Tag: cleaning

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Home Technology

UVe uses UV light to clean countertops

Most people use cleaning fluids to clean off their kitchen counters. But the chemicals in those cleaning solutions can be dangerous, especially for people with asthma and other breathing conditions.

UVe is a device that uses UV light to disinfect kitchen counters and other surfaces in the home and can operate whether the user is home or away. No dangerous chemicals are needed. Although it’s basically a countertop version of the Roomba, UVe can also be used to eliminate germs on hard floors and any other flat surface large enough for it to safely move around on, including hardwood, tiles, stone, concrete and foam floor mats, its maker says. The device also features smart ledge detection that enables it to know when it’s reached the edge of a counter. UVe is being sold to Kickstarter backers at the early bird price of $89 and will cost $99 after that special pricing, which, according to the campaign, is still cheaper than the undisclosed planned retail price . UVe will ship in November. Its maker has set a Kickstarter goal of raising $50,000 by Aug. 11.

UVe should appeal to many consumers globally. But customers outside the U.S. will, at least initially, have to supply their own plug adapter because it will ship only with a charger designed for the U.S. The charger can accept 110-volt and 220-volt input, so buyers outside the U.S. won’t need a voltage converter/transformer, according to the campaign.

 

 

 

 

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Home

Shower Shimmy makes cleaning less irritating both for mind and body

Cleaning the shower is one of those tasks that ranks right up there with washing the dishes by hand.  So Shower Shimmy was created to not only make that mundane task easier, but also diminish the awful fumes that often come with using cleaning supplies.

At the push of a button, the built-in dispenser releases cleaning solution to the sponge and the user can then wipe soap scum, grime, and hard water deposits off of the shower walls and floor. But this cleaning solution doesn’t irritate the user’s eyes, skin or respiratory system, so ventilation and rubber gloves aren’t necessary.

It’s questionable if such a solution would truly be effective, but the video claims that testing was done to compare Shower Shimmy’s solution and the leading cleaning solution in the US and Canada, and the Shower Shimmy claims that its cleaning solution scored equally well. Plus, it’s still as safe as soap or shampoo around small children. As for where to store the scrubber, it easily hangs on the shower wall. This campaign seeks to raise $5,000 by February 17, 2015. Backers get one product for $23 with an expected delivery of April 2015.

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Kids/Babies

WetHeads spew water to amuse kids into washing hands

It’s almost like a daily wrestling match: in one corner, there’s mom or dad and in the other is little Johnny or Suzy. The bell is the sound of mom or dad’s voice saying, “Go wash your hands.” And it’s all downhill from there. The one hope in all of this is that maybe a secret weapon such as WetHeads can help pin kids to the “mat” of the bathroom sink. Thankfully, this battle will not be complicated with any special tools for installation. WetHeads pretty much just screws onto the faucet, though it’s not clear whether or not it’s compatible with the majority of bathroom sinks out there. WetHeads also controls soap usage since there isn’t a dispenser to press down on, kids just rub the bubble mechanism instead.

The idea seems to have potential for persuading kids to wash their hands for maybe a few weeks or so, but kids tend to get bored with new things pretty quickly, so it may not be lasting.  This campaign is looking to raise $33,000 CAD (~$29,000 USD) by mid January 2015. For $20 CAD (~$18 USD), backers get WetHeads with an expected delivery of February 2015.

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Health and Wellness

Goodwell toothbrush wants you to open wide for an open source mouth care kit

Like most products made by huge companies, toothbrushes aren’t designed with sustainability in mind. Usually made from non-biodegradable plastic and having to be replaced at least three to four times a year makes the item a prime polluter. On average, all this adds up to 12 pounds of waste per person or 80 billion pounds worldwide, annually. In an era of increased ecological awareness, this simply won’t do.

Goodwell is looking to do its part in reducing this unnecessary pollution by offering a sleek, modern toothbrush that functionally provides everything necessary to do so. The hybrid toothbrush, tongue scraper, and flosser is made from medical grade aluminum for strength, sport charcoal bristles and binchotan to more effectively fight plaque and clean teeth, and all of its attachments are made from bamboo composite which are fully compostable. Those attachments are open source as well: by releasing their CADs for their attachments, Goodwell is letting users create any kind of attachment they want, like chopsticks or forks and knives. There’s even a small compartment at the bottom of the brush to hold items like aspirin or spare bills.

The brush is a two-part proposition in that you can buy the kit itself with the option of subscribing to their delivery service. This entitles users to receive a new brush head every month along with a product from a collaborator like Maak soap or Marvin toothpaste for an additional $79 a year. Although it may seem like a hefty initial cost, new brush heads every month for that price comes out cheaper than buying a new toothbrush every month and the brush heads are at least biodegradable. If you want to spring for just the toothbrush, though, that will only run $69.  Goodwell is looking for an $12,500 infusion to begin manufacturing by the 26th.

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Pets

Back to the Backers: Avo self-cleaning tropical fish tank

After reaching half of their goal in September of this year, the British-made Avo canceled its funding on Kickstarter. But why?! Now they’re back on Kickstarter (and Backerjack) with a smaller goal, but still tons of supporters.

Avo is a self-cleaning fish tank. The fish’s waste along with uneaten food feed the plants, keeping the tank and water fresh. In addition, Avo comes equipped with an LED programmed light that not only gives the plants enough light, but also keeps the water warm enough for tropical fish. A donation of £200 (~$320) will get backers the Avo kit which includes the tank, food, lights and plant pods for estimated delivery in July 2015. This time around, Avo is looking for £60,000 (~$96,000), cutting down on their original goal due to the discovery of better-value tools.

Not much has changed about Avo since the original campaign. The idea of a self-cleaning tank is certainly tantalizing to most fish-enthusiasts. Imagine a self-cleaning cat! Wait, well, still Avo is a very cool way to provide a stylish, easy home for beta fish.

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Pets

PawSpa helps clean Fido’s feet without fuss

It’s kind of like a little vacuum cleaner – only for dog paws. PawSpa is absolutely a step up, maybe even several steps up, from a spray bottle and towels, and seems to be far more pleasant for both owner and his or her furry friend. All components of the paw cleaning system are contained in one box, which includes a wet/dry vacuum, clean water reservoir/submersible pump and a patent-pending wand applicator. These are stored in a unit that looks something like an ottoman. The system is apparently easy enough that even young family members can use it, based on what the video says. PawSpa only requires pet that is cooperative and well-behaved enough to sit still while some lucky chosen family member gets to slide Fido’s legs into the cleaning mechanism – one paw at a time, of course. While a cool idea, PawSpa’s huge $200,000 goal by November 14, 2014 may prove difficult to reach. Early bird backers can get their very own PawSpa for $99 with an expected delivery of April 2015.

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Home

Appliance Defender is like a giant screen protector for your fridge

Here’s something that seems like a big time winner. Something that can help reduce the necessity to clean! Appliance Defender is designed to help reduce dirt and scratches on flat surfaces all over one’s home, from the fridge to washer and dryer. The first thing that must be done, however, is to clean the area one desires to have protected from dirt and scratches. The idea is similar to the phone screen protector that comes with every new smartphone. The clear, plastic sheets come pre-cut to fit an abundance of appliances.

It’s not clearly indicated how frequently the plastic protectors need to be replaced, though the creators say that it should last for at least over a year. Perhaps that depends on whether or not the user wants to wipe them down when grime starts to show or just peel and apply a fresh round wherever desired. This campaign is seeking to raise $50,000 by November 7, 2014. For $10, backers get four 7×7 protectors with an expected delivery of January 2015. Larger pledges will get larger protectors. All in all, it seems that the Appliance Defender is a useful product for neat freaks interested in protecting their homes from grime.

 

Categories
Health and Wellness

Earscanner checks where you hear for gunk

20140918073103-storyEars are a source of unparalleled mystery for those who refuse to regularly check up on them with a swab of a cotton bud every now and then. For those who don’t and for the rest who are just curious to see what’s going on in there, there’s the Earscanner. The product is created by combining two plastic molds and positioning a mirror inside, resulting in an angle that allows you to check the status of your ear with the aid of another mirror. Many of those who love using cotton swabs have been warned by their doctors to take it easy on the Q-Tips. Earscanner is a great option for those who have been invading their ear canals too much. Never again fear the dark recesses of your auditory canal for just $29, with delivery slated for late 2014.

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Home

Cleandicator solves the mystery of dishwasher load cleanliness

The Premise. Those who detest doing the dishes often see an automatic dishwasher as one of the best inventions since electricity. While it’s no longer necessary to stand at the sink and do the washing and rinsing, it’s still necessary to load and unload the dishwasher. And as busy as life gets, it can be easy to forget when the dishes are clean verses when they are dirty.

The Product. Cleandicator is a device that lets the user know when the dishes in the dishwasher are clean and when they are dirty. Basically, a bright blue floatation devise rises up into the clear cover when the dishes are clean, creating an easy-to-notice visual for the user.  The flotation device remains down when they are dirty. The device activates when water from the dishwashing cycle gets inside of the gadget. It appears to require a reset after each use.

The Pitch. While one might initially question how Cleandicator can actually be manufactured with only the requested $500 goal, backers may want to keep in mind that the only material that presently seems to be needed to create this product is the plastic. The injection mold is already built and the creators seem to have the support of the Metcalfe company. It is also unknown to what other resources the product creators may have access that will help with the creation of the product.

The Perks. This campaign doesn’t offer as many tiers as most, but backers are able to get one product for $15. Expected delivery is December 2014.

The Potential. If this product is as effective as it appears is should be, certainly any household with an automatic dishwasher would find it useful. It appears that the product fits most commercial dishwashers in the consumer marketplace. The product seems like it is easy enough to use and able to be quickly and easily observed in regard to whether or not dishes are dirty or clean. Perhaps the biggest challenge will be for whoever empties the dishwasher to remember to reset the product once a new wash cycle is started. That being said, it’s unclear if this particular product is going to be any more effective than using magnets or sticky notes, or in some cases, the built-in mechanism that many of the newer models have for helping users to remember whether or not the dishwasher has been run or not, but it does seem to have some potential.

Categories
Home Technology

Multi-Surface Cleaning Robot wants to clean glass and take names

multisurfacecleaningrobotRoombas are great, but what if they could climb walls and ceilings, leading to unexpected and horrifying jump scares like those found in any good horror movie? The Multi-Surface Cleaning Robot is a robotic cleaner that can cling to any window or mirror and clean thanks to a vacuum motor that keeps the device from falling, even if it runs out of battery life. A safety rope also assures owners they won’t have to risk their necks trying to attach and detach it. While Multi-Surface Cleaning Robot sounds useful, the amount of time saved compared to manual washing probably isn’t enough to say “Multi-Surface Cleaning Robot.” Die-hard robot enthusiasts can clean one less thing by hand by picking one up for $199 in August 2015.