GADGETS GET A LEG UP ON MESSES
Also: Try blowing dry air into your smartphone speaker to fix soaked speakers
It seems every other week there’s a new product on the market promising to help us clean our homes better, faster and with less effort. We can now schedule robot vacuums to clean our floors while vacationing in Barbados, and receive reports on the indoor air quality of our homes on our phones while at work. Some of the latest products are constantly being upgraded, and with price tags that can be hefty, it wouldn’t be surprising if some people feel a little overwhelmed by what’s on offer.
So here’s a quick look at some of what’s trending in vacuum cleaners and air purifiers.
“We’ve seen an uptick in the demand for multi-functional devices that not only cover a variety of different floor types, but can also be converted from floor to hand-held, making it seamless for spot cleaning to more vigorous, entire-home cleaning,” says Rachel Insani, vacuum category expert for Wayfair.com.
“The cordless vacuum segment is one of the fastest growing in the floor care category, and Dyson has done an excellent job pioneering the cord-free innovation and educating consumers on the power of these vacuums.”
Dyson released its latest cordless vacuum in March, the Dyson Cyclone V10, which has a run time of 60 minutes, a clear bin where the dirt is captured, and a “point and shoot release” to discard it straight into the trash can. It comes with a different head for hard and soft floors, as well as accessories for cleaning cars and blinds, etc.
“More and more people are having hard floors and occasional rugs,” company founder James Dyson says. “About 60 per cent of American homes have hard floors, so we needed a special tool that won’t damage your hard floors.”
To achieve this, says Dyson, they’ve used carbon fibre bristles for the hard floors motor head, taking their design inspiration from the way vinyl records are cleaned.
“The way you cleaned vinyl records was with a strip of carbon fibre bristles,” says Dyson. “The reason it works is the dust sticks to the record by static. If you wipe it with a cloth, the dust won’t stick because it’s gripping the plastic record by static, but carbon fibre is conductive, so it releases the static from the surface, and allows it to come off. We discovered the same thing with hard floors.”
Carbon seems to be a popular design element in the latest cordless vacuums, with Hoover’s new Fusion Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum using a carbon filter and “wind tunnel technology ” to capture odour, says Best Buy’s external communications manager Christine Tam.
“It’s really good for people with pets who shed,” Tam says. “Because you can actually detach the stick and put on some of the other hand-held tools, so this allows you to get into the couch really easily, you can clean the dog bed, and even bring it to your car because it’s totally cordless.”
The rise in popularity of cordless vacuums is probably linked to the number of people living in apartments and smaller spaces, Tam says, because they’re great for cleaning up small areas quickly, and the design innovations are improving, such as the Pet Cordless Stick’s dashboard.
“It gives you information on the vacuum so like you know if the battery life is dying,” she says. “You know how much battery life you actually have, so your battery’s not going to die at a crucial point.”
When it comes to cleaning the air inside our homes, air purifiers are getting more compact and better looking, Tam says.
QI ordered a glass kitchen table. It will be delivered soon, but I am now having second thoughts. Do you have any advice on how to take care of a glass table? We will be using it as our everyday table, not as an occasional dining room table.
AGlass tables are timeless and often help to create the illusion of a larger room. However, they do require extra attention. Use placemats and coasters whenever possible. Clean with a soft cloth and 50/50 vinegar and water. For stuck-on grime, use a non-scratching pad and baking soda and vinegar to clean. Buff the surface with a soft, dry cloth or newspaper.
QGuests were arriving at my house and I was busy making my famous Chocolate Lasagna supper. In that moment, I wondered if there is one food that encompasses all four food groups. I couldn’t think of a single answer. Any ideas? Tami
AChocolate Lasagna sounds like a yummy supper! Many foods carrying all four food groups come to mind (depending on how they are prepared): pizza, lasagna, soup, salads, casseroles and omelettes. Great question!
QI grated some lemon and orange rind on the fine side of my grater, and I am having difficulty cleaning it. I’ve tried scraping it and using a toothpick to pick out pieces, to no avail. Can you can help me out with this?
AHere are a few suggestions for cleaning your grater. Grate a raw potato or apple — this helps unplug the holes on the grater. Use a nylon brush, dish scrubber and scrub the inside of the grater. The rind should come out of the holes with ease. Anytime you decide to grate cheese (instead of fruit), spray non-stick cooking spray on the grater before you start grating. This helps clean the cheese out quickly, just a few dunks in warm, soapy water and the cheese should pop out. The next time you want to grate fruit, freeze the grater before and after use. The dishwasher should also help clean the grater.
QI left my iPhone on the kitchen counter and spilled a bottle of olive oil nearby. The phone was drenched with oil. The phone still works except for the sound; the speakers are very quiet. Any advice?
AI am not a technology expert; however, a similar situation happened with my phone. The solution was to blow dry air into the speaker. Regarding my phone, it only took a moment of blowing dry air and the sound worked.
INTERESTING IDEAS
If you wear glasses and have difficulty tweezing eyebrows because you can’t see them, wear your glasses upside down while tweezing. Submitted by: Kay
Remove pilling balls on fabrics by wiping the areas with a pumice stone (available at dollar and beauty stores). Submitted by: Pam
Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website — reena.ca — to ask a question or share a tip.
Disclaimer: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of any suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.