Replace immediately or sell at next yardsale?

[SlightlyGoofy]

Being a bit of a Gadget Queen I find myself buying new products often and find that many fit into two categories - If it breaks I am out immediately buying a replacement cause I cannot live one more day without it OR toss it in the next yardsale,mine or someone else's but get it out of my house so I can make room for something better.

Microwaves are heaven sent of course but many other things just cost bucks, take up space and do not do one darned thing to improve our lives. How about sharing information and thus save many from making the same mistakes we already have OR perhaps give a heads up to the latest and best invention you have ever seen?

My bad choice is any electric grill that does NOT have removeable, dishwasher safe grids.

My favorite new gadget is the Shark vacum cleaner. It has made me a much nicer person and a better mil. When my dsil comes tromping in with his mud caked (hopefully it is mud) boots I can smile and be genuinely glad to see him rather than seething because I will have to drag out the big cleaner, plug the thing in and drag it around and then do it all in reverse to put it away. The Shark weighs about 3!!!!! pounds, is powerful, has an edge cleaner, has a tray instead of bags AND is rechargeable which means no strings attached!! If only it cleaned in reverse as well as forward it would be darned near perfect. Costs about $70 but can be found at Big Lots for abou $50 often. It slides into spaces that a big cleaner can only dream of. It is so good that my 13 year old grandson requested one for Christmas. (honestly, I do not work for this company and do not even have stock in it but am thinking of doing so)

Come on everyone, help me with ideas for my next gadget. Have to clear out some of my mistakes to make room but I am willing.

Slightly Goofy

 

[MouseClubMom]

Glad you posted that. I have been looking at the SHARK vacuum. Thanks for the review.

I just cleaned out my kitchen cabinets of things we don't use - including the food processor that was handed down from my Mom. I dont cook - I loathe cooking - and have never used it BUT my DD11 loves to cook so I know eventually we will need a food processor. I was debating on whether to sell the one I have and get a new one when DD is older or keep this one....

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

MouseClubMom, I am glad to be of service. I have the big Oster Kitchen Center. I thought I wanted it so badly but it is so darned big and bulky that it is seldom used.

As far as your food processor, if you daughter will be using it in the near future it might be worth holding onto since you get very little for used appliances however they are going to be a lot cheaper and have more features in the future. May you enjoy many great meals cooked by your daughter. I love any meal that someone else cooks. LOL

Might I ask which Mouseketeers you work for?

Slightly Goofy (who works for 6 grandkids)

 

[MouseClubMom]

Thanks SlightlyGoofy - Check your PM.

 

[tinan]

a gadget, but one thing I have found I can't "live without" now is Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. Having both kids and BIG DOGS these things are heavensent! They only cost about $2/box for two. Most normal people can reuse them, but I tend to kill them once I start cleaning.

Another gadget I love is the Black and Decker scumbuster. Can you tell I really don't like cleaning? I hate having to scrub the bathtub and this thing does most of the work for you

Again, because of dogs and kids, I needed to find a good sweeper. We ended up doing some research and bought a Dyson Animal (the purple version made for pet owners). Everyone in our dog groups kept telling me how much this sweeper picked up. At first, I was a bit skeptical especially with the $400 price tag. When we brought it home I swept all of my floors with my then Hoover Windtunnel thinking I picked up all of the dirt. That first day home with the Dyson was disgusting. I could not believe how much more dirt came out of our floors. I think I emptied the canister at least 4 times and it picked up some of the finest dirt.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

tinan, I got some of the Magic Erasers for free and did not care for them at all. I might have been using them wrong. I hear you on not liking to clean the tub I take the last bath/shower of the day and then use my towel, after drying off to wipe down all serfaces. Can you tell that I am lazy? Works well though. I have used car wax on the walls, be careful to NOT get it in the tub, and it sure does make the water slough off quickly without a mess. Have used a squeegy as well. I do not believe you get more points for doing things the hard way.

Thanks for the report on the sweeper, sounds very effective.

MouseClubMom, I found your message. Thank you so very much for taking the time to reply. I am a very curious sort. LOL

Slightly Goofy

 

[disneymom3]

I have used car wax on the walls, be careful to NOT get it in the tub,

Slightly Goofy

There has GOT to be a story behind that!! Sounds like the time my sister polished the hardwood floors in her bedroom with pledge--you didn't want to take that corner fast for a LONG time!

The only appliance advice I have is to never buy a crockpot that doesn't have a removable insert.

 

[DisneyMomOK]

I told DH that is what I wanted for mother's day, bday and 25 anniversary. Just trying to decide which one is best for me. (No animals, but do have teens.)

Sharon

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

disneymom3, wish I knew that way back when. I bought a bottle of lemon furniture polish and did my living room floors. Sure did look good and stayed that way a long time cause I was scared to death to go in there after buffing it with my butt.

Boo on crockpots without removeable crocks and hooray for ones with a warm setting.

DisneyMomOK, I would suggest you get the model that is the loudest. I once had teenagers. (grin)

Slightly Goofy

 

[patrenoe]

What a great thread! The two appliances that are just taking up space is my Kitchenaid counter top mixer with all the attachments and a breadmaker. The one gadget that I love is that silly "Scoop and Strain" and "Grip and Flip". I find myself so disappointed when buying gadgets and gizmos that when I find something that actually does what it is portrayed to do then I am schocked and pleased. Thanks for the heads up on the animal Dyson vacumn cleaner and the Shark.

 

[minkydog]

I am not a gadget person--I hate electrical thingys. but my SIl, who LOVES everything on the QVC and has made me the recipient of bamboo steamers and various Ginzu knives, sent me this thing called Magic Bullet. It's a food processor/ grinder/ blender, rather small but it's amazing. My DD12 loves to make herself smoothies for breakfast and it's so easy to clean up. I'm thinking about getting one for the camper! Never thought I'd say that.

But ya'll can have my bread machine, the salad shooter, the salad spinner, the food processer, and the air popper.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

patrenoe, thanks for the kind words. Could you please tell me what a "Scoop and Strain" and "Grip and Flip" are? Would not want to miss out on anything. One of my favorite things is one of those round rubber things that helps me open jars. Such a simple idea and works so wonderfully.

minkydog, I have heard about the Magic Bullet. Is it not a small blender thing but a bit costly? I have an electric wand thing that is fantastic for taking the lumps out of gravy, making milkshakes etc. Only costs about $10. I got one years ago to do my diet shakes with.

Slightly Goofy

 

[patrenoe]

SlightlyGoofy, The Scoop and Strain looks like a ladle but has holes in half, so when you go to ladle soup you can put as much broth in a bowl or put more vegetables &meat in a bowl. My dh always wants more of the broth and I usually like more of the vegetables. It works great for chicken&dumplings. I use this puppy all the time.lol The Grip and Flip looks like a spatula but also has a flat fork looking thing on the other side so when you go to flip eggs the yellow doesn't break. I also flip 3 or 4 strips of bacon at a time. Its good for chen strips and things like that. I also like those round rubber things that open jars. Minkydog I had to lol because I had forgotten about my cookie shooter, salad shooter and all those other things that just take up useless space.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

patrenoe, I had better pass on the Scoop and Strain. My dh already has the habit of tryng to pick all the meat out of the soup leaving nothing but the veggies and broth for everyone else. LOL The other sounds interesting as it would make doing eggs a whole lot easier and nicer looking to boot.

The problem I have found with many appliances is that if they are put away they are seldom used. Since I moved my breadmaker to the countertop it gets used a lot more often. Ron Popeil is single handedly responsible for much of the clutter in our homes.

I have been seeing the new Tupperware that folds down to a flat space. Just think of how many empty cupboards we would have if that is actually a good product? Then we could buy MORE gadgets.

Speaks the lady who owns 6 tv's, about a dozen vcr's, 3 dvd players and other assorted electronic gadgets.

Slightly Goofy

 

[patrenoe]

I was on another thread today telling everyone that I was finally getting rid of ALL my tupperware due to the clutter. It takes up too much space. My girlfriend bought that "Store and Spin" and she LOVES it. it takes up so little space and all the lids fit on all of the containers.

 

[DVCLiz]

I love my KitchenAid stand mixer, but I have one of those "appliance garages" in the corner of my kitchen counter, so it has a place to hide when I'm not using it.

Best gadget category must include a set of really nice meauring cups and mixing spoons. After melting several cheap sets in the dishwasher and bending the spoons constantly, I bought a wonderful heavy set of each at Williams-Sonoma one day. Heavenly!! And the measurements don't wash off, so I'm not guessing what i'm using after a while!

Most useless for us - something that promised to mix your ice cream with candy or sprinkles - in fact, the ice cream melted by the time it went through the machine, and sprinkles should be...well, sprinkled, and not mixed in, where they melt and turn your ice cream a disgusting color.

 

[Tigger1]

My favorite is the dishwasher and washing machine/dryer. Would rather have those than a fridge any day.

The first to give up would be the stove. If you have one the family thinks you are supposed to actually cook on it. I prefer to cook in the Microwave.

Other favorites that can stay is my Mickey toaster, waffle maker, and sandwich maker.

The juice machine made it to storage along with the food processer/chopper thingy.

Are those electric knives any good?

 

[jenr812]

The first to give up would be the stove. If you have one the family thinks you are supposed to actually cook on it. I prefer to cook in the Microwave.

Are those electric knives any good?

We have an electric knife but it only comes out at holidays. We got it for under $10 and it is definitely worth it for the ease in carving those birds at Christmas and Thanksgiving. WE've used it on hams too though those aren't as hard to carve normally.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

jenr812, my electric knife comes in handy to cut the loaves of bread that I make in my breadmaker. That way you do not get your bread all squished. One day I had the electric ice cream maker whirling away in the sink, with both of my slow cookiers simmering away as my bread maker was busy baking. Don't cha just love technology?

Tigger1, my husband had to promise to buy me a washer and dryer instead of an engagement ring when he proposed. Was my second marriage and I was far more grounded then. I knew what was important LOL I have to admit that I seldom use my stove anymore either since I found the freezer with precooked foods at WM. I tend to cook in bulk when I do cook. Most diet foods are best with little prep.

DVCLiz, Wouldn't be great if kitchen counters were a bit deeper and had an appliance garage all the way down it for all our small appliances? When I remodeled the kitchen I had a special corner cabinet put in that made it much easier to get at mine and that has made a big difference in how often I use them. I buy good measuring cups but also have a few sets of the cheap ones as well as measuring spoons so that I can leave the appropriate size in different products so that they are easy to find and cuts down on a lot of dishwashing too. Flour one cup, sugar and oatmeal 1/3 cup etc.

patrenoe, I have seen those plastic sets and wondered about them. Perfect would be something that is as compact AND would go in the freezer and microwave. Please let us know how you like them after you have had them for a bit. My plastic always warps in the microwave and the lids cease to fit.

One of the best ways to determine if a gadget is useful is whether or not you see them for sale at yardsales.

Slightly Goofy

 

[patrenoe]

We are redoing our kitchen this fall and I was glad to read about your Appliance Garages. Have been thinking about keeping my KItchen Aid Stand Mixer until I decide whether or not I'll ever use it again. I use to cook so much for my family (dad,mom,ds,dh) but now that its only the 2 of us I wonder if I'll ever cook in large quantities again. SlightlyGoofy, I will let you know about the Spin and Save storage.