Product review: Roof Melt, 60 Tablets (Roof Melt did not work, alternative solution did)

Roof Melt did not work, alternative solution did

I have an on-going ice damn problem, which I tried solving in a number of ways.  One attempt was using Roofmelt tables.  Which requires one to deposit the tablets on top of the ice damn area.

I tried and tried, but could not get the pucks to the roof not to mention some specific spot on the roof by throwing. I did not dare to get on a ladder since the snowbanks were taller than me.

I found a solution that worked for me. I took a nylon stocking, filled it with calcium chloride to form a sausage about 4" long. To make it easier to fill the stocking I took a 16 oz yogurt container and cut out its bottom. This made a nice sturdy funnel which kept the top of the stocking wide open for pouring the calcium chloride.

Note that bigger is not better! On my first try, I tried making 8-9" sausage, but it made the sock too heavy to stay on the steep roof, and it slid off.

To deposit the stocking to the roof  I used an extension pole used for a roof rake. I replaced the big rake with a small brush so it would be easier to hoist it up to the level of the roof of my dormer where my major ice dam is located.

My first few attempts were to fold the sock over the brush and dump it on the roof. But that did not work as either the stocking fell before it reached the desired spot, or I could not disengage the brush without knocking the sock down.

Finally, the solution that worked was using the pole and the brush as a lever. I put the thread attached to the sock over the brush, then raised the brush to the roof positioning it where I wanted the sock to be located. The stocking meanwhile was laying on the ground. Then, using the brush as my lever, I pulled on the thread to raise the stocking to the roof. This worked very well the first time I tried!

My second problem area was the steep lower roof. I could not get the stocking to stay on the lower roof as it has a very steep angle, so I suspended a stocking with ice melt on a thread from a window. I hope it will melt a channel in the ice dam.

The first day:

The next day: you can saw the channel

The second photo was taken the next day which shows the channel built by the salt stock. This happened overnight. I could see the trapped water coming out of the channel.

I also wanted to make a note that the nylon gets stuck to the ice. When I tried repositioning one of the socks it would not budge. The gravity makes it drops when the salt melts the ice around it, but reposition the sock to another spot turned out to impossible because it is stuck to the ice, and pulling it might tear the stocking dropping all the salt at once rather than via slow release.


You can Roof Melt on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: Decorative Hand Painted Tissue Holder Hand Made Glass Box

I love having unique handmade items around the house. This tissue box with a striking design is made by the process called reverse painting on glass (i.e. the small details are painted first, and the background last). I found the video that shows the entire process on YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuXdPNgRQ3o&t=54s.  To my delight, these unique creations are sold on Etsy and Amazon.

The box is even more beautiful in person than in the photos.  My initial thought was to put the Kleenex tissue box inside the glass box.  However,  I ran into a problem.  The Klenex box is 12mm wide and 22.5mm long.  The glass box is 11.5 mm wide so the widths of the paper box does not fit by 5mm which is approximately 1/4 of an inch.  However, there is a solution that works well.  I took the tissues out of the Kleenex box and put them directly at the bottom of the glass box.  This works perfectly - each Kleenex tissue pulls out the next sheet in this box just like they do in the paper tissue box.

This is such a pretty addition to our bedroom.


You can find the tissue box on Amazon by following this link.

You can find the tissue box on Etsy by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Fyrcomft Broom Holder Organizer Metal Mop Hanger

This mop wall organizer is more attractive than the other mop holders I have because it is all metal (stainless steel) constructions rather than plastic.  The only plastic parts are the rollers that hold the mop handles.

Another feature that I like is that the holder has nice long hooks that extend about an inch out.

The broom holder handles are not universal.  They have some flexibility in the width of handles they can hold, but some thinner mops drop down a bit and until they held up by the thicker handles.  If you have unusually wide or unusually thin handles, this holder may not work as well as universal holders.  For standard handles, the holder works exceptionally well, the hooks are excellent, and it looks attractive.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: MOOSOO Vacuum Cleaner Corded Stick Vacuum

Moosoo corded vacuum cleaner is best for tile, hardwood floor, and any other smooth surface.  It works okay on my silk rug with a very shop nap, but it does not as well on the rug with a higher nap.  This is because this vacuum does not have a rotation brush. It has a strong vacuum opening and it has a non-rotating retractable brush which helps dislodge dirt.

It comes with a very long cord so I can reach every spot in any specific room without unplugging.  The handle of the vac adjusts from 19" to 31".  It weighs under 3 pounds (2.8 pounds) and has a slim cleaning head.  The cleaning head is slim because the motor and the dust bin are located at the top of the handle.  This design is great for getting into narrow places, but the drawback is that you can't leave the vacuum free-standing (it is top-heavy).  Not a big deal, but different.  Cleaning the dust bin with this design is a little harder. The manual recommends removing the attachments before emptying the dust bin.  After a few uses, I found a way to do it without removing the brush by putting a small trash bag over the entire dust bin and then working through the bag to open and release the dust.  This is a time-saving trick for me. 

The package comes with a spare filter and several attachments which you can see in the attached photo.  I can easily convert it to a handheld vac that works with attachments included in the package.

Pretty nice vac, I use it in the basement and workroom and does a very good job.


This is a replacement filter for D600 on Amazon by following this link.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Bottom Buddy Toilet Tissue Wiping Aid Personal Hygiene Wand

I needed one of these gizmos after back surgery when I could not bend or twist. I have been very pleased to discover the tool of this kind as it solved one of the annoying problems due to the lack of mobility in my back. This design was the first one I tried and since then I have tried several different aids. This particular gadget does not work well in the back because the ball of toilet tissue is too thick to get into the crevices.

I found that another "Bottom Buddy" workes better, it is called Ideaworks Long Reach Comfort Wipe. The main difference is that it is slimmer, and it works just like a hand, without having a big mop at the end of the wand.


Ali Julia review

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: MOOSOO Cordless Vacuum Cleaner 17Kpa

This is my second cordless stick vacuum. I love cordless vacs, they are so much easier to use and let me clean faster without having to move the cord out of the way and unplug and replug as I clean around the house. Cordless works great on the stairs.

My first cordless vac had the motor on the bottom.  Moosoo cordless has the motor and the dust bin at the top.  A big advantage of this design is that the cleaning head is slimmer and I can get under the refrigerator and dishwasher which I could not do with the old vac. The disadvantage of the bin and the motor at the top is the vac is less stable.  For example, I cannot just let it stand on its own, I have to lean it against a wall if I have to leave it.  Not a big deal, but different.  Cleaning the dust bin with this design is a little harder. The manual recommends removing the attachments before emptying the dust bin.  After a few uses, I found a way to do it without removing the brush by putting a small trash bag over the entire dust bin and then working through the bag to open and release the dust.  This is a time-saving trick for me.

The vac has very strong suction, good battery life (I can do the entire house on one charge), and a good number of useful attachments.  For example, I can convert the stick vac to a handheld vac.  I also can attach a hose and use for my vacuum storage bag, as I just switched from winter to summer stuff in the storage bags.

Overall, an excellent vacuum makes my cleaning jobs easier.

You can find replacement filters for this vac on Amazon by following this link.

You can find replacement battery for this vac on Amazon by following this link.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Endicott Stripe Yarn-Dyed Flannel Duvet Cover from The Company Store

After buying a disappointing low-quality flannel duvet on Amazon, I decided to buy a duvet from The Company Store.  The  Company Store which specializes in high-end bedding.  A few years back I bought a down comforter and two sets of sheets which were excellent. The flannel duvet was exactly what I hoped for: very soft and a very nice design. They frequently run 30% sales and with the discount the prices are quite reasonable.  The specific design you see in the photos is called Endicott Stripe.
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I got full-size flannel duvet cover for a quilt which 84" by 84".  I was concerned that since the listed size was 84"x90" the flannel might shrink and be too small for the quilt.  I contacted support and they told me that the duvet cover is actually 86" x 92" to allow for shrinkage. I measure it when it arrived and after washing it. The size was exactly as described by the support person. It was 86" wide when unwashed and shrunk to 84" after washing and became the absolutely perfect fit for the quilt.

The duvet is very soft, and the design is pretty. The design/color is the same on both sides of the duvet cover. It makes me feel good every time I get into bed.


You can find sheets, duvets, towels on The Company Store web site. If you use this link to order you will get a $50 off friends and family discount.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★