Cool Flat Portable LED Light.

    Many years ago I used to frequent the Sharper Image shops and read through their catalogs. Every once in a while something really interesting would catch my eye. A couple of weeks ago I was in a Target and noticed a small display of Sharper Image branded items. One thing that stood out was a flat, clear LED light with an attached black handle. It was so unusual (and 90% off!/$1.49) that I couldn't resist. I wish I had purchased a few more! Yes, I am addicted to flashlights! Sometimes the strangest things can be found in the most ordinary places.

Well Put Together With Screws

This black beauty is about 12 inches long by 5 inches wide and only 3/4 of an inch thick. When I bought it, the light output was pretty abysmal. Since it took 4 AAA batteries I had to wait until I got home to replace them. Once there, with the new batteries in place, I was AMAZED at the light output of this gizmo. It's so bright as to be hard to look at directly. The light is diffused and really works well to light up a decent-sized area. It could easily replace a small lantern. It's not perfect though. The switch to turn on the light and cycle through the other features is a simple push button covered by a large plastic molded cover that matches the shape of the edge of the unit. It's WAY too easy to hit accidentally and run your batteries dead.

Did I mention "other features?" Well, it does have two other modes. Press the button once and you get the incredible light. Press it again and it turns on a small backlit translucent red strip on the front of the light. Press it once again and that little red light flashes. Ummm...why? The last press turns it off. Kind of annoying to have to press this button 3 additional times just to turn the light off. AND you have to pass through two useless features first. On the other hand, it DOES have a metal stand that swivels flush with the base when not is use. That is VERY useful. I guess everything is a compromise.

Ah, well. I'll still take a few more if I can find them. Since it's so slim, I can slide it in almost anywhere I have a narrow space. No idea, yet, how long the batteries will last. But I WILL find out!

Be Seeing You...Down The Road,

Rich "The Wanderman"
www.thewanderman.com

Even The Simple Things - The Joys Of Simple Green Cleaner

It's Cold In Here, But Getting Cleaner!

    Last week I began to "get a jump" on cleaning the RV for next season. Since I despise cleaning so much, I figured it would be easier to do it in tiny stages so there wouldn't be a marathon cleaning event before my first trip in the Spring. This week, I began cleaning all the surfaces that don't get too much attention during the rest of the year. You know the ones I'm talking about, the fridge doors and handles, the area around the sink faucets, behind the toilet and a whole lot of others. You could use a bunch of different cleaning products for each one, but since I am storage "challenged," I wanted one that could do it all and take up very little space. Does that even exist? It sure does. While there are quite a few of these cleaners available, I prefer Simple Green...

Here Is The Tiny Bottle Of Concentrate

First off, I like the name. It has the word "Simple" right in it. Green...well..I don't know how I feel about that. It can be purchased as a ready to use liquid or in my case and preference, a concentrate that is mixed with water (in various concentrations) to use. I really like multi-pupose items for the RV. They take up less space and can be used for a multitude of purposes so you don't have to remember what to use for a particular job. I would list them (and their concentrations) here, but it would be a VERY long list. [Take a look at: http://simplegreen.com/industrial/cleaning-uses/ for ideas] I've used it on everything from engine degreasing to plastic surface cleaning. It works on windows (150:1 with water!) and on carpets as a spot cleaner (test on a non-conspicuous area first! 1:1) AND it's biodegradable.

Yes, I say this a lot, but if I can simplify my life, especially when cleaning comes into play, I will do it without hesitation. This stuff works. I know there are a few other "famous" cleaners out there that are similar. Some are even available at dollar stores very cheaply. That being said, I have been using this stuff for many years. I first came across it when trying to detail some cars and needed something stronger to get the wheels clean. It worked pretty well on that. Then I read an article about the other uses and never went back! Just get a spray bottle and pre-mix what you use. Use a bucket for bigger jobs. Easy.

Try it out....it works. It really does. Oh, and by the way. I do not receive any compensation from ANY of the products or services contained in the articles I write. (OK, so I've only been asked once to review a product and since I never received the item, I didn't write that article) I will tell you if I try something and it DOESN'T work...I promise!

Be Seeing You...Down The Road,

Rich "The Wanderman"
www.thewanderman.com

Editor: Here's the Amazon link for Simple Green products. 

Even The Simple Things - Stainless Steel Sink Easy Cleaning

   Since it's so cold outside and the RV is, essentially, not going anywhere soon, I've decided to do some additional pre-season cleaning. I mean, the heat works great, why not use it! This time I was going to get stuck cleaning, in this case, my lavatory sink. It's a nice stainless steel one, but it had lots of stuff stuck to it -- mostly toothpaste, shaving cream, soap scum and general dirt from hand washing and the like. I don't like to use harsh cleansers in the RV as they end up in the pipes and tanks, so how can you get it clean without resorting to using them anyway? Read on!

White vinegar has been used for cleaning (and about a million other things) for hundreds of years. It works on many levels, disinfectant, natural cleanser, and it will not harm your plastic water pipes. In addition, I have found that it can do some real good removing soap scum and residue from the inside of your tanks. Now here is a neat trick. Take some baking soda and use it on a damp sponge to clean the sink THEN wash/rinse with white vinegar. It will fizz and crackle a bit. That's OK. Now rinse down with fresh water and wipe it dry. Voila! Completely clean. Next time I clean, I will tackle the stainless steel double basin kitchen sink.

For an extra special gleam use a very small amount of flour on your sponge and polish the stainless steel. Wipe it away with a damp soft cloth and you will be amazed at the shine! NEVER use steel wool to clean your sink! It will leave behind scratches and iron bits that will rust and discolor your sink. I try and wipe out the sink with a damp washcloth after each use, but I'm pretty sure I do a miserable job. It's either early in the morning, usually pre-coffee, or late at night and I'm already sleepy. OK...perhaps I'm a bit lazy as well...


Anything I can do to make cleaning anything at all less work (or no work at all!) is a good thing in my book. I'm going to look into white vinegar as an all-purpose liquid some more. I'll bet there are lots of things it can be used for that I don't know about.

Be Seeing You...Down The Road,

Rich "The Wanderman"
www.thewanderman.com