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Shopping
May 2008
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House stuff
  

Facial tissues

  • Puffs Extra (non-lotion)

Puffs was praised for its combination of strength and softness.


Dishwasher detergent

  • Cascade Complete Liquid
  • Cascade Complete With Bleach Hydroclean Action Liquid
  • Cascade 2 In 1 Action Pacs With the Power of Dawn

These cleaners, which contain performance-enhancing enzymes, are great grime-busters but are gentle on glass and silver.


AA batteries

  • Energizer e2 Lithium

It's pricey but outlasted all other batteries in toys and portable CD players, and provided up to six times more flash photos than the average alkaline battery in our digital-camera test.


Food-storage containers

  • Heritage Lock & Lock Airtight
  • Sharper Image Fresher Longer

Both are particularly effective at keeping food fresh and mold-free. A 17-piece set of Lock & Lock is $25, half the price of the 12-piece Fresher Longer.


Fabric softener

  • Ultra Gain Joyful Expressions

The only excellent softener in our tests, liquid Ultra Gain leaves clothes soft, static-free, and absorbent.


Two boxes of Ziplock zipper bags
 
Food storage bags

  • Great Value (Wal-Mart) Slider
  • Ziploc With Easy Zipper

These are very strong and resist puncture, which is important if you fill a bag to capacity or store foods with sharp edges.



Disposable plates

  • Dixie Ultra
  • Hefty Everyday

Neither of these crumpled under a load of picnic food, nor did they leak when filled with oil and water.


Black Magic liquid wax
 
Car wax

  • Black Magic Wet Shine Liquid Wax BM48016
  • Turtle Wax Carnauba Car Wax T-6

Both provide a glossy, durable shine. Black Magic requires more elbow grease to prevent streaking.








Loctite Sumo glue
 
Multipurpose household glue

  • Loctite Sumo Glue

It's an excellent adhesive for both wood and plastic, fills gaps well, and won't weaken if the repaired wood gets wet.









Bounty and Kirkland paper towel rolls and a glass of spilt juice
 
Paper Towels

  • Bounty
  • Kirkland Signature Premium (Costco)

Both sop up water and cooking oil thoroughly and quickly. Bounty proved a bit stronger.