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New gizmos to help do old household chores

Most of us hate housework - cleaning dishes, washing clothes, and so on -- and most of us have to do it.

The Labor Department says 85 percent of women and 67 percent of men do household chores every day.

But there are some nifty products to make it a little easier -- everything from a quiet vacuum to an ironing board that spins around, and a dishwashing brush that squirts its own soap!

On "The Early Show" Thursday, BehindTheBuy.com Senior Editor David Gregg spotlighted several:

For quick pick-ups: Dirt Devil Gator Cordless Vacuum

$60 @ www.dirtdevil.com

David: A new hand vacuum to make cleaning more convenient. Features a "pop and drop" that keeps your hands clean so you don't have to stick your hand in the machine to empty the Gator!

Company description: Weighing in at only 5 pounds, Dirt Devil's Gator Cordless Vacuum is a strong, sleek, and cordless 18-Volt vacuum that makes the perfect tool for fast pick-ups on any surface. It features include a pop and drop dirt cup that keeps your hands clean because you don't have to stick your hand in the machine to empty the Gator. It's Energy Star rated. You can leave it on the charger and it stops charging once it's ready. The upholstery brush picks up crumb and the crevice tool, allows you to clean in tight spaces too.

Perfect replacement for several cleaning supplies: Hoover FloorMate

$150 @ www.hoover.com

David: This cleaning tool will enable you to get rid of your broom, mop and bucket! The Floor Mate features a two-tank system to keep the dirty water from ever getting back on your floor!

Company description: The Hoover FloorMate Hard Floor Cleaner with SpinScrub Technology is a 3-in-1 cleaner that vacuums, washes and dries hard floor. A two-tank system keeps clean and dirty water separate so you never put dirty water back on the floor. Patented SpinScrub Technology uses counter-rotating brushes to gently scrub from all angles to get sealed hardwood, tile and vinyl floors clean. Quick-drying power gets that water up quickly.

Quiet vacuum: Electrolux UltraSilencer Green

$400 @ www.electrolux.com

David: Your dog and newborn will thank-you for buying this canister vacuum (because it's the quietest on the market!) The environment will thank you, too! Fifty-five percent of this vacuum is produced from post-consumer recycled plastic.

Company description: The Electrolux UltraSilencer Green combines whisper-quiet operation (operates at only 65 db noise level) and powerful suction to create a high-performance canister vacuum. The vacuum's full-size Deep Clean power head provides a thorough clean for carpets and a soft bare floor brush ensures strong pick-up on hard surfaces. Equipped with a telescopic wand for above-the-floor cleaning, the UltraSilencer Green also features sealed HEPA filtration that captures and holds 99.97 percent of pet dander, dust mites, pollens and mold. Stores easily. It's lightweight design makes it easy to maneuver. It's green too!...Made with 55% post-consumer recycled plastic.

Great on a variety of surfaces: Original Flip-It Clean Mitt

$5 @ www.bedbathandbeyond.com

David: Dusting, cleaning glass, and polishing surfaces will be a breeze with this all-in-one product. Now you can do three jobs with one cloth!

Company description: No more fumbling around with multiple cleaning cloths. The Original Flip-It Clean Mitt has a unique, multi-layer design that utilizes three task specific microfiber weaves for three common cleaning jobs - dusting, polishing and glass/mirror cleaning. Simply flip to the appropriate microfiber layer to quickly and conveniently clean the desired surface. Streak-free. Lint-free. Machine washable.

Dishwashing aid: Oxo Good Grips Soap Squirting Dish Brushes

$5-$12 @ www.oxo.com

David: Save time and create less of a mess the next time you wash dishes -- scour, scrub and suds with one tool!

Company description: The OXO Steel Soap Squirting Dish Brush combines a long handled brush with liquid dish soap for convenient cleaning. No more drippy liquid soap mess from a pump or bottle. The soft button doubles as a seal; simply pull open the seal and fill the clear body with soap. Reseal the opening, and you're ready to dispense soap with the press of a button! The soft grip is comfortable to hold and is non-slip, even when wet. Durable nylon bristles easily scrub away baked-on food and are safe for non-stick cookware. When it's time for a new brush head, simply push up on the tab to replace it. Replacement brush, scrub or sponge heads sold separately.

Dish drying rack: Bon Home Heat & Dry Dish Rack

$100 @ www.bonhome.com

David: Drop your dishrags! This heated airflow dish rack will dry your dishes in a very fast and sanitary way.

Company description: Now you can dry dishes in approximately 10 minutes with the touch of a button. The first of its kind, the Heat & Dry Dish Rack is much faster and more sanitary than towel drying. The heated airflow dries dishes quickly and effortlessly with whisper quiet precision. This appliance is ideal for drying everyday dishes, fine china, silver, plastic ware, cookware and wooden cutting boards. The heated dish rack is configurable for efficient loading and is also collapsible for easy storage. It is great for drying large loads of dishes and wine glasses after dinner parties and family gatherings.

All-in-one cleaner: Bissell Steam Shot Hard Surface Cleaner

$40 @ www.bissell.com or www.bedbathandbeyond.com

David: Scrubbing toilets, tile, grout, ovens and stovetops will be made MUCH easier with this device! Get professional detailer cleaning results and save the environment with this hot steam cleaner.

Company description: The Bissell Steam Shot has all the attachments you need to steam clean grout, fabric, windows and more. The steamer is ready to use with water only and is 100% chemical free. The powerful, easy-to-press trigger activates the steam. Includes color coded brushes, grout brush, extension hose, fabric steamer, window cleaner, and detail brush.

Unique iron: Rowenta Steamium Iron

$140 @ www.shoprowenta.com

David: You'll spend less time smoothing out the wrinkles with this new product. It features an anti-drip system that prevents spitting and leaking at low temperatures!

Company description: Quickly remove wrinkles from clothing and other fabrics with this powerful 1800-watt steam iron. The unit features a microsteam 400-hole platinum soleplate coated in stainless steel with an ultra-thin silicate coating for smooth, nonstick gliding, plus a high-precision tip that works well for getting into pleats, between buttons, and along seams. Its user-friendly controls provide an easy-to-read LED display; a fabric-select dial for choosing from linen, cotton, wool, or synthetics; one-touch controls for steam and temperature selection; steam on demand with an ergonomically designed trigger; and burst-of-steam and cool-spray-mist functions for especially stubborn wrinkles. Best of all, the iron comes with advanced steam force technology, which pushes 30-percent more steam into the fabric for faster, more efficient ironing. Use the iron on a flat surface for traditional ironing or hold it upright for vertically steaming out wrinkles from curtains or hanging garments. For safety and peace of mind, the iron will shut off automatically after 30 seconds of inactivity if left on its soleplate or tipped over on its side; if left vertically on its heel rest, it will shut off after eight minutes. Other highlights include a large 10-4/5-ounce water tank, an anti-drip system that prevents spitting and leaking at low temperatures, an integrated anti-calc and self-cleaning system to ensure optimal performance, a 7-foot cord with a 360-degree pivot, and an ergonomically designed handle to reduce hand and wrist stress.

Revolution 360 Ironing Board

$116 @ www.amazon.com

David: You'll never have to move your shirts, blouses or pants while you iron thanks to the flip feature of this ironing board!

Company description: This revolutionary ironing board not only has an interesting contemporary design, it will also provide you with pro style results from the comfort of your own home. The Revolution 360 ironing board features a rotating body board for faster, professional results, two-sided full rotating ironing surface, and an ergonomic design that models the human torso with one flat and one contoured side helping to keep shirts taut during ironing. Its special features will help you create exact creases in slacks and collars, cuffs and pockets with precision.

Washing machine: LG Ultra-Capacity SteamWasher with 6Motion technology

$1000 @ www.lg.com

David: Save time, energy and water with this washing machine. A recent survey of American consumers found that two-thirds of individuals agree that doing laundry is one of the most time-consuming household chores.

Company description: A recent survey of American consumers found that two-thirds of individuals (66 percent) agree that doing laundry is one of the most time-consuming household chores. LG has a new front-load SteamWashers that offer high efficiency performance, giving you deeper cleans with lower energy use. And with ultra large capacity, you'll fit more laundry into every load, saving time as well. Get Steam Power: TrueSteam penetrates fabrics with powerful real steam, eliminating dirt, odors and wrinkles with lower water consumption than conventional washes. Cold is the new Hot: With ColdWash technology, you get the deep clean of a warm water wash with less energy consumption, saving you up to 60-82% on your energy bill. Protects as it Cleans: Household allergens like pet dander and dust mites can collect on clothes and outlast conventional washes. But LG's steam-enhanced Allergeine cycle is certified asthma and allergy friendly by Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, removing over 95% of household allergens. Capacity: Have a load of towels that need to get clean? A king sized comforter and bedding? This 4.8cu ft capacity washer can handle more laundry in fewer loads.

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