From a chilled Vodka shot-dispensing machine to a toilet for two (yeah, you read that right), here are some of the most crazy-slash-clever home inventions of all time
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1. Bubble Scrubber
Rub-a-dub-a-dub, dirty dishes in your sink! What better way to tackle a tiresome chore than to blow bubbles while you work? This long-handed scrubber not only cleans off last night's dinner, but the hole in the center allows you to relive one of childhood's happiest activities. This handy dandy trick might even get your kids and, possibly, your sweetie to roll up their sleeves and chip in. About $6; Fred and Friends. See more Wackiest Kitchen Products at thisoldhouse.com
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2. ForkedUP Utensil Holder
Joining the circus and becoming a knife thrower sounds fun, but the reality is most of us just can't hack it. These wall tiles can help you fool friends and family. The simple-to-mount Baltic birch ply and lacquer ForkedUP wall tile uses magnets in small slots to keep your utensils in place perpendicular to the wall. The tile holds four five-piece sets of utensils: two forks, two spoons, and one knife each. No one will be the wiser to your sub-par knife hurling skills. About $300, Thout. See five more Wackiest Kitchen Products at thisoldhouse.com
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3. Keg/Refrigerator
You helped your friend build a homemade kegerator in college, but it's time to grow up with the HomePub. Beer aficionados will appreciate the fact that the beer-keg-and-tap system built into the door frees up valuable space for, you guessed it, another keg! (There's a special shelf inside the fridge designed specifically to chill a back-up.) The 301-liter refrigerator/freezer combo comes in a stainless steel finish and uses an environmentally friendly cooling gas, Isobutane R600. About $800, Asko. See more Wacky Hybrid Appliances at thisoldhouse.com
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4. No Flyaway Zone
It could be the Aqua Net for leaves: Sprinkle Toro's Leaf Lock on a newly-raked pile, and the corn-based powder forms a thin shell around the leaves to keep them from blowing away. Shower the pile with water to activate the granules, and suddenly they're surrounded by a crunchy shell-think dipped cone at DQ, and you get the idea. About $10, The Toro Company. See all the Wackiest Yard and Garden Products at thisoldhouse.com
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5. I, Mow-bot
Adolescent entrepreneurs, beware: The Automower from Husqvarna, "designed to operate with the absolute minimum human interaction," may severely limit your lawn-mowing income this summer. Working a random pattern between the boundary wires around your yard, the robot mower automatically shuts itself off or returns to its charger when finished. It cuts the lawn rain or shine and handles hills less than 35 degrees. About $2,300, Husqvarna AutoMower. See more Wackiest Yard and Garden Products at thisoldhouse.com
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6. Learn to Share Fridge
If your college-age kid is always hitting you up for more grocery money because he claims his roommate steals all his food, this idea could potentially put an end to all his financial excuses. Flatshare, a concept modular fridge and winner of the Electrolux 2008 Design Lab Contest, has up to four separate compartments, one for each person residing in an apartment or house. After the lease is up, each compartment, which can be customized with different colors, can, theoretically, be transported to a person's new residence. Concept only; not available for purchase; Electrolux. See all the Wackiest Kitchen Products at thisoldhouse.com
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7. Codependents' Commode
Environmentalism has never been so intimate as with the TwoDaLoo, billed as the world's first simultaneous-flush two-seater toilet. The side-by-siders can be emptied individually or in a single 2.6-gallon-saving flush. With a "privacy wall" and LCD television and iPod docking station add-ons, couples (and, perhaps, just good friends) will enjoy doing double duty for Planet Earth. About $1400; WiseRep. See more Wackiest Bath Products at thisoldhouse.com
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8. Ne'er Do Smell Odor-Eliminating Seat
Brondell's Breeza toilet has a tiny built-in fan and a charcoal filter that promises to "eliminate odor at its source." Some of the fragrance choices include citrus and eucalyptus, or jasmine and lavender; regardless, they go to work as soon as you sit down. If an outlet is handy, a plug-in version includes a heated seat. About $120- $150; Brondell. See more Wackiest Bath Products at thisoldhouse.com
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9. Washing Machine/Toilet
This washing machine flushes valuable water down the toilet, literally. A notable mention in the Greener Gadgets Design Competition 2008, the prototype stores water after each washing cycle, which is then used to flush the toilet below it. In addition to its eco-friendly aspects, it is also a good space saver. By Core77. See more Wacky Hybrid Appliances at thisoldhouse.com
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10. Chilled Shot Machine
Wine and beer connoisseurs get all the prestige, but the lowly shot drinker has usually been thought of as uncouth. The Chilled Shot Machine elevates the shot to a new level with its sophisticated fill-and-pour system, which eliminates spills and keeps the alcohol at a prime 15 degrees. Simply attach the bottle of your choice and look forward to not remembering anything that happens afterward. About $149, Home Chill Shot. See more Wackiest Kitchen Products at thisoldhouse.com
