The Official Smarthome Blog – All Things Home Automation

Nobody enjoys doing chores, but they need to get done! A good cleaning job, however, doesn’t need to take up your whole weekend. Take a look at these smart cleaning solutions to speed up the process, and get to doing what more important things with your time!

Don’t Trash Your Plastic Bags, Recycle Them

• Slim, narrow shape
• Sturdy, non-skid base
• Works with grocery bags

The simplehuman grocery bag can is designed for use with plastic grocery bags. Custom handles on the side of the trash can hold the bags securely in place, for a great recycling solution. Slim, profile shape fits in narrow spaces and uses grocery bags efficiently. The simplehuman grocery bag cans are designed to be used with standard trash bags or simplehuman can liners.

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Ration How Much Hand Soap You Use and Save Money

• Infrared (IR) sensor for hands-free soap dispensing
• Blinking LED indicator for germ-free lather time
• Adjustable automatic soap dispensing volume and manual dispensing button
• Clear soap chamber with an easy twist off lid
• Battery powered, no plug

“We tested the soap dispenser at home & at work (dozens of people used them). It worked consistently every time. There is a dial that you can switch to allow for “more” or “less” soap to be dispensed. Additional, you can have an automatic LED come on to let you know how long to wash your hands. It worked with thin or thick liquid soap and we found a setting that dispensed the perfect amount. The pump has a sleek design and looks good in either a bathroom or a kitchen.”
Kyle M. – Smarthome Product Testing

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Mop and Sweep Every Inch Of Your House with Ease

• Pads attach instantly to T-grips
• Head rotates to any angle
• Handle telescopes to over 5 1/2 feet with head

The Quantum Reach “Broom Mop Duster”
is a unique cleaning tool that will clean any house from top to bottom. The Quantum Reach’s patent-pending design provides cleaning power to hard-to-reach areas for sweeping, mopping and dusting. Quantum Reach includes 3 Microfiber pads (Chenille, Dust and Mop) for cleaning, mopping and dusting all areas in every home, apartment or RV, including floors and windows.

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You can now add one more product to the growing number of off the grid solar powered products available to help save you money by cutting down on your electricity costs and dependence. The HomeSelects HS4203 Solar LED Lamp, Green, is a completely self-sustaining multipurpose lamp that does not use any electrical connections to power it. Instead, this lamp has a removable solar panel which stores and uses sunlight to power 3, 1.2-volt rechargeable AA batteries which power it for hours. Not needing an electrical connection gives this solar lamp the ability to be ultra-versatile and used where ever and whenever you need it. Use it in outdoor settings such as camping, hiking and barbecuing or in traditional indoor settings such as a dorm room, bedroom or desk lamp. The adjustable gooseneck makes sure that you can direct light where ever you need it most. The use of LEDs keeps this lamp cool to the touch while also making it more durable as LEDs last up to 10 times longer than traditional light bulbs. One constant, regardless of the application you choose to use it for, is that by using the free energy of the sun you will not have any additional operating costs associated with this lamp.

To get a full battery charge the solar panel will need to be exposed to about 6-8 hours of direct sunlight either by removing the solar panel and placing in the sun or leaving the solar panel attached and placing the entire lamp in the sun. The LED lamp will have about 4-5 hours of operating time when fully charged so even if you aren’t able to get a full days charge a few hours of sunlight can still get you an hour or two of lighting time. Makes a great gift for kids heading off to college to live in dorms where space and electrical outlets are limited.

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The Orbit 56256 is a front trigger wand that provides a gentle rainlike spray that is ideal for plants and flowers. With an easy to use front trigger desing and flow control lever, this wand provides flexibility in watering. Whether watering your shrubs or spritzing hard to reach hanging plants, the front trigger wand provides thorough watering while being easy to maneuver.

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The Voice Alert System-6 combines wireless and digital voice technology to create the most flexible and cost-effective annunciation system available today. When a zone is breached, a signal is sent up to 1000 feet (300′ through walls) to the remote base unit. The system includes one sensor and a base unit, which plays a user (voice-recorded) message identifying that specific zone when the sensor is triggered.

Serves as excellent plug and play solution for hard-to-wire areas. It also features multiple “C” relays enabling it to trigger additional devices or integrate into a larger security or home automation system.

Features:

• 6-Zone monitoring capability
• Customized voice-recordable alerts
• All weather, wireless PIR sensor transmitter
• Multiple beam patterns for optimal detection
• Adjustable mounting, beam sensitivity, and delay timer
• 4 “C” relays
• AC/DC power adaptor 6′ cord

Installation Made Easy
To install, simply mount the PIR where you need zone control, plug in the base unit and then record a voice message to identify each zone. Other features include: On/Off switch, adjustable volume control, missed message indicator, missed message playback, one button message check, and low battery voice notification.

Residential Security and Notification
The Wireless Voice Alert System-6 offers homeowners security, notification, convenience, and most of all peace of mind. Whether it is used as a simple driveway alarm or as a full wireless security system, Voice Alert System-6 stands out by being easy to use, totally flexible and very cost-effective.

1000-Foot Range
With a range of up to 1000 feet (300′ through walls) and the ability to trigger additional devices using “C” relays (lights, alarms, home automation), the Voice Alert System-6 offers installers, homeowners, and automation enthusiasts an ideal solution for hard-to-wire situations. Common Residential Applications include: Driveway Alarm, Perimeter Security, Intruder Detection, Visitor Notification, Child Monitoring and Safety, Outside Structure Protection, Auto Security, and General Property Protection.

Commercial Security Applications
Voice Alert System-6 can support commercial users by monitoring their storeroom inventory, announcing customers, or even promoting products on sale. Since System-6 features user-recorded alerts, the variety of applications depends primarily on the type of commercial operation. Read more

- This innovative fruit and vegetable peeler makes peeling unwanted skin easy.

It removes significantly more unwanted skin in each peeling movement than a conventional peeler can – thereby speeding up this laborious task. Suitable for all fruit and vegetables, the design also incorporates an eye-remover at its tip and has a comfortable soft-grip handle.

- A magnetic measuring spoon will stay within reach so that you don’t have to go searching for it!
These fun, colorful measuring spoons are an essential piece of kitchen equipment. The teaspoon and tablespoon measures each contain a 1/2-measure fill line and magnets within the handle make it easy to attach to a fridge or any metal surface.

Not only are they always within reach, but they also make ideal memo holders. They are also dishwasher safe.

- Unique Chopping Board Allows Easier Pouring of Vegetables
Slice, dice, funnel and shovel your foods to your heart’s content with our Dexas 322-32-25 Chop & Scoop. This unique board features a special shape that allows you to cut and dice your food, then easily scoop bits and pieces into a pan or bowl. While pouring or sliding foods off the board, the raised edges make sure that juices don’t escape.
The non-stick cutting surface is non-porous, non-absorbent, stain-resistant, and durable so your knives or board won’t get damaged, nor will odors seep in. This chopping board is made out of durable Polypropylene and Santoprene for lightweight use. It’s also dishwasher-safe.