This appeared on my Yahoo! homepage today from Good Housekeeping, and like any good-to-know information, I felt compelled to pass it around. Although I personally disagree with the Tide To-Go pen since discovering Melaleuca's Pre-Spot (which gets out virtually ev-er-y-thing!) I think they have Tide's bootie beat on that!
Enjoy!
11 Innovative Products from the Past Decade
The Good Housekeeping Research Institute reviews thousands of products each year, but only the most revolutionary, problem-solving gadgets receive the top honor of winning a VIP (Very Innovative Product) Award. We took a look at award winners from the past decade to find some of our favorites that we still use today.
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Stuart Tyson/Studio D |
Ironing clothing can be the most time-consuming part of the laundry process, so in 1999, we were excited to discover that the
Brooks Brothers No-Iron Shirt is truly wash-and-wear. We boldly proclaimed that "Your husband can pluck it from the hot
dryer and walk out the door." The secret to its design is a "baked" in finish, which eliminates wrinkling.
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Stuart Tyson/Studio D |
Unlike plastic- or rubber-lined swim pants for babies and toddlers, these throwaway winners "won't swell in water or droop on land." We lauded the bright, colorfast covers on
Huggies Little Swimmers and they swam to the top of our list in 1999.
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Stuart Tyson/Studio D |
These all-in-one towelettes became part of our
skincare routine in 2001.
Daily Facials Cloths "create enough suds to take off
makeup, even
mascara," providing a quick-clean fix on nights when you're too exhausted to wash your face with
cleanser. Unlike other wipes, they won't leave your skin dry or with an oily residue.
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Stuart Tyson/Studio D |
(I have to agree, this are life-changing!)
Whether you're baking a cake or whipping up waffles, it's important to measure precisely. But to get an accurate reading, you need to check the markings at eye level. Not so with
OXO cups: "A quick glance at the inside strip shows the exact amount as you fill the cup," allowing us to take perfect measurements faster in 2002.
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Stuart Tyson/Studio D |
In our tests,
Crest Whitestrips lightened teeth an average of three shades, giving us something to smile about in 2002. If you're tired of coffee-stained teeth, use this product twice a day for quick results.
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Stuart Tyson/Studio D |
Does your leftover paint dry out by the time you're ready to touch up? We solved this problem in 2003 by using Dutch Boy's Twist and Pour
latex paint, which has twist-on-lids to keep paint fresh and a handle and spout to reduce spills.
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Stuart Tyson/Studio D |
Rice from the
microwave that's actually delicious? You're skeptical, but trust us:
Uncle Ben's Ready Rice was a tasty time-saver in 2005. It cooks in only 90 seconds.
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Stuart Tyson/Studio D |
Whether you're heading out for work or play, take along this tiny stain remover. In a 2006 Good Housekeeping Research Institute test, the
Tide To Go Pen "safely erased most fresh, nonoily drink and food spots such as red wine, tomato juice, ketchup, and coffee." It even works on silk!
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Stuart Tyson/Studio D |
Target Pharmacy's ClearRx Bottle
Finally, we found a prescription label you can read without your glasses in 2006. The drug and dosage info on this bottle is printed in large letters, it has colored rings to help identify medicines, and even comes with a card highlighting side effects and warnings.
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In 2009, even the most committed couch potatoes enjoyed "standing on the
Wii Fit Balance Board and following on-screen instructions for yoga, aerobics, strength training — even walking a tightrope and hula hooping." You earn points for good performance, and get feedback on how you can improve.
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Stuart Tyson/Studio D |
We won the war against pet hair in 2009 with the
Fur Fighter, which "has a textured pad that grips and removes virtually every hair — even ones deeply embedded in the fabric." Once a sheet is full, just throw away and replace.
~Bridget