House and Home Products Worth Craving
March 19, 2007 — -- For those who take pride in having the latest, greatest products in their home, the annual International Home and Housewares show is a mecca.
But not everyone can make the pilgrimage to Chicago where the show is held, so Good Housekeeping magazine went and presented some of the best labor- and time-saving products on "Good Morning America."
Though the Good Housekeeping Institute hasn't been able to test the products yet, the Institute's experts think they'll be some of the most exciting housewares on the market this year.
Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Slow Cooker: $59.99
Slow cookers are one of the best selling appliances for the kitchen. They let you cook without having to be in the kitchen, or home at all. Good Housekeeping has never seen a slow cooker with three different sized pots before. In the past, you would have to purchase the pots separately. The small (2 qt.) is good for fondues or dips, or dinner for two; the middle (4 qt.) is for families or stews; the large (6 qt.) works for entertaining, for soup or for big families.
The big plus is that the pots nest in each other for convenient storage, and the pots are attractive enough to come to the table. The slow cooker will be available in June 2007.
Evriholder's the Slipper Genie: $10 a Pair
Spritzing a paper towel with cleaner and then sliding around with the towel under your foot is a great way to dust and clean floors. Evriholder has taken it the next step by creating slippers with removable chenille microfiber pads on the soles. Microfiber is the hottest trend in home cleaning. It is great at attracting dust and dirt. You can use them on wood, linoleum or tile floors as you walk or slide around.
When they need to be cleaned, just peel the soles off -- they're held on with Velcro -- and toss them in the washing machine. They come in sizes 7 to 10 and will be available at Bed Bath & Beyond in about four to six weeks.
Hamilton Beach Quick Drying Garment Station: $99
Think of this garment station as an apartment house for your wet clothes. You can stack five sweaters or other garments on each floor. In addition, you can hang other garments off the side. What makes this "high tech" is that each level has a built-in fan to blow over the clothes. The manufacturer says this cuts drying time for sweaters by 75 percent -- from overnight to about an hour. The station folds up and can be stored under a bed or in a closet. It comes out in July 2007.
Dirt Devil Purpose for Pets: $89
On crime investigation shows, investigators use black lights to reveal blood stains. With this Dirt Devil for pets, the black light reveals "wet accidents." Pet owners know that it is really important to clean these accidents when they happen, because pets are repeat offenders who tend to go back to the scene of the crime.
Every so often, scope out your rug with the black light attachment to see if there are any stains. Turn out the room lights, turn on the black light and the stain glows a purple color. You combine water and the included cleaner in the main part of the unit (not unlike a Swiffer) and then, using a spray-brush attachment, you spray it on the offending spot and then scrub it out with the brush. This will be on the market in June 2007.
The Homedics Brethe Air Revitalizer: $59.99
The Brethe Air Revitalizer offers a more natural way to get rid of odors, using essential oils that are included. It works like a humidifier, sending moisture -- perfumed with the oils -- out into the air. The humid air/essential oil particles fight the odor particles, and humid air/essential oil particles win, replacing a foul smell with something fresh.
It's natural in that you don't have to use spray cans or other odor removers. Also, when you turn it on, it glows a soothing blue hue. You can disable this feature by clicking the on switch twice. It's available online now, and will be in stores in August 2007.