Product review: Leak Detector for your basement or kitchen by Alert Innovations LLC

One Drop Water Alarm is very sensitive to water as long as you put it the right side up. How can you tell which side is the right side? Make you can read the web address of the company in the left top corner. If the web address is backwards you got it upside down and it will not make any noise. I show how the mat reactions to drops of water with the right side up and the wrong side up.



I have had a leak under my sink in the past and it went undetected for several days until it caused some damage. This mat is going to let me right away. The mat very thin (1 mm thick) it comes with net liner so metal thing do not the lines on the mat and general false alarms. The mat can be trimmed as long as you cut between the sensor lines.



The alarm has two modes music and alarm, both are very loud and unpleasant. They can be turned off by changed the switch on the box. I made sure it was easily accessible because I will want to turn it off as soon as it lets me know there is a problem.



The alarm runs on 9volt battery and the battery is not included.



I received a sample unit from manufacture to share my experience with the alarm (be they positive or negative) the with potential future buyers. This fairly inexpensive device can save you a lot of money by preventing water damage.



You can locate One Drop of Leak Detector on Amazon via this link.



AshopZones review

Product review: Wegreeco Bamboo Reusable Sanitary Pads

Let me start by saying that Amazon stock photo shows the pad clipped the wrong way. The gray part goes towards the body. The pads come without instructions, so I looked at stock photo to see how it meant to be clipped. I first used it with the colorful part towards the body and was extremely unhappy because it felt cold, wet, and did not seem to do the job at all. I was about to write a 1 star review and was in process of doing a video to demonstrate that it absorbs liquid very slowly I saw that it does not absorb any water at all. It is waterproof! When I flipped it it was working much better - it absorbed the liquid and the colorful part was working as a protective barrier.



Once I clipped them on correctly (the opposite way from Amazon photos) the pads work quite well: they are absorbent, they latch on tightly, and I do not feel the snap as I sit. I ordered the large size. The large pads are 10 7/8" and 3" wide. With the wings spread it is 7 1/8" wide, from snap to snap it is 6.5".



I tested the pads for colorfastness and they are colorfast. After washing them in the washing machine they did not shrink and came out wrinkle free. I carry a ziplock bag to store the used ones if I am not home. If you overload them they get quite wet and unpleasant (they feel more wet than the disposable kind at that stage).



This listing include 5 pads. At the time when I am writing this review this works out to just under $6 per pad, and feels a little too pricey. I would liked it to be a six pack, as I typically need 3 a day and they take a day to dry.



These pads were provided for testing and review as part of a new product introduction. Getting a free product does not prevent me from pointing out flaws. I included both positives and negatives of my experience and I hope the tip on how to use them will save someone having my initial bad experience.



You can find "Wegreeco Reusable Sanitary Pads" on Amazon via this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★☆

Product review: Cozy Products CT Cozy Toes Carpeted Foot Warming Heater for Under Desks

My feet get really cold in the winter and I purchased this heated mat as one more option to keep my feet warm. I like it! In about 4 minutes after turning on the carpet I can feel it through my slippers. It does not feel hot to touch yet there is enough heat to keep my feet warm. I like it better than Mastex electric booties which really get hot and I cannot keep them on for too long.



The color of the mat is gray. The stock photo looked a little greenish to me but I was happy to see it has no green in it at all. The mat is 17.5" x 17.5". It is okay to use on top of the carpet and on top of wood. It does not get hot enough to damage either surface. When I was shopping for a heated mat I considered another mat but it could only be used on concrete or tile floor as it gets warmer and over time can discolor other surfaces.

I have been using this mat for 2.5 months. It is placed on top of a silk area rug and I see no changes in the rug.



I am quite pleased overall. Would I like to see any changes? Yes. I wish it was available in more colors so I can match it to my carpet better. I would like it to have a light to indicate that pad is on as a reminder for me to turn off at night or when I am not using it to save electricity. Despite these two minor things my feet are definitely happy.



You can find "Cozy Carpeted Foot Warming Heater" on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★☆

Product review: reNeu Manuka Honey Cream Healing Moisturizer Skin Care with UMF 16+ and Aloe Vera

I really like this cream. It is really rich and smooth and it is an excellent moisturizer. I used it on a stubborn patch of dry skin on my face and it did a better job than other moisturizers I have used. I also used it on a minor burn and it felt better right away and healed overnight. I like how it feels - totally non greasy. It is almost unscented, I detect a light scent up close. To me it smells like a light vanilla scent.



It comes in a tub, so it will be easy to get every last bit of it. This has become my "go to" moisturizer for my face, dry heels, and anything else that gets dry in the winter.



I was received a tub of cream for testing a review. reNeu does not test their products on animals so I was recruited as one the human subjects. It is very effective and my skin reacted very well to it.



You can find "reNeu Manuka Honey Cream" via this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★

Product review: Wavertree & London Limoncello luxury soap

As soon as I opened the box the scent was fantastic! The soap bar is a large bar, its size is 4"W x 2.5"L x 1.375"H. It weighs 7 oz. The bar itself is very plain, but scent is complex and wonderful. It smells nice as it sits on counter and as I wash my hands. It generates a nice amount of suds.



The soap is made in Australia and provided by Simple Scents.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.







AshopZones review ★★★★★

Gurin Steam Inhaler

I got this steamer a few months ago and waited to write this review until I had a cold so I could evaluate if it helped my congestion. The inhaler provided some relief although the effect were fairly brief. In that sense it is similar to taking a hot shower: you feel better while you are in the shower and for a brief time afterwards. Note that I am comparing only the feeling, not the actual effect. The steamed shower has much more steam.



The documentation included with the unit was not totally clear on where you add water to the unit, and I made a video which shows how to add water and control the amount of steam the unit generates. The steam is easy to hear but hard to see, so in the video I used a mirror so you can see how steam fogs up the mirror.



The steam that this inhaler generates is fairly hot. I used the inhaler by hovering about 1 inch above the mask of the unit, not putting my face directly against it. The steam was not generated totally evenly, sometimes you could see and hear puffs of extra steam. Hovering 1 inch above gave me enough steam to make me feel better.



The neck of the unit can be extended about 1 inch to make the unit taller. I am fairly short so the distance to the unit felt quite comfortable for me. I suspect a taller person might want to put the unit on a couple of books rather then bend down towards it. Underneath the unit there is a plastic container with two compartments. One side can be used to add saline solution or aromatherapy. The other side collects any condensed steam.



I timed how long various stages of operation took. After I turned on the unit, the steam appeared in 1 minute. I was able to use the unit for 6 minutes until the inhaler ran out of water. I left the unit turned on and 1 minute after the last puff of steam escaped the inhaler automatically turned off. The automatic turn off is a good safety feature. When the unit is turned on the light on the front of the unit is turned on. When the auto shut of turned off the unit, I heard a click and the light on the front of the unit was turned off.



I was provided a sample for review, and I noted pluses and minuses of the unit to provide a fair and balanced review.



Overall, I found this inhaler helpful in easing my congestion and will use it again.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★☆

Gurin Professional Rechargeable Oral Irrigator with High Capacity Water Tank

I started using Gurin rechargeable oral irrigator on March 15, slight over 1 months ago. I wanted to test how long the irrigator will work on one charge, I have been using it once a day and it is still going (I will update this review when it runs out of charge). Yesterday, I had my 6 months dental cleaning. The hygienist got done with me faster than normal and complimented me on doing a good job cleaning. I asked her opinion of oral irrigators and said she told me they are helpful especially in the hard to reach areas in the back of the teeth.



This is my first irrigator (I received a unit for evaluation) and it took me several tries to master using it. The things that are obvious to those who used this hygiene tool before were something that a new user needs to discover by trial and error. To use it properly you need to keep your lips tightly closed, and move the wand inside the mouth. The water from the irrigator will fill you mouth, so you will need to spit it out. This means you need to be able to stop the irrigator multiple times during the cleaning session. In order to avoid spraying the walls of your bathroom (been there done that!), keep the finger on the on/off button and use it before opening your lips. I typically do 1/2 of each side (e.g. button left) before stopping to spit out the water.



The first few days I used it I was not sure I would stick with it past the evaluation period. By the third day of use, I loved it! I definitely feel I get a better cleaned mouth especially on the inside of the back teeth. I can usually complete cleaning the entire mouth one full fill of the reservoir. Occasionally, I need to refill but that does not happen every time. The strength of the stream is the same until it is totally empty. My favorite setting is light pulse.



I am attaching a couple of photos. The irrigator is shown on 1" gridded mat for size reference. The bottle is 7.5" tall, The nozzle is 3" long. The bottle is ergonomically shaped and is easy to hold. The empty irrigator weight 8.9oz. When it is full with water it weighs 13.7 oz. The buttons that select the setting and turn the unit on/off are on the back of the unit, right at the grip area.



I like

-------------



The fact this unit is rechargeable, does not need a cord. So far it exceeded my expectations of how long I can use it without needing to recharge the unit.



The unit is rather compact, and does not take much room on my vanity top.



I feel I am getting a better cleaning. The comments by the hygienist was a nice confirmation.



The unit came with two color-coded heads, each one can be used by different people.



I dislike

------------



Nothing so far.



If this is your first experience with an oral irrigator give it a few days before you decide if you like it. It did take me a few days to learn to use it in a way that felt good.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★



Update 5/22/2013 - The irrigator ran out of its first charge half way through the application this evening. My first use of the irrigator was on March 15, so the first charge lasted slightly over 2 months.

I'll update this review so there is a record of how long the second charge cycle lasts.

Electric Heated Booties for cold feet

I get cold feet in the winter. The kind of cold feet that are not just cold but hurt. If you get this condition you know what I mean. The pain is not possible to ignore, you need to do something to warm up the feet. I have been using rice socks (the kind you microwave for a couple of minutes), but was looking for another option that does not require me to repeatedly warm the socks up. I looked at a large number of options and all of them had fairly bad reviews, these booties were the best of the bunch and I decided to try them.



I have been using them for a month. They have pluses and minuses that I describe below. But they work!

 

 

I am attaching a collage of three photos. The first photo shows the booties out the box as they arrived (before I shaped them to my feet). The second two photos show them on my feet from a couple of different angles.



✔ The most important thing - they work. They stopped the pain and I don't keep to keep running somewhere to keep the booties warm.



✔ The booties have two cords: one cord plugs one of the booties into the electric outlet, the second cord connect the first bootie to the second. The first cord is 94 inches, the second cord is 22 inches. This is a fairly short leash. I had to re-arrange my power strips to be able to use the booties while I work at my desk.



✔ The booties are not meant for walking (according to instructions and the presence of a short cord), so even if I need to reach for something that is only 4-5 steps away I need to take them off.



✔ It takes about 10 minutes for the warmth to becomes strong enough to help the painful feet. I usually turn them on at first sign that my feet are going into that painful state. With my rice socks I get relief in 2 minutes (i.e. time to microwave). With these booties I need a bit more planning ahead.



✔ The controller has three settings off, high power, and medium power. I start out on high power for probably 30 minutes. Then it becomes too hot and uncomfortably warm at the high setting and I switch it to medium heat. Then I typically turn them off in another 30 minutes, while keeping them on until they totally cool off.



✔ The booties are made out of plastic. They arrive as two flat pieces of plastic, and initially are fairly stiff. However, after wearing them for a few days the plastic shapes itself to your feet and they become more comfortable.



✔ One size fits all means they are pretty big on my size 7.5 feet. Since I can't walk in them anyway, this is not a big deal.



✔ I wear them with regular socks on. The top of the booty can be closed with a tie, but I don't bother. This allows me to put them on and take them off quickly, and they keep the heat well enough without being closed.



✔ Unfortunately, according to instructions they cannot be worn at night in bed. If my feet feel bad at night I wear the booties for half an hour while I read before going to bed and then take them off.



The bottom line is that they booties work a lot better than they look. Once you shape them to your feet they not uncomfortable. If you suffer from painful cold feet and need something to keep your feet warm while you sit at the desk these booties are a good solution.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.







AshopZones review

Sleep Lavender Bath Salts

I have a bad back and after a couple of back surgeries I learned a number strategies that help my back feel better. One of them is a 10 minute hot bath every night - it really helps feel and sleep better.  Recently I included Sleep Lavender Bath Salts from San Francisco Bath Salt Company into my routine. I love it!  The Lavender salt bath smells really nice.  I don't like strong scents and this one was just right for me - not too strong yet noticeable.  It made my soak more luxurious and pleasant.



Note that if you don't like flowery scents, San Francisco Bath Salt Company offers other salts with different scents, for example this muscle soak salt which smells minty.

I am attaching a collage of three photos.  The first photo shows salt in my hand, you can see the size and texture of the salt grains. The second photo shows the bag the salts came in, the salt has a light purple color.  The third photo shows salt as it begins to melt in the tub.



I find that the hot soak reduces pain and relieve muscle cramps in my back. I also found that if I have a migraine a hot soak helps to ease the headache as well.



I usually use one or two hand fulls of salt per bath, so one 2 pound bag will last quite a long time.



I received an evaluation bag of Lavender Salt for evaluation and an honest review. I have been using salt soaks for a couple of weeks now. In addition to making my bath soaks more pleasant I noticed another other benefit.  I noticed that the calluses on my feet are easier to treat after the soak in the bath with salts (compared to the soak in plain hot water).  It takes fewer strokes with a pumice sponge to get my feet totally smooth.



In addition to the use in the tub, I also enjoyed using a bit of salt as skin exfoliator. It works nicely providing a gentle scrub and massage.



Overall, I am very pleased with Lavender Salt and will continue to use it.





You can find Lavendar salt on Amazon by following this link.





You can find Musle soak salts on Amazon by following this link.









AshopZones review ★★★★★

Silicone Eye Glass Case - Pochi Silicone Eyeglass Case

This silicone case is 7" long , 3" wide (bottom to clasp), can accommodate content 1" wide, and when it is opened the opening is 4" wide.  



I purchased it for my reading glasses.  I tend to leave my reading glasses in restaurants when I put them down after reading the menu.  I hope this bright colorful case will serve as a good reminder, plus because it is made out of silicone it does not take up much room in my purse.



If you are thinking of using it as coin purse, it is not well suited to such use as it does not close tightly and the coins can fall out of the gap.



I am attaching a video which shows the case from various angles, as well as demonstrate a gap in the closure.   I am also attaching a photo collage with three photos showing how eyeglasses fit into the case. The case is displayed on 1" gridded mat in case you are curious about a measurement I have not mentioned. The photo collage can be found by following 'customer photos' link under the main photo.

    

   

This case provides protection from scratches, but no cushioning if the eyeglass case falls to the ground. The case is perfect for inexpensive reading glasses, but I would not use it for expensive prescription glasses. For the expensive eyeglasses I prefer a case that provides more cushioning.  I have been using this case for a couple of weeks for the reading glasses in my purse and I like them.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.







AshopZones review ★★★★★

Garnier Olia Oil Powered Permanent Haircolor, 4.0 Dark Brown

I recently began coloring my hair to keep on top of the grey hairs that began springing up in my dark brown hair.  I like to have a natural color so noone can even guess I color my hair.



Garnier has a large selection of colors. I selected Garnier's Olia 4.0 dark brown color and the color came out nicely.  The color is very natural and matched the rest of my hair very well.  This is the good news part of the review.





On the negative side, I did not like the applicator. It is attractive looking, but the tear drop shaped bottle is not comfortable to hold and is slippery when the gloves are soaked with color mixture. The bottle is totally smooth and round and the sleek gloves had trouble holding on to it.



The color mixture is fairly thick. I started applying it directly to roots by parting the hair.  Because I found the bottle hard to hold I switched to using a brush to apply color and that worked better for me.



The color had no amonia and thus no amonia smell, that was very nice. I found the flowery fragrance a bit too strong. I would have preferred a lighter scent or unscented.



I liked that the color stains on my skin around the hair line washed off easily without much scrubbing.



The bottom line of my experience: nice color and uncomfortable applicator. I plan to use it again with the following modifications: I would use some masking tape to create folds and grooves on the bottle so that the surface is no so smooth. I would also be applying the color from the bottle on to the brush and then use the brush to apply it to the hair.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.







AshopZones review ★★★★☆

Geritrex benzoin compound tincture for skin protectant

Benzoin tincture of benzoin is typically used as a treatment for damaged skin. It is often applied before applying tape or other adhesive bandages, especially if you have to keep taping and re-taping the same area. I use it slightly differently. I have a friend who is an avid skier and applies Benzoid Tincture to avoid blisters from skiing boots. When I told him about a corn I have on top of one of my toes which is irritated by otherwise very comfortable shoes, he suggested I start using a bit of Benzoid Tuncture on top of my toe. Since Benzoid tincture is often used as an antiseptic (due it the benzoin as well as its alcohol solvent) I felt safe using it on a corn that was irritated. I found that the compound really helps. Now my corn feels less irritated and less painful.



I am attaching a photo that shows an open container of the benzoin tincture. The content is a dark brown thick liquid that hardens a bit as it dries. A small hole in the cap allows you to dispense a small amounts. The liquid does stain if you spill it as I found out the first time I applied it to my toe. Now I put something under my foot as I apply the compound.



Overall, using it on my toe every day made me more comfortable and I recommend it.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★

Jan Marini Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%

My dermatologist recommended a mild 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide Wash (any brand) for treating blackheads. There are a lot of stronger Benzoyl Peroxide options, but I did not find a lot options for the 2.5% wash so I went with Jan Marini wash even though it seemed a bit pricey. 



I have been using it for over a month. I use it once a day. It does not irritate my skin and I am beginning to see positive results.



I am attaching a collage of three photos. The bottle is fairly large, photo #2 show it next to the ruler - it is 5 inches tall not measuring the cap. Photo#1 shows the top without the cap, this small hole allows you to use in small amount so it will last. Photo #3 shows the wash in my hand - the content is cream-like substance.



Directions from the back of the package:

* Apply a small amount (about the size of a quarter) to the face. Work into a lather.

* Gently remove with a wash cloth and lukewarm water.

* Splash face with lukewarm water. Pat dry.

* Because excessive drying of the skin may occur, start with one application daily, then gradually increase to two or three times daily if needed or as directed by a physician.

* If bothersome dryness or peeling occurs, reduce application to once a day or every other day.

* If going outside, apply sunscreen after using this product. If irritation or sensitivity develops, stop use of both products and ask a physician.



Active Ingredients:

-----------------------------

Benzoyl Peroxide-2.5%



Inactive Ingredients:

-----------------------------

Water (Aqua), Sorbitol, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea, Disodium EDTA



Overall, I am please with the effects.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

>



AshopZones review ★★★★★

comparison of 4 different lip balms: Burt's Bees Mango Butter, original ChapStick,Blistex raspberry lemonade and Mentholatum Natural Ice Medicated Lip Protectant

I often have dry lips and have been using ChapStick for years. Recently I got a bit bored with the old reliable choice and tried several different lip balms.  I experienced significant difference in satisfaction with them, and I thought a comparison between them might be useful to others.



The original Chapstick provides a very good moisturizer, it spreads well and provides long lasting effects.The flavor however is not exciting and that lead to this experiment. My most favorite turned out to be Burt's Bees Mango Butter. It provided a very good moisturizer for my lips, which was long lasting.  The mango flavor is very pleasant yet light.  Blistex raspberry lemonade has a strong but nice flavor. When you just put it on it taste like a burst of lemon and raspberry almost like licking a candy.  This strong flavor does not linger however, it mellows out pretty quickly.  I liked the flavor, but found that the moisturizing effect on my lips  did not last as long as some of the other balms. It also has more many chemical ingredients than the other lip balms. Mentholatum Natural Ice had a flavor that I really did not like, it was hard to spread, and the moisturizing effect did not last.

________________________________________________________

★★★★★ Burt's Bees Mango Butter / Burt's Bees Mango Butter on Amazon

--------------------------------------------------------

Sunblock: None

Taste:.................Mango, light and very pleasant

Effect:................Long lasting

Stick:.................Fairly soft and easy to spread

Cost:..................2.25 per stick

Ingredients:...........helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, cera alba (beeswax, cire d'abeille), aroma (flavor)*, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil,  mangifera indica (mango) seed butter, lanolin, ammonium glycyrrhizinate, tocopherol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, glycine soja (soybean) oil, canola oil (huile de colza), limonene, linalool. *natural flavor

________________________________________________________

★★★★★ ChapStick, Original / ChapStick on Amazon

--------------------------------------------------------

Taste:.................Light almost not noticable

Effect:................Long lasting

Stick:.................Fairly soft and easy to spread

Sunblock:..............None

Cost:..................1.40 per stick

Ingredients:...........Active Ingredients: Padimate (1.5%), White Petrolatum (44%). Inactive Ingredients: Arachidyl Propionate, Camphor, Cetyl Alcohol, D&c Red No. 6 Barium Lake, Fd&c Yellow No. 5 Aluminum Lake, Fragrance, Isopropyl Lanolate, Isopropyl Myristate, Lanolin, Light Mineral Oil, Methylparaben, Octyldodecanol, Oleyl Alcohol, Phenyl Methicone, Propylparaben, Titanium Dioxide, Waxes.

________________________________________________________

★★★★☆ Blistex raspberry lemonade / Blistex Raspberry Lemonade Blast on Amazon

--------------------------------------------------------

Taste:.................Strong raspberry lemon, burst of nice flavor, almost like candy for a second

Effect:................Not long lasting

Stick:.................Fairly soft and easy to spread

Sunblock:..............SPF 15

Cost:..................1.21 per stick

Ingredients:...........Active ingredient: dimethicone 1%, octinoxate 7,5%, oxybenzone 2.5% Inactive ingredients: alumina, beeswas, diethylhexyl adipate, ethylhexyl palmitate, ethylhexyl stearate, flavors, glyceryl stearate, hydrogenated coconut oil, isopropyl myristate,

isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl stearate, jojoba esters, microcrystalline wax, myristyl myristate, phenoxyethanol, phenyl trimethicone, polyethylene, polyhydrixystearic acid, saccharin, silica, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, titanium dioxide, tocopheryl acetate.



________________________________________________________

★★★☆☆ Mentholatum Natural Ice  / Mentholatum Natural Ice on Amazon

--------------------------------------------------------

Taste:.................Medicinal and Minty

Effect:................Not long lasting

Stick:.................Hard and hard to spread

Sunblock:..............SPF 15

Cost:..................1.17 per stick (note when I bought it on sale for 60 cents per stick)

Ingredients:...........Active Ingredients: Dimethicone (1%), Octinoxate (7.5%), Octisalate (5%). Inactive Ingredients:..Fragrance, Lanolin, Menthol, Mineral Oil, Ozokerite, Petrolatum.

________________________________________________________

   

If I had to pick a winner in this comparison it would Burt's Bees Mango Butter.  It is all natural, great flavor, and it works well as a long lasting lip moisturizer.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.







AshopZones review