Just recently I purchased the nuvoH2O water conditioning system for my home. I can’t believe the difference it has already made. The nuvoH2O cartridge was extremely easy to install and doesn’t require any salt or electricity.

My skin is already softer, my hair feels cleaner and I am happy knowing there will be no left over hard water spots. Not to mention it will extend the life of my appliances.

I can’t wait to see how much I have already saved on my utility bills, since the nuvoH2O uses four times less water than others, and again requires no electricity. The nuvoH2O is small and easy enough for anyone to install. It will fit easily in your apartment, condo, or house.

I would recommend the nuvoH2O water conditioning system to anyone that has been stuck with hard water. It is 100% worth the price.

The Rug Doctor Mighty Pro has been a life-savor for me while raising my puppy. There were many times I would catch him in the act, and luckily I had some Urine Eliminator wipes to help, but for the times I missed, I’d just pull out my Mighty Pro, load it up with some Urine Eliminator and get the job done with just one powerful cleaning pass. Doing so helped the potty training stage go much faster as dogs are very likely to mark the same spot as before if the mess hasn’t been properly cleaned up.

Luckily the Urine Eliminator is safe for pets, so I didn’t have to worry about it causing any harm to him.  I must have gone through three bottles during his potty training stage.  Now that he is a little older, and I have acquired another dog since him, I just have to worry about two sets of muddy paws on my carpet and in my car. Luckily for me the Mighty Pro can handle anything I throw at it.

After a long day at the dog park I am very thankful that the Mighty Pro comes with the upholstery attachment. The 12’ hose attachment is perfect for cleaning out my back seat to remove dirt, drool and fur.

You don’t have to kick your pets outside in order to enjoy a clean house. Accidents will always happen, but if you have the right cleaning products you don’t have to live with these accidents forever. With the 5 year warranty and the professional quality Rug Doctor cleaning kit, the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro is well worth the price!

It was a mind-blowing experience seeing all of the new products.f

I was like a kid in the candy store.

Let me say I love tools.

In fact, that’s an understatement.

Some people collect baseball cards.

Others collect cars.

I collect (and use) tools.

And, it’s no secret that I’m a fan of Little Giant Ladders.

In fact, I own several of them.

As I was going through all of my photos from our Vegas trip, I realized I didn’t post anything about the show.

Sorry about that.

Anyway, some might say I’m even too much of fan as I made my family drive by their World Quarters in Springville, Utah on our way to the Hardware Show.

But that’s another story.

I’m excited about the new Select Step ladder by Little Giant that they released at the Hardware Show.

Why am I so excited?

Comfort

Thanks to the new comfort platform, standing on this ladder for long periods of time virtually eliminates tired and aching feet. It also comes with a no-pinch handle making it easy to put up and down without worrying about losing a finger.

Stability

The Select Step has a wider stance than other Little Giant Ladders and has a more flared end on one side. Its adjustable between 5′-8′ so the added stability the base provides makes all heights feel as if you were only a foot or two off the ground.

Versatility

Like it’s predecessors, the Select Step is like having a couple of ladders in one convenient package. It looks like an a-frame ladder but also converts easily into a staircase ladder for light bulbs and hanging pictures or a 90-degree ladder making it easy to get snug up against walls.

Portability

The model I saw had wheels but the ladder felt light enough not to need it. It’s there if you do, and doesn’t get in the way if you don’t.

Affordability

The Select Step starts at $239. It’s hard to beat a ladder that has this much punch for such an affordable price!

I definitely think I’ll be adding the Select Step to the collection!

Anyone else see or buy it yet? What do you think?

We gave one of these (model 17) as a gift to my sister a year or so ago and she loves how light and easy it is to move around.  She does a lot of work around the house and has tall ceilings and so this was the perfect Christmas gift.

Alta-One Features:

• Patented Triple-Locking Hinges
• Tip & Glide Wheels (models 17, 22 and 26)
• Heavy-wall aircraft-grade aluminum construction
• Rated to hold up to 300 lbs.
• Combines 24 different ladders into one convenient ladder system
• Lightweight and portable
• Complies with all applicable OSHA & ANSI A14.2 standards
• Includes a full Lifetime Warranty

If you’re like me, you want to read reviews before making a decision:

Alta-One Ladder Reviews (“Borrowed” from LittleGiantLadder.com)

Review by Richard L. –  ”I have owned a Type I model 17 for a few years. I own other ladders but use the Little Giant almost all the time. Easy to use for most projects.”

Review by Nick –  ”I have a window cleaning business, and I have a little giant ladder, and let me tell you I could not live without it. The ladder is always being used. My customers recognize it immediately from the commercials, and instantly start asking questions about it, and if I like it or not. I respond every single time with ” I LOVE IT, COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT IT!” The little giant ladder is a must have for anybody. I highly recommend it!”

Review by Chris – “We just got a our first home and we didn’t want to purchase a bunch of ladders that we may or may not need, so we went with the Type 1. It’s really easy to get to the ceiling (we have a cathedral ceiling in the front room and kitchen) to paint and to hang lights on the outside. It saves a lot of space since we don’t have a big garage and no basement.”

Read more Little Giant Alta-One Ladder reviews.

If you’re interested in getting a Little Giant Ladder and want to save a little money, you can get one of their certified models from the LittleGiantOutlet.com.

While several products are out of stock due to being sold out, there are still some great opportunities on the site, including:

• Little Giant Type 1A Classic Model 17 ladder – You can get a type 1a classic model 17 for $269 which is normally $359.80
• Little Giant Type 1 Model 17 ladder – Get a type 1 model 17 for only $195 which is normally $279.99

If you want to get Little Giant Ladder accessories, you’ll still have to order them from littlegiantladder.com but all items there come with free shipping and no sales tax.

We’ve seen several ladders live on the site then they’re out of stock quickly because these are some of the best deals we’ve seen online. We’ve bookmarked this site and check it often!

The Little Giant Ladder Outlet site not only offers some great deals but they also still offer free shipping and no sales tax (except in Utah). Not a bad deal for anyone looking for Little Giant Ladders for less!

And, these measuring tips work regardless if you’re measuring for vertical blinds, wood blinds or really any other window treatments.

Luckily, measuring for window blinds doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think. If you are purchasing outside mounted blinds, you need to decide how much of the area around the window you wish to cover. Then, simply measure the window as well as the space that you wish to cover. Generally, you should not plan to cover more than two inches worth of space around the window you are planning to cover. Furthermore, you should measure in three different places in order to make certain you are obtaining the right measurement. In other words, measure the width at the top, the middle and the bottom of the window. Then round the longest measurement to the nearest 1/8 of an inch.

If you don’t want to cover up your decorative window molding, you might want to install inside mounted window blinds instead. If so, you need to first make sure your window casing is deep enough to allow for the hardware necessary for inside mounted window blinds. Just as with the outside mounted window blinds, you will need to take measurements in three places.  Since your inside mounted window blinds should not extend beyond the bottom of the window casing, you will also need to measure the length in three places in order to make certain you get the best fit.

If you are ordering blinds for more than one window, it is important for you to take measurements of all of the windows. Even if the windows look the same, slight variations in size can occur. Therefore, you want to make certain the blinds you purchase are able to fit each window properly.

• Venetian blinds – comprised of horizontal slats that are stacked on top of each other. The slats may be rotated to various angles in order to control the amount of light that is allowed in.
• Mini blinds – similar to Venetian blinds, but the slats are narrower.
• Composite blinds – made from a combination of polymers and wood products, which makes them both economical and durable. These blinds often look and feel like plastic.
• Wood blinds – a form of Venetian blind that is made with wood slats. There are also faux wood blinds that match the look and a little cheaper.
• Vertical blinds – typically has wider slats than those found in Venetian blinds and the slats hang vertically rather than horizontally. These blinds are available in faux wood, wood, fabric and vinyl.
• Honeycomb blinds – also referred to as cellular shades, these energy-efficient shades are made from individual cells that are glued together in order to create air pockets.
• Bamboo blinds – made from bamboo and available in a variety of styles, including a Venetian blind style as well as a more traditional roll-up style.

Of course, there are many variations of each of these styles available on the market. In addition, there are several other types of window treatments available, including shutters and curtains. Therefore, it is a good idea to explore all of your options in order to choose the style, color and design that suits your room the best.

I am right in the middle of deciding on what kind of window blinds to get and I thought I would start writing about this to help me decide. I realize blinds aren’t tools, but still are a part of home improvement. So bear with me!

The reality is that there are literally hundreds of different combinations of styles, colors and materials used to create window blinds.

There are four basic types of window blinds for you to select from.

1. Venetian Blinds – Venetian blinds feature horizontal slats. They differ from Persian blinds, however, in that the slats are suspended by cords or by strips of cloth. Venetian blinds are also available in a variety of different materials.
2. Vertical Blinds – as the name implies, vertical blinds feature slats that run in a vertical direction from the top to the bottom of the window. Vertical blinds are typically use on large windows and doors.
3. Cellular Blinds - also referred to as honeycomb blinds, cellular blinds are made from several honeycomb-shaped cells that have been glued together. As a result, these blinds are extremely energy-efficient and are generally only available in cloth varieties.
4. Persian Blinds – also referred to as slat blinds, Persian blinds consist of horizontal slats that run across the width of the window. These blinds may be made from vinyl, metal, plastic, wood, faux wood or a variety of composite materials.

When deciding upon which style of window blinds is right for you, you need to consider your personal style as well as your needs.

If you are looking for blinds that will provide you with the most energy efficiency possible, cellular blinds will certainly be the best option available to you.

On the other hand, if you are covering a large space and you want blinds that will be easy to operate over a large space, vertical blinds will likely be the better option for you.

Every time I hear a product is new and improved, I tend to cringe. It just seems like a marketing gimmick that I can’t believe is still used after all these years.

Not this time!

I ordered a lithium powered WORX GT from the infomercial a couple of Saturday’s ago. I already had the ni-cad powered Worx GT but wanted to see if this was the real deal and lived up to its promise.

The two biggest benefits of lithium batteries are 1) fast charging time and 2) they last a hell of a lot longer than the standard ni-cad batteries. 3 times longer, in fact.

Here’s what I found when using the WORX GT Lithium …

• The charge lasted forever. I was able to trim my entire lawn, including edging, and the battery didn’t fade once.
• The battery charged in about 3o minutes, compared to the hour plus it takes with the ni-cad batteries.
• You can order it with two batteries so that you never run out of juice. Use one battery while the other quickly recharges in 30 minutes.

Plus I love it for all the same reasons as the standard WORX GT model:

• It’s cordless yet powerful.
• It cuts quietly compared to gas models.
• It’s light weight and easy to handle; even with the new battery.
• It works equally as well as a grass trimmer as it does as an lawn edger.
• It’s eco-friendly because it doesn’t burn gas or oil (low pollution).
• No emissions means you aren’t inhaling black smoke and fumes!
• It’s cuts accurately and efficiently.
• Its fully adjustable and can be customized to your height and reach.
• On the Worx website, you still get free double helix cutting line spools for life (just pay shipping)!
• And more.

There are two WORX GT lithium models available and are identical except that one charges in 30 minutes (more expensive but worth it!) and the other charges in 3-5 hours. I prefer the faster charging model but that just fits my personality better as I don’t like having to wait when I’m ready to do lawn work. It’s hard enough to get motivated!

Little Giant has a long history of ladder innovation and introduced the articulating ladder category to the United States some 30 years ago and has done it again with their newest ladder.

The new Little Giant Synergy Ladder has three unique and exciting features:

1. Rock Locks – this is a new locking mechanism designed by Little Giant. Click the Rock Locks to adjust your ladder from 5′ to 8′ easily.
2. AirDeck and Safety Handle – The AirDeck utility tray helps you store items while you work. It can hold paint cans, power tools, hand tools and even is magnetized so you don’t have to worry about your nuts and bolts falling off while you work. The safety handle is also a nice feature when you’re working on the top rung of the ladder to help keep you stable.
3. No pinch handle and spreader system – I love this feature as I’m always pinching my fingers on the old traditional type ladders. Thank you Little Giant Ladders! This makes it so you can easily lock the ladder into place with one hand without pinching your fingers off.

Not only that, it also comes with deep rungs so you feet don’t get sore. They measure 6.5″ deep and are extremely comfortable making it easier to work for longer periods of time so you can do more in a day.

Synergy Ladder Specs:

• Safety rated to hold up to 300 lbs.
• Weighs only 24 lbs.
• Convenient storage height of 5″
• Adjusts up to 8′ high
• Comes with an outstanding lifetime warranty
• Introductory price of $229
• Free Shipping in the lower 48 States

I’ve got mine on order! You can check out the Synergy Ladder by visiting the official Little Giant Ladder website today.  That’s where I bought mine because it comes with free shipping.