10 Infomercial Products—Reviewed
Kimberly Fusaro
Blame it on being overtired, but there's no denying the draw of late-night infomercials. Add to that the urgent cries to "Order now!" and suddenly wearing a Snuggie seems like a great idea. But before you pick up the phone, check out our reviews to see which of the most popular products live up to the hype-and which ones are just let downs.
ShamWow! Towels
We wanted to believe the jumping, jittery guy hawking the ShamWow! towels; we were almost certain his demos weren't exaggerated for TV. But sadly, our tests proved otherwise. While the ShamWow! is reasonably absorbent, it's no better than a synthetic chamois or a plush dishtowel. (Although it does clean glass without leaving streaks behind.) At more than two bucks each, the ShamWow!'s price isn't even that exciting. $19.95 for 8; BuyShamWow.com
Grill Daddy Pro Grill Brush
Nothing ruins a summer barbecue faster than a grill grate coated with baked-on food. If you've opened your grill to find last weekend's charred remains, then you better hope you have the Grill Daddy Pro on hand. With its water-filled handle, this inventive brush uses steam power to loosen burned bits and sweep them away. Meticulous types who clean the grate right after grilling can probably skip this item-it's only necessary for heavy-duty cleanup. $21.29; Amazon.com
Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker
If you have young kids, this ice cream creator is ideal for rainy-day play, or to keep small hands busy at the start of a birthday party-pint-size guests can make their dessert and eat it, too. Just add the ingredients, fill the center with salt and ice, and roll it across the floor until the contents turn into homemade ice cream. Unless they want to play with their food, grownups should just buy a plain old pint of Ben & Jerry's and skip the labor. The exception: If you'd like to make a frozen version of your favorite yogurt (we whipped up several batches of to-die-for frozen Greek yogurt). Prices start at $16.26; IceCreamRevolution.com
Space Bags
Wish you could make out-of-season clothes just disappear? Here's the next best thing: Stow bulky jackets and winter bedding in a Space Bag, zip it closed, hook your vacuum's hose to the valve and suck out the air. The whole thing shrinks to the thickness of a sandwich-seriously! The Tote size has handles for underbed storage, and the Hanging Bag has a hook so you can hang your shrunken clothes in a closet. Just don't use a Space Bag for anything you're going to need in a hurry; you'll have to wash and iron out some seriously stubborn wrinkles after extended storage. $19.95 for 7 bags; SpaceBag.com
Debbie Meyer Green Bags
Produce that was stored in these bags did seem to last longer-but it isn't as easy as it looks. First, follow the instructions: Keep each type of fruit or vegetable in its own bag. Then close the bag without sealing it (try folding the loose end underneath the bag). We also recommend lining the bottom of each bag with a plain paper towel, because the dye on the patterned version will stain your food. Don't expect produce to keep for weeks, but this might be a good investment for someone who needs a head of lettuce to last just a few more days. $9.99 for package of 10 large and 10 medium bags; Amazon.com
Buttoneer
It took a couple of tries, but once we got the hang of it, we were nuts about the Buttoneer. Using plastic clips, the double-needle device reattaches buttons in a flash. While you probably won't want to use it as a permanent fix (the clips are plastic and pretty scratchy against your skin), it's a great gadget to stow in your office desk for button emergencies. You could also use it to tack up a fallen hem, in a pinch. Just don't attempt to use it on delicate fabrics; the needles are extra-thick, and could cause damage. $12.95; Amazon.com
Pasta Pronta
This definitely cooks pasta properly. Both spaghetti and rigatoni were the right texture, and neither had still-crunchy pieces. And despite the tight fit, the pasta in the middle didn't congeal into a lump-a pleasant surprise. Does the average household need this, though? Probably not. Since you have to boil the water anyway, why not just cook the pasta the good old-fashioned way? What you could do with this: Pass it along to a college-bound kid; some dorms allow electric teakettles, but not hot plates-and pasta makes a better late-night meal than anything from a vending machine. $11.94; Amazon.com
Garden Groom Midi
This product's probably not for everyone, but we can see why it might be useful. The Garden Groom excels at trimming the tops of very dense hedges; and no matter what it's cutting, it captures the clippings neatly in a bag, making cleanup a snap. That, in addition to the safety features, might make it ideal for seniors who have the right kind of foliage. On the downside, it's not as reliable on less-dense shrubbery, especially when cutting from side to side. Unless you need the cleanup feature (say, if you have back problems), you'll probably do better with a traditional trimmer for half the price. $99.99, GardenGroom.com
Split-Ender
Whether you like this will depend on your hair type. If you have fine, thin hair that's prone to breakage, you might not be happy. However, if you have thick hair, this may be just the thing to keep your ends clean between hair appointments. The directions recommend running the tool down the entire length of your hair, but we suggest testing it on the ends before going too crazy. Those with stressed tresses might want to skip the trimmer and opt for a bottle of the Miracle Silk capsules, which will help tame frizz. Prices start at $49.98; SplitEnder.com
Blox Fabric Protector
Follow the instructions, and you should be pleased with this product. It's probably not necessary for your entire wardrobe, but Blox is a great idea for children's coats as well as their special-occasion clothes. It's also useful on table linens, especially if you won't get a chance to wash them for a few days. Make sure you treat everything consistently for lasting protection. $9.99; PreventStains.com
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