Food Saver

Product Description
This is in my top 10 infomercials. The foodsaver allows you to purchase whole cows and keep them fresh..... Err, no that's not right. The foodsaver allows you to keep food fresh by sealing them into special bags (that you purchase from foodsaver). On the infomercial I love the part when they make the marshmallows shrink in the container!!!

From their website... Keep food fresh up to five times longer with America's #1 home vacuum packaging system. Visit foodsaver.com for usage tips, recipes and more and to view the complete line of FoodSaver products.

What it costs $129.99

Ease of assembly 5 Stars
There are multiple models available, some of them have the roll for the bags right inside the machine. If you have this type of model, just drop the roll in and you are ready to go.

Ease of use 5 Stars

To start you need to make a bag by sealing one end of the roll. Simple enough (and fun to do with the kids. Then you roll out the length of the bag and cut it off. Again depending on the model, there may be a cutter right on the foodsaver to do the cutting. Then you put your food in and then slip the open end into the foodsaver, lock the side tabs and start to seal. The air is sucked out and the bag sealed tight. there is also attachments for sealing cans and you can also get canisters that are designed to work with the foodsaver.

Actual performance 5 Stars

This is a great product especially if you buy in bulk at warehouses. No more freezer burns on meats if you take a few minutes when you get home to seal them with the foodsaver. Also the bags are dishwasher safe so cut them a bit long so you can reuse them. You can also store items for camping such as matches, flares, etc. (you need to make sure you can cut the bag open as they are tough as a rhino skin).

Final thoughts on practicality
I only have minor issues, the first is the typical out of site, out of mind problem. I don't use the machine for leftovers as it is stored in a cabinet and a hassel to get out.

The infomercial also shows them saving bulk cheese. However the cheese in the infomercial is NOT SLICED. If you go to the trouble of slicing up 5 lbs of cheeze and then try to seal it, the cheese will once again join together (and you know how frustrating separating cheese slices can be). So seal the cheese un sliced.

A great gift with plenty of add-ons that you can get. However you need to purchase all supplies from foodsaver and unlike the Rotozip, these are not so inexpensive. Still if you save one or two meats by vacuum packing them, then the cost is offset.

Final Score
5 stars out of 5

Shark Cordless Sweeper

Product Description
From the Office Depot website - The Shark Next Generation Intelligent Sweeper features a wide 13" cleaning path and 3-speed electronic control designed for superior all-surface cleaning. The wall-hugging design of the side brush gets into corners and grabs dirt along the walls. The easy steering swivel head provides excellent maneuverability. The telescoping handle allows for easy conversion into a hand-held sweeper that is ideal for stairs. The unique brush-roll system propels messes straight into the dust tray, wet or dry. Instantly available, no bags, filters, cables hoses or dirty exhaust air. The low profile with long reach allows you to clean difficult-to-reach areas under furniture. Cordless design allows for a 60-minute cleaning time, then just recharge it.

What they claim it does

Easily clean up messes without the need to break out the heavy vacuum.

What it costs $59.99

Ease of assembly 3 Stars

You need to assemble the handle, insert the dust tray, and charge the unit prior to use. I had some minor difficulties getting the handle assembled. Perhaps it was just my model as it was a little difficult getting the top handle to insert into the poles.

Ease of use 5 Stars

Simple, enough, just unplug the unit from the cord that it charges with and tap on the power button with your foot. The sweeper bottom pivots so you can reach into those hard to get places (like under the bed).

Actual performance 4 Stars

It does a great job getting the dog hair on my wood floor. The sweeper is only .05 horse power so it is not a replacement for a regular vacuum cleaner. It is light weight enough that you might want to try it on your stairs. This is a bag less system and the dust tray pulls out for easy cleaning. However, if you have dust allergies, handling the tray may cause you irritation.

Final thoughts on practicality
This is an electric sweeper, not a vacuum. It cannot replace your vacuum and really shines for those quick clean ups. I keep it continuously plugged into charge when not in use so that it is always ready to go. I found that if I did not do that, when I needed it, the unit would not have any power. That’s not because of the unit, but rather the unit being used often and the battery just running down.

Final Score
4 stars out of 5