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Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about?

Any hidden gems that haven't received enough attention or popularity? Any category, even JS frameworks (I'd nominate SvelteKit).

Few of mine: 1) Dishwasher with automatic detergent dispenser. Such a tiny improvement but huge difference (mine is Beko but brand irrelevant)

2) Samsung DeX desktop mode for Android phones. Surprisingly smooth experience with external monitor, keyboard and mouse. Looking for continued development to replace primary device in a few years (unless VR gets there first)..

3) Domestic again, and pretty well known, but induction stoves. Surprisingly many still don't use one..

( 14 comments | 24 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by jonathanleane on Saturday March 05, 2022 @08:14PM (#30573936)
Waterpik, or some kind of analogous water flossing device. It's probably a sign of getting old, but I'm unironically excited about this purchase, even months after actually buying it.

I could basically never be bothered to floss the conventional way, but water flossing has become part of my nightly routine.

The amount of gunk that comes out from between your teeth even after brushing is pretty staggering.

Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by sorum on Sunday March 06, 2022 @03:13PM (#30580801)
I love mine. The only sad part is that my dentist's team explained to me that it wasn't a _replacement_ for regular flossing, but an addition to it.

I lived a few glorious weeks in bliss, thinking that regular string flossing was in my past.

Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by jonathanleane on Wednesday March 16, 2022 @03:58AM (#30696355)
Sorry for the late reply - not sure if you'll see this.

But I think the jury's out on that. Check out https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24282867/

No idea how legit this research is though - I think one of the authors works for WaterPik, so take it with a grain of salt :)

Either way, I know I'm too lazy for string flossing, so for me it's either the WaterPik or nothing.

Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by sorum on Wednesday March 16, 2022 @12:13PM (#30700656)
Oh, that's some good news about the WaterPik. Even more happy about my purchase now, thank you!

String flossing has horrible UX. I started using floss picks like Plackers. It made it almost tolerable. Almost.

https://www.plackers.com/product-category/plackers-dental-fl...

Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by mettamage on Sunday March 06, 2022 @04:33AM (#30576265)
Brand recommendations? Or is waterpik a brand?
Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by jonathanleane on Wednesday March 16, 2022 @03:59AM (#30696358)
Yep, I just have the brand waterpik. I think there are some much cheaper knockoffs on eBay that are probably just as good though.
Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by btzo on Sunday March 06, 2022 @06:48AM (#30576886)
Waterpik is a brand
Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by otikik on Saturday March 05, 2022 @03:32PM (#30571586)
Bidets. Or higienic showers. Or Japanese-style toilets. Toilet paper is not enough, folks.
Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by ravenstine on Saturday March 05, 2022 @09:47PM (#30574546)
Even wet wipes are a million times better than toilet paper. They feel better, are more effective, and I know for a fact I use less of it than I did toilet paper.
Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by Kaibeezy on Sunday March 06, 2022 @05:36AM (#30576526)
Wet wipes cause a billion times more problems than toilet paper. Almost all contain plastic microfibers and degrade very slowly. They clog plumbing and septic tanks, and create environmental hazards in aquatic environments.

I wish people knew wet toilet paper is equally effective.

Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by ravenstine on Sunday March 06, 2022 @12:58PM (#30579453)
That's why you simply don't flush them. I've got a separate bin where I toss my wipes. The ones I buy are only ever made of plant fibers and contain no plastics and so on.

Yes, they can cause a lot of problems, and they shouldn't be marketed as "flushable". If you don't flush them, and if they're not cheap plastic, they're not necessarily bad. In terms of wiping your ass, they're superior.

Wet toilet paper may indeed be equally effective, but in my experience it's inconvenient and more difficult than either using wipes or toilet paper. Wet toilet paper collapses easily. Most wipes are designed to have enough integrity that, to put it bluntly, you don't need to worry about getting feces on your hands or drip poop water everywhere.

If you find wet toilet paper effective, that's great, have at it, but I think it stinks (figuratively and in this case literally).

Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by readme on Saturday March 05, 2022 @05:38PM (#30572676)
i have been a happy bidet owner for at least 5 years now and it's life changing

also you can install one easily, you just need teflon tape, and maybe a screwdriver to remove the toilet seat

i have zero doubts that it's also much healthier than the alternative

Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by B5C8ECB24DB47D1 on Sunday March 06, 2022 @04:05AM (#30576143)
Similar thread from Oct 2020: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24819254
Re:Ask HN: What's a product you wish more people knew about? by d--b on Saturday March 05, 2022 @06:05PM (#30572880)
I sure wish more people knew about my product, cause it’s preeeeeeetty sweet