Best kitchen fixtures according to redditors

It doesn't make a good cup of tea. Partly because the microwave won't evenly heat the water, so it's not fully boiling throughout.

Second, dropping the tea bag into the water doesn't let it steep properly. The water has to be absorbed by the bag, then the tea, then pass back out the leaves before you get a steep. If you just drop the bag in, that takes a while and it doesn't infuse well.

So you want to boil the full cup of water, and pour it over the tea bag, in order to fully bring out the flavor of the tea. You're best off getting a kettle, using the "hot water" function of a coffee maker, or even picking up a cheap hot water dispenser.

Finally, tea bags use the cheapest tea you can possibly get. This is equivalent to drinking the cheapest beer or wine you can get: it basically tastes like it should, but it's not good. Which is fine if you just want something to drink, like a hot cup of tea to start your day.

If you want good tea, you have to get loose leaf tea (and there's different quality levels to the leaves, but that's getting picky). Plus, you want to steep the tea loose, not in a bag, a "tea ball" or any other container. The leaves need room to expand as they soak up the water, to get the most flavor from them. Which means you'll just pour the water on the loose leaves, then strain the leaves out as you pour it into a cup for drinking. I like to use a coffee press, but others just use a fine-mesh strainer or have a strainer built into their teapot.

Most mornings though, I just toss a tea bag in a coffee mug and dispense boiling water from our Keurig onto it. Occasionally, I'll use a Keurig pod of tea, but those aren't very good, just fast. I'll spend the time to do proper loose leaf if I'm home and enjoying the day, but tea bags are just too damn convenient.

tl;dr Just boil your water without using a microwave and pour it on top of the tea bag, you'll get a much better cup of tea.

The raise in water rates to pay for this has gotten people pretty angry, a la Skyrocketing DC Water Bills Leave Some Customers Unable to Pay. I support the project but I've definitely noticed the higher bills.

I went on a water saving binge, here are some water tips I learned:

• Fix all leaks no matter how small they seem. Common leaks people often miss is toilets that fill constantly a little bit or leaks on outside hose spigots
  
• Check that all your fixtures are low flow
  
• Get a hand wash toilet lid. When you flush the clean water that fills the tank first goes through the faucet. Example
  
• DOE will give you free rain capture barrels, use these to water your landscaping
  
• If you have a lawn that you water get rid of much of it as you can and plant water smart plants. DOE also has a program to install a free rain garden to help prevent runoff and another one for trees
  
• Need to run the water before it gets hot? Have a hot water recirculation pump installed. Say you are taking the first shower of the morning, press a button or have a timer set and a small pump recirculates the cold water that would normally go down the drain back to the water heater. It pays for itself in a few years but if the upfront cost is too high try insulating your pipes with cheap foam and insulate the spaces they run through to keep the hot water pipe warmer longer.
  
  The first 2 are the most important, for the rest the return on investment are smaller but still good to do.
  
  
• edit - Forgot to add, if you can't replace the toilet with a low flow one you can also retrofit a dual flush onto it yourself for very cheap.

There are.

https://www.amazon.com/Sink-Twice-33-43-Single-Flush/dp/B01EXPTOJA

Or DIY.

https://youtu.be/Ry7VfZNEMNo

Just get something like this

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Y6LLTM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_d7sLDbZCHW6KP

There are also touch varieties:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DD7N3RT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_X6sLDbKPN4765

Shaving cream is much easier to lather than soap. Indeed, when I started I simply could not get a good lather from soap, so I quit using shaving cream to force myself to learn. Here's how I make lather, and I recommend that you make a series of practice lathers using the technique to gain experience quickly. Play with brush speed, brush pressure (firm is good), and how long you continue loading once you see microscopic bubbles. But do try the exact procedure before trying modifications.

Here's a good YouTube tutorial, but note my comments on it.

With hard water you definitely have a problem. You can try a distilled water shave simply to see what a good lather is like. Some routinely use distilled water, but some home layouts make it sort of a pain unless you have a Sunbeam Hot Shot or the like in the bathroom.

You can try using a small pinch of citric acid in the water, which softens hard water somewhat. Citric acide is a white crystalline powder that looks like salt (and indeed can be sprinkled over food as a salt substitute, similar to squeezing a lemon over food: brightens the flavor without salt).

Just make sure you put a small strainer in the drain of the sink. You don't want to be dropping small items down there while cleaning. A converter, or worse, a nib.

I use something like this

Hey! So I found my scrappy little pack list I had before I left. Hope this helps at all :)

• Bring strapless bra
  
• Underwater camera!!!!!!
  
• Download Hola (hola.org) this one!!! This is GREAT for watching shows abroad
  
• Health Insurance - World Nomads
  
• Power of attorney
  
  
• Berry Plus Laundry Detergent
  
• 4x (2 boxes)
  
• Contact Solution
  
• Tampons (lots)
  
• Lancome Mascara
  
• MAC powder
  
• Revlon Eyeliner 2x
  
• Eye drops
  
• Watch (you don't want to be pulling out your phone to tell the time)
  
• Electrolyte packets
  
• Tennis shoes
  
• New sandals
  
• Gear Ties
  
• Clothing line
  
• Universal Sink Stopper
  
• Deck of cards
  
• Journal
  
• Packing Cubes
  
• Kindle
  
• Adapters
  
• Quick dry towel
  
• Memory cards
  
• Ear plugs
  
• Sleep Mask
  
• SF refrigerator magnets for hosts
  
• Alarm clock (Don't use your phone - not good to leave out)
  
• Headlamp
  
• Bamboo utensils
  
• Carabiner
  
• iPad with Logitech keyboard case
  
• Good head phones
  
• Anti-malaria pills
  
• Pepto bismol
  
• Cipro
  
• Advil
  
• Pink eye eye drops (you never know!)
  
• Sleeping pills
  
• Small brush
  
• Toilettry Bag
  
• Rain jacket
  
• Fleece
  
• kleen canteen
  
• Combo padlocks (combo better than key - if you lose the key you're screwed)
  
• Sun dress
  
• New Tivas? - Take old tivas to cobbler
  
• Bottle opener
  
• Scarf
  
• Combo+wire cord to tie the backpack to a bed
  
• Sea to Summit Mini Backpack
  
• Manicuring scissors/file/tweezers
  
• Steripod Toothbrush cover
  
• Toothbrush
  
• Mini First Aid Kit
  
• Razors (gotta stay fresh!)
  
• Shampoo & Conditioner
  
• Flats
  
• Mini Sewing Kit
  
• Hand sanitizer
  
• Epipen
  
• Neosporin
  
• Ziplock baggies (big and small)
  
• Face lotion (x3)
  
• New Bra/undies
  
• Flip flops for showers (old navy)
  
• Super glue
  
• Cliff bars
  
• New Jeans
  
• Backpack - Osprey Waypoint 85
  
• Backpack rain cover
  
• Mini umbrella
  
• Dry Bag
  
• Stuff sack for laundry
  
• Shoe bags
  
• Grocery Bag
  
• Leather strap over purse
  
• Kleenex
  
• Q-tips
  
• Deoderant
  
• Hair ties
  
• Shower gel
  
• Pajamas
  
• Travel Pillow
  
• Sleep sack
  
• tent?
  
  
• Check contact prescription
  
• New glasses
  
• Check up
  
• Get immunizations - yellow immunizations card!
  
• Get a youth card through STA (see 13 ways link above)
  
  
• India
  
• Vietnam
  
• (Dual citizen to Spain - don't need visa for Brazil)
  

You have gotten most of the tips: Dawn dish soap, white vinegar, dish brush. Put away spices (ours are on the Fridge in magnetic tins with see through tops from the office supply section of the local dollar store) and clean as you go.

Throw sponges in the dishwasher. As they reach the end of their lives, clip a corner, to indicate that they are now floor scrubbing sponges, not dish sponges.

But floors get grungier than a sponge wipe can handle, so here is the best mop ever. It is much sturdier than a swiffer, you can fill the attached spray with whatever you want and the velcroed pads can be washed and reused.

Because we live in California, where droughts are common, this small dishpan is great. It is well made and can sit in the sink or on the counter. (Using it in the sink helps to keep the sink clean) It has a plug and drain to empty into a sink or you can grab the handles, carry it outside and use the water for plants.

I have one, but I'm not sure they're standard.

One like this is really handy though:
https://www.amazon.com/Fengbao-2PCS-Kitchen-Sink-Strainer/dp/B01CWXLMB8

I got u fam

A drain screen will help to keep your sink from clogging.

When I'm not around a washing machine, I hand wash yesterday's socks, underwear, and t-shirt arm pits. I find my stuff needs a washing machine after 3-4 hand washings.

If I'm feeling lazy, and there's no consequences to taking a longer shower, I'll shower with my underwear/socks on, then at the end take them off and give them a final scrub. Doesn't work as well...but did I mention lazy?

I carry this clothesline https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000T28X4E, this sink stopper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G99DMVU, and most importantly, Dr. Bronners soap! It does a good job of deodorizing, and I only have to put in a few drops in each "load" of hand laundry.

Album:
https://imgur.com/a/DxrFG

After moving in our home, we quickly realized the kitchen was not going to work for us with its layout and the condition of the cabinets. The pictures tell the whole story. The kitchen had a big wall to enclose it and was probably the hot thing to do in the 80s. it also had a soffit above the 30 inch upper cabinets which made an already low 8 foot ceiling even lower. The kitchen cabinets were horrendous and falling apart, so there was no real refacing options to fix them. The previous owners attempted to put lipstick on a pig by tiling over the old countertops and only made more of a mess. The kitchen, dining room, and den were one room but the wall really made everything feel small and blocked the light. It felt like a dungeon with the yellow bulb ceiling fans being so low in an 8 foot room. The dining room area had two old aluminum windows with a window A/C screwed into the frame. The tile in the kitchen flowed into the den where id had an ugly laminate. The fireplace and featurette window was really the only charm of the entire room. The fireplace had a really ugly wood paneling beside it, so it needed to be removed to update the room. The fireplace hearth was also ugly, chipped, and had more ugly wood surrounds on it. The ceilings had an ornate look to it that was really awesome, but we knew that we would have to put fresh drywall on the ceilings once we took out the soffit above the kitchen.
I am not a DIYer, but my stepdad is and offered to help and teach me. He let me know the wall in the kitchen was not load bearing and could be removed. The attic space above the kitchen/den was very spacious to maneuver in so we were able to predict a lot of problem areas. So then the demo starts and we realize that plumbing is a major issue. We had to come up with some PEX solutions to reroute the plumbing hidden in the soffit and some issues had to simply remain unsolved. I think all soffits hold secrets, so beware removing the soffit! I chiseled out all the old tile and grout and they came up surprisingly easy from the concrete subfloor. When we realized that all the wiring was stapled to the 2x4s in the back wall, we had no choice but to demo the entire wall. This was no easy demo of drywall. This was drywall + stucco and wire lathing + plaster on top in places. It was thick and the walls were built like a tank. It took a ton of demo blades to cut everything out and a lot of time. Once we peeled the walls back I figured I would peel more back in the dining area so I could replace the windows with a sliding door. That revealed the worst thing of all. TERMITES! They literally ate the entire wall. I hired a carpenter to help us build a new header and studs and put in the slider. We rerouted the plumbing, and then did a ton of electrical work to outfit the new kitchen wall to code since we moved the stove. We also ran additional wiring for under cabinet lighting to a switch. We trenched an electric wire in the concrete sub floor to power the island. We extended the outlets behind the fireplace cabinets so we could use the for a future TV. We sealed up the chimney and ran an electric line into the fireplace itself to set it up for an electric insert.

1. I had no experience in tile. I don’t think it is difficult after watching my guys do it, but I doubt I would do even half as good job as my workers did. Since I was covering such a large area, 580 square feet in total, I didn’t want to do a crappy job I would judge myself for butchering. So, I hired a contractor do the tile/grout, cabinet install, quartz measurement/install, subway tile backsplash, exterior stucco repair/painting, drywall for walls and ceiling, and painting of the walls and ceiling. While the folks in this sub may gasp, I think I got a hell of a lot for my money. It was worth it since I was on a clock with my first born being due within about a few weeks of when this project completed. I didn’t want to put in cheap formica myself, so I went all out with quartz and put it everywhere. The island is unique because it has a drop down for table height seating versus bar stool seating. The quartz is extended to the fireplace cabinetry and the hearth for a consistent look.
   
   
2. The lighting is a crazy idea that ballooned into an even crazier idea. We came up with a grid pattern, used a laser level, and put thumb tacks to mark our lights. I put in 44 recessed can lights. There are more lights in the kitchen for the work area and the den is much more manageable. I bought a cheap recessed fixture that came with a halogen bulb and just went on amazon to buy LED bulbs. I used 4000K daylight bulbs which look great when dimmed a lot with a Lutron dimmer. I put matching pendants over the sink and the island. The pendants over the island have a dimmer switch that is also on the island. Cool right?
   
   
3. The entire process took around 2 to 3 months to complete. Total cost of the project was around 20k. I paid 10k for most of the materials, windows, sliding door, tile, electric, plumbing, etc. My hired helpers were paid 10K which included the quartz counters/hearth/tile backsplash and the aforementioned work they did. As far as future projects I am installing a small deck outside my slider door which is going in this month. I am also putting in an awesome shaker style barn door for my opening that was my old kitchen door. Eventually I will add an electric fireplace insert when I am not so broke. Please read my album comments for a lot more detail. Thanks for reading!
   
   Links to some materials used:
   
   Bulbs: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OU2TM12/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   Pendants:
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0753HS6CC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   sink:
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032C0Q9I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   faucet:
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007Y6LLTM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   Cabinets: Home Depot Hampton Bay Shaker. Pro tip: Order them really far in advance due to possibility of damages. Took two weeks to get a new pantry cabinet in. The online cabinets have a slightly different look than the instore cabinets. They will not match!
   
   Tile: Floor and Decor wood look. Exact SKU is in the pictures.
   

Those are also available on amazon. Around 50 bucks for the cheaper version, you can get fancy for sure too.
Sink Twice https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EXPTOJA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_jv5VDbVQBN0N7

Maybe something like this .

May I recommend one of these for your big jugs (lol)

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NMCJ7RY/

They're noisy, but they are easier than balancing huge heavy jugs to fill up a gravity dispenser.

Either two sink liners that you swap out for meat/dairy, ortwo full sink liners.

My rig: https://i.imgur.com/gYtcqMN.jpg

featuring these two products:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NBC13NE

https://www.amazon.com/Dispenser-Stainless-Countertop-NONSCREW-ORIGINAL/dp/B01N9YNUIG

It all works really well! We have 3 jugs that we cycle through. Going to the store is kind of annoying, but the machine is outside so I can go at night and just park next to it. Costs $1.75 to fill up.

I've seen tap locks around, of various levels of sophistication. Here is one example.

I use one of these on my stopperless sink. Flat Suction Sink Stopper

Here you go
[sink stopper] (https://www.amazon.com/Danco-Inc-Suction-Stopper-White/dp/B00G99DMVU/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1518717083&sr=8-8&keywords=sink+stopper&dpID=31RvCv7qqfL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch)
This costs less than $3 and will do what you need.

Countless hours saved priceless.

Central Brass 0465 2-Handle Laundry Faucet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019716M4/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_WnO4AbBV44CM4

You can get an attachment that replaces the aerator on your kitchen sink and attach a wort chiller to it. Like this one

For travelling / backpacking in Europe, I have found a few things useful:

• Flat rubber sink plug for handwashing in hostel sinks
  
• Rubber travel clothesline for hanging clothes
  
• Tube of concentrated laundry soap
  
• Packing cubes help to keep clothes organized
  
• Travel towel (Packtowl is my favorite)
  
• Eye mask & ear plugs
  
• Plastic bags and elastic bands (useful for many things including wet clothes)
  
• PDF versions of guidebooks (eg. Lonely planet)
  
• External USB battery for phone/device charging
  
• European SIM card
  
• Having some quick-dry clothing
  
• Light and cheap laptop for long-term trips
  
• P+S camera, gopro
  
• Daypack
  
• Flip flops for hot weather, around the hostle and in the hostel showers
  
• 0% exchange credit card to taking out cash
  
• Combination padlock for hostel lockers (no key to lose)
  
• Offline map app such as Here Maps
  
• Small container with an assortment of bandages
  
• Cold and flu medicine, anti-biotic ointment, aspirin
  
  Not needed:
  
  
• Heavy physical guidebooks
  
• Multiple pairs of shoes (1 is enough)
  
• Power transformer (an adapter is enough as most cell phone and laptop adapters chargers can accept 110-230 V)
  
• Lots of cash on hand (take out as needed to reduce theft / loss risk)
  
• I brought a small steel cable to lock my bag in places that didn't have lockers but i never used it
  
• Sewing kit (haven't used it in 6 months)
  
• Sleep sheet (I brought one in case there were dirty places I had to sleep in but it wasn't necessary in the end)
  
• Under-the-shirt / under-the-belt passport holder. There are varied opinions but I prefer leaving my passport in the hostel locker.

Links:

For $2, you can use any sink as a wash basin

For $14, you can have your very own portable wash basin that folds up into the size of a paperback

For $4, you can get multipurpose detergent, aka Campsuds. Use sparingly.

This one seems close to what you have.

Two mesh sink strainers is key, plus a plastic dough scraper to remove dough from containers. Warm or hot water. Use the sponge side of your sponge (not the scrubby side) and it won't stick to your sponge in the same way. Take your strainer out, put the second one in, and rub the dough off of the first strainer. It won't stick to the second one in the same way. Regular dish soap is fine for everything else.

Vinegar dissolves dough well if you get it stuck on fabric or your sponge.

Source: used to run a bakery.

I quit using shampoo, and even Dr. Bonners. Almost every country sells little packages of detergent, usually formulated for that area. I bring one of those Tupperware type containers (my sandwich on the jet), and keep the detergent in the plastic container for the duration of my trip.

Real detergent does a great job. Bring a flat rubber sink stopper to give yourself a little puddle of water to work with. Rinse with the shower, squeezing, rinsing, squeezing, etc until it looks clean. https://smile.amazon.com/Danco-Inc-Suction-Stopper-White/dp/B00G99DMVU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1482805130&sr=8-2&keywords=flat+rubber+sink+stopper

Hang the clothes in the shower until there is no more dripping, and then hang them on the line of cord you brought. If you can leave the windows open, or dry outside, all the better...

I generally take nylon, lightweight wool, and other quick-drying clothing - so I can wash at night, and they will be dry in the morning. If something is not completely dry, it's usually ok because it will be dry after an hour wearing it.

LED Color Changing Temperature Sensitive Faucet Head for a kitchen or bathroom sink.

Changes the color of the water (by illuminating it with light) based on the temperature of the water.

http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Sink-Faucet-Sprayer-Nozzle/dp/B004W1SEYM/ref=pd_sim_hi_2

Maybe not the same, but I have this one cup thing. Boils just enough for one cup of coffee or tea, or ramen.

Now I picked up something closer to a kettle awhile back, but stuggle to find uses for it. I don't ever need that much hot water at a time for anything.

Oh my gosh, bottled water in ALL of the places! For real. Plus we have like no natural water sources, so tap water tastes like pipes, no matter where you live. From what I've seen, most people have those water cooler thingies at home. I'd only ever seen like one person who owned one of those before moving here.

Yeah like this one: https://www.amazon.com/SinkTwice-33-43-cm-Single-Flush/dp/B01EXPTOJA/

Make the landlord pay for it...

I think it’s a great idea, but it’s pretty impractical. Lugging around a 50 gallon drum container of, or a few hundred gallons of water, would be a weighty and logistical nightmare. Water is very very heavy, and unless you have a golf cart that you can put huge water containers on, it would be very difficult for you to transport the water around.

This adapter lets you attach a garden hose into a kitchen sink. Do you have a slop sink in the basement of the building? Near washers and dryers? Many slop sink faucets allow for a garden hose to be attached to the outer threads.

https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Thread-Faucet-Adapter-Hose/dp/B000DZKX5Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1472934845&sr=8-3&keywords=kitchen+sink+water+hose+adapter

Also, a washing machine hose has the same diameter and threads of a garden hose. Meaning that the valve on the wall is like the kind on the outside of many buildings for garden hoses.

You will need to get a 100 foot heavy duty extension cord, and a 100 foot heavy duty garden hose, or more, imho. And maybe some ear plugs if you’re out there for a while.

This might be a super simple solution, but have you tried a small sink strainer in your sink or in your shower? It works for me. Here's an example! There are lots of different sized ones so you'll have to smaller one that fits your sink.

There are many inexpesive top-loading models that have a “no spill/no splash” design. There are special caps that go on the bottles themselves that do not dispense or leak any water until the bottle is upside down and secure on the machine. While the bottom loading machines are nice, they sometimes have pump issues because it is such a complicated system. They can also be loud when refilling. They are nice for people who can’t lift a bottle, but if your only issue is that of spilling water, check into the no spill design. They are less expensive and less trouble.

Here is a no spill water cooler on Amazon. This is just an example, there are many on the market like this.

Thanks for the idea. I found this product on Amazon which does exactly that.

I got mine from the local home brew store. Mine doesn't look like this but I looked up faucet to hose adapter and this guy might work. http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Thread-Faucet-Adapter-Hose/dp/B000DZKX5Y

I use a tea ball, and I actually dump mine after it is cooled, but still wet. The soggy tea leave all stick together and release from the ball in a big clump. Sometime I have to knock it against the side of the can to get some strays. Anything that is left over is not nearly enough to bother the drain.

You could also try a drain strainer. Probably just good to have in general. I have something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Fengbao-2PCS-Kitchen-Sink-Strainer/dp/B01CWXLMB8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1538015130&sr=8-4&keywords=drain+strainer&dpID=51bAYK0sriL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

I'm really happy with it, it catches a lot without stopping up the flow of water down the drain, and it hasn't tarnished or discolored in any way.

You could give the support arms a try, I've had success with them where glue jobs failed.
https://www.amazon.ca/Cinclips-undermount-sink-installation-repair/dp/B00O1HKYMW/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_60_img_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=7TRFQTND1V840E77103F

For heating water, the Sunbeam Hot Shot will heat a mug of water in about 30seconds-1min. It's indispensable at my office. I can't speak whether this would be easier than an immersion heater though.

There should be enough empty space in the box to store a mug, strainer and a bag or two of loose leaf, so you could package everything up between hospitals.

I just got this (http://www.amazon.com/Aladdin-Tea-12-Ounce-Infuser-Blue/dp/B001Q3L9PA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292857228&sr=8-1) as a present and I think it'd be perfect for you. The infuser is built into the lid, so you can remove the leaves when they're done steeping without worrying where to put the infuser, and when your next 15 minute break comes in, just refill with hot water and get another wash of the leaves. It's incredibly easy to clean, just rinse out the infuser at the end of the day. You can heat the water with this pup right here: http://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-6131-Water-Dispenser-Black/dp/B000C3QSPQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292806382&sr=8-1

You can buy an adapter to connect your kitchen faucet to the "garden hose" end of your IC (adapter is male-male). You should be able to find one at your LHBS / hardware store (I got mine at ACE). Just unscrew the aerator from the end of your faucet and screw this in it's place and attach the IC.

I also recommend you buy a hose designed for potable water (such as for RV's) if you need extra reach. I was surprised to learn most garden hoses have parts containing lead (WTF?)

Cool, thanks. Also found on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DTB8LM1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zg2SCbPX1ZBZE

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07DTB8LM1/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_gz6TCbXEKB7VQ

Type a

One thing I'm gonna do this year is buy a couple 5 gallon jugs of water and hang onto them for the season. So much easier than going out last minute for individual bottles which are usually the first to go. Even if you don't have an electric water dispenser, which I don't, you can buy a manual stand or a pump.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/5-gallon-Manual-Pump-for-Bottle-Water-Drinking-Water-Hand-Pump-Heavy-Duty-Drinking-Water-Pump/106855138

https://smile.amazon.com/Dispenser-Nonscrew-Stainless-Countertop-threaded/dp/B01N9YNUIG/

https://smile.amazon.com/Water-Bottle-Pump-Original-Excluding/dp/B00APU2Y8Q/

Hmmm, youre a gamer so I'd say you would enjoy having [this] (http://www.amazon.com/LightInTheBox-Kitchen-Faucet-Sprayer-Nozzle/dp/B004W1SEYM/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1368560547&sr=8-11&keywords=light+shower+head) and I have been trying to get some games for my game gear so I would love to get [this] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Lion-King-sega-game-gear/dp/B000056PZ0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=EYB47AJ077Y1&coliid=I1VLW5HOY41DP7) mainly to bring back memories and play. :D

This one was recommended through a blog post I found somewhere. Amazon reviews and others have said it works in sinks of all shapes and sizes, it has worked in the few situations I've tried it. We'll see how it fares in the multitude of sinks I'll be using on my trip.

This tub is ideal for that kind of use.

I run a Flojet to an accumulator to supply water to my Profitec 700 during coffee popups. Total cost for those two was $160. Add in a few more bucks for the hoses and connectors. The accumulator supplies a steady 30psi ~2bar of line pressure.

Flojet, Accumulator

I would take a look at Cinclips. These screw into your cabinetry and just brace the sink from below, rather than needing to screw into the counter top. They worked wonders for my friend's kitchen sink.

This pump would work:

https://www.amazon.com/Flojet-Bottled-Water-System-Single/dp/B01LWU7XQ5

KegWorks Aluminum Draft Beer Tap Faucet Lock For Kegerators, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CC66KO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_KGKrDb1JP87JR


Although if kids were going to be home alone I’d just unplug beer lines in fridge then install a locked on the fridge so they can’t open it

You can use these instead of that DIWHY bracing. https://www.amazon.com/CINCLIPS-Undermount-Clips-Brackets-Supports/dp/B00O1HKYMW/ref=lp_15836086011_1_1?srs=15836086011&ie=UTF8&qid=1510863002&sr=8-1

There is an adapter that you can screw in to your kitchen sink (after remove the aerator from the faucet) and then attach a garden hose to.


http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Thread-Faucet-Hose-Adapter/dp/B000DZKX5Y

I would suggest buying a new, longer cord, as more unions means more places for potential leaks.
But, I think you would be looking for something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Thread-Faucet-Hose-Adapter/dp/B000DZKX5Y#productDetails

I have an older version of this at work currently. Pretty inexpensive, but it doesn't hold as much as the Zujiroshi and the only temp you get is boiling.

Hot water dispenser. It's perfect. http://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-6170-Water-Dispenser-White/dp/B000C3S6Z6

Ahem.

http://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-6131-Water-Dispenser-Black/dp/B000C3QSPQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1321807369&sr=8-6

I'm pretty sure that's a sink stopper. You can put it on the sink drain so it fills up, which can make it easier to do laundry.

Something like this

I can't recommend these things enough for undermount install:

https://smile.amazon.com/CINCLIPS-NEVER-FAILS-Undermount-Installation/dp/B00O1HKYMW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=29NJBNW5E7ZUQ&keywords=cinclips&qid=1564593459&s=gateway&sprefix=cincl%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Sink-Twice-33-43-Single-Flush/dp/B01EXPTOJA

https://www.amazon.com/Central-Brass-0465-2-Handle-Laundry/dp/B0019716M4

Here's a variety. The one I have has loops at the ends, much better than suction cups IMHO. (I think there is a brand out there that has both, though.) You can also just get away with a length of strong twine, and even just draping things over shower curtain rods, towel racks, and radiators in a pinch. I like having the clothesline though.

The universal sink stopper is a must have if you plan to do any hand-washing. You never know if your lodging's sink will have a stopper at all.

Alternatively, install a double faucet

We're doing a DIY bar - I think for water we may go for a dispenser like this instead of water bottles. But for sodas, we'll need to make a Costco run for sure!

They're sold everywhere

Edit: in fact in two days you may fix your own toilet

Sink Twice https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EXPTOJA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_S6L0Bb19M7NRH

I have a crappy electronic stove and a microwave.

I also use a "hot shot" which you can think of as a tiny personal 0.5 liter electric kettle that works on 110volts and cycles in about 90 seconds.

Yeah, but how do I fill it up? A hose? :P

I want a 5 gallon jug one, with heating and cooling. Something like this, but I've zero idea which one

http://www.amazon.com/Top-Loading-Bottled-Water-Cooler-PRIMO/dp/B0081SOFZO/ref=sr_1_85?ie=UTF8&qid=1414021692&sr=8-85&keywords=5+gallon+water+dispenser

For filtered coffee, very easy to toss into bin. For French press, I have one of these in my sink and it catches all the grounds. Then they go in the bin.

They have something similar that modifies to a normal toilet to achieve the same thing. You wash your hands to fill the tank, and then use that tank water to flush next time.

https://www.amazon.com/Sink-Twice-33-43-Single-Flush/dp/B01EXPTOJA

The faucet will be for a single basin 33" composite granite bowl. We'd prefer a name brand faucet (Kohler, Moen, Delta, etc) for reliability. The more we think about it, maybe it'll help to keep costs down (at least a little) if we go with a "hard" goose-neck, with a touch sensor, and the faucet head connected to a retractable pull out hose. If that makes sense?

This is the kind of sink we're looking at. This is the kind of faucet.

Here's a tap lock.

Have you looked into getting a Faucet Lock?

Edit: This one is getting better reviews.

I ended up breaking down and buying a Hot Shot Water Heater for my desk.

I used this for a broken stopper once.

You are welcome.

You want a male to male faucet hose adapter. Link below just to see it, but home depot or lowes will carry them.

Lowes
Amazon
Home Depot

Think this might work for you?:

https://www.amazon.com/Central-Brass-0465-2-Handle-Laundry/dp/B0019716M4

The big blue 5 gallon culigan type bottles are refill able at many locations for a few bucks use that to fill your smaller bottles which can be reusable also. You can also get these type
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07NMCJ7RY/ref=sspa_mw_detail_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1 dispensers probably cheaper just that was a fast search for an example. Heres one with manual pump if you dont want to recharge the other type https://www.amazon.com/Bottles-Pressure-Drinking-Fountain-Coolers/dp/B07KVDGDTN/ref=alp_dpwidget_a_m_?th=1&psc=1&smid=AIJ6K6RYC22VC

If I had not lived in the UK for a while I would not know that electric kettles existed. We do have them here and I got one because I do pour over coffee in a Chemex instead of in a standard coffee machine, but they are not remotely as common as in the UK.

Growing up, we did have something called a Hot Shot. It's essentially the same thing except it's less water, like just a cup, and it's meant for dispensing straight into a mug such as for hot cocoa or instant oatmeal or something.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C3QSPQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OUVTDb26Q1VVA

https://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-Water-Dispenser-Black-006131/dp/B000C3QSPQ/

Sort of like a personal electronic kettle, which heats a large mug-full of water in a minute or so.

They last about 3-5 years worth of daily use and Sunbeam can't seem to figure out that it needs an extra inch or so of clearance for today's larger mugs.

It's a sink you put on your toilet to wash your hands with so you don't waste water.

https://www.amazon.com/Sink-Twice-33-43-Single-Flush/dp/B01EXPTOJA/

How to burn wood pellets with your Solo Stove campfire.

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I really enjoy cooking with my Solo Stove campfire. Often times my firewood is wet and I need to use an alternative fuel. I always have hardwood pellets for smoking meats in my Weber kettle grill. SO I like to use these pellets in my Solo Stove.

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The problem with burning pellets in your Solo Stove is that the pellets fall through the bottom grate, clogging the airflow. To prevent this I put a screen in the bottom of the solo stove campfire to stop the pellets from falling through the grate and choking the fire out.

​

Using the screen was a success and I loaded the Solo Stove campfire full of three liters of pellets and started a fire. I soon realized that the volume of pellets created a very dense fuel source, there was no airflow around the fuel to aid in combustion.

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So I came up with the idea of adding a tube to create a chimney for the air to flow through the fire. This heat tube made for a very hot fire from a cheap and readily available fuel source.

.

​

Solo Stove Campfire Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksbkd9wKrcg&list=PLd6Lbtnnv5CS897LgfBoxGrwtGRGihTKH

​

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https://www.solostove.com/solo-stove-campfire/

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pellet_fuel

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https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-12-Pipe-Stainless-Steel-BBQ-Outdoor-Cooking-Pellet-Round-Smoker-Tube-Tool-A/253503086267?

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hash=item3b05f61ebb:m:mUUJ1TQ66e9FCFNutzfM_DA&frcectupt=true

​

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000DZF4US/ref=twister_B07848VPDR?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Hero of time

Pretty colors!

http://www.amazon.com/LightInTheBox-Kitchen-Faucet-Sprayer-Nozzle/dp/B004W1SEYM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368490120&sr=8-2&keywords=led+faucet

Here is the Amazon link https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000DZF4US/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

By far the Hotshot is my favorite appliance for making a cup of tea. Put water in, press button, it boils, press button to pour right into the cup! Love it so much!

Link here: Hotshot

...though I am lacking a good tea kettle, which would be great for larger quantities of tea, and for water for all the non-stovetop teapots I have. I'll have to look at all the other comments later for ideas!

Faucet to hose adaptor and nozzle came from Amazon. The tricky part was finding a hose I liked. I ended up springing for this pricier one from McMaster-Carr, part # 54635K11. The rest is assorted stuff from Home Depot to get it all to meet up with each other. Good luck!

Did you know, you could buy a plastic strainer for the sink, and it will never happen again?

E.g. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01CWXLMB8/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1527414224&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=strainer+sink&dpPl=1&dpID=51bAYK0sriL&ref=plSrch