Product review: Evo Dyne Silver Polish, Silver Cleaner 8-oz Bottle Silver Jewelry Cleaner

 

 I use Evo Dyne to polish a silver and pearl necklace.  It worked but required quite a bit of work.  It took many passes over the chain; it was hard to get all the details polished.  I include before and after photos so you can see the chain looks much better, but I have not restored it to its original look.

The solution does not have a strong scent, but instructions say to use it in a well-ventilated space and wear gloves, so you don't get it on your skin.

Not fast, not effortless, but it does remove most of the tarnish.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Esorun Wireless Charger Stand,15W Fast Charging Pad for Qi Device,Compact Phone Charger Stand

 

I am using this wireless charger for Pixel 6 Pro.  This charger works well with it in both horizontal and vertical orientation. The charger is slim and light, just under 3 oz.

Pixel is a large phone 6.5 inches in height, 3.0 inches in width, 0.4 in thick.  I wish the lip of the hold were a bit wider, so I don't have to be so careful when placing the phone on the charger.  The charger has an anti-slip pad, and it feels sturdy when the phone is on it.

Wireless charging, of course, is significantly slower than a wired charger. But slow charging is good for battery life, and wireless chargers are very convenient.

The measured the speed of charging with the Charge Master app.  There is a significant difference in charging depending on whether you use a light or dark theme.  In the light mode with the screen turned on, the charger cannot keep up with the power consumption (discharging at a -91 mAh rate).  In the dark mode, the charger can charge at a reasonable speed (charging at a 1271 mAh rate).  When the screen is off, the charging speed is also reasonable.  For comparison, the phone discharges at a 532 mAh rate when not on the charger in white mode.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

 

Product review: GOLABS Portable Power Station R300, 299Wh LiFePO4 Battery Backup, PD 60W Type-C Quick Charge, 300W Pure Sine Wave AC Outlet

 

 My favorite feature of GOLABS Powerstation is its portability.  The GOLABS box comes in a case with a handle, it weighs 8 pounds and 11.5 oz, and its size is 8.5"L x 7"W x 7.5"H.

There are three ways to charge the power station: a supplied AC charger that takes about 6 hours from being fully discharged, a 12-volt car charger, and solar with a supplied DC5521 cable.

The power station supports pass-through charging (i.e., you can use it while charging).  The display shows you the information about usage and charging, and if you are doing both, it shows the net watts.


I tested the station by taking out the battery from my laptop, setting the power options to never go into sleep mode, and not to shut down the screen and measure how long it could run.  The laptop ran for slightly under 6 hours.  This is the best-case power usage scenario as I was not running any programs on the laptop other than the idle mode of the operating system. If the computer were doing more intense work, the power consumption would be higher, and the battery would last less time. I thought this was an impressive performance.

Once I exhausted the battery in my laptop experiment, I timed how long it took to recharge the GOLABS battery fully. Using the charger that comes with it charges @35watts/hr.  It is possible to charge it faster by buying a 100-watt USB-c charger.

I have done this full discharge to the automatic shut-off point (2%) followed by full charge without interruption (100%) for the first cycle (only once) based on a comment in QA on the product from the QLABS rep.


To determine how long any devices will run on this battery, you need to divide 299 watts_hours by the amount of power a device draws.  A watt is a current multiplied by voltage.  For example, if I measure my USB fan with a current monitor, I get 0.40A and 5.05V, which is 2.02 watts.  This means this fan should run for approximately 148 hours (6 days) before this USB is exhausted.

Using a laptop, expected 6 hours of use and 42W.

Using a personal heater, expected 15 hours of use and 11W.

Using a bluetooth MP3 speaker player, expected 99 hours of use at 1W.


I like that the display shows the level of power left in the battery.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Breatheze KN95 Face Masks Disposable Made in the USA

 

 Breatheze KN95 masks are surprisingly comfortable and relatively thin compared to other KN95 and N95 masks I own (for example, made my 3M). This light construction makes it easier to breathe through. I also like the shape of the mask.  Some masks come too close to my lower lids, and these masks are about 1/4 of an inch below my eye.

These masks have a nose clip.  During shipping, the clip was folded and formed a sharp V that I needed to mold to my nose to avoid a gap.

Unlike many KN95 masks with elastic loops that go all around the head and provide a snugger fit, these masks have elastic loops around areas. I would have preferred around the head option.

The masks came in a thin, crinkly plastic bag; it tore immediately as I opened it.  It is too fragile to store the masks. I had to find another packaging for storing the masks.

I always perform a water test on the masks I buy. I fill one of the masks with water, hold the water in the mask for about a minute, and test for leaks and wetness on the outside of the mask.  This mask did not leak, so it means it can protect me from spittle-carrying COVID droplets.

I took the mask on and off several times while testing it, and the loops stayed attached and did not snap off, which appears to be a common issue with some of these masks.

Even though KN95 masks are not the same as the N95 masks, they provide reasonably good protection.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Nice 'N Clean Sanitizing Hand Wipes (144 Total Wipes) | Wet Wipes Infused with Aloe & Vitamin E

 These wipes are often out of stock, but they are worth the wait. I like them better than other wipes I purchased over the last two years.  They are 70% alcohol, very moist, and have no additional fragrance.  The alcohol scent evaporates in seconds, and there is no added fragrance that lingers for a long time.

Each wipe is 8" by 6" in size.  Each wipe is individually wrapped, and each package is 4.25" x 2". The wipes are so moist that when I put them on the table, they leave a wet spot, so they are very good for cleaning. Great size for carrying a few packages in my purse and pocket to use when I need to sanitize on the go.

These wipes are small in size; each wipe is 4" by 7".  The wipes are damp, not as wet as many other wipes I have used in the past.  On the positive side, I liked that each wipe is fairly thick with a textured/perforated finish.


CDC recommends using solutions with 60-95% alcohol content for COVID-related sanitizing, and Nice 'N Clean comes in at 70% are well with the recommendation.

I also liked that these wipes are made in the USA.  This listing includes six boxes with 24 wipes each.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: GOLETIO Balcony Deck Hanging Table

 

 The table has some imperfections, but overall it works well for me.

I hoped the adjustments on this table would allow me to use it on either the wood railing or the wrought iron railing, but unfortunately, the wrought iron railing is too narrow, and the brackets do not adjust to that width.  It worked fine on the 3" wood railing; however, the two brackets appear slightly different in width.  On the widest setting, one fits perfectly, and another one is a little too snug.  When I removed the table, I saw that it scraped the wood on one side but not the other.  I move the table, and again the left side is snug no matter where I place the table.

I was able to put the table together without any tools in under one minute.  The table is made out of heavy-duty black plastic, and the brackets are metal with a black finish.  One of the metal brackets had a scrape that exposed the raw metal. It will need to cover the scratch with Rustoleum, so it does not rust.  Fortunately, the black finish allows me to fix it without making the paint too obvious.

The convenience of the table is very good, especially on a small deck.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: WALRUS OIL - Cutting Board Soap

 I liked that this cleaning solution is totally unscented.  I usually use dish soap to clean my cutting board, and this solution works just as well.  It foams well, as you can see in the attached photo.  I am very fond of my well-used cutting board; I hope this soap will make it last longer.

I am not giving it five stars because it is more expensive than dish soap, but I am not sure if it is better.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: LenTok Overhead Tripod Mount for Camera, Flexible Over Head Arm for mobile phone

 

On the picture, this overhead tripod looked like an architect's lamp support, and when it arrived, it was precisely that in height, weight, and construction.  If you are trying to decide if this is the right overhead tripod for you, just look at the table lamp you likely already own.

So the tripod had a bit lighter construction than I hoped.  I bought this mount to use with the Pixel 6 Pro phone, which is a fairly heavy phone. I mounted the phone using the Shinewee cell phone mount with the Ulanzo video light in the cold shoe.  The phone is 7.41 oz, the light is 3.9 oz, and the cell phone mount is 4.9 oz, for a total of 16.21 oz.  The tripod held this weight, but it felt that it was at the top of its capability as I had to tighten it multiple times to keep it stable.

The overhead tripod came with its own cell phone holder, but that holder is pretty bad. It is a tension-built mount that did not feel sturdy or secure enough to hold a large cellphone like Pixel 6 Pro.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆   

Product review: ZLYC Winter Knit Slouchy Beanie Hat for Men Women Thick Fleece Lined Baggy Skull Cap

 

This cap is very practical. It has a warm fleece lining, and the slouchy top leaves enough room to fit a ponytail.  I got the color called "Solid Burgundy" to match my burgundy coat, but in fact, the cap is not a solid color.  It is made out of red and blue yarn mixed together.

I wear a size 22 hat, and this cap is a good fit for me. It is snug without being too tight, and as I mentioned earlier, it fits my ponytail which I wear at the crown of my head.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Rolvse Ravpower USB C Charger, GaN 65W 4-Port Desktop USB Charging Station with 2 USB-C Ports + 2 USB-A Ports PD Fast Charger

 This charger has 2 USB A and 2 USB C ports.  I liked the form factor of this charger and the fact that it has a long cord. The size of the charger is 1.6" by 1.6"  and 3" long. The power cord is 56" and it is detachable.  You need to provide your own charging cables; none come with the charger.

Here are some numbers from my Pixel 6 Pro and Moto G phones:
Pixel 6 Pro (battery level 69%): using type-A to type-C cable 1154mA at 4.09V - 4.7W
Pixel 6 Pro (battery level 69%): using type-C to type-C cable 3209mA at 4.19V - 13.44W

Moto G (battery level 68%): using type-A to type-C cable 1124mA at 4.09V - 4.6W
Moto G (battery level 67%): using type-C to type-C cable 1977mA at 4.19V - 8.28W

The charger is PD 3.0 compatible and has CE certification. The charger supports PD and PPS protocols, and the USB-C ports support fast charging for Android and ISO phones. When I charge multiple devices, the charger gets warm but not hot.  

When using one device on USB-C port: maximum output using PD is 65W
When using one device on USB-A port: maximum output using QC 3.0 is 18W
The charger does load sharing, grouping C-port, and A-ports. The maximum power provided by each port varies depending on how many devices are plugged in.  


How much power your device draws depends on the specific device and the charge level when you are charging. I also saw the difference between the different charging cables I used. This difference was particularly significant using type-A to type-C cords. The max outputs listed above are the theoretical max possible. None of my devices come close to the max, including Pixel 6 Pro, which can theoretically charge at a 22W rate using Type-C to Type-C cable. Nevertheless, the rate I am getting from this charger is better than from other (older) chargers I own.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: NOVMAY Ponytail Beanie Hat for Women Messy Bun Knitted Hat Fleece Lined Neck Gaiters

 This cap is very practical. It has a warm fleece lining, and the open-top leaves enough room to fit a ponytail.  I got the color called "Red" to match my burgundy coat based on the stock photo and was pleased that the stock photo color is true to life; I would describe the color as burgundy rather than red.

I wear a size 22 hat, and this cap is a good fit for me. It is snug without being too tight, and as I mentioned earlier, it fits my ponytail, which I wear at the crown of my head.

As a gator, I find it a little tight and a little tall, but it is very nice as a hat.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Ulanzi VL49 RGB Video Photo Light in use with Pixel 6 Pro Cell Phone

 

This light is compact and provides a decent amount of light. The color temperature is 2500-9000K, and the RGB color is 0-359.  My video includes several examples to illustrate the light in action.

The light has three cold shoes and one 1/4" screw, so it has multiple options for mounting and combining lights. It attaches to small tripods and selfie sticks using a 1/4" screw. I am using the light with Shinewee cell phone holder.

It has a USB-C port for charging the light.  The charger and cable are not included.  Using fast charger and C-type to C-type cable from depleted to fully charged on my fast charger takes 2 hours.  The light can be used while it is charging.

The new light lasts 4 hours on 50% brightness.  If you see 50% that does not change when you charge it, check if the display shows the brightness rather than battery level. My light came set at 50% brightness level, and I saw that level shown as I was charging.  

The brightness can be changed in 1% increments.  The color also changes by one.  These changes have to be done manually, and it does take a bit of time if you are trying to go from one end of the scale to the other.  There is a shortcut to get to white. If you hold down the third button from the left (the button before the power toggle), it switches between RGB and Cool/Warm White. Then use the arrow buttons on the left to tune the colors.

The light is not waterproof, but I can still use it by putting a plastic zip lock bag over the light.

I initially was considering ULANZI VL49 RGB's previous version, which was $10 cheaper. Then on Black Friday, the price for both units was the same, and I got this "upgraded" version.  Here are the major differences between the two:
1. The upgraded version has brighter lights and higher color rendering
2. The charging port changed from Micro USB to C-type, so it charges faster

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Prodcut review: Purple Abalone Shell Earrings for Women Dangle

I ordered Purple Abalone Shell Earrings to match a purple outfit. However, I received green earrings; there is almost no purple in them at all.  They look nothing like the stock photo, and I am very disappointed, as the color was the reason I ordered these earrings.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Product review: Ferilinso Designed for Google Pixel 6 Pro 5G Case Clear TPU Transparent

 

 I was attracted to the Ferilinso case because of its thickened corners. I thought they would provide a little bit of extra protection if I dropped the phone. The phone fits, but there is an area on the top left, just below the thick corner, where it bulges away from the glass, and a piece of glass is exposed; the edge is not protected. I thought the quality of workmanship was not the best.

Another surprise was that there were no cut out for the buttons. There is a cut-out for charging.

A note for Tesla owners is that this case does fit the wireless pad. Pixel6 Pro is a large phone, and I was a bit concerned that thick corners would be enough not to prevent it from fitting. The good news is that even though it is a tight fit, it works.

If the case did not have the building area, I would have rated it better.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: HIKI Aluminum-Free Deodorant for All Bodies Mint Scent

 

I was a little concerned about the strong minty scent of this deodorant.  It smelled potent in its container, but it was not too bad once I put it on. I could not smell it walking around, and the scent on the clothing after a day of wearing it was faint.  It does not prevent sweating but deodorizes light sweating like the little sweat that might develop doing light errands in a comfortable temperature.  Despite leaving the scent on clothing, it did not leave a white residue.

The container itself felt clunky with sharp edges.  It did not feel as smooth as well-finished the mainstream brand deodorants.

Will I switch from the unscented Ban? No. Perhaps if it had an unscented version.  But the container would need to have smoother edges as well.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆