Do you ever wonder why you buy and use the cleaning products that you have in your home? Most likely you grew up with the products, liked them, and decided to continue to buy them. Just think how tough it would be for you to switch to another brand.

For windows, the BUB has to have Windex. Now I have brought home other brands including the new organic ones; green formulas; concentrated formulas and guess what? They all go in the trash.

Is there another bathroom cleaner besides "scrubbing bubbles?" I know Max is an expert on toilet cleanings (he even has custom plungers in designer colors).

Can you not live without the smell of Pine Sol? And what is so fantastic about Fantastik? And why is it called Formula 409 instead of 309 or 429?

One product that I couldn’t live without is Bar Keeper’s. This is the best for pots and pans. For dust, Endust is my choice. I grew up with Lemon Pledge and I’m sure that is someone’s favorite.

Fact is, we are very particular about our cleaning potions. Did Mr. Clean have the greatest marketing campaign ever? You can buy a similar product in a gallon size for the same price but it doesn’t have Mr. Clean on the label.

Remember Comet and Ajax? They were heads-up competitors. But with granite and laminate surfaces everywhere, their popularity went down. But they are still good for kitchen sinks.

Is it Drano or Liquid Plumr? Can you even think of another brand to unplug drains? Most likely not.

I think we are more engrained in this category than any other category and we don’t even know it.

OK, it’s time for your Top 10 can’t do without list. Let’s see if there are any surprises.

Happy Wednesday!

So you say what do a brick and a blanket have in common? Absolutely nothing!

But if you read the mind-altering book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, you would know that there is some commonality after all.

Gladwell after all alerts his readers that divergence tests are best for measuring one’s imagination and allowing to take your mind in as many different directions as possible. Bottom line: Divergence tests are a great measurement of creativity.

Now if I give you the test, you can either do it fair and square or you can cheat and read what others have blogged before. Gladwell speaks a bit about this because us humans have a curious nature. But you will be the loser if you look before you answer!

Here is the test and it’s very simple: Write down as many uses as possible that you can think of for a brick and then a blanket. Try not to spend more than two minutes on each and be honest in your approach. This is not an exercise in right or wrong or anything tricky; just write down what comes naturally.

After posting your answers, then read the others and see how you compare and which ones others agreed upon. It’s fun.

Happy Tuesday!

It’s official: The DeBartolo Brothers have signed up to lead the Kemon Artistic Team (KAT). Both Robert and Sylvester are excited, motivated and ready to take the Kemon message to hairdressers in the USA.

This is truly significant. Sports stars leave their team and join a new team for a reason. Sometimes it’s money, sometimes it’s the coach but usually it’s because they want to join a winning team and help take the team to the championship. Shaq left Phoenix to join LeBron James and the Cavaliers for that very reason.

Prior to joining Kemon, most recently Robert and Sylvester worked with ARTec and L’Oreal. Their expertise helped L’Oreal launch new products, drive education and lure big salons. But in the end, something was amiss. They were ready for a new team, a team they could take to the championship.

The DeBartolo Brothers Kemon premier will take place Monday, July 20 at the Kemon Academy. This exciting event will feature the much anticipated launch of Hair Manya, Kemon’s fun and innovative styling line. Both Robert and Sylvester came up with a custom cocktail menu using Hair Manya products which will become part of the Hair Manya cocktail bar.

They will also represent Kemon at the annual Intercoiffure event in September and then head up Kemon Nights featuring Tiffany later in the month.

This is going to be fun working with Robert and Sylvester. They have this kinetic energy about them that when prodded with what they feel is right, exudes an amazing aura of pride and passion. This is exactly what the industry needs now. Stay tuned.

Happy Monday!

Get out the grills, hit the stores, invite friends and family and get ready for some summer fun. Really?

July 4 is supposed to be our second summer holiday and typically signifies that summer is half over. July 4 is also supposed to be the start of a slower, take-it-easy two month period leading up to Labor Day.

And like all holidays, summer or not, the focus is on eating and drinking. But something is different about this July 4. Perhaps it’s because it’s in the mid-60’s, cloudy, gloomy and threatening to rain for 3 straight days. Perhaps it doesn’t fall on a Monday and while we are working until early afternoon, some businesses are closed and some are open all day.

Friday off is not the same as Monday off. Monday off is great because there are only four days left in the week. Friday off gives us a reason to go shopping, run errands and by the time we are finished, it’s dinner time.

Perhaps another reason is all the celebrities dying in the past week, many in their 50’s. Life is short but how short is it? No wonder so many say to hell with exercise, eating right and no smoking. But in the end, that’s short term thinking.

Perhaps it’s because we had seven months of winter and we want seven months of summer and summer has yet to begin. I hate that the days are getting shorter and we all know that Labor Day comes awfully quick once July 4 holiday is over.

Believe me, I am going to have my fill off eating and drinking. The grill is ready, the martini glasses are chilled, and Jimmy Buffett is queued up ready to spin to Margaritaville.

In the end, July 4 is really about Independence Day and all the brave men and women that represented America since 1776 and has kept America the best country to live in. For them past and present, I will toast mightily.

Happy Wednesday!