Houseware Reviews

Have you ever needed a tool that actually does a good job to help you in your back yard whenever you had a barbecue? Well, after using this tool, I could not go back to using anything else to help me cook on the grill. This great collapsible tong is perfect when I use it to flip hamburgers, big pieces of meat, and anything else you would put on your grill to cook. Also, the tongs can also collapse, meaning that you can easily put it away in storage without taking up much space, which I think is very wonderful. The design of this set of tongs is just great and it also is very comfortable to use when in your hands. The black grip pads are long and non slip so the tongs will not slip out of your hands when handling food. A very highly recommended buy if you grill or barbecue often outside. These tongs go well with any cook, because of the comfort you get when using this. I definitely will stick to using these tongs for a long time. You should pick these tongs up if you do not own one already, because it just makes sense to have one of these at your home.

I have an unspayed seven year old pitbull in a tiny apartment. Although it doesn't happen often, I have to admit sometimes I try to get to work on time and don't get a chance to walk her. When I come home and there's a surprise waiting for me, I thank God that I bought this item. Not only does it spray solution directly on the area, but it also dries the spot in a lot less time than a towel would take. The only setback is after having this gem for 9 months, the motor has seemingly burnt out. The spot scrubber no longer scrubs or suctions anything and now I have to purchase something new. For $50.00 I definitely got my money's worth. I just wish it could've lasted longer.

Looking at a number of previous reviews, I'd like to clarify a few points:

* It's not a carpet cleaner, it's a _spot scrubber_. Anyone purchasing a machine with a single brush who expects to clean whole sections of carpet deserves all the self-inflicted frustration they've expressed here. My father-in-law tried to use our scrubber to clean his entire entryway. His verdict: "The thing is worthless." My wife and I just roll our eyes.
* The spray nozzle shoots out lots of solution in a narrow, focused pattern, perfect for treating _spots_. It takes only a few pumps. The image of someone stalking around a room trying to spray anything more than about 20 inches square (again, anything more than a _spot_) in just painful.
* The thing sucks strongly enough to fill the dirty water reservoir. I suspect that some folks haven't cracked the manual or noticed the yellow knob to switch between scrubbing and suction.

All that said, I hate to think of living without this machine. We've used it suck up spills and to erase the stains left by our cats and by our son with a permanent "Sharpie" marker. You can actually watch the cat puke (or worse) get sucked up. I always felt a little uncertain when attacking stains like this with a towel or sponge. How can anyone armed with a squirt bottle and a brush believe they're doing anything more than just smearing the stain into the carpet?

I like the extra-long cord. The rotating brush may seem a little weak, but stains really do disappear under it.

What I don't like so much is that the unit can be difficult to clean, leaving ugly stuff in the intake and waste reservoir. All the reservoirs and caps and switches can get a bit fiddly as well. And it does sound more like a jet engine than a vacuum.

The Spot Scrubber isn't perfect (4 out of 5 stars), but it's small, works very well for us, and has exceeded my (realistic) expectations.

I should have bought one of these years ago. It is great to get at those pee puddles my Chihuahua leaves when she has an accident. I don't have to pull out the carpet shampooer.

I don't put a shampoo in the cleaning tank but rather a home-made solution that breaks down the enzymes so the odor is gone. It's has the same effect as using Natures Miracle but costs only pennies.

The recipe for the solution is 16 oz. Peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon lemon dish detergent (not ultra concentrate).

Now I no longer worry about the odor from her accidents building up. It is easy to attack the problem when it arises rather then dragging out the heavy carpet shampooer.

Speaking of carpet shampooer's the Dirt Devil Platinum Force works great.

After reading the hype about this "spa" I paid the money and took my chances -- I lost. While the engineering concept is solid, the actual product is little more than a toy. You know what a low pressure hose feels like when it's on the bottom of your kid's half filled kiddie pool? Well, that's about all this is, too.

I'd say, if you have to even pause to think about spending the $$'s, take a pass on this one. But, if the money isn't an issue, it's better than the "mat" spa ... which isn't saying much.