Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with products

Winter hair woes.

blackcatcuriouser — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:24:44 -0800

I have long, fine, mostly straight (female) hair that becomes dry, limp and majorly staticky during East Coast winters. My normal hair routine involves moisturizing shampoo, conditioner at the tips, volumizing mousse when my hair is wet, and blow drying upside down with a bristly brush. Sometimes I use some light hairspray to keep it in place. Initially it looks and feels great. But by the end of the day, it is totally dead and full of static. I keep a dryer sheet in my bag to smooth out the static throughout the day but this isn't much of a long-term solution and it doesn't fix the limpness. Advise me please? Any product suggestions? Thanks in advance!

What items get better with use?

Earl the Polliwog — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:36:35 -0800

Which products or goods improve with age and use? Most things degrade with time, and a few are built well enough to not noticeaby decline in functionality when used properly. But how many actually get better after they have been used? I'm mostly thinking of items whose improvement requires use, although age can be a factor too.

For example, Chinese zisha (purple clay) teapots are said to improve over time. As tea is brewed in them, the semi-porous clay absorbs some tea particles, and a patina develops on the walls of the pot. This is supposed to enhance flavor when you brew new tea.

CopyWriterFilter 5000: How do copywriters come up with names for products and product lines?

metajc — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:49:23 -0800

CopyWriterFilter 5000: How do copywriters come up with names for products and product lines? I've been slowly transforming into a copywriter (so painful) and have been tasked with developing around 40 "unique, sonorous" product names for a well-known manufacturer.

I took a drive around town to brainstorm and noticed that housing subdivisions seem to have been named with use of a programmed, automated name builder ... such that "some British village name" + "a random selection of 'wood' 'creek' or 'view'" = American McMansionville. Are they using a system to whip those out?

That's a horrible example and not what I'm looking to do ... but are there systems for developing brand names that could quicken my pace? Are there some sites and/or books I can read about that?

"Well, as you can see ... it SUCKS as it CUTS!"

Canadian definition of products for donation purposes

acoutu — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:12:14 -0800

Canada Donation Filter: Can you donate a productized service and have it count as an in-kind donation to a charity? Services are exempt from in-kind donations under CRA rules. But what about the donation of a tangible product? For example, what if a freelance writer provided a tangible product, such as a finished article in Word format? This is not a service, since it's an actual "thing". Or what if a consultant donated a report and not the services involved in developing that report? Or if a graphic designer donated a newsletter template or finished newsletter? These things could be sold on a website -- lots of consultants sell templates, ebooks, reports and such on demand.

It's unclear to me how these products would be treated under tax laws. For example, if you donate an ebook, which is a product, would that be eligible?

When I read CRA definitions, they seem not to get into how they define products, other than for capital or personal use. And certainly something like an oil change or haircut is a service and not a product. And CRA would not want volunteers to start writing off all the time they spend working in hospitals, at ticket booths and so on. But I am not talking about volunteer time. I'm talking about donation of an actual finish product. Is a report or ebook like a handmade wooden table, if there is a market value for the finished product?

When I worked for a charity some years ago, I did note that my boss did some sort of write off for donations of services by using some sort of definition of products. But I have no idea whether that was legit.

Note: If you're in the US, please note that your tax laws are different. I understand that, in the US, services can be donated at fair market value. But, in Canada, we can only donate products.

What are some good resources for learning to craft old tyres into products?

Not Supplied — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:40:46 -0800

What are some good resources for learning to work with old tyres - crafting them into products and designs? +or could you explain the basic processes? I'd like to learn

the best way of cutting them

how to make flat bits of rubber (a heat process?)

how to make them seamlessly into one surface as in a recycled tyre hut I once saw

Any other useful processes

Any good sites for inspiration - what to make, particularly sweet designs etc.

Any help appreciated, cheers

Need a good photo and laptop backpack.

mtphoto — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:20:23 -0800

Photographer filter: Can you recommend a good gear backpack for storing a camera, a few lenses, and a laptop? I'm looking for a backpack for travel and transport purposes that's durable and will fit my Nikon D300, a few lenses, and will have a compartment to safely house a laptop.

Members of the Tribe

AngerBoy — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:45:29 -0800

How many commercial products can you think of that are named after Native American groups or other indigenous peoples?

The best I can do are: Jeep Cherokee, Pontiac cars, and, um...Eskimo pies. But there must be more, right? Note: I'm NOT looking for products which use Native American or indigenous peoples' imagery in their marketing (like American Spirit cigarettes), or sports franchises. How many can you come up with?

Wordpress Plugins / Addons: Looking for Product viewer (non ecommerce) module + contact form.

spinko — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:52:30 -0800

Wordpress Plugins / Addons: Looking for Product viewer (non ecommerce) module + contact form. A friend wants a site, wants to showcase products like on ecommerce sites but without the payment terminal. Just showing the product information.

Is their a plugin for Wordpres that will allow this.

Show products in a category
Upload product picture (auto thumbnail + normal image)
Contact us form

Need to improve my house cleaning skills

valannc — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:00:11 -0800

I want to improve my house cleaning skills... improve my speed, efficiency, thoroughness, etc. And use the best cleaning products for the task. In the past, we used a cleaning service. Now I have more time than money. It's my job to keep our house clean. I dislike these chores. It occurs to me I would like house cleaning better if I were good at it.

All I know about cleaning is what I learned on TV. "Buy Windex!" "Buy Swiffer" etc. There are many cleaning expert books and web sites. But most of them are selling a cleaning product.

Dear AskMeFi Hive,
Can you recommend resources that for good sensible advice and techniques. What are the best non-harsh cleaning products? I have a closet full of expensive products and tools that don't seem to work right.

Martha Stewart's cleaning advice makes me uncomfortable. Her instructions are so extensive and exacting. She acts as if you have all day to make a bed. (I do like Martha's recipes.)

The germs crawl in, the germs crawl out...

Bardolph — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:44:47 -0800

Kid's due this spring, and we've amassed huge piles of used baby gear. What are some safe disinfecting procedures that will reliably rid all this stuff of any lurking mold, bacteria AND viruses? I'm not a germophobe or anything, and I understand and believe the hygiene hypothesis-- but with all the stuff in the news recently about what happens When Microbes Attack (black mold! obesity viruses!), I'd at least like the kiddie to start out with a blank slate, flora-wise, instead of Freecycle's Best premium microorganism assortment. Criteria for disinfection procedures: must be

ultimately baby-safe (so, not necessarily completely natural or nontoxic, but should be rinsable or removable to leave a safe end product)
as un-damaging as possible to the stuff itself (won't be easy with fabric cushioning/other mixed-material stuff, I know), and unlikely to break down plastics to yield toxic byproducts
effective against molds, bacteria, viruses, and (ideally) bacterial spores.

My current idea is to start by dousing everything with a mild bleach solution to clear the field, then follow up with Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree Soap and lots of baking in the sun to remove residual chlorine. I was also considering just using lots and lots of 95% ethanol, but wasn't sure whether it'd do much against viruses and molds. Would love to hear critiques and/or better suggestions for how to accomplish this!

We're getting a dog!

radioamy — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:05:56 -0800

Looking for your advice/tips/etc for new dog owners. How to save time, save money, what's worth it, what's a waste, what/how to DIY? If all goes as planned, boyfriend and I will be the proud parents of a 5-year-old Corgi at the end of this month. Both of us have lots of experience with dogs, grew up with dogs...I house-sit a bit and also interned at an animal shelter, etc. However, for both of us this the first pet that will be our *own*!

Sunny is coming with a crate and presumably a collar, a leash, and a few toys and some food. Other than that, we have to stock up our place with doggie supplies. I want to make sure I have everything necessary to make all of us comfortable and happy, but I want to be smart about spending money. Here's where I need the Hive Mind's advice:

What do you recommend we buy? What can we buy or where should we shop to save money? What's a waste of money? What's an absolute must-have? Any products that your dog loves? Hates? Wish you had? Any DIY tips/tricks?

And, as a semi-bonus question, if you have any advice/tips for new dog owners in general, I'll take that too.

If it's relevant, we live in New Orleans, LA, US. We have most big brick-and-mortar chain retailers and also a smattering of boutique pet stores.

Johnny Walker Blue is not a common American whiskey

brandnew — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:41:24 -0800

Which notable products or brands do people in other countries love to buy and consume, even though they are not popular or common in their country of origin? A friend of mine travels around the world a lot. Recently he got back from a two week trip to Taiwan. He mentioned that the Taiwanese seemed to like to drink Johnny Walker Blue as if it was common a whiskey and (gross American beer X) as if it was a luxury.

It got me wondering about other brands where this happens. For instance, I consume a lot of European and Asian products, but I have no idea if they're authentic products, or whether they have been marketed to seem authentic. Another example: in college (pre-American craft breweries) we used to drink a lot of Foster's but later discovered that Foster's wasn't popular in Australia.

So, which popular products are used in other countries which are not commonly used in their country of origin?

What do we need before the little guy arrives?

zardoz — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:59:15 -0800

Me and the Mrs. will be having our first child in late March. We've already bought a few clothes and miscellaneous items, but I'd like to know what should we get now? Parents, what are some things (like bottles, strollers, bouncy seats, etc.) that you wish you had had on Day One but didn't? The baby is a boy. Here's what we have so far:

-About 15 or so linen diapers. We'll use them as much as possible, while the kid is still more or less homebound, before moving onto disposables. Do we need a lot more of these?
-A baby carrier/shoulder carrier. We live in a large city, and this will be handy when walking around crowded city streets.
-A crib. We just bought this online, hasn't arrived yet.
-A few shirt/bodysuit(?) things.

We are thinking about buying but don't know much about:

1) Baby bottles and hot water warmers. What else is crucial with baby bottles?
2) A sort of ring pillow for my wife's sore back after the delivery, one that can also help when breastfeeding (actually I dunno what the wife is talking about here; maybe someone else does)
3) A baby bathtub...is this even necessary? When I was a baby my mom would wash me in the kitchen sink.
4) Clothing...how much should we get?
5) A bouncy seat. I hear the ones that vibrate are a lifesaver...are they worth it?

I should point out there will be no Western-style shower, so we don't expect to receive much in terms of gifts.

Thanks!

What's the coolest thing you've gotten in the last half-year?

davebug — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:02:53 -0800

I'm looking to update my birthday wishlist and need some specific inspiration from a broad spectrum of people-types. What's the coolest thing you have bought or been given in the last 6 months that cost between $10 and $200?

Great new family products?

Camofrog — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:58:33 -0800

Parents: what are your favorite newish tools of the trade? I'm helping to research a magazine article, trying to identify really great products new to the market in the past 18 months or so that make parents' lives easier. What recent discoveries have you made? I've been working on this off and on for days and have a nice list going, stuff like nonchafing facial tissue, all-natural sanitizer, flash-drive ID tags ... but the perfectionist side of me is sure MeFiers can hip me to things I'm missing, especially since I'm not directly in the parenting trenches myself and I'm not sure how practical some of these things are. Toys, gear, media, clothes, health products, I think the field is wide open ... thanks for any suggestions, no matter how trivial they may seem!

Products that organize your life that you couldn't live without?

mintchip — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:41:45 -0800

Products that organize your life that you couldn't live without? I'm seeking specific product recommendations for things to simplify one's life and things easier and more organized. For example, things like a purse organizer, charging valet or laptop docking station (but I imagine there must be lots of products that I haven't thought of or even heard of). I am alway seeking ways to get more organized.

(In lieu of actual branded products, I'm also interested in interesting "hacks" or ways to use what you already have in a better way...or web sites that list and rate these things)

Less is More Essays

GregX3 — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:11:52 -0800

I'm having trouble explaining the "less is more" philosophy in web application design. What are the most persuasive essays on the subject which I could refer people to? What are the best blog posts, essays, etc to read for someone not familiar with the concept that having less features actually makes a better product sometimes.

Miracle cleaning products sold on TV shopping channels

selton — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 12:27:51 -0800

I often watch the shopping channels on TV and regularly see demonstrations of "miracle" cleaning products. Now my curiosity has got the better of me. Does anyone have experience of these cleaning products? Are they as fantastic as they appear? Typically there's a demonstrator in the studio throwing all kinds of filth on a carpet and then nonchalently wiping away the stains. Sometimes it's in a bathroom or kitchen setting, but it's basically the same routine.

The products themselves seem relatively expensive compared to the ones I'd buy in a supermarket but apart from that I wonder why if they're so good they aren't sold in normal retail outlets?

Just to be clear I'm not asking for recommendations on any particular named product. I'm interested in a comparison to how much better any of these products are than ones that can be bought in a supermarket.

Hand crank radio with Aux input?

tgelston — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 07:32:02 -0800

Please find me a hand crank radio with an Aux input that allows me to plug in my ipod. It should also get the weather stations and I consider it a bonus if it offers cell phone charging. I would like the price to be under $50.00 but I am curious to see all options.

I love my hair, but we can't seem to get along.

Medieval Maven — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 07:41:09 -0800

My hair and I, we are having a disagreement. I want to wash it at night, and it wants to look like crap the next day. So I did some color - magenta, actually, and of course that means washing at the roots with cold water. I want to do this at night, becuase doing a cold water wash in the morning is No Fun. What I'm running into is that my hair, which is waist length at its longest point, and is monofilament fine, is going oily on me. I'm used to that at the END of the day, or really over a day and a half, but not after ~8 hours. Cornstarch or powder, as previously discussed for these issues, isn't really an option because it will deaden the pink and also look a bit powdered wig-esque against the color (tried it). I'm considering sleeping in foam rollers, as my hair does not hold curl without Extraordinary Measures - I think that would keep it from dying next to my scalp.

Other suggestions? Experiences? Also of note - my hair rats up at a moment's notice. When I was washing it normally in the morning, I'd use Bed Head After Party, or Rockstar+Headrush. A small amount of After Party is OK but not great in this scenario (I mean 1/4 of what I'd use normally) and Rockstar+Headrush is a disaster.

Volume!

you're a kitty! — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:55:39 -0800

Gimmie volume! Not the acoustic kind... I have fine, flat hair, and want awesome big hair. I've always had baby-fine, extremely straight hair that doesn't really like to do anything, no matter what I try. I've had good haircuts and that's helped (it's chin-length at this point), and volumizing spray + blowdrying upside down gives me some texture, but the only thing that's caused my locks to remotely approach "volumnious" is Bumble&Bumble's hair powder, which, while great for events, is definitely not something I'd want to use every day. Any suggestions? Are there products or techniques out there that I've just somehow missed, or must I embrace the hair I had as a six-year-old?

How long will it last?

anonymous78 — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:16:07 -0800

How long, on average, would/should a bottle of organic hair product last? I recently recovered a bottle of Aveda's now-discontinued Elixir. Under normal circumstances I would simply dispose of it and buy a new one, but since it's no longer being made and is currently selling on Ebay for $40-$50 a bottle, I'd like to know if I can salvage it. The product has no expiration date but I know that it's about 3.5 years old. Throughout this period it was kept in a cool, dark place. Is it still good or do I need to chuck it?

Online shopping with free return policies?

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 15:14:44 -0800

Is anybody aware of a comprehensive list of shopping websites which have a 100% no questions return policy with shipping covered or individual websites with no regard for is the product is used or not? A great example of a website that does this is Sephora.com . If I buy over $75, the shipping is free and they send me pre-packaged return supplies and never ask questions if return is within 60 days. It does not matter how much of the product is left. Very cut and dry. What are your favorite websites like this?

Household chemicals versus organic cleaning products

padraigin — Wed, 02 May 2007 10:23:50 -0800

Help me figure out the true environmental impact of using household chemicals such as vinegar and baking soda versus using ecofriendly commercial products. In the interest of keeping our toxins low and our house clean, I'm thinking of switching entirely to using things like vinegar, salt, baking soda, and borax to clean with. Right now I'm also using up the various commercially produced cleaning products we have on hand, but I like the results I'm getting with the vinegar and other items.

But it's all leading me to wonder: what exactly is involved in producing the giant jug of Heinz or store-brand white vinegar I'm buying? What is the environmental impact of producing a box of baking soda or borax? By using these products, am I supporting the industrial farming/mining/chemical industry in a way that using a "green" product like Seventh Generation would not?

It has occurred to me that the household chemicals can be purchased in bulk, where I might not have that option with some random organic cleaning spray and would thus be continuously purchasing plastic containers that have been shipped from who knows where. And after reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma" I'm not as married to the idea that organic is better, but do things like white vinegar and baking soda even exist in an "organic" form? And is it better to support a company that manufactures organic or ecologically sound products, or to support a company like Heinz or Arm & Hammer?

I kind of get the feeling that there are pros and cons to either choice, but I'd like to make an informed decision before I run out of Pine-Sol. And it's not like I can just go to the farmer's market and buy a bushel of locally mined fair trade borax and call it a day.

What products do you think should be modified for disabled?

pallen123 — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 18:57:28 -0800

What product or services (that haven't already been) should be modified for individuals with disabilities -- educational or augmentative toys, games? This is a practical question I'm beginning to research for a client. The client is a large non-profit organization that is interested in 'investing' charitable dollars to re-market, or possibly modify and market existing product and services for individuals with disabilities. These may include anything from Web services to software applications to toys to gadgets to games, etc. The 'target market' can include anyone on the disability spectrum, meaning anyone from children with physical, psychiatric/neuro, and developmental all the way through to frail elderly adults, and everyone in between. Examples include: kids/adults with autism, kids/adults with mobility problems, credebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, kids/adults with emotional and psychiatric issues, individuals with vision and hearing problems, memory impairment, etc. etc. etc.

My client is ideally looking for 'opportunities' to serve an underserved niche -- where there is a need, but perhaps not a huge commercial opportunity that would attract a sizable company to address the need. They're interested in providing seed funds for development/modification of new or existing products, with the expectation that the product/service will find a market large enough to perpetuate the business.

The organization is particularly interested in opportunities that do not require starting from scratch, but rather working with existing product/service providers to make necessary modifications for disabled populations. Education games and toys that fit this niche are of particular interest.