The other day, I mentioned to a co-worker that I needed to get a new sunshade for my car’s front windshield.
“You should get a weathertech” he told me. They are cut to fit your specific make and model of car, are double sided (there’s a reflective side for repelling the sun, and a black side for trapping heat when it’s cold outside), and are thicker and more durable than the typical foldable one.
Granted, it’s a little pricey for the product (about $60 U.S.) but I’m pleased with the purchase and glad to have received the recommendation.
So what products do you endorse? If you were famous, your word would have cache. But we all know that’s because celebrities are paid big bucks.
Instead, I’m asking for the opinions of the teeming millions- a more genuine offering, and far more reliable than something said by a person cashing a paycheck.
Maybe it’s a minor thing. Maybe it’s an investment. But I’m interested in what you consider a smart purchase.
Me? I’ve long been on the hunt for good casual wear. I’ve found that Arctic Cool shirts are the best - in theory, they are made of synthetic material to keep you cool. More practically, I like them because their colors don’t fade, they don’t require ironing, and they are stain resistant. If you need a casual t-shirt or polo, it’s a great option.
Same with Mission Belts. Typical belts get worn out where the prong inserts into the hole. These belts use a ratchet mechanism to lock, so your belt stays smooth and seamless. I first saw them advertised on the investment show Shark Tank, and I’ve been a devotee for years.
Softub brand of hot tubs. They’re so easy to set up and maintain. No special plumbing, and needing only weekly water testing and chemical addition. Great in all 4 seasons.
I second the nomination for WeatherTech, but for floor mats. Again, custom made for your make and model, and they fit perfectly and are easy to remove and clean. Not cheap, but they work great.
I don’t declaw. Vets call it “amputation” on the bill-- I know, because I once had to get a cat’s single toe declawed due to the way it healed after a fracture-- Yike!
North Face outerwear. Light as a feather yet extremely warm.
Miele dishwasher. About 15 years ago my wife and I did a to-the-studs kitchen makeover and got all new appliances. We were wandering in a store and saw a display of Miele. Who in the right minds would pay $3000 for a dishwasher? we asked each other. Shortly afterward we were at a closeout tent sale from a competitor. There was the Miele, marked down 70%. It had a few problems, of course. It was a several-year-old discontinued floor model. And it didn’t turn on. But it was under full warranty, and the repair guy just kept bringing out parts to make it right.
When it was right, it was right. We could load more stuff into it than we could imagine, but they came out sparkling despite the closeness. Quieter than we could imagine as well, a true 39 db. I can’t count how many times I opened it mid-cycle because I thought it was off.
You can’t get Miele in Upstate New York anymore. We settled for a Bosch 800, Consumer Reports’ top-rated model. Comparatively, it’s cheap plastic crap that you can hear from another room.
True, they’ve changed the name to the wimpier “Corry’s Slug and Snail Killer”, but it still does the job, and reportedly the new formula is safe to use around pets.
Zevo flying insect traps. They plug into a wall outlet and have a blue light to attract flying insects and a sticky sheet to trap them. The nice thing is that the traps are entirely passive, in that you don’t really need to do anything once you put one in and they work all day and all night. I have a habit of checking it every few days to see how many new insects were caught.
Schwalbe Marathon bicycle tires. I’ve been riding bikes for many(many) years and these are the best I’ve used, hands down. I’ve got something like 5K miles on my current pair (riding on pavement, dirt and gravel) without a single flat and they still have plenty of tread.
New Balance running and walking shoes, especially the models/styles that are only sold in footwear/running specialty stores, and not the mass-market ones you can buy at regular sporting goods stores. Somewhat expensive, but absolutely worth it as far as having happy, comfortable feet. Same for socks from Bombas and Wigwam.
Klein electrician’s tools. Made for the job at hand.
All-Clad Stainless cookware. Even heat, tough.
Le Creuset cookware. Ditto.
Jamba blender. Need to make soup or maybe liquify your neighbor’s corpse? This one will do both.
KitchenAid stand mixer. If you know, you know.
Vintage Stanley woodworking tools from the 40s-50s. Tough, indestructible, designed for woodworkers. Replace the original blades with those from Hock Tools and you’re set for life.
Lee-Nielsen woodworking tools. A much more expensive option to the above.
On Cloud no lace shoes. Comfortable, non heel chafing slip-ons. Nurses swear by them; our niece says everyone in her ER wears them.
Mazda. I have a CX-5 from 2016 that is still going strong. Best snow car I’ve driven.
Dawn dish liquid. The new spray version is the actual bomb. It will change dish soap companies forever.
I like Bombas™ socks too. But Hotsox™ are my latest obsession.
The Giant Hoodie™ company. They are a little pricey (I say medium) but they run sales that are great. Plus they do custom lettering, free.
I can’t say enough about Persil detergent. I’m waiting on their “squares” to come out. I see Tide has them.
I’ve just recently purchased a bar shampoo. It’s like a bar of soap for your hair. It has bonding and conditioning right in. Smells like cherry koolaide. Which I love. .
I was in a hair wash boycott for about 6 days(reasons). I used the bar twice. I’m liking it. I gotta go see if I can find the name of it. I’ll report back if I find it, and I determine my hair ain’t gonna fall out.
Generic pee-pads can be bought in bulk from Chewy. And rather than using the overpriced pellets, I use pinto beans. A 25 pound bag at Costco costs like $15.
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