DIY Product Reviews

This year will bring a lot of exciting changes to the consumer appliance world. Refrigerators, Dishwashers and Laundry will be updated. This is in addition to the new US appliance brand Electrolux. Electrolux USA will offer a full line of kitchen and laundry appliances. This post will be updated with new or updated information as it becomes available. Here are some of the new appliance models for 2008:

Bosch Dishwasher - Minor change in lineup. Addition of a new entry level dishwasher priced under $500 in white or black. Most Bosch features are included in this model (i.e. Aquastop, Flow through water heater, etc.) The main difference will be the tub. Stainless sides and top with a poly bottom. Available Early Summer (SHE4AM Ascenta)

Samsung Refrigeration - New 29 cubic foot bottom mount refrigerator. This box will fit in the same space as a 26 cubic size refrigerator. Samsung is using a new design and new high-tech insulation. No word yet on price or styles, but I expect to see side-by-sides and bottom mount ice and water options this spring. Price guess in stainless $2999 (Model: RFG297AA).

Whirlpool/KitchenAid Refrigeration: Having been caught off guard by Samsung and GE this year, expect a lot of new competive priced refrigeration this year. The Maytag H20 will no longer cut it. (Models: GI5FVAXV and GI5FSAXV)

Laundry in General: Expect a lot of steam. Samsung (WF448AA $1498) and Electrolux (EWFLW65H $1498) will be introducing 4.0 cubic feet steam laundry this spring. You will also see a 4.5 sized washer from those brands as well. The Whirlpool Duet will have a new addition also… the WFW9500 will be a lower priced model of the WFW9600. It will also come in a new color… Toasted Chestnut.

Still working a few good leads… will update. New Drawered Dishwasher, New Dishwasher Players (Samsung at Lowes now), more induction cooking… etc. Stay Tuned

I received a free sample of the Dyson Dyzolv Carpet cleaner when I purchased my Dyson DC17 Absolute Animal.  This cleaner and the vacuum is worth the money.  I have tried a lot of different carpet cleaners and the Dyson Dyzolv is one I know will work.

The cleaner has 4 main ingredients:  1) Basic dirt and soil solvent 2) Oil based stain solvent 3) Oil based sail detergent 4) Speed Drying Solvent.  This cleaner is also pH neutral and friendly to the environment.

The basic instructions are simple enough.  You spray the cleaner on the stain the blot it from the outside in.  Difficult stains might need to be treated twice.  I just use a fold paper towel with great success.

Like I said before I have used a lot of stain cleaners and treatments and Dyson’s Dizolv is as good as anything else without a chemical smell.  The Spot Shot is a good cleaner, as well as Resolve products.  I have noticed I can treat just once with Dyzolv than any other cleaner.

A little does go a long ways!  The bottle is small, but I have been using the same bottle for 3 months now and probably have 2 months worth left.  I takes very little of this product to work well.  It is difficult to find in the stores, but is readily available online.

The Dyson Dyzolv spot treatment is worth a try for a difficult stain or for everyday use.

Cleaning stained grout can sometimes be a difficult job. A few basic tips will help you find the best solution for your grout. Grout can become stained and soiled many different ways. The grout in the bathroom is stained by mildew, while the kitchen it is foot traffic and food. Knowing what the stains are will help you clean it.

The first step is to remove any loose soil from the grout. This can be achieved with water and paper or a sponge. Next you will pick the cleaner to try. Always start with the simplest before advancing to a harsh cleaner. The brush you use needs to be hard, but not hard enough to damage the grout. Old toothbrushes and metal bristled brushed are not recommend. I stiff bristled nylon brush (for dish washing) is a great choose. Always tesy your cleaner in a small hidden area to make sure it doesn’t react poorly to the grout or the tile surface. Here are some of the cleaners you might choose:

Homemade Cleaners - These are very basic, but can work well. A 50-50 mix of white vinegar and distilled water is a great option for the bathroom. You can also make a paste with baking soda and scrub it in with a brush.

Store Bought - The choices here are endless. I have found the Kaboom cleaner to do a good job. It is best to try a few and find the best one for your stained grout.

Commercial - These are cleaner made for cleaning stained grout. They are pH balanced so they do not damage the surface. This can be more expensive, but not clean better than some of the other options.

Steam - Steam cleaning stained grout has become very popular lately. I have tried it and it worked very well on a lot of different stains. The machines cost about $100. The Wagner 905 cleaner is a very well build cleaner.

The final step when you have clean grout is to seal it. Sealing it will make future cleanings much easier. Grout should be sealed at least once per year. These are the basic steps you need to follow to clean stained grout. By the wa, cleaning grout with bleach is not effective and could be dangerous.  Bleach can be part of a commerical cleaner, but never mix chemicals yourself.

The time of year to get the best deal on a new refrigerator is the spring. This is when most manufactures change models. So the stores will have a lot of closeouts before the new models arrive. This year it is the same, but EVEN better! The EPA updated the requirements for the Energy Star rating on new refrigerators and most refrigerators do not meet the new standard. That means you will see about 75% off the current models being replaced by August. The first of the new appliance models will be available in April, so start looking for deals in early April. This could prove to be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Replacing your old refrigerator with a new E-Star model will also save you a lot of money every month.

• A refrigerator built before 1980 cost over $250 per year to operate compared to $50-60 per year today.
• A 2008 model will use 40% less energy than a refrigerator built in 2001.
• A 2008 model used half the energy than a refrigerator built in 1993.

If you are thinking about a new refrigerator the time might be just about right. Also, when shopping remember to ask for more of a discount…the worst thing they can say is no. For other appliances a new washer or dryers are usually best to buy in the spring. The best time to buy a new dishwasher or range is the fall. Small Appliances will vary, but you will find some sales around Mother’s Day. Happy Shopping!