Housewares

They're killing time up on Capitol Hill. Congress has a bright idea that's going to leave lots of us in the dark. As part of the new energy bill lawmakers plan to extend daylight saving time for an extra month. So, we'll be springing ahead in the dead of winter and falling back sometime after Halloween. For those of us who have to wake up before the crack of dawn, it means there's going to be a lot more darkness before the dawn. Maybe people with sunny dispositions find this is good news but as one of millions who live in a fog in the morning I'm sounding the alarm.

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Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Swiffer has done it again! The pioneer of the quick-clean category extends its line of ingenuous products with the introduction of the new Swiffer CarpetFlick. The Swiffer CarpetFlick does for carpets what the original Swiffer did for hard floor cleaning. It's ideal for cleaning up particle spills and messes from carpets and rugs without the hassles associated with lugging out the vacuum cleaner. The perfect solution for in-between vacuuming and tidy-ups.

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Febreze Scentstories is a high tech machine with a variety of themed scent discs that delivers candle-like scents by simply pushing a button. Safer than candles and perfect for home or smelly dorm rooms this back to school season, Scentstories discs feature five flavors that play for fifty hours before replacing. The machine sells for $30 and replacement discs sell for around six bucks. Could the concept of Smell- a -Vison be far behind? www.scentstories.com

Read more about Scentstories here.

Owning Char-Broil's new Patio Kitchen is like having the ability to bring your entire kitchen prep area outside with you. Enjoy the convenience of an outdoor cooking workspace with the following amenities: a beer tap, cutting boards, enclosed storage, cooler, umbrella mounts, cup holders, bottle opener, grilling tool hooks. This product has everything including the proverbial kitchen sink!

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July 27, 2005 -- As the demand for natural and organic food options continues to grow, Back to Nature has introduced nine new offerings made with pure, simple ingredients like organic orchard-ripened apples, whole grain rolled oats and natural sweeteners such as pure cane juice.

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The SkyBox Rookie Fridge from Maytag solves the age-old couch potato dilemma: "Should I get up and get a beer, or wait till a commercial?" Measuring 38-inches tall and 20-inches wide this mini fridge with 8-foot cord has four caster wheels that allow you to roll it around the room or do a sweep around the couch. It's big enough to hold 4- cases of cold brew -even longnecks. It's flip top hold bowls of chips on top or ice it down and bring it outside and add more beer. Other features include a backlit front panel display with interchangeable team logo options from colleges and all pro sports. ($200, Sports panel $30; www.skyboxbymaytag.com)

The new GE Monogram Walk-In Wine Vault is designed for the consumer who waits anxiously each November for the Beaujolais Nouveau to arrive, who knows a Syrah from a Pinot Noir or who simply wants the perfect addition to a luxury home.

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July 22, 2005 – Melitta USA, inventors of drip coffeemaking, introduces Ready, Set, Joe One-Cup Coffeemaker – a new non-electric one-cup coffee brewing system. In just three steps, a fresh-brewed cup of coffee is ready to enjoy. This coffee brewing method is ideal for one cup at a time – at home, on the go, in a dorm room, or anywhere where convenience is important.

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Panasonic's cordless 5.8 gigahertz phone (model LX-TG5428R) employs special construction and a rubberized trim to help the handset stand up to everyday wear-and-tear, and even occasional dropping. It's also protected against accidental splashes so you can even use it while doing the dishes or washing the dog. Colors include: Red, Blue and Silver.$80 www.panasonic.com

July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Rubbermaid this year introduced a five-minute garage organizer with its new Deluxe Tool Tower, a durable tool stand that provides space-saving storage for all kinds of implements. It accommodates 39 tools, with simple snap-together assembly, and it even has free-wheeling casters so it's easy to trolley items to your worksite.

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