Cuisinart CPT-415 Countdown 2-Slice Stainless Steel Toaster

Very Nice Toaster
Nice looking and nice performing toaster! I like the bagel feature. It crisps the inside and not the outside of each bagel half. I like to use the bagel setting on English muffins; it makes the inside crunchy while keeping the outside softer. Countdown feature tells you how much time is left before the toast is finished. Also it has a "push-up" feature for easy removal of smaller items. Great toaster!

Excellent toaster
On delivery the box had puncture due to shipper, and the toaster was dented. Amazon replaced it promptly. New toaster works fine. We like the countdown, the bagel adjustment, and being able to raise the toast by the lever (after toasting) to grasp it. Very very slight difference in toasting amount on each side, not objectionable at all. Haven't used warming feature yet but we're glad its available. Would buy the same toaster again.

Toaster--Cuisinart CPT-415 Countdown
First, I plan to return this toaster. My main disappointment with it is that it toasts one side nicely but the other side is much lighter; I like my toast TOASTED. This happens whether I use one--my usual--or two slices. The info that came with the toaster said this would happen when two slices were toasted. The toaster has more options than I need/use, but they probably are handy for others. Split bagels fit nicely; I use regular settings rather than the "bagel" setting since I like both sides toasted. I would be happy with this toaster and keep it IF it toasted single slices evenly on each side! I have had this toaster for almost a month, with occasional use.

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Electrolux Ergospace Green Canister Vacuum, EL 4101A

Electrolux v. Hoover canister
Since I've spent the past 24 hours (or more) researching vacuums -- and bought two to try out at home, side by side -- I thought I should share my findings with the rest of you.

First off, my 23-year-old Hoover canister finally died on me a few weeks ago. I'd had the thing at the shop maybe once for some work, but other than that, it still worked like a charm til the very end. It had a self-propelling power head that roared like a elephant and scared small children and pets, but it but really sucked the dirt in its heyday. It was sort of scary on hardwood, but I made do. After all, it was practically a member of the family -- the same age as my oldest son.

So when it died, I knew it would be a hard act to follow. I knew I wanted a canister. To tell you the truth, what I like most are the long wands that I use to clean everything from ceiling fans to air vents to baseboards. The little attachment hoses on the uprights just didn't seem like they'd do the trick. I...

Finally a long enough hose!
I picked this up at Costco for considerably less than I see it advertised elsewhere. I have many unhappy vacuum experiences and thought was just fated to hate the product or spend big bucks. This one is just the ticket for me, on a budget but living in a kingdom of cobwebs and pet hair. I have vaulted ceilings with beams, and this is the first time I have not had to stand on a chair or lift the vacuum canister onto a counter to reach every nook and cranny. Long hose, long cord, very portable, and wow, it REALLY does adjust when you go from bare floor to carpet so that you don't get sucked down onto the carpet. The suction adjuster is easy to use, but I didn't even need it. Love the bare floor setting, which has little stiff brushes that loosen debris that might be a little stuck to the floor. I also have cabinets off the floor with space underneath, and this is the first time i have been able to easily reach all the way under cabinets and furniture with out having to assemble some...

Great choice for homes with minimal carpet
The 4101A appears to be the new version of the (also high-rated) UltraSilencer EL6984A. I've seen mention of that on several other sites, even though the Electrolux web site lists both models as being current. So, you should have a look at the reviews for that model as much of the commentary should apply to this one.

It works great; tons of suction and minimal noise (it is far quieter than my upright, which was already a quiet model). The hose is 9' long, which in my opinion is a perfect length. Six feet is more common, but with the extra 3' you don't have to pull the canister around quite as much and can more easily access the tops of cabinets, etc with the hose attachments.

The telescoping wand and floor nozzle are fairly agile & once you get the hang of how the joints bend it is easy to clean underneath tables, chairs, couches, etc. You need minimal clearance (only about 2.5-3") to get under something - I found no furniture in my home that I couldn't get...

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Sunbeam FPSBDMM921 Mini Donut Maker, Blue

Best mini donuts
My husband just bought me the mini donut maker yesterday, and this morning I made my first batch.

I used the following recipe (which is a variation of what was in the book)
5 tbsp. butter

Nina Soft Spin Dryer

Really spins out water!
I received this yesterday after purchasing from the manufacturer. I tried it on some of my son's clothes and it really spun out the water (they were polyester) to the point of coming out almost dry. I was impressed as to how quiet it is as well. The feet really grip the hard floor so there is only a little wobble when it gets started. I will update my review after I have used it for a longer time and with larger loads. One think to remember is when you first get it there is a metal rod attached to the bottom with a zip tie. At first I thought it was a drain spout extension and plugged in the machine. I quickly realized that it is there to keep the machine from bouncing around in transit and that it must be removed before plugging it in. I literally had it plugged for 2 seconds and quickly unplugged before any damage occurred, but I could see someone burning out the motor if they left it attached and plugged in longer. In my directions there was nothing written about removing...

Pretty good
I was worried that this wouldn't perform as well as that other model they discontinued. I'm glad other people reviewed it because I finally bit the bullet and ordered a mini washer and spin dryer (this one). I washed a pair of boxers and wrung them as much as humanly possible... and then put them in this thing.

First thing to note: this thing is really really quiet, aside from the initial startup which is 100% fine, coming from a picky person like myself. Once it starts you just have to stand with it for 5 seconds until it stabilizes.

Secondly, I was worried about the RPM but they address on their site that this is as efficient as the one no longer in stock, even with lower RPM. And not that I've ever tried the other one, but I'm totally satisfied with this... after wringing my boxers out, the Spin dryer still got out like the equivalent of the top of a peanut butter jar filled with water, which is pretty good for how well I wrung that thing out. I can imagine it...

Works well.
This unit is pretty lightweight and fairly quiet given what it does - spins really fast to pull out water from your clothes.
There is no on/off switch. When plugged in, the unit will fire up when the lid is shut. When you move the latch to open the lid, the motor will shut off.

Sometimes, when trying to spin up with heavy wet clothes, the unit might not be balanced enough to spin up and the inner tub will bounce around. I re-adjust the clothes, put the plastic cover over the clothes, push down and close the lid.... off the races the Spin Dryer goes.

I let it run until I don't see any significant moisture coming out of the drain (maybe 5 minutes). The non-cotton clothes seem close to dry and the cotton clothes are just a bit damp. I hang dry the clothes or put them in the dryer on the shortest time setting.

IMO, this kind of device is essential if you hand wash your clothes or use a portable machine without any kind of good spin cycle.
I...

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Black & Decker VF110FC Hand Vacuum Filter with Agitator

I guess it's okay
Not quite sure what it is supposed to do. While initially shopping, I got the impression this was needed, but when the Dust Buster arrived, I found that there was a "simpler" filter included. I have not figured out what the agitator does.

GOOD IDEA TO KEEP AN EXTRA FILTER HANDY
These vacuum filters get clogged with hair and dust quickly at my house so it needs to be washed often. Otherwise the vacuum cleaner suction isn't strong enough to pick up stuff. That's why I ordered this filter. Now I have an extra to use in the vac while the original is drying.

Filter OK+
It does all that it's suppose to do and holds up well. The price is fair and it fits tightly.

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Electrolux UltraActive DeepClean Bagless Canister Vacuum, EL4300B

Best Electrolux I own
I had Electrolux EL6989A Oxygen Ultra for five and a half years and I liked it; however the quality of the wand wasn't as good so it was time to replace it (even tho I could just replace the wand since vacuum still working). So I got Dyson DC33 and after 2 days of use it went back to the store - it's a complete failure if you used to canister :)
After that I decided to pull the trigger on Electrolux UltraActive. I couldn't find any reviews on it; I was only able to find specs and based on that it has more power 2100W vs 1400w in my old one, and also new design for the wand and motorized brush head.
So I placed an order on kohls.com and after I got it I was pretty surprised how good it is with a few quirks :)
Pros:
- It's much quieter than my old Electrolux vacuum
- New updated design of the wand and brush head seems more durable
- It doesn't use bags (it's bagless vacuum)
- It is way more powerful than the old one
Quirks:
- After you push...

Overall Very Pleased
I just purchased this vacuum after much research to replace my 13 year old vacuum that finally bit the dust. Overall I am very satisfied with it's performance. Since I was very used to my previous vacuum, albeit very old, I used this new vacuum with an eye of scrutiny.
Pros:
Love that it is bag-less and you can see exactly what and how much it picks up. Feels very sturdy though not overly heavy. I have both hard floors and carpet. Love the large hard floor attachment, I can cover the floor much faster and despite its size is still very maneuverable in tight spots. The carpet brush picks up excellent yet thin enough to get under beds and most furniture and still very maneuverable. Canister is very easy to dump out contents.
Cons:
The cord could have been a little longer compared to my old vacuum. I have to use a couple different outlets in order to reach all the surface areas. While I do love the size of the hard floor attachment, the suction is not as...

excellent vacuum cleaner
We wanted to replace our 10 year old upright. I did a lot of research and am very glad I picked this vacuum. We needed a compact vacuum that was good on hardwood floors, area rugs and wall to wall carpet. Also, a hepa filter for my allergic dog. This is a powerful vacuum, I could not believe the dirt we got up that our old vacuum was missing. You can turn off the beater bar on the handle when going from carpet to hardwood or to save the fringe on rugs. It also has a nice big floor brush for hardwood and tile. If you suck up a shoelace or cord it shuts off immediatly to save your belt. The bagless dirt cup is very easy to empty. The length of the wand is adjustable for people of different heights. It's very light and easy to maneuver. It has slow start technology which is better for the motor, so it appears to hesitate when turned on. But, do not accidently pick up the vacuum by the dirt cup handle as it will fall with a crash. Another nice feature is the handle pivots flat to vacuum...

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Hamilton Beach 24444 Smart Toast Extra-Wide Slot Toaster

hamilton beach toaster
We really like this toaster and especially like the defrost button. With our old toaster when we would toast frozen waffles or frozen breakfast treats we would have to turn the item over and toast it again for a partial toast cycle to get it done.........often the top half might be still soggy ......................... but by using the defrost button everything toasts thoroughly the first time.

Excellent Toaster
Excellent toaster it does bagels and toast evenly
what more can I say its a toaster
worth the money so buy it

Perfect
Great toaster, lots of features, love the cool touch sides and the wide slots fit just about any kind of bread.

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