Mom's Gadgets

I used to think that juicing was tedious and time-consuming. That is until I purchased the Hamilton Beach 67600 Big Mouth Juicer. This is my first ever juicer and I love it! I’ve been using it for a week now and it is working great. I browsed around for quite awhile before settling on this model.  

This is a powerful 800-watt juicer that makes juicing so fast and easy. You don’t need to do as much cutting with your fruits and vegetables as it can take whole fruits and vegetables through a large 3’ chute, hence the name Big Mouth. It comes with an extra-large bin to collect the pulp. I just use a plastic bag to collect the pulp which makes cleaning so much easier and I save the pulp to use later in making soups and other dishes. The removable parts are dishwasher safe. This juicer is rather loud when being used. But it’s not a big deal for me. 

I have a toddler who hates eating vegetables. Problem solved with this juicer! I love the texture of the juice that this juicer produces. Very smooth, refreshing, clean and yummy. I think the stainless steel juice strainer that comes with it helps a lot with the smooth texture as well. I’m also surprised by how much juice I’m able to extract using this juicer. The trick is to use the plunger slowly to press the fruits/vegetables down. A brush is also included for you to clean the stainless steel strainer. It not only comes with instructions on how to use the juicer but there are also some recipes for juices for you to try and some recipes for the pulp as well! Best thing is, the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juicer is reasonably priced. I bought mine from Walmart for $50. Best $50 I’ve spent in awhile!  

If there is one household chore that I hate most, it has to be cleaning bathrooms. I will find all kinds of excuses to avoid completing this chore…that is, until I discovered the Mr. Clean MagicReach. I started with the Starter Kit which included one cleaning head, three pole sections, two Mopping Floor/Multipurpose pads, two Scrubbing Tub/Shower pads and instructions.  

The flexible cleaning head can be used as a hand tool by itself or it can be attached to the pole. The cleaning head has pointed ends to easily scrub corners and it is flexible enough to go around angles in your bathtub and around your toilet. For tougher stains, I would suggest using the flexible head as a hand tool by itself. 

The detachable pole is easy to assemble and extends up to 4 feet. By attaching the cleaning head to the pole you can clean up high in your shower stall, around the bottom of your tub and behind your toilet without having to get on your hands and knees to scrub hard to reach areas.  

The Mopping Floor/Multipurpose pads are pre-moistened for you to clean floors, sinks, countertops, etc. The Scrubbing Tub/Shower pads foams up when wet and is used to clean your bathtub. These disposable pads do have a strong citrus scent but they are not bad. When finished, simply remove the pad from the cleaning head and dispose of it in the trash. There are some surfaces you are not supposed to used these pads on, so be sure to read the instructions carefully prior to use.  

There is also a hook at the end of the pole if you wish to hang the Mr. Clean MagicReach when not in use. This product has definitely made cleaning bathrooms a lot easier for me. I would recommend this product for light and regular cleaning. But for tougher dirt and stains, you would probably need more than just the Mr. Clean MagicReach. But overall, I’m satisfied with its performance. Thank you, Mr. Clean.

If your home has a lot of hardwood floors, tile or linoleum, you might like to consider getting an iRobot Scooba. These things are SO much fun. I don’t have one but my mother-in-law does. She has both the Roomba and the Scooba. But I am truly impressed with the Scooba. This little guy sure does its job well.  

The iRobot Scooba Hard Floot Cleaning Robot uses cutting-edge iRobot AWARE intelligence to calculate the optimal cleaning path and cleaning behaviors best suited for the job. Just fill the water tank with cleaning solution and water, switch it on and watch it work. The idea is for Scooba to prep, wash, scrub and dry your hardwood, tile or linoleum floors while you just sit and relax or get on with your other chores. But I’m so fascinated by this little gadget that I’ve spent quite a bit of time just staring at it. My 2.5 year old loves watching it in action and has even nicknamed it “Scooby”.  

The iRobot Scooba comes with a rechargeable battery that is easy to charge and can clean up to 500 sq feet per cleaning cycle. It comes with cliff-sensing technology to help the Scooba avoid stairs, ledges, etc. You can also use a virtual wall to create an infrared beam to mark off-limit areas.  If you hate sweeping and mopping, then this little guy is for you. It’s true, it may not clean as fast or as thoroughly compared to you manually sweeping and mopping your floors, overall, I still think it does a pretty good job and a real time-saver. I’d give it a 4 out of 5 star rating.