<ul><li><strong><keyword id="9332781" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="beco" source="Orion">Beco</keyword> claims to be one of the most affordable and sustainable home products companies in India.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>India overall generates 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste every day, according to State of India’s Environment 2022 report.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>The startup claims that it uses cornstarch, bamboo, sugarcane, coconut and other natural alternatives of single-use plastic.</strong></li><li><strong>D2C companies like Forest Essentials, Godrej Consumer, Colgate-Palmolive and Hindustan Unilever have also been coming up with <keyword id="49089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword> initiatives.</strong></li></ul>Three friends Aditya, Anuj and Akshay, who graduated together from BITS Pilani, were regular participants in beach clean-ups in Mumbai. During one of their rounds, they found an orange wrapper of a chocolate bar <em>Marathon</em>, which was discontinued in the 1990s. Surprisingly, that plastic wrapper was well preserved and was still on the beach. <br /><br />That chocolate wrapper stuck in their minds and that’s how the sustainable home products company Beco was born in 2018. Beco captured the markets of Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai with its plant-based products like tearable <keyword id="15683675" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="laundry-sheets" source="Orion">laundry sheets</keyword> (that work like soap strips), floor cleaners, reusable kitchen towel rolls, bamboo-based facial tissues, bamboo tissue roll and compostable garbage bags.<br /><br />Fast forward to 2022, their company Beco is now one of the most affordable and sustainable home products companies, they claim. Their mantra is simple – make products more sustainable and affordable; make sustainability a household habit. <br /><br />“The problem that we're trying to solve is to help make sustainability convenient. As a businessman, I look at myself as a consumer. Just making smarter, leaner choices today is actually not burning a hole in your pocket,” said Aditya Ruia, co-founder of Beco, in a conversation with Business Insider India.<br /><br />Almost everyone in day-to-day lives uses products that are made out of plastic or are not good for the environment and these small products become a larger plastic waste nightmare. The country overall generates 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste every day, according to State of India’s Environment 2022 <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/690-tonnes-added-daily-to-plastic-waste-mess/articleshow/90001711.cms">report </a>by Centre for Science and Environment.<br /><br />But since the pandemic, the awareness for sustainability and related products among people has risen as people have grown more environmentally conscious and are gradually shifting to sustainable products.<br /><br />“After the pandemic, I think home became the center of people's lives. Many ended up spending a lot of time at home. General awareness of what they were using at homes increased,” said Ruia. <br /><br />The startup claims it uses cornstarch, bamboo, sugarcane, coconut and other natural alternatives in place of single-use plastic. <br /><br />“Our <keyword id="15683677" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bamboo-laundry-sheets" source="Orion">bamboo laundry sheets</keyword> (that work like soap strips) challenge the usage of <keyword id="15683676" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="plastic-detergent-bottles" source="Orion">plastic detergent bottles</keyword>. They use 70% water and only 30% formula, which is also chemical based,” Ruia added. <br /><br />And by using these alternatives and adopting sustainable production and manufacturing practices, the company has been able to <a href="https://yourstory.com/2022/10/becos-growth-journey-celeb-investors-sustainability-startup">save</a> over 500 tonnes of plastic waste.The maximum cost of the 53 different home products it makes is under ₹1800.<br /><br />“You are using those garbage bags when throwing your trash in your kitchen or in your common spaces. There is a compostable garbage bag available for that. Today, there are solutions for using eco-friendly bamboo toothbrushes, instead of a plastic one,” said Ruia.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Celebrity investors, expanding partnerships" comment="subhead" text="Celebrity investors, expanding partnerships"><span data-til="noop">Celebrity investors, expanding partnerships</span></cmsannotation><br />Bollywood celebrities like Ranbir Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Dia Mirza and Bhumi Pednekar are already Beco’s investors. Beco was also one of the vendors for actress <keyword id="15683678" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dia-Mirzas-eco-friendly-wedding" source="Orion">Dia Mirza’s eco-friendly wedding</keyword> in 2021. It is also partnering with various big brands – We Work, BBlunt salon, Taj Hotel, Radisson – for increasing their sustainability practices. <br /><br />“So, when we are working with all of these partners, they have so much consumption in- house, whether it's in their salons, or in their co-working spaces, or in the hotels. We want to give an ESG (environmental, social, governance) push internally and promote sustainability,” Ruia said.<br /><br />D2C companies like Forest Essentials, Godrej Consumer, Colgate-Palmolive and Hindustan Unilever have also been coming up with similar sustainability initiatives.<br /><br />For instance, cosmetics and skincare company Forest Essentials has been using recyclable air-filled paper pouches or paper cushions for the products inside the cartons and for orders placed online via the company’s website, instead of plastic bubble wrap.<br /><br />Similarly, <a href="https://www.hul.co.in/news/2022/ways-were-helping-tackle-plastic-waste/">Hindustan Unilever</a> has initiated the usage of rHDPE, which is a plastic made from recycled High Density Polythene (25% recycled HDPE), in their personal care product bottles like TRESemmé, Sunsilk,Vaseline lotions, Surf excel laundry liquid and comfort fabric conditioner; and rPET (80% recycled PET) in blister packs for personal care brands such as Pepsodent toothbrushes and Vaseline lip care products.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Funds usage" comment="subhead" text="Funds usage"><span data-til="noop">Funds usage</span></cmsannotation><br />Beco recently raised $3 million in a series A round that saw participation from Rukum Capital, Priyavrata Mafatlal, Better Capital, Prashant Pittie, Titan Capital and others.<br /><br />It plans to use these funds for research and development and product innovation, to build visibility and marketing, and for driving customer acquisition. <br /><br />“In terms of growth for the business, I think the funds are being deployed to grow. And we feel that to grow, we need to innovate on products. And we also need to spend on customer acquisition and help tell the customer, share that story. If they relate, they can make that switch,” Ruia added.<br /><br />Beco, like any other company, is also facing challenges in hiring the right talent and from rising costs in the digital marketing space. “Overall, I think it's a very common challenge. I don't think we are in the FMCG space. So, you know, obviously, building a retail presence becomes a tad bit more challenging, but I think we're getting there,” he added.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/oldest-and-youngest-companies-of-india-as-per-hurun-2022-report-check-out-the-list/articleshow/95926624.cms">234-year-old company EID Parry is only a tad more valuable than year-old unicorn GlobalBees</a><br /></strong><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/bahamas-taiwan-malta-among-10-countries-offering-digital-nomad-visa/articleshow/95941533.cms"><strong>Bahamas, Taiwan, Malta &amp; more: Here are 10 countries offering digital nomad visa</strong></a>

This Mumbai startup is making tearable laundry sheets, bamboo-based facial tissues and more to replace plastic

<ul><li>The price of Indian white goods and durables have increased as much as 20% in the last two years due to inflation.</li><li>The price of copper, steel and aluminium — the key raw material in this sector — have corrected in the last three months.</li><li>White goods items include ACs, fridge, microwaves and washing machines, which are considered a luxury in India.</li></ul>The premium you have been paying on all your household electronics like ACs, fridge, microwaves and washing machines may come off sooner than expected as companies look to pass on the benefits of falling input costs in the festive season. <br /><br />The price of copper, steel and aluminium — the key raw materials in this sector — have corrected in the last three months, after reaching all-time highs. This correction will directly benefit white goods manufacturers — like Bajaj Electricals, Bluestar, Crompton, Havells, Voltas, and Whirlpool to name a few — as procurement of raw material gets more economical.<br /><br />Copper is 21% cheaper, steel is 19% cheaper and aluminium is 36% cheaper from their April levels this year, according to a recent report by ICICI Securities. This, coupled with the fact that customers have been paying over 20% extra on these household durables since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic two years ago, will increase margins for these companies. <br /><br />“With a correction in input prices, the need to raise prices has declined. We believe a breather was essential considering durable companies have raised prices incessantly in the past two years. The cumulative price hike was higher than 20% in the past two years,” the brokerage firm added.<br /><br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="So will the prices go down?" comment="subhead" text="So will the prices go down?"><span data-til="noop">So will the prices go down?</span></cmsannotation><br /><br />Not exactly, but that is simply because the white goods and durables industry usually carries a larger inventory. The companies may want to clear their old stock before selling newer items produced with cheaper raw material. <br /><br />But that isn’t necessarily bad either. <br /><br />ICICI Securities believes that the increased margins will push the manufacturers of ACs, refrigerators, microwaves and washing machines to raise their advertising efforts and offer better discounts to the customer. The case for the customer strengthens as these developments come in the second half of the year, with the festive season just a few months away.<br /><br />“We do not model durable companies to pocket all the benefits and expect them to invest gains [in four areas],” the ICICI report added.<br /><br />One of the areas the companies are likely to invest in is advertising as ad-spends have remained on the lower side for the past three years. <br /><br />Secondly, they are likely to increase their spending in research and development and launch a range of new products. The companies will also increase their trade schemes and discounts. Lastly, they are likely to increase the number of consumer offers to gain market share from smaller or unorganised players, the report added.<br /><br />The only thing going against the industry, in terms of manufacturing, is crude oil prices that have stayed above the $100/a barrel level for most of 2022. A higher-than-expected increase in crude prices could shave off the benefits of lower input costs and pressure the margins of white goods and durable companies.<br /><br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How will the industry perform?" comment="subhead" text="How will the industry perform?"><span data-til="noop">How will the industry perform?</span></cmsannotation><br /><br />ICICI Securities is quite positive about the white goods and durables sector as it counts on strong return ratios, healthy growth potential and low penetration levels. “We also expect the migration from unorganised to organised sector to steadily generate value. Havells India and Crompton Greaves are our top picks,” the firm added.<br /><table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;"><colgroup></colgroup><col /><col /><col /><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Company<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Rating<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Target Price<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">3M India<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">BUY<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹26,000<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Amber<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">ADD<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹2,280<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bajaj Electricals<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">ADD<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1,035<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bluestar<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">HOLD<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1,047<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Crompton Cons.<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">BUY<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹504<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;"> Dixon<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">HOLD<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹3,950<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Havells<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">BUY<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1,644<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;"> Orient Electrics<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">ADD<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹285<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Polycab<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">HOLD<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹2,500<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">TTK Prestige<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">BUY<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹975<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">V-Guard<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">ADD<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹250<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Voltas<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">HOLD<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1,033<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Whirlpool<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">BUY<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹2,000<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Source: ICICI Securities Research<br /><br />White goods consist of LED TV, air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and microwaves, items which are considered luxury. <br /><br />A report by BNP Paribas, released in May, noted that the consumer electricals industry is witnessing a market shift from the unorganised to the organised one, thanks to demonetisation, GST implementation and the pandemic. The company believes that one in three consumer electrical items sold in the market is still in the unorganised sector, which gives the players in the organised sector a lot of room to grow. <br /><br />“The Indian consumer durables sector is still nascent, given low penetration levels of various products, especially white goods,” the report added. <br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO</strong><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/retail/news/delhi-to-have-its-own-version-of-the-dubai-shopping-festival-starting-2023/articleshow/92698118.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Delhi to have its own version of the Dubai shopping festival starting 2023 </a><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/indias-biggest-companies-spend-nearly-11-lakh-crore-on-employee-expense-last-year/articleshow/92690317.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">If you thought techies got the biggest hikes last year, think again...</a><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/no-service-charge-on-restaurant-bill-will-impact-waiters-servers-kitchen-staff/articleshow/92668785.cms">Remember to tip your waiter, there is no more service charge on your bill</a><br />

Your ACs, fridge and washing machines may get cheaper soon

Best 5 star ACs in India

Best 1 ton split AC in India 2023

Air conditioners are important to keep the temperatures down, especially during summers. One of things that needs to be kept in mind while purchasing an AC is the size of the room and the temperature of the place. A 1.5-ton AC is suitable for large rooms and places with high temperatures. To help you decide which AC to buy, we have compiled a list of the best 1.5-ton ACs available in India.<br /><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B084365NVF" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B084365NVF_head"><columnHead col="1"><columnHeadThumb>            <div type="image" title="Editor&amp;#39;s Choice" msid="78095671" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb><columnHeadTitle>B084365NVF</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B084365NVF_body"><bulletContentRow name="B084365NVF_1485058939097552"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Panasonic CS/CU-NU18WKYW 1.5 Ton Split AC</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Panasonic CS/CU-NU18WKYW Split AC comes with a capacity of 1.5 ton and is equipped with a variable speed compressor that can adjust the power depending on the heat load. It comes with the company’s MirAle platform that allows you to use the in-built intelligent diagnostic features. It comes with a dry mode that can be used to remove moisture from the air during the rainy season.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B084365NVF_3343340220102203"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It comes with Amazon Alexa support, allowing you to use voice commands to control the temperature, modes and more.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B084CLXCY2" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B084CLXCY2_head"><columnHead col="1"><columnHeadThumb>            <div type="image" title="Popular Choice" msid="78095738" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb><columnHeadTitle>B084CLXCY2</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B084CLXCY2_body"><bulletContentRow name="B084CLXCY2_7307593681767944"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Sanyo SI/SO-15T5SCIC 1.5 Ton Split AC</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Sanyo SI/SO-15T5SCIC 1.5 Ton Split AC offers a capacity of 1.5 tons and is equipped with a dual cool inverter technology that uses two independent rotors to ensure faster and efficient cooling. The condenser comes with pure copper coils that enable faster heat transfer and are resistant to corrosion.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B084CLXCY2_1806761329128881"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It comes with a five-star energy efficiency rating and cools down your room without burning a hole in your pocket.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B07L8YHCDT" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07L8YHCDT_head"><columnHead col="1"><columnHeadThumb>            <div type="image" title="Also Consider" msid="78095757" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb><columnHeadTitle>B07L8YHCDT</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07L8YHCDT_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07L8YHCDT_2582695934797236"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Godrej GIC18 LAH 5 1.5 Ton Split AC</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Godrej GIC18 LAH 5 1.5 Ton Split AC is equipped with a heavy-duty twin rotary inverter compressor that offers faster cooling. It comes with an auto-blow function that prevents the growth of microorganisms in the indoor unit. It is equipped with a multi-layer acoustic jacket for the compressor that helps in reducing noise.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07L8YHCDT_4204899502683415"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It comes with an active carbon filter and an anti-bacterial filter that helps in cleaning the air and removing dust, pollen, bacteria and more.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="Daikin FTKP50TV 1.5 Ton Split AC B07HFFGF22" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="Daikin FTKP50TV 1.5 Ton Split AC B07HFFGF22_head"><columnHead col="1"><columnHeadThumb>        <div type="image" title="Alternative Pick" msid="78095821" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb><columnHeadTitle>B07HFFGF22</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="Daikin FTKP50TV 1.5 Ton Split AC B07HFFGF22_body"><bulletContentRow name="Daikin FTKP50TV 1.5 Ton Split AC B07HFFGF22_4296637781534585"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Daikin FTKP50TV 1.5 Ton Split AC</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Daikin FTKP50TV 1.5 Ton Split AC is equipped with a neo swing inverter compressor that decreases friction and vibration to offer quiet and efficient performance. It uses pure copper coils that ensure faster heat transfer. It comes with XLPE Insulation kits that are UV treated to ensure a longer life.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="Daikin FTKP50TV 1.5 Ton Split AC B07HFFGF22_0095327717172753"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It comes with a built-in stabilizer that removes the need for an external stabilizer and can regulate voltage to protect the AC from accidents.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B084WCFN9P" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B084WCFN9P_head"><columnHead col="1"><columnHeadThumb>            <div type="image" title="Pocket Friendly" msid="78095746" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb><columnHeadTitle>B084WCFN9P</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B084WCFN9P_body"><bulletContentRow name="B084WCFN9P_8450987000183958"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Sanyo SI/SO-15T3SCIC 1.5 Ton Split AC</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Sanyo SI/SO-15T3SCIC 1.5 Ton Split AC is equipped with a dual inverter compressor that can manage the power based on the heat load. It comes with hydrophilic fins that offer protection against rust and salt damage. It comes with a glacier mode that provides instant cooling at the touch of a button.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B084WCFN9P_7947232883930362"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It is equipped with PM 2.5 and anti-dust filters that remove dust, pollen and other suspended particles in the air.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B084THBKGG" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B084THBKGG_head"><columnHead col="1"><columnHeadThumb>            <div type="image" title="Reliable Performer" msid="78095828" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb><columnHeadTitle>B084THBKGG</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B084THBKGG_body"><bulletContentRow name="B084THBKGG_8994898594290843"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">LG LS-Q18SWZA 1.5 Ton Split AC</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The LG LS-Q18SWZA 1.5 Ton Split AC comes with a 4-in-1 convertible cooling technology that allows you to control the power depending on the requirement. It comes with ocean black protection that offers protection from corrosion and ensures longer life. It features ocean black fins that offer protection from dust, smoke, and other chemicals present in the air.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B084THBKGG_6411962113652282"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It comes with a silent operation mode that offers near noiseless performance while cooling your room.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br />

Best 1.5 ton split ACs for home in India

<ul><li>The Nothing ear (1) truly wireless earbuds are the first product of the Carl Pei-led company.<br /></li><li>These earbuds feature a transparent and unique design and come equipped with 11.6mm dynamic drivers.<br /></li><li>The Nothing ear (1) truly wireless earbuds are priced at ₹5,999.<br /></li></ul>Nothing, the company, founded by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, has been the subject of attention of OnePlus fans for a reason – Pei knows how to market a product. The Nothing ear (1) truly wireless earbuds were <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/nothing-makes-its-debut-with-the-launch-of-the-ear-1-truly-wireless-earbuds/articleshow/84789515.cms">launched earlier this week</a> after being teased for several weeks and months. <br /><br />But there’s more to a product than just marketing, more so in a market that is dominated by giants like Apple, Samsung and countless other companies that make audio products for a living.<br /><br />To make a splash, Nothing has gone with an interesting approach – transparent design. Many truly wireless earbuds emulate the AirPods design, while some cut the stem off for a more minimal look. There might only be a few ways to design a pair of truly wireless earbuds, but Nothing’s approach helps it stand apart in an extremely crowded market.<br /><br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="84789515" title="Nothing makes its debut with the launch of the ear (1) truly wireless earbuds" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br />I have been using the Nothing ear (1) for a while now and here’s my review.<br /><br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Nothing ear (1) – the important details" comment="subhead" text="Nothing ear (1) – the important details"><span data-til="noop">Nothing ear (1) – the important details</span></cmsannotation><br /><br />The Nothing ear (1) truly wireless earbuds are priced at ₹5,999 and will be available on <a href="https://www.flipkart.com/nothing-store'">Flipkart</a> starting August 17.<br /><br />The ear (1) earbuds are powered by an 11.6mm dynamic driver and offer features like active noise cancellation, with the audio tuned by Sweden-based Teenage Engineering, which was acquired by Nothing earlier this year.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Nothing ear 1 - ft" msid="84859531" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Nothing ear (1&amp;lt;span class=&amp;quot;redactor-invisible-space&amp;quot;&amp;gt;) will be available for purchase starting August 17&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />The earbuds weigh 4.7 grams each. Nothing has promised up to 5.7 hours of playback time, while the case adds 34 hours more. Thanks to fast charging support, a 10-minute charge can get you up to 1.2 hours of playback time on the earbuds, while the case gets you an additional 8 hours.<br /><br />Wrapping of the specs sheet is IPX4 rating, meaning the Nothing ear (1) is sweat and splash resistant. Nothing also has the ear (1) app for both iOS and Android that allows you to tune some additional options if you want to.<br /><br />With that out of the way, let’s dig in to the review.<br /><br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Nothing nails it with the design" comment="subhead" text="Nothing nails it with the design"><span data-til="noop">Nothing nails it with the design</span></cmsannotation><br /><br />The design is undoubtedly one of the biggest selling points of the Nothing ear (1). In my opinion, Nothing has delivered in this regard.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Nothing ear 1 - earbud" msid="84859553" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Nothing ear (1&amp;lt;span class=&amp;quot;redactor-invisible-space&amp;quot;&amp;gt;)&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt; with a touch of red&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />Making a pair of transparent earbuds is no mean feat – especially since these small devices pack in plenty of hardware and technology, making it really challenging to also make them look good. Most smartphones and laptops – much bigger devices than earbuds – are not well-designed on the inside.<br /><br />That makes the ear (1)’s transparent and clean design all the more impressive.<br /><br />Another aspect that works in ear (1)’s favour is the fact that most truly wireless earbuds in this price range either look the same or they’re boring. Any and every originality, in this scenario, is welcome and a breath of fresh air.<br /><br />Lastly, the ear (1)’s case supports wireless charging, which is an added bonus. It also has a USB Type-C port, which is compatible with most smartphone charging cables launched in the recent past.<br /><br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Clean, balanced sound with ANC support" comment="subhead" text="Clean, balanced sound with ANC support"><span data-til="noop">Clean, balanced sound with ANC support</span></cmsannotation><br /><br />I have been using the Nothing ear (1) as my primary audio device for the past few days, for both voice calls as well as music.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Nothing ear 1 - both" msid="84859565" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Nothing ear (1&amp;lt;span class=&amp;quot;redactor-invisible-space&amp;quot;&amp;gt;)&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />While it’s not enough time to pass the final judgement on the audio quality and overall performance, I found the audio to be well balanced, with well-defined highs and lows.<br /><br />I used the ear (1) earbuds with the OnePlus 9 Pro for the most part, and compared it with the Galaxy Buds Plus. I played several tracks, including Gotye’s State Of The Art - the highs and lows were very well balanced, with clear and crisp vocals.<br /><br />For a change of pace, I tried Lorde’s Royals. The voice was well distinguished, and the bass and treble were well balanced, too.<br /><br />To mix it up a bit, I played Imagine Dragons’ Demons, and the ear (1) did not miss a beat. The bass was deep and the vocals were well-distinguished.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Nothing ear (1) app" msid="84859589" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The ear (1) app lets you manage equalizer and gestures&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />The default ‘Balanced’ equalizer sounded the best. If you prefer bass or treble, you can toggle the equalizer in the app. Additionally, there’s a ‘Voice’ option that sounds a lot different and is geared towards voice calling over music.<br /><br />Active noise cancellation works well, but that will result in a battery hit. It is useful in weeding out major noise from vehicles or people talking, but I found some of it still managing to pass through the earbuds. But overall, it worked well.<br /><br />So far, I have used the ear (1) for voice calls and music, spanning over four days. The charge level in the case has dropped to 70%, and this is after one firmware update.<br /><br />I will update the review if I notice anything that I haven’t covered above.<br /><br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="But there are some rough edges that need to be worked out" comment="subhead" text="But there are some rough edges that need to be worked out"><span data-til="noop">But there are some rough edges that need to be worked out</span></cmsannotation><br /><br />While Nothing has gotten most things right for its debut product, the ear (1) still has some rough edges that can be smoothed out.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Nothing ear 1 - side" msid="84859684" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Nothing ear (1&amp;lt;span class=&amp;quot;redactor-invisible-space&amp;quot;&amp;gt;)&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;#39;s performance in voice calls needs improvements&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />The voice quality, especially outdoors, is something that needs improvement. My friends reported noticeable disturbance in calls when I was out and about. Nothing says it uses Clear Voice Technology with algorithms to isolate and amplify your voice during calls, but there’s enough room for improvement in this regard.<br /><br />I also faced minor connectivity hiccups, wherein the ear (1) wouldn’t connect automatically, requiring me to manually connect them by going into my phone’s settings. This happened sporadically, and Nothing has released an update to address this. Since the update rolled out just a few hours ago, I will update the review to address this.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Nothing ear 1 - box open" msid="84859625" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Nothing ear (1)&amp;#39;s case is boxy&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />Lastly, the case. It looks great and unique at a time when most of the alternatives sport the same oval/round cube design. But, in terms of ease of carrying it around, this case is slightly on the bigger side.<br /><br />The bigger size has the added advantage of a bigger battery, but the primary requirement here is how easy it is to carry it in your pocket – it’s not difficult, but it’s certainly noticeable.<br /><br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Should you buy the Nothing ear (1)?" comment="subhead" text="Should you buy the Nothing ear (1)?"><span data-til="noop">Should you buy the Nothing ear (1)?</span></cmsannotation><br /><br /><div type="image" title="Nothing ear 1 - earbuds indoors" msid="84859652" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Nothing ear (1&amp;lt;span class=&amp;quot;redactor-invisible-space&amp;quot;&amp;gt;)&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />The Nothing ear (1) truly wireless earbuds are priced very aggressively, especially given that they support active noise cancellation, wireless charging and offer a very good audio experience.<br /><br />If you are in the market for a pair of good quality truly wireless earbuds, the Nothing ear (1) makes for a good recommendation. Alternatively, you can also consider the Oppo Enco X, Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus, Jabra Elite 75t, or the Sony WF-XB700.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oppo-reno-6-pro-5g-mobile-price-camera-and-other-specification-review/articleshow/84813286.cms">Oppo Reno 6 Pro 5G review – buy it if you want a mid-range smartphone with some interesting camera features</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-nord-ce-5g-review/articleshow/83508015.cms">OnePlus Nord CE 5G Review: Buy it for the basics</a><br /><br /></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/moto-g60-mobile-detailed-review-of-camera-design-quality-software-and-price/articleshow/83366540.cms"><strong>Moto G60 review – 108MP snapper sounds impressive, but numbers don’t always paint a detailed picture</strong></a><br />

Nothing ear (1) review – clean sound, transparent design for the win

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Back in December 2019, I received a Huggle as a Christmas gift from my family, who knows that I'm always cold.</li><li>Now, the blanket-sweatshirt hybrid has become a staple of my daily life — especially as I work from <keyword id="6363870" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="home">home</keyword> where the air conditioner is always blasting.</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GF7K28W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_072220_huggle-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07GF7K28W&amp;linkId=6212837ecee8da47e2534221ead44a4acee8da47e2534221ead44a4a" rel="nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Huggles</a> retail for $29.99, and are dupes for the $39.99 Comfy shirt-blankets, which were made famous on "Shark Tank."</li><li>I personally love the Huggle because it's affordable, comfortable, and keeps me warm all year, though I'd recommend any similar product.</li></ul><p>Regardless of the temperature outside, I'm almost always cold.</p><p>In the winter, of course, I dread days when I have to trudge through snow, leaving me cold from head to toe. But even in the summer, I find myself carrying a zip-up hoodie everywhere I go to combat air conditioning that will inevitably blast inside every building.</p><p>However, I've recently discovered a product that helps keep me warm all year round: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GF7K28W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_072220_huggle-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07GF7K28W&amp;linkId=6212837ecee8da47e2534221ead44a4acee8da47e2534221ead44a4a" rel="nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">the Huggle</a>.</p><h2>The Huggle is an As-Seen-On-TV dupe of a famous 'Shark Tank' product</h2><p><a href="https://www.buyhuggle.com/">As described on its website</a>, the Huggle is an oversized hoodie made from "luxurious <keyword id="147715" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="blanket">blanket</keyword> fabric." It has a hood, giant sleeves that cinch at the wrist, and a large pocket across the bodice.</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GF7K28W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_072220_huggle-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07GF7K28W&amp;linkId=6212837ecee8da47e2534221ead44a4acee8da47e2534221ead44a4a" rel="nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">The Huggle</a> is also reversible, so you can enjoy both fuzzy fabric and soft, blanket material. </p><p><div type="image" title="as seen in tv huggle" height="900" width="1200" msid="77116716" hostid="261"></div></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GF7K28W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_072220_huggle-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07GF7K28W&amp;linkId=6212837ecee8da47e2534221ead44a4acee8da47e2534221ead44a4a" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sold online</a> and in stores like <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/huggle-hoodie-blanket-hoodie-one-size-fits-most/ID=300396602-product?" rel="nofollow sponsored">Walgreens</a>, Huggles typically retail for $29.99. They're a bit cheaper than the original sweatshirt-blanket hybrid called <a href="https://thecomfy.com/">the Comfy</a>, which retails for $39.99. The latter product was made famous after it appeared on "Shark Tank," and has since inspired a line of socks and blanket pullovers.</p><h2>I received a Huggle as a gift in December, and have worn it practically every day since</h2><p>On Christmas morning, my parents excitedly handed me a giant gift bag. As I pulled tissue paper out to reveal a blue Huggle, I was a bit confused, but quickly realized upon reading the packaging that I must have always needed such a product and simply never realized it.</p><p>Now, not a day goes by where I don't wear a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GF7K28W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_072220_huggle-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07GF7K28W&amp;linkId=6212837ecee8da47e2534221ead44a4acee8da47e2534221ead44a4a" rel="nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Huggle</a>, whether I'm lounging on my couch, doing housework, or even working from home. I love the <keyword id="1264838" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="sweatshirt">sweatshirt</keyword> blanket so much that I've even purchased a second one, so that I have another to wear when my original is being washed.</p><p><div type="image" title="review of huggle" height="1800" width="1318" msid="77116718" hostid="261"></div></p><p>In my opinion, the best thing about <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GF7K28W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_072220_huggle-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07GF7K28W&amp;linkId=6212837ecee8da47e2534221ead44a4acee8da47e2534221ead44a4a" rel="nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Huggles</a> is that you're able to stay warm wherever you go while wearing one. If you get comfortable on your couch while wrapped in a Huggle, you can get up for a snack and still stay cozy. That wouldn't be as easy with a standard blanket unless you made the effort to lug it to the kitchen with you.</p><p>I'm also a big fan of the two kinds of fabric <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GF7K28W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_072220_huggle-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07GF7K28W&amp;linkId=6212837ecee8da47e2534221ead44a4acee8da47e2534221ead44a4a" rel="nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Huggles</a> are made with. The velvet-like fabric found on the outside of the hoodie still feels as soft as the first day I wore it.</p><p>The white, fluffy interior is also nice, though it requires more work to keep it soft. After washing my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GF7K28W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_072220_huggle-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07GF7K28W&amp;linkId=6212837ecee8da47e2534221ead44a4acee8da47e2534221ead44a4a" rel="nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Huggle</a> multiple times, for example, I've found that the fabric has become slightly matted, and must be brushed to achieve the same softness it once had.</p><p><div type="image" title="huggle fabric" height="1498" width="2000" msid="77116722" hostid="261"></div></p><p>The length of the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GF7K28W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_072220_huggle-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07GF7K28W&amp;linkId=6212837ecee8da47e2534221ead44a4acee8da47e2534221ead44a4a" rel="nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Huggle</a> is another perk. I'm 5-foot-2, and the sweatshirt blanket stretches to just above my knees when standing. But because the Huggle is so oversized and roomy, I can pretty much wrap the sweatshirt around my entire body when sitting. </p><p><div type="image" title="huggle blanket" height="2000" width="1097" msid="77116726" hostid="261"></div></p><p>There are other options on the market. <a href="https://snuggiestore.com/collections/snuggie">Snuggies</a>, for example, were one of the first blankets with sleeves to become popular, and they're still sold today. While I've tried Snuggies and enjoyed them in the past, I've personally found that they're not as warm as Huggles. They're also a bit too long and baggy, in my opinion, though they cost less at $14.99 per blanket.</p><p>And while I haven't worn the original Comfy, the blankets have received rave reviews from many online. YouTuber <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP2WOv9VqD6fm4W0LZshbxA">Vivian Tries</a>, for example, reviewed both the <a href="https://youtu.be/p0P7BeiwQfI">Huggle</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/vZkSTCzmd5E">Comfy</a>, and said she preferred the latter product. That being said, the Huggle has similar features of both products, and is priced somewhere in between, so it gives a little more bang for your buck.</p><p>Ultimately, I'd recommend the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GF7K28W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_072220_huggle-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07GF7K28W&amp;linkId=6212837ecee8da47e2534221ead44a4acee8da47e2534221ead44a4a" rel="nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Huggle</a> to anyone seeking maximum lounging comfort, especially those like me who are constantly cold. My Huggle has helped me get through the coldest days of winter, and is still proving to keep me warm against frigid air conditioning as I work from home this summer — even as I write this article.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/pretty-weighted-blanket-best-bearaby-napper-2020-1">I tried the pretty weighted blanket that's all over Instagram, and it actually did help me sleep better</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/crochet-blankets-turn-you-into-star-wars-characters-2019-9">These crochet blankets transform you into a 'Star Wars' character</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/blanket-that-looks-like-a-tortilla-2019-4">You can now buy a tortilla blanket so you can curl up like a burrito</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/best-weighted-blanket">The best weighted blankets you can buy</a></li><li><p><em>This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author(s).</em></p></li></ul>

I'm always cold, but this $30 sweatshirt blanket keeps me warm year round

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e56dfc3fee23d4711173c96-2120/home-repairs.jpg" alt="home repairs" /><p class="source"><span>Guido Mieth/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">The author is not pictured.</p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Home repairs seem to always come up at inconvenient times and can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars in some cases.</strong></li><li><strong>An emergency fund and well-planned budget make home repairs easier to stomach when you're hit with a big, unexpected bill.</strong></li><li><strong>I've been surprised by home costs including everything from an emergency plumber visit to an unexpected air conditioner repair.</strong></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-high-yield-savings-accounts-rates-right-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener">See Business Insider's picks for the best high-yield savings accounts »</a></li></ul><p>Owning a home is a great experience for many people, myself included, but homes almost always come with expensive surprises over time. Trust me: I've <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/things-every-homeowner-should-know-before-buying-a-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">owned three homes</a> so far.</p><p>Today, we take a look back at seven times I had to pay for emergency home services, or at least float the cost temporarily before getting reimbursed.</p><p>As a homeowner, I have both a sizeable emergency fund and a plan to cover some home costs in my monthly budget. With my emergency fund <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ally-high-yield-savings-account-recommendation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in a high-yield savings account</a> at a favorite bank, I'm earning top interest rates while hoping I never need to tap into those funds in the future. But a few times, I have needed to pay for a big emergency right away. And thank goodness I had my savings ready when I did.</p><p>People tell you about your <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-buy-a-house-step-by-step-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mortgage</a> and insurance costs. They might mention landscaping and garbage-pickup costs. But how about last-minute wax ring replacement and servicing your hard water softener? Here are seven times repair and maintenance costs completely took me by surprise.</p><h2>1. Last-minute wax ring replacement</h2><p>When you own a condo, you are typically responsible for repairs related specifically to your unit while the building's homeowner's association pays for shared costs. A problem with your toilet generally falls squarely into the "your problem" category.</p><p>I had old, low-quality toilets in both bathrooms when I moved into my condo. When one of them started leaking on the floor out of the base, I figured it was as good of a time as any to upgrade. I took advantage of a program from Denver Water to buy two new low-flow toilets at a discounted rate. My overall outlay for the project was $418 for two toilets, two wax rings, and other supplies.</p><p>While replacing the toilets, I found the root of the problem was a bad wax ring, a part that costs less than $10 at the local hardware store. I did the work myself, so I only had to pay for parts. However, according to <a href="https://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-much-does-toilet-installation-cost.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Angie's List</a>, a plumber usually charges around $125 to $260 per toilet for this kind of job.</p><h2>2. Emergency plumber for the condo bathtub</h2><p>That condo was a great place to live, but it sure had its share of plumbing problems. One day that same toilet started to gurgle when the other was flushed. I quickly realized there was some kind of block in the drain for my unit, as water that went in one drain came out another.</p><p>I called up an emergency plumber who charged $100 to show up and diagnose the problem. Ultimately, it was determined to be a building issue and not a repair I had to pay out of pocket. However, I had to float the cost of the diagnosis until the HOA reimbursed me the following month.</p><h2>3. Servicing my hard water softener</h2><p>My house in California is far from brand new, and its age shows itself from time to time. One place that had been neglected for a while when we moved in was the water softener. After figuring out that it was hardly working at all, we had to hire a company to come out and service the unit.</p><p>It cost about $150 to have the water softener fixed. From then on, we also saw our cost of adding the specialized salt to the unit increase, as it wasn't really working before. If you've ever lived with hard water, you know just how important a working water softener is for your shower, dishwasher, and laundry to all work as expected.</p><h2>4. Unexpected air conditioner repair</h2><p>In the peak of summer last year, our air conditioner started to run all day without making the house cooler. It only took a couple of days for us to make a call to a local HVAC repair company for a diagnosis.</p><p>Including parts, the worn part cost about $400 to replace. That's my biggest surprise home expense ever. Thankfully, the repair worker said the rest of our A/C is in good shape and shouldn't need work for years to come. I hope he's right!</p><h2>5. Chimney maintenance</h2><p>The inspection report when we bought this home noted a few issues with the chimney. It turns out, however, that the issues he found were not the whole story. To ensure birds and raccoons didn't make their way down our chimney and into the house, we needed to make a few upgrades.</p><p>The all-in cost was around $200 for a new chimney crown and resealing the concrete block at the top of the chimney. After a brief scare about having to completely replace that concrete block, we were happy to hear they were able to keep what was there. The cost could have easily been quite a bit higher.</p><h2>6. Broken water spigot - twice!</h2><p>It wasn't long after moving into our house that the hose in the front yard started running. We hoped that the repair would be covered by our homeowner warranty we picked up when buying the house, but apparently our policy, like many, didn't cover many common situations including a leaking hose spigot attached to the house.</p><p>We ended up paying about $100 for the repair, which took the plumber less than 10 minutes. The exact same thing happened on the same spigot about a year later. That time, I watched the plumber make the repair so I would know how to do it myself in the future.</p><p>I'm very glad I did, as it only cost me about $9 for a replacement part when it broke for the third time instead of another $100 plumber bill.</p><h2>7. Rats in the attic</h2><p>Another issue that reared its ugly head shortly after moving into our current home was not so pleasant to deal with. We had rats in the attic and I happily paid an exterminator to get rid of those pests so I didn't have to.</p><p>The exterminator trapped and removed the rats, sealed up holes so they couldn't get in again, and suggested some landscaping changes to avoid future problems. We paid bills for both pest control and tree trimming that totaled a few hundred dollars. The house has been rat-free ever since.</p><h2>Always be ready for surprise home expenses</h2><p>If you rent your home, your landlord should cover regular maintenance and repairs. In fact, every single item on this list should be covered by a landlord, not you, when you rent. Homeowners, on the other hand, have to pay their own way when it comes to maintenance and repairs.</p><p>Homes are expensive. Home maintenance and repairs are expensive. That's why it's a good idea for homeowners to keep an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-money-to-save-in-emergency-fund-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">emergency fund ready</a> and budget for home repairs. I was able to pay for most of these expenses without touching the emergency fund, but more than once I was glad to have savings on standby.</p><p>If you own a home, always be ready for unexpected repairs. From your furnace to your dishwasher to your plumbing, things inevitably go wrong on occasion. While rats and repairs are always a hassle, with savings and a home maintenance budget on standby, you can get through those repairs without the financial stress of figuring out how to pay.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>More <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/yourmoney">personal finance</a> coverage</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-open-high-yield-savings-account-now-interest-rates-down">4 reasons to open a high-yield savings account while interest rates are down </a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-open-wealthfront-cash-account-savings">It took less than 10 minutes to open a high-yield cash account with Wealthfront and earn more on my savings</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-buy-a-house-with-no-money-down-home-loans">How to buy a house with no money down </a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-to-save-money-in-high-yield-savings">When to save money in high-yield savings</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-rewards-credit-cards">Best rewards credit cards</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reasons-to-get-life-insurance-you-havent-thought-of-yet">7 reasons you may need life insurance, even if you think you don't</a></li></ul><p style="font-size:14px;"><em>Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Personal Finance Insider team. We occasionally highlight financial products and services that can help you make smarter decisions with your money. We do not give investment advice or encourage you to adopt a certain investment strategy. What you decide to do with your money is up to you. If you take action based on one of our recommendations, we get a small share of the revenue from our commerce partners. This does not influence whether we feature a financial product or service. We operate independently from our advertising sales team.<em></em></em></p><iframe src="https://smartasset.com/captivate/frame/kfebmmrc" width="100%" height="550px" scrolling="auto" style="border: none;"></iframe>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-parks-disneyland-world-expensive-exclusive-resort-walt-cinderella-2019-4">9 of the most exclusive Disney spots to visit, including the invite-only Cinderella Suite where Tom Cruise and Mariah Carey have stayed</a></h3>                    <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/hsO5Wlkr-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;"></iframe>            

7 surprise costs of owning a home that made me glad I'd been saving money

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55d4823a371d22dc0b8c0215-1353-1015/screen%20shot%202015-08-18%20at%206.27.03%20pm.png" alt="Richard Branson Will.i.am Knock Knock app" data-mce-source="Knock Knock"><p class="source"><span>Knock Knock</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Everyone knows that awkward shuffle of sorts that happens when&#xa0;you're clicking with someone or a new group of friends and it comes time to exchange numbers at the end of the night.&#xa0;Nobody likes fumbling with their phone as they pass&#xa0;it&#xa0;around to have people input their number,&#xa0;and sometimes you might&#xa0;only want to connect with one or two people in the group.<p><a href="http://knockknock.co/">Knock Knock</a> is a new app that seeks&#xa0;to make that whole process a bit less awkward, allowing people in a group to simply knock twice on their phone's screen - even when the device is asleep or stowed away in their pocket - to instantly exchange their phone number or various social media handles.</p><p>The app, created by Humin founders Ankur Jain and David Wyler, is backed by an odd assortment of investors that includes billionaire Richard Branson, Will.i.am, and Sophia Bush, and it launched on Wednesday for both iPhone and Android.</p><p>Knock Knock uses Bluetooth and Apple's Beacon technology to allow for phones with the app installed to connect without having to be unlocked. With location sharing turned on, the app will even record the place and time that you exchanged contact details with the other person.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55d4829b371d22a40e8c0df7-2521-2266/knock%20knock%201.jpg" alt="Knock KNock app" data-mce-source="Humin"><p class="source"><span>Humin</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>After someone initiates the connection by knocking twice on their phone, the other people in the group knock twice on their phones as well, and&#xa0;a grouping within the app is formed where people can selectively exchange the information they want to share with the people in the group. If you're at a bar and have your eye on a particular someone in the group but aren't a huge fan of their friends, you can opt to&#xa0;share your Facebook or Twitter handle with the group at large while only divulging your phone number to that specific person.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55d482c2371d2212008c0f22-2529-2261/knock%20knock%202.jpg" alt="Knock Knock app" data-mce-source="Humin"><p class="source"><span>Humin</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>Connecting via Knock Knock is also an easy way to create a short-term group messaging thread, and since you don't have to give out your number unless you want to, it comes in handy if you're heading out for the night with a large group of friends. Group messaging threads are notorious for unwanted notifications, so Knock Knock lets you ghost your way out of the group without notifying everyone - and you can still follow up and share your number or email with a specific person the next day.</p><p>But the coolest feature of Knock Knock is that it can act like a magic wand of sorts, revealing&#xa0;other Knock Knock users who are in the room when you walk into a party or bar - t<span>hink Hermione's </span><span><a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Homenum_Revelio"><em>Homenum Revelio</em></a> spell in "Harry Potter" that pointed out&#xa0;other humans in the room</span>. Since connecting over Knock Knock requires everyone to knock twice on their phone, if you open the app and knock twice without letting other people know, the app will ping your surroundings and show you other Knock Knock users - including those you haven't connected to already.</p><p><span>Knock Knock cofounder Ankur Jain says the team will be marketing the app at select universities including&#xa0;</span>Harvard,&#xa0;UPenn, Stanford, Berkeley, USC, and Cornell in August, when most students will be going out during their school's "Welcome Week."</p><p>Anyone can download Knock Knock for free starting today, however,&#xa0;and it's launching on both <a href="https://bnc.lt/m/HHhpuk4i9l">iPhone</a> and <a href="https://bnc.lt/m/HHhpuk4i9l">Android.</a></p><p>&#xa0;</p><p><div><iframe width="800" height="450" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/X0IFTTkIPvI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></p><p class="embed-spacer">&#xa0;</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/build-air-conditioner-under-15-minutes-2015-7">How to build an air conditioner in under 15 minutes</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="UxMW55dTov03diiRWTM8HRpus4jCy-fY" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'UxMW55dTov03diiRWTM8HRpus4jCy-fY',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Richard Branson and Will.i.am invested in this new app that makes it easier to connect with people at parties

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<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/52f7aa2869bedd582a35704b-1200-900/smartthings kit.jpg" border="0" alt="smartthings starter kit" /><p class="source"><span>SmartThings</span></p><p class="caption">The SmartThings kit has all the basics you need to get started connecting your home.</p></div><p></p></div></div>My apartment gets almost no natural light. </p>
<p>That's one of the problems with living in New York. I spend about a zillion dollars per month in rent, and still have a teeny tiny apartment that faces the back of a bunch of taller buildings that block the sun. My bedroom window faces some other guy's bedroom window across a narrow, dark alley.</p>
<p>So no matter what time of day it is, I always have the lights on in my apartment.</p>
<p>For the last several weeks, my apartment has been programmed to light itself up. Whenever I enter my building, my apartment knows I'm home and switches on the lamp in my living room so I don't have to fumble around in the dark. When I leave the room, the light shuts itself off. </p>
<p>That's because I've been testing something called SmartThings. SmartThings isn't just one gadget, but a Web-connected system of everyday objects that can control everything in your home from your lights to your coffee maker. I tested one of the SmartThings starter kits, <a href="https://shop.smartthings.com/#/kits">which sell for $199 or $299</a>.</p>
<h2>How It Works</h2>
<p>SmartThings starts with the hub, a small white plastic box that looks sort of like a WiFi router. The hub plugs into your router and talks to the rest of the connected objects in your home. Since the hub is connected to the Internet, you can control everything from a computer or the <a href="http://www.smartthings.com/app/">SmartThings app</a>, even if you're out of the house.</p>
<p>From there, you set up the objects you want connected. My starter kit came with two motion sensors, two multi sensors that can tell you when a door or window is open, two presence sensors that you clip to your keychain so the hub knows when you're home (the app can also double as a presence sensor using your phone's GPS), a smart outlet for controlling lamps or appliances, and a moisture sensor that goes under the sink to alert you in case of a leak.</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The app is where the real magic happens. Once all your devices are set up around your house, you use the app to program them all to talk to each other, getting as detailed as you'd like. </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">For example, I have a motion sensor in my living room and bedroom. If the motion sensor detects me in the living room, my lamp turns on. When I leave the living room and enter my bedroom, the lamp turns off. I put the moisture sensor under my sink and programmed SmartThings to send me a text alert if it gets wet. (Luckily, that never happened, but I was able to test it by sprinkling a little water on the device.)</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">You can get clever with location too, meaning you can tell SmartThings to do stuff like crank up the thermostat when you're within a mile of your house.</span><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/52f7a93b6da811ec4d4f4c2b-1200-900/smartthings%20hub.jpg" border="0" alt="SmartThings Hub" width="800" style="color: #000000;" /><p class="source"><span>SmartThings</span></p><p class="caption">The SmartThings hub talks to all your connected devices.</p></div><p></p></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">And if the starter kit isn't enough for you, </span><a href="https://shop.smartthings.com/#/products">there are tons of other devices you can purchase</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> to add into the system from door locks to garage door openers to Sonos speakers. If you wanted to, you could replace just about any appliance or switch in your house with a SmartThings-connected gizmo.</span></p>
<h2>Using It</h2>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">What I described above probably sounds like the Jetsons or something out of one of those pie-in-the-sky magazine articles from the mid-twentieth century describing "the home of tomorrow." </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">And it sort of is. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/52f7a99b6bb3f7b52e35704a-640-1136/img_1856-1.png" border="0" alt="smartthings iphone app dashboard" width="400" /><p class="source"><span>Screenshot</span></p><p class="caption">The SmartThings app lets you program everything in your home.</p></div><p></p></div>Before the Internet and modern-day smartphones, having a connected home was nearly impossible. But now that we carry the Web in our pocket and connect our homes with broadband, there's the potential to make <em>everything</em> smart, not just phones, tablets, and computers.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">One of the buzzy terms in tech these days is "The Internet of Things," meaning connecting everyday objects like light switches to the Internet for a deeper level of control. The idea is everything in your home will one day do what you want without having to flip a switch or press a button. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Tech investors love the trend too, and they're pumping money into companies working on the Internet of Things. SmartThings <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/smartthings-raises-12-million-2013-11">recently raised $12.5 million</a>. Nest, a company that makes smart thermostats and smoke detectors, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/google-buying-nest-for-35-billion-2014-1">recently sold to Google for a whopping $3.2 billion</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">For me, SmartThings was a convenience, not a necessity. My lights would still work if they weren't connected to the Internet. But that promise of all the stuff in my home just working the way I want them to feels almost magical. Imagine never having to fumble with thermostats, door keys, and light switches ever again. Your home would just know what to do. We're not quite there yet, but SmartThings will get you pretty darn close. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">I'm already dreaming up ways I can add other stuff to SmartThings. In the summer, I'll program it to switch on my air conditioner when I get off the subway a few blocks away. I'm also looking at a few SmartThings-powered locks that can unlock themselves when they detect me approaching my door. Maybe I'll program my coffee maker to switch on when I get out of bed in the morning.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">We're in the very early days of this trend, and SmartThings is a great start for anyone interested in automating their home. The beginner's kits may start you off small, but the most brilliant part of SmartThings is that you can build into the system as you go, adding more switches, motion sensors, appliances, etc. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Unfortunately, it's not cheap. You can get a kit for as little as $199, but it only comes with a few devices. It'd likely cost a few grand to completely trick out your home. But if you're remodeling or building a new place, it's something to consider. And even if you're just curious and want to give it a try, $199 isn't a lot to ask.</span></p>

I Turned My Tiny, Dark, And Overpriced New York Apartment Into A 'Smart Home' For Just $300

<p class="p1">I've been using dryer sheets in my laundry for years. And unsurprisingly, I'd throw them away once I was done.</p><p class="p1">But it turns out I might have been losing out on hundreds of dollars in savings by not re-purposing those same used dryer sheets into Swifter pads, dusters, bathroom cleaners, and more.</p><p class="p1">From cleaning oven racks overnight to warding off insects, keep reading to see the 45 things you can do with dryer sheets.</p><h1 class="p1">OUTDOORS</h1><p class="p1"><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5570ce7df7b1051d008b49a3-2272-1704/40549520_379b6d27cd_o.jpg" border="0" alt="bugs on car stained" data-mce-source="michaelrighi/Flickr" data-mce-caption="" data-link="undefined"><p class="source"><span>michaelrighi/Flickr</span></p><p class="caption">A used dryer sheet can help you clean dead bugs off of your car without ruining the paint job.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77073252.tip.html">Clean bugs off from of car</a>: </strong>Take a used or new dryer sheet and get it wet. Wring it out and wipe down your car - the bugs will just slough off without ruining your paint job.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/dryer-sheets-as-bug-repellant-40521023/?no-ist">Ward off bugs</a>: </strong>Turns out, there's actually some science to back up this old wives tale, according to Smithsonian Magazine. If you keep a dryer sheet in your pocket, it will keep away bugs because it has both <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linalool">linalool</a>, a toxin that is found in lavender and basil, as well as beta-citronella, which is used to repel mosquitoes.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-56408.html">Start a fire</a>: </strong>You can use any old dryer sheets you have lying around as kindling to start a fire - plus, it will smell pretty good, too.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/lifehacks/comments/17gcqv/keep_an_open_box_of_dryer_sheets_in_your_car_for/">Freshen your car</a>: </strong>Keep an open box of dryer sheets in your car. The sheets will make your call smell like laundry for well over three months, and if you ever need a freshness pick up, you can rub a sheet on your clothes. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><h1 class="p2">PERSONAL APPEARANCE</h1><p class="p2"><strong><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5570cffcf7b105ad098b4899-2671-2003/8748594474_e6c5d9c2ff_o.jpg" border="0" alt="static hair" data-mce-source="uncoolbob/Flickr" data-mce-caption="" data-link="undefined"><p class="source"><span>uncoolbob/Flickr</span></p><p class="caption">A dryer sheet can help tame static-y hair.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></strong></strong></p><p class="p2"><strong><strong><a href="http://womenshair.about.com/od/hairfaq/tp/How-to-Eliminate-Static-from-Your-Hair.htm">De-static hair</a>: </strong></strong><span>If your hair is static-y because of the weather or lack of humidity, wipe down your brushes and combs with a dryer sheet as well as use the sheet to smooth away any fly-aways.</span></p><p class="p2"><strong><a href="http://www.iamalpham.com/index.php/topics/removing-deodorant-marks/">Deodorant marks</a>:</strong> If you get any deodorant marks on your shirt, take a used dryer sheet and crumple it into a ball and rub the fabric with short, quick strokes. This should erase any marks.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Static-on-a-Dress-Clinging-to-You">Get rid of static cling</a>: </strong>If your dress or shirt are sticking to you because of static, rub the underside of the shirt as well as your body with a dryer sheet.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://craftforest.com/easily-remove-glitter-nail-polish/">Take off glitter nail polish</a>:</strong> Glitter polish on your nails is fun, but the glitter can be extremely hard to get off. Dryer sheets soaked in nail polish remover will easily help you remove glitter nail polish with minimal scrubbing.</p><h1 class="p1">DEODORIZING</h1><p class="p1"><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5570d579f7b10522008b4989-3712-2784/6806221795_6c4ce9aa80_o.jpg" border="0" alt="vacuuming vacuum cleaning" data-mce-source="nicola.albertini/Flickr" data-mce-caption="" data-link="undefined"><p class="source"><span>nicola.albertini/Flickr</span></p><p class="caption">Stick a dryer sheet in your vacuum bag to not only deodorize your vacuum, but the entire room.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><strong><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/stinky-vacuum-use-a-dryer-shee-125305">Vacuum cleaner bag</a>: </strong></strong><span>If your vacuum is starting to have a weird smell or you just want your entire home to smell like laundry, place a dryer sheet inside the vacuum bag. It will deodorize any musk and make each room smell amazing.</span></p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/26php0/lpt_put_a_dryer_sheet_in_your_suitcase_when/">Keeps clothes fresh while traveling</a>: </strong>Place a dryer sheet in your suitcase - it will keep you clothes smelling amazing and fresh, no matter how long it takes you to reach your destination.</p><p class="p2"><strong><a href="http://www.rd.com/home/fix-sneaker-and-shoe-odors/">Deodorize shoes</a>: </strong>Stick balled up dryer sheets in shoes to get rid of any unwanted smells. They'll neutralize and even improve odors overnight.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.thriftyfun.com/Alternate-Uses-for-Dryer-Sheets.html">Deodorize dirty clothes</a>: </strong>Place a dryer sheet at the bottom of your hamper to keep your dirty clothes from stinking up your room. Even a single sheet goes a long way.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.divinecaroline.com/life-etc/home-food/beyond-laundry-twenty-alternate-uses-dryer-sheets">Freshen a room</a>:</strong> If you have an air conditioner, you can place a dryer sheet on top of the filter. It will stay put even without any tape and will make your entire room smell amazing. You can do the same thing by taping a dryer sheet to any heating or air conditioning vent in the home, too.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.curbly.com/users/chrisjob/posts/1602-25-alternative-uses-for-fabric-softener-dryer-sheets">Deodorize a diaper bag</a>: </strong>Keep your diaper bag smelling fresh by placing a few strategic dryer sheets in the pockets. If you roll up a dirty diaper, stick another dryer sheet in there to help with any odor.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2"><strong><a href="https://www.librarything.com/topic/783">Make books smell fresh</a>:</strong> Most people love the smell of books, but if your books are smelling too moldy for your taste, stick a dryer sheet within the pages. It also makes a handy bookmark.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.divinecaroline.com/life-etc/home-food/beyond-laundry-twenty-alternate-uses-dryer-sheets">Freshen your pillowcase</a>: </strong>To keep you sheets smelling fresh for longer, stick a dryer sheet inside your pillow cases as well as under your sheets between the mattress.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://cleaning.tips.net/T004174_Freshen_Your_Clothes_with_Dryer_Sheets.html">Keep drawers smelling good</a>: </strong>Throw a few dryer sheets in your drawers or closet before adding back in your clothes. Your shirts and pants will smell amazing, even if they sit in there for months.</p><p class="p2"><strong><a href="http://momvstheboys.com/2014/07/uses-bounce-dryer-sheets/">Hide inside the toilet paper roll</a>: </strong>Stick a rolled up dryer sheet inside your toilet paper roll. Every time the roll spins, there will be a burst of scent.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/trees/comments/1z8izq/parents_home_dryer_sheets_a_rubber_band_and_a/">DIY smoke freshener</a>:</strong> If you smoke, you can blow it through a toilet paper tube with a dryer sheet attached on one end secured with a rubber band. This will go a long way towards keeping your room from smelling like smoke.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://momvstheboys.com/2014/07/uses-bounce-dryer-sheets/">Keep storage items smelling fresh</a>: </strong>When you pack anything like camping gear or winter clothes away, throw in a dryer sheet to keep them smelling great until you need them again.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://lifehacker.com/remove-odors-overnight-with-dryer-sheets-and-coffee-gro-1632832847">Remove hard-to-get-rid-of odors</a>:</strong> If you have any really offensive odors that you just can't get rid of (think vomit stains or worse), place a few dryer sheets on the area and sprinkle with coffee grounds. Leave it over night, and it should smell like new by morning.</p><h1 class="p1">CLEANING</h1><p class="p1"><strong><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5570d36a71ca1b16008b4965-2592-1944/440637896_15636ca700_o.jpg" border="0" alt="paint brushes" data-mce-source="ollily/Flickr" data-mce-caption="" data-link="undefined"><p class="source"><span>ollily/Flickr</span></p><p class="caption">Soaking paintbrushes in warm water with a dryer sheet will help clean them off.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></strong></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><strong><a href="http://gizmodo.com/5795310/14-ways-to-use-dryer-sheets-that-have-nothing-to-do-with-the-dryer">Clean paint brushes</a>:</strong></strong><span> Place dirty paintbrushes in a sink full of warm water and add a dryer sheet. Wait a few hours or overnight before washing off the paint. You'll find it very easy to remove.</span></p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/clean-bakedon-gunk-from-pans-w-152109">Soak and scrub greasy pans</a>:</strong> If there's baked on gunk on any of your pots or pans, take a page out of Martha Stewart's book and soak them with a dryer sheet and warm weather. Let it sit over night and in the morning, all the baked on crud will easily come off.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://thefrugalgirls.com/2014/05/how-to-remove-soap-scum-from-shower-doors.html">Remove soap scum from shower doors</a>: </strong>If you have some dryer sheets lying around, use them to power through soap residue. They'll even suds up a bit and make your bathroom smell amazing.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.couponingtobedebtfree.com/2012/06/25/how-to-clean-oven-racks/">Clean oven racks</a>: </strong>Oven racks accumulate grime like crazy. To clean yours once and for all, gather dryer sheets and a dash of dish soap in a bathtub filled with hot water. Let it sit over night with your oven racks and you'll be astounded how easily the grease comes off.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://downy.com/en-us/fabric-care/all-about-fabric-softener/cleaning-a-washer-dryer">Clean your laundry room</a>: </strong>After you're done with your laundry, wipe down the dryer and lint tray with the used dryer sheet. Since they're good at collecting dust and hair, they'll pick up extra particles.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/17/dryer-sheets-shower-cleaner_n_3937327.html">Clean chrome</a>: </strong>A wet dryer sheet can clean your bathroom and kitchen chrome extremely well. It also works on car bumpers, too.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://cleaningallstars.com/9-unorthodox-uses-for-dryer-sheets/">Wipe away spilled dry goods</a>: </strong>If flour or powders spill, take a used dryer sheet and clean it up. The sheets are great at capturing small particles and will do a better job than a paper towel.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2014/09/55-ways-reuse-re-purpose-recycle-dryer-sheets.html">Wash hair brushes</a>:</strong> If your hair brushes are looking a little worse for the wear, soak them in warm water with a few dryer sheets. They'll come out looking like new.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/at-home/the-magic-of-dryer-sheets-how-i-got-rid-of-those-stubborn-bathroom-rings/">Toilet ring cleaner</a>: </strong>Take your used dryer sheets and use them to scrub the inside of your toilet. The ring will be gone in one swipe.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/home-organizing-new-uses-for-old-things/new-use-dryer-sheets">Clean your iron</a>: </strong>Every once in a while, you need to clean the bottom of your iron from any residue. Set your iron on a low setting and run it over a dryer sheet for a few minutes or until the grime comes off and onto the dryer sheet.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://jacksonville.com/breaking-news/2014-09-30/story/12-inventive-ways-use-dryer-sheets">Clean scissor blades</a>: </strong>Clean your scissors without dulling the blades by wiping them with a dryer sheet - it will remove all the dust and dirt that can dull your scissors over time.</p><h1 class="p1">DUSTING</h1><p class="p1"><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5570d2e271ca1b15008b498d-2673-2005/11486705405_8ec7b0f021_o.jpg" border="0" alt="smudges on glasses dirty" data-mce-source="Darren W/Flickr" data-mce-caption="" data-link="undefined"><p class="source"><span>Darren W/Flickr</span></p><p class="caption">Clean dirty glasses with your used dryer sheets.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.allyou.com/budget-home/uses-dryer-sheets">Clean smudges from glasses</a>:</strong> Rubbing your glasses with dryer sheets will clean off any unwanted smudges in a pinch.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf625996.tip.html">Swifter alternative</a>: </strong>Use your used dryer sheets as Swiffer pad alternatives. They'll pick up a comparable amount of dust and crud off your floors and are actually much cheaper.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.maids.com/blog/how-to-clean-blinds-inside-cleaning/">Wipe down window blinds</a>: </strong>Blinds are hard to clean, but over time they will collect a lot of dust. Wipe them down with a used dryer sheet to remove excess dirt.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://deals.ebay.com/blog/3-inexpensive-tricks-for-removing-pet-hair/">Pet hair removal</a>:</strong> If you find yourself covered in pet fur, rub a used dryer sheet all over - the dryer sheet will catch all the hair and also take away any lingering animal scent.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.rd.com/home/15-dusting-tricks-for-your-home/">All household dusting</a>: </strong>Take any used dryer sheet and use it to dust around the house, from your TV and computer screen to your mantle. It's extremely effective at trapping hair and dust.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.budgetsavvydiva.com/2013/01/clean-baseboards-dryer-sheets/">Clean baseboards</a>:</strong> Baseboards collect a lot of grime over time. Run a dryer sheet along your baseboard every few weeks to pick up unwanted hair and dust and keep it from coming back.</p><h1 class="p1">MISCELLANEOUS</h1><p class="p1"><strong><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5570d252f7b1054b0c8b482c-3725-2794/8462807628_a6e01aeda8_o.jpg" border="0" alt="new tennis shoes running shoes" data-mce-source="m01229/Flickr" data-mce-caption="" data-link="undefined"><p class="source"><span>m01229/Flickr</span></p><p class="caption">Prevent new tennis shoes from squeaking by rubbing the bottoms with a dryer sheet.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></strong></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><strong><a href="http://laurenconrad.com/blog/2012/04/tuesday-ten-alternative-uses-home-goods-dryer-sheets-2012/">De-squeak new shoes</a>:</strong></strong><span> If your brand new shoes are squeaking too much, rub them with a dryer sheet on the bottom. No more squeaking.</span></p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.scrapbook.com/articles/doc/47543.html">Add texture to cards</a>: </strong>If you're crafty and have used dryer sheets hanging around, you can DIY a textured card by pasting a dryer sheet on top of the card of your choice. <a href="http://www.scrapbook.com/articles/doc/47543.html">See instructions and a few options here</a>.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://blog.hgtv.com/design/2013/09/09/designer-macgyver-6-ways-to-upcycle-used-dryer-sheets/">DIY scented sachet</a>: </strong>Make a pretty sachet for storing lavender or other scents inside a dryer sheet. The combination of dryer sheets with the lavender smells amazing and is the perfect addition to drawers or closets.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://blog.hgtv.com/design/2013/09/09/designer-macgyver-6-ways-to-upcycle-used-dryer-sheets/">DIY flowers</a>:</strong> There's a DIY project that turns tea-stained dryer sheets into roses. They'll still smell good and add some rustic charm to your home.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120209041437/http://myricandreasen.blogspot.com/2011/12/dryer-sheets-tree-tutorial.html">DIY coffee table Christmas tree</a>: </strong>Make your own Christmas tree out of dryer sheets. All it takes is a Styrofoam cone, some tulle, and a bunch of used dryer sheets. <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120209041437/http://myricandreasen.blogspot.com/2011/12/dryer-sheets-tree-tutorial.html">Click here to see instructions</a>.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf/Green_Living/Reusing/Reusing-Dryer-Sheets.html">Keep sewing thread from knotting</a>:</strong> Keep thread from tangling or knotting while you sew by running a needle and thread through a dryer sheet before knotting. It will help de-static the thread and make sewing more seamless.</p><p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://tiphero.com/19-clever-uses-for-fabric-softener-dryer-sheets/">Tack cloth substitute</a>: </strong>If you need a tack cloth in a pinch, substitute it for a dryer sheet. The sheet will also pick up spare lint and dust from any surface you're wiping down about as well as a tack cloth will.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-way-fold-socks-t-shirts-marie-kondo-japan-2015-6">You've been folding your socks wrong your entire life</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="1rajBjdTpAy8JbIM1hcjb-O1BPjWd6Xg" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', '1rajBjdTpAy8JbIM1hcjb-O1BPjWd6Xg',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

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