Author Archive for BJones
Choosing a Leaf Blower: Gas, Electric, or Cordless?
By Brittany Rowland You have a yard that requires a lot of work throughout the year. Raking, gathering, and bagging leaves is a tough, time-consuming task. A leaf blower can greatly aid you in your landscaping duties. Additionally, it’s useful for sweeping off patios, pool decks, and driveways quickly. I’m sure we’ve all had unexpected […]
8 Tips for Better Vacuuming
By Brittany Rowland Vacuuming the house can be a tedious chore, but there are practices that will improve the efficiency of your vacuum cleaner and maybe cut down the number of times you have to pull out the device. 1. Vacuum areas with heaviest foot traffic most frequently. To keep your carpets looking fresh and […]
The Basics of Grilling: Knowing When to Use Hot or Low Temperatures
By Brittany Rowland While there are now high-end grills that feature no shortage of special tools, precise controls, and convenient accessories, the basic principles of grilling have not changed much over the years. Grilling food perfectly takes skill, attention, and practice. Professional and amateur chefs alike take great pride in their grilling prowess. The basic […]
Maintenance Tips for Your Breadmaker
By Brittany Rowland Cleaning and maintaining a breadmaker is a fairly simple task, but keeping up with it can guarantee years of top-notch performance from your appliance. Most people choose to clean the breadmaker right after making a loaf. The most basic safety tip to remember: Always unplug the machine before sticking your hand inside […]
How to Choose the Best Dishwasher for your Needs
By Brittany Rowland Depending on your kitchen space and how many dishes you go through each day, you may find one particular type of dishwasher—a regular built-in, an 18 inch, or a countertop—works best for you. Each kind of dishwasher has its pros and cons, but you can typically find a quality performer in any […]
Best Women’s Backpacks
Top 10 Rated Backpacks for Women By S. Dee Davis Following are some of the primary factors we considered when selecting our top 10 backpacks for women list. Please see our complete backpack buying guide for more information on how we chose, and you should choose the right backpack for your hiking or camping adventure. […]
When on the go, Give your Arm a Break with a Light Car Seat
By Valerie Baldowski Traveling and taking vacations can be fun, but parents with infants and young kids in tow usually have some extra baggage in the form of car seats. They can be rented, but bringing your own removes the guesswork from wondering what shape the seat will be in when you get it. Dragging […]
Comparing Two Built-In Dishwashers: The GE GLD5868VSS vs. the Whirlpool WDF730PAYB
By Brittany Rowland Two dishwashers for roughly the same price, the GE model at $509 and the Whirlpool one at $498, offer comparable cleaning performance and features. But does one come out ahead when they’re compared side by side? Size Considerations The GE dishwasher has a slightly larger capacity, fitting 16 place settings compared to […]
Need a Car Seat when Travelling? Make Plans in Advance
By Valerie Baldowski When traveling with babies or young children, finding a car rental agency willing to make the extra effort to find an infant car seat can be a hassle. No doubt parents have a long list of questions. How easy is it to find a reliable rental agency, and how safe are the […]
When Crib Shopping, Beware of those Scary Recall Histories
By Valerie Baldowski Parents-to-be are swamped with details to take care of before the baby arrives, and one of the most important detail is finding just the right crib. That’s no easy task considering the numerous recalls that have been issued over the years on a number of cribs for various reasons. Proper research will […]
How to Save Energy with your Washing Machine
By By Brittany Rowland Washing machines have long been a huge contributor to families’ high energy bills. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), the average American family washes 400 loads of laundry a year. Those gallons of water and kWh of energy add up quickly and can put a dent in your wallet […]
Features That Improve Cleaning Efficiency in Dishwashers
By Brittany Rowland Most modern dishwashers operate on the same principles: Dishes arranged in a box are sprayed with jets of water to remove grease and food particles. Whether it’s a countertop or a built-in model, leftover water returns to the kitchen drain system. There are standard features that appear in nearly every type of […]
Decide What You Want in a Mattress for Your Baby’s Crib
By Valerie Baldowski Crib basics include infant blankets and sheets, hanging mobiles, and of course a mattress that fits snugly against the side of the crib. A few crib manufacturers sell the mattress with the crib, but most are sold separately. Now parents must decide whether to purchase a traditional natural or an organic crib […]
How important is Green Tech in Washing Machines and Dryers; Whirpool Asks, Surveys
By By Brittany Rowland The public is more attuned to energy saving measures than ever before, as a late 2008 survey conducted by Whirlpool shows. Surveying over 2000 people of all ages and demographics, Whirlpool made a number of surprising discoveries: 84% of respondents named energy, not time or water, as the most important […]
Cleaning a Touchscreen with a Microfiber Cloth
By Steve Holdgren The touchscreen on your smartphone or tablet lets you operate the gadget with ease, but it also picks up unattractive fingerprints and smudges that can be difficult to wipe off with a basic cloth. Microfiber cloths are designed to lift off these oily marks and leave the screen clear and polished. Many […]
The Benefits of a Touchscreen Stylus
By JB Burden Why do you need a stylus if your smartphone or tablet screen responds to your finger? Well, there are several benefits to using a stylus, the most notable one being that it cuts down on the fingerprint smudges. You’ll definitely appreciate making your high tech gadget look more attractive. Other advantages: A […]
