Honest Product Reviews at Common Sense Homesteading

Portable Clothes Washer Review and Comparison – What Works

April 9, 2019 By Amber Bradshaw 3 Comments

A portable clothes washer is great for RV camping, apartments, dorms, condos – anywhere you don't have a ton of space. Manual clothes washers also save on electricity and are great for emergency situations. I put four of the most popular portable washers to the test at our off grid home, and share the results below.

Note – all four of these washers are manual washers that don’t require electricity. You need access to water, a way to heat the water if desired, a place to drain the water, and a spot to hang your clothes to dry.

Alternatives for the aTactical A1S 1150 Lumen Flashlight

January 21, 2019 By August Neverman Leave a Comment

The aTactical A1s 1150 lumen flashlight came in Cool White (CW) and Neutral White (NW). This was our recommended 18650 flashlight. The flashlight used 18650 batteries and most A1S flashlights came with an interesting 18650 with a built in micro USB charger.

Everything You Need to Know About the 18650 Battery

November 10, 2018 By August Neverman 6 Comments

What is a 18650?

18650s are in more and more electronics. This post will tell you everything you need to know about 18650 batteries. An 18650 is a lithium ion rechargeable battery. Their proper name is “18650 cell”. The 18650 cell has voltage of 3.7v and has between 1800mAh and 3500mAh (mili-amp-hours). There are two types; protected and unprotected. We absolutely recommend protected 18650 batteries. The average 18650 battery charge time is about 4 hours. Charge time can vary with amperage and voltage of the charger and the battery type.

The 4 Layers of Cold Weather Clothing Everyone Should Know

November 27, 2017 By Laurie Neverman 29 Comments

In this post, I'm going to quickly review the best cold weather clothing tips for extreme weather, adapted from the Field Manual for the U.S. Antarctic Program. Then we'll get into some of our favorite gear for general cold weather wear. Finally, I'll wrap up with a Fortress Clothing review. Look things through, and decide which clothes are a worthwhile investment for your cold weather safety and comfort. [Read more…] about The 4 Layers of Cold Weather Clothing Everyone Should Know

Prairie Pin Pouch Handmade Clothespin Bag – Made for Heavy Use

May 24, 2017 By Laurie Neverman 100 Comments

The Return of the Classic Clothespin Bag

The Prairie Pin Pouch is a modern rendition of a classic clothespin bag. I found these handmade laundry helpers in a somewhat unusual fashion. Some friends were visiting from out of town one afternoon when the phone rang. On the line was Julie Pruett, creator of the Prairie Pin Pouch.

As it turns out, Julie read a review I wrote several years ago on Amazon.com about a clothespin bag that didn't stand up well to our high winds. The flimsy thing kept blowing off the clothesline, which dumped my pins 12 feet below. (Our clothesline is on our raised deck.) It was very frustrating.

Julie saved that review, contacted me about her handmade clothespin bags, and sent me a sample. [Read more…] about Prairie Pin Pouch Handmade Clothespin Bag – Made for Heavy Use