Product review: Showhihi electric portable razor, rechargeable small shaver

 

The electric shaver is 3 1/4" long and 1 7/8" wide. The Amazon description says it is the size of the egg but did not mention that it is a goose egg, not a chicken egg!

The motor is surprisingly strong for the shaver size, and it does a decent job.

It has a built-in battery and is rechargeable with a Type-C USB cable. It takes about an hour, which is pretty decent. The shaver has just one control: an on and off button. You need to press it down for a few seconds for the function to activate.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★
 

Product review: Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Lotion, Broad Spectrum SPF 50

 I have used Coppertone sunscreen for many years and have always been pleased with the results.
★ Positives:
Sunscreen protects well, stays on well, and does not leave a white cast on my skin.

★ Negatives:
The sunscreen is not unscented; the cap arrived broken. The broken pieces were inside the package, so better protection was needed. I am afraid it will dry out before the end of the summer, as the sunscreen is exposed to air.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: AQESO Blood Pressure Monitor Machine Upper Arm

 

 I own Omron 7 upper arm blood pressure monitor. I have taken it to my doctor's office to check against her measurements a couple of times, so I know it is accurate within a few points of her instruments. I compared AQESO blood monitor against it, and I found that its readings are similar to my Omron 7 when measuring systolic blood pressure but a little lower when measuring diastolic blood pressure.

I also liked the mechanism that closes the cuff on my upper arm. It was easy to do with one hand, and in fact, I like it better than the Omron latching system, which often takes me more than one attempt to tighten it right. Putting the cuff on correctly is the key to taking the correct blood pressure.

My doc says that even if the blood pressure is not totally accurate, it is still useful if its measurements are consistent. This lets someone monitor for changes which will let them know when they need to see a doctor to adjust their medication. AQESO works pretty consistently for me.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: HappyFish 3.5-gallon trash bags, Compostable - for use with light and DRY garbage

 These trash bags are 15" wide and 18" tall (stretched out an empty). However, the bottom of the bag is narrow (ends in a point), so when you put it into a container, it spreads out to form the bottom of the trash bag losing the height, so the effective height is about 10".

 I am using them in a 10" tall and 8" wide bathroom trash bin, and I barely have enough overlap to put a rubber band over the edge to hold it in place. These bags are much smaller than the 3-gallon Glad bags I usually use in this bin. The bags are not very strong, but are well suited to soft trash in my bathroom. It is nice that the trash bags are compostable.


Update: In the bathroom, I often have wet garbage (wet wipes), and this bag lets through the wetness. It was very wet on the outside when I took the garbage out. This issue disqualified it from future bathroom usage.  Downgrading 1 star.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Dreo Evaporative Air Cooler Tower Fan, 40 inch Portable Tower with remote

 

The first impression of this fan - wow, it is quiet. I can only tell it is on because of the airflow on several settings.

Assembly was a bit tricky, the diagrams are not very clear, and the plastic parts are not well marked. But eventually, I was able to get all parts to fit.

Notes:
☆ Remote runs on CR2025 3V battery. It comes with one battery (and a battery saver inserted during transport).
☆ The water tank has tubes connecting to the cooler; to fill it with water, you have to pull it out partially and then use another container to fill the tank. It is possible to free it by pressing on tabs deep inside of the mechanism, but this disassembly is not worth the trouble.
☆ The water tank should be cleaned every two weeks.

This fan can be used as a regular fan or as a swamp cooler. It has a 1.06-gallon water tank that holds ice packs. The air blows through the cool, wet curtain inside the fan tower, so the air comes out cooler than the air a regular fan would blow.

These fans work great in California, where it is dry. They are a lot less effective in humid weather, and of course, they also raise the humidity. In New England, we get some very humid days, but overall it is not as humid as Florida. By no means is it as good as the air conditioner, but when a window air conditioner is not an option, it is better than nothing.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Aukuel Microwave Splatter Cover with vent

   

This is a set of two plastic microwave covers made. Each cover is 10.5" wide, just enough to cover a dinner plate. The covers are meant for reheating, not cooking. The instruction says to use only 6 minutes at a time, not longer. I have used microwave covers before; what I liked about this is the handle that allows one to remove the cover without getting steam on their hands. The top of the cover has a vent with various settings (opened, closed, small holes). It does a good job catching splatter.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Solar Animal Repeller, Animal Deterrent with Motion Sensor: no effect on cirtters!

 My goal was to keep away squirrels and rabbits. The repeller did not seem to have any effect on them. Our cats were not bothered by the unit. They initially sniffed the unit, as they do with every new thing they see, and then just began ignoring it.

The repellent is 4.25" tall and 4" wide. It comes with a removable pole. It can be charged by plugging into a USB power or via a solar charger on top of the unit. You need to use a small button on the bottom to turn on and control the unit. You need to push the button repeatedly to cycle through the unit's modes. I found it very difficult to tell which mode the unit was in; there is no good feedback on its mode. I could not get any sounds or flashing to happen when I waved my hands. I was able to turn the unit on because a dim red light began blinking (although documentation does not explain the meaning of the blinking).

According to documentation, the motion detector works in 3 feet radius. I could not make it produce noise or flashing. I think the ultrasound is working because, assuming the slow dim red blink indicates it is doing something.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: Qihoo Car Cup Holder Tray Car Cup Holder Expander Adapter Car Tray (tested with Honda and Tesla)

 

The cup holder does not fit well either of our two cars (Honda CRV and Tesla Model 3). The cup of the tray is more narrow than the cup holder in the car. There are adjustments to make the base wider, but it never gets to be a good fit because both cars has a channel that connects two cup holders. It is also slightly taller than the car's cup holder. The tray does not fit firmly, and the arm has a lot of shake. It is not suitable for food that can spill. In addition, with Tesla, in positions the tray can rub against the screen, and it is more difficult to find a good angle that works and is convenient.

The overall quality of the tray assembly is not good. The plastic knobs that hold the position do not grab onto the thin screws well and continue to spin. The tray part is held only by tension; there is no screw to hold it down in place. If I touch it with my hand with light pressure or hold it at an angle, the entire tray falls off the assembly.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: AZchose No Water Shampoo Caps

 

AZchose No Water Shampoo Caps are easy to use. You warm them up in a microwave or just hot water, put on the head with all hair inside the cap, rub your hair through the cap, remove the hat, and towel dry. The hair looks and feels surprisingly clean. They work fine on my shoulder-length hair. It is not as satisfying as taking a shower, but these caps are when a shower is not an option.

When I had surgeries, I was not allowed to take showers for some time to avoid scar infections. These hats allowed me to feel clean, which improved my overall mental state.

Now I always keep a package in storage in case someone in the family has surgery, and I have one less thing to worry about.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of AZchose No Water Shampoo Caps Disposable 12 pack Rinse-Free Shampoo Cap

Product review: Ulalov Gooseneck Electric Kettle with Temperature Control

 

 I have a fairly small place allocated for the tea kettle and was worried that this kettle might be too large because of the platform and long spout. Turns out the kettle is small and fit nicely into the nook where the old kettle lived.

The heating platform is 8.5" x 6.5".
The kettle is 9" high (not counting the knob on the cap)
The width of the kettle (from the spout tip to the handle outer edge) is 10.5."
The kettle holds three 8 oz mugs of water. 24 oz fills it to the max line.

The electric cord is short, only 27.5", and I have to use an extension cord.

The thin long gooseneck spout works well; the stream it produces is not too weak, and it is easy to aim.

I like being able to control the temperature. A "keep warm" feature is nice. The kettle is stainless steel. The only way you can tell if the water is boiling is by looking at the temperature, which shows exactly what the water temperature is as the water warms up. The kettle automatically shuts off at the temperature I selected. When it reaches the temperature, it beeps (beeping can be muted). To start heating, you need to press the same button you rotate to change the temperature. If you want to turn off the plate, you need to hold down the same button for a few seconds until the display turns off.

The handle is well balanced. The cover sits firmly inside the kettle, and you don't need to hold it when you pour. The stock photo showed a person holding the cap as the water was poured, and I wondered if the cap was loose. It is not.

Negatives? The way the kettle was shipped. It arrived without an outer box. The package was beaten up by the post office, and the ugly shipping label cannot be removed. I always keep boxes for appliances, and I was annoyed that this box was in such bad shape. No shipping box is just not appropriate for a 70-100 dollar kettle. It was pure luck that the dent was not where the thin spout was located within the box, or it would have been bent!


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Hefty ECOSAVE 100% Compostable 5-Compartment Paper Trays

 These trays are nicer than I expected. They are paper, but the top is covered with something that makes them soak-resistant. They feel very sturdy, and they don't bend easily. During the pandemic, we began doing takeouts instead of eating inside the restaurant. We eat the takeout food in the car. I got these trays for eating in the car without making a mess, and they work very well.

As a bonus, they wipe down very easily, so we often can get more than one use out of each tray.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Unaone Compressed Towels, 100PCS Portable Disposable Compressed Cotton Toilet Paper Tablets

 

These compressed towels are tiny when compressed. They are only 3/4" wide and 1/4" high. When they expand, they become 8.5" x 7", a very nice general size. They have a nice textured finish.
I like traveling with compressed cotton towels. I use them as wet wipes for the bathroom, but they take up less room than uncompressed wipes.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Tuffinix Digital Alarm Clock with Backlight

 

This clock size is 3" tall and 1.25" front to back. It can be a clock or a timer. It does not work exactly as I hoped. It runs either plugged in (using a proprietary USB cable which is 42") or on three AAA batteries. When it runs on the batteries, the time is not visible all the time. The clock turns off the display after a few seconds, and the clock's face is black until you touch the snooze button. The snooze button turns on the display for a few seconds, and it is off again. When plugged in, it shows the time clearly, but the USB cable is only 42" and cannot be replaced by a longer cable because it is not a standard cable.

When the clock has no power, it forgets the time setting. Leaving it plugged in the car all the time drains the car battery. If I decide to use it plugged in, I would need to remember to disconnect it when I step out of the car so I don't get stuck with a dead car battery.

My main reason for getting this clock was to get a clock I could see all the time in my car because my Honda had that clock bug that was in the news earlier this year. It resets every time you start the car. Several car clocks I have tried don't have the backlight function. This clock is very visible when the display is on, but unfortunately, the display does not stay on.

Note that this clock does not have a flat bottom, so I cannot easily Velcro it to the dashboard.

Finally, a note about controls. The clock is hard to set, and documentation is not good. The instructions for setting the time did not work. I had to hold down both the clock and the un-named button next to it at the same time to put it into clock setting mode. Instructions said I needed a long hold only on the clock button. That did not work; doing so changed the display's brightness, not the time.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆
 

Product review: VoluAlarm Digital Alarm Clock with Backlight

 

This alarm clock size is 3" x 2.7" x 1.3".  It runs on two AAA batteries.  My main reason for getting it is the backlight option to see the clock in the dark, and its backlight function works well.  The backlight goes on when you press the snooze bar.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Review of Microfiber Spray Mop for Floor Cleaning by FORSPEEDER

 

 

 I found this mop a big hard to put together. I could not insert the mop head into the handle without using tools. I wound up using a mallet to pound in the handle into the head. The rest of it was easy.

The sprayer works well but puts out quite a bit of water, so it is perfect for tile but not ideal for unsealed wood floors.  

The mop is lightweight and easy to manipulate. It comes with two pads which attach by Velcro. It also has holders for dry cleaning pads (ala Swiffer cleaner) as an additional option. I thought that was a useful feature to give me another option for dry cleaning.

This mop is not better than Swiffer cleaner, but it is decent.


Note: save the box until you put the mop together; the only assembly instructions are on the box.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link. Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of Microfiber Spray Mop for Floor Cleaning by FORSPEEDER