Products That Jump-Start Your Morning

Aug. 29, 2008 — -- Waking up is hard to do, but the Good Housekeeping Institute has rated several products to get you out of bed and out of the house on time. Plus, there's a couple of recipes for an easy, nutritious breakfasts.

iHome iH9 Alarm Clock, $100

Alarm clocks that accommodate an iPod are the latest trend. Good Housekeeping likes the iHome iH9 Alarm Clock. You can wake up to your favorite music instead of a buzzing alarm. It also has duel alarms, so you can set an alarm for the weekday and weekends or for two people, and a remote control. Good Housekeeping testing found it was very easy to use.

Downey Wrinkle Releaser, $4

Good Housekeeping tried four methods to get wrinkles out of clothing fast: hanging them in the bathroom while showering, putting them through the dryer, using a hand-held steamer and a wrinkle-free spray. The hand-held steamer did the best job, but you have to stand there and do it, which doesn't help you get out of the house quickly.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser was the best choice when it came to being quick and effective, says GHI. Take the clothing, spray it, smooth it out and let it dry. It takes less than a half-hour to dry, and during that time you can take a shower and have breakfast.

Remington Wet 2 Straight Flat Iron, $30

Good Housekeeping wanted to find an appliance that lets you both dry and style your hair. A lot of women dry their hair and then curl or style it, and that takes time. Using a 2-in-1 appliance makes the process a lot faster. Their top pick is the Remington Wet 2 Straight Flat Iron. It worked the fastest in the lab, and is a good budget choice. Good Housekeeping also sent it home with consumers and it worked very fast for them, too.

De'Longhi Esclusivo Coffeemaker, $80

For hectic mornings, brewed coffee that's ready to go can be convenient. So a programmable coffeemaker is your best choice. The idea is to set it up the night before and it's ready to go in the morning. You don't have to fuss with filling it up and getting it ready. GHI likes the De'Longhi Esclusivo because the coffee tastes great, but it was also the fastest at brewing. It also tells you how long it has been since you brewed the coffee.