It does not have to be an actual “as seen on TV” gadget, I am referring to the kitschy little problem solvers that sell relatively cheaply and promise to miraculously eliminate any signs of “insert problem here”.
I can’t recall offhand any such device or gadget that I have ever seen or heard of that really truly lived up to the promises that it made, but I keep hoping. There’s lots of little problems in life that we don’t have perfect tools or solutions for that these types of things mean to address, and it’s always such a disappointment when they fail.
I’m not looking for tools which aren’t really offering revolutionary solutions in what they do, but are instead the same answer we have had for a long time that has just been given a catchy name and a superficial restyling, then aggressively marketed. (I’m looking at you, Ped Egg) I also don’t care about effective “solutions” to “problems” that no one was really having to begin with. Those types of things usually just add hassle to a simple procedure. (Egg separators, tuna can squeezers). (SeeJar Glove…perfect)
So do you know of anything that really lived up to its own hype and didn’t have to fluff up the issue it addressed in order to be really impressive?
I work in a cafe and sometimes we have salad specials in tortilla shell. The tortillas are baked in an “As seen on TV” thin metal bowl that you simply press the tortilla into and shove in the oven for a few minutes. The shells come out crisp, with no oil or grease. I forget the exact name of the devices but they really do seem as easy to use as advertised.
There was a similar thread to this early but I’m too lazy to do the search. The one product I found to be valuable (based on a recommendation) was the gizmo that cleans the inside of your windshield. I can’t remember what it is called. Cleaning inside auto windows is a PITA and this thing actually makes the job a lot easier. Works well too on the rear window.
I’ll second that. I haven’t used it in a while, but when I do, I often don’t even realize it’s raining because unless it’s really, really pouring (or just barely drizzling) I don’t even turn my wipers on. It takes some getting used to since it’s weird to see the water go up instead of down, but once you get past that it’s pretty nice.
Oh hell yeah they do. They even inspired a bunch of competitors that are much more expensive but the originals do just fine. I have been using my $15 two person model for two years daily now and it is still going strong although it is a little worn. It is a great way to cook meat or seafood with little fuss.
I have heard good things about the Pocket Fisherman too although I have never used one. It is supposedly a quality product that can land fairly large fish. It will never substitute for real tackle but it isn’t meant to. It is just something you can keep in your car or backpack for casual fishing if the opportunity presents itself.
The one thing I have always wanted to try is that spray paint you put on your head to cover bald spots. It looks like it really works in the commercials but sadly, I don’t think I am ever going to be bald or even have thinning hair so I can’t test it personally. That was the best infomercial I have ever seen however.
That Urine-Gone stuff worked pretty well, but I haven’t seen it in a while. The Magic Bullet is working well enough for my dad’s smoothies, which is why he got it.
And my Snuggie was fine once I got some fabric softener on it and got it not to be so rough. Though I still can’t find much of use for it.
About twenty years ago they were pushing a sandwich maker, it was like a waffle iron that made hot pocket sandwiches. The original version was a really well made product with heavy, solid non-stick plates. I loved those little pocket sandwiches. Hot PB&J and hot pizza pockets were the best, but you could make them with just about anything.
The Fasta Pasta. It was super handy when I lived in a dorm room with no kitchen, and later when I lived in a dorm room with a kitchen which I shared with three slobs who always made a mess of the place and never cleaned up after themselves.
Nowadays I use if I am feeling like a slob and don’t want to wash a pot. Since it uses a lot less water, you have to rinse the noodles a bit more because otherwise it comes out a bit sticky, but otherwise it’s pretty fire-and-forget.
That commercial is right from the Jar Glove school.
Well so far it seems the things that work are things that aren’t all that revolutionary and don’t really solve anything, except the Rain-X, which is a good example of the type of products I’m thinking of. Products that, even if they fail at what they say they can do, are claiming they can do things which really would be pretty nice to have done, like Rain-X. Even if we never sat around actively wishing that rainwater would slide off our windows more easily, it sure rocks once we try it.
But I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I’d love to hear great things about the Hurricane Spin Mop, which I’m practically salivating over. I was ready to snap it up, but I was put off my the wording of the guarantee, because it specifies the mop, not the bucket, and the bucket is at least as important as the mop! I called the company and after some back and forth regarding the fact that “an operator told me the bucket would be covered!” has exactly zero force or effect if I buy it, the bucket breaks, and I am told the company won’t replace it for free because see the wording that says we replace the MOP? He told me there is a booklet that comes with it which specifies that the bucket is covered the same as the mop, and I might even be able to get a look at the booklet if I poke around online. That works for me.
Even if it only works half as well as it claims, that’s still 5 times better than my cobbled together solutions for my endless battle with hair, dirt, food and other random schmutz that my dogs bring in and spread around 24/7, which includes:
two vacuum cleaners, both shop and canister styles, a basket of vac parts for both along with 3 or 4 types of specialized dog hair tools used manually, plus the special set of miniature vacuum accessories for the tiny cracks and crevices that gather the dog hair, a Swiffer and stacks of wet and dry swiffer supplies, 3 sizes and styles of dustpan and 2 sizes of broom, and an old school rag mop that I use with my prized mop wringer bucket. And of course a closet full of various anti-stink carpet powders and spray cleaners. (My house is all hardwood and ceramic tile but of course I have large area rugs the way most people with hardwood floors do)
And in spite of all that, which is ALL put to use ALL the time, on any given day when you come into my house the floor is likely to be a fright. So this thing looks like it would lighten the load at least.
But it’s also amazingly overpriced. A lot of other things work just as well for a fraction of the price. E.g., Amor All type products. Just use a tiny, tiny bit of it on a paper towel after cleaning the windshield.