Product review: Gardzen 7 Gallon Grow Bags, Aeration Fabric Pots with Handles

 

I've been using grow bags for my tomatoes and cucumbers for about six years now. They work very well, draining well even during the wettest summers. While my neighbors struggled with poor tomato growth due to excessive rains two years ago, my plants thrived. I use a drip irrigation system to water them, so dryness hasn’t been an issue either.

One lesson I’ve learned is to steer clear of grow bags with canvas handles, as they tear after a single season outdoors. Instead, I choose bags with handles made from the same material as the bag itself. These have proven durable, lasting for years without breaking down. That’s why I opted for these particular bags.


You can find these bags on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Gardzen 7 Gallon Grow Bags

Product review: Worx Zipsnip Cordless Electric Scissors Cardboard Cutter Plastic Cutter

 

I chose the Worx electric cutter for several reasons:

    1: I watched several comparison reviews that showed the Worx cutter requiring less effort to cut than other brands. Its strong motor significantly reduces the force needed for smooth cutting.
    2: Blade Quality: Worx is a well-known brand that offers replacement blades. The high-quality, sharp blades make cutting take less effort.
    3: Unlike some cutters with rounded guides, the Worx features a flat guide at the bottom. This allows me to rest the cutter on a cutting mat and slide the cardboard into it, producing straight, accurate cuts. While it’s possible to hold the Worx cutter in the air, I find this less secure and prone to cut lines that curve.
    4. Reasonably lightweight: The cutter weighs 14.65 oz; I find it easy to handle, even during extended use.
    5: The cutter comes with a spare blade, a carrying case, and a charger. However, the charger uses a proprietary round connector with an 8W output, which is less convenient than a universal USB-C port used by some other cutters. However, this is a minor drawback.
    6: The handle is comfortable to hold. To operate, you must press both a lock-out switch and a trigger switch simultaneously, preventing accidental activation. As someone with smaller hands, I can’t reach the lock-out switch with my thumb while holding the trigger. Instead, I hold the cutter with my right hand, pressing the trigger at the bottom of the cutter, and use a finger on my left hand to briefly press the lock-out switch to start. Once the cutter is activated, I don’t need to hold the lock-out switch. This was not clear to me from reading the instructions before purchase, and I worried a bit about how exactly it would work. It turns out that this extra button push is not a problem.

The cutter needed to be charged before first use. It took four hours for the red charging indicator to turn green.

I purchased this cutter to break down cardboard boxes for my composter. It glides through cardboard effortlessly, like cutting through butter. I used to use regular manual scissors. Let me tell you, this is a lot easier.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★

Review of Worx Zipsnip Cordless Electric Scissors

Product review: Cocofloss Woven Dental Floss, Dentist-Designed Oral Care

 

My dental hygienist recommended Cocofloss, and I was amazed by its performance. After using my regular Glide floss, I tried this product and was shocked to see it remove significantly more plaque, even when I thought I'd already done a thorough job with Glide floss. I'm now a convert.

This floss is marketed as "expandable" floss. I thought it should be called "contractable" instead because it actually contracts to slip between my tightly spaced teeth without threading. Then it hugs the teeth closely, providing a superior clean compared to Glide.

However, not everything is rosy. The floss is expensive, and while it comes in a large container, the spool itself is only one inch in diameter, containing 33 yards (1,188 inches). I use 15 inches per session and floss twice daily, totaling 30 inches a day. This means one spool lasts approximately 39 days.

I was also disappointed by the flavor. I chose the orange option, expecting a citrus taste, but the floss is essentially flavorless, the only thing that is orange is the color. This wasn't a dealbreaker, as I'm fine with unflavored floss, but it was not what I expected.

Despite the cost and lack of flavor surprise, the exceptional cleaning power makes this floss worth repurchasing. It's now a staple in my dental routine.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Cocofloss Woven Dental Floss

Product review: ACT Concrete Cleaner, Treating stains on the basement floor with bio-cleaner microbes : before and after video

 

I purchased ACT to treat a stained area of my basement cement floor. When the product arrived, I was surprised by the size of the container. It was much smaller than I had expected. Unlike the large container shown in the stock video, my container was only 3 inches tall. Additionally, the powder inside was grey, matching the color of my cement floor, rather than the white color depicted in the video. Despite my initial concerns, the contents were sufficient to treat my stained area, which measured 5 feet long by 3 feet wide, in two separate 3-week applications.

The stain on my basement floor had a messy origin. It started when a container of cleaning solution I had stored deteriorated and spilled onto the cement. In an attempt to clean it up, I used a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, but this only worsened the situation by spreading the stain further across the floor. I’ve attached a video that shows the stain before and after the treatment. Note that the "before" photo on January 26, 2025 shows the dry floor even though the stain makes it appear dark in color.

My process:  First, I sprinkled the powder over the stained 5-by-3-foot area. Then, I activated it by lightly misting it with water using a spray bottle. The instructions didn’t specify only one mist to activate the microbes, but I decided to spray the floor with water every day. I noticed that the powder dried out very quickly after each misting, and I thought misting it every day might help the microbes  stay active and work more effectively. I continued this daily misting routine for three weeks. At the end of the first three-week period, I removed the powder and washed the floor with water. The stain had improved somewhat, but I wasn’t fully satisfied with the results.

I decided to repeat the process. I applied a fresh layer of the powder to the same 5-by-3-foot area, activated it with water, and resumed misting it daily for another three weeks. After this second round, I removed the powder and washed the floor again. I took an "after" photo on March 12, 2025, which I’m including in the video. The results show a significant improvement in the appearance of the cement floor. While it’s not perfectly restored to its original state, the stain is much less noticeable compared to the "before" photo and the attached video.

In summary, despite the surprisingly small 3-inch container, the product proved sufficient for two 3-week treatments of my 15-square-foot stained basement floor. My daily misting routine, though not part of the official instructions, may have contributed to the positiv outcome. The floor now looks much better, even if it’s not flawless.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of ACT Concrete Cleaner

Product review: Bioclean Hard Water Stain Remover Rust Remover

 

 I had initially hoped to use this cleaner on my basement cement floor and even posted a question about it on the product listing. The seller responded quickly, though their answer was somewhat vague. Upon receiving the cleaner, I realized my intended use wasn’t suitable. The product specifies it’s designed for surfaces like Corian, shower doors, granite, windshields, aluminum, porcelain, stone, windows, fiberglass, grills, tombstones, glass surfaces, hard vinyl, stove tops, copperware, and stainless steel. However, the instructions clearly state it should not be used on Plexiglas, plastics, or glossy automotive paint. For best results, they recommend using an oscillating buffer or a Bio-Cleaner microfiber towel.

The cleaner itself is a thick, green liquid with a fairly strong scent. I ended up testing it on a sink with rust and hard water stains, and it did an excellent job removing both.


Review of Bioclean Hard Water Stain Remover

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Super PDR Adhesive Remover Tool

 

This product is very similar to a hair dryer, just smaller. It blows hot air to warm up glue, making it easier to remove attached items like stickers or other adhesives. However, it leaves behind a layer of glue residue. The package includes three wipers to help remove the leftover glue, but this isn’t enough. Often, I still need to use a product like Goo Gone to fully clean the surface. This raises the question: why use this tool at all when I could just use Goo Gone from the start? As shown in the attached video, it works to some extent, but the limitation of leaving glue behind reduces its usefulness.

Ali Julia review

Review of Super PDR Adhesive Remover Tool 


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Square Glass Food Storage Containers with Lids, 32 oz, 4 pack

 

I’ve been using these containers for two months now, and they’ve proven to be highly effective. Their square shape makes them ideal for efficient storage in the freezer, maximizing space with ease. The 32-ounce capacity is perfect for my needs, and the set of four containers is just right for storing leftover soup from my Dutch oven. I love that they’re made of glass. It feels safe for food storage, lets me see what’s inside at a glance, and allows me to reheat the soup directly in the container.

Ali Julia review of Square Glass Food Storage Containers with Lids

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★