Little Helpers to Make Life Simpler

I received the following products in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. This post contains affiliate links.

I love trying out new gadgets. All gadgets. High-tech and low-tech alike. These items help make housekeeping simpler and more enjoyable. I’ve found that the right gadgets also save you money and time. 

Here’s a sample of the latest items that I’ve tried this summer:

Kitchen Gadgets

• Meat thermometer: I’ve tried meat thermometers that are real losers. The Alpha Grillers Digital MeatThermometer isn’t one of them. This thermometer is long, gives temperatures in Celsius and Fahrenheit, and is super simple to use. It also has a “Hold” function that holds the temperature reading. The kitchen gadget is similar to a Thermoworks Thermapen, and the metallic probe folds, saving you precious drawer space.
  
  
  
  
  

• Silicone lids: I’m guilty of using ill-fitting lids over pans and saucepots. I also plastic food storage lids when heating food in a bowl or mug. Thanks to the Practico Kitchen EZ-Lid Silicone Lids, this type of disorder is a thing of the past. The set comes with a large 10.5-inch lid for pots or bowls and a smaller 6-inch lid for cups and the like. I am so happy with this set of lids. They come with a hook for hanging and make cooking so much simpler when I can’t fit a lid over a pot, like when steaming vegetables with a colander. I’ve used these lids countless times.

• Cast iron scrubber: I sometimes clean pans so well that I scrub the cured coating right off cast iron skillets. It takes a long time to cure cast iron cookware, and the Hudson CastIron Cleaner saves me from stripping the seasoning off pans. The scrubber is a stainless steel chain link “washcloth” that you use to rub food off the pan. It works perfectly and I’ve never had any problems cleaning soften bits of food that remain in my cast iron pans. 
  
• Desk easel: No, I don't paint in the kitchen. I do, however, like to use cookbooks. Being clumsy, I sometimes get my cookbooks dirty as they lie on the counter. The US Art Supply Solana Adjustable Wood Desk Easel is a great solution. Propping a cookbook on the easel makes it easier to see and keeps it cleaner.
  
  
  
  
  
• Infrared heat gun: Is the surface of your grill or pan hot enough? Find out with the Numbee Temperature Gun.
  

Travel Gadgets

• Passport holder: Carrying around a beat-up-looking passport isn’t cool. I needed a passport holder for a recent trip that was durable and stood out from others (the black ones that everyone seems to have). La Fede's Aqua Series Passport Holder is just that. I received the blue passport holder, which came in a nice presentation box and in a dust bag that helps preserve the leather. The exterior of the holder has a water-like ingrain texture. The inside has a wing pocket for the passport book, as well as an inner pocket and four card slots. The design of the holder will make it simple for customs agents to look at and scan my passport, and the slim design won’t be too bulky in my luggage.
• Headphones: From crying babies to annoying children to just wanting some peace and quiet, headphones are essential. Audiosharp let me test its AS1318 Ultimate Noise Isolating In-Ear Headphones with Super Enhanced Bass. Despite the name, these are earbuds, not headphones. I don't usually think much of earbuds unless they constantly fall out of my ears or sound horrible. These did neither. They have a noticeably nice-sounding low end, although the highs are a bit tinny (but it's not that noticeable). My husband says that the AS1318 sound like a pair of $200 earbuds that one of our friends have. At the time of publication, these accessories cost under $30. I really like how the earbuds look with their transparent cavity and wires. They also come with a hard carrying case and a Velcro strip to keep the cord nice and neat.

Garden Gadget

• Hand rake: I didn’t own a hand rake, so I always pawed at the dirt to dig up roots and break the soil. My fingernails didn’t like this. The LifeWell Garden Hand Rake is great. The rake is long (about 1 foot), sturdy, strong and has a lifetime guarantee. I like that the polished aluminum head is rust-proof and the handle feels comfortable. The handle’s bright color makes the rake easier to see if you leave it lying around on the ground.

 

Health and Beauty Gadgets

• Therapeutic soap: I can’t get enough of the benefits of essential tea tree oil and essential peppermint oil. OleavineTherapeutic Soap combines the two, along with other oils (e.g., neem oil) to give you a body wash that’s soothing and naturally helps relieve inflamed, itchy and dry skin. It’s good for fungal skin infections, too. I like the pleasant, minty smell, as well as how it makes my skin feel fresh and tingly. Using the soap is one of my favorite parts of my shower. 

• Electronic earmuffs: Of all the “noise-cancelling” headphones that I’ve tried, none have really worked unless I have music playing. When I want to concentrate, I don’t want to listen to music (it distracts me too much). The FSL Patriot Electronic Earmuff is perfect for blocking out the world. The earmuffs use batteries, which allow you to turn on sounds that you hear through the microphone. When you go shooting at a range, the earmuffs block automatically block out the loud sounds. These earmuffs work as well as other shooting earmuffs that I’ve tried in the past. 

• Garment bags:  There are certain articles of clothing that I don't wear all the time, like nice dresses and business suits. When they hang in my closet, they get a nice coat of dust across the shoulders that seems hard to remove. Bags, like the Arwins Garment Bag Covers, are great because they protect my clothes from dust and they come with two shoe bags. The bags are sturdy, as they use a fabric-like material, making them good for air travel. I like the matching shoe bags because they help you coordinate your outfits.

Productivity Gadget

• Stylus pen: I enjoy using a stylus with my smartphone. It’s annoying to switch between a stylus and pen when I’m working. The Rebelite Stylus Pen is a 6-in-1 pen that has a stylus, pen, two screwdriver heads, ruler and level. It’s so cool (and looks cool). I really like it so far, and the pen doesn’t feel heavy when I write. My only complaint is that I have difficulty pulling out the screwdriver tip.               

 

Pet Gadget

• Litter mat: I have a cat. She recently started using a cat litter that tracks all over the house, which is annoying. The Two Meows Cat Litter Mat came right on time. The mat has a paw shape (with the wrong number of toes), is made of a plastic-like material and feels soft. This mat does a good job at trapping the litter on my cat’s paws. What impressed me the most is how simple it is to clean. My cat got it messy one day, so I had to wash it with soap and water. The mat dried overnight. I like the mat. My cat seems indifferent.

 

I received the products mentioned in exchange for an unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small commission if you click on a product link and make a purchase through Amazon.com. (pm312dbec06d3efb840e10513e8775bc74)

Home Gadgets to Increase Your Productivity

I received the following products in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. This post contains affiliate links.

I’m a gadget geek and am always looking for items that affordably help make housekeeping tasks and my life faster or simpler. Here are some of the latest items that I’ve discovered:

Fitness Gadgets

• Yoga socks: I hate getting my feet dirty and regular socks slip on my carpet when I do gentle workouts, like yoga and pilates. Halo Yoga Socks contain organic cotton and have a grippy material on the soles, like socks at hospitals. They’re kind of like a fingerless glove version of toe socks in that they separate your toes (it feels good). I’ve worn my pair of yoga socks several times and think they feel comfortable. They’re not good for wearing with shoes, however, because they make my feet feel too hot.

• Reflective ankle bands: I like to walk in the neighborhood in the evening. I also like to be safe and seen by drivers, so I’m thankful for BlazeBands Reflective Ankle Bands. The set of two bands are elastic, bright neon yellow and have a reflective silver strip in the middle. Since you secure them with Velcro, you can wear the bands on your ankles, wrists, arms, around a dog leash and more. I’m going to use these on Independence Day because my family and I are going to set off fireworks on a rural road. The bands will keep drivers aware of our presence.  

Organization Gadgets

• New thin hangers: My closet was a mess and full of miss-matching “fat hangers.” I started using slim hangers with black flock on them last year, but they’re kind of spendy at the store. When BriaUSA gave me the chance to review its hangers, I was super excited. I received: 
• Heart Shaped Velvet Coat Hangers 
• Cascade Hangers in light blue and pink

The velvet hangers are really cute and the flock doesn’t rub off onto your clothes. They are also budget-friendly at $11.98 for a set of ten at the time of publication. The cascade hangers are a bit more at $14.95 for a set of ten, but they come with a hook that allows you to hang a lightweight garment, which is perfect for preparing your wardrobe in advance and saving space in your closet. All of the hangers have a grippy no-slip texture, so my clothes never fall onto the floor.

• Metal Clip Hooks: I use hooks and clips all over my home, especially in the bathroom and kitchen. Pro Chef Kitchen Tools sent me a set of 10 Portable Travel Laundry Hooks that have a hook at one end. The clips are a lot bigger than I expected. The clip is 3 inches long and the hook has a 1-inch diameter. The clips seem durable and I have a bunch of ideas about how I want to use them, like to hang:

• Lightweight pans in the kitchen
• Aprons to free up drawer space
• Boots in my closet
• Hand towels in the bathroom and kitchen
• Guest towels in the bathroom
• Line-dry clothing
• Garden tools and grilling accessories in my backyard
• Lightweight hanging planters
• A CPAP tube in your room or while traveling
• Scarves
• Belts

Task Gadgets

• Multi-purpose LED flashlight: I use flashlights when looking in the dark recesses of my cupboards and closet. I also use them if I get the mail at night. It’s hard to look for stuff and hold a flashlight at the same time. The Aennon Ultra-Bright LED Work Light Flashlight solves this problem. It comes with a hook, magnetic mount and a stand. You can pivot the light while it’s in the stand so it’s at the angle you need. The main flashlight has a COB LED light with 150 lumens. You also get 30-lumen flashlight with five LEDs at the top of the torch.
  
  
  

• Dog tags: Give your pup a cute tag from Doggie iD. The tag looks like a little driver’s license and comes complete with your dog’s picture, name, address and your phone number. The tag is simple to design online and I received it in less than 10 business days. I’m really happy with the final product.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Earplugs: I work from home. The neighborhood kids like to scream and play outside my window as I work. To help me concentrate, I’d listen to music, which was distracting, but better than kids screaming. I now have Mighty Plugs Ear Plugs. The plugs are made of beeswax, cotton and lanolin, giving them a putty-like feel. I like that a local company makes them using natural ingredients. After you soften the putty, the plugs are simple to mold into your ear. The earplugs are great for sound blocking. I’m not sure that I’d use them in bed, however, because the plugs might get full of lint.  

Kitchen Gadgets

• Manual coffee grinder: I have a regular electric coffee grinder at home, but sometimes I want to grind spices. The Brillante Manual Coffee Grinder is a great solution. You open the top of the metal canister, attack the crank and grind. The thickness of the coffee, spices or herbs that you grind depends on the direction that you turn the crank. The canister on the bottom catches everything you grind.
  
  
  
  
  

• Vegetable steamer: This is how I steamed vegetables in the past—I filled a pot with a bit of water, threw in some vegetables and put a lid on top. I would also fill a pot with water, place a metal colander on top and try to put a lid on the vegetables to trap the steam. Both methods were inefficient. I now have the SunsellaVegetable Steamer. This stainless steel steamer fits in my saucepots and my large stockpot. I now only fill pots with a bit of water, place the steamer inside, throw in the veggies, place the lid and let them cook. So far, I’ve successfully cooked broccoli and artichokes. My husband even left the steamer in the pot overnight and it didn’t rust.
  
  
  

• Salad spinner: I recently tried Brieftons Salad Spinner. Check out my video review: 

 

• Oven gloves: Kitchen towels never offer enough protection when I take things out of the oven. I really like the protection that silicone gloves provide, but they're not very flexible. The solution came with the Inspired Basics Nomex Heat Resistant Oven Gloves by Heat Blockers Pro. The gloves protect your hands and are a lot more flexible. I find that these gloves are particularly helpful for grilling with short cooking utensils, as well as carrying a hot slow cooker. I have to admit, I'm impressed.
  
• Bluetooth speaker: I'm listing a Bluetooth speaker as a kitchen gadget because I like to listen to music in the kitchen. Using a speaker allows me to not have to crank up to volume so high on my stereo or phone, which doesn't always sound good. When I received the XSBoom speaker, I didn't have high expectations, to be honest. The thing is about the size of an extra-large egg. I charged it for a few minutes, paired it with my phone and used it for about two hours without any problems. The sound is pretty good and I didn't notice any distortion. The interesting thing about the speaker is that the area where you plug in the charger is the speaker jack (you can plug the speaker into a non-Bluetooth device with the included jack). The speaker has a built-in microphone so you use it as a speaker-phone with your cell phone. You can also use the speaker as it charges. 

Garden Gadgets

• Spray bottle: I have a bunch of orchids in my home that require watering and misting throughout the summer. The Hosezzle Garden Spray Bottle is the perfect solution. It holds 1.5 liters of water and has an adjustable nozzle. I like to use the “spray in fog” setting to mist my plants. The pump is simple to use and the trigger feels comfortable. The only thing I wish the sprayer had is a pressure-release valve so I wouldn’t have to twist off the top to release the pressure.
  

 

Cleaning Gadgets

• Surface cleaners: I recently tried Greenwald’s Glass andWindow Cleaner and the Carpet, Upholster & Fabric Stain Remover Kit. Check out my video review:

 I received the products mentioned in exchange for an unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small commission if you click on a product link and make a purchase through Amazon.com. pm4727afc79cd3e723f90b611df73a8b8d