used to have an Instahot water dispenser. Man, I miss that!
Measuring cup – larger or smaller + water —> microwave = hot water, boiling water…
Yes, we have it for green tea in the AM, and I use it for cooking all the time. Plus to splash my cast iron pots with hot water as soon as I am done cooking in them. Makes them easier to clean whenever I am ready for that chore.
I want a robot vacuum that looks like a 21 year old Ann Margret and no one could tell the difference from the real thing….
Your comment reminds me of a Jamie Lee Curtis story, with video, and it’s about housecleaning!.
Jamie Lee Curtis Comes Clean
She’s not just an accomplished actor and author: Turns out Jamie Lee Curtis is also a world-class organizer. Here, she shares her secret tactics.
3 Sep 2010
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/inspirational-stories/interviews/a19179/jamie-lee-curtis-comes-clean
You barely see it in the video, but she skates on towels to clean her floors and stays in shape at the same time. That s what 1st caught my attention.
After years of clumpy rice , I invested in a rice cooker. I bought it at Macy’s from a Japanese woman salesclerk, who not only showed me how it works, but explained how to clean it up and keep it new. She also knew the best rice to purchase.
My modest little rice cooker not only makes perfect rice (up to four cups(dry) at a time), but keeps it warm and fresh for up to three days without burning it at all.
I love it and purchased one for each of my boys when they left home. They all love it too and impress friends with their rice expertise.
I think the newer rice makers have gone digital but mine is just a basic steamer with a cook and warm switch that cannot be beat.
I don’t make rice often enough that I want to buy a rice cooker, but I hear they are great. I cook my rice in the oven. Comes out perfect every time! You need to boil water before adding it to the baking dish, but that’s not a big problem for me.
I remember reading about a fire that resulted from a rice cooker in San Francisco in China town. In an apartment being used by a bunch of immigrants who were basically ‘hot bunking’ 24/7, and it was in use continually.. the fire investigators eventually realized it had been in continuous use for ~7 years! It was just a basic model, no doodads, readouts, nada. Great testimonial but they never named the brand.