New products help with little problems
Every month, Real Simple scours the market for problem-solving products. This month’s top picks are:
Towel holder, $35 to $40
Problem: You reach for a towel; you get 17. And then there’s the whole rolling-it-back-up thing.
Real Simple solution: Kitchen-Aid’s sturdy PerfectTear has a ratcheting device that makes one-handed grabs easy (leaving the other hand free for important things, like high fives).
To buy: (800) 252-3390 for stores.
Neoprene mat, $40 to $52
Problem: Cotton blankets are great for picnics – until you spill your Pinot Noir or Emma’s grape juice.
Real Simple solution: Aqua Pruff’s waterproof mats go from beach to car to picnic to playroom. The muck rinses off, and this mat dries so quickly you can use it immediately to keep the dog’s fur from blanketing the back of the station wagon or minivan. It’s machine washable and mildew-resistant.
To buy: www.aqua-pruff.com.
Soy “peanut butter,” $3 to $7
Problem: Peanut allergies mean just jelly on white.
Real Simple solution: I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter helps restore sandwich equilibrium. And it does it with 30 percent less fat than real peanut butter and no cholesterol. It’s a healthy addition to the lunch box. This peanut butter substitute tastes great too.
To buy: www.soynutbutter.com for a list of stores that carry the product.
Surge protector, $50 to $80
Problem: Your power strip has six outlets, but box-shaped plugs take up two each.
Real Simple solution: The PowerSquid’s six “tentacles” accommodate all your plugs. And a storm won’t zap Noah’s homework from the laptop. Available in July.
To buy: Preorder at www.powersquid.net.
Broom Plus vacuum, $29
Problem: You sweep. You make little piles. You collect the piles in the dustpan. But that thin line of dirt is left to taunt you.
Real Simple solution: The Black & Decker Sweep & Collect has a built-in cordless vacuum, so you don’t even need to bend over. Who’s the kitchen bully now?
To buy: www.blackanddecker.com for stores.
New uses for old things
Six-pack container:
Original purpose: Transporting your brew from refrigerator case to refrigerator shelf.
Aha use: Transporting condiments, silverware, napkins and picnic supplies from kitchen to patio.
Real Simple reward: A free tote that makes polishing off the last bottle a little less dispiriting.
Banana peel:
Original purpose: Tripping up Laurel and Hardy.
Aha use: Fertilizing roses. Just flatten a peel and bury it under 1 inch of soil at the base of a rosebush. The peel’s potassium feeds the plant and helps it resist disease.
Real Simple reward: A nutritional boost for you and your buds.
Straightening iron:
Original purpose: Smoothing out hair kinks.
Aha use: Ironing out the wrinkled wrapping ribbons that were tied around your birthday presents.
Real Simple reward: Recycled bows without the telltale creases from the previous gift box.