Review of Zojirushi CD-WBC30 Micom Electric 3-Liter Water Boiler and Warmer

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List Price: $142.00
Sale Price: $108.29
Today's Bonus: 24% Off

My old Zojirushi water boiler conked out after 8 years of regular use, so I ordered the CD-WBC30. Features have gotten better in 8 years: the LCD display shows the temperature, and I have 4 thermostat settings instead of two. I used to have to choose between 208 degrees (too hot) and 140 degrees (too cold). I can now also select 195 degrees and 175 degrees. The 175 degree setting is just fine for instant coffee and oatmeal. I've used this boiler for two months without problems.

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This is my second Zojirushi hot water pot. The first one is still going strong after years of use my daughter stole it and took it to college! The best thing about having a hot water pot is the instant availability of nearly-boiling water. I use it for tea, coffee (I make drip coffee through a single-cup filter) instant oatmeal, cup noodles, etc. It is much more efficient than using the microwave or stovetop.

The inside of the pot is easy to clean it has a Teflon-like coating. Any mineral build-up comes right off if the cleaning directions are followed to the letter. There are three choices for the "ready" sound silent, three dings, or a little melody. There are four temp settings and a timer it is nice to fill the pot and have boiling water ready when I get up in the morning.

I would not have any other brand of hot water pot, and I would NOT want to go back to heating everything in the microwave.

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The 3 liter Zorjirushi is exactly what I wanted and I've been very happy with it. It heats and then holds 3 liters of water at your choice of 4 temperatures: 208 F, 195 F, 175 F, or 140 F. Whenever you want to make a cup of tea, you simply place your cup under the outlet and then press the button. Hot water is electrically pumped out in a nice controled stream. It's designed to hold water at a temperature so that you can quickly make tea, but it's not designed to heat one or two cups of water as quickly as a microwave. If you want a quick water boiler, that isn't the intent of the Zorjirushi. If you have a little counter space that you can leave the unit on all day, then you will always have perfect temperature tea water available instantly.

Any time you add water, whether it's just to top off after you've made a cup or it it is a complete fill, the Zojirushi will heat the water all the way to boiling for about a minute before letting it cool back to your temperature setting. The manual said this was to remove chlorine, but it is also a way to ensure pure water in case some users don't dump their water every day like I do. Originally, I would have liked to have the option to skip the boiling step when I was just topping off my water, but now I agree there's good reasons to have it. The only time any steam or humidity comes out of the top of the unit is for about 1 minute while it boils. I pull the unit out from under the cabinets when it's going to boil or else the steam makes the bottom of the cabinets damp. After the boiling is done, I slide the unit back under the cabinets and everything stays completely dry for the rest of the day. I really like the delay timer that allows you to fill the unit before you go to bed and not have it heat up until just before you get up. It probably takes about 15 minutes to completely heat a full load of water to boiling and then have it cool back to 195 F where I leave it.

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Having had good experiences with other Zojirushi products, such as their bread and coffee makers, I decided to try this in my new office. While my old office had a kitchen, my new one doesn't so a water pot seemed to be a good solution.

Filling the pot with water is fairly easy, although the pot may prove a bit heavy to some when full. The directions aren't clear on this, but the lid does come off easily. Emptying the pot is easy as well. Emptying the pot at the end of each day is a good idea to keep down lime build up.

The water level indicator on the front of the pot is a bit hard to read at first. At least it doesn't have some sort of floating ball that can become stuck.

The pot has some sort of timer that I haven't quite figured out yet. It seems to be a timer to turn on, but a automatic off timer would be more useful.

The pot allows different temperature settings. But what the pot does is bring the water up to a boil and then somehow lowers it back down to the set temperature. Timewise, this makes for a counter-intuitive estimation of how much time it will take. You would think that a lower temperature would be quicker, but the opposite is true. The pot certainly does take longer to reach any temperature as compared to my electric Bodum pot, but not so much longer as to be a real bother. I save time in the long run by just having the water ready throughout the day.

As noted, the water is first brought to a boil. That was a concern as it may result in flat or lifeless water. However, the water tasted just fine. I'm using it exclusively for tea, mostly oolong and green. Tea, more than coffee, can reflect bad water but the tea doesn't taste any different than tea out of my regular electric pot.

The water temperatures are geared to tea, with the proper temperature for white, green, oolong and black tea. There is a setting for 205 degrees, a good temperature for coffee, but I haven't used it.

Speaking of coffee, there are two dispensing methods. One is to dispense at a normal (but by no means gushing) rate. The other is a slow dispense that I imagine would be great for drip coffee.

The thing is a bit noisier than I would have expected. When it reaches it first boil you can hear it. Thereafter, it is quiet. There's also a chime to tell you when it is set at the desired temperature.

The power cord is normal at the plug but is different at the pot. It has some sort of short plugs and a magnet. This makes it very easy to unplug when filling or not in use (there's no power switch, you just unplug it). In some situation, say on a busy kitchen counter, the plug may be knocked undone easily.

Clean up should be easy. The pot is fully open at the top and the lid comes off. There is some sort of small wire filter on the bottom that is easily struck when wiping out the pot and could become dislodged. The manual warns of this.

As may be seen in the photo, the dispensing nozzle is far enough away to fill a fairly large teapot. The entire unit swivels on the base. The exterior of the pot does not heat up appreciably and appears to be well insulated.

The only reason I knocked it down a star is that I don't see why it can't simply bring up the water to the desired temperature without having to come to a full boil first. While I didn't note any taste differences, it does add time unnecessarily.

September 2010 update: I've now been using this for over two months. Great product.

No funny smells. A light calcium scale deposit appeared soon after the first use but did not get appreciably heavier after that. I just cleaned it for the first time with a lime cleaner from the local grocery store.

The timer works well but I wish it had a longer time. The 10 hour limit does not enable me to set it when leaving work unless I want it to start at 3 a.m.

I loved it so much, I bought a second one for home.

August 2011 update: Been a year now with two of these units. No problems whatsoever. Lime does build up some on the inside but cleans up easily with some coffee machine cleaner juice from the grocery store. Use the cleaning cycle. I clean them every month or two, just to keep ahead of the build up. It helps to pull out the wire filter every week or so and give that a rinse. I do notice that the home unit builds up lime a bit quicker than the office. At home we use filtered water but at the office we have a service bring in water.

I probably just got used to the noise, but I really don't notice it any more, as noted in my original review.

Very good value.

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I've used Zojirushi products all my life, rice cooker, water boiler, thermal lunch boxes, pressure cooker you name it. Ask any member of my family, the first thing they can tell you is that these machines are well made and they last!

I had to replace my 8 year old smaller 2L Zojirushi model because 1. it was 8 years old and the plastic inside started to deteriorate 2. 2L is too small for us, we make tea almost daily in the winter 3. when I moved, the shipping company banged it up real good so I need an upgrade

We picked this particular one for a couple of reasons.

Appearance: We like the simple champagne color without all the tacky flowers, would be better if it came in the sleek gray color, but this actually looks quite nice on the countertop and is not too gold

Functionality: As with any Zojirushi product, this does not disappoint. Easy release / dispense button prevents "accidental" leakage / pouring especially if you have young children. 4 different digital temperature control selection allows you to adjust (and hold) your water temperature as needed. We use it for tea, but imagine it'd be pretty convenient for a person who needs to make baby formula, coffee, instant noodles etc. etc.

Reliability: It's Zojirushi!

The price could be a bit steep for some, but considering the number of years you'll get out of this machine, it really is not that bad.

Tip on maintenance: save your money on the "cleansing tablets". Every month or so, I cut up a lemon, fill the machine with water, let it boil with the lemon and sit for about an hour. It smells nice, it's natural, and removes any deposits without problem!

ENJOY!

Cheap Sunpentown SU - 1051 Mini - Humidifier

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List Price: $79.99
Sale Price: $43.58
Today's Bonus: 46% Off

I purchased one of these humidifiers last winter. At first, I loved it so much I ordered 2 more for my kids. We used them for 3 months and then put them away when we shut down the heater for the season. This winter, however, we've had nothing but problems. The first one started leaking water . (I suggest putting the unit in a shallow container if you have nice furniture, as this happens quite often.) The units were still under warranty so I contacted the company. They tried everything possible to persuade me from returning it. Their solutions to fix the unit were as follows: Clean the unit with lemon juice, only use distilled water, and empty the unit when not in use. I already do all of these things, but I have no idea how that will "repair" a leak. The unit leak so much that it stopped working. I spend $10 to return the unit. A week later someone from the company called to say there was nothing wrong with it so they were sending it back without doing any repairs. Needless to say, since they didn't bother fixing or replacing it, the unit still leaks water and doesn't produce mist.

When the first one broke, I started using one of the others I had. But after just one month of use, that one no longer produces mist. And now the third unit just started leaking water. I'm really screwed now because at this point all 3 units are out of warranty.

Initially, I spent over $150 on the three units I bought. I can't believe Sunpentown refused to do anything about the defective one I sent back. You think they would've replaced it just to keep a good customer. Take my advice: SAVE YOUR MONEY!!! THIS UNIT IS NOT WORTH THE MONEY...AND SUNPENTOWN DOES NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY!!!

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I travel frequently and, while working on a job, my old travel humidifier kicked the bucket. After much internet searching, I found this nifty little device. First off, it's MUCH smaller than you think-slightly larger than a large box of 250-ct matches. Insert a water bottle, plug it in & you're set. Easy to clean & carry with you, the thing I love most about it is that if it runs out of water, it stops on it's own. It puts out a large amount of cold humid air for it's stature, but unfortunately it struggled against the incredibly dry air in the Minneapolis hotel room where I was staying. My recommendation would be to run the humidifier all day while you're gone with the door closed to your room and see if that humidifies the space more effectively.

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I initially purchased this portable humidifier to use at the office. It is extremely dry, and I had been getting dried up bloody noses from the dry heat. I was searching for a filterless humidifier, because I did not want to worry about filters get mildewy and gross, especially from not using it over the weekends and holidays. I also wanted something that would be easy to put away in a cupboard when I left work. I came across this Suppentown portable humidifier and thought it sounded perfect.

It has worked incredibly well so far. As an added bonus, I was easily able to wipe it out, put it in my bag, and take it with me to visit out of town family for the Christmas holidays. They have electric baseboard heating, which is extremely drying. I used to keep a regular humidifier there, but I was the only one who used it, so it needed a new filter every time I used it. This portable one worked perfectly!! A few family members were very interested in it, and my mom is even going to order one after seeing how great it worked.

The only thing I can think of that would make it better is if you could use a larger bottle. 16.9 ounces doesn't last very long if you have it on high (does not last through the night). I am curious to try a 20 oz or 24 oz bottle possibly one day. I have had issues with a couple bottles used so far. I think it is because of the cheap, flimsy plastic used. I have tried an Aquafina bottle and a store brand water bottle. Both could be a little difficult getting the adapter on properly. I did find a bottle that works perfectly and seems to be much sturdier (it is 17 oz., so close enough to the 16.9 limit). It is Talking Rain Sparkling Ice flavored water. I will keep a couple of those on hand at the office, home, and my parents' house.

I highly recommend this humidifier for office use, traveling, or small rooms. I'm not sure it would be the right thing for constant use at a house because of the water limitation. GREAT PRODUCT!!!

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PROS:

~ Quality manufactured (in China)

~ Variable vapor output

~ Automatically shuts off when out of water

~ Compact bedside table size

~ International voltage ready

~ Includes two bottle adapters

CONS:

~ Has a bright blue light that *could* be too bright for some users

~ Noise level is low but *could* be too noisy for some users

I'm hypercritical about manufactured products but this was quite a surprise. I did not give it 5 stars because there is no way to turn off the bright blue light that shines through the vapor nozzle. If you can live with that you won't be disappointed.

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I've always used humidifiers in the winter season. The huge, heavy tank, the cleaning, ugh! Recently, I developed dry eye and was told by my doctor to use a humidifier to help with the nighttime dryness. After searching Amazon and using the very helpful reviews, I ordered this little dynamo.

You don't need a lot of water. You don't need to humidify the whole room...just the area near your head. This unit is almost amazingly SMALL. Quiet. Convenient. I bought distilled water from the supermarket, store it in the bathroom and fill a 16 oz water bottle every other day. It was never practical to use distilled water before, in the usual gallon humidifier tank, even though it is recommended. Who wants to buy/cart that much water?

This little beauty does the job. Lots of cool mist. In fact, on the high setting, it can soak the pillow case, so I keep it at about 1/2 setting. Every morning I take off the nozzle and top, pour out the remaining water and let everything air dry during the day. The bright light in the well was a problem, but I took a suggestion from this site and put a small piece of black electrician's tape over it. This doesn't seem to effect it's function at all, but I do wish the manufacturer would address this issue, as it is the main complaint.

I recently traveled with it, and it was great. Of course, it has helped through the winter cold season and the spring sinus season. Highly recommend it. Great product.

Reviews of Hot Towel Warmer Cabinet 32L Sterilizer Massage Spa Salon Double

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List Price: $195.50
Sale Price: $119.99
Today's Bonus: 39% Off

I purchased 3 two drawer towel warmers in preparation for an upcoming promotion for my massage therapy business. The first time we plugged one in only one drawer worked. All 3 had seals that were loose. Soon, another warmer lost a drawer and all three warmers now have door seals that are hanging off. They are not put together well, and probably haven't been used more than 2 hours each and ara already falling apart.

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Well it's hard to turn down with free shipping and a almost $100.00 mark down right?

This was exactly as described in the one star review here. I also purchased for a spa fair and didn't realize that one 1/2 this size would certainly accomodate at least 12 towels at a time. This "jumbo" version: top and bottom will probably only get used on top, except during the fairs. It also could easily accomodate 30+hand towels. I don't know where these manufacturers get their estimates on how many towels the warmers hold...?

In addition it's glued-on tag was hanging off exposing screws, one on/off switch is crooked and the box came torn up despite poor packaging warmer was undamaged. The seals are terrible (first demo w/2 towels it leaked) and if we used it more I'd send it right back. I almost find it offensive that we are (as consumers) stuck with bulky things like this because it's more trouble than worth the time to send them back...

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I use the 15 days, the deformation of the door seals, the door can not be closed! Poor quality! Such products in China, 200 yuan, actually sold for $ 100 here, is simply slander made ''in China!

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Started to rust immediatly, rubber seals were coming off when I recieved it. My cheapness got in the way so I ignored all the bad reviews thinking that it really couldnt be THAT bad. IT IS!! Do NOT waste your money. I will be returning and buying a different warmer.

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There is nothing good about this warmer. It rusted in less then 2 weeks, the seals don't fit, the heater scorched my towels, one bay doesn't heat up, there is a bad smell from them when turned on. Overall cheap and not worth a price of FREE.

Buy Jura 68565 Cup Warmer

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List Price: $199.00
Sale Price: $190.20
Today's Bonus: 4% Off

Makes the more coffee experience, just a tab bit richer....but really not necessary. This is an item of extravgance, but enjoyable nonetheless.

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Heating the cups makes a world of difference! It isn't a necessity but as one reviewer stated, it completes the experience. Programmable turn on and off assures the cups are warm before you make your first cup of coffee. The finish matches Jura's other products and looks nice next to the coffee machine. I have three regular mugs in each drawer and this has freed up space in the cabinets. I only wish I had gotten this sooner.

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Really completes the coffee expirience. The auto-on feature is great. Holds six good sized cups or mugs but not tall ones.

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this cup warmer is a perfect companion to any coffee machine. warm cups make a big difference in the taste of coffee. the machine has a timer. you can have the cups warm in the morning when you ready to make your morning joe. it can also be programmed to turn off at the set time.

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I will be honest, you don't NEED this. But if you do decide to spend the money... it's worth it!

Cheap Stove Scents are liquid potpourri for your stove. With only a few

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This product is good and arrived in timely matter, but after purchasing it I just happen to come across the product at WalMart in larger size bottles for only $2.00 a bottle. You can find it at WalMart in the section that sells candles.

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These scents smell nice in the bottle, but we can't smell them in the air after the water is vaporized. I wouldn't waste your money.

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I took the advice from another review and only put the scent on the stone that comes with the kit. When you put the scent in the steamer it gets all foamy. Smells great!

Discount Great Northern Popcorn 6208 Bar Style Popcorn Popper Machine

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List Price: $999.95
Sale Price: $302.00
Today's Bonus: 70% Off

I received this machine and it was very easy to assemble. It made great movie style popcorn, provided you have the right ingredients. Now here's something even the EXPERTS, miss. It's not just the kettle size but the size of the CONTAINER. This machine cranks out great popcorn, but I only was able to fill it with approximately 64 cups of popped popcorn (bin size restriction). Hence, you should buy the "right" kettle size with a BIGGER container if you are targeting large crowds. Therefore, I purchased a 14 oz machine with a bigger bin and will keep my Great Northern as a secondary backup (I'm a vendor). Once again, for $300.00 dollars and for small to medium size crowds, BEST VALUE & PRICE!

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This is a great popcorn machine! The 12 oz. kettle puts out a good sized batch of popcorn. It's durable, well constructed and was easy to assemble. Just slide the doors on the pin hinges and plug in the kettle. It's getting a great workout and in great shape.

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This machine is horrible. After using it for 24 days, the kettle broke. No more popcorn! I contacted Great Northern and they only offer a 30 day warranty. Wanted us to pay $40 for the kettle replacement, plus shipping and handling both ways. Their customer service was horrible as well, like the product they make.

Spend the extra money and buy a nicer machine made from another company. Good thing Amazon did the right thing and offered a refund on it. Way to go Amazon!

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Does a great job in producing popcorn. We use it for home but could be a small producer for a commercial enterprise (like a sports team concession both).

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For the money, it is a really nice popper. We were pleasantly surprised expected much less and when we tried it for the first time, it worked better than the high end popper we were replacing. good job!

Review of BISSELL ProHeat 2X Select Pet Upright Deep Cleaner, 94003

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Hi.

We bought this model at a local retail store last weekend. I had used a different model of the same brand previously (borrowed from in-laws). I have used it once, on my entire living room--a cream colored cheap wall-to-wall carpet laid down about 3 years ago by the previous owners. Probably artificial fibers. Just saying.

The carpet was getting spotty. We have a cat who has hairballs regularly and two four-year-olds. The cream colored carpet was showing spots around the kids computer, both couches, and the high-traffic areas at each doorway. We had some washable-marker marks here and there, and one sticky place. We live in the south so we had red clay marks, too.

I assembled the machine--had to get a long, thin screwdriver from the garage because the kind with the changeable tips is too fat for the holes in the upper handle. Assembly was easy, but I was left with an extra wand that had no home. Ours came with a small, medium, and large unpowered wand plus a powered wand and a crevice tool. At this point I was thinking that all the unpowered wands were kind of redundant.

I filled the machine with hot water and the 'fiber cleansing' solution my husband picked up because he didn't realize there were two bottles of solution inside the box. Not a big deal, we'll use it all, I'm sure. The soap tank was a bit leaky for just a second, so I let it drip til it stopped, then rinsed off the outside.

I grabbed the blue squirt bottle of 'tough stain precleaner' that came in the box and squirted each little gray, brown, or sticky spot. Didn't do anything else, just squirted. Gave the gray area near the doors a sort of 'misting' to get the job started.

I turned the dial on the Bissell to 'normal cleaning' and started near one door. Wet stroke forward, wet stroke backward, dry stroke forward, dry stroke backward. Had a little trouble with the suction at first, but I later determined this was probably because the machine had tipped while it was on. It makes a pop noise when it loses suction, and you pretty much have to shut the machine off and turn it back on to 'reset'. A few places in the carpet needed an extra going over with the wet/dry strokes to get the spots up.

After just a couple of strokes, the machine started spitting out little 'hairballs' that were gray--presumably cat hair and carpet fiber wads. I had read about these in the manual and so was not alarmed. I decided to let them go and after the carpet dried I'd get them with the dry vac.

About half-way through the room (13x18, roughly) it was time to dump the dirty water and refill. The water was like diluted hot chocolate in color, and had hairballs in it. Removing and replacing the tank is quite easy. Originally I was thinking I had to lay down the handle to get at the connections, but this is not true--the machine can be standing up and you can still get the water tank out. Not sure about the soap tank, though.

Note that while cleaning, you're dripping on the back stroke. So you start at one end of the room and work *backwards* to the other end, not forwards. Probably a no-brainer, but there you go. I tried using one of the unpowered wands for a spot under the kids desk, and it did OK but didn't really wow me. It was nice to have the trigger right there on the wand to be able to squirt soap at the spot, and the wand did fine at pulling the water back out. Didn't try the powered wand for it--I just went over it again with the big machine and the spot was completely gone. I'll try the powered wand another time.

Back in action, I finished up the room with no other highlights. I chose not to use the 'rinse' cycle on the machine at all, I guess I'm testing the anti-resoiling agent in the soap. :) I didn't really want to spend the time going over every inch of carpet twice.

When finished, I put down a couple of clean towels to walk on since we can't avoid using the room. The carpet itself was dried within a couple of hours--even the bit at the start where I was having trouble with suction.

Once dry, I have to say the carpet looks great. There might be one or two places where the spots wouldn't come out--but they have been cleaned at least 3 times now with three different machines and have persisted through all of them. Anyway, I do notice that the carpet nap is starting to look a little worn--it's cheap carpet. I haven't been back over it yet with the dry vac to get the hairballs up, that might change the appearance.

Husband said the smell of the soap was pretty much gone once the carpet dried, so it didn't leave a heavy stink of 'just washed the carpets' behind. The soap smell was itself reasonably pleasant and not overpowering even when wet.

So on to disassembly and cleaning. Emptying the dirty water was again no big deal. I rinsed out the tank afterward to get the hairballs out and keep it from getting stinky (why leave microban a big job, after all). I left the remaining soap in the soap tank for the next time. Since the shields over the nozzles and brushes are clear, you can see how scummy they get after just one use, so I grabbed my screwdriver again and popped off the clear shields (one screw for the front 'suck' piece, and two screws each for the side 'edge cleaner' areas) to rinse them out. The brushes themselves were exposed at that point and I could see the surfaces behind them were scummy but I didn't feel like removing the brushes so I just wiped with a rag to get the scum out of the places I could reach. At this point the vac is lying on its back in the kitchen, in the way. But one more wipe of the sole plate (where the dirty drips come from) and reapplying screws and shields and it all went back together easily. It took about another five mins or so to clean the machine after use. Then I grabbed a clean rag and the reassembled machine and moved it to its storage home. Since it's sitting on the carpet, I put the clean rag down first, then the machine on the rag to catch any drips I might have missed.

I am very pleased with how the machine performed. It made a dirty carpet look clean again, which is exactly what I wanted. It was relatively easy to use and clean (might tape a screwdriver to the machine just to have one handy) and it did a great job.

If I were going to improve the machine, I'd make those clear shields use a fastener other than a screw so they could pop off by hand. I'd maybe add one more fastener for that spare wand. I might include a plastic tray to sit the thing on when it's not in use. I might try to work on that suction pop noise thing to make it clearer that you need to stop and fix something before you squirt more soap down. I might also leave off all the marvelous stickers identifying special features. Not needed, and they get in the way of seeing what the machine is doing. And if I were really working hard to improve, I'd have a 'self propelled' motor to assist the user to move the machine at the proper speed (slow) and with the proper contact between machine and floor (to improve suction).

I hope the machine will last for the amount of time we intend to keep this carpet. Other reviews make me wonder if my satisfaction will last, since it seems other people have a lot of trouble with their machines, regardless of brand and model. I hope to update this review again later, after a few more uses.

-----edited Nov 30 2009

After using the machine several more times, I am still pleased. It's kept the carpet looking pretty good, and sometimes I'm able to get up spots using only the warm water without soap. That's nice. I haven't used up all the carpet soap that came with the machine (and that we bought by mistake). The cat was quite ill over the summer and kept throwing up all over the carpet, everywhere..and you really can't tell at all. Likewise the kids have repeatedly gone after the carpet with washable markers and crayons, and those marks are gone as well. Red clay marks gone. There are some shadowy gray areas at the main entrance/exit to the room that the shampooer doesn't seem to be able to help, I guess the carpet is just showing its age.

I have taped a gallon zip bag to the front of the machine, in which I have the manual and the screwdriver I mentioned earlier. Very handy. I've used the powered wand a few times now, and I like that much better than the unpowered ones. Agitation really helps get the gunk out.

I like using this machine better than my Spotlifter now, it does a better job. I do tend to 'save up' spots so I can run the machine for long enough to make it feel 'worthwhile', but it even gets up the old spots.

Anyway, I'm pleased with the machine, it does what I wanted it to do. After months, it doesn't stink (I still rinse it out after each use), and it hasn't made anything scummy while it sits waiting for the next use.

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I've owned three of these Bissell models over the past four years.

The first (2006) lasted nearly 18 months and about as many carpet cleanings. Eventually the spray system broke. Since it was out of warranty it was not worth getting fixed.

The second (2008) lasted 13 months. Same story, the spray system broke.

The third, this year, last 4 months and 3 carpet cleanings. Under warranty I called Bissell, got the names of two service centers but when I called them they both told me the same thing: Bissell was not going to warrant the spray system unless it was a manufacturer's defect.

Being prudent, I called Bissell and went through a 30 trouble shooting session over the phone. It was grueling. Check this gasket, that gasket, take out the spray nozzles, get an old toothbrush and clean the sprayer, try the hose, re-seat the water tank, re-seat the soap tank, try the hose again, chew some gum, run the machine for a minute, walk on the ceiling for 30 seconds, run the machine and press the spray button for two minutes, check the hose without the attachment, spin your partner loop-de-lou, stretch the hose out, look out the window and wait for a police car to go by, run the machine and try the spray....

When I questioned the Bissell customer service person about the two service centers reporting that the spray system was probably not going to be covered by the warranty, because Bissell apparently doesn't believe spray problems are a manufacturer's defect, they stuck to the company line: we will fix a manufacturer's defect. How about a return? That's up to the store where you purchased it.

Here's my take: I expect a $200 carpet cleaner to work. I expect to fill it with water, put the tank on, fill it with soap, put the tank on, turn on the switch and clean carpet. My position is that all the trouble shooting Bissell made me go through was just to make up for bad design, bad engineering, poor quality parts, etc. This model of machine has a serious spray system issue. It obviously has several points where it fails and Bissell seems to believe it is your problem not theirs.

Don't buy this product, the spray system may last 2 years or 4 months, just to get it work is a problem even if the pump is still working, but no matter what Bissell's support system isn't there for you.

Luckily for me, a brought this product at Costco and they took it back and gave me a full refund.

Though I'm not sure carpet cleaners from other manufacturer's are any better, I know the Bissell is not an option.

Personally, I would pay more for a longer lasting quality product if and when I can find one. I think we need to stop sourcing these products from China.

Best Deals on BISSELL ProHeat 2X Select Pet Upright Deep Cleaner, 94003

My wife and I have two dogs, a 2 year old child and the cheap white/beige colored carpet that I'm sure everyone has seen before. It came with our house when we bought it. We have been living here for 3 years and you don't realize how dirty your carpets actually get until you clean them. It came to a point where I could not stand to be in my house because the carpets got so bad. As if the dogs weren't enough, my daughter spilled liquid bubbles everywhere and dirt attaches to the fluid like a magnet. We bought this bissell a week ago and finally finished using it this past weekend. I'm very happy with the results. My carpet looks A LOT better!!

Pros:

It is very easy to use after you understand how to use it.

If you compare, side by side, the section you cleaned next to an area you didn't get to yet you will notice that it does a really good job.

The carpets barely get wet and dry incredibly fast for that reason.

Cons:

You really need to understand how to use this before you try for the first time. For example, you need to make sure you change the water before you use it all. If not, it will start to use all of the cleaning solution and it wastes it. The solution isn't cheap so you want to avoid this from happening. (we did find deals online for larger bottles which make this cost more upfront but over the course of using this it will save you quite a bit)

You go through more solution than I would like and you have to change the water fairly often (it isn't hard to change though).

If you have pets, their hair will clump up and lay on the carpet after you've cleaned it. Honestly, after the carpets dry I walked around and picked up maybe 5 or 6 quarter sized clumbs and that was it. I didn't even need to vacuum after.

The bottom line is that this machine does a really good job after you learn how to use it well. It has it's pros and cons but what machine doesnt? If you think it's going to magically make your carpets brand new again you are naive, but if you are looking for something easy to use, fairly inexpensive to buy and something that makes your carpet look a lot better than they did, then this is the machine to get. My wife and I are certainly happy we bought it!

Honest reviews on BISSELL ProHeat 2X Select Pet Upright Deep Cleaner, 94003

I did a lot of research before purchasing this item, and I'm very pleased with it. It is easy to use and did a good job getting out some pet stains that my spot cleaning couldn't get rid of. I've already used it 3 or 4 times because I have major dog/child traffic. Using it and even cleaning it up afterwards isn't much more work than using a vacuum.

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UPDATE ADDED TO END 3/1/2013

I am on my second Bissell Proheat 2X. The first one, I bought four years ago and used it constantly. I have twin tots and two dogs, I feel I got my money out of the first machine. The reason I bought a second machine is that the hand held attachment on the first broke and I got a GREAT deal on the newer model. The new one also came with a myriad of attachments the old one didn't have (the seller for me being the crevice tool). It also came with two big bottles of cleaner.

Yesterday, I used it on my stairs and the entire upstairs. We have a light colored shag carpeting. I was astounded at what the machine picked up yesterday--when I emptied the water from cleaning the stairs, it was near black. The rug hadn't even looked dirty. I did the entire upstairs and used the crevice tool to get under the wood trim on the floor. The upstairs looks and smells as fresh as when the carpets were new. I highly recommend this product. I took one star off because there is no automatic indictor as to when you need to add more water. It was pretty much by trial and error for me. Otherwise, this machine is excellent. It heats the water to a very hot point and has great suction to grab the dirty water back up. The cord is very long, I was able to do every room upstairs without moving the cord to different outlets.

I also recommend that people shop around--you can get this machine for $160 at some stores. It's better than hiring a professional and you know 'where it's been'--I always wonder about the professional companies! Did they clean up a crime scene with their machine? Yuck. I also hate having strangers in my home. It does a great job and for what you pay for someone (nd not deal with all of the haggling), you could own this great product to use for years. Don't be put off by the fact I broke my attachment--I can be very destructive with vacuums etc!!

UPDATE 3/1/13: My ProHeat stopped dispensing solution. I took it apart and could not resolve, finally took it to a local authorized vacuum repair center. While I waited for someone to come out to help me, I noticed there was a row of recently repaired Proheats. Peeked at some of the tags and all had the same issue--solution not dispensing (and all with a repair bill around $90! You could practically buy a new one for that!). The repair woman came out and told me to take my cleaner home and bring it back another time, she was too busy with other cleaners. Rude! I dragged my unit back to the car and drove it home, comepletely angry. I searched online and found the belowrepair center manual. I tried two things and my cleaner was dispensing cleaner again in minutes! There was a little gasket that had become separated. I also poured very hot tap water through the tank and voila! I guess it may have become clogged with dried solution, or it was the gasket being off. Whatever, it works and for free. So save yourself some money and try this guide before going to a repair center. My cleaner is working as good as when I purchased it years ago. cleaner

Best Holly & Martin Regina Wall Mount Fireplace Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $259.99
Sale Price: $179.99
Today's Bonus: 31% Off

I had wanted to get an outdoor fireplace but the pit were too bid and the table tops made me a little worried if some one woud eith knock it over or get burned so I choice this one. I looks like wood but it metal and the glass protects against people that would bump

into it by accident yet it still put out a lot of heat. the only thing is that I would have like the gel containers included with it.

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Buy DeLonghi MCH710T Multi-Position Ceramic Heater

Customer Ratings:

I purchased this heater to help keep my "three season" sunroom warm in the cooler weather not toasty warm, but above freezing and usable with a couple sweaters or a light jacket. It is solidly constructed, and the fan moves a good amount of air without being too loud. It has a timer to allow it to run and then shut off or it can run continuously, but the thermostat has no markings to indicate desired temperature. I also find that it tends to cycle on an off frequently and somewhat unpredictably, as though when it runs it heats itself up and the thermostat shuts it off prematurely. It seems to work better when laid on its side rather than standing up.

Since I purchased it to prevent a room from getting too cold but actual temperature is not a major concern it is fine. If you are looking for a heater for a primary living space where accurate and consistent temperatures are desired, this may not be the unit for you.

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I was almost convinced not to buy this, buy the other amazon reviews. My own experience differs greatly. I bought this during the Friday special for $30 and free shipping. The heater is large, so make sure you note the heightxwidthxdepth numbers. This isn't a cheap small heater like the 2 dozen at walmart. The heater is much better than others (cheap walmart type) I've used in the past. The ONLY annoying thing was the timer that made a noticeable time-bomb type of sound as it counted down. HOWEVER, after close examination I noticed that there is a setting that doesn't use the timer, that also rids the user of that annoying tick. So, that detractor is gone.

Another reviewer noted that it was loud and shaky on hardwood. I disagree 100%. I'm using it on hardwood, and get no vibrations at all. The only thing I hear is the white noise of the heater working. And its no louder or quieter than what I expect from any portable heater.

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This is a very decent header. The housing is big relative to the heating element. I got this unit at a very good price because it was featured in a Friday sale. The only complaint is the control; it is not intuitive or it is unnecessarily complicated. Normally, one would not need to consult the manual to understand the control for a simple heater.

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I bought this heater during the Friday deal. For that price this heater is great value and a real bargain. It seems well made and has decent features. I have used it both in the tower and horizontal configuration and it provides heat quickly feels real nice when you enter a freezing room. I am ordering a second one since we were taking it all over the house. The controls are easy to use once you get used to it. I had to refer to the manual a couple of times to understand what the various symbols on the dial meant but it was no big deal.

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I bought this heater on a Friday sale so I got a good price on it. I was looking for a small heater to warm a bathroom during Illinois winters and this has fit the bill. The heat output is great for the small room, it heats up in about 2 mins and needs to be turned down after 10 mins. The controls are not the best as mentioned in other reviews the "on" dial is like a kitchen timer that ticks all the time. But for the hour I need it in the mornings, it works really well.

Buy Thermal Wave by SUNHEAT Electronic Infrared Zone Heater with Remote

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $349.00
Sale Price: $199.00
Today's Bonus: 43% Off

I recently purchased the SUNHEAT Electronic Infrared Zone Heater. I bought this product for my father who sleeps in a reclining chair at night. He wanted a heater that would warm the air in the room and after using it for less than a day, he said the room felt more comfortable and it was easier for him to relax and sleep. The product works better than expected and it is quieter than I thought it would be. My only complaint, [if you want to call it a complaint], would be that the remote control buttons are difficult to use for someone who has limited strength in their fingers. I definitely would not let this influence my decision in buying another one of these heaters, but it is something to think about if the person using it has limited hand strength, such as someone who is handicapped or is elderly.

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This Sunheat has a 3-year warranty if you check with others in the same price range you'll probably find a one year warranty that, in some cases, does not cover labor. It has a wood cabinet not metal or plastic and nice digital readout. And most important it works great! And will last for years not just one year. I feel Sunheat is not that well known compared to mass advertised brands but it is the best heater for the money. I trust it because I have oil heat in my home and I refuse to pay around $4.00 per gallon I heat using two infrared heaters and two radiator heaters in a mild climate in winter of 20 to about 50 degrees my house is about 1200 sq ft., Over oil heat I save a least $200 per month and I am nice and toasty warm. Their other heater has a 5 year warranty and you can't go wrong with that.

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The only disappointment I have is that on the SUNHEAT website, they imply they are a US company, only the cabinet is made in the US. (at least that's something). The unit itself is from China. Looks nice and works well, I have no complaints.

Update: 4/17/2013 Unit has never been in a damp area, yet the cabinet is starting to delaminate on the top front edge. Also, on the rear where the intake filter screen is located the chassis was not drilled correctly for the assembly screws causing the sheet metal to be rippled. This keeps the screen from fitting correctly. Poor Chinese workmanship.

Honest reviews on Thermal Wave by SUNHEAT Electronic Infrared Zone Heater with Remote

When old man winter sets in you can trust this little baby will take the chill out of the air. Ca not go wrong with this truste name on the market.

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we bought this a few weeks back and its really nice. its very quite ,heats very good .and the wood cabinet looks very nice ,also the power cord is very heavy duty .great heater if you need one , you cant go wrong getting this heater :)

Optimus H-4436 14-Inch Oscillating Dish Heater with Remote Control Reviews

Customer Ratings:

I was looking to heat a small TV viewing area which encompassed the entire sectional couch. The products I compared the H4436 with were the Optimus H4438, the Soleus MS-09 and the Presto. I was looking for a parabolic heater. If you are looking for a different heating solution than what parabolic heaters provide, then don't expect this to heat up an entire room. Anyways, the Presto was eliminated because it was on a fixed upwards tilt, and needed to be placed on the floor to heat the area I was looking for. Since it didn't have any tilt options, and did not oscillate, it was out. It had three different heat settings on its thermostat, up to 1000W. The Soleus looked viable, and though I did not get to see one in person, there was a consistent theme in the reviews that it was just way too bright and like looking directly into the sun.

That led me to the Optimus H4436. The difference between the 2 Optimus models is that the H4436 has two heat settings, at 400W and 800W. The H4438 also has 2 heat settings, but is more powerful at 800W and 1200W. I ordered the H4436 before finding out about the H4438, and immediately thought I would be doing an exchange because I thought 400W would be useless. Well, once I got to try it out in the home setting I am keeping this one and canceled my order for the H4438. I have it up on a table at the foot of the couch, and it oscillates to cover the entire sectional. The low heat setting turned out to be plenty to keep a nice comfortable warmth with the central heat off. It's only in the upper 30's/low 40's outside right now, and other areas of the house are around 68. This heater at low brings the sectional area up to about 72-73. I have always kept my central heat set to around 72 or even higher, so my plan this year is to knock it down to 68 and keep the Optimus on in the TV viewing area, since that's where I'm usually at:) We'll see how that works out in the energy bills in the upcoming months, but at least I'm comfortable.

If I want to warm up quickly, I would put it on 800W for a little bit, but it eventually gets too hot. One of my considerations was energy efficiency, so I'm pleased to be able to keep it at 400W, and crank up to 800W for short intervals when needed. In my situation, I think running 1200W would be way too hot, and running 800W consistently would not only be inefficient, but also too warm. Ideally, Optimus would offer one heater with 3 settings Hi, Med, and Low, say at 1200W, 800W, and 400W, but they don't and so you have to choose the combination that works best for you. It is not bright at all, it has a decent range of tilt (but does not really tilt down), and the oscillation is nice for spreading the heat around. Oh, and if you don't feel like getting up to make any adjustments, the remote is nice! I have not noticed any issues so far with the buttons at the base of the dish and it's operating smoothly. It is also very quiet. I gave it 4 stars, just because I still think one model with all three heat settings would be ideal.

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(+) it is a decent product. Remote is very handy even comes with a little holder. Most of the surfaces except of course the grill in the front are cool to couch. Safety shut switch is good in case it gets tipped over. Two power level and auto shut off timer also come in handy. Oscillation feature is also very useful and it is quiet. I can feel the heat from about 10 feet from the unit.

(+) this has lasted over 4 winters now and it looks like it will last least another 4 more.

(-) Initial quality is questionable. Within a few days buying the unit the buttons stopped working. I was about to return it. I took a chance and I opened the unit and figured out the problem and fixed it buy tightening some screws and repositioning the circuit board. I am not sure how many would be inclined to do all that.

(-) If you have a situation where it has to look down good luck, it does not tilt downwards even a bit but it tilts up easily. In which case it has to be either mounted on the wall or sit on a surface slightly above your target area.

(-) if you don't use the oscillation it can make you feel like you are about to catch fire after a couple of hours. So I either use it with the timer or with oscillation.

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I bought this at Sam's Club last year ($42.25 with tax) used all winter in our small house to save on the gas billit worked Great.....I only had to use a smaller heater in the laundry room (where water lines and animals are) as a supplement...the furnace NEVER came on...right now it is 22 outside and 65 (furthest away around corners to other rooms)-68 inside....have it on low (after 3-4 hours of high in TV time)...we have to run a furnace in the garage so this heater has saved us Alothighest bill last winter was $205!!

This year I went a step further and bought an electric fireplace at Lowe's for $200...Fell for all the hype on these darn things-WRONG CHOICE.....it pulls so much electricity the TV went out every time the fan came on...I couldn't even switch back to this Optimus heater with the TV on till tonight when everything COOLED down.

Remote works perfectcats love it (they didn't like the fireplace)couldn't do better than this heater!! and the price is Great at SAM'S!

UPDATE: wrote this review last nightit QUIT on me tonight!! the alarm light went on and out it went..problem seems to be in the tip over switch...going to see if Sam's will exchange it????

SAM's exchanged it for a new one! SAM'S was Great and I Love this heater!!!!!!

Honest reviews on Optimus H-4436 14-Inch Oscillating Dish Heater with Remote Control

I have yet to see a better unit for personal warmth. These are the most effective non-contact heaters and the lowest cost to operate.

I have three of these units. Two are used in a place where the inside temp rarely gets above 55F and outside it gets routinely below 0F. One is used in San Francisco, CA where I'm on the north side and it's always cold.

All of them are very effective. The radiant heat goes on YOU and not the room. Your room will not get significantly warmer but YOU will feel the heat. It is like sitting outside in the sun. As a result, the cold, which is still there, is not uncomfortable. 400W is plenty for a single person sitting close by. 800W is good enough for a couch full of people. Of course the people may be more effective than the heater, depending on configuration.

The closer you sit the more heat you get. Heat received by your body decreases with distance. Past about six or eight feet, it's not that much heat anymore.

400W translates into 4kwh for a 10 hour sit, or about 60 cents at the rates I pay. These are net out more effective at heating YOU than the forced air units which heat the air that then heats you. The only way you'll get more effective is to use an electric blanket or heating pad.

The remote control is the best thing since sliced bread for a heater. Place the heater where you're going to use it. Use the remote to turn it on from where it's convenient. For example, place the heater four feet from your bedside. Turn it on when you go to bed or get up. You'll be warm while dressing. Full power "git's 'er done." At bedtime use the TIMER. You'll fall asleep warm knowing the thing will shut off automatically. Crank it up to full power and use the oscillator to "share the wealth" with more than 1 or 2 folks. All heaters for personal use should have remotes. Why not?

This thing is quiet. It makes about as much noise as a toaster. It has NO fan. It does NOT blow air. It is lower power than most forced air units but more effective at PERSONAL heating. It does not heat air or space, the final frontier. Don't expect it to blow your socks or shoes dry, because it neither blows nor sucks. It is not a hair dryer. It will not give you dry mouth, dry throat, or cause you to wake up in the middle of the night gasping "OMG I left THAT stupid thing on" as you try to rehydrate yourself from prune-dom. It's like the SUN but you can't get a tan. Don't even think of trying that. You'll cook like bacon before tanning.

Other heaters have their place (I have a 10KW forced air unit for example) but this thing is the tops for heating bodies.

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This heat dish has nice features (such as the timer and the remote control). I use it primarily at night and I usually need to set the timer since it gets a bit too hot. It will shut off if it is lifted up or knocked over which are both great safety features. It is also extremely quiet.

Cheap Electric Panel Heater

Customer Ratings:

Product works great. Very safe. Well made. Very solid construction. It will not burn you if you touch it. I bought it to keep my daughter's parakeets warm. We have four parakeets. The panel is mounted 1 inch away from the cage.

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Cheap Brentwood 1.2L SS Cordless Tea Kettle Brushed

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $45.00
Sale Price: $19.65
Today's Bonus: 56% Off

I drink tea every morning. Until a couple weeks ago, I was heating water in the microwave every morning. Then my brother-in-law informed me that was the least efficient way to heat water, I did some research and found he was right. I was very excited to get this electric kettle. I looked for one that could be lifted off the corded base, had an auto-shut-off, boiled water quickly so I could get out the door quickly in the morning, was not expensive, and did not have plastic in contact with the water that could leech BPA or other dangerous chemicals. I took a chance on this one based on what I saw and read here.

In most ways, this kettle works great. There's a light indicating when it's on, it heats 16 oz of water in a little over two minutes, is easy to handle, use, and pour. The plastic locking lid is a little awkward sometimes, just pushing it down does not always close it tightly, sometimes you have to pull the lock back with your finger at the same time.

But on the bottom of the box there is the California Proposition 65 warning (from the 1980s) that this product is made with chemicals known by the State of California to cause cancer or infertility. Ok, fine -which chemicals and are they going to leech into the water or are they say just on the lid or handle? I was unable to find any explanation or answer to that question.

On top of that, there is a strong odor inside this electric kettle when it gets hot. It is strong enough that if you boil water, pour the water out, open the lid, put your nose up to the top and take a deep breath, you will recoil a bit. It's not a disgusting or especially bad odor. I'm not able to identify what the source is, whether it's from hot plastic, or hot silicone, or something else. But in combination with the chemical warning (and I'm glad to be warned if it's not safe), I'm not willing to risk my health on a cheap electric kettle that might not be safe for the daily long-term use I intended for it.

I am trying to return the kettle. Since it was sold by an Amazon partner instead of Amazon proper, I am still waiting to hear whether that's possible and how to do so.

--UPDATE ---

Thank you for your comment. They accepted my return request within a few days.

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I bought this for my boyfriend because he didn't own any form of kettle (crazy!!)

He uses it now to boil the water for his ramen noodles and instant coffee and he loves it!

The only thing is he says it takes a while to boil the water and maybe doing it by stove is faster than this kettle. It also doesn't keep the water hot long after it boils. It's good for him because there is only the plug and on/off switch so his technophobe mother can use it without freaking out :D

Good item for the price. Stainless steel helps prevent the plastic taste of water like the plastic kettles and doesn't leave residue like glass kettles after a while :)

-Water indication level when you open the top and look on the inside, there are rims indicating the minimum and maximum and something in between also.

-The Kettle detaches from the heater that gets plugged in at the bottom.

-Its very lightweight but it gets the job done. Once water is boiled, it shuts itself off.

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Hi all,

For years I have warmed up water for instant coffee and tea bags in the microwave. After seeing a similar, but larger, kettle that our son had, we decided to give this a try. It heats a cup of water to boiling in the same time as the microwave and we don't have to reach up to get the cup out of the microwave a plus since both of us are not tall. The auto-cutoff works as advertised. I recommend it without reservation.

Ben

Honest reviews on Brentwood 1.2L SS Cordless Tea Kettle Brushed

Will this water ever stop tasting like plastic? After six weeks of boiling water twice daily in the Brentwood tea kettle, it still tastes like plastic.Thinking it had to be from condensing water dripping down from the inside of the plastic cover, I tried leaving the cover open and blocking it with a china teapot lid. No luck, the boiled water still tastes like plastic, not my favorite flavor!

I had an aroma tea kettle of similar design which worked great and produced water flavored water, but it died suddenly after only a year of use. So I thought I would try a different brand and bought the Brentwood version.

If you want boiling water for washing your dirty socks, the Brentwood is for you;the toxic flavor may help kill the cooties in your socks, too. But for drinking or cooking, forget about it!

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The kettle was a replacement for a plastic kind that I had used previously. After my "old" kettle broke down (the water level window popped off) I had decided to aim for something a bit better built without any windows or weaknesses where water could eventually find its way through.

Picked this kettle as it seemed to fit the criteria. No plastic cheap viewing window, won't break easily if dropped (not tested) unlike the glass kettle(s) and reviews seem favorable. Bought the kettle and put it to use as soon as it arrived on June 23rd 2011 (literally minutes after it arrived I had washed it, boiled one max fill and poured it down the drain to prep the kettle).

It has been used on daily bases (multiple times) up until about 3 days ago when I noticed that kettle is displaying curious symptoms, namely I will turn the kettle on and it would not boil water until I turn it off and then on again. Also sometimes it will start to boil the water but then cut out half way through or turn on and off in random cycles. It is still usable, simple turn off and on usually fixes the problem and kettle boils the water as expected.

It has lasted Almost 10 months without any issues, no spills, no leaks and nothing broke off (yet!). For the price I'd say it served it's purpose well enough although product life expectancy might be something to be longed for in this case. Having said that I am giving this product 4 stars out of 5. Others might have had better luck with their orders of this product however, so I would recommend basing your decision on more than one review.

UPDATE (December 3rd 2012): It has been almost a year and a half since I bought this kettle so I believe I can comment on it's performance and life-expectancy a bit better. Since the kettle is still operational (with occasional glitches described above) I have upgraded the rating to full 5 stars.

The kettle still works as well as it did when I wrote the original review. An occasional mishap when the kettle fails to turn on or cuts out during the use before it finishes the job it has survived through is not enough of an issue. It's more of a nuisance that I have learnt to accept. The kettle works as well as expected for a product that was designed by an imperfect being (a human I hope?).

The upgrade of the rating is due to the simple fact that the kettle has not developed any additional issues (no leaks, no broken parts or bits missing) ,it looks exactly as it did when it arrived 12.5 months ago (maybe not as clean I'll admit, since I can never get into little nooks an crannies around the handle).

UPDATE (March 15th 2013): A curious development with the kettle. The issue that I had described before where it would fail to turn on or it would turn off too early etc. has now vanished. Kettle is still performing as when it was when we first got it which actually amazes me as I am one of those people that think companies nowadays tend to design their products to fail within a certain period of time and therefore make us buy products more frequently. The kettle did not develop any new issues after being used every day on average about 4 times (sometimes more often). If I HAD to pick one thing to complain about I'd say that the base is too light which means that the heavy duty cable will move it about depending on how you have it positioned. Obviously this is picking at straws so to say, honestly it has lasted longer than any kettle I've used before (and I've used a few back in the UK). This one's definitely recommended if you want something that will last you.