How To Get The Most Out Of Home Depot Coupons

When it comes to home improvement, there is no shortage of options for where to get your supplies. However, one of the most popular places to shop is undoubtedly Home Depot.

Not only does this store offer a wide variety of merchandise, but it also frequently runs sales and offers coupons and discounts. In short, it is a great place to save money on your home improvement needs.

If you are looking to get the most out of Home Depot coupons and deals, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, it is important to be aware of the different types of coupons that Home Depot offers.

The store regularly releases coupons for specific items or categories, as well as general percentage off coupons. Additionally, Home Depot often offers different coupons in its weekly ad circular.

It is also important to note that Home Depot coupons typically have expiration dates. However, the store will occasionally offer coupons with no expiration date, or with a very long expiration date. If you come across one of these coupons, it is definitely worth hanging on to it until you have a need for the merchandise.

When using Home Depot coupons, it is also important to pay attention to the fine print. Many coupons have specific restrictions, such as only being valid on in-store purchases or only being valid on certain days of the week.

Additionally, some coupons can only be used once, while others can be used multiple times. Be sure to read the coupon carefully so that you know exactly what it can be used for.

Finally, remember that Home Depot coupons can be combined with other discounts for even more savings. For example, if an item is already on sale, you may be able to use a coupon on top of the sale price.

Additionally, if you have a store credit card, you may be able to get an additional discount by using your card.

By following these tips, you can be sure to get the most out of Home Depot coupons and deals. By taking the time to understand how the store’s coupons work, you can save yourself a lot of money on your next home improvement project.

How to Get the Most Out of Buying Your First House

When you’re young, buying a house seems either daunting because of the sheer amount of money you need or like a hassle that will tie you down for the future. No more freedom to go anywhere you want, and hello responsibility. But here’s the thing about buying a home: it’s better than investing in gold. In fact it’s one of the best investments you can make.

You have a couple of options: buy a house, make some improvements, and flip it, or buy a house and settle in for the long term until property values really appreciate. In the future you could decide to stay there because you like it, or sell it and find a better place. Flipping the house right away is more of a gamble, but it can definitely pay off.

Flipping a House

Typically, when people want to flip a house they buy a “fixer-upper.” The house in need of repairs can only rise in value—unless the neighborhood is extremely crime-ridden and the other houses are low quality. Even then, improving the fixer-upper from the ground up can make a positive impact on the neighborhood, and value will go up because you’re investing money into it.

Here are some things to consider when you’re flipping a house for a profit:

  • To actually make good money, you’ll want to buy low in a market where values are rising
  • You need good credit to make this happen—pay off all debts and find out what it takes to raise your score if it’s low
  • You need cash for a down payment
  • If you qualify, you could take take out a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
  • The better the location, the better off you are when it comes to making a profit
  • As an investor, you’ll pay a higher interest rate on a loan
  • You’ll need to be educated on the real estate market, financing, negotiating with the seller, doing repairs and working with contractors, and which repairs really increase a home’s value

There’s a lot to flipping a house, but if it’s a game you want to play, there’s a ton of cash in the right market.

Once you’ve made your renovations, one big part of selling a house fast is staging. When you’re staging the home, you’re getting rid of all clutter. Locate furniture in such a way as to make it aesthetically pleasing—balance the amount of furniture in each room, float it out away from walls, and make sure each room only has one purpose. Optimize lighting by making sure no furniture is in front of windows. You can place mirrors in rooms strategically to increase natural lighting. When you’re arranging everything in rooms, find the most attractive focal point and arrange around it. Use art, rugs, pillows, and decor to make colors pop. Read some books on feng shui and see what you can do.

Flipping houses isn’t for everyone—in fact very few people can really do it successfully. Another option for making money from your first house is to rent it out.

Renting Out Your House

Being a landlord comes with its fair share of headaches, but it can become a way of generating passive income. Just like it sounds, this is income you earn without doing anything. Once you’ve paid off the mortgage and can afford to pay other people to do repairs, every cent you earn from rent is completely gratis.

Millennials make up a huge chunk of the rental demographic. There are definitely some things you should consider when renting to millennials:

  • Don’t discriminate based on age: If a millennial doesn’t make enough to afford the cost of living in your house, that’s good reason not to rent to them; but if you don’t rent to them because you’re young too, and you know how unreliable people your age are, that’s illegal
  • Make your subletting terms clear: Millennials may want to make some side cash through AirBnB or another vacation rental, make sure they clear it with you beforehand
  • Consider pets: You’ll be more competitive at attracting millennial tenants if you allow pets
  • Make sure everyone’s on the lease: They may want to move in roommates without you knowing
  • Prioritize green housing: Millennials prefer environmentally-friendly housing with things like solar power, ENERGY STAR appliances, and electric car charging stations
  • Prioritize safety: Up-to-date maintenance and renovations will ensure safety and attract good tenants

These considerations apply to all tenants, regardless of age. That said, if you make the place attractive to millennials, you’ll have a huge pool of tenants to choose from. You know from your own experience this is a generation of renters.

Like being a house-flipper, being a landlord isn’t for everyone. In the long term, you’ll get a lot more enjoyment out of turning your first house into your first home.

Living in Your First Home

Once again, this is daunting, but it doesn’t have to be if you take it one step at a time. Here are the big financial considerations for first-time homeowners:

  • Keep an eye on your budget: You’ve got mortgage payments to make, so don’t blow too much money right away on renovations, furniture and decor.
  • Make sure insurance is covered: You need more than homeowner’s insurance; maintain life insurance, disability insurance, and car insurance payments.
  • Make sure to get tax deductions and credits: There are tax breaks for first-timers; if you have to pay an accountant because of all the paperwork and limited time, do so—it’s worth it.
  • Maintain savings: You never know when an emergency will hit, so keep a savings pillow of at least a couple grand beneath you.
  • Keep records: Keep receipts of all purchases for your home, so you can maximize tax write-offs.

This last one is more important than it seems at first. If you have precise records on renovations and remodeling expenses, you’ll know exactly how much more the place is worth when it comes time to sell. With this baseline number and current property values, you’ll be able to determine a good asking price for the property.

As you continue on in your first home, make renovations you can afford and maintain the place to the utmost. There will come a time when property values are higher than they were when you made your purchase. That’s when you want to put your house on the market. There are absolutely no regrets if you put a positive effort into this. In the end, you’ll be ready to retire in a better place than you started.

Fresh & Fit Friday: How To Explore A Town You’ve Never Visited Before

Spending a weekend in a new town or city can be exciting, thrilling even. But if you have no clue what to do or where to go, it can quickly become a weekend spent holed up in a hotel room. 

This weekend, I am staying in the lovely town of Freeport, Maine. I’m attending a conference – FortuneBuilders. It’s all about real estate investing, which is a fascinating topic, and one about which I will blog at a future date (stay tuned!) While I love the content being covered in the conference, I do believe that there is more to Freeport than the hotel that we’re at, and the conference room that we’re in. 

If you get the opportunity to spend the weekend away, whether for a conference, or just for fun, find some fun stuff to do by exploring in your free time! 

If you are staying at a hotel, start by asking the front desk staff about local attractions or restaurants. Chances are, they are from the area, and will know some good local spots. Turns out that Freeport has TONS of great outlet stores! 

If you are into music, ask about a local music bar or music store. I love music, and I will be seeking out some local music hot spots! 

If you enjoy the outdoors, are there natural attractions – like parks, or walking paths – in the area? If the weather is nice, go out for a walk or bike ride! Enjoy the scenery! I’m also always up for a nature walk, however, I didn’t pack warm enough clothes for an outdoor excursion. But oh well! I’m sure I can find something warm at one of the outlet stores! 

Keep in mind, you don’t have to spend lots of extra money! Exploring can be free if you want it to – or if you’ve budgeted, enjoy yourself and HAVE FUN! 

Either way, always take the time to explore new places! 

Have a great weekend, 

How To Manage Your Bedroom More Comfortable

When you walk into the bedroom, you don’t see peace and comfort, but a closet full of stacks of clothes, dolls, and other trinkets. It’s time to decorate your bedroom. Consider some of these strategies for cleaning and rearranging your bedroom within 7 days according to Arsitag website. So here we go!

Make a plan before Acting

Observe your bedroom. Where is the source of the problem? What is the right strategy? The bedroom should be a quiet and comfortable resting place for relaxing and dreaming. If your bedroom is clean enough, but your closet is full of useless things so the door is almost broken and it’s almost hard to close the drawer, it’s better to think about rearranging your bedroom immediately.

Day 1: Streamline the cupboard

Cleaning work: Remove all clothes and items from cabinets and drawers. While the cupboard is empty, clean the inside with a vacuum cleaner. Also, clean the closet rack and the dressing table drawer.

Spruce up work:

Sort any damaged and unused items

Choose clothes that don’t fit anymore or you don’t like in separate stacks. You can try wearing them if necessary.

Store the clothes that you like back in a closet that fits the current model and is in good condition

Put clothes and accessories in separate storage

Pile up your favorite clothes that need to be fixed in a tote bag to take to the tailor. If you don’t have a lot of cleaning time today, consider tidying up your cupboards and drawers tomorrow.

Day 2: Refresh the entire room

Cleaning work: Although the bedroom does not look dirty like a kitchen or bathroom, surprisingly, you can almost find piles of dust in every corner.

Clean the entire room from top to bottom with a vacuum cleaner. Use tools to clean the window and wall curtains, and make sure to clean the bottom of the bed.

Use the stairs to clean the lights and the top of the shelf.

Clean the top of the nightstand, dressing table, and other furniture surfaces.

Wash small rugs and curtains if you can wash them.

Clean large carpets to vacuum with a vacuum cleaner or bring it to the laundry.

Sweep the wood floor.

Tidying up: While checking around the room, put items that are not supposed to be in the bedroom (dishes, dirty clothes, etc.) and return them to their place.

Day 3: Make the bed

Cleaning work:

Clean the headboard

Clean the bed with a vacuum cleaner and rotate the mattress.

Wash the mattress pads and sheets.

Tidying up: Sorting blankets, duvet covers, sheets, and pillowcases. Keep it in each set (sheets, pillowcases, and bolsters) so it is easy to take. Set aside obsolete or unused.

Day 4: Make notes

Now that you have cleared the mess and removed dust, it will be easier to find out what needs to be changed or updated. Write down any changes you want.

Is the lighting in your bed sufficient, both lighting to create atmosphere and function (like reading in bed)?

Are you satisfied with the sheets? What about pillowcases?

Do you have a good set of hangers in the closet?

Do you have the right storage for your shoe collection?

Will it help to have a drawer divider or shelf divider?

Day 5: Beautify the bedside

Tidying work: Sort all books, magazines, journals, and other items that fill the side table. Move all but a few objects that you use every night.

Cleaning work: Clean the legs and table lampshade, and remove objects on the nightstand.

Day 6: Pay attention to trifles

Spruce up work:

Sort jewelry and other small accessories, get rid of trinkets that you no longer use

Pay attention to the plant, clean the dust on the broad leaves, prune the dried leaves, and replace the pot if necessary

Throw out old candles, worn blankets, and anything that looks outdated

Put fresh flowers in a beautiful vase.

Day 7 and beyond: Perform maintenance every day

Cleaning task: If you are not familiar, do a few simple things:

Make the bed immediately after waking up in the morning and tidy up the bedside table before leaving the room.

At night, put the dirty clothes in the laundry basket and put the accessories in place and not pile them up on chairs or dressers.

Tidy up tasks:

When you shop for new clothes, sheets, blankets, or whatever, get rid of something similar or worn out to avoid chaos.

Mark specific dates on the calendar to rearrange the wardrobe, dressing table, nightstand, and bed.

Energy Efficient Light Bulbs: Best Options For Lowering Your Power Bill

Energy Efficient Light Bulbs: Which One Is Best?

Lighting technology has come a long way in recent years. From filament burning incandescent bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) now to Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), the humble light bulb has finally caught up with the twenty-first century. The progression to efficient, energy saving light bulbs allows us to consume a lot less power without sacrificing any sacred light. Of all light bulbs on offer, LEDs produce the most light for the least power. With a life span of 20 – 25 years and no toxic chemicals upon disposal, LEDs are both the earth-friendly and the wallet-friendly choice all in one.

Top energy efficient light bulbs need to produce good strong light and display that light in as many directions as possible. They should operate quietly, and work with various fixtures – indoors and out, in a variety of positions, and with all the dimmer switches our modern homes now provide. And of course, they need to save you money.

There are many new LED lights on the market and the choices can be daunting. In this article I’ll teach you what you need to know about energy efficient light bulbs – how the technology works, how and why LEDs can save you money, and how the best bulbs on the market compare. So turn up the lights and lets get started.

What Is The Technology Behind Energy Efficient LED Light Bulbs?

Simply put, LEDs produce light by having electrons move across a semiconductor that has both a positively and negatively charged component. When an electric charge is applied to the semiconductor it increases the flow of electrons and they fall into positively charged holes in the conductor and release energy in the form of light.

What Are The Benefits of LED Energy Efficient Light Bulbs?

The definitive benefit of LED technology is that the process requires relatively little power while producing lots of light. The less energy required, the lower the operating cost, and the more money you save. Using less power also results in the light producing less heat – about 50% less heat than a conventional bulb. The less heat created, the less things tend to burn out, like a filament in an incandescent bulb or the gas in a CFL. An average LED light can be expected to last for upwards of 25,000 hours and sometimes more.

When it does come time to dispose of your LED, a significant advantage over other energy efficient light bulbs – like CFLs, is that LEDs contain no mercury. Mercury is an extremely toxic substance that is highly poisonous to any living organism. Many jurisdictions around the world have very strict guidelines for the disposal of mercury and CFLs. This can be avoided altogether with the use of LEDs which are easily recyclable.

Another plus of LEDs is their “Instant-On” technology. CFLs generally pause a second before illuminating, and then take several minutes to warm up and reach full brightness. LEDs, on the other hand, reach maximum brightness instantly.

When choosing the best energy efficient light bulbs, some other factors to consider include the direction of light output, dimmability, and noise level – all of which I will touch on in the product reviews.

What Are The Benefits of LED Energy Efficient Light Bulbs?

The definitive benefit of LED technology is that the process requires relatively little power while producing lots of light. The less energy required, the lower the operating cost, and the more money you save. Using less power also results in the light producing less heat – about 50% less heat than a conventional bulb. The less heat created, the less things tend to burn out, like a filament in an incandescent bulb or the gas in a CFL. An average LED light can be expected to last for upwards of 25,000 hours and sometimes more.

When it does come time to dispose of your LED, a significant advantage over other energy efficient light bulbs – like CFLs, is that LEDs contain no mercury. Mercury is an extremely toxic substance that is highly poisonous to any living organism. Many jurisdictions around the world have very strict guidelines for the disposal of mercury and CFLs. This can be avoided altogether with the use of LEDs which are easily recyclable.

Another plus of LEDs is their “Instant-On” technology. CFLs generally pause a second before illuminating, and then take several minutes to warm up and reach full brightness. LEDs, on the other hand, reach maximum brightness instantly.

When choosing the best energy efficient light bulbs, some other factors to consider include the direction of light output, dimmability, and noise level – all of which I will touch on in the product reviews

How Can We Compare Energy Efficient Light Bulbs?

To make for easy comparison, each bulb I have chosen is a standard 60 watt-equivalent replacement for incandescent bulbs. Light color and intensity are two important specifications when comparing energy efficient light bulbs. Light color is quantified as light temperature measured in Kelvins (K). Standard Soft White incandescent bulbs are at the low end of the range at 2700 K. Bright White bulbs are more in the middle of the home use range at 3000 K. Higher up to 5000 K is considered Blue White, more akin to soft day light and the top of the range is 6000 K and would be a Bright Blue natural day light.

Light intensity is measured in Lumens. One Lumen can roughly be described as the amount of light produced by one candle. A typical 40 watt incandescent bulb will generally produce around 350-550 Lumens. A 60 watt bulb will produce about 700-900 Lumens and a 100 watt about 1400-1700 Lumens.

With these points in mind, lets take a look at these four top energy efficient light bulbs.

Philips LED 10.5 Watt: Among The Most Efficient, Energy Saving Light Bulbs

The Philips LED 10.5 watt is one of the top energy efficient light bulbs, offering the vast benefits of an LED coupled with the reliability of a proven manufacturer, all at a great price. Philips has been a leading innovator in the field for decades; their lighting products consistently rank at the top in terms of quality and reliability ratings, for not only household lights but flood and grow lights as well.

The life expectancy of this bulb is 20,000 hours and will save you about $110.00 verses repeatedly buying incandescents. It produces a good 800 lumens of light with a color rating of Bright White at 3000 K. This makes it a good choice for a household setting where a little brighter than average light is preferable.

The light direction of this bulb is about 180 degrees, meaning light emits from the top and sides of the light but not down towards the base. This makes it a less than good choice for say, a desk top or end table application where downward directional light is needed, but makes it a great choice for any overhead fixture, such as above a bathroom vanity or in any kitchen setting with the bulb situated upside down as no light is “wasted” up into the fixture.

Philips offers a three year limited warranty on materials and workmanship, and my personal experience with Philips is that if you are unhappy for any reason, they will quickly replace the bulb or refund your money.

A notable feature of all Philips energy efficient light bulbs is their noise-free operation. Some LEDs have a slight humming or buzzing audible vibration but Philips has mastered this issue, resulting in a completely silent bulb.

If you are searching for basic energy efficient light bulbs, not operated on a dimmer, this is a great choice. It offers low power consumption, good bright light with plenty of Lumens, and a great brand name – all at a low cost.

Philips LED 11.0 Watt: One Of The Best Energy Efficient, Dimmable Light Bulbs

The Philips LED 11.0 watt is probably the best value of all dimmable LEDs on the market. It offers all the advantages of the non-dimmable light described above, but can be dimmed to about 10% of full strength light. Typical CFLs will only dim to about 50% and incandescents down to about 30%. Even compared to other LEDs, this light dims very low at a smooth constant rate which can be beneficial in many household settings – the bedroom or bathroom in the middle of the night, as a night light in the children’s room, or in the hallway outside a guest room.

Besides this great range of dimmability, the light remains virtually silent even at this low range. Many energy efficient light bulbs tend to hum or buzz, getting louder the more they are dimmed. If you have a quiet home or are considering using this light in a reading room, this feature can be the deciding factor.

This 11.0 watt light also has a long life expectancy of 25,000 hours returning an estimated savings of about $130.00 over the life of the bulb. It has a strong light output of 830 Lumens and a perfectly incandescent replicating 2700 K Soft White color rating, just right for any household application.

A good feature is the very wide Light Direction of this bulb of almost 360 degrees. This allows these energy efficient light bulbs to be used in any application, in any position just like you would find using an incandescent or CFL. It also comes with a solid six year limited warranty on materials and workmanship.

All these attributes make these lights definite best buys for energy efficient light bulbs. If you are searching for an all-purpose, dimmable, wide light direction, quiet option for use in any household application, this is it.

Enviro Bulb, 11.6 Watt: One of The Rare, Energy Efficient, Multi Directional, LED Light Bulbs

The Enviro Bulb Omni-Directional 11.6 watt bulb is a fully dimmable LED that has high output, strong color and is specifically designed to produce consistent, equal light concentrated to the sides of the bulb. It is one of the very few energy efficient light bulbs on the market that really does emit all of its light to the sides and none straight out the top. This makes it a solid choice for almost any table top lamp, or hanging fixture where the socket is horizontal.

An added bonus is that this light is designed for both indoor and outdoor use and is relatively short for and LED. At 4.4 inches total length, this light may fit where other LEDs won’t.

Regarding energy efficiency, this Enviro Bulb requires slightly more power than the others, at 11.5 watts, but produces a very strong 850 Lumens of Bright White 3000 K color making it bright and powerful. It has a long life expectancy of 25,000 hours and even with the increased power usage, will return you a savings of about $133.00 over the life of the bulb.

What make this light another top performing energy efficient light bulb is that it is also fully dimmable down to almost zero and has the same rare feature of the Philips brand of remaining next to silent even when fully dimmed.

The unique directional “fins” situated on the side of this bulb not only direct the light to the sides, but offer the added bonus of durability. If accidentally dropped or otherwise impacted, the plastic fins provide some good shock resistance that simply doesn’t exist with other bulbs. The fins also provide an insulating effect, allowing the light to be handled while illuminated.

As can been seen in the pictures, this is a distinct light that has been specifically designed to pour all of its light out to the sides. It has near zero dimmability, quiet operation, outdoor potential, is bright and strong, with durability and cooling characteristics that can really come in handy.

Switch LED 10 Watt Light Bulbs, Top Energy Efficient LEDs

At 10.0 watts, the Switch LED 10 watt dimmable, is among the most energy efficient light bulbs of the 60 watt replacement variety on the market today. Together with its long rated life of 25,000 hours, your expected savings is around $140.00, making it the best energy saving value of the lot. On top of that, the Switch offers a very impressive industry-leading lifetime warranty.

A very unique feature of this bulb is that it is liquid cooled. This allows the bulb to be used in any configuration, with any number of other bulbs, and in completely enclosed fixtures without the potential for over heating. If you have a completely enclosed fixture, this will probably be the bulb for you as the vast majority of LEDs have package warnings against use in fully enclosed fixtures.

Also, if the shape and esthetics of the bulb are important to you, such as in a location where the bulb may be visible, a real advantage to the Switch bulb is that it is the most similar in shape and design to traditional incandescent bulbs. At a short 4.4 inches in length and with its unique “pear” shape, it is a great option where the bulb is visible.

Drawing only 10 watts, it is to be expected that the light output is slightly less than other energy efficient light bulbs at 800 Lumens with a Soft White color of 2700 K, but this compares nicely with an incandescent bulb. Further, this bulb has a very broad light direction of about 270 degrees with equal light emitting from the sides and top, making it a clear choice for any interior replacement.

With all the advantages of shape, light direction, cooling, warranty, efficiency and savings, this bulb shines the brightest amongst all other energy efficient light bulbs available today.

It’s Your Home, Choose The Best Light Bulbs for Energy Efficient Savings

Finally, choosing the right lights make all the difference to the look and feel of your home. The right brightness and color will set the entire ambience of your favorite space. Take the time to consider the light direction your application will require, whether dimmability or noise from the bulb will be factors, or if the fixture is totally enclosed and heat may be a problem.

LED lights are designed to last for most of a lifetime. With that comes significant savings of both money and time as you won’t have to be out buying replacement bulbs and changing them every year. And when it does come time to replace the bulb, there won’t be any mercury or other toxic substances that are a serious hazard to your health and the environment around you.

Choosing any of these top energy efficient light bulbs will provide you, your home, your wallet and your environment with decades of enjoyment.

Maintaining Your Brushed Nickel Bathroom Faucet

Households often choose a brushed nickel bathroom faucet over one made of chrome if they’re looking for something that’s appealing, but very easy to maintain for a lifetime. Although chrome is popular because of its constantly shiny polished look, it also requires careful cleaning. That’s particularly true since the surface will easily show water spots. Keep reading to learn more about the brushed nickel fixture finish, and how to keep it looking fabulous throughout its lifespan. Shop at RIVUSS to find your next brushed nickel bathroom faucet. You’ll discover appealing fixtures that enhance the look of your bathroom and suit your lifestyle.

The Creation – Brushed Nickel Bathroom Faucet

 

The Brushed Nickel finish over the fixture is made with a Physical Vapor Deposition; today this faucet finishing technology is everywhere and also replacing the electroplating process. The PVD coating is very fine, polishing the faucet before coating removes stains and imperfections that may show through the finish, and polishing after the finish is applied brings out its outstanding luster.

This faucet finish technology is at least 20 times more resistant to wear than the old standard electroplated finish. As a result of that bonding, the material ends up with a flat look compared to that of chrome. The appearance is simple, and not very shiny, but it’s still attractive with luster. This material is a smart choice for environments like hotel rooms, guest bathrooms, and other places where you want to maintain a pleasant look without a lot of effort.

How to Clean a Brushed Nickel Bathroom Faucet ?

 

People who install chrome faucets are often encouraged to clean them every day to maintain that characteristically sleek sheen. However, brushed nickel fixtures don’t have to be cleaned daily. Doing so might actually wear down the finish, requiring you to replace it sooner than what’s usually necessary. When it is time to clean yours though, there are a few easy steps to follow.

Begin by making a mixture that’s equal parts with warm water and mild liquid soap. If you don’t have any liquid soap on hand, distilled white vinegar works well too. After making water and soap mixture, apply it carefully to the fixture using a soft cloth.

After letting the cleaner sit on the surface for a minute or so, wipe it dry with a clean towel. Use broad, swift strokes and don’t scrub at the surface. Scrubbing is not necessary, and could cause damage to the brushed nickel finish. Always use non abrasive sponge along with a dampened soft cloth to clean and keep its luster and shine in perfect condition. If additional cleaning is required we recommend using bio-clean products. When you follow these easy steps, you can look forward to a fixture that looks beautiful for years after you install it.

Best AA Flashlight

We don’t need a flashlight often, but when we do, we know we need a good one. I think I have discovered the best AA flashlight for under $40 available today. Perhaps I have just fallen in love with my latest gadget as I have a tendency to do, but honestly I am just so impressed with this one.

Buy Now

Over the years I have bought so many torches and flashlights that I have honestly lost count. There are still a few relics knocking about my garage. (No idea why I don’t just throw them out) This one though is just in a league of its own. It is small at under 5″, is very light even with the batteries in, and the light it has is pretty amazing.

I do a lot of camping and I also walk a lot especially in the evenings. This little beauty will surprise you should you ever get one. I like the idea of the AA batteries as I happen to have rechargeable AA batteries and a good charger. That said, even if I had to buy ordinary batteries to power this flashlight, I most certainly would. These batteries last me about an hour and a half on the full beam which I think is great.

I really don’t fully understand what 120 lumens actually means in terms of brightness, but let me put it this way, it sure is bright. I know from my many camping trips that it is waterproof which is great for me. I also like the fact that it is rugged and yet light to hold. Add to that it has a lifetime warranty and you can hardly go too far wrong.

As I said I am a bit of a gadget freak so I like the way that it comes with a pretty neat looking nylon holster. That also has a belt clip that you can decide to use or not, depending on your preference.

I have included below another handy gadget that I like. It truly is what I would call a boy’s toy but for grown up boys if you know what I mean. Most men would love one of these so if you are stuck for a great gift idea, then I would recommend one of these.

I have also included a good value pack of batteries that will power the best “AA” flashlight I have reviewed above.

Streamlight 85177 CR123A Lithium Batteries, 12-Pack


These work great with any Streamlight flashlight

Streamlight 66118 Stylus Pro Black LED Pen Flashlight with Holster

Guys will adore this little beauty