These affordable solar pool covers will keep your pool warm, decrease energy costs, keep bugs and debris out, and protect kids and pets from injury. Note: Prices were correct at the time of writing. 1. BigXwell - Best Heavy-Duty Solar Pool Cover KEY TAKEAWAY: The thicker material made a noticeable difference in heat retention overnight. PERFORMANCE: I researched so many different pool covers before choosing the BigXwell, and I'm so glad I spent the extra money. Unlike those cheaper covers that fall apart quickly, this one is seriously heavy-duty, top of the line durable, and so effective at heating the pool by like eight to ten degrees, oh and it helps keep it clean. WEATHER RESISTANCE: It hasn’t shrunk in the sun, and I waited about a month before trimming it to size. Five-stars for this puppy. The cover also stays put in windy conditions and performs well in our dusty California climate. Even in 105-degree weather, the pool water, when mixed, is perfectly comfortable. HEAT RETENTION: A quality solar cover like this really makes a difference and you can tell. Our last cover lasted four to five years when we took care of it well, and in Cali, this new one raises our in-ground pool’s temperature by about ten degrees in less than a day. By July, we barely need it daily as the water maintains an like a ninety degree range. It’s definitely worth the investment if you live in the mid to upper states. HOT TUB USE: I also used this cover on my hot tub. After a month without it, the cover stayed in place, and the tub really only had a tiny algae presence even with it off. BOTTOM LINE: Overall, I can say I love the quality of it, the weight, and how easy it is to use. And the price is a win, too. It’s so much thicker than I expected, which to me means better heat retention and sun resistance. And it works with a roller, too. My friend uses a similar cover for their built-in pool, and they find it super effective at keeping out all the debris and heat loss. So, all in all, I can confidently recommend the BigXwell solar cover to pool owners. Get it from Amazon now: $229.99 & FREE Returns 2. MidWest Canvas - Best Round Solar Pool Cover KEY TAKEAWAY: Our pool temperature jumped from 66 to 74 degrees in just two days. PERFORMANCE: Why don’t pools come with a cover like this automatically? I love it so much. Talk about fantastic! So easy to put on and remove, plus, it like, hovers over the water and doesn’t sink in. We first used our cover for about twenty hours before getting in. The surface water was warm, which concerned my husband in one hundred degree weather. But after stirring, the water was really not bad - kind of like a bathtub. We jumped in after the sun set and it seriously felt just like a heated hotel pool. SIZE & FIT: My pool is about twenty two feet, so I ordered the twenty four foot cover to include the space of the stairs from my deck. Keep in mind that it's round! It says so on the product page - but they have a picture of a square one. However, this is a round cover! EASE OF USE: This solar cover is super lightweight, so it's really easy to handle. I mean, it does the job of keeping debris out and warming the water while being simple for one person to use, compared to standard above-ground pool covers. BEGINNER FRIENDLY: I got the same unit for my sister who lives in the woods, and it was her first cover, so she had absolutely no comparison. She told me it took her quite a while to figure out how to use it. Eventually, with some help from a neighbor, she figured everything out, and now she says this has just been an ultimate game changer when it comes to keeping out all the debris that used to fall into her pool. MAINTENANCE: In terms of cleaning it, all I do is roll it up, move it to the yard, and then grab my handy dandy leaf blower and give it a good blow over to remove any debris from the trees and then I just hose it down for things like pollen. Then, at night, I slide it back on. TEMPERATURE INCREASE: This product has changed our pool temp from sixty six to seventy four degrees in just two days. BOTTOM LINE: I went from skeptical to elated. I’m so glad we got it. Also, another option is to go with a bigger cover and then clamp it down with clips to prevent any flapping around. I did read some reviews that said it might rip a little bit, but I'm just extra careful with it, and I haven’t had any issues or anything like that. I really love it. Get it from Amazon now: $206.92 & FREE Returns 3. Blue Wave - Best Solar Pool Cover for Pool Heating KEY TAKEAWAY: Made night swimming comfortable for the first time in years. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: I'm one of those people who's always cold. I'll get in the hot tub on a hundred degree day. So, imagine my disappointment when our dream house came with a pool but no heater. We considered installing one, but the cost was prohibitive, and even with a heater, we'd still be paying a fortune to run it. So, we decided to bear the cold. My only experience with a solar cover was from a friend’s pool as a kid, and I remembered it always being freezing, so I was skeptical. TEMPERATURE INCREASE: After three years in the house and with two young kids, we used the pool a lot, and it was always a dreaded part of my day because it was so cold. Finally, I decided to try a solar cover. WOW, it works so well! We put it on when the temp was 75, and even in cloudy, cool weather, it raised to eighty within a couple of days. Then, during a heatwave, our pool hit ninety five degrees! We can actually go night swimming now, no more inching in and 'getting used to it.' I've never had a solar cover before, so I can't compare, but in just two weeks, it’s made a huge difference. USAGE CONDITIONS: Our pool is average size but deep (11 feet) and not much shallow end. The 95-degree reading was taken at the shallow end, and the water temp feels evenly spread. Our pool gets full sun until about 3 PM, so I can’t speak to effectiveness in shaded pools. HANDLING: The downside of solar covers is they’re a bit of a hassle to take on and off. We cut ours in half, but I might cut it more. It takes about 5 minutes to put back on by myself, which isn’t too bad. STORAGE: We got a pool box for storage, so it doesn’t look messy when we have guests. I plan on marking it with colorful stickers or arrows to make reinstallation easier. BOTTOM LINE: Despite its appearance, this cover is a great option over a heater. It’s ugly, but we remove it for guests and prefer an ugly pool we can use over a pretty pool we dread. Get it from Amazon now: $151.10 & FREE Returns 4. Sun2Solar - Best Solar Pool Cover for Heat Retention KEY TAKEAWAY: Cut down evaporation almost immediately. USER EXPERIENCE: As someone who has used pool covers for well over a decade, I've tried many. So for those unsure about getting a pool cover, hear me out. I can say without a doubt that this product is top of the line. You might wonder how one pool cover could be better than another. Well, two main reasons. SEAM QUALITY: First, the seams are really well sealed. Trust me. I've had covers where the seams started to fall apart after just a few weeks. SHAPE & HANDLING: Secondly, it’s seriously an exact rectangle, which might seem trivial, but for someone who’s rolled up a pool cover a thousand times, I can tell you, even a slight irregularity makes the process tedious. But for this one I can roll up in maybe seventy seconds. I kid you not, rolling up a pool cover is a hassle, but knowing you can do it quickly and efficiently makes those late midnight swims much more exciting. HEATING PERFORMANCE: Let's talk about the actual heating. I've seen claims of up to a ten-degree increase, which are mostly accurate. Before using covers, my pool would peak at eighty to eighty three degrees in summer. With the cover, I can keep it at 85 (which is too warm for me, but my wife loves it). Once, I left the cover on over a weekend, and the water temp hit ninety one degrees! Had to keep it off for a couple of days to cool down. So it's great if you want to retain heat. CHEMICAL REDUCTION: A big pro of using solar covers is less chemicals in your life. Higher water temps usually mean more chlorine use, but the cover helps keep chlorine from evaporating, making it last longer. WATER SAVINGS: Now, let's discuss savings. Without the cover, I lose about a quarter inch of water daily due to evaporation. But with the cover, it's more like a quarter inch every few days. I only lose water when I take the cover off to swim. DEBRIS REDUCTION: Another advantage is that the pool stays cleaner. I haven't used the automatic vacuum in nearly a month. Just netting a few leaves, but otherwise, the pool doesn’t get as dirty, which overall just saves time. BOTTOM LINE: So yeah, while there is an initial cost for the system, the covers last about eighteen months, and I think that’s a positive, making it a worthwhile investment. This cover specifically has been my favorite, and I’ll definitely buy my next one from the same people. Get it from Amazon now: $187.99 & FREE Returns 5. Doheny's - Best Lightweight Solar Pool Cover KEY TAKEAWAY: This lightweight cover was much easier to roll up than thicker solar blankets. PRODUCT LIFESPAN: So, yeah it’s a solar cover, in other words, it’s not gonna last forever. From my experience, the price doesn’t really matter. There’s going to be an age limit to these covers. Typically, they last a year or two. EASE OF USE: It's really lightweight, and what I’ve learned is that it's easier to roll and unroll a lightweight one. Also, it sits better on my solar reel, and therefore much easier to roll. But keep in mind, it’s quick and easy to take on and off with two people but a little tricky by yourself. PERFORMANCE: It reduces evaporation and warms the temp by a degree or two. We keep our pool at eighty four degrees, and with the cover, I don’t have to run heater as long and with it running less, it keeps the water around eighty five to eighty six - perfect. Oh, and it keeps all the annoying bugs away. CUSTOM FIT: Cutting it to size did take me a couple of tries to get right. I like to keep the reel-end longer so there’s no gap where the ties connect. I also keep the rounded corners higher and find the side step works better as a separate piece than trying to roll it up with the reel. Sharp kitchen scissors work better than a knife for precision. MATERIAL QUALITY: The material is also pretty sturdy but it does look kinda more transparent when wet. I’ve figured out that a clear cover heats the water faster than a darker blue one, and that that actually cools the water by shading it in summer. Personally, I still prefer paying a bit extra for quality, but I can’t really say that it saves money in the long run, just that each one will operate differently when you use them. Despite being slightly more opaque than I expected it to be, it’s a pretty great product. My pool is also kind of a weird shaped pool, like roughly twice as long as it is wide, so I ended up sticking with the rectangle cover. BOTTOM LINE: After reading some negative reviews, I ultimately wanted to provide this honest one. Overall, I’m very impressed with how the temp has increased so rapidly for less than $200. What I also like about using this cover is that in the dead of summer, I no longer need to deal with refilling the water. That always used to happen when it got super hot - the water just dried up. And one last point, if you’re unsure about installing it on your own pool, you can just get a roller to make it easier. Either way, you’ll be happy with your purchase. I definitely am. Get it from Amazon now: $134.99 & FREE Returns 6. MidWest Canvas - Best Solar Pool Cover for Odd-Shaped Pools KEY TAKEAWAY: Heated our Arizona pool from 52 to 84 degrees incredibly fast. CUTTING & FIT: This is not the first pool cover we have used. We've had many over the years. So what we do it, we usually lay it out on the driveway, use our old cover as a guide, and cut it to fit our pool. It was easy to cut and fit to our oddly shaped pool. Keep in mind that I cut it slightly larger, let it settle in the pool, and then trimmed it to the perfect size. During windy days, smaller pieces can blow away, so we use capped PVC pipes to keep it in place. Now that we have a safety pool net, nothing blows away at all, oh and it’s also less prone to tearing. HEATING PERFORMANCE: It warms the pool significantly. Our pool was at 52 degrees, and it rose to 84 degrees in just seventeen hours. It loses a few degrees overnight but heats up quickly during the day. Basically, it increases our pool temperature by about 2 degrees per day in April when it's sunny. And for instance, here in Arizona, our pool stays at a comfortable 84 degrees. ROLLING: Rolling it up and getting it out of the water is quite the workout, so it might not be for everyone. MINOR ISSUE: It has a gray opaque top and a clear bubble underside, so the only downside is that the gray color shows mineral deposits from our hard water, but that’s a minor issue. DURABILITY: The cover is so much thicker and more durable than I expected. It lasted a good two seasons before the bubbles start to deteriorate. BOTTOM LINE: We’re very happy with the results so far. This pool cover is seriously hands down the best option out there! We’ve been using pool covers for years, and this one really stands out. Get it from Amazon now: $206.92 & FREE Returns 7. Sun2Solar - Best Solar Pool Cover to Reduce Evaporation KEY TAKEAWAY: We immediately noticed lower water loss and less evaporation after installing this. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: Living in Southwest Florida, we recently experienced an early cold snap, and anyone from here knows how terrifying that is, sometimes worse than hurricane haha. Uggs boots out and no one goes in the pool! Except my family haha, especially after got this. I turned off the pool heater until the cover arrived. Not only were we wasting money heating the pool, but we were also losing a lot of water to evaporation. I even thought we had a leak! INSTALLATION: The cover arrived, and we trimmed it to fit. It is heavy-duty, and we cut it with sharp scissors. It’s not an easy task, but it’s definitely worth it. It's one of the things you only do once, and then you're good for years to come. So I recommend taking the time to it properly. Anyway, it was a bit too big, but I’m sure I’ll find a use for the excess material. PERFORMANCE: The first night, we didn’t lose any water, and the temperature stayed constant. So we loved it and have been using it since. The water temperature stayed around 74 degrees with the cover on. Without it, it dropped to 62. COST SAVINGS: The cover heats the pool using solar power, and we’re excited to see how warm it gets without using our heater. Knowing these covers don’t last long, especially under the Florida sun, we hope to get a few seasons out of it. It’s much cheaper than constantly refilling the pool and running the heater. We’ve already saved a lot on water bills. DOWNSIDE: The only issue has been sections blowing out of place in the wind, which I plan to fix with tarp clamps. BOTTOM LINE: I’m now in my fifth year with this cover. The key is to keep it out of the sun immediately after removing it from the pool. I cut the cover into sections for easier handling, and it works better than spending six hundred bucks on cover rollers. This cover really works. Get it from Amazon now: $149.99 & FREE Returns 8. Blue Wave - Best Solar Pool Cover for Rectangular Pools KEY TAKEAWAY: Swimming in 86-degree water during cool weather completely changed our pool season. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: I’m going to give it to you straight: I’m an out-of-work scientist who manages my neighbor’s pool. To extend the swimming season and keep leaves out, I suggested a solar cover. Pools lose most of their heat through evaporation, so anything that covers the surface helps reduce cooling. DELIVERY & SHIPPING: It arrived in just two days at a competitive price, and once I saw the shipping bag, I realized it actually doubles as storage. PERFORMANCE: On the first day, it was cloudy and rainy, but the pool temperature still went up by one degree to 86. Swimming with cool air and warm water felt amazing. At 86 degrees, you can just go take a quick dip without that initial scream of freeze. Therapeutic temperatures are warmer, and the pool kept all the heat well, only dropping to 82 after several nights with temperatures in the 40s. FIT & DESIGN: This cover acts like heavy-duty bubble wrap. We bought a twelve by twenty four cover for a rectangular pool with rounded corners and walk-in steps. I’ll trim it once I get a reel. It doesn’t blow off in strong winds. LIMITATIONS: The downsides? The skimmer function stops working, and leaves need to be manually removed. Also, I recommend getting a pool cover reel because folding it up is tedious, and getting trapped under it can be dangerous. I plan to leave it under the winter safety cover to keep it off the water and ice. BOTTOM LINE: It looks good and it’s well-made. So, all in all, I highly recommend this product and I’m a new fan of the supplier, that’s for sure. Get it from Amazon now: $109.99 & FREE Returns

If you want to get your lawn in top green shape and you’re looking for an affordable solution, the Sun Joe is probably the best electric dethatcher you can get. Note: Prices were correct at the time of writing. The reason I decided to write this review was my personal experience with a lawn that's always been a challenge. No matter how well I mowed it, the grass always looked unhealthy. Then at some point, I discovered that the real problem wasn't my mowing, but actually a layer of thatch that has built up underneath. That's when I got the Sun Joe. Below is my personal hands-on review. Just keep in mind as you read it that dethatching is only one part of the process. Once you take care of the thatch layer, you still need a quality mower to keep the grass healthy. If you're looking for something cheap yet reliable, I rounded up the best budget lawn mowers on Amazon. Now back to the Sun Joe. Sun Joe - Electric Dethatcher and Scarifier KEY TAKEAWAY: I genuinely had no idea how much dead grass was choking my lawn until I used this dethatcher. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: Before trying the Sun Joe Dethatcher, I referred to myself as my wife’s yard man. Well now, I’ve officially been promoted to gardener. It doesn’t matter how often I mow the yard, I’d always end up with a buildup of thatch–dead grass that gets stuck between the soil and the fresh blades. I decided to give this a go after my boss tried it out. His yard looked awesome. It was cheaper than I expected, about the same price as renting one. Worst-case scenario, I return it. Best case, I’m saving money by not having to return the rental and then buy one. LAWN CARE ROUTINE: Before this, I used a push mower to keep my yard looking neat, and that’s saying a lot considering it’s a quarter of an acre and I live in Florida–aka it rains a lot. Now, I’m not out here winning any lawn of the month awards, but I wasn’t getting any angry emails from the HOA either. In the summer, I’d mulch to keep moisture in the ground (that Florida sun is no joke), and in the fall I’d bag whatever leaves fell. What I’m trying to say is that I did enough. More than enough that I really didn’t think I’d find that much thatch. Well, boy was I wrong. And yes, according to my wife, that’s not something I admit often. DETHATCHING METHOD: After cutting and bagging the grass in one direction, I went back with the Sun Joe in the opposite direction following my own steps with the dethatching attachment. I ended up not using the collection bag on the Sun Joe. It wasn’t great, I got over it more in the cons, but I liked my way better. I went back over the thatched debris with the lawnmower. Even though I had to do this in both directions, it bagged it up super easily. I considered using my Billy Goat blower but ultimately decided against it, mainly because blowing can sometimes create a bigger mess. And the mowing route worked well. RESULTS: Overall, it took me about four hours for 9,000 square feet. Sounds like a lot of time, but let me tell ya, it was worth every dang minute. I wish I’d taken photos because the amount of dead grass that came up was disturbing. I knew thatch could prevent water from reaching the soil, but I had no idea I had that much in my yard. Suddenly it makes sense why mulching wasn’t helping the way it should. LAWN MAINTENANCE: After dethatching - and once your lawn is healthy again - you need to keep taking care of it. I chose to have mine maintained automatically. That's why I also reviewed the best automated lawn mowers. Check it out, especially if you want to spend less time working in your yard. PROS: It was easy to assemble. The only tool I needed was a Phillips screwdriver. Just make sure you push the handle part of the tube all the way into it. A lot of reviews I read complained about this, but it really is just as simple as shoving it all the way in. You’ll see what I mean when you try it out. I put the rest of the handle together using these large plastic thumbscrews. They were super convenient and easy to use. The height/depth settings were easy to change. All you have to do is push the green t-handle in and switch it to the setting you want. I tried the zero setting first, mainly because I didn’t want to damage the grass. But after a few times, I found that moving it to the five setting worked even better, and still didn’t cause damage. Some parts of my yard have moss and for that I found level ten the best. It worked exactly as described. You might have to do an extra pass or two if your lawn was as neglected as mine, but once it got moving, it's really easy to use. The safety switch is an added perk, too. Now my wife doesn't have to worry if our kids are going to accidentally use it and hurt themselves. Great scarifier function. Works well, effective, doesn't give me trouble. The dethachter and the scarifier were easily swapped back and forth, which I was a little concerned about, so that's nice. Maintenance-free: no gas, no trouble. I love that it's electric. I used to own this big old gas mower, so you can imagine my relief of not having to use gas anymore. CONS: The collection bag. Yeaaaa. It’s a joke. They should make it much bigger. However, it doesn’t mean it's completely useless. I just left it off and used the bag on my mower to pick up the debris. Extension cord. This one’s a biggy. If it’s short, you’re going to have problems. Because I have a larger yard, I chose a hundred footer, but I also picked a 12 gauge to make sure it had enough power. The machine kept going and never overheated. Job well done if you ask me. If you’re having trouble keeping it powered as you move around, just tie a bungee cord to the handle. The angle of the power switch can get a little uncomfortable over time, but really didn’t bother me too much. BOTTOM LINE: I wouldn't change a thing, except maybe the collection bag. It could definitely be improved, but let’s be real. It would take a HUGE bag to make this convenient (remember I have a big yard), and my mower’s bag worked just fine. From my new promotion as my wife’s gardener, I give it a five out of five. Get it from Amazon now: $159.99 & FREE Returns

We've tested the best cheap lawn mowers on the market, including lightweight options for women and seniors. Read our hands-on reviews. Note: Prices were correct at the time of writing. It’s not easy to find a lawn mower that's both affordable and easy to handle for everyone, even for women and seniors who prefer something lightweight. We tested several popular models and ranked them by affordability, durability, and, of course, comfort. However, if you'd rather let a machine do all the work for you instead of pushing a mower yourself, you might consider switching to a robot lawn mower. Now, You also need to understand that mowing alone won’t fix every single lawn issue. For instance, if your grass is patchy or thin, the problem might be thatch buildup, and you might need a tool like the Sun Joe dethatcher, which is designed to remove that layer so that your lawn grows healthier. Now, back to budget lawn mowers. Here's my ranking, along with some hands-on reviews. I hope this guide helps you make a better decision on your purchase. 1. Greenworks 40V - Best Lightweight Lawn Mower for Seniors KEY TAKEAWAY: This lightweight mower handled my tall Alaska grass much better than expected. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: My Fiskars mower was great until the grass got too long and then it just didn't do what it was supposed to do. I live in Alaska, so summers are pretty much all daylight, which means that I'm getting a lot of sun, and a lot of sun equals loooooong grass. My old one also didn't scoop up the leaves when they fell. I ended up having to use a neighbor's gas powered mower just to get the job done, and it seemed kind of pointless. BUYING DECISION: As a result, I was hesitant about trying out another electric option, but I'm so happy I did. Gas mowers are dirty, loud, and a pain for maintenance so I knew I'd eventually need an electric, I just wanted to make sure that the one I bought was actually a good one. Enter the Greenworks lithium powered one - absolutely amazing! SIZE: I was worried that it might be too small, but when it first arrived, the size surprised me. It's not as massive as a gas one, but it was definitely larger than I expected. BATTERY & CHARGING: All you need to do is charge the 40V battery and follow the instructions for the electric start. No pulling on a cord! Finally! If the battery is fully drained, it takes about an hour and a half to two hours to recharge completely. FIRST USE: I was nervous about the intensity of the power, but surprisingly, it snapped right into motion. Even better, it even managed to cut down the eighteen inch tall grass by my driveway, the area I never touch. RUNTIME: In the intense Georgia heat, I can only work outside for about an hour at a time, and this mower’s battery life aligns perfectly with that. By the time I’m ready to take a break for some agua, the battery is also running low, which is great, because sometimes if I’m not reminded to take a break, I won’t. That being said, I want to buy an extra battery to extend my working time when I need to continue haha. MULCHING: I've used it to bag up my leaves, and without the bag it also functions as a mulcher, which is an extra plus. Some people complained it doesn't have a lot of suction, and yeah, obviously, it's not gas powered. But for an electric one, it works great, and at the end of the day, it still gets the job done. DURABILITY: One thing to keep in mind with this mower is that it’s made of plastic, so make sure you’re being nice to it. While it can handle some knocks and bumps, it’s not built to endure heavy abuse. I’ve seen people handle metal lawnmowers quite harshly, but that approach won’t work with this one. SAFETY TIP: A crucial safety tip: always remove the battery before turning the mower on its side to work underneath it! TALL GRASS: Even with the heavy rain and humidity here, which causes the grass to grow rapidly, this mower can handle it. The grass in my yard can grow tall, unsightly stems that reach up to a couple of feet high, but this mower manages to cut through it by adjusting the blade height to its highest setting. Once the height is reduced, I can readjust the cutting level to a lower setting. EASY HANDLING: If you’re a tiny woman, or if you’re old, (both things that I am) then this is the mower for you! It’s incredibly lightweight, especially when compared to a regular full size gas powered lawn mower. There’s no need to worry about transporting gasoline or dealing with spark plugs and other maintenance tasks typical of traditional mowers. BOTTOM LINE: For a regular yard that isn’t allowed to get too out of control, this little mower is a dream, and I love how easy it is for me to move it around. I don’t feel like I’m breaking my back to do it. It's not the cheapest on the market, but you get what you pay for, so you're not going to be disappointed when you get this thing working. I definitely recommend it! Get it from Amazon now: $349.99 & FREE Returns 2. PowerSmart - Best Cheap Self-Propelled Lawn Mower KEY TAKEAWAY: Although setting it up took literally a couple of minutes, it was the clean cut quality that impressed me most. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Talk about a great investment! After one use, I already know that this is a mower I'm going to use time and time again. Not only is it lightweight enough to maneuver easily, but the result was crisp and clean. DELIVERY: Upon delivery, the box looked a little manhandled, and the delivery man just kind of tossed it on the ground, which annoyed me. Obviously not the manufacturer's fault, but still, it's important to note that nothing was damaged (just look at the picture), which goes to show that they did pack it well. Box damaged, but product intact! EASY SETUP: The instruction and manuals and the provided oil were in a separate packaging inside the box which was an awesome plus. Setup was smooth and the instructions were helpful and easy to follow. Took me about five minutes to get it together. No kidding! ASSEMBLY: In regards to assembly, I really liked that I don't need a wrench to tighten the gas cap. It clicks effortlessly in place. I also like how I can store the pull cord by the handle, it's an added perk. Like any other mower, it took a few pulls to get it going, but once it did, it ran as smooth as glass. I really can't complain. PERFORMANCE: There's a handle grip, but I found it wasn't necessary, as nothing pinched when I held down the cord with the bar. It really moved nicely, even considering how tall my grass was, and that there were quite a few tree branches and roots in the ground (I live in the country). So it just goes to show you that the blade really is awesome, just like the ads say. MAINTENANCE: I recommend letting it cool down when you're done, just so it doesn't overheat. I also like to wipe the excess grass off the blades just to keep it cleaner. BOTTOM LINE: In all honesty, if you're looking for a great quality mower at an affordable price, this is it! Get it from Amazon now: $269.99 & FREE Returns 3. BLACK+DECKER - Best Lawn Mower for Small Yards KEY TAKEAWAY: Working with this mower-trimmer felt more like vacuuming than traditional lawn mowing. BUYING RESEARCH: After some in depth research, I decided to take a leap and give this baby a shot. I really wanted to know the measurement between the mower and trimmer, but couldn't find the answers online. SIZE: After purchasing my mower, I decided to just measure it myself. From the ground to the operating button, the mower height at its lowest setting is 22 and a half inches. From the same distance, the mower height at its highest setting is 31 and a half inches. Personal preference, I like the lowest height, and it worked perfectly. Yeah, it's on the smaller side, but that's kind of the point. And you do use it like a vacuum which doesn't bother me, but if you hate vacuuming you might get annoyed. It's not the most manly looking thing to use but who cares when it gets the job done? VACUUM STYLE USE: Luckily, I didn’t experience any of the issues others mentioned. Although it sounds a bit like a small shop vac, I find it absolutely adorable and incredibly fun to use. It’s practically identical to vacuuming, both in motion and width, so if you dislike vacuuming, this might not be the tool for you, but I have no issue with it. And if anything, my boyfriend has now started asking to help with the yard (he loves vacuuming lol). NOISE LEVEL: My only complaint is that it is a little loud, like a vacuum, but really it's not a big deal. This thing is so cute, and I love it! TRIMMER ATTACHMENT: There is a thin part that attaches the trimmer to the mower, so be careful when you click them into place, or it might break. I found an easier way to do it, though. I hit the pedal and then gently slide the trimmer in before letting go of the pedal. In other words, I gently press the pedal, seat the trimmer fully, and then release the pedal to lock it in place. This method should help prevent the plastic lock from wearing down too quickly. EXTENSION CORD: Naturally, like most tools, it doesn't come with an extension cord, but I don't really care about that, I have a few laying around. I did purchase a new fancy one just for this product, only to find out it didn't work, which was kind of annoying, but then I realized that exact old one I had laying around worked even better. You definitely want to make sure the extension fits well, though, so if it seems loose, I'd probably try something else. VALUE: I mainly purchased this as a solution to paying for lawn care. My yard is that annoying size that doesn't seem worth shelling out the money to pay monthly for a company, and yet it's large enough that when the grass gets too long, it looks sloppy. This mower hit the sweet spot, doing exactly what I needed, and I really can't complain! MAINTENANCE TIP: Important thing to note. If you don't like raking, then I recommend mowing weekly so you won't have to worry about those longer pieces of grass! BOTTOM LINE: With this lightweight, nifty little edger/mower, I can maintain my yard weekly and enjoy doing it myself. After just one round of mowing and quick edging, my yard looks better than it ever has! I’m thrilled with this fun trimmer and mower combo and I’m super proud to call it my new toy. Get it from Amazon now: $89.00 & FREE Returns 4. American Lawn Mower Company - Best Manual Reel Lawn Mower KEY TAKEAWAY: Switching from gas to this reel mower stopped my sneezing fits. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: As someone who deals with pet and food allergies, I get how frustrating they can be. And when I was using my old gas powered mower, I was convinced I was allergic to grass. Every time I mowed, I’d be sneezing non stop, and it drove me crazy. I was so tired of strangers on the street being like, “girl, do you need help?” No actually, I don’t. A ‘bless you’ would suffice. I digress. HEALTH BENEFITS: Anyways, a light bulb finally went off in my brain (probably from a sneeze), maybe it wasn’t the grass causing the problem…Maybe it was the gas fumes and all the debris being kicked up by the mower. And so began my journey to get an electric mower. And wooo, I’ll tell ya! When I switched to this reel mower, my sneezing fits nearly disappeared. It turns out I wasn’t allergic to the grass after all, it was the gas powered mower. Go figure. LEARNING CURVE: I’ve bought this mower twice now, and while it does take a little bit of time to figure it out, it’s really worth it, I promise! Don’t run it over rocks or roots! Seems simple, but it does take time to figure this stuff out. I learned that the hard way with my first one, which damaged the rear stabilizer wheel. It was pricey to replace, so I ended up getting a new mower instead. I did get four good years out of the first one, though, so I definitely got my money’s worth. BLADE SHARPENING: The newer model seems to have addressed the issue with the rear stabilizer wheel, and the blades are noticeably sharper. You can even sharpen the blades yourself with a sharpening compound by removing one of the wheels and cranking the mechanism backward. There are plenty of guides online that explain how to do this, even for older models you might find at yard sales. Now that I know how to use it properly, I expect this mower to last me well beyond four years. OVERALL BENEFITS: One of the big advantages of this mower is that it doesn’t require any gas, which is seriously life saving. You save money, and you get a decent workout in the process, my mom would say it’s like pushing a baby carriage, but I think she only says that because she’s having grandma fever and is partially convinced that me mowing my own lawn will keep a man away from me (as if). TIME SAVINGS: Anyways, back to my point…It’s a time saver since you don’t have to deal with filling the gas tank, checking the oil, or unclogging the blades. I find that it takes me about the same amount of time to mow as it did with my old gas mower, but now I can just enjoy the fresh air and appreciate nature as I go. ASSEMBLY: It’s also super easy to assemble, and you don’t need a lot of hand or wrist strength, though you will need some when it comes time to sharpen the blades. OBSTRUCTIONS: The only real downside is that small objects like twigs and leaves can get caught in the blades and bring the mower to an abrupt stop. It’s a bit annoying, but it’s just part of the learning curve if you want to avoid raking every time you mow. BOTTOM LINE: I highly recommend it. I also love the vibrant red color of this mower. Fire truck red, if you will! It’s a beautifully engineered piece of equipment, and I only wish I’d made the switch sooner. Take good care of it, and it’ll take good care of you. At least that’s what I tell myself. And my mom when she’s getting annoying about me still being single. Get it from Amazon now: $89.99 & FREE Returns 5. WORX - Best Quiet Cordless Lawn Mower KEY TAKEAWAY: The self-propelled feature worked great once I learned how to manage battery use. OVERVIEW: Affordability was the name of the game when I went searching for a good mower, but man, I'm really pleased with how quiet this thing is. I think this is a great option for those who have under half an acre, but I do have to warn you - it's not the most friendly option if you care about the environment. This worked great on grass under seven inches, and while it's not the most powerful mower I've ever used, the silence on it is really impressive. It's super smooth to use, and it's so lightweight, that without the batteries it feels like a kid's toy. In other words, when my son hits the teenage years, he's not going to be able to say it's too heavy to mow the lawn haha. DELIVERY & PACKAGING: It was delivered in two boxes which was awesome. Although the shipping box was damaged on one end, the mower inside was perfectly fine. Be cautious, though, this isn’t a lightweight mower, so you’ll want to be careful when taking it out of the box. I’m pretty strong, but it still took some work. ASSEMBLY: It only took five minutes to put everything together, which is essentially just putting the handle bar on. They do offer clips to attach the cord to the bar, which was a nice touch. Adjusting the mower height and the handle height is a breeze, showing how much thought went into its design. STARTUP PROCESS: When you're starting it, make sure to hold the throttle before sliding to the starting switch. You really have to hold the throttle tight, or else the mower will turn off. BATTERY COMPATIBILITY: This mower does work with the same batteries that power the WORX trimmer, which I love and is super convenient. However, the batteries that come with the mower are slightly larger and even feature a charge indicator button, which is a nice touch. One thing I noticed is that the trimmer batteries, even when fully charged, only lasted long enough to edge down the driveway and to the curb. But the larger batteries that came with the mower managed to power through almost the entire front side of my lawn on their first charge. BATTERY COVERAGE: I found that one battery charge should cover about a quarter of an acre, and it does stutter a little on taller grass, but so did other battery powered mowers I found. BATTERY DRAIN: I did read some comments about battery drain when using the self-propelled feature continuously, which makes sense given the weight of the mower. To preserve battery life, I avoid using the self-propelled mode on the easier parts of my yard. HEIGHT SETTINGS: It has a few different height settings which I really liked, however the lowest setting makes it look more like a golf course than a typical lawn. I guess that's just personal preference, but I thought it went too short. There's seven settings, and I really liked setting five, it got the grass to about three inches. While I can’t provide exact square footage, I just really love how well it mows my yard, and I’m just so happy I bought it. EASY HANDLING: I really appreciate how easy this mower is to handle. It was simple to assemble, light enough for me to carry down the steps with one hand, and it starts and stops effortlessly. Plus, it’s not too hard on my hands when mowing, and the noise level is quite reasonable. TIPS: Always release the self propeller bar before making 180-degree turns or pulling the mower backward. Avoid using the self-propeller bar when starting the mower, or it will pull away quickly. BOTTOM LINE: Overall, I really do recommend this thing. This mower is truly impressive. It’s built so well, was really easy to set up, and I had zero issues getting it started. It gets moving with no hassle and cuts the grass evenly and neatly, and I’m OCD so that’s important to me. Of course, you need to get used to it, but once you get the hang of it, this mower is a joy to use. I feel very confident with it now after a couple of mows. Just a couple disclaimers: I do own a separate edger, which helps to make the yard look a little nicer. And yes, I understand fossil fuels hurt the environment, and while I do like electric powered tools, I don't think using this thing is going to save any polar bears or turtles, but who knows, maybe I'm wrong. I read a lot of reviews before going with this one, and I have to say, I'm really happy with my purchase. Get it from Amazon now: $379.99 & FREE Returns 6. EGO Power+ - Best Electric Lawn Mower for Women KEY TAKEAWAY: Even at 70 years old, I had no trouble handling this lightweight mower. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: As a seventy year old woman, I’ve always taken care of my own yard, and wasn’t about to stop now. And my yard ain’t no small thang. It’s about two thirds of an acre. Still, aging does make tasks like mowing a bit more challenging. So when my old gas mower finally broke down, I knew I needed something new, but I was a little hesitant about switching to a rechargeable battery mower. Would it hold a charge long enough to finish the job? Would I like it? I’m happy to say the answer to both is a resounding yes! It takes me around forty five minutes to mow, which is perfect because this mower handles that time frame perfectly. ADJUSTMENTS: I had no issue adjusting the mowing height either, mainly because the machine is so light and all the wheels adjust simultaneously. I also love how easy it is to change the handle height, and when I’m done, the handle folds down for compact storage in the garage. EASY OPERATION: It’s just so convenient and I’m not used to how easy it is. I can shut it off anytime I need to, whether to pull a few weeds, grab a drink, or just take a quick break, and it starts right back up with the push of a button. So different from my gas one. No more worrying about choking the engine or dealing with that awful gas smell. Plus, I’m doing my bit to reduce my environmental footprint. POWER RESULTS: I have two batteries, and I usually go through them both during each mow. Afterward, I recharge them for about half an hour each, and then they’re ready to go the next time. Compared to my last mower, the EGO gets me double the power on one single charge. Not only can I mow my entire lawn, but it still has extra battery left. LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN: This mower is so much lighter than my old gas powered one, which makes it much easier to maneuver and does less pain on my back. QUIET OPERATION: The quietness of this mower is another pleasant surprise. My six-year-old grandson James and I can have a full conversation while I’m mowing. But I do wonder how long the mower will last. PROS: Obviously the power is great, but it's not just that. Changing the battery is super easy, and considering this is a self propelled mower, I also walk away with energy left in me, which I definitely didn't feel when I had to push my last mower. It fills up the bag from behind, and it has high lift blades which makes it awesome. It comes with lights, so I can even mow at night, which I really love. It comes with a plastic deck, which means I never have to worry about it rusting. CONS: The batteries don't show the fuel gauge, which is something it should have if I'm paying this price. Because of the high-lift blade, it seems to switch up the speed when left alone. Because of how the front of the machine juts out, t's definitely not an edger, and I'll probably need a weed whacker to get the fine sides unless you cut super close. It takes a little bit of time to slow down, and you need to wait until the blade completely stops before starting it back up. There's only one charger, and considering there's two batteries, that's kind of annoying. BOTTOM LINE: Despite having arthritis, my mowing days are far from over. And I actually look forward to them! Even these mild flaws, wouldn't stop me from purchasing this baby again. I bought it late last fall and only used it once before winter set in. But so far, so good, I’ve mowed around thirty times this summer without a single problem. I definitely recommend it for the ladies getting up there in years! I’m proof that age doesn’t need to be the end of taking care of your yard! It really is the best push lawn mower I've ever used. Five stars from me. Get it from Amazon now: $749.00 & FREE Returns 7. Makita - Best Heavy-Duty Cordless Lawn Mower KEY TAKEAWAY: Felt solid and quiet right from the first use. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Just a heads up before you read any further, this is a review on my first impression, not a review based on years of using this thing. But this thing is built like a tank and there's a lot of details taken into consideration. I love how the bag fits, and it turns so smoothly I really enjoy using it. BLADE PROTECTION: Even when the blades are stopped, the drive mechanism still works, which is awesome. I can lug it up my gravel driveway without spraying gravel everywhere. And it makes the sharpness of the blades last. WEIGHT: Now beware - this puppy is heavy. The listed weight is 99 pounds, but I'd venture to say it weighed a bit more than that. NOISE LEVEL: Even so, it's really so quiet! I was able to carry on a full conversation with my neighbor while using it. When have you ever heard of a mower doing that? PERFORMANCE: It takes me probably just under an hour and a half to mow my entire lawn, and the battery was still more than sixty percent full afterward. Keep in mind, battery drain will vary depending on factors like the height of the grass, the number of hilly areas, and the speed you set for the self-propeller. This machine provides more than enough power to meet my mowing needs. VALUE: Yeah, it was one of the more expensive mowers I found in my research, but you really do get what you pay for. This thing is all about quality, so I look at it as more of an investment than anything. This thing might outlive me. BOTTOM LINE: Would I buy it again? Definitely. Do I think it will last? You betcha. I'll update when I know more for sure, but first impressions are real for a reason. If you're on the fence, take the leap. You won't regret it. Get it from Amazon now: $787.99 & FREE Returns 8. Gardena SILENO Minimo - Best Robot Lawn Mower for Small Yards KEY TAKEAWAY: Once the boundary wire was installed, this mower handled daily lawn maintenance effortlessly. OVERVIEW: If convenience is what you're looking for, then this baby is for you. If you hate mowing, then this is exactly what you should get. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience. Yeah, there's a little set up to get it going, but it's so worth it once you roll it out. Honestly, after living in Florida and seeing how much it goes back and forth between rain and sunshine, I should have bought this a long time ago. Just keep in mind, this mower isn't about reaching perfection. But it will make your yard presentable, and personally, that's all that matters for me. GETTING STARTED: It's not too hard to get set up, but I do recommend watching a few videos online to make sure you get the hang of this thing. Unboxing it was easy. It's pretty compact, but the instructions are longer than necessary, so watching a quick video will give you all the information you need to get it going. GETTING STARTED: Before giving it a whirl, I'd definitely recommend clearing your yard from large debris. And then once you do that, the hardest part will be creating the border around your yard for the collision control. It's what makes this thing great, and gives you full control, and trust me, it's definitely worth the time it takes to get it set up. WIRE INSTALLATION: You'll use the provided wire to outline the yard, and the wire leads back to the main station where it gets the power. There is a little wire cutting, and it can be tricky, but if you follow the steps, you'll figure it out. I'd never done it before, and I managed to figure it out. You can either bury the wire or use stakes to keep the wire in place. Just make sure that you keep the stakes closer together otherwise the mower might get caught in the wire. The videos show this better than the instructions. Essentially, you'll just have to keep the stakes about two feet away from each other. INSTALL WIZARD: Once you power it up, you'll just use the install wizard which will walk you through the steps for your preference and the schedule you want it to function on. FIRST RUN: Before you let it go on your own, I'd make sure that you keep an eye on it for its run just to make sure it's working well. I'd mowed my lawn about a month prior to trying this out, and it worked well. I don't know if it will be able to mow over longer grass, just keep that in mind. APP FEATURES: This mower comes with a Bluetooth control which allows you to have easier access to it. It might seem like it doesn't, but just flick on the app and turn the power on the mower on and off and then it will pop up. It should come up on your phone pretty fast, and it's definitely a more effortless option for controlling the mower. WEATHER PROTECTION: If you live in an area where the weather can change at the drop of a dime, I definitely recommend using the cover for the charging station. It makes it so you don't have to worry if it will get damaged when it rains, which is an added relief. It does say it's built to use in all weather, but I'd take that with a grain of salt and err on the side of caution. LOW NOISE: This model of mower is super quiet, more so than I was expecting. I only heard it whine once when it went over some taller grass, but even then, it worked great. And let's be real, I'm not going to be outside listening to it the whole time. That's the beauty of having it do the work for me. One thing is for sure, it's definitely not going to wake up any neighbors like normal gas powered mowers. BOTTOM LINE: It's light, but it also hasn't gotten jammed up anywhere. Keep in mind, you may still have to touch up some areas with a trimmer or edger, but when it comes to making your yard presentable, this is going to do the job! I definitely recommend it, and trust me, it's worth the investment! Get it from Amazon now: $649.99 & FREE Returns

The best robotic lawn mowers are fully-automatic, easy to set up and program, and very quiet. Here’s our hands-on ranking of the best options on Amazon. Note: Prices were correct at the time of writing. My yard has been driving me crazy for as long as I can remember. Then I got a robotic lawn mower for my birthday. For the first time in my life, I was able to automate the mowing and finally get consistent results. I genuinely recommend the options reviewed here. However, if you’re looking for a traditional, more affordable option, check out my list of the best budget lawn mowers. And if you struggle with thatch buildup, read my Sun Joe dethatcher review. Now, back to robot lawn mowers, here's my ranking. 1. Gardena SILENO Minimo - Best Quiet Robot Lawn Mower KEY TAKEAWAY: Extremely quiet robot lawn mower with reliable daily scheduling. OVERVIEW: My, oh my life, what an awesome little device to add such happiness and ease to your life. Soooo convenient. If you hate mowing as much as I do, then you’re going to adore this thing. Yeah, there is a bit of prep and set up, and you’re not going to get a fully manicured lawn, but honestly this is so worth it. I’d rather not spend regular money on a lawn guy, and I really don’t wanna spend the time doing it myself. Time is money after all. And you’re gonna get your money’s worth with this thing after a few times of use. Especially if you live in Florida like me. Non-stop rain here equals a lawn that grows faster than my toddler. SETUP: Without a doubt you’re gonna watch YouTube. The manufacturer uploaded videos on how to use the setup, and I guess you can read the guide, but it’s long and not worth it if you ask me. The videos make it a lot easier. PACKAGE: When the package arrived, I was really happy with how it came. Everything had been labeled and was neatly packed up. SIZE: The mower was super compact which actually kinda surprised me. But when it gets moving, you can tell it has power. Regardless, you’re gonna wanna make sure you clear away big branches or anything that the mower might get caught up on. It can definitely still get stuck on branches. BOUNDARY WIRE SETUP: While the mower is pretty easy to use, you’re gonna find that right out the gate there’s a longer set up with the boundary and guide wire you need to use to create the space around your yard for your mower. You have to essentially outline the yard you wanted mowed with the provided wire. Those wires then go back to the main station and the power circles back. You’re gonna have to do some wire cutting and it can be tricky. But if you remember anything, you know that the wire needs to actually be in the ground and like deep in there. You can either use stakes or bury the wire. The stakes were easier, but just make sure you don’t make the mistake I made, and ensure that you’re keeping them close enough together so the mower doesn’t get wrapped up in the wire. Fortunately there’s a lot of stakes included so it’s not that difficult to accomplish. FIRST STARTUP: There’s a little install thing you’ll have to follow when you first power up the mower and with this you can assign the preferences and schedule of the machine. I do recommend watching it the first time you use it to make sure it’s actually doing what you want it to do. APP FEATURES: All of the models of this thing come with bluetooth–ignore the reviews that say otherwise. If you’re having issues, just restart the app and then you can see it pop up in your bluetooth. This one popped up at P0.2 and then you can rename it with whatever name you wanna create. I named mine George 2.0 after my last yard guy (yes, he was named George). I like all the options it comes with, too. You can even program it to create a schedule and to mow specific spots. Really cool app. WEATHER PROTECTION: It always rains in Florida. I’m not kidding. So yeah, I definitely wanted to get the little garage cover station for Mr. George 2.0. Not everyone may feel like it’s necessary, but I’m sorry, if I’m dishing out money on this thing, I want to make sure it’s going to stay protected when it’s outside. I guess I should add that the guide says it can withstand all different kinds of weather, it’s still a machine, and I still think that this offers peace of mind. It only takes about five minutes to set up, too. QUIET OPERATION: Oh, did I mention how quiet this little baby is? Only once I heard the blade cry out, and that was when it got caught on a branch. WET GRASS ISSUES: Other than moving away debris, I would also make sure you don’t run this when the grass is wet. The wetter the grass is, the wetter the soil is and if the soil is wet, it might have a little struggle with getting caught in the dirt. BOTTOM LINE: Overall, I usually do have to do a little touch up, but overall it covers so much more than I ever could on my own. It’s saved me so much time, and remember, folks, time is money. Highly recommend this baby. Get it from Amazon now: $649.99 & FREE Returns 2. Worx Landroid - Best Robot Lawn Mower for Uneven Yards KEY TAKEAWAY: Handles soft soil and uneven ground better than my push mower. VALUE: I almost didn’t grab this baby, mainly because there’s so many negative reviews out there, but let me be one of the first positive reviews to announce–ignore the negative ones people! This Landroid robot mower is freakin worth it! Sure there’s some things it could improve upon, but ultimately it’s worth it, and definitely what I wanted in a machine. ACCESSORIES: I did invest in the accessories, because why not? Spending more money is easy when you’ve already purchased the big product. I’m not a kid anymore, and I’ve learned the hard way in life that there are some things that are necessary to add - in this case, the garage of the mower, I think it’s super important to have. BOUNDARY SETUP: I wanted a robot mower because my vision just isn’t the same as it used to be, and partially because of that, I decided to bury the wire (mainly because I didn’t want to trip over it haha). You really don’t have to bury it that deep either, mine is about half an inch underground, and although I buried over eight hundred feet of wire, the five days it took me to do will ultimately be worth it in the long run. I don’t have to worry about it not working. OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE: Now my yard is on a subtle slope and definitely has some bumps to it, but I found pretty quickly that the robot didn’t have too much difficulty maneuvering over it. I do have some obstacles–trees, bird feeder, water tank, and because of that I ended up adding on the anti-collision system to help my robot get around all this. It definitely works, too. Sometimes it starts to bump into it but never enough to know it over or anything like that. I do also recommend using the magnetic strips to stop the robot from leaving the zone you want it to stay in. They definitely get the job done in that regard. PERFORMANCE: It’s been a month since I’ve started using this thing and it hasn’t gotten stuck once or left the zone area! Proof that a little extra set up will pay off big time. And the great part is that this thing keeps my lawn at a set height of 2.7 inches - which you can program! It actually mows each area of my lawn for two hours at a time every day, lord willing there’s no rain. BATTERY LIFE: So far, the battery seems solid. Over an hour and a half, it is only 35 percent, and my battery is the 6.0. Although I do think its life cycle shortens with each use. MANUAL QUALITY: The instructions can definitely be better if you ask me. MOWING SEQUENCES: During the rain delays, I think it would be nicer if the zones were handled better. Essentially even when it's mowing things, once the machine is already mowing, it then returns back to its station. And then when the rain ended, instead of finishing the zone it was working on, it went to the other zone, almost like it completely forgot what it was doing. Essentially it mowed the other zone twice as long as the other one. Kinda annoying. The best solution I found was to set the mower to do each side of the zone once a day. That way it only focuses on one side at a time. That seemed to fix the issue. FIRMWARE UPDATE: I ended up getting a firmware update for this product and found that as a result, I don’t get notifications on my phone anymore. So that’s kind of annoying. You’d think an update is supposed to help that, but instead it didn’t. However, there are some things it did end up helping, mainly that the activity log works better now and the status updates come through better. BOUNDARY CONFUSION: The only other issue I’m really experiencing is that the mower is confusing the isolated section around its home as a boundary wire so it ends up just doing circles. Not sure how an update changed that. It still works, it just takes an extra sixty feet to get home lol. Oh, well. Hopefully the next update will help that even better! BOTTOM LINE: For the most part, I’m really happy I invested in this. There’s a slight learning curve, but once you get it figured out, you’re going to enjoy it. I definitely do. Get it from Amazon now: $599.00 & FREE Returns 3. Husqvarna Automower - Best Robot Lawn Mower for Large Yards KEY TAKEAWAY: Once I fixed the low spots in my big yard, it was able to get the entire job done almost completely on its own. HONEST OPINION: First off, no one paid for me to do this. I don’t do that. And I rarely write reviews. So recognize that this thing must be pretty good if I’m out here dishing my thoughts. No joke. BUYING REASONS: I got this thing mainly because the grass around my septic system won’t stop growing. I hurt my back last year, and mowing just irritates it, so I knew I needed a solution. I knew these robot mowers existed, but I couldn’t justify the price until I saw that Amazon had a cheaper one with a no interest credit card, so I ended up taking the leap and giving it a try. I will say that I did a lot of research first, including watching YouTube videos about the different options out there. WIRE INSTALLATION: I ended up using the provided stakes to install the boundary wire and I’ll be frank–I ignored the instruction to mow before using this thing. After about 1700 feet of boundary wire, I also added the low voltage wire. This connects to the power supply and I guess it’s essentially the extension to the charger. It was kind of a pain to install everything, but once I finished I was ready to see how it would do. FIRST USE PROBLEMS: There are some divots in my yard, specifically one deeper area that the old owners had used as a fire pit. I was kinda worried how my little mower would do, but I found that that wasn’t my first issue. I named my mower Hugo, and I was quick to figure out that Hugo did not like that I hadn’t mowed the overgrown area first. It also had rained the morning I used it, and I should have waited for it to dry. He kinda slipped on the milly area where the grass was slick. I ultimately had to weed whack some area because Hugo got stuck in the longer grass. SECOND USE RESULTS: I was annoyed by all the work I put into this ahead of time, but by the second time I used it, I realized that maybe following the directions was important. On day two, Hugo had no issues. And I literally had to do nothing. The grass was almost perfect. Yeah, he definitely had some issues with the old fire pit, and didn’t like slipping into the hole. FIRE PIT FIX: I ultimately had to fill in the pit with some sand, but now I don’t worry at all. Hugo pretty much mows my yard unsupervised now, and I find that my back is actually hurting less because I don’t have to do the work that Hugo now does for me. SECURITY PIN: I do like the pin code he comes with. Mainly because he’s compact enough that when he mows the front yard, I worry that someone could robot-nap him. Fortunately the alarm is enough of a deterrent and you have to put in your own code to stop the alarm from screaming. Just make sure you don’t forget the code! If only this thing could clean my house, too! BOTTOM LINE: Unlike me, Hugo is incredibly quiet, I only hear his blades when he hits a taller piece of grass. My yard has soft soil, often covered in leaves, which usually causes my push mower to dig in and get stuck, creating long marks in the ground, but Hugo handles it with ease. That said, sadly, he doesn’t solve all my problems. Even though his boundaries let him cover a large area, I still need to touch up spots where he might struggle with larger tree roots that kind of become obstacles. So overall, I love him. He’s my new bestie, and you’ll probably dig him too! He does all the work for me, and for that, ten stars! Sometimes, it’s lovely to be lazy. Get it from Amazon now: $2,599.99 & FREE Returns 4. GARDENA SILENO Minimo - Best Robot Lawn Mower for Slopes KEY TAKEAWAY: Updated scheduling and sensor settings make this specific model easier to manage. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: This is my second robot mower, my first I got almost fifteen years ago, back when these things were not as advanced as they were now. When I decided to update it, I found one thing that was pretty cool. The underground boundary wire I used on my last wire actually works for this one, too! YARD PREPARATION: Although I didn’t do this for this current mower, I did it for my first: before you dig anything underground make sure you contact your local city ordinance to make sure you have clearance to dig in your yard. You don’t want to run into any underground utility lines. Especially if you’re installing this yourself. I also recommend filling in any divots or holes you have in your yard, and it’s probably wise to remove any dog or kid’s toys that might litter your yard, along with any larger debris like sticks and what not. WIRE ROUTING: You’ll also want to take into consideration where the charging station is for the mower before you put in the wires. Trust me, it will make your life easier. The wires will connect back to the power station and it’s what helps tell the robot where to go and where not to go. If you decide not to bury it, you can essentially staple the wire to the ground with the provided staples, but make sure you really get those deep in there, and the best way to do that is to make sure your grass is mowed first before you install it. (Eventually the grass will grow over the wire.) Even without doing it that way, it’s recommended to mow the grass before the first time you use it. INSTALLATION TEMPLATE: There’s a template that comes with the robot that gives you directions and recommendations on where to install the wiring from things like fences, or you know, your house. Trees and water tanks and what not, bigger things, the mower will just softly bump into and turn away from. It’s more the little stuff you need to be aware of. STARTUP PROCESS: After everything is installed, you’ll just need to charge up the mower before it’s first use. And that’s when you can put in the settings that you need, like the pin code and the time and stuff. Once all that is done, you’ll have to calibrate it so the robot can adjust to the wiring, and then you’re good to go! SCHEDULING: I love that you can set a daily schedule for this mower to tell it when to get out there and eat up some grass! The manual has a fair amount of information, so make sure you read it first. It does give you tips on how long the robot can mow each area based on the size. My yard is large so I have this thing running about ten hours a day, no lie haha. And the cool thing is that it's quiet enough that you can run it at night. I unusually start around 2 am. It avoids the heat, but also avoids people walking by my house who might consider taking the mower home for themselves. APP SETTINGS: You can set all these things from the menu or the app, but keep in mind that the app is only available with Bluetooth so it's kind of limited. But within the settings, you can play around with the schedule, you can turn on the sensor control, put a security level in there, and order how much lawn you want it to cover. SECURITY PIN: I definitely recommend setting a personal pin too. Essentially if someone tries to steal it, they can’t use it unless they know the pin. Obviously there’s no guarantee you’ll get it back if that happens, but it’s still nice to know that the thieves can’t enjoy it haha. SENSOR CONTROL: The sensor control communicates to the mower how it should operate based on how quick the grass grows, which is pretty impressive if you ask me. Definitely better than my older model, that’s for sure. CUTTING HEIGHT: Now, one thing you should know right out the gate: if you want your grass to be taller than two inches, this isn’t for you. The height is between .8 inches and 2 inches, so keep that in mind. I find two inches is perfect. WEATHER CONCERNS: It says it can operate rain or shine, but I dunno, I don’t really trust technology that much yet. Not gonna risk that. Maybe during the next light sprinkle, I’ll stand in the yard and observe how it works, just to see, and I’ll update if it does okay for that. BOTTOM LINE: I run this thing pretty much every day. Do I need to? Not necessarily, but it’s so easy to use and I really like that I can just program everything in and not have to worry about it. What I like most is that it doesn't leave any tracks in my yard, and that its operation is really quiet. It definitely works better than my last model, and although I still have to weed whack a few areas near the fence and sidewalk, the amount of time I’ve saved is astronomical in comparison. I definitely think everyone with a big yard should get one of these. Really worth it. Get it from Amazon now: $871.92 & FREE Returns

I live in a 70-year old house, where a ceiling fan really makes a difference in temperature. Here's my ranking, based both on style and energy efficiency. Note: Prices were correct at the time of writing. 1. Honeywell - Best Large Ceiling Fan KEY TAKEAWAY: The airflow improved once I adjusted the blade pitch correctly. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: I have a Honeywell thermostat so I’ve already been pretty happy with this brand, but I still wasn’t entirely sure how it would work as a fan. And I’m so happy to report that it has been above and beyond what I wanted. My husband installed the fan for me fortunately so I didn’t have to worry about that, but unfortunately for him, now I want to replace all the fans in our house with this brand haha so it looks like he has some work ahead of him. PACKAGING ISSUE: These fans are so quiet, and everything I wanted, I ended up buying two more in both the nickel and copper color. I will say that the copper one arrived in an already used box with the wires cut. It was clear someone had returned it after not wanting it and the manufacturer didn’t even glance inside it before reselling it CUSTOMER SUPPORT: Fortunately, I purchased this with Amazon Prime, so it wasn’t much of an effort to return it and get a new one. Even that being considered, I would still purchase this again and again. AIR MOVEMENT: Just a recommendation based on some of the negative reviews I saw… there were some comments about there not being enough air movement. Make sure you put the pitch at fourteen degrees or more if you’d like to increase the air movement. It’s an easy fix. LIGHT SETTINGS: You can control the brightness of the fan by pushing the remote to each side to make it dimmer or brighter. Just read the directions people. OUTDOOR USE: It’s not an outdoor fan, so if it stops working when you install it outside, that’s on you and your lack of ability to read very basic directions. Even if your fan doesn’t get wet, there are still environmental conditions that will affect how it works outside. Not that complicated people. PRODUCT BRANDING: A friend of mine from upstate New York also got this model. I really think he got a seriously defected item, but I decided to tell you about his experience as well. I think it's worth reading if you're considering purchasing this item. Thing was, all his original fans were starting to fail, mainly because they’re from the 80s, and he thought the parts weren't holding anymore. He decided to try out this fan on a test run because he's always been a fan of Honeywell products. Plus, the price point was affordable so he figured it wouldn’t hurt. He wasn't happy. On the inside of the box, there’s all these warnings about how Honeywell isn't connected to the product and that a Chinese manufacturer paid Honeywell to have the name on the product. Like what? Talk about false advertising. Not to mention what it says about the Honeywell brand in general and that they’re just willing to sell their name for a profit that has nothing to do with their own products. INSTALLATION: He says that installing it took him forever. The instructions sucked, and the design of the product in general was frustrating. You have to install the remote receiver on the top of the fan mount and that leaves like no room to work with it. You have to remove the shipping block that’s screwed into the fan, but the manual fails to tell you that you need to keep the screws that are holding the block on because you’ll have to reuse them when installing the lights. Seems like a pretty basic thing to include in there. And the worst part is that you don’t even figure it out until the end when you’re looking for the screws that are supposed to come with the product and you realize that it doesn’t have any. FEATURES: After he finally got it put up, the light had a weird flicker to it. he does appreciate that the light dims (this wasn’t in the description of the product), but it’s aggravating because the fan makes a loud humming sound at pretty much any speed you run it at. The remote is bad as well. So cheap. You have to be standing at the perfect angle in order for the fan to even register it. And the worst part is that you can’t control the fan without the remote. BOTTOM LINE: All in all, I am pleased with this fan, but my friend prefers his broken one than all the nonsense it took to get this thing to barely work. I do recommend it. But he says - look elsewhere for fans. I do think he got a defected item, but make your own decision. Get it from Amazon now: $229.99 & FREE Returns 2. Chriari - Best Modern Ceiling Fan KEY TAKEAWAY: Moves serious air without becoming noisy. SELLER OPTIONS: I used this fan to replace my last fan, which was pretty, but just really not functional in the slightest. I conducted a short research and found this one. First, you should know that Amazon has a lot of sellers for this fan (about an average of 10), so it’s important to keep in mind that some of them don’t allow for sloped ceilings. This specific maker was the only one that came with two remotes and three rods. BLADE DESIGN: There are three rods (blades) instead of five, but they’re strong and thick and really circulate some serious air. They rotate in two directions which is awesome, but the fan needs to be on for that to work. INSTALLATION: Now let's talk about ceiling fan wiring. In terms of the installation recommendations, I’d say that the instructions were for the most part easy to use but you did have to remove the blades to add in a ring. When you’re installing the downrod, I’d recommend removing the hanger ball off of the rod so you can get the wire through the shaft. The wire between the receiver and the motor use the typical coloring for electric wiring, and since that was something I was familiar with, I had no issue with it. However, if you’ve never done electrical work, I’d be careful with that. I ended up using the middle rod and as a result, the wiring from the bracket to the motor is on the longer side. With the installation, the fittings are really tight, but again once you can figure that out, it works really well and is definitely worth it! FAMILY USE: My sister got this exact same model. Her son had some issues with the installation, but once they got past that, they’ve found that six speeds work really well. She told me she didn’t realize how much they needed it until their old fan was gone. LIGHT SETTINGS: Honestly, it was the reviews that really sold me on this, specifically about the brightness. It’s so bright that it takes a little getting used to. If there’s a dimmer switch in this, I haven’t been able to find it, although it can be adjusted to cool or warm light, but it’s not the easiest to figure out. SPEED SETTINGS: I will say that the speeds of the first and second setting are similar to the same speed, just like three and four are similar, and five and six. But there is a noticeable difference from the lowest to the highest. REMOTE BATTERIES: You’ll need two triple A batteries for the remote and I definitely recommend using it. LIGHT MODES: My favorite feature is the three light tones that vary from bright to soft white to a warmer yellow. I love it. AIR CIRCULATION: I've been using this fan every night, during every season, and found that it really helps me circulate the air. I feeI I can breathe so much better at night now. REMOTE ISSUE: The only thing that annoys me is the cover for the battery on the wall remote was kind of difficult to close. BOTTOM LINE: For the most part, I’d say that it was pretty easy to mount up and it’s on the lighter side when it comes to its weight. It was extra convenient that it came with a mounting ball and a socket. I would say that I had it all up and running within forty five minutes, and yeah, the task was daunting, but once I got started on it, it went pretty straightforward and easy and the end result was definitely with it. The fan is super quiet, too, and it somehow just manages to put out the perfect amount of air! It looks modern, it's made of solid wood, and it's super affordable for what you get! Ten out ten stars! Get it from Amazon now: $179.99 & FREE Returns 3. Obabala - Best Outdoor Ceiling Fan KEY TAKEAWAY: The breeze mode made our porch feel much cooler at night. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: My house was under construction as we were building a new porch. We decided to replace our older fans with indoor and outdoor versions. I really wanted a quiet, good looking fan, so after some research, I ended up getting these fans. I bought them because of the styling and I liked that the wood blades were solid and it was rated for outdoor temperature and weather. A coupon was offered so I ended up picking up two of them. At first I had a few regrets. I honestly considered sending these fans back, but at that point, I figured it would take more effort to do that than to just figure out how to make it work and stick with it. INSTALLATION: The instruction manual is completely worthless. The photographs look like they are designed for a different fan and the explanations don’t even make sense. They describe using things like suspenders but don’t give any information on what a suspender even is. None of it is even explained. My husband even knows how to install fans, and yet this one gave him a lot of trouble. The videos online were helpful, but the model of the fan wasn’t exact, and he ended up having to watch about five videos to figure out how to make it work. REMOTE CONTROL: The remote that comes with the fan is really annoying, and although it took some time, I figured out that in order to change the type of light and the level of brightness, you have to repeatedly hit the on and off button. Surprise, surprise, this was never mentioned in the manual. There’s a button on the fan that changes the direction of the blades and it’s situated on the remote in the worst possible spot. So it’s actually easier to hit that button than anything else. There’s a fan off button, but no fan on button. Again, not listed in the manual. LIGHT PROGRAMMING: With the remote, you have to turn the light on and off and this lets you cycle through all of the color temperatures. When you land on the one you want, set it as a default and just leave the light on. After you put the light on your chosen color temp, hold down the light on and off button and let go once the LED light turns off. Then you’ll need to wait about five seconds and the next time you switch the light on and every time after your preference will be set. If you want to clear your preset, just turn the light on and off super fast and that will reprogram it. CUSTOMER SERVICE: I had no issues with customer service. I contacted them really easily to get the warranty up and running. I just sent a quick email and sent them the Amazon invoice. I also managed to ask them about programming stuff and they communicated quickly and effortlessly and answered all my questions. I was surprised. FEATURES: One of my neighbors purchased a couple of these fans - the indoor version of this model - and he says that his contractor had no issue installing them. He says that they perform really well, that they’re on the quieter side, and that they have a lot of light and speed options. He says the breeze mode lets it move faster and it slows down, too. He had no issue setting the light temperature either, but just keep in mind that it resents when you cut off the power to it, so to avoid that, keep the power to that on and use the remotes to control it. Pretty easy solution, he says. BOTTOM LINE: It kind of seems like that once it’s installed, you have to circle back through the different color brightness every single time, but I actually figured out how to set a default temperature. It’s been a few months since I’ve had these fans and I’m upgrading my review from four stars to five stars. While the issues about the remote and the manual remain the same, I still like them. They look good, and they work very well. That’s what matters. So, overall, this is definitely the fan I was hoping to get and I’m really happy with it. Get it from Amazon now: $99.99 & FREE Returns 4. Sofucor - Best Ceiling Fan for Living Rooms KEY TAKEAWAY: I was surprised how much airflow this produced without sounding loud. PURCHASE RESEARCH: I needed a new fan in my living room when the old one died, and I mainly wanted something that fit with our contemporary design and actually worked well. I ended up doing some in person research and shopping around before going online to get this fan, and I ultimately settled on this one because the price and the design are what I want. Also, the reviews were great, and they didn’t lie. The appearance of fans is more important to me than anything, and I chose these because they looked the most sleek and visually appealing. CUSTOMER SERVICE: When the fan arrived, it had screws missing, but they got back to me almost immediately and shipped me the missing pieces back. INSTALLATION: I don’t have much technology knowledge, so I had an electrician install it so I didn’t have to pull my hair out when I put it in. He liked it so much, he ended up snapping a picture of it to give to his other clients. My brother got the same model for his cabin, and he says that after putting the fan together, he installed it without much work and it’s been working well ever since. FEATURES: The remote control works really well and lets you adjust the color temperature in three different lighting options. You get six speeds, which is what I hoped for when it came to how well the fan worked. There’s also an option to reverse the fan blades depending on the season and I love that. An even added benefit? There’s a two and four hour fan timer. It's a nice plus to have! Also, even when you set the fan to its highest setting, there’s no noise and you can definitely feel the air moving around. LIGHT ISSUE: My only complaint was that at night the light started glowing kind of weird. After reaching back out to customer service, I found that it was about conductivity and they instantly shipped me what I needed to fix it. Now that it has everything it needs, it works great. PROS: It's really nice looking Most of the fans I found on the market were fake wood and I liked that this one is real Installation was super easy as it comes with a plate that easily mounts to your ceiling It has six speed settings Air circulation is super strong You can use the remote to reverse the fan direction which is super convenient CONS: The light engine is a weird color that I plan to replace The motor has an audible sound to it…not completely silent The remote is extra complicated for what it does BOTTOM LINE: I love this ceiling fan! It’s quiet, it fits nicely into our home, and the customer service is top-notch. I would give it more than five stars if I could! That’s how awesome it is. I’m really happy I did my research! It’s not expensive, so I can’t complain in that regard. For that price, it’s a good looking, functional fan. Get it from Amazon now: $160.64 & FREE Returns 5. Ocioc - Best Small Ceiling Fan KEY TAKEAWAY: I actually had to lower the fan speed because the airflow was so strong. INSTALLATION: First off, I need to come out and say that I had an electrician install this for me, and that made all the difference in the ease of this thing. They had no problem installing it. AIRFLOW: I need a good quality fan in my house, I always run on the hot side and I wanted something that produced quality air. This definitely does that. I ended up having to turn the speed down. It worked so well! REMOTE CONTROL: So far, I love the remote control that comes with this fan. It lets you change the brightness of the light temperature and I think it has a good memory, too. When you switch it on and off, you can pick the temperature you want and it will automatically return to that. FAN TIMER: Having the ability to set a timer for the fan is a huge plus, too. MULTIPLE UNITS: I ended up getting two more units in different colors, and I’m so happy I did! They fit perfectly into each of my small bedrooms and circulates a really good amount of air. I installed the additional units myself. The installation was straight forward, the instruction manual was clear, and the full color photos were helpful. For compact ceiling fans with moderately sized blades, they packs a pretty hefty punch, and that’s exactly what I was hoping for! PROS: Quality is durable and well made Wasn’t difficult to install (although an electrician did it) Definitely a quiet fan Output is solid and it circulates a lot of air The blades can alter directions and it works for both winter and summer Excellent remote control Low price CONS: There is a delay when you turn the lights on and there’s an audible sound when do you so as well. It seems like on the description of the product that it’s advertised that the brightness is controllable - but I didn’t see any information in the instruction manual on changing the colors or brightness of the light. BOTTOM LINE: Overall, the motor is super powerful and the light is on the bright side which is what I hoped for. It looks like it’s advertised - as having multiple color temperatures like daylight and amber - but I didn’t see anything in the instruction manual that gave information on this. I only use the daylight option anyways so it doesn’t make much of a difference, but that’s something to be aware of. So I’m really happy with this purchase. And, in case you've wondered, though there was no info in the manual about how to change the light, I figured it out on my own. Get it from Amazon now: $54.99 & FREE Returns 6. WarmiPlanet - Best Budget Ceiling Fan KEY TAKEAWAY: Performs better than I expected for the cheap price. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: My husband and I purchased this so we could replace our older fan that used a chain to control it. We wanted something affordable, with a lamp. We've done some online research, and ended up ordering this fan. It was on sake when we got it, which made it even more affordable. MANUAL QUALITY: The directions are really terrible. I’ve installed a lot of fans and have a pretty good idea how to go about it and this is the first time I’ve run into actual issues. There’s only five pictures in the manual and zero words. Like talk about a lack of effort. There’s more info on how to install batteries than how to install the actual fan. INSTALLATION TIP: Be aware that if you order the metallic fan, one side of the blade is painted white and the other is silver, and it’s kinda hard to differentiate which side goes where, especially since the manual was black and white. If you look super closed at the image in the manual there’s a tag that says this side up. Besides that, the fan is great. QUIET OPERATION: When it’s on and working, it’s on the quiet side and doesn’t vibrate or make any humming sounds. But sometimes, when it’s on loud, it’s super noisy. Maybe I’ll get used to it, but still, it’s annoying. LIGHT BRIGHTNESS: I will say that the light isn’t as bright as it could have been and my older fan definitely gave off more light. I ended up having to install brighter ceiling lights in it after installing the fan. It’s an easy fix but kind of a hassle. FAN PERFORMANCE: That being said, it still moves the air around in the living room well and operates the way it's supposed to. The remote works, but it doesn’t seem like there is much difference in the fan speed between four and six, but that might just be me being nitpicky. LIGHT DELAY: There are some odd features on this thing. When I turn the light on, there’s a delay for the actual light bulb to come on. But when I use the remote to turn it on, it’s almost instant. FEATURES: My neighbor installed it and he says that the light on this thing is just okay. He loves that the blades are super extended, and because he had expanded his living room, it just fits really nicely into the room as a whole. He also loves how the remote can change the direction of the blades and he doesn't have to touch the fan at all to do it. He likes rotating the fan blades as he finds it helps keep it working and circulates the air over and over. He says it’s just super nice that it can work that easily with the remote. He also loves how many speeds it has. Despite some of the other reviews, he says he has found that it’s super quiet on all the different speeds. He's had it just under a month and had it on continuously that whole time. It has worked super well. DESIGN: One of my clients really likes this model as well. He says it has a sleek, nice, and modern look to it. It’s got a stable mountain base and it arrived at his house super well-packed with all the necessary parts. He didn’t even attempt to install this thing himself. Not his wheelhouse. He hired an electrician, and he one hundred percent recommends people do that. Although he did connect the fan blades together… that part wasn’t hard. He says the design is user-friendly. BOTTOM LINE: I’d say that the directions could be better, the noise level at high is annoying, and the delay is weird. It’s a pretty fan, and it seems to circulate the air really well. I think it’s worth it, but just keep that in mind. Get it from Amazon now: $139.99 & FREE Returns 7. Hunter - Best Ceiling Fan with Pull Chain KEY TAKEAWAY: This three-blade fan moved more air than the older five-blade model it replaced. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: My old fan, the one this one replaced, had five blades, and for that reason, this fan, with three blades, gave me hesitance. I wasn’t sure if it would cool things the way I expected it to. Surprisingly, it somehow moves more air than my five blade fan, and cools things off a lot faster than my older fan. I ended up calling an electrician, mainly because I couldn’t find the breaker in my house, so yeah, the ease of installation wasn’t the best. I think if you’ve switched out a fan in the past you can probably figure out how to do this, but that’s likely a subjective experience. REMOTE VS CHAIN: I wanted this model because it didn’t come with a remote control and I just wanted the very basic ability to turn it off and back on. I’m kind of questioning whether or not I should have gotten a model with a remote, but I have so many remotes on my coffee table, I kind of just wanted to make it easier. Turns out that didn’t exactly make it easier. I live in Florida and the summers are hot HOT and sometimes the air conditioning doesn’t cool down as much as I would like it to, so being able to have a fan that I can just turn onto high would make my life easier, and it’s annoying to have to use the chain for the fan all the time. Yeah, I sound lazy, but unless you live in Florida, you don’t understand how humidity in summer can exhaust you! FAN ACCESS: I’m on the shorter side, so I have to use a step stool to reach the chain. I should have gotten the remote, but at this point I’ll probably just get an extender for the chain. Ultimately, it’s up to you. I’m just glad I have a fan that works again, and this one definitely does. INSTALLATION: It’s definitely not the easiest I’ve ever installed. It’s straightforward for the most part, but the housing for the lower switch is difficult, mainly because the switch that controls the air flow is connected to the housing of the upper switch, and it’s difficult to get the wire bundle and switch module set up around the lower cover. You’ll understand more when you try to get it together, but it’s as complicated as it is to explain. Eventually I did get everything put together, there was just a learning curve to it. ENERGY USE: After a month of having this fan installed, I've found that it actually uses less power, which is just awesome. SUNROOM INSTALL: My neighbor says he was able to install this fan by himself and it really wasn’t that difficult. He just followed directions and figured it out on his own. It looks great in his sun room, and that’s saying a lot considering his ceiling is actually green haha. Somehow it actually compliments it really nicely. WORKSHOP AIRFLOW: My best buddy owns four of these fans, and for the most part he's happy he got them. But he does say that his older, larger fans moved air around a little quicker in his shop. It’s about 1200 square feet, and although those fans seemed to cool things a little faster, we’ve found that these newer fans actually move way more air around. He says he thought the older fans were working because it got cool fast, but he's realizing that they were actually defective in the actual purpose of what fans are supposed to do: move air around and circulate it. He can now actually feel real air moving in the garage! It's so much cooler now, and he's really happy that he made the decision to get these. BOTTOM LINE: Overall, I am really happy I ended up getting this fan. It’s quiet, and it moves the air around really well. Just keep in mind that installing it can be tricky. Obviously an electrician is an easy answer for that. Get it from Amazon now: $131.76 & FREE Returns

These smart security camera systems will work anywhere your Wi-Fi reaches. They'll keep your property safe day and night, with instant phone alerts. Note: Prices were correct at the time of writing. 1. REOLINK Argus PT - Best Solar Security Camera KEY TAKEAWAY: Solar panel kept this camera running without constantly worrying about charging. OVERALL PERFORMANCE: This is Karen's husband chiming in, as I'm the 'tech guy' in our home. I have to say, I'm really happy with how this camera is performing so far, and I’d say the average rating of just over four stars is pretty accurate. I had a couple doubts after reading some negative reviews, but I think some issues might be due to defective units or unclear instructions, because I really loved this thing. WIFI SETUP: I did have a little trouble connecting the camera to my Wi-Fi, but then I realized I never entered the Wi-Fi password–whoops haha. Once I put in the password, it connected right away, so that was definitely on me. I keep the camera about a hundred feet away from the router, and even through two walls, the connection stays strong, so that’s cool. ALEXA INTEGRATION: I have an Alexa, and it was kinda tricky for the Alexa to recognize the camera, but I found a guide online that explained how to do it. With that I can view the live feed from the app on my iPhone and even on my TV with my Firestick. It’s cool cause I have a few different camera brands all connected to the Firestick, and I can actually use voice command to rotate through the different cameras. No extra downloads needed. MOUNTING SETUP: I already had cameras monitoring the perimeter of our home, but I wanted a wireless solar camera that could look back at the house and cover those little hidden areas of our property the main cameras don’t get. So, I mounted the camera on a thick PVC pipe, (yeah I’m handy like that) and attached it with the solar panel at the top. I used three hose clamps to attach the PVC pipe to a five foot metal post I stuck into the ground. A little trickery but not difficult. And so far, I love it. Works great. BOTTOM LINE: I always research stuff before buying new gadgets, especially in the tech area, and let's be real, no product is perfect or has every feature you might want. But for the price, and the features this camera offers–the solar power, the Alexa–yeah, I really can't complain. It's a solid buy for what you get. Def recommend. Get it from Amazon now: $119.99 & FREE Returns 2. Arlo Essential 2K - Best Security Camera for Barns KEY TAKEAWAY: The camera signal stayed reliable even inside my barn. INITIAL SETUP: I’m honestly amazed. I bought the Orbi 4G router for a non cable Wi-Fi and ended up pairing it with four Arlo Essential cameras. I wasn’t entirely sure it would work, but after connecting with a few support techs, they said it probably would. And guess what? It did! Keep in mind that the photo above is not of my barn. It's of my office where I also installed this Arlo cam. SETUP DIFFICULTIES: Setting up this camera was a bit tricky, though. The Orbi app was temperamental, sometimes working, sometimes not, you know the type. The password for setting up my account wasn't the same as the one needed to activate the router for the Wi-Fi The correct password is printed on the label at the bottom of the unit but that wasn’t really. CARRIER & SIM ISSUES: PureTalk (essentially ATT) claimed they covered my barn’s zip, and then later said they didn’t know if the sim card for the Orbi would work. Not very reassuring, but that’s ATT for you. Either way, I just went ahead and bought the sim card and data plan needed for the Pure Talk software. APP PERFORMANCE: When everything arrived, I tried to connect everything as instructed. No luck at first. After several attempts, the app asked for the APN number of my Internet provider. I had no idea what that was so ended up having to do some googling on my own and found that the Pure Talk APB was ‘reseller’ and then added in my phone number and password. Nope. Nada. Yeah, so I just ended up calling support and after being transferred through five different tech help associates, I got the information I needed: APN equals RESELLER, user ID = Not set up yet, Password = Not set up yet. Essentially I just entered the word RESELLER without a user ID or password and somehow that worked lol. Success! I got Internet access! No password needed in this case. With the correct APN, the Orbi activated as promised. A lot of work, and definitely feel like it could have been clearer, but hopefully this will help someone. Support tech was nice though. REMOTE LOCATION TEST: The Arlo app was necessary to get the cameras going and have them work more reliably than the Orbi app. It ended up working, one by one, the cameras started up and I could see my home office on all of them. Felt a little surreal watching myself on all the cameras, but this was what I wanted. I ended up buying a couple antennas just to help capture the wireless signal since I live in the rural Midwest. My house worked great, but the real test was seeing how the cameras did at my barn. I unplugged everything and brought it over and woooo! The happiness when I saw the instant internet connection. It all connected, just like it did at home. Seriously incredible! BATTERY LIFE: Jury’s still out on the battery life for each camera. I fully charged the cameras yesterday, and today they’re at just a little over ninety percent, so not sure if that’s normal or not. Time will tell, I guess. BOTTOM LINE: My barn is wood frame with steel siding and two of the cameras show four bars, while the other two show two bars, soooo yeah, I guess we’ll find out. I may just need to reposition the cameras. Everything is still new, so we’ll see how it goes and I’ll update with time, but yeah, took the long route to get here and blabbered a lot but you get the point! I like it, it works. Get it from Amazon now: $78.99 & FREE Returns 3. Blink Outdoor 4 - Best Battery Security Camera KEY TAKEAWAY: Motion detection worked better once I moved the camera away from the street. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: My wife and I don’t live in the best neighborhood and we really wanted a camera to help keep us safe at night. We also suspected someone was trying to steal our car, and our last camera just wasn’t cutting it. When this security camera came out, my wife and I knew we had to try it. I mean could you blame us with the promise of a battery that lasts two years? Even if it doesn't last that long, it's a serious upgrade from the last one we owned that needed new batteries every other week. SETUP PROCESS: Setting it up was easier than I expected. While there's no printed manual, scanning the QR code took us to their website full of tips, info, and setup videos. Just remember to scan the QR code before you put in the batteries and close up the whole unit. Setting it up took less than fifteen minutes, and that included the sign up for a new account with Blink which actually came with several weeks of free cloud storage, which was great. DETECTION RANGE: I wasn’t sure where to install it but ended up putting it in a tree across from our house. In the past when we put it by our door, it picked up every car and person that went by. I mainly wanted to be able to catch people who tried to steal my packages. The HD quality is so crisp, and the camera connects from about thirty feet away without any issues. I was actually shocked with how powerful the speaker was, and you could even yell at someone if you wanted to haha. LIVE VIEW LIMITS: The live view feature was a letdown since you have to keep clicking the app to continue viewing for more than about ten seconds. Not really the best for monitoring a baby, but works for catching thieves for sure. RECORDING SETTINGS: The default recording time is only five seconds, which is probably meant to save battery, but you can change it. We adjusted ours to twenty seconds. BATTERY OPTIONS: There's also a battery pack you can add to it to make the battery live longer. WEATHER CONCERNS: I live in Florida, so not really sure on how it will withstand the rainy weather, no less a hurricane, but guess we’ll find out! BOTTOM LINE: Overall, I love it. It’s a solid upgrade from my last one, and hopefully will withstand the crazy hot weather out here... and hopefully the battery will last. Get it from Amazon now: $239.97 & FREE Returns 4. Wansview Q5 - Best Indoor Security Camera KEY TAKEAWAY: Wide-angle view covered much more of the room than expected. DATA PROTECTION: Let’s start with the obvious! No one can access your information without your permission, and that’s why I got these. Privacy is seriously everything these days. I’m writing this having used several IP cameras from different brands over the past five years, and I can say with confidence that this Wansview performs better than expected. SETUP: The initial setup and install is super quick and easy, too. Unlike some of my other cameras, which took hours or even days to set up, the Q5 was so much easier than I expected. QUALITY: It feels like a nice upgrade from the 3, and you can tell that it’s quality, just well built and durable enough to last for a few years, I think. While the phone software could use some enhancements that other IP cameras have, for the most part it’s intuitive and I didn’t have any issues using it. PROS: Super Fast Setup: The first time setup is so fast, I was shocked. Only took about five minutes for both software and hardware and instructions were clear and easy which was great. Hardware is Well Built: The camera is durable, but also attractive, and compact, which doesn’t make it stand out too obnoxiously at home. Wide Angle Lens: The lens offers exceptional clarity and the coverage is so wide, I can see more on this camera than I ever have before. Clear Images and Videos: Provides crisp and clear images and videos, both day and night. Excellent Audio & Mic: Despite its small size, the audio quality is excellent, better than their Q3 and K3 cameras and definitely better than other brands of cameras I’ve owned in the past. User-Friendly App: The Wansview cloud app is so easy to set up, use, and I had zero issues trying to configure it. Motion Alerts: When it picks up motion, the camera sends notifications to my phone and with it, ten second video clips. Love this. CONS: No Audio Detection Alert: The camera only has motion detection alerts, it doesn’t pick it up if there’s sound elsewhere in the house, so that’s kind of annoying and definitely not great. Kinda forces you to buy more than one to cover your whole house. Image Viewing: Saved images don’t auto rotate when the phone is turned horizontally which just seems like a design flaw. Multi Camera View: The multi camera screen doesn’t give you the option of loading as the default when logging in, you have to click an extra option, so that’s annoying. BOTTOM LINE: Despite these negatives, the good definitely outweighs the buy. I’ve owned a lot of cameras out there, and these are just the best. I love them so much. Especially if you have a little one, you know for sure that this is definitely going to be the kind to make sure your little ones are watched when you need them taken care of. Def recommend. Get it from Amazon now: $24.99 & FREE Returns 5. REOLINK E1 - Best Security Camera with Free Cloud Storage KEY TAKEAWAY: Built-in siren actually scarred off animals away from my deck. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: I've had this solar powered camera for some time now to monitor the little animals that like to call home under my deck. Yeah, they essentially tunnel under my sunroom. I use the built in siren to scream at raccoons, possums, and even the groundhogs. It somehow works. They end up turning around and walking away, more annoyed than scared, which is what I wanted. PURCHASE DECISION: When I planned an extended vacation to the beach with some friends, I needed some DIY security. Hiding a few valuables is fine, but if someone broke in and stayed long enough, they'd find and take whatever they wanted. I watch enough true crime shows to know that. And yeah, replacing things isn't the end of the world, but c’mon, losing a computer or special jewelry that my granny got me, would be really upsetting. I decided to get this camera after comparing its features and price with others, and knew it would get what I needed done. PAN & TILT: I love how I can pan and tilt this camera. It’s freaking awesome, especially if you wanna look around beyond the wide angle view. APP PERFORMANCE: I've been super happy with the camera's performance and the iPhone app. ALERT SYSTEM: The siren and the custom audio also sends notifications straight to my phone which is cool. When I leave the house, the siren goes off, so if someone were to break in, I would get altered within seconds and the siren would even go off. I also tested it just to make sure it works and it does so that’s cool. CLOUD STORAGE: The free cloud storage (that comes with just the one camera) captures video triggered by motion, even if someone tries to disable the camera. Besides the cloud, it also saves videos to an SD card. CUSTOMER SUPPORT: I had a couple questions about setting options and activating features using iPhone shortcuts, and I ended up contacting support. They got back to me a couple hours later and essentially explained that I could use something called 'scenes'. One scene armed the motion sensor and siren and one disarmed them. I do think that an iPhone shortcut would make that easier and when I suggested that to them they were very receptive and even said they’d pass it to their development team. Nice to see a company wanting to learn directly from their users! BOTTOM LINE: Overall, if you're looking for a reliable camera with a range of useful features, you really can’t beat Reolink, and for this price, it’s a no brainer. Get it from Amazon now: $79.99 & FREE Returns 6. AQQEE S1 - Best DIY Home Security Camera KEY TAKEAWAY: Incredibly easy to install without needing extra wiring. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: Over the years, I've bought various wireless cameras for myself, but this time I decided to gift these for my neighbors after reading some awesome reviews about this model. My neighbors had always talked about wanting some extra home security and I’m close with them after living here for the last six years, so I decided it would make a nice Xmas gift. SETUP: I can confirm that setting them up was incredibly easy! Unlike some other models, there was no hassle with scan codes. The setup process worked flawlessly for all four cameras, and within ten minutes, I had them up and running for Bob and Jo. The battery system is seriously a major plus! My own cameras require power, so these are really nice. Not needing to worry about a power source near the camera significantly increases your options when it comes to mounting. USER EXPERIENCE: Bob and Jo freaking love these things. I'm the go to tech guy in the neighborhood, and usually, I'm called upon to fix laptops or deal with other tech issues. Since installing these cameras, they haven’t had a single problem that needed my attention. Which just goes to show you how great these things are. QUALITY: These cameras are really well designed and you can tell they’re super high-quality. They're somewhat smaller than I expected but wow, do they deliver excellent camera resolution. From what I've heard, the battery life has been great as well, but time will really tell on that. The high ratings on these reviews are definitely deserved and why I’m throwing in my own five star ratings. This is a quality product with a super easy setup. BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for security cameras that you can quickly attach to your home network without needing nearby power sources, these are perfect. They're really great for anyone wanting some home security without paying forty bucks a month to a local security company. And you don’t even need to hire an electrician to run power lines. All you have to do is view them on your phone. Just awesome. Can’t recommend enough. Get it from Amazon now: $99.99 & FREE Returns

Keeping your pool crystal clear and free of debris is easy with the right robot pool cleaner. We ranked popular options that will save you time and money. Note: Prices were correct at the time of writing. 1. Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus - Best Pool Cleaner for In-Ground Pools KEY TAKEAWAY: The stock filters handled Arizona sand and fine debris much better than expected. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: When you live in Arizona like I do, you’re bound to get a whole ton of rocks, sand, and dirt in your pool. I used to spend so much time scrubbing the pool, only for a small fraction of the debris to disappear. At a certain point, it just wasn’t worth my time. I also kept getting sunburnt and now that the Dolphin Nautilus does the hard work for me, I don’t have to worry about that. At one point I was paying a pool cleaner, but they were doing such a bad job keeping the water chemistry stable. Although I saved money by doing it on my own, it didn’t take me long to realize that when it comes to pool maintenance - especially when it comes to scrubbing the pool - it’s worth it to invest in an efficient time saving product. PURCHASE DECISION: Purchasing the Dolphin Nautilus was a good lesson in ignoring negative reviews, especially when they’re outnumbered by positive ones. I almost didn’t buy it because of the few bad ones, but after seeing that those were dated a few years earlier, I figured that most of the issues had been hammered out, and boy was I right. I’m so glad I bought this cleaner. FIRST USE RESULTS: The first time I used it, this robot ran for two hours and did more than I’ve ever been able to do in two weeks, and way, way better! I checked the filters after the first use and was shocked by the pounds of sand, dirt, and other types of debris I didn’t even know had gotten into my pool. Pleased is an understatement. FILTER QUALITY: I have to admit, I was a little unsure if the stock filters would actually catch the super fine particles of desert debris. Honestly, the stock filters did an incredible job and I haven’t found a reason to purchase the fine filters that are advertised as catching those tiny particles. In my opinion, the stock filters did just great. Cleaning the filters was super easy by the way. I popped them out, separated the filter panels, hosed them down - just make sure you do it in an area you don’t mind getting dirty - and, Voila, You’re done. In my opinion, such easy maintenance speaks volumes about the high quality of the filters. NAVIGATION: I should note that I have a unique pool with some weird turns and twists, almost like a U-shape. I was a little worried this equipment would struggle in the different depths, but I found that it managed to correct its orientation if it ever wobbled. It never stalled - not even once. LONG-TERM CARE: Just keep in mind, there’s a chance it will get roughed up over prolonged use, like small scuffs on the outside, but it really didn’t bother me. It’s not a fancy car I’m showing off, after all. It’s a piece of equipment designed to do a job, and, boy, does it do that job! However, to get the most life out of this baby, you need to treat it like any other piece of equipment. Clean it after each use and then store it somewhere where it won't’ be tainted by the elements. In other words, don’t leave it in the sun and just put it away in a shed or garage. BOTTOM LINE: My final thoughts? I love it. This thing paid for itself the same day I took it out of the box. I look forward to watching it work while I stretch out in the shade, sipping on a brewski. Get it from Amazon now: $849.00 & FREE Returns 2. Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 - Best Pool Cleaner for Large Debris KEY TAKEAWAY: The debris bag handled leaves and larger debris without constant emptying. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: Most of the time, I feel like I have a serious case of OCD. I must have ALL things not just clean, but sparkling. So I read a ton of reviews and decided to invest a few hundreds in something that would make my life easier. fast forward to NOW: I bought this pool cleaner a few years ago, and even now, I'm super pleased with how good it’s still performing. Yeah, I spent a pretty penny on it, but trust me - this thing was worth it. EASE OF USE: The setup was easy, but what was really amazing was the automation. I watched it like a helicopter parent the first few days. It did it’s job so well, I couldn't help myself. Then, after about a month, I stopped following its every move. Now, almost a hundred percent of the time, I drop it in the pool and get on with my day. I only have to clean out the bag once every week or so (more so in the Fall), and I make sure to take it out when I have people over for a pool party. PART REPLACEMENT: I’ll be honest: I have had to replace a few pieces over the years, but I found most of the parts for super cheap online, so it really didn’t bother me. However, I should say that a lot of the things I replaced are just part of the experience of owning a piece of equipment like this. I replace the black mesh tail scrubber once every two or three months, I found a hole in the zipper bag, and one time the backup valve on the line broke. While a lot of that is just normal maintenance, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that one time the connector assembly broke when I yanked too hard on the line and it snapped from the wall. Oh, and a piece of the swing axle snapped off inside the zipper bag, but really not a big deal. USAGE IMPACT: I think this is the consequence of leaving a piece of equipment in chlorinated water for a prolonged period of time. I mean, you’re bound to have some pieces that stop working. But even though I had to repair a few pieces over the years, this did a fantastic job. BOTTOM LINE: I really can’t get over how awesome my pool looks now, and how clean it always stayed. Goodbye leaves and muck! So take it from me - if you want to impress your neighbor, don’t just sit there. Go buy a better version of what they have! This one was worth every penny and I wish I’d bought it two decades ago. And just so you know, I received no incentives from the manufacturer to write this and used my own money to purchase it. Get it from Amazon now: $599.00 & FREE Returns 3. Dolphin Nautilus CC - Best Pool Cleaner with Weekly Scheduling KEY TAKEAWAY: The anti-tangle cord design works much better than older models I've tried. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: After owning an in the ground pool for over ten years, you can rest assured I’ve tried all the pool cleaning products on the market. You name it, I’ve tried it. Every single one of them had some type of issue, some more than they were worth. Now at this point, I’ve just gone back to cleaning by hand, which obviously means that my pool was never fully clean. I always judged my neighbor for using a robotic pool cleaner because the chord kept getting tangled. Like what’s the point of buying something to make your life easier when you have to do extra work? Eventually I couldn’t stand how dirty my pool became, and finally, after much consideration, I decided to try out the Dolphin Nautilus. FIRST IMPRESSION: My thoughts? Where has this thing been my whole life? Miracle is an understatement! All you have to do is drop it in the pool and walk away and it’s seriously that easy! With the exception of when I’m shocking the pool, my cleaner is pretty much always in there. PERFORMANCE: I set the time to run every day for two hours, and when I tell you my pool has never been cleaner, I mean it. It really shines like glass. Now my neighbor is judging me because he realizes my tool is better than this! Especially when I showed him how the Nautilus has a buoy that holds the cord upright. In other words, it NEVER tangles. Take that BOB! And unlike other optiosn on the market, the filter bucket is also super easy to clean. USAGE NOTES: If I had to complain, and it’s a small one, I'd say I wish that it ran a bit longer for the first use. The two hour cleaning cycle time is preset and I think I need a bit longer than that. It was an easy fix, I just had to go outside and reset it. But really, that was only for the first time I used it. Now, as long as I’m using it regularly, it’s more about maintenance, and the two hours is more than enough. ACCESSORIES: If you’re considering buying this, I would recommend buying a small box to cover the controller, voltage converter, and extension cord. Although the instructions recommend not using an extension cord, I grabbed a heavy gauge outdoor one from Home Depot and it works just as it needed to. While I did purchase the ultra fine filter, I really didn’t need it as the normal filter picked up the majority of the stuff in the pool that bothered me. I’d recommend trying out a normal filter before investing in an ultra fine one. SETTINGS: This pool cleaner is set for a daily cycle and stays in the pool. Even better, I can adjust the cycle every two to three days depending on how much I need it. MODEL COMPARISON: There are some more expensive versions that have a caddy, a longer cord, and even Bluetooth, but I ultimately decided I didn’t need those. This Dolphin Nautilus CC was perfect for me and my pool. BOTTOM LINE: After two summers with this pool cleaner, it still works great. The color has faded due to the elements, but the rubber tracks still function great! This morning, however, my nautilus was stalling, but after watching some videos, it was an easy fix. A wad of hair had gotten stuck in the impeller blade and after taking it out, it got right back to work. That’s bound to happen from time to time. Really, highly recommend this product! Get it from Amazon now: $699.00 & FREE Returns 4. AIPER Seagull SE - Best Rechargeable Pool Cleaner KEY TAKEAWAY: Picked up fine dust and debris better than I expected from a cordless model. PRODUCT DISCOVERY: Even though my pool cleaner was taking care of the floor walls and using different chemicals, I still got so much leaves at the bottom of the pool. Traditional hose-connected water pressure cleaners can be up to a thousand dollars, so I really needed another alternative. Then I discovered hose-less robot cleaners at a lesser, more affordable price range, and chose the Aiper because of the great reviews. BUYING FACTORS: Affordability Hose-less design Great reviews COMPETITOR BIAS: Keep in mind a lot of the product reviews on You Tube are made by competitors trying to destroy this product’s reputation. Because of this, I decided to give an honest review about mt experience with this product. PROS: With no hoses, I never had to worry about this product getting tangled up. I also didn’t need a second pressure assist pump. That’s one less thing to worry about in case it breaks. This product is self-powered and rechargeable with a ninety minute clean period. It’s truly effortless. To clean it, I just spray it with a garden hose. The robot collected everything I needed it to and had great suction power. The robot’s broom even picks up dust! With the brush and super strong suction power, it gets rid of all of the dust at the pool bottom. Distance. My mid-size pol has an L shape and this product managed to cover the entire area. You can adjust the steering nozzles to experiment with multiple patterns to have it fit your pool shape. CONS: It takes six hours to charge up, so I recommend charging it overnight. The main issue is that depending on your pool size, or how dirty it is, you might want to do two passes in one day and you’ll still have to wait six hours to do this. It’s unclear how long the battery life will last through all the charge cycles, as charge cycles can force the battery to work harder. I’ve searched around and haven’t been able to find replacement parts for some of the aspects of the equipment that have the potential to fail in the future. Although it comes with a two year warranty, I think I’ll have to contact the email for product support to find anything in the future. Unfortunately it feels fragile and I doubt it will withstand a fall from even waist height. The robot doesn’t clean the walls, but I don’t mind doing that, in comparison to how clean the bottom is, so I think this is really just preference. BOTTOM LINE: After a week of using my Aiper Smart Pool Cleaner, I’m super happy with my purchase and definitely impressed with how well it cleans. After months of struggling with debris at the pool bottom, now all I have to do is keep the robot powered up and brush over the sides of my pool. I love how much my pool sparkles now. Overall, this product is so great I renamed it after my last pool cleaner. Sorry, George. Get it from Amazon now: $179.99 & FREE Returns 5. DOLPHIN Proteus DX3 - Best Pool Cleaner for Fine Dirt KEY TAKEAWAY: Fine mesh filter picked up sand and dirt the Nautilus kept missing. PRODUCT SWITCH: After the Dolphin Nautilus left black marks over my plaster and completely ignored the leaves it was supposed to pick, I decided to try the Proteus, and boy am I glad! Its white body means the exterior won’t leave any black marks. If you have plaster anywhere, I recommend that you don’t get the Nautilus. PERFORMANCE: The suction power of this thing is so great! I watched it eat up a leaf before it ever rolled over it. The Nautilus could never. It even climbs up the walls just like the Nautilus, but it cleans them better. While it doesn’t approach the stairs, it does slurp up the dirt on the bench seat, so that’s a plus. All I have to do is brush off the stairs and it’s really no big deal. LIMITATIONS: It does pop a few wheelies, and sometimes stops and reverses which kind of looks like it’s not working. However, the most important part is that it actually cleans the whole pool in one cycle. I really could care less if it’s poppin’ wheelies as long as it clears out my pool in one cycle. Not all the products like this can do that. FILTER CAPACITY: The filter basket of the Proteus is massive and holds leaves, twigs, and even those fuzzy things that fall from oak trees. The fine mesh even holds sand and fine dirt. I think it's pretty easy enough to clean out. I kind of just dump the bigger stuff and then rinse out the finer particles. BOTTOM LINE: I’m definitely very impressed with the Proteus and get this - it’s hundreds of dollars less than the Nautilus. And really so much better. Get it from Amazon now: $669.00 & FREE Returns 6. AIPER Scuba S1 - Best Cordless Pool Vacuum KEY TAKEAWAY: Cleaned dead insects and fine debris without damaging my vinyl liner. DEBRIS PROBLEM: My pool is an above ground vinyl and when I say lead and debris falls to the bottom, that’s an understatement. After years of jumping into the pool and kicking all that grossness up my feet before having to use a pool net to scoop it up, it was time for another solution. Enter the AIPER Scuba, a cordless pool vacuum sent from Heaven. PROS: Right out the box, the first charge took under three hours. When the product is charged the LED flips from red to green so I never have to wonder if it's ready. The set up was super easy. The silicone scrapers used to collect the debris snap into place without effort and same goes for the plastic handle. The screws to attach the handle came with the product and I didn’t even need a screwdriver to connect it. I also had no trouble turning the on and off button either. After dropping the cleaner back into the pool, I pressed the power button and then dropped it. It had no problem staying upright as it went down to the bottom of the pool, and then, like magic, it took only a few seconds to get to work! The suction power seriously surprised me. I watched in awe as the dead insects, grim, and broken pieces of leaves vanished right before me. CONS: I did have to empty it out every five minutes or so, but keep in mind that my pool was borderline disgusting and way overdue for a cleaning. It was also really easy to take it out of the pool. I just used the hook at the end of my pool pole. Fair warning, make sure you turn the cleaner off before taking it out of water otherwise you’re definitely going to get soaked. I learned that the hard way. If you keep it level as you bring it out of the pool it will stop debris from falling out of the suction port. NOTES: It took a little bit of effort to use the four snap closures, but on that note, the product as a whole is sturdy, and yet really easy to clean up. There’s a tiny mesh filter on top of the section that collects debris and it does a really good job at trapping all those fine particles. PERFORMANCE: I was really impressed by the power behind this, and yet it was gentle too. It didn’t snag on my pool’s vinyl, and if it tried to climb up the sides it only went a small distance before correcting itself. I really couldn’t be more pleased with this awesome little piece of equipment. It really did an incredible job of cleaning my pool clean. BOTTOM LINE: After that first big clean, this thing became my best friend when it came to maintenance. Now I use it every few days and believe it or not I only have to empty it out after the battery dies, which is about an hour - and more than enough time to clean my whole pool when I use it regularly. Get it from Amazon now: $599.99 & FREE Returns 7. Dolphin E10 - Best Pool Cleaner for Leaves KEY TAKEAWAY: Picked up leaves and pine needles my pool net kept missing. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: When you live in a cottage community like I do, you’re going to need something to help you clean. What’s a cottage community you ask? Essentially an area, that when developed, took great care to preserve the surrounding foliage. DEBRIS VOLUME: My community, specifically is known as a livable forest. The surrounding trees were once owned by paper and wood companies so know they’re allowed to live out their lives in safety. It’s great for environmentalists, which I am, but there are drawbacks to living there. The foliage is so very dense. Every corner of my yard is full of pine needles and leaves regardless of the time of year. Our pool is constantly assaulted by a wave of debris that makes raking and scooping absolutely pointless. I even bought a battery-operated "leaf blaster" to suctions all the leaves into a bag, but the gumball trees in my yard are immune to this. After cleaning, I was often too tired to play in the pool with my kids. ALGAE BUILDUP: Even worse, if the pool gets algae, I couldn't even see the bottom so I could clean it out. After treating the algae, I’d always discover a mass amount of leaves at the bottom and no matter how many times I cleaned it, the algae always came back. It's a 27 foot pool with two pumps, so even though the skimmer caught a lot, it never caught everything. BUYING DECISION: After asking friends, perusing the web, and researching a bunch of pool cleaning equipment, I finally stumbled upon the Dolphin E10 robot. The reviews were good enough, but for a second I couldn’t decide between the E10 and the pricier Escape. The Escape is a bit more advanced with wifi and app controls, and can climb floor walls and map the area, but still, I decided to save about two hundred bucks and went with the E10. RESULTS: Zero regrets! The water can be filthy, and all I have to do is turn it on, drop it in, and walk away. In an hour, I just empty the basket, and repeat the cycle. This thing picks up leaves, sticks, pine needles, and even those treacherous gumballs! Best yet, if that pesky algae comes back, I never have to wonder if there’s a layer of leaves beneath it, because I know without a doubt that it’s already clean. WALL CLIMBING: Although it’s not advertised as being able to climb pool floor walls, I’ve seen this bugger test out his spider-like senses and do just that! Many would argue that this model is not supposed to be able to climb walls, but it does occasionally go up the wall to the water line before backing back down. I read some reviews about people complaining about the cleaner doing wheelies, but that’s how it fixes itself so it can change directions. FILTER SYSTEM: I would love it if there was an external bag instead of just the provided filter, but I understand that if that was the case, then the filtration might not work as well. This isn't necessarily that much of a shortcoming, as the basket is super easy to remove and clean out. I can also pop out the screens super quick, too. REPLACEMENT EXPERIENCE: The power supply did die in less than a year, and the company replaced it with a brand new one after I sent photos of the old one. It was a super fast process. They didn’t even ask me to return the old one! CORD MANAGEMENT: It would be awesome if the wire had a swivel joint, mainly because after a couple of cleaning cycles, the wire might end up getting tangled. It's not too much of a hassle to untangle it, but I feel like it’s an unnecessary thing that I shouldn’t have to do. I’ve read somewhere that foam pool noodles can protect that, so I might give that a try. BOTTOM LINE: Overall, considering the dense amount of trees around my large above ground pool, I really can’t complain with how well this does. This robot saved me time, money, and stress. Can’t recommend enough. Get it from Amazon now: $568.00 & FREE Returns 8. AIPER Seagull - Best Budget Robotic Pool Cleaner KEY TAKEAWAY: Impressive performance for a such cheap robotic pool cleaner. CLEANING NEED: After buying a house with an above ground pool I knew I needed a cleaning solution. People warned me cleaning this beast would be a pain in the butt. I considered throwing it out but wanted to try out some cleaning options before giving it over to the dump. As it turns out, not all above ground pools are that complicated! Especially once I found a solution to getting rid of the dirt and leaves. I felt like I was scooping out debris every hour, and then there would still be stuff left over. PRICE & VALUE: I found this awesome little pool cleaner on Amazon for relatively cheap - cheap when you consider pools can be costly. So I decided to give it a shot and wow! But I have to say what attracted me in the first place was the price. INITIAL PERFORMANCE: At first, it worked just as advertised, eating up all the leaves at the bottom of the pool. It was super easy to use, too. I just checked the chemical levels and dropped it in the pool. When my family came to visit, they seriously thought I’d hired a professional pool cleaner. That’s how good it looked. This fierce little cleaner picked up leaves, dirt, bugs, you name it. He ate pollen, sand, small twigs. LARGE DEBRIS LIMITS: He tried to eat big twigs, but that didn’t go great, which leads to the big BUT that ruined my lovely summer with the awesome little cleaner. BUILD QUALITY: Because this cleaner is constructed with plastic, I spent a lot of my summer worrying I’d break it. The plastic part that clamps the bottom to the top was super hard to open and close. I broke a few nails before grabbing a utensil to pop it open. But here’s the good news: it was my fear more than anything that bothered me. As it turned out, those little plastic pieces were stronger than my nails! They never popped off. UNTIL - the day they did. And not how you would think. PRODUCT FAILURE: My little friend was just sunbathing out after a cleaning sesh, and very carefully, so not to disturb him, I slid him to the side. I barely touched him, and yet somehow, that nudge did the trick. It was a heartbreaking moment. The plastic clips holding the wheels just snapped clear in half. On THREE of the four wheels, mind you! Naturally I went into damage control, but the wheels slipped off and took themself for a jog. It didn’t even matter if I found the wheels, because the rest of the plastic that held them in place was gone. NON-REPAIRABLE: Devastated is an understatement. I wanted to get another one, but summer was almost over, so I decided to do my best to clean my pool on my own. Definitely not the same. It mainly sucks because those parts can’t be replaced. Short of gluing them back together, which I highly doubt would work in water, I knew there was no way to fix it. FAILURE CAUSE: I’ve thought about it a lot (I loved this little guy, remember?) It wasn’t me moving it over that broke it. I think the brittle pieces just degraded over time. I also have a saltwater pool, so maybe that had something to do with it? Granted, I think chlorine is worse. One day I had a perfectly functioning cleaner and the next, now it can’t even roll forward. I’d like to think this thing was tough. It lasted for eight months, after all. You just have to make sure to clean it after use. BUYING ADVICE: If you DON'T have one of these awesome little cleaners, and you’re reading this because you’re on the fence, well, here’s your answer. Just make sure you’re careful with those plastic pieces around the wheels, so exercise extra caution there! LESSON LEARNED: In hindsight, I think I should have kept it out of the sun, but I’m a first time pool owner, so consider that when you're thinking about making this purchase. I mean, it should be part of the decision making process. Taking my background into consideration, that is. BOTTOM LINE: By far, I don’t regret anything about buying this cleaner. Dare I say I fell in love with this little robot, and you better believe I’m getting another one. Eventually I may upgrade to a pool in the ground, but even then, this baby is going to be coming with me. Get it from Amazon now: $179.99 & FREE Returns

These days, electric's where it’s at! I've ranked the most popular electric fireplaces on amazon, and here are my personal thoughts. Note: Prices were correct at the time of writing. 1. R.W.FLAME - Best Wall-Mounted Electric Fireplace KEY TAKEAWAY: This design looks much more expensive than it actually was. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: I was replacing an old propane fireplace and searched almost every option... electric fireplace, no fireplace, new propane. You name it, I searched it. My first thought was just to invest in a propane fireplace, but they can be up to ten grand to get right, and yeah, no thanks. Still, living in upstate New York, winters are cold and long, and power failures are frequent. I needed something. BUYING DECISION: I came across the idea of electric fireplaces in a showroom and saw they were like two grand, which was still a lot, but then I discovered more affordable choices on Amazon and a lot of different brands, too. I really liked most of the reviews on this thing, and I loved that one user uploaded a video showing how real the flame looked. That was important to me, because I want this to upgrade my home, not make it look cheap. CLICKING SOUND: When I got it, I almost had a panic attack. After I had just hit purchase, I read some reviews that complained of a clicking sound from the unit and I hope that wouldn’t be the case with mine. When it arrived, I tested it out, and yep, it was making a clicking sound. Fortunately I found an easy fix for it, although I do think the manufacturers should fix this on their own. It only takes a few minutes though. NOISE FIX: Essentially, you just take the glass off and then flip the fireplace upside down. You can pretty much take the bottom panel off, which is like nine screws (and make sure you don’t lose them). Then you can just plug the fireplace in and wah lah! Once you turn it on, problem solved. There’s a rod that has reflective plastic pieces, and those are the pieces that are rubbing when the rod turns around, and that’s the source of the noise. Just pay attention to which ones of the rods are rubbing together. I used a nail clipper to trim them back. Pretty simple. Just two or three, so no biggie. Once you do that, the noise is gone! All that’s left is to put the panel back on, and that it works great. I mean, it worked great before, but if you’re like me and don’t like annoying sounds then this is the solution for you haha. FLAME EFFECT: Flame looks awesome. However, the LED part appeared kinda weird, but a quick search on Amazon and I came across black crystals for the LED under ten bucks. Made a huge difference, but I still didn’t like the reflections, so I put electrical tape along the siding and the front, and that did the job! So much better. PERFORMANCE: As for how well it will actually keep you warm, don’t get your expectations too high haha. It’s not a real fireplace so it’s not going to keep you warm just this alone. It does curb some of the chill, but it’s really better for Spring and Fall, or to just complement the heat you might already have in your home. BOTTOM LINE: Overall, it gives off a great amount of heat. Not too overwhelming, but def warm enough for a cold winter night. It fits really nice into my walls and just looks really classy in the living room. I’m really happy with how this turned out and can’t recommend it enough. Get it from Amazon now: $229.99 & FREE Returns 2. Duraflame - Best Infrared Electric Fireplace Heater KEY TAKEAWAY: Kept temperature comfortable without running central heat nonstop. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: I live in a house that’s almost a hundred years old and I have a lot of hard wood and cement floors, and my windows really lack insulation, plus I have four doors leading outside. In other words, lots of room for chill to seep in. Winters here are no joke, and sometimes the temperatures even drop down into the low tens, and really until Spring, it never gets warmer than the forties. In the past I’ve used my normal heating, but it’s been kind of unreliable, and I think I want something more to help enhance the heat in the house. OLD WIRING: My electrician said my unit is really old and essentially needs to be rewired because the last person who did this put it together in an unsafe way, just taping and connecting different wires. I’m over just having people come here to patch it up, and I knew I needed an alternative, something I could dampen on to the last me the whole winter out here. HEATING COSTS: Ideally, I also wanted something to lower my electric bill. In the winter, sometimes it’s up to two hundred bucks a month out here. DESIGN: I really wanted something that would be cool if I touched it, that wouldn’t fall over easier, (because of the kiddos and the kitties) and something that well, just worked well. Well enough to warm an ice chilly room, because the older the house, the more there’s always a draft here. I definitely didn’t want plastic either, and I liked this one because it has a reputable name and I love that it’s also made of metal. Oh, and it just looks like an actual fireplace which is awesome. This heater is all that and more. PORTABILITY: I can easily move it from one room in the house to another. I can use it in my room when my kids are sleeping, which is super convenient. HEAT RADIATION: It’s big enough that it heats a modern size bedroom pretty fast, and it’s quiet too. The fan sound is there, just not super obvious, and you can feel the heat of it radiating from about three feet from the base, which is perfect. If you close the door, it will warm further. Gets a little hot in the front, where heat exudes from, but def not hot enough to burn me or any animals. In fact, my kitty lays on top of it for her naps, and it helps keep her warm, and yet still comfortable. ENERGY COSTS: My bill definitely went up a little though, about eighty bucks more than usual, but I also had like four space heaters across the house. TIP: Close the rooms that you’re not using, install thermal curtains on any bedrooms without an actual door, usually in hallways. That will not only keep the rooms warmer, but also let you not have to run all the different heaters at the same time. BOTTOM LINE: Five months in since having this heater in my home, and man did it get cold this winter. And yet, I put the heater in the room where my kiddos sleep, and it stayed super warm (even when it was ten degrees F out!). Despite the learning curve, I honestly love this thing and plan to use this in the future moving forward. It’s saving on the bills, too. That's why I'm considering buying more for the other rooms in my house. I really love it so much. It’s my new best friend (and my cat would be pissed if I got rid of it haha). Five stars from me and Mr. Whiskers. Get it from Amazon now: $259.99 & FREE Returns 3. Amerlife - Best Electric Fireplace TV Stand KEY TAKEAWAY: I expected this to just look decorative, but it actually warmed the room quite well. DELIVERY EXPERIENCE: The packages arrived early, with the fireplace in a separate box, and although there were some mishaps with delivery (apparently one piece got damaged and was going to be returned) I managed to contact the seller and found that they’d sent me an email before I even got through to him. They’re def on top of things! All I did was confirm my address for shipping and they sent a new one right over! Took a few days to get here, but man, it was worth the wait. PACKAGING: Keep in mind, the boxes are freaking heavy! The packaging was solid and didn't notice any real damage on the stuff when I opened it up. I’d really just recommend opening it by yourself, and if you’re unsure, you could probably use a dolly too. It also got delivered early which was surprising, and I appreciated that. If you can request they get delivered to your door, I’d probably recommend that, as the packages are huge. SETUP: I put it together all by myself and I just can’t say enough good things about it. The instructions are pretty clear, just make sure all the pieces are there before you get going. Whatever you do, once it’s up, make sure you clean it well! It was pretty dirty, so I def recommend you clean it before using it. That being said, it works awesome. DESIGN: The glass of the fireplace does extend over the shelving and onto the sides. At first I thought they had given me the wrong size doors, but once you put the fireplace in, it somehow comes together nicely, and I love it. There are three color settings for the fire–purple, red, and blue. And I love how the LED light that hangs over the 2 drawers has about ten to fifteen settings. Not super bright, but it is what it is. I’ll be honest, I didn’t buy this purely for the heat, so I haven’t tested out the heating part of the fireplace, I mainly just really like the crystal flames. Still, it does actually work, which is awesome. PERFORMANCE: Over the winter, I finally tested out how the heating worked. I liked the two power levels, and the thermostat was a nice touch. It was super comfy and actually warmed me up really well. It didn’t heat the TV cables and it was nice that it looked pretty and actually served a purpose. Be careful about running it with too many things at once or you can trip a circuit, but other than that, I love it! BOTTOM LINE: The price (which is quite high) is worth it, if you ask me. So easy to put together by myself, customer service was awesome, and it actually heats up my house, which is why I wanted it. I also love how the lights and flames change color and how you can alter the heat to different settings too. There’s also a no heat setting if you just want it to look pretty, which I plan to use in the Fall! Get it from Amazon now: $299.99 & FREE Returns

Need to paint a ceiling or tuck away clothes on top shelves? I’ve rounded up step ladders for home use that don’t tilt or waver while you're standing on them. Note: Prices were correct at the time of writing. 1. HBTower - Best Step Ladder for Seniors KEY TAKEAWAY: No wobbling at all, even on the higher steps. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I must say, buying this step stool has made my life soooo much easier. It's incredibly sturdy and can support up to five hundred lbs. While I don't need that much capacity, it's still reassuring to know it's built tough, cause I’m kinda clumsy. STABILITY: When I stand on it, there's literally no wobbling, which is a huge relief. It folds up easily and fits right into my coat closet near the kitchen, making it super convenient. I had been postponing washing my kitchen cabinets because my old step stool felt too flimsy. The day this one arrived, I tackled those cabinets without any issues. It didn't budge, and I didn't need anyone to hold it for me. HOUSEHOLD TASKS: I’ve used it for nearly everything, like all the chores I hate. Now I can change light bulbs on the higher ceilings in my house or paint trim. I’m a girl, so it’s nice to not ask for a man’s help for once haha. STEP HEIGHT: And even cooler, I only use up to the fourth step, which is cool because I’m only five foot five. I can also comfortably hold onto the top rail, though I haven't felt the need to use that fifth step, and that’s a nice plus since heights make me kind of queasy. INSTRUCTION ISSUES: One important thing to note though: the instructions for the hardware were kinda confusing, it's not the usual nuts and bolts. Personally I think they could use clarifying. YouTube became a good friend haha, the videos online help. BOTTOM LINE: Unfolding it is also a breeze, and it stays securely in place. I highly recommend this to anyone in need of a reliable, sturdy step stool, even if you don't need the full five hundred pounds. It's lightweight, easy to fold, and takes up minimal space. Oh, and one last plus, it arrived sooner than expected and came pretty well-packaged. And the fact that it was fully assembled was a bonus. So for the price, it's a great ladder, but if you’re planning on doing professional work with it, and you know, if you’re a heavier dude who is planning on carrying stuff on it, maybe do a bit more research. Anyway, for my needs, it's truly worth every penny! Get it from Amazon now: $134.99 & FREE Returns 2. SocTone - Best 3-Step Ladder KEY TAKEAWAY: Fits perfectly in our RV without taking up much space. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: It’s a step above our old ladder - no pun intended. Every time I used our two step ladder and had to climb to the top, I felt like I was about to fall over! I knew there had to be a safer way. And yep! That’s why I took the jump and got this three step ladder! STURDINESS: This ladder seems pretty sturdy for my standards, though it can wiggle a tad when climbing up. I never felt unsafe, though. The biggest drawback is the shelf on the handle, it's not level, but that might just be me being a perfectionist. Just because with using things with an indentation, they might slide off if you’re not careful. I think it can be fixed pretty easily though. RV USE: We also needed a ladder for our RV loft bed and I really like how wide the steps are and the safety handle makes it comfy for our son to join in and climb too. As long as you keep all legs on a flat surface, you can use it without worrying about falling, and I find I can clean all my RV windows now without panicking that one wrong move will lead to a broken neck. ASSEMBLY: Didn’t have any problems with the assembly or with folding it up. It's almost flat when folded, making it super easy to store in the RV, where space is on the limited side. STORAGE: It actually fits in the same place as our two step ladder. But it’s easier to close and open and you know it’s closed completely because it makes a clicking sound when you close it up. BOTTOM LINE: I really can’t say enough good things about it. Other than the uneven tool thing, which I can fix easily, I highly recommend this for anyone needing a ladder that’s portable and reliable! Get it from Amazon now: $69.99 & FREE Returns 3. Louisville Ladder - Best Fiberglass Step Ladder KEY TAKEAWAY: Rock-solid on both concrete and grass. VALUE: I finally took the plunge and bought a seriously solid ladder. For the price, you'd expect something flimsy, right? Nope. Def not. Just plain wrong! And it really came in handy when I moved from a high-rise to a house and realized I needed a decent ladder. BUILD QUALITY: This ladder is rock solid. I've used it all over my front and backyard, and it's steady on both grass and concrete. No wobbling or feeling like it's going to tip. The fiberglass body with aluminum steps is a winning combination, and the hand tool caddy on top is a lifesaver. Plus, with the fiberglass build, I don't have to worry about accidental contact with live wires, it's a shock-free zone. Can’t get cooler than that. Better safe than sorry is what my momma always told me. STORAGE: Storing it in the garage is so easy, too . Some folks say it's a bit heavy, and it is, but it’s stable, so that’s kind of the point. THREE HUNDRED SUPPORT: A lot of the ladders I checked out only supported two hundred two fifty pounds. I'm a bigger guy, and I knew I'd be lugging heavy tools up and down, so the three hundred support on this one was perfect. HOME DELIVERY: It's also so great that it got delivered right to my door, no need to rent a truck for pickup. BOTTOM LINE: After years of using those worn-out six-foot ladder and a couple rusty three-foot stools, all while praying to the Gods that I won’t fall and break my neck, I can’t scream it from the rooftops loud enough how happy I am to finally have this thing. It’s now a staple in my new house. And... the magnetic strip on the top plate holds my tools, too. That’s just a really nice touch. So, really, it’s everything I’ve wanted and more! Woo! Highly recommend this ladder for its sturdiness and safety. Get it from Amazon now: $159.99 & FREE Returns 4. Little Giant Ladders - Best Multi-Position Ladder KEY TAKEAWAY: Feels more like professional equipment than a ladder. SAFETY CONCERNS: Not all ladders are created equal, who knew? I didn’t, until I’d had enough buying cheap ladders. Of course, living life on the edge is fine, but after a close call with my son, I realized I needed something better. My kid’s a big dude for eighteen, (about six foot three, a hundred and ninety pounds), and the old ladder shifted and broke under his weight. That was terrifying. LIke out of a horror movie. I finally decided to invest in a Little Giant. OSHA RATING: Initially, the price made me hesitate, but after reading about its OSHA ratings and industrial use, I was sold. This ladder was even on Deal of the Day, making it an even better buy. The Little Giant is solid, feels like a tank, and the adjustments are smooth. It's got wheels, which make it easier to move around, and despite its sturdy build, it's not much heavier than my old one. I feel way more secure on this ladder, and it's worth all the money. Life is priceless, after all. VERSATILITY: The Little Giant really lives up to its reputation. The deal I got on it was a stroke of luck. It's also been great for all sorts of tasks, from gutter cleaning to trimming branches. I really like all the adjustments, too and how simple and precise they are. Plus, it doesn't hurt that it's used by professionals and the military. VALUE: I'm happy I chose quality over saving a few bucks. It’s an investment, but a meaningful one. Both my son and I agreed there's no comparison to the cheaper ladders out there. BOTTOM LINE: The Little Giant feels like a fortress. The wheels make it easy to move, and the extension feature is a game-changer. It's a bit of a workout to set up, but following the instructions makes it manageable. It's a sturdy, reliable piece of equipment, and one I would hands down buy again. Get it from Amazon now: $298.99 & FREE Returns 5. Best Choice Products - Best Steel Step Ladder KEY TAKEAWAY: Ideal for quick everyday jobs around the house or yard. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: I got this ladder to prop up a fan to blow smoke back at my chain-smoking neighbor, true story haha! The smell was unbearable, and this ladder solved my problem. STEEL BUILD: It's solid and heavy, but in a good way. Balancing on chairs, the sofa, crates, or kitchen counters was just asking for trouble. It doesn't seem like it'll tip over easily. I'm sure it'll be great as an actual ladder too, though I haven't used it for that yet. It's got a nice slim design, which is a plus. HOME USE: I also got sick of lugging a six foot ladder from the garage every time I needed to reach high shelves. This ladder is a good lightweight option, too. CONS: One gripe is that the steps feel a bit flimsy, but not sure if I’m imagining it, cause I don’t think they'll break. They do give a little under my a hundred and ninety pounds, which is a little unnerving if you ask me. Some extra bracing would go a long way to making it feel more solid, and I think I may try to stabilize it extra when I use it. Still, for the price and its utility, it gets the job done. The sticker on the top step annoys me. I mean, it's an annoying mess to peel off. Maybe I'll try some chemicals on it. Still, I'm not displaying it as decor, so it's no big deal. FAST DELIVERY: This ladder arrived so much faster than I expected and it didn't need any assembly, which was a nice perk. BOTTOM LINE: It also holds up well (once you figure out the little lock hook under the first step), and it's very portable and well-built. All in all, it's a solid buy and I’m happy with it. Get it from Amazon now: $39.99 & FREE Returns 6. DiamondForge - Best Budget Step Ladder KEY TAKEAWAY: Genuinely felt really sturdy for such an affordable ladder. STURDINESS: This is one seriously sturdy step stool if ya ask me! Says it can hold up to three hundred and thirty pounds, and it's rock-solid even when my wife or I stand on the top step. HANDLE HEIGHT: The handle is convenient for climbing but doesn't reach high enough when you're at the top, so you'll want to hold onto something else if you're up there. I mainly use it in the kitchen to access those high cabinets that conveniently hold our nicest glassware (yes, that’s sarcasm). No more breaking glass with this thing! It's slightly taller than the countertops, so it's perfect. STORAGE: It does weigh around twenty pounds, so plan to store it in the same room rather than lugging it around. It folds flat and slides easily alongside the refrigerator. The back legs stick out a bit when opened, but just turn it sideways, and you're good to go. I’m a kitchen climber through and through now. BUDGET OPTION: It was kinda a spur-of-the-moment purchase, but I’m sick of those un safe tactics and standing on wobbling chairs. My brother always would bring a ladder over to clean my gutters, and give me crap I didn’t have my own so this year I decided to get my own, be safer, and prove him wrong. This ladder is rugged and sturdy, and the price was lower than I expected. As a bigger guy, I’m happy to see it supports some good weight. Oh, and I also cleaned my gutters with it, and it was so much easier thanI expected. I felt safe using the third step, too, which I’ve been wary about on other ladders. So, yeah, if you’re on a budget, this is definitely good. SENIOR SAFETY: After a lot of research, I bought this Delxo to test it out for myself, but also to see if it might be good for our mother, who is getting up there in years. She broke her arm after falling off a step stool not that long ago so I wanted to give her a safer option, and I can definitely say that this does the deed. It's light enough to carry, has nice deep steps that don't hurt the bare feet, and the sides and top bar to hold onto. BOTTOM LINE: It’s good for me, and will be great for momma. Oh, and it folds easily and fits behind the laundry room door. I couldn't ask for anything more. Happy camera over here. Get it from Amazon now: $42.23 & FREE Returns 7. HBTower - Best Portable Step Stool KEY TAKEAWAY: Compact enough even for very small spaces. PANTRY USE: We needed a step stool for our small pantry, something that wasn't too big but could still help us reach the top shelves. This Delxo fit the bill perfectly! It's compact enough to fit in the pantry and sturdy enough to get us up high. FEATURES: It folds and opens easily, has non-slip black pads on the steps and feet, and doesn't rock when you're standing on it. The curved top handle is great for steadying yourself and makes it easy to move around. We store it against the pantry wall, so it's always handy. It's also great for changing overhead light bulbs and hanging pictures. WEIGHT LIMIT: Some reviewers mentioned pads coming off and steps bending, but we didn't find that to be true with ours. Just keep within the weight limit, and you're honestly good to go. QUALITY COMPARISON: The last step stool I got from a big box store, wobbled and felt way too flimsy, and the straight back handle made it uncomfortable to use the top step. We returned it and ordered this one instead, and we're so glad we did. The Delxo stool is much better quality, feels solid, and stays grounded when open. The curved, foam-covered handle provides good legroom and protects the walls when stored. The large rubber covers on the steps offer non-slip footing. MULTI-PURPOSE: We've used it for painting, decorating, and even as an extra chair for visitors. It's sturdy enough for a two hundred and seventy pound person (me!), though the release catch could be easier to use. FAMILY USE: My wife is short and hates climbing, so she also wanted a step stool that wouldn't wobble. This one is fantastic for her, too! How cool is it to find something that works for both of u? BOTTOM LINE: The back legs being one solid piece adds to its stability, which is great. It also has a handy handrail (see what I did there haha) at the top for steadying yourself. It opens and closes smoothly and can support up to three hundred and thirty, so it's built to last. The steps have nice treads, too. I'd recommend this to anyone needing a step stool, especially the elderly. It's 11 lbs but doesn't tip over easily. Even my seven year old grand baby can carry it. Great quality and worth every penny! Get it from Amazon now: $44.99 & FREE Returns 8. OSCO - Best Folding Step Stool KEY TAKEAWAY: At my age, having a step stool that feels so secure is a huge relief. SENIOR SAFETY: I'm seventy three and only a hundred and ten pounds, and half my back is fused due to polio surgery when I was a kid. I'm always wary of using anything that isn't super secure because one fall could be disastrous for me. This step stool has been a godsend. I plan to get a few more. BUILD QUALITY: My last one, from a different brand and much more expensive, pinched my fingers badly twice. This one opens and closes easily and feels very secure on various surfaces like tile, cement, dirt, and grass. I use it almost daily in the kitchen for top shelves. It's well-constructed, and the gray color is a nice touch. The handle is great for leaning against, and I really appreciate the peace of mind this stool gives me. COMPACT DESIGN: I was so over dragging around a dining chair around the house, so I opted for this folding step stool. It's compact when folded, light to carry, and has a secure grip handle. It's sturdy enough to use as a temporary chair. MULTI USE: I organized my kitchen cabinet and plan to replace the curtains next. It does everything I expected. MINOR DOWNSIDE: The only downside is the numerous unremovable stickers on the metal pipes and steps, but that's a minor issue. GIFT OPTION: My best friend is sixty and five foot three. I ended up getting this ladder for her birthday, too. She’s had her fair share of step stools, and agrees with me that this one tops them all. BOTTOM LINE: After years of awkwardly reaching for things, this was a relief to finally get. Talk about the right tool for the job. Despite what some negative reviews and ratings said, I’d say that this is a very nice, quality stool! This stool is functional, sturdy, and easy to use, the best I've owned. Oh, I must add–no one paid me for this review, just sharing my honest opinion, here! This is a great buy and worth it. Trust me! Get it from Amazon now: $59.99 & FREE Returns 9. Wiberwi - Best Step Ladder with Tool Bag KEY TAKEAWAY: Side rails made this one feel much safer. SIZE: As a woman in my 60s, I needed something manageable, strong and stable, but of the perfect size. This ladder is the ideal size. Not too big, not small. Medium if you will. SIDE RAILS: Look at those rails! Seriously the coolest thing ever. The rails being on both sides let you go higher than you'd expect. TOOL BAG: The storage pouch is a fantastic bonus for holding screws and tools while you're on the ladder. I’m a handywoman by trade, so this was important to me. WEIGHT: It's a bit heavy to carry, so keep that in mind, but that makes it stable and really safety is the most important thing, especially at my age where one broken hip is a down spiral. So yeah, it’s a trade-off for the stability it offers. It's always nice when you get exactly what you need, and this ladder felt hefty in the box but it’s quite easy to move once assembled. WEIGHT SUPPORT: At two hundred and forty pounds, I was a bit skeptical about its sturdiness, but it’s very stable when used properly. Again, the side rails add a safety factor that I really appreciate. ASSEMBLY: Assembly was also straightforward, the top part slides on, and the safety arms require a wrench and screwdriver for the screws and nuts. STEP SIZE: The steps are large enough to sit on if needed. Let me explain... I needed a ladder I could sit on while working, and the top step of this one is big enough for that. I can even touch the ceiling while seated, which is eight feet high, though that might not be the case for everyone. BOTTOM LINE: The steps are large and grippy, and overall, it really is a great product. I'm very pleased with this purchase and would highly recommend it, especially for seniors looking for a strong and stable ladder. Get it from Amazon now: $99.98 & FREE Returns 10. HBTower - Best Step Ladder with Handrails KEY TAKEAWAY: It gave me more confidence reaching high smoke detectors around my house. TOOL HOLDER: I bought this step stool because I loved the tool holder, how sturdy it felt, and that the handrails offered an extra level of safety. I'm a senior, so having something that won’t topple over when I climb is really important. It’s an excellent option for anyone doing climbing, both in the kitchen, and in years! KNEE-FRIENDLY: At sixty four years old and with a knee replacement, I find I can climb to the fourth step easily. It wobbled slightly on the different floor surfaces, but I figured out a solution by placing a rubber-backed rug under one leg and that pretty much solved the problem. MINOR CON: Keep in mind that the space between the handrails is a bit on the tighter for anyone carrying some extra weight. A few more inches of width would make it perfect. FOLDING: Opening and closing it is pretty easy, you just fold it up. ASSEMBLY: Assembly isn't hard at all. I mean, it was easy to assemble and I like that I can move it around, assembled. STEP GRIP: The steps have a good grip, too and I really like how the stability feels when I stand on it. ANTI-SLIP STEPS: Each step has these anti-slip bumps that just hug my shoes or feet. HOME TASKS: Now, I can reach smoke detectors and change batteries without trouble, or without having to bother anyone for help! BOTTOM LINE: I ended up buying another one as a gift for my wife to help her water indoor plants safely. Both of them arrived super early and included all the necessary tools in the assembly process. I just can’t say it enough, but the side handles are the longest I’ve ever seen on a step ladder, making it very safe. I also got it at a great price, but even at full value, it's worth it for the quality and safety. Get it from Amazon now: $95.99 & FREE Returns

I was impressed by the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus and its wall-climbing capabilities. It ensures a perfect clean, and therefore worth the investment. Note: Prices were correct at the time of writing. Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus - with Upgraded Smart Navigation KEY TAKEAWAY: This robot paid for itself faster than hiring a pool guy every month. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: After installing an inground pool just in time for summer, I knew I needed something to clean it. I went all out with this pool - diving board, slide, even adding a heater, so after all this money I spent, I knew I needed to take care of it. A couple people recommended a pool man, but honestly I was trying to save money for a bit so decided I needed a pool cleaner, and quickly, after I realized that one week into working this thing, I realized I need something to handle the building mess, and sooner than later. My mom dubbed our pool cleaner Mister Scrubber, so that’s gonna be the name I’ll use moving forward. COST CONSIDERATIONS: I started looking locally for a Mister Scrubber, and my goodness, were the prices out of control, or what? Like average is two grand! And sure, they did have some advanced aspects like fast turn radius and remote controls, but I didn’t need all that. Some of them were also dressed as animals? That was odd, but you get my point. MODEL SELECTION: When I finally found my Mister Scrubber, boy was I happy! I considered a lot of different factors before deciding on this model. I knew I wanted a brand that should there be any issues, I could service it locally, so I eventually narrowed it down to three options, and this is my reasoning for deciding to choose the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus. Also, the next day delivery of this unit was free, so, for the price, I figured it was a great value. Moreover, all the positive reviews were accurate, which means they were likely real, which is just a nice thing to know. SIZE & HANDLING: First, the weight and size of this model were reasonable enough that I wouldn’t have any issues putting it in or removing it on my own. That was important, because I work remotely and the kids are at school while my wife works in an office, I knew I was going to be the only person putting this in and out of the pool. FEATURES: The second reason was pretty big. A lot of the pumps I researched required that I get an additional pump to use them, and this one didn’t require that. So, yeah, I love that this cleaner didn’t need another pump and that it managed to clean the ledges, steps, walls, and even the floors without any issue! It also came preassembled which was just a really nice perk. The filters on this one were effortless to remove and clean so that was really nice, too. And I love how the long cord allowed Mister Scrubber to reach all corners of my pool. I also really love how the parts I needed to replace it were available when I needed them. And this included there being a warranty, which was cool. SMART NAVIGATION: One of my favorite factors was the computer chip included in Mister Scrubber. The chip allows Mister Scrubber to map the layout of the entire of the pool so it knows where the edges are, including the steps and ledges. This way Mister Scrubber knows where it has cleaned and makes sure it covers the remaining areas. Best thing is that I've had zero issues so far. The smart navigation has worked better than I hoped it would. CLEANING TIME: Mister Scrubber cleaned my whole pool in under two hours believe it or not! And then it turned itself off, which was awesome. COSTUMER SERVICE: After ordering Mister Scrubber, he arrived quickly the following day, and I couldn’t be happier! However, after throwing Mister Scrubber into the pool, I was disappointed to find that he wasn’t working. Unfortunately he arrived broken and the wheels didn’t work. I was disappointed to say the least. However, after contacting Amazon back, they not only gave me a return label to ship it back, but sent over a brand new Mister Scrubber the very next day! Oh, and did I mention that they actually picked up the broken Mister Scrubber to make my life easier? Seriously amazing customer service. STAIR CLEANING: When he cleans the stairs, there’s a tiny bit of sand residue, but it’s barely noticeable compared to how well it cleans the rest of it. STORAGE: I would recommend buying the stand for storage although it’s sold separately. It allows you to have a place to safely store the battery, the chord and gives Mister Scrubber a little stand to rest on. How cool! BOTTOM LINE: I’ve gotten a lot of requests for updates on Mister Scrubber, so here it is! Six years later, Mister Scrubber and I are still very much in love. He’s kept my pool clean and sparkling all this time! The power button is wearing down and I have to push on it really hard, but after all this time, considering that’s the only issue, I think that’s to be expected. It’s really just one of the best purchases I’ve made, and considering the pool guy wanted a hundred a month, this baby paid for itself in less than a year! To sum things up, I love Mister Scrubber because I had zero issues returning it and it does a great job for the price. Get it from Amazon now: $849.00 & FREE Returns

I ranked the best small wine coolers to show you how to easily store wine like a pro, with compact options for both your countertop and under-counter space. Note: Prices were correct at the time of writing. 1. NewAir - Best Wine Cooler for Beginners KEY TAKEAWAY: A digital thermostat on the outside gives the cooler an extra upgrade. OVERVIEW: I read dozens of reviews online before deciding to go with this wine cooler, and I’m so happy I did. The too long didn’t read version [TLDR]: the cooler has a lot of space, is quieter than I expected, has a sleek design, and is the exact amount of functional I was hoping for. Now, onto the details! PERSONAL BACKSTORY: I wanted to try this for nearly a month before giving my review, so I could be sure it was as authentic as possible. First off, it can fit up to 46 bottles, which is freaking awesome. I knew I wanted a mid size cooler that could stand by itself and had a glass door. I also wanted to make sure that it could fit larger bottles, as I read a lot of these weren’t able to do that. Although there were some negative reviews about this, the positive greatly outweighed it, and I noticed that a lot of them had negative reviews anyways. Overall, this fit the specs I was looking for. DELIVERY CONDITION: The package came well done with a great thick box and extra support and foam inside. In fact, it was over four inches thick inside, and the extra foam protects the more sensitive areas like the wheels and the feet. The exterior of the box had some dents, but because it was so well protected inside, there were zero issues. Overall, I really like how well protected the padding was done. STORAGE SPACE: This cooler was the exact amount of space I was hoping for. If you do a little tetris, it can hold up to forty bottles, which is great. There are two sections, a top and bottom, but there’s a bump for the light on the bottom that makes it so some of them can’t stand straight up, but it’s not a big deal. You can remove the shelves, but you can’t adjust them, so I keep my small bottle in the top, on the bottom rack, and I like that the light on the top doesn’t get in the way of any of the bottles. It’s also a lot deeper than I was expecting, and I can effortlessly fit four larger bottles in the bottom. The center racks can be doubled up, and it might get a little tight, but I had no issue storing all my favorite reds in the middle. NOISE LEVEL: I was a little hesitant about using a compresser cooler, because so many people complained about the noice, but realy this thing is super quiet. I even used a db meter, and found that when the compressor was running, it averaged 20 to the 32 db, but when people walk around or jump, the sound can spike to 40, but this is just me being picky. And remember - all this depends to the model you order, there are several. There’s a little click when it turns on, but my chihuahua makes more sound than this thing. There’s a digital read on the panel and has a really nice bright light. I’d prefer it if the light was adjustable, but that seems pretty standard on these coolers. TEMPERATURE CONTROL: The dual-zone is an extra plus and seems to work really well. I can keep the temperatures at a nearly ten degree difference and have zero issues. Obviously when you load wine, it’s going to fluctuate, but it always returns back to what it’s set at. CONTROL PANEL: The panel has an automatic lock and you have to hold the buttons for a few seconds, but I don’t really mind that. The touch screen itself is on the sensitive side, but I prefer that over pressing it too hard. LEVELING FEET: There’re two wheels and two legs that slide around easily and have no issue adjusting, so overall leveling it was really easy. INITIAL SMELL: Some of the reviews describe a bad smell, but once you unpack it, the smell goes away, and I barely noticed it to begin with, honestly. I do recommend following the instructions and cleaning out the inside with a clorox wipe or soap first, but I also just left the door open for a few hours to let it air out and that worked great. Afterwards, you can put in the racks and the smell should be gone. At least that was my experience. BOTTOM LINE: This is a great cooler, and definitely affordable for the quality. It’s quiet, works great, and other than maybe having a little bit of space between the bottles, I have zero issues with it. It’s compact enough to fit under a counter, and yet looks great and can hold about 46 good sized bottles. Ten out of ten, highly recommended. Get it from Amazon now: $799.99 & FREE Returns 2. Velieta - Best Dual-Zone Wine Cooler KEY TAKEAWAY: Dual-zone setup made storing reds and whites easy. DUAL-ZONE STORAGE: As a dual-zone wine refrigerator, you can alter each side of the fridge to keep different drinks at the right temperature. I like having the white wine on one side and the red wine on the other, but I think it’s actually meant to keep wine on one side and regular drinks on the other, but it’s just personal preference. SHIPPING DAMAGE: UPS delivered it upside down which is annoying, and I did find a dent on the fridge. CUSTOMER SERVICE: For once Amazon was kind of useless, but the manufacturer responded immediately. On top of an extended warranty, they offered a discount, which I really appreciated. I think if I’d pushed it a little harder, I could have gotten a full replacement, but it still worked fine. So I didn’t care that much, plus I had a bunch of leftover wine from my wedding that needed to be cooled off ASAP. So I accepted what they offered, and overall think it was a pretty good deal (for a wedding present to myself :)). SETUP NOTES: When one of the feet was damaged during shipping, the customer service was phenomenal, and they made sure to send me a brand new one. It was mostly the delivery man’s fault, as the product was packed great. Now just keep in mind that this cooler is on the heavy side n- about a hundred and twenty pounds. You’re most likely going to need two people to move this around. BOTTOM LINE: The product is great, but the customer service makes it spectacular. You won’t regret this purchase! Overall, it’s pretty quiet, and although there’s a hum, it’s not super bothersome. It’s large enough to sit on the ground, but if you don’t want to squat down, you can set it on a table, too. Get it from Amazon now: $569.99 & FREE Return 3. NutriChef - Best Slim Wine Cooler KEY TAKEAWAY: Temperature remained steady during testing. TEMPERATURE TESTING: I really went all in with my research with this wine cooler. One of the main things I wanted to research was temperature. Using a high quality thermometer, I found that this wine cooler held the temperature without issue. However, further testing showed that the temperature varied about one to two degrees lower than what it was set at, which didn’t bother me that much. I was more concerned about it being too hot than too cold. DELIVERY CONDITION: This wine cooler was delivered in perfect condition. STAINLESS DESIGN: The material was slick, stainless steel, and I think it goes really well with the whole unit. BOTTLE COMPATIBILITY: I had another cooler and it was a bit wider than this one. The NutriChef holds thin bottles of wine easily, but the wider bottles won’t fit more than one on a shelf. Again, not a really big issue, but that’s just personal preference. INSTALLATION: The instructions were minimal, because it was really just that easy to put together. You do have to set it up for two hours before plugging it in, and you need to make sure that there’s some space on either side for ventilation, so keep that in mind when it comes to picking a spot for it. Also, make sure that you put the wine cooler somewhere where people won’t bump into it. The setup does recommend taking out the gasket to get the handle in, but I couldn’t figure out how to do that. Either way, I didn’t need it. The handle went in perfectly. I remember in a few people's reviews, there were comments on the seal, but contrary to what they said, the seal doesn’t actually need to be removed. You can just pull it to the side when you put in the screws. Anyway, I had it set up in less than ten minutes, and within half an hour, it had already set to the desired temperature I wanted it at. NOISE LEVEL: Every twenty minutes or so, you might hear some sounds, but beyond that, it’s really quiet. CUSTOMER SERVICE: If you accidentally hit the handle, like my daughter did with her knee, it will break the plastic on the inside and you can’t replace that. Despite that, the customer service was top-notch. After this accident, they sent us a completely new cooler free of charge, and didn’t even make me ship this one back. Seriously above expectations! DISPLAY LIGHT: My only real complaint is the blue display light. It would be nice to have the option to turn it off, but it’s not a super big deal. Plus, the display light is important. It shows the temperature so you don’t have to worry about it changing from the temperature you set it at. BOTTOM LINE: So, overall, I do not regret this purchase. I really love this thing, and if you like wine as much as I do, you will too. Despite some minor cons, I think it was a wise decision. The customer service of this brand (of which I'd never heard before) was attentive and effective. We enjoy it, so I would recommend it to anybody looking to add a wine fridge to their home. Get it from Amazon now: $335.99 & FREE Returns 4. Antarctic Star - Best Countertop Wine Cooler KEY TAKEAWAY: Ended up working quieter than the negative reviews claimed. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: My Antarctic wine cooler was delivered a week after ordering, which was sooner than I expected, so that was nice. TEMPERATURE SETTINGS: The top of the fridge isn’t as cold as the rest of it, but it gets the job done and looks great in the process. For a while, it seemed like it was getting a little warm, so I decided to keep the temperature closer to 52 degrees. I’m going to be aging some bottles so the cooler, the better. DISPLAY LIGHT: The display light is always on, but it’s not overbearing, and serves as a nightlight in my kitchen, which I kind of like when I stumble in half asleep for a cup of water. QUIET OPERATION: I can a hundred percent say that the negative reviews really don’t paint a good picture of this thing. Most of the complaints were about the noise, but this didn’t bother me at all, mainly because all fridges are going to have condenser noises, so it’s pretty much to be expected. My XBOX is louder than this thing lol. WIRE RACKS: The wire racks really bothered me. They was scratching the inside and I was struggling with getting more than four bottles of wine inside. I took them out, and now I can fit at least fifteen. DOOR INSTALLATION: The door is pretty heavy, so just be aware of that, especially if you plan to switch the door on either side. It’s reversible, so that’s cool, and helps with fitting it in tight spots. Just make sure that you line up the door right, otherwise you won’t have a tight seal. The trick is to just make sure that you don’t tighten the screws super tight until you have them in the right spot. CONDENSATION ISSUES: There is condensation that builds up beneath the door, so just keep in mind that you might get a small puddle beneath it. A drip pan could help with this. CUSTOMER SERVICE: I definitely give this five stars, mainly because the customer service was great and they said they’d give me replacement parts for anything that was defective. DESIGN FLAWS: I still feel it's necessary to make clear that there were some flaws to the design. Whoever installed the door originally scratched some of the outside, so that was annoying. The cover over the hinge also had a small thin crack and some scuffing on the exterior. When I was moving the cover for the hinge, the clasp snapped, but fortunately customer service is fixing that for me. BEVERAGE STORAGE: Even though it’s meant for wine, I keep everything from root better to coca cola inside it, and the space is actually really great. I’m really happy for it. VALUE: For the price, I think this is a really good investment, and I definitely recommend it. BOTTOM LINE: I did a lot of research before taking the leap, and I’m really glad I did. The quality is solid and durable, and despite the little hiccups, it’s working better than any other brand I’ve tried before. Also, it’s almost packed too well. Take your time getting the cellophane off and try not to get as frustrated as I did. The slower you go, the easier it will be to take it off. Get it from Amazon now: $149.99 & FREE Returns 5. FOVOMI - Best Large Wine Cooler KEY TAKEAWAY: Turned my random wine collection into a beautiful display. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: Wine sampling is my new hobby, and although I’ll never become a sommelier, trying out different wines has become a new hobby of mine, one I really enjoy. As a result, I knew I needed a good wine cooler to display my wine collection at home. I recently bought a whole bunch from the wineries from my vacation to Napa Valley. I learned that storage is half the battle, as keeping things on the cooler side keeps the flavors tasting full. FAST ASSEMBLY: It only took about ten minutes to set up, which was really nice. FEATURES: It's near silent, which I love. The touch screen buttons are so easy to use, too. You don’t have to push too hard at all, which is great, so I never have to worry about them breaking. And, in general, touch screen makes everything feel extra fancy. The temperature is adjustable which is really great. There’s a lock on it. Considering I stole alcohol from my parents as a kid, it’s nice to know that my children won’t be able to follow in my footsteps haha. STABLE PLACEMENT: I was worried about it damaging my flooring, but I’ve found that it’s not an issue in the slightest. It’s super stable. I can even use the top of it to set my plants and books on. DESIGN: The design is sleek and somehow manages to go great with my rustic kitchen, even though it’s on the modern side. But it could look great practically in every room in the house. DUAL-ZONE STORAGE: The cooler is dual-zone, which means I can store red wines on one side, white wines on the other. The differing temperatures is great because it maximizes the flavor and intensity in the taste of the wine, so I neer have to worry about it not going bad. LARGE CAPACITY: It’s massive. It can hold over fifty bottles! It’s about twenty inches wide and super spacious, but somehow doesn’t manage to take up my office either. You can store about five wine bottles per row, but personally, I stack them on top of each other, just because that way I can store even more, so that’s cool! And if you don’t drink wine, you can even use it for water and soda. BOTTOM LINE: A lot of people talked about the design of this thing, and boy, I can’t agree more. Although it’s listed as a wine fridge, it’s more like its own appliance. So, overall, if you’re looking for a good cooler, wine fridge, or just a secure place to store your favorite beverages, then this is it for you! It’s just a really convenient thing to have, and I’m really happy with the purchase! Get it from Amazon now: $539.99 & FREE Returns 6. SCHMÉCKÉ - Best Small Wine Cooler KEY TAKEAWAY: I loved how little electricity this wine cooler uses. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: After always forgetting to drink the wine that gets shoved into the back of the fridge, I decided to splurge on myself for Mothers Day. C’mon, even us mommas need our toys to help us relax! SHIPPING & DELIVERY: I was a little annoyed when I was told how long it would take to ship, mainly because I was so excited to get it, but I was pleasantly surprised when it got delivered four days early! It came packaged super safe with good foam packing and as a result was in great condition. OPERATING COST: It only uses 50 watts to operate, which is better than I expected! I did the math for you, and essentially it only takes just over ten cents a day to run, just to let everyone know–that means it’s worth it! DESIGN: The appearance is so sleek. It’s mirrored, with a 3 inch edging and the LED light is blue, which looks so nice. It seemed a little wobbly at first, but you can adjust the screws on the feet at the base, so I recommend doing that if you find it is a little crooked. It’s super easy to move around and very light weight and the door opens on the left side, which I wasn’t expecting, but don’t really mind. FEATURES: After comparing the temperature with a thermometer gauge, it is really accurate, which is great. I also like that it's in Fahrenheit, which is a little detail I liked. It’s so quiet, I don’t even notice it. MINOR CON: I do have allergies though, so the new smell out of the box was a little intense, but that’s just me. If it’s really an issue. I’d recommend opening it with your windows open or on a porch, but that’s just me. BOTTOM LINE: This countertop beverage cooler is exactly the thing that my kitchen was missing. It has a modern design that looks straight out of Barbie’s dreamhouse, except it’s not pink, which is just fine haha. It’s elegant and makes me feel extra fancy when I have friends over for wine and cheese night. I checked out a few other designs that were larger, but ultimately I’m really happy I went with the compact option. It works great, too, the temperature stays the same, the display light is a really nice touch, and the touch screen is a really awesome little user-friendly upgrade. So, overall, I can’t get over how great this thing works, and I’m really, really happy with it. I really like this and plan to all my mommy friends that they too need a wine cooler to help them relax after the kiddos go to sleep. Get it from Amazon now: $279.99 & FREE Returns 7. Ivation - Best Compressor Wine Cooler KEY TAKEAWAY: Gave me the closest thing possible to a wine cellar in my humble Florida kitchen. HOME CELLAR: I always wanted a wine cellar in my home, but let’s be real, it’s not plausible when you live in Florida haha! This was the next best thing, and it keeps me from having to trek to a separate place to get my wine. Now I can just fit this right in the middle of my kitchen. Set up went super smooth, and if you’re worried about needing a level to make sure it stays even, you can put a tennis ball on the top of the cooler to make sure it doesn’t roll, that will help you keep it level. COMPRESSOR UNIT: I was really on the fence about whether I should get a wine cooler with a compressor or one that was thermoelectric, but I seriously am so happy I went with this compressor unit. TEMPERATURE CONTROL: After some research, I found that the best temperature is a solid 55 degrees, which is great for wine storage, and it’s almost the same temperature that actual vineyards use in their cellars, which is really cool that this mimics that. I was worried about the temperature staying even, but I had zero problem with it. SETUP PROCESS: Set up was very easy, and I had no problem assembling this. The directions were really easy to follow, I just definitely recommend making sure you’re giving extra space on either side of the cooler to ensure you have good ventilation. So just make sure you’re storing it in an area that has a little extra room and that it’s not pressed up against walls or in a tight space. MODERN DESIGN: This wine cooler is so elegant and modern, and I just love how sleek the design is. QUIET OPERATION: The sound people complained about really seemed exaggerated. It’s not that loud at all, nothing worse than the sounds my ice maker makes, and now it just blurs in with the rest of the kitchen sounds. You’ll hear a few sounds from the compressors, but that’s to be expected. LARGER BOTTLES: While larger bottles like champagne don’t necessarily fit in bulk there, you can make it work if you remove a rack, but I’m using this purely for wine and found it’s not an issue at all. BOTTOM LINE: It looks great, blends in with my appliances, and the temperature is super steady. I’m so pleased with this thing, and now it almost feels like a treat when I buy wine! Get it from Amazon now: $249.99 & FREE Returns 8. AAOBOSI - Best Wine Cooler for Champagne Bottles KEY TAKEAWAY: This is a great showcase cooler if you want people noticing your wine. DELIVERY & PACKAGING: I loved this cooler from the moment I got it. It was packed perfectly, and although it was nearly a hundred pounds, it wasn’t damaged upon delivery. Just be careful when you unpack it, because the box is a tight fit, and I didn’t want to damage it by shaking it out of the box, so I ended up just using a box cutter to free it from its constraints, and it worked great. BOTTLE STORAGE: Now, keep in mind, when it comes to wine, different bottles offer different sizes, depending where you get it from. Wine from California and Chile are larger than wines from France, so you’re not going to get as many bottles in there compared to Bordeaux wine. SHELF LAYOUT: It’s important to also keep in mind that the shelves are different sizes, and you’ll want to keep the longer bottles in the top shelf instead of the bottom shelf. Top top zone is a little cooler and great for whites, while the bottom zone is better for reds as it is warmer. As a self proclaimed wine connoisseur this is exactly what I was looking for. AIR CIRCULATION: I really like that there are four fans in this and that it comes with a filter, although you’ll want to make sure to replace that every year. I really enjoy the LED blue display light. I’m really glad I purchased a cooler that came with a compressor, since the room I keep this in doesn’t have its own air conditioning. I’m pretty sure a thermoelectric option wouldn’t keep this as cool, so that’s nice. CHEAP SCREWS: There were a couple design flaws that bothered me, mainly the screws. They seem cheaply made and it’s not only awkward to install them, but they ended stripping when I tightened them. Just be careful not to screw them too tight, but even so, it might still rattle a little, but it’s not a big deal. BOTTOM LINE: Overall, it’s a great showcase cooler that can show off your wine collection. There’s some fine details on the front that just make it look like a nice piece of furniture, and the interior is nicely designed, as well. However, just as a cooler, it does seem a little overpriced and small. It’s more of a fancy show piece. If you are more concerned about practicality than showmanship, I’d probably recommend buying two separate coolers for each red and white, but for showing off your wine, and still keeping them cool, this does a good enough job. It’s listed as being able to store Bordeaux size bottles (I didn’t know they were smaller). So for what it’s worth, it does everything it says it’s supposed to, so for that I give it a five out of five stars! Get it from Amazon now: $639.99 & FREE Returns

We tested and ranked the best portable ice makers from the most popular brands, but our no. 1 spot remains unchanged. Read our hands-on insights. Note: Prices were correct at the time of writing. 1. GE Profile Opal - Best Nugget Ice Maker KEY TAKEAWAY: Quickly produces tasty, crunchable, chewy ice. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: I don't know if you’ve ever been to Sonic. If you did, you probably know that they have great roller skates. But we're here to talk about ice, and Sonic's is truly amazing. It's just different. Years later, when I realized that portable ice makers exist and you could make my own ice like this, I became hooked! I knew I needed to get one of these GE ice makers. Since I got it for a pretty good deal, I ended up making sure I got the water attachment, and I’m really happy I ended up adding that on there. I definitely recommend getting it if you’re on the fence. SIDE TANK VALUE: If you don’t have the side container, then you’d have to remove the ice basket and fill it up with water from underneath, and yeah, that can be messy. Essentially some of the ice can slip through the holes in the basket. So it’s definitely worth getting it. CONS: I’m sure that this doesn’t happen to everyone, but the side tank on mine arrived a little scratched, along with the ice maker lid. I ended up keeping it, but I think I could have probably given it back. The feet of this thing are pretty sharp and they scratched my counter which really annoyed me. It would have been nice if there had been a warning about that, or if they’d put those little furniture covers on them to stop them from scratching things. This isn’t a freezer, so keep that in mind. There’s no holder for the ice scooper which is kind of annoying. If you keep it inside the ice maker, it can get lost in the ice. It’s supposed to just make a little hum, but this thing can get pretty loud. And my apartment is pretty small, so I end up hearing everything regardless of whether I’m in the kitchen or not. Personally, I disagree with the reviews that said it wasn’t louder than my fridge. It definitely is if you ask me. BOTTOM LINE: Despite all this, I really love this thing. It’s just one of those simple things that makes life better! Just such a reliable and efficient appliance, and one I officially cannot live without. I use it so often that I end up having to refill the water attachment multiple times a week. I think that as long as you get the side tank, it’s definitely worth it! So if you're on the fence, get the side tank, otherwise it's to expensive for what you're getting. By the way, it performed even better during some testing which Or Shalom covered in her GE profile ice maker review. Get it from Amazon now: $549.00 & FREE Return 2. GoveeLife - Best Smart Ice Maker KEY TAKEAWAY: I loved being able to start making ice before getting home. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: The best part of having so many smart devices around my house is that I get to come up with all these fun names for them haha. But beyond that, it’s just super nice that I can finally have a working ice machine. I can’t even begin to express how annoying it is to have a fridge that works in every regard except the ice machine. My friends and I are convinced the fridges do that on purpose, don’t know why, but it’s annoying. Never again! So now I’m six weeks into a relationship with this ice maker, and boy, oh boy, what a great partner this little puppy has started to become. Just so nice to be able to turn it on when I’m not even home. REMOTE CONTROL: One of the best things about this portable countertop ice maker is that I can control it when I’m not even home. I’m terrible at making plans in advance, so I can’t explain how cool this is. I can just tell my Alexa to turn on Roxy and then when I get home, my ice is already ready. I didn't mention I live in Florida. In other words, I need ice in my drinks because I essentially live in a sauna. So yeah haha. CLEANING: I also love that Miss Roxy has a cleaning mode that will remind you when it’s time to give her a good scrubbing - and the best part about that? I don’t even have to clean it lol. You just press a button and it runs a cleaning cycle. ICE SIZE: I really only have one issue with this thing… I can’t really tell the difference between the variety of ice cube sizes, but maybe that’s just me. I dunno. I don’t really think it matters either way, though. At the end of the day, it’s a picky thing that really doesn’t bother me that much, because I like the small sized cubes and would probably use those even if the other sized cubes were much bigger. And the small isn’t even that small. I really love this thing. ICE DELAY TIME: While it’s awesome coming home to freshly made ice cubes, it does take about half an hour to get enough ice made to cool down a large cup. In other words, if you forget to get it moving before you get home, you’re going to be waiting a while. THIN ICE: The ice isn’t super thick, so you really need to make a lot of it in order to cool off your drinks so they’re actually, you know, ice cold. DURABILITY: The plastic on the button on the outside has also started to peel a little, which is kind of annoying. It still works perfectly, but if, after six weeks and this is already happening, it does make me question the durability of the product as a whole. SCOOP ISSUE: This one is for the manufacturers: why for the love of God did you not at least put a nail on the outside to hang the ice scoop. Like at the very cheapest, you could have done that. I feel like you’re selling these for a high enough price point that you could have even splurged on a little plastic container connected to the outside to store the scoop…but at this point, I would take a nail hanging outside it to hang the scoop up. That’s how annoying it is to have to store the ice scoop inside the machine and then have to dig through freshly made ice to get it. Yeah…no bueno. BOTTOM LINE: Overall, I like it. But yeah, keep the cons in mind too. I'm a very annoying person who tends to find flaws in just about every product I order. I was trying to give you my hands-on thoughts. Hope it helps. Get it from Amazon now: $159.99 & FREE Returns 3. Frigidaire - Best Budget Ice Maker KEY TAKEAWAY: Produces way more ice than any other ice maker I've owned. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: Like most people who ended up getting one of these, I also had issues with my ice maker in my freezer. I feel like those things are meant to break. They never work! And I just didn’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a new fridge just so I could have some ice. I love having pellet ice in my soda, and since I don’t drink coffee, this is how I get my caffeine fix. HIGH OUTPUT: I pretty much filled up a YETI sized thing of ice, and I knew I wanted this thing so I ended up giving it to myself for Christmas. This thing was already getting to work by 11am on Christmas morning, and it made enough ice that day to feed the whole family! I made so much in fact that I ended up filling up empty bags with it and just stuffing them into my freezer. You can read Holly Nasello's full Frigidaire ice maker review for additional notes (and some photos). COST SAVINGS: I can’t wait for fishing season. This amount of ice is gonna go along way and save me so much money that I would have spent on buying actual bags of ice, and now I can have so many extra bags in the garage, that it won’t even be an issue. USER FRIENDLINESS: Running it is super easy and it’s pretty simple to use. You can drain it really easily and then just wipe it down to keep it clean. I’d guesstimate that it makes about twenty pounds every day. Just make sure you keep emptying the bin when it fills up. Just an awesome product. Definitely going to buy this again! Get it from Amazon now: $99.99 & FREE Returns 4. COWSAR - Best Bullet Ice Maker KEY TAKEAWAY: Worked great with the filtered water I already use daily. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: I’m very sensitive to any minerals in water, and I definitely have a sensitivity to fluoride, so I really hate drinking tap water and definitely don’t like unfiltered water in general. Specifically, I need water that is filtered with reverse osmosis. Brita doesn’t even do that, so I essentially end up having to use bottled water for everything. I use insulated bottles so the ice in this lasts longer, and that's the reason I love this ice maker so much! Although the ice cubes are smaller than I expected, the pellet ice stays in my cups longer than it would otherwise. COUNTERTOP SIZE: I did a fair amount of research before buying this baby. It’s a little smaller than other ice maker machines I’ve seen, and I actually like that. It fits perfectly on my counter, right below the cabinets. SIMPLE OPERATION: It’s really easy to use. All you have to do is fill up the reservoir with your water, then you just slide the ice bin inside and turn it on! In about six minutes, you’ll get about nine ice cubes, and it will keep producing the ice until it’s full, and the sensor tells you when it’s full of ice. Then when the ice melts, it just drips back the water into the bin and remakes the ice. Pretty nifty if you ask me. I also really like how the ice works in my blender now. The old ice in my freezer took forever to blend up, and this just works so much better. FEATURES: It’s just so easy to use and I’d say it’s a lot quieter than other ice maker machines I’ve used in the past. I like the handle a lot because it makes it super portable, so you can move it around wherever you want. I also love how easy it is to clean, it comes with a self cleaning feature so you don’t even have to clean it… haha. There’s a plug in the bottom of it that allows you to empty out the unit without having to flip it over. And I really like that it comes with an ice bag, too. All you have to do is just keep emptying the basket into the bag and that stops the ice from melting. BOTTOM LINE: I love that I have this large bag of ice in my freezer now and I don’t have to twist those tiny ice trays anymore. Get it from Amazon now: $69.99 & FREE Returns 5. AGLUCKY - Best Portable Ice Maker KEY TAKEAWAY: Even with the very small size, it pumped out a decent amount of ice. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS: It’s been about five minutes since I got this thing, and man have I gotten my money’s worth! This thing makes over twenty six pounds of ice a day, and I love that I don’t have to go out and buy bags of ice now. My fridge isn’t big enough to have an ice maker, so I always knew I wanted one of these, and I’m just so happy I took the plunge and got this thing. COUNTERSPACE FIT: I was a little worried, because my lake cabin doesn’t have a lot of counter space, but to my surprise this thing was actually small enough and fit perfectly on my counter. BUYER EXPERIENCE: I did buy it on sale and I’m glad for that. And I’m even happier that I ignored all the negative reviews that complained that this would stop working after thirty days or the reviews that said there was no customer service. It just isn’t true, at least from my personal experience. USER ROUTINE: Haven’t had any issues in all this time buying it, and that’s actually why I waited so long to write this review. I use this thing about one to two times a week and I love it so much. When I’m done, I unplug it, open the lid, and allow it to dry out. WET ICE NOTES: I will say in advance that the ice cubes are on the wet side, they’re not super frozen, but that’s okay if you ask me. They don’t last forever, and if you do put them in the freezer they can clump up together. But you can avoid this if you just transfer them to a gallon bag when they’re done and then lay them flat in the bag in the freezer. All you have to do is shake up the bag to break it into pieces. And then... repeat! OUTPUT: When you fill the bucket once, it makes enough ice in one cycle to fill my freezer completely. When I’m done, I just fill it back up. It’s that easy. Honestly, filling it in bags may sound time consuming, but it’s leaps and bounds better than the idea of using ice cube trays. BOTTOM LINE: The ice cubes are on the smaller side, about a third smaller than your typical ice cube, but I love it that way. Gone are the days where I have to shove large ice cubes into water bottles. And it makes great cocktails too! And the nine minute promise is no joke. It makes a great amount in that time, too. Love this thing. Get it from Amazon now: $89.99 & FREE Returns 6. VIVOHOME - Best Ice Maker for Families KEY TAKEAWAY: Great for family use if you’re not trying to stockpile ice bags. FAMILY USE: This ice machine produces so much ice I can barely keep up! It typically stops creating ice after it creates about seventy five small cubes, and I find that that amount is plenty for my family of four. It’s advertised as making a crap ton more, but it really can only do that if you are continuously emptying out the basket and you really only need to do that if you’re planning on having a party of some sort, but it’s kind of time consuming to continuously move it into bags. Personally, I think it works better as a short term solution that you’re using as it comes, not something where you’re trying to stock ice. SETUP: Set up is pretty straight forward. You plug it in, you pour in water, and in about ten minutes you’ll get your first batch of ice. CUBE SIZE: They come in two sizes, small and large - it’s basic, remember? I would say the larger cubes are about fifty percent larger than the smaller ones and that the smaller ones are about the size of my husband’s thumb nail. He doesn’t have the biggest hands though, so take that as you will. All the cubes have a hole in the middle, which essentially allows them to melt faster and cool your drinks quicker. SCOOPING ISSUE: It is a compact machine though, so it’s a little difficult scooping the ice out. I end up just using my fingers. CLEANING MODE: The instruction manual is lacking. Not really any info on how to get the cleaning cycle going, but it’s pretty easy to figure out once you understand how it works. You put it in stand by and hold the power button for up to five seconds, and then it turns on, and you let go of the button, and wah-lah! Cleaning mode activated. Remember it’s not making ice when this is happening, and it will keep going until you shut it off. It’s not necessary, but I typically add some vinegar in there when it does the cleaning cycle and then I run it one extra time with filtered water. After it’s done cleaning, I end up making my ice, and it typically takes just under seven minutes to get a nice sized bag. BOTTOM LINE: I’m very happy with it. This ice maker serves its function. It's compact, easy to use, pretty much portable, and it has a sleek design. I guess you can find a better one if you pay more, but for the money, this thing is solid. Get it from Amazon now: $249.99 & FREE Returns 7. Igloo - Best Self-Cleaning Ice Maker KEY TAKEAWAY: Solved a lot of the maintenance headaches I had with other models. PERSONAL BACKSTORY: After owning two different brands of these portable ice makers, I can officially say that the third time is truly a charm. All the negatives I experienced with my other pellet ice machine are non existent with this one! And I’m convinced it comes down to the self cleaning mechanism, that is really the most important part of these things. If you keep them clean, they will last. And I found that with other models, the self cleaning function definitely didn’t work as well as it was supposed to. CLEANING: With the Igloo, the self cleaning function just works amazingly. Gone are the days where I’m scrubbing with a brush and vinegar, knowing that if I don’t clean it by hand, the ice is going to taste bad. Now I just follow the instructions that explain the right solution and ration, and then I sit back and let it do its thing. HANDLE FEATURE: I love how there is a little handle on top of the machine that makes it easier for me to store it and slide it under the counter. Keep in mind that when you’re draining the ice maker, you have to tilt it to empty it out, otherwise it leaves a pool of water that can create mold when you’re not using it. The handle definitely helps with the tilting aspect, and this was something other models I’ve tried in the past lacked. DURABILITY: My last machine just quit working, specifically the power button just no longer worked, like it short circuited after two years. So far, this product seems to be made much more durable–for example, the power button is in an area that I’m not using often. On other brands and models, the power button was on the lid that you had to keep moving around, and I think that eventually led to its demise. BOTTOM LINE: Although only time will tell on how long this will last, I can confidently say that this is my new favorite brand... Very happy with this product so far! Get it from Amazon now: $94.99 & FREE Returns 8. Frigidaire XL - Best Clear Ice Maker KEY TAKEAWAY: This clear ice melts much slower than normal cubes. BROKEN FRIDGE ISSUE: Like most other reviewers who bought a countertop ice maker, my ice maker in my fridge quit working on me, and there was no way I was going to pay to get it fixed. I love this ice maker and I’m so happy I ended up getting it. I mainly went with it because the reviews were so positive, but I didn’t go in blind. I reviewed all the negative reviews in the process, too. UNBOXING: Packaging came in a really solid box and I had zero issues unpacking it. New and great looking. MANUAL: Not great. You’ll figure out more by playing around with the machine than actually trying to understand the poorly written instructions. PLASTIC SCOOP: Kind of odd and awkward and not great for getting the ice out. I ended up using tongs as a replacement. SETUP: I waited an hour before plugging it in (about the only thing I did understand from the manual) and then I used bottled water to fill up the tank. I kept space free behind the exhaust fan as it does expel warm up. Not difficult to set up. SOUND LEVEL: Surprised me just how silent it actually was, and it only runs when it’s producing ice. ICE PRODUCTION: Produces clear sheets that have twenty four ice cubes and the size of each of the cubes is consistent. The ice production is quick and then the sheets fall out into the bin and for the most part remain in their shape and don’t separate from the sheet, so you’ll need to break them up with the tongs. I do like how the ice is clear and they don’t immediately melt. In other words, they last. You can store sheets in the freezer which is super convenient. BIN DETECTION: If your bin is already full, the new sheet of ice won’t always fall all the way down, which is to be expected. Although I did find that sometimes it didn’t register correctly and would stop making ice even if the bin wasn’t full. All you have to do then is just move around the ice in the basket so it reads that there is ice in the basket and then it starts back up again. you have to. One icon alerts you that the bin is full of ice and the other one reminds you to add more water. Any ice that melts will recycle back through it to make new ice which is cool. And, yeah, a timer is there, but it’s kind of pointless if you ask me. TEMP DISPLAY: The temperature displayed has nothing to do with the room temperature and seems like it’s there more for show than anything. PRO TIP: when you’re putting the ice in the bag, make sure you get the air out and keep the ice flat in the bag in your freezer, otherwise you run the risk of it bunching up into a block. Keeping it flat stops this from happening. BOTTOM LINE: I’m a few months into adding this into my life. It already has done great at both my Memorial Day bash and my Fourth of July party. I’m thinking of getting a second one for Labor Day! The ice is clear, cubed, and cold, exactly what I wanted. It’s a little inconvenient to have to continue to break up the sheets of ice and move the ice around if it mistakenly reads that the bin is full. But for the price, and the amount of money it’s saved me on buying bags of ice…it’s worth it. It really seems pretty durable, but I recommend buying the twenty dollar four year warranty, like I did. Get it from Amazon now: $169.99 & FREE Returns