Since I didn’t find what I was looking for at the Idea House, I decided to look up new tech for the home myself. Here are a few that I found interesting, and possibly some things that look good but you may want to reconsider.
iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot Mop – Sounds like a great idea, right? The short of it is, If the Roomba didn’t work for you, (full disclosure, it didn’t work for me but its been awhile since I tried it), then this won’t work for you either. Things to take into consideration: types of floors, rugs, transitions from one room to another. Around $200-$300.
Eve Energy Smart Plug & Power Meter – This is a game changer for my sister who we wait for in the car every time we go somewhere, because she has to take at least 15 minutes going around the house and unplugging every appliance. This has to be done while she is alone in the house so nothing breaks her concentration. Around $40. Merry Christmas, Diane!
Shark AV2501AE AI Robot Vacuum With XL HEPA Self-Empty Base – An alternative to the Roomba and the best feature is the self-emptying base that holds 60 days worth of debris (not in my house!) at around $450-$650 it’s got a hefty price tag.
ThermoPro TP65 Digital Wireless Hygrometer Indoor Outdoor Thermometer – For those of us who need to know the humidity before doing our hair in the morning. I have curly hair that I like to straighten once in awhile but nothing is worse than straightening it to find out it will become an afro as soon as step outside the door. I know you can just look at your weather app but it isn’t always right so here you go……and at only $25 it may be a game changer for my curly-haired friends.
Hauschen Home LED Bathroom Wall Mounted Mirror – This is also a good one for those of us getting ready in the morning, or afternoon, or night. This vanity mirror has a touchscreen, dimmer and anti-fog design. It also looks pretty good and at $350 it won’t necessarily break the bank.
August Smart Lock Connect Wi-Fi – You may walk out of the house without your keys but you are never without your phone. This answers the question of “What am I going to do when my child has locked me out of the house and is not answering the phone or doorbell?” Only around $200, and it may be lifesaver.
These and more are listed in this article and I have not tested any of them but I am buying the Eve Energy Smart Plug for my sister!
Ring Security, Battery Video Doorbell Kit, Wire-Free Doorbell – This one I have tested, I have it on my front door and I love it. It does need to be charged every few months depending on how many “events” you have as it is a motion a sensor, but considering our house has a revolving door of people I would say it’s got a pretty long charge. On Amazon for about $75-$100
Lomi | Smart Waste Kitchen Composter – I bought this one also. If you’re like me and you want to be more environmentally friendly but hate the idea of running outside with the food scraps to throw into an ugly composter then this is the ticket. I’ve only had it a short while and I will say the jury is out. The good stuff is all that I just mentioned above, it sits on top of the counter or can be stored away until you actually turn it on and it has a modern design. The bad is that the actual compost cycle takes FOREVER, like 12-18 hrs on the “grow” cycle (if you want to be able to use the compost in your garden) and how much electricity is that using? I’m not exactly sure, I’ll update you when I get my bill. Around $500.
Brondell Swash Ecoseat Non-electric Bidet Seat – Bought this too and I LOVE it. I opted for a non-fancy, non-electric model which is easy to hook up because it does not require an outlet, just an easy line to attach to your existing water line and a seat that takes the place of your current one. Once you try any bidet I don’t think you would ever go back to not having one, and this is a great one for those of you hesitant or on the fence. Around $100.
So there is my list of inexpensive (or not too expensive) tech and non-tech upgrades you can easily add to your home. There are many uber-expensive items that I could have listed here like the $5,000 toilet that cleans itself, the $8,000 refrigerator that has the door in door option, a touch screen and an AI assistant that keeps your grocery list but that is not what I do. I like to keep it simple and budget friendly. I also may have some exciting news in the next few weeks so stay tuned!
