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Author Topic: Helpful But Commonly Overlooked Purchases  (Read 1825 times)

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graean

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Helpful But Commonly Overlooked Purchases
« on: May 22, 2015, 05:42:29 AM »

For me, it's mostly cleaning supplies, I guess.

a Miele S8 Kona canister vacuum, about a hundred microfiber cloths (Costco is fine), pumice stones, bathtub cleaning brushes, dry mop, Bon Ami, citric acid, and good soft-rubber squeegees preferably by Ettore.

The vacuum is nearly a grand, but there's a lot less dust in the air and on furniture and molding inside the house. It's also quieter, has stronger suction than the previous Kenmore Progressive and Dyson upright, and doesn't leak dust, although it does heat up and exude a faint plastic smell, though all vacuums do that. It's just more obvious with this one because the smell isn't masked by dust and the influence of more noise. The air gets clean enough such that right after I vacuum and stride around the house because I want to breathe in the air.

The cloths I use to wipe wall, clean dishes . . . and so on. Never returning to cotton.

Pumice stones from Home Depot clean lime scale . . . toilet rings . . . and can abrade away calluses, assuming of course we're using a stone dedicated solely for that, and not cleaning toilets and such.

Bath tub brushes with nylon bristles, one for general srubbing, one to get into the grout and edges. Good to keep around the tub when I want to quickly clean up.

Dry mop by Rubbermaid with built in spray, filled with vinegar. The pH of vinegar prevents bacterial growth, so the mophead doesn't spread a half rotting smell along the floor. The mophead is a microfiber pad. Floors get nice and clean.

Bon Ami is a cleansing powder made from limestone and coconut surfactant. It's less hard than glass, so it doesn't scratch it, but has a strong abrasive action because of the fine particles. A good alternative to bleach and acid based cleaners (like Bar Keeper's Friend, Clorox) because it is less caustic on the skin and thus more convenient. It is really effective on grease/fat based stains, as long as they are on fairly smooth surfaces.

Powdered citric acid, bulk, for limescaled shower doors. "Weak" acid by chemistry, because it produces chemical buffers. Means its less effective than strong acids, but also less dangerous. Still, glasses/goggles and gloves. Scoop some up and dab a little water and spread across the glass. Then brush in circles to dissolve/emulsify the citric acid with water and the limescale. Then wait and wet as needed to allow the reaction to dissolve the limescale. Wash off, use a wet cloth to wipe the glass (to remove resultant salts, which make for murky glass), wash off again (pail of water), and squeegee--

Squeegees. 12, 14, 16 inches. Start with 12" for use in the shower to remove water to prevent clouded glass. In general use around the house a wet microfiber cloth to wet glass, then squeegee it off. Vertical strokes only downward, or horizontal strokes in one direction, or otherwise. Another cloth wipe up water that collects at the sides and bottom (where you squeegee the water toward). A squeegee pole, if you do high windows.

And a lot of plain heather blue and grey t-shirts are nice, too.


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ohhgourami

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Re: Helpful But Commonly Overlooked Purchases
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2015, 06:28:09 AM »

Mostly tools for me.

A nice cooking knives. Can't cook without the right tools. In my case, that would Mac Mighty 9.5" Gyuto and 3.5" paring knife.

18650 battery powered LED flashlight - Fenix PD35 2014.  Bright light that cranks out 960 lumens, good sized, and battery lasts a long time. I charge my work light about every 2 months.

Snap-on racketing screwdriver set. I use this almost every day. It's a damn nice screwdriver. Pricey for a screwdriver, but it doesn't feel like just a screwdriver once you've used it.

Professional grade insecticide - anyone get annoying spiders in the house or ants? I hate spiders so I give the gift that keeps on gifting: Onslight FastCap. Comes in a concentrate so you have to get a sprayer for it. Get it along the foundation and key locations around the house. Shit works all year 'round and you'll find dead spiders and other bugs around the house. The normal stuff you get at Home Depot just doesn't work like this.

A nice pocket knife - comes in handy a lot more than you think.


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Thad E Ginathom

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Re: Helpful But Commonly Overlooked Purchases
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2015, 07:14:50 AM »

Thinking that you were talking hifi/headphones. my mind boggled when I got to pumice stone!

Quote (selected)
The cloths I use to wipe wall, clean dishes . . . and so on. Never returning to cotton.

Absolutely. For everything from cleaning vinyl LPs to drying myself after bathing. Microfibre is wonderful. Absolutely best thing thing sliced bread (which I no longer use at all for cleaning).

 :)p1
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Anaxilus

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Re: Helpful But Commonly Overlooked Purchases
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2015, 08:38:58 AM »

Snap-on racketing screwdriver set. I use this almost every day. It's a damn nice screwdriver. Pricey for a screwdriver, but it doesn't feel like just a screwdriver once you've used it.

If you ever want a good socket wrench, check out MAC Tools. They have the finest rachet action for spots with limited area. Just get the right one.

What kind of spiders do you get? I leave the Daddy-Long Legs alone to help control other pests.
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LFF

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Re: Helpful But Commonly Overlooked Purchases
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2015, 09:37:38 AM »

Eye Glass cases - cheap way to protect more than just your eyeglasses. I keep first aid stuff in one when I'm at school as well as another to protect my CIEMs and portable rig. Cheaper than similar sized otter box.


Hydrogen Peroxide & Witch Hazel - extremely versatile as well as cheap.


If I think of anything else...I'll post about them.
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Re: Helpful But Commonly Overlooked Purchases
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2015, 10:08:36 AM »

What I carry besides my wallet and phone:

Individual hand wipes. Not every place you buy lunch at has a public restroom and restrooms sometimes run out of soap.

Disposable Earplugs (Leight Max). For crowds, offensive sound systems / music at stores, and sleeping.

Small pill box with tylenol, advil, immodium, benadryl, &c. They'll all think you're weird till they have a headache or worse; then they forever lose the right to laugh at you--for that.

Keychain flashlight (Fenix E series). Much better than a phone's LED.
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Deep Funk

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Re: Helpful But Commonly Overlooked Purchases
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2015, 10:30:09 AM »

Tape...

Duct tape for fixing things. Electronic tape for cable ends. All kinds of tape for things manufacturers leave to chance. Tape is tapetastic.
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ohhgourami

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Re: Helpful But Commonly Overlooked Purchases
« Reply #7 on: May 22, 2015, 08:17:12 PM »

If you ever want a good socket wrench, check out MAC Tools. They have the finest rachet action for spots with limited area. Just get the right one.

What kind of spiders do you get? I leave the Daddy-Long Legs alone to help control other pests.


Is the Mac socket wrench nicer than the Snap-on ones? The Snap-on racheting mechanism on my screwdrivers is very nice. Maybe 2-3 degree turn to get to the next click which is also very soft. I know Mac makes totl stuff that's on par with Snap-on.

I don't get a ton of spiders and they are the brown ones. I have an extreme prejudice for spiders.
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Thad E Ginathom

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Re: Helpful But Commonly Overlooked Purchases
« Reply #8 on: May 22, 2015, 08:35:32 PM »

Individual hand wipes. Not every place you buy lunch at has a public restroom and restrooms sometimes run out of soap.

Not a problem in a place where people normally eat with their hands, but still, I do not guarantee soap!

Quote (selected)
Disposable Earplugs (Leight Max). For crowds, offensive sound systems / music at stores, and sleeping.

I carry a range from cotton wool that just takes the edge off an over-amplified concert, to plugs that would protect me at a rock concert

Quote (selected)
Small pill box with tylenol, advil, immodium, benadryl, &c. They'll all think you're weird till they have a headache or worse; then they forever lose the right to laugh at you--for that.

And plasters? It's good to be able to deal with a rubbing shoe or a cut finger.

Quote (selected)
Keychain flashlight (Fenix E series). Much better than a phone's LED.

Always on my keychain, whether the car key is or not.

Tape...

Duct tape for fixing things. Electronic tape for cable ends. All kinds of tape for things manufacturers leave to chance. Tape is tapetastic.

The best tape ever: Self-Amalgamating Rubber Tape. The layers bond with each other and become one. Great for electrics, great for low-pressure plumbing leaks.

 :)p7
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Re: Helpful But Commonly Overlooked Purchases
« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2015, 08:39:35 PM »

I have the following on my key chain at all times, unless I have to go through TSA screening:

Leatherman Micra
Spyderco Ladybug
128 GB password protected USB thumb drive
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