http://www.viewpoints.com/Misc-Home-Garden Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:31:43 GMT Reviews about Misc. Home & Garden http://www.viewpoints.com/Indiglo-Night-Light-review-800c1 I bought the Indiglo Nightlight strictly for the coolness factor.  Not only is it a cool-looking interpretation of a night light, but it is also literally cool to the touch.  Unfortunately, the electroluminescent technology that makes this light glow didn't seem to make it able to actually throw any light into the room. The Indiglo nightlight boasts the same technology that is featured in Timex watches, and it even has the soothing blue-green glow.  The oval-shaped Indiglo is framed in a flat, thin white plastic casing that plugs directly into the wall.  It is incredibly energy efficient (costs less than 2 cents per year to operate) and it apparently doesn't burn out or need replacement bulbs (because there aren't any). — I liked the looks of it and the idea that it fits flat against the wall, and would be cool to the touch even if it was accidentally bumped in the night.  I plugged it in and it immediately cast a lovely aqua-teal glow.... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:31:43 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Indiglo-Night-Light-review-800c1 LoveisJoy 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Pic-Fly-Ribbon-review-8c885 I think it's illegal to purchase and fire an M-60 machine gun in my house, so I decided to break down and bring out another big gun, so I thought. — About ten days ago, the battle began. It all started with an innocent bag of vegetables that a neighbor graciously gave me. Well, I put the bag on the kitchen counter and forgot about it for a few days. — That was my first mistake. As I picked up the bag, a few fruit flies began to fly out and I ran out the door with the rest in the bag. Whew! Thank goodness only a few fruit flies were in the kitchen. — Fruit flies have a rapid life cycle progressing from egg to larva to pupa to adult in about two weeks. All of the stages are pretty gross. Well, I didn't want the pesky things in my kitchen for two hours, so I began swatting any time I saw one on the counter. — The next day, there were more--a lot more, so I swatted with more gusto. By the fourth day, I decided to bring in the troops... Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:29:32 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Pic-Fly-Ribbon-review-8c885 Katrena 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Casabella-All-surface-sweeper-review-33715 Casabella All Surface Sweeper —  If you're like me, you like things clean but have the sort of house/lifestyle that makes it hard to do so. My husband and I work full time and our two kids (a crawler and a toddler) make it difficult to do ANYTHING that requires our full attention. That includes vacuuming each day (we strive for twice a week) and handwashing our kitchen floor (I'll say once a week). — We've tried everything to help keep our floor clean of crumbs. We've tried the cordless electric vacuum, and it worked great until the wall-mounted charger failed. We've tried the corded lightweight vac, but it wasn't a great alternative (if you're going to go to the effort, why not just get out the big guns?). We've tried swiffer. The brush/dustpan combo is a tried and true method, but it's hard to accomplish when you don't have much time AND every little hand is trying to help! — Looks: It's a cute little sweeper. It's bright blue, looks like your grandmother's... Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:25:39 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Casabella-All-surface-sweeper-review-33715 AngiBowman 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Yankee-Candle-Reed-Diffusers-in-Lemon-Lavender-review-cff41 I just opened my Yankee Lemon Lavender Reed Diffuser yesterday, after a day of cleaning, and placed it in my bathroom.  They say to give it 24-48 hours for the scented oil to travel up the wooden sticks but, I noticed the fragrance shortly after putting it in my bathroom.  I've already had 2 compliments on the scented room.  This Lemon Lavender fragrance is very fresh and clean.  I have the large jar candles in this scent because it's so refreshing. Yankee Lemon Lavender is a powdery fresh blend of tangy lemon citrus and sweet lavender flowers. This Reed Diffuser is attractive and is the perfect way to add fragrance to your home in style! You can use it in any room.  And it's easy to use (unlike many other brands I've used) ... simply place the natural reeds in the decorative fragrance bottle, they absorb the scent oil, draw it to the top and diffuse it into the room air. Each bottle of fragrance oil comes with 10 reeds. — (6.5 fl. oz.) - $21.99. ... Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:10:49 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Yankee-Candle-Reed-Diffusers-in-Lemon-Lavender-review-cff41 BubleFan1 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Intermatic-WH40-Electric-Water-Heater-Timer-review-29a65 For many years, I've run my electric water heater with a timer that allows the water heater to run only at certain times during the day. I installed one for my current electric water heater about 15 years ago and the timer started making noises that made me think its time was up. So I went to Lowes and bought the Intermatic WH40 Electric Water Heater Timer for about $40 and replaced it last week. — What it is — The Intermatic WH40 is a metal box about 10 inches tall, four inches wide and two inches thick. It has a timer in it that controls a switch, and it's heavy duty enough to handle just about any electric water heater used in homes. In fact, the WH40 is rated at 40 Amps at 240 Volts, which is good for 9,600 Watts of power. My water heater is rated at 4,800 Watts (20 Amps), so it is well within the capability of the Intermatic WH40. — The WH40 contains a double-pole, single-throw (DPST) switch so that it can switch both legs of a 240-Volt circuit. Look carefully... Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:59:45 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Intermatic-WH40-Electric-Water-Heater-Timer-review-29a65 bkovacs 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Victor-Fly-Catcher-review-ce743  I must say that these sticky fly catchers are useless. And we have the  thousands of little teenage flies that raid everything on our patio.  We cant bbq before the sunset because of this nuisance . This is the second time i have attempted to use this product. Surely this product does claim on the package that theres "no baiting"  and this IS true. without the application of an attractant to the sticky strip, how do you expect to catch any flies??? It is just sticky and that is it! i have had a few flies get caught but nothing near what these traps should be able to do. these flies just happen to fly into these traps by chance. Maybe they want to use a humane trap. But a fly is a flying vehicle for disease through food contamination and humans are the hosts .  So when it comes to humane ways of  exterminating them, the rules cant apply. —... Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:40:24 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Victor-Fly-Catcher-review-ce743 theumpire1 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/3M-Command-Hook-Jumbo-review-473d6 I bought these to use as curtain tie back holders, the package said easy to remove won't take off the paint well I came home from work to find the hook lying on the floor with a big chuck of paint,  now I have to repaint the livingroom, the other hook I used was on wood and it is still holding strong,... Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:12:32 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/3M-Command-Hook-Jumbo-review-473d6 shy1 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Sta-Flo-Concentrated-Liquid-Starch-review-b63a2 Yep--I used starch for decorating the walls. I wanted to decorate the walls in the children's room with something colorful and cute. I considered trying to paint a mural, but I'm artistically challenged. My husband said "nothing permanent" and thought he had won. — HGTV has a great instructional page about fabric wall coverings. I have lots of pieces of fabric, a pair of scissors and some simple patterns. — I mixed the Sta Flo concentrated starch with an equal amount of water in a pan. After all, it does say concentrated and it's always good to stretch a budget. You may want a buddy if you're planning to cover a whole wall with a piece of fabric. My helpmate stood in the doorway shaking his head because I started before he got home from work. The pieces were small and I managed quite well. — After cutting out the material, I placed each piece of fabric in the starch mixture and applied it to the wall. And to the ceiling for good measure. It works with fabric. It... Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:19:44 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Sta-Flo-Concentrated-Liquid-Starch-review-b63a2 Katrena 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/O2-Cool-Mini-Misting-Fan-Unsure--147715-review-0dea2 GREAT FAN!! VERY HANDY ON THE GO!!!! I'd Highly Reccomed it's just that awesome! — Cool Mister Fan® with foam safety blades and strap — Mists 30°F below air temperature — Pump action sprayer — Wide mouth cap fits ice cubes — Foam blades keep it safe — Bright, fun colors — Requires 2 AA Batteries — TAKE IT ANYWHERE !! STAY COOL ALL SUMMER LONG!! — Keep cool this summer with our refreshing battery operated Handheld cool Water Misting Fan with strap. Your own personal water misting fan is battery operated with a trigger for a quick blast of refreshing, cooling mist. This personal misting fan includes a shoulder strap for those long walks at Disney Land. Large opening allows ice for an even more refreshing blast of mist. Handheld personal battery operated misting fan. Assorted water misting fan colors shipped. — These amazing battery operated fans put out a real nice cool breeze and can be positioned on a table or office... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:19:09 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/O2-Cool-Mini-Misting-Fan-Unsure--147715-review-0dea2 brown504 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Rutland-Fireplace-Glass-and-Hearth-Cleaner-review-91bc3 Okay so maybe I am a bit late for Spring Cleaning but better late than never I always say. By now you have probably already cleaned your chimney of the creosote from the winter burning season with a good chimney brush, if not you really need to get it done. After I clean mine I always give my glass doors a real good cleaning too but not all of them will remove that creosote build up on your glass, you need a special cleaner or a lot of muscle...I prefer the easy way...lol — — Rutland Fireplace and Hearth Cleaner — — I picked this up at my local Tractor Supply Store but you can also get it online as well. I just take a good cotton cloth, a pail of warm water and my bottle of Rutland to get my fireplace doors nice and clean. You can go one of two ways here...you can either close one door and reach around to spray or spray it on a damp cloth. Either way works very well and it will also work on the frame around the glass. It is strong enough to get that sticky... Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:17:30 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Rutland-Fireplace-Glass-and-Hearth-Cleaner-review-91bc3 kid-kansas 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Snapper-Snapper-190-cc-21-in-3-In-1-Deck-Rear-Bag-Mower-Rear-Wheel-Drive-review-c5546 Just purchased this model after considering all the models in the same price range.  Interesting that most of them offer approximately the same B&S engine, same HP (ft/lbs).  The only other model of interest is one with the Honda engine, which seems to add about $20.00 to the sell price.  Typically, Honda is worth the extra dollar, but also a stocking problem for the store.  (good for them I guess, unless low stock causes sales to decline) —  After actually finding a store that had the product in stock and getting it home, it started on the first pull, but I was disappointed to find that the front wheels were damaged from an apparent drop while in the box.  Better packaging should have prevented this by allowing the unit to set on the frame instead of the wheels while in shipping and storage. — I was offered the $69.00 3 year warranty, which only extends the mfg warranty by one more year and is not worth the expense. —  I expect a... Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:52:06 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Snapper-Snapper-190-cc-21-in-3-In-1-Deck-Rear-Bag-Mower-Rear-Wheel-Drive-review-c5546 whoiskenmore 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Loctite-Power-Grab-Heavy-Duty-Adhesive-on-a-Roll-review-c6800 I went in search of a double faced tape to install the LED Lights on my V Star. I have always used 3m tape in the past but Walmart didn't have any, what they did have was this Loctite Power Grab Tape. So wanting to get my lights on I decided to give it a try, I have used other Loctite products before and had good results. — — Loctite Power Grab Tape — — Loctite Power Grab Tape comes on a roll that is 3/4" x 60" and looks very similar to the 3m brand many of us have seen. The package claims it can withstand temperature fluctuations from -40 degrees to 248 degrees Fahrenheit, that's some serious cold and heat! It is also Waterproof and resists humidity. On their website I found this claim. "Just 6 inches of tape will hold up to 11 lbs., if the object is flat and under .4 inches thick." Now I was just looking for something to hold 2 ounces of LED Lights to the frame of my V Star so this certainly should hold with no problems. — — Using Loctite... Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:59:41 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Loctite-Power-Grab-Heavy-Duty-Adhesive-on-a-Roll-review-c6800 kid-kansas 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Beacon-Quick-Grip-Adhesive-review-40302 As a crafter, one of the most important tools in my bag of tricks is glue.  I have various types of glue that I keep nearby - decoupage medium, white glue, fabric glue, gel glue, and stick glue - each for different uses.  The latest addition to my glue stash is Beacon Adhesives Quick Grip All Purpose Permanent Adhesive.  I didn't actually purchase this to use for crafts - I bought it because I thought I could use it to mend a broken link on a chain bracelet. The product is described as a "super strong, permanent, clear glue that grabs and dries fast."   That sounded perfect for the application I had in mind.  I needed glue that would dry clear so that my efforts at repair were virtually invisible.  In addition, the package promised that this glue would bond, mend, and repair almost anything, which gave me a lot of hope.  Unfortunately, the "almost anything" apparently didn't apply to my bracelet. — I opened the tube and the glue began to... Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:55:53 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Beacon-Quick-Grip-Adhesive-review-40302 LoveisJoy 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Collectors-Hold-Museum-Putty-review-a3601 Anyone who collects antiques, tchotchkes, knick-knacks, whatnots, or other bric-a-brac will find this product to be a lifesaver.  Collectors Hold Museum Putty will securely hold your valuable items in place, yet will remove easily with just a twist of the wrist.  The Museum Putty is designed to protect your one-of-a-kind items from accidental breakage.  I bought the package of putty for about $5 from an online merchant (it's also available at Amazon.com).  The light beige compound comes in small package that contains 2.64 ounces of the product.  I opened the package, grabbed a small chunk, and rolled it into several small balls.  I then put about three balls of putty on the bottom of my figurine, and pressed it down onto the shelf with a slight twisting motion.  I tested it by dusting it and attempting to scoot it over, but the object was stuck in place and rendered immovable.  Incredibly, the only time it moved is when I intentionally gripped... Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:40:25 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Collectors-Hold-Museum-Putty-review-a3601 LoveisJoy 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Red-Heart-Super-Saver-Yarn-review-47e44 Want to make something? Most people who buy yarn do. red Heart makes super-cheap completely artificial yarn. For the most part they're scratchy and uncomfortable in glaring colors. — — In my work as a knitting and crochet instructor one piece of advice has consistently served my students and myself well. Find yarn you love, and find a pattern you love. You're much more likely to follow through on something you're passionate about than on something that cheap and easily accessible. — — That being said, red heart has good stitch definition and lots of colors -- it's great for baby and child-safe toys, and is cheap enough for an afghan -- a scratchy and uncomfortable afghan, but for many folks that's the only way their going to afford that volume of yarn. — — I think of it this way, personally: I'd rather have half as many nice things than twice as many cheap ones. —... Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:36:40 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Red-Heart-Super-Saver-Yarn-review-47e44 retrogradesonnet 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/DecoArt-Patio-Paint-review-dd752 I just tried DecoArt's One Step Crackle today and it is truly the best crackle paint I have found to date.  I sell on eBay (Harmonychik is my seller name) and love to try out new products.  I have used other crackle paints that took several stages.  Literally, you use acrylic paint, let it dry, and apply the one step crackle paint.  A thin coat produces fine cracks and a thick coat produces larger cracks.  The bottle says it takes 4 hours to dry/cure, but out here in Arizona it is much faster!  — If you are a crafter and need a good crackle paint, this is the one you want. — 2 U.S. FL Oz. or 59 ML and I believe I paid just $1.29 for the bottle!  Very reasonable! —... Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:12:48 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/DecoArt-Patio-Paint-review-dd752 Harmonychik 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Home-Trends-Cap-Washer-review-29113 My husband owns a collection of baseball caps, and I have a couple of visors that I wear when I'm gardening.  Caps and visors are great at keeping the glare of the sun out of your eyes, but they can be a problem to clean effectively.  If I simply toss them in the washer, they often come out misshapen or spotty.  That is, until I found the Cap Washer by Home Trends. Home Trends Cap Washer — As a lover of household helpers that make my life easier, I read the description of the product and purchased it immediately.  For $5.95 each, the Cap Washer allows you to safely wash your cap or visor without ruining its shape. — I put the Cap Washer to the test almost as soon as it arrived.  The product is made of thick, white plastic and is molded in the shape of a baseball cap (of course!).  Simply open the Cap Washer, snap it shut and toss it in the washer with a few laundry items. — I found that a baseball cap fits in the Cap Washer a little... Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:05:53 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Home-Trends-Cap-Washer-review-29113 LoveisJoy 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/As-Seen-On-TV-Snap-Hooks-review-dbe33 I'm always intrigued by the As Seen on TV commercials for products that always sound too good to be true.  Or, they sound so obvious I wonder why I hadn't thought of them myself.  Although the claims for the Snap Hook may be a little overstated, it really is a nifty object to have around the house. Snap Hook Kit — I bought a box of the hooks at my local bed and bath department store because I needed an easy way to hang hooks on a bathtub surround without using nails or adhesives.  The instructions on the Snap Hooks promised a secure hold all non-porous surfaces, like glass, tile, marble, porcelain, fiberglass, and metal.  The kit comes complete with 4 large and 4 small Snap Hooks.  Regardless of the size, each Snap Hook is made the same way.  The outer bowl-shaped piece is attached to a moveable hook made of hard plastic.  The flip side features a suction cup that helps the hook adhere to the surface.  Simply attach the suction side to the... Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:56:39 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/As-Seen-On-TV-Snap-Hooks-review-dbe33 LoveisJoy 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Whitney-Design-Canvas-Accessory-Drawers-review-1d1f3 I bought the Whitney Design 6-Shelf Canvas Sweater Organizer because I needed a storage solution in my closet.  The hanging organizer fits securely over a closet rod and is a great place to store tee shirts, knit pants, and casual tops.  The shelves are open, so if you want to store small accessories like hosiery, socks, belts, scarves, and small purses, it makes sense to put those items in a drawer.  For $10, it also made sense for me to purchase the Whitney Design Accessory Drawers. The accessory drawers come in a set of two and are constructed of the same heavy duty canvas-covered flat panels.  There is a cloth handle on the front of each drawer.  The handle makes it easy to pull the drawer out of the shelf.  Each drawer measurers 7-3/4 by 11-3/4 by 11-3/4 inches and each fit snugly in the hanging shelf organizer.  — I discovered that I really didn't want to use the drawers in the shelves after all.  I decided to fill them up with... Fri, 30 May 2008 18:07:21 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Whitney-Design-Canvas-Accessory-Drawers-review-1d1f3 LoveisJoy 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Whitney-Design-6-Shelf-Canvas-Sweater-Organizer-review-47930 I do try to stay organized and I never let my clothes closet get out of hand.  Still, I knew that I wasn't taking advantage of the limited space in my closet.  I did a little researching online for closet organizers, looking for something practical, functional, and inexpensive.  Ultimately, I ended up purchasing the Whitney Design 6 Shelf Canvas Sweater Organizer #01812. I chose this product because it features heavy duty canvas construction and provides six shelves for storage. Because it's made of canvas it didn't require any tools or skill to put together.   It attached easily to my closet rod with a wide sleeve of Velcro to secure it.  Once it's attached to the closet rod, it hangs down in a rectangular form but it doesn't go all the way to the floor.  At less than $20, the Canvas Organizer was definitely affordable. — I chose to use my organizer mainly for lightweight items like tee shirts, pullovers, knit pants, capris, and shorts. ... Fri, 30 May 2008 18:01:48 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Whitney-Design-6-Shelf-Canvas-Sweater-Organizer-review-47930 LoveisJoy 4