Have you ever bought one of those “As Seen on TV” products? If you spend any time watching TV, you’re sure to have come across at least one of these infomercials for a product that seemed like it might be a good idea. Still, it’s hard to tell which of these products is actually worth buying and which ones are just scams. Fortunately, others have gone before us to test and compare these products to some simple DIY versions you can do at home.
Here are the findings for some popular “As Seen on TV” products.
1. Egg-Tastic
For those who don’t know, the Egg-Tastic is a ceramic egg cooker which was promoted as a simpler way to make a quick egg breakfast without the clean-up. To use it, you just crack some eggs into the ceramic container, beat them with a fork, add your toppings, cover it and pop it in the microwave for a few minutes. When the timer goes off, voila—you have some easy eggs. The product costs around $15.
Does It Work:
For the most part, the Egg-Tastic works just as described (although food photography makes the eggs look a little prettier than they actually come out). Still, it’s an easy feat to replicate at home.
Do It Yourself:
To get the same effect, get a ceramic coffee mug to crack your eggs into and follow the same steps. The one catch is you’ll need to find a breathable, microwavable lid to put on top of the mug. Still, if you follow the same set of instructions, the results should be exactly the same as the Egg-Tastic (if not better)!
2. Rodent Sheriff
Rodent Sheriff is a brand of rodent repellent designed to be humane and non-toxic alternative to mousetraps and poisons. Whenever you want to prevent rodents, simply spray the chemical (made primarily of peppermint extracts) around the area you want to keep rodents out of. An eight-ounce bottle of Rodent Sheriff will run you about $10.
Does It Work:
Although Rodent Sheriff does have a strong smell that does fend away rodents, it’s not entirely effective all the time. Users may need to constantly reapply the spray for it to truly be effective. And again, a similar version can be made without the official product.
Do It Yourself:
Start by getting a spray bottle, a cup of water, some peppermint oil extract and some dish soap. First add about 10 to 15 drops of the peppermint oil into the water, followed by a couple drops of dish soap. Pour the liquid into the spray bottle and shake it up. After that, you have a great substitute for Rodent Sheriff. Still, this version has the same drawbacks and strengths as the official version.
3. Drainwig
The Drainwig, as the name suggests, is a wig for your drains! More than that though, it’s also a handy chain which drops into your pipe and catches stray hairs to prevent future clogs. The Drainwig typically sells for $19.95 online—and you get two.
Does It Work:
As the name suggests, the Drainwig does do its job of catching hair that goes down your pipes. Still, the price tag is a little steep and there’s a much cheaper alternative.
Do It Yourself:
Instead of buying the official product, just buy a few zip ties and use a knife or scissors to cut alternating slots in the sides of the tie—and be sure to tie a ring to the end so you have a way to pull it back again. Plunge it into the drain and it ends up working about as well as the original Drainwig! Still, it’s a little shorter.
4. Speed Out
Speed Out is a product designed to help users take out any stripped screws you may have around your house. It is essentially a special drill bit with two sides to be used on a slow speed to take out stubborn screws. One side is designed to droll a cone-shaped hole into the screwhead, while the other side pulls it out. The cost for this one is about $15.
Does It Work:
While the Speed Out does seem to work, the same effects can be had at home with just a few simple products.
Do It Yourself:
To get out a stripped screw, get a thick rubber band, cut it and place it over the strip. Next, choose a bit one size smaller than the bit that caused the screw to strip and put it in your drill. Set your drill in reverse and set the bit into the screw “through” the rubber band. Hopefully, the band will fill the gaps and help you pull the screw out! Alternatively, you can pound a screwdriver into a screw with a hammer to help. Finally, you can even use a pair of pliers to pull out ones that are sticking out.
If you liked these household tricks, be sure to thank YouTube user HouseholdHacker for all the ingenuity—and be sure to check out the rest of the videos on that channel for more tips and tricks.
Do you have other products that can be hacked at home? Tell us in the comments below!
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