106743/106753/106773 GE HEPA Air Cleaner Filter

The photo shown has two filters, only one comes with the order. They even have only one in the packaged product order when the air purifier takes two. I was shocked when the order came, $57 worth of filters seems like we could buy a new purifier.

Essick Air 697-500 Variable Speed Humidifier

I received this item just before Christmas 2009. Our house was so dry I was slowly pruning. At 1500 sq.ft. on the main floor with 9 foot ceilings it keeps us quite comfortable and does the job. Have been running it straight since early December and no mechanical problems. Be aware of the following:

LOOKS: This cabinet model looks better on the website than in person. It is a darker brown than shown (not as orange) but still a pleasing colour. It is made of plastic and has a woodgrain pattern, but doesn't quite live up to getting away with it, mostly because of the slightly warped top vent (yes, vents from top, cannot put stuff on top of here without blocking the ventilation). Ours comes out of the plastic hinge at the back and does not seat well in all grooves, but probably not noticeable to guests. It needs to sit with it's back against a wall, as the back of the unit is not covered by a nice woodgrain cover, although it is brown plastic. You also notice the black filter hooked on the outside back sucking "filtered" air into the unit. My favourite part is it's on four wheels, so it is very easy to move and vacuum around on my wood floors. Unless you have shag rug, it should also be fairly easy to move on a short pile rug.

CONTROLS: It has two dials "humidity control" and "variable airflow". The humidity control does not go by numbers (i.e. 50% 75%) so you don't really know the current level of your home; however it does allow you to set low / comfort zone / high arond the dial, and will toggle off when it reaches the desired humidity level set. We set ours 1/4 turn above the comfort zone and that works well. Note that setting it on high still doesn't peel your wallpaper, you can't even see the humidity coming out like you can on an ultrasonic BUT it does do the trick, as confirmed by the empty bottles I'm constantly refilling. The variable airflow dial goes from OFF/COMFORT ZONE (which starts immediately from off) to HIGH. This unit is LOUD!! When they say comfort zone they mean for your EARS. I only put it up to 12o'clock position (medium, I guess) when I'm out of the room, and any higher is just noisy with HIGH being like a battering ram. The comfort zone is best and since we situate it right by our kitchen/nook and living room we keep it low. (I know what you're thinking we have taken it apart and rechecked our setup, it is correct with nothing unusual accidentally left inside, no real reason it should be this loud. Only thing I can think of is plastic rumbling on four wheels with the echo of our hardwood floors maybe it won't be as much of an issue for you).

BOTTLES: There are two large 2.5 gallon bottles that rest on the left and right of inside cabinet. They are easy to fill and the unit comes with a tube to help you fill from your tap. Also comes with one small bottle of bacteriostatic additive to get you going. We use distilled water so we don't have the hard water build up in the bottom reservoir, you may want to use soft/distilled if you can get it or put an additive in to dissolve minerals. The bottles have handles on both top and bottom so when you turn them over to place them in it is easy to handle the weight. We don't spill any water when doing this and it's a great design. Also good are two "refill" lights that light up orange when each bottle is empty. They are easy to see through the grill on top as you're walking by, but not obtrusive. Very easy to refill while the other still is going, no need to turn unit off.

NOISE and PRICE: It's the only big drawback, and the price at $200 USD is steep for what it is. Would love to see real wood for that price, as there really isn't much to the unit but a small fan, filter, and plastic.

All in all, there aren't alot of different makes on the market to choose from, especially ones that don't look utilitarian. This will do what you're looking for but be aware if you have unusual dryness in your area and need to pump humidity with the control on HIGH, the noise from this baby will stop you from hearing your baby monitor and could keep you and baby up at night; otherwise, sleep soundly in the "Comfort Zone". Good luck with your purchase!

Save 23% Off

Dirt Devil FeatherLite Cyclonic Canister Vacuum

My previous vacuum had those motorized brush heads. It was fine, but not having any carpets in the house, I felt I was simply using a machine that had features that I did not used to their full potential. All these features also had a weight that I had to drag around while vacuuming. With this Dirt evil canister model, I had all that I needed: lightweight to quickly pick up dust, dirt and a little bit of dog hair (I have a Lhasa Apso). It's extremly easy to empty as well! Its power cord is fine for me, as I have have read somewhere on the net that some users find of somewhat short. If you have one electric outlet per room, you should be fine. I find it's power to be more than adequate: I was able to pick up some of my dog's food pellets hidden in some corners. I got this item on special at 60$ and I'm more than happy with it! Makes vacuuming much easier, lighter and faster. This model might not be powerful enough if you have a heavy shedding dog... My mom has a Pembroke Welsh Corgi that sheds continually and she has a much more powerful model. All in all, this Dirt Devil model is most likely for people who don't have carpets and little to no pet hair to vacuum. Sound level for me was comparable or a little bit less noisy than my previous model (Pet Jaguar if you do not activate the power brush).

Save 23% Off

Hello Kitty "Pretty Kitty Cat" Decorative Pillow

A few weeks ago I ordered the Protec DyanFilter Air Cleaning Humidifier Cartridges and I have to say that I am very satisfied with the price and the product.

I received them on time and I would truly recommend them to others. They are easy to install and last about 3 moths before having to replace them. Thanks so much.

JD

Save 95% Off

Original Whirlpool 1183054 Filter

I was lead to believe I was buying a ORIGINAL WHIRLPOOL 1183054 FILTER but what I received was a similar filter with no Whirlbool box or Whirlpool markings or Whirlpool part number on the filter. Filter shipped has a Part number of RFF05503 has no other information on it and the filter itself was packaged only in a clear plastic bag with no product documentation. Makes you wonder where it was made and if is a true HEPA filter. Was I ripped off?

Microplane 38002 Professional Medium-Ribbon Two-Way Grater

The Microplane line of kitchen products has evolved over the past couple of years. This two way grater has:

* AN ALL-METAL FRAME--makes it awesomely durable for heavy duty use. For grating lots of carrots as additions to ground meat or to soups, this grater is tops.

* A RUBBER REST OPPOSITE THE HANDLE--makes it ergonomically more efficient, since you can rest the end on a cutting board or in a bowl, allowing you to use more pressure.

* A PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR THE GRATING SURFACE--makes it easier to store safely.

* TWO-WAY GRATING--makes it faster, since cutting edges face both ways.

DOWNSIDE: Two way grating means that this grater is inherently less safe. Now you can cut yourself both ways! Also, unless you're "grating" something that melts under hot water, such as butter or chocolate, this two way cutting feature makes this model harder to clean: Bits of carrot or apple stuck between the "blades" cannot be removed by running your fingers the opposite direction from the cutting edge. A wooden toothpick or an old toothbrush (brush from side to side, not top to bottom) will do the trick.

BOTTOM LINE: This may well have a valued place in your kitchen, but it isn't the first one to buy.

Vent Mate Register Air & Dust Filters

I live in an apartment building and I used them to cover my kitchen vents. It amazing how much stuff they pick up. I always feel my kitchen is cleaner because of them