We are constantly being told about new devices that are supposed to revolutionize our lives. But which lifestyle innovations really make sense? The GALA editorial team helps you to keep track of the fitness, health and lifestyle sectors and presents five useful products every month. Our lifestyle must-haves are rated according to use, handling and effect.
In November we again tested great new products. Included are: a water conditioner, a candle, tea, a language learning program and a textile freshener.
Smart Filtered
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Product: Mitte Home Water Purifier
Price: 349.99 euros
Benefits: enrich tap water with minerals at home using a smart water treatment system and add carbonic acid if desired.
Application: Similar to the well-known water bubble systems, you twist a CO² cartridge into the Mitte Home device so that you can then add carbonic acid to the water. But in contrast to conventional CO² bubblers, the water is also freed from chemicals, microplastics and lime by a filter mechanism and then minerals are added. This all-in-one principle is currently still unique on the market. It facilitates the treatment and filtering of tap water and optionally the subsequent carbonation for the user. An additional advantage: the Mitte Home is smart and can be connected to an app that offers, among other things, a "refill" service. With this service, you can opt for the automatic delivery of Mitte Home Balance Cartridges and Mitte CO² cylinders.
Conclusion: The Mitte Home combines functionality and simple design, which I really like. Since I have used a conventional water filter and also a water bubbler for years, the smart all-in-one device has made water treatment one step easier for me. The only drawback for me is that the integrated water tank is very small. You have to top up with water for each "load" and then you get about 700 milliliters of mineralized water and, if desired, with CO². In the everyday test, this meant longer waiting for me and thus a loss of time. Nonetheless, I think the device is a great and smart way to drink tap water that has all the essential minerals and at the same time saves a lot of plastic.
smell? Come on!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Product: Bosch FreshUp textile freshener
Price: around 250 euros
Benefit: With this device, textile odors can be easily removed.
Application: Press the start button and the everyday helper starts! The operation of the textile freshener is very easy. Simply wipe gently over the (dry!) material and the odor molecules are dissolved by the power of the plasma and unpleasant odors are removed.
Effect: Hard to believe, but the device is really a practical alternative to the classic "airing on the balcony" - which I, like many others, don't have. As soon as the test device was delivered to me, I fetched the sorted out flea market clothing from the basement and was surprised: I was able to remove the slightly musty smell with the help of the device. And even my silk blouse, which I accidentally wore while cooking the night before, which no longer smelled fresh of perfume the next day, but rather of a mixture of garlic and fat, I was able to save from another wash thanks to the gentle FreshUp. The device also looks good with its modern design and is super light at only 300 grams and perfect for the next short trip (allowed in hand luggage). A great product that guarantees a pleasant smell at the touch of a button.
Hablas Espanol?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Product: Gymglish (Hotel Borbollón)
Price: Between 21 and 42 euros per month (depending on which option you choose) - before you pay you can try the course for free.
Benefits: Improving foreign language skills, learning a new language, further education, broadening horizons, possibly recognized proof of foreign language level (with the Pro version).
Application: At gymglish.com you can get an overview of the range of online language courses. Hotel Borbollón is the Spanish edition, but there are currently French, English (different levels) and German. After a test run, you can choose between a basic subscription, a premium model and a pro version - I would definitely start with the basic version, because it's really good. I find the easiest and clearest way to use the associated app, which can be downloaded from any app store, but you can also do the course online on a laptop and in a browser.
Either way, you get a total of four lessons per week (users can choose which days), each containing a piece of a story. Hotel Borbollón is about said hotel and what happens there. Tasks are set around the story, for example filling in gaps, conjugating verbs and so on. Depending on how many mistakes you make in these tasks, the next lesson adapts to the language level. From the stories that you both hear and read, you can choose vocabulary you want to know more about. In addition, the lessons contain explanations of grammar, particularly based on previous mistakes.
Effect: If it was up to me, you would have to pay for Instagram and Co. and apps like Gymglish would be free. Learning a new language is fun and I feel a lot better after a Gymglish lesson than I do after ten minutes of social media. But whatever. The world is not perfect. For me personally there are better language learning apps because I learn best with lots of examples and without explanations. But thanks to Hotel Borbollón, I now understand, for example, the difference between esto and eso and a few other things that I had only suspected before. I would recommend at least the free test to everyone. Because dealing with languages is never a waste of time.
So cozy!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Product: Personalized scented candle by So Cosi
Price: around 25 euros
Benefit: So Cosi's candles are made from vegan soy wax and are free from harmful substances, carcinogens or environmentally hazardous substances. They are ideal as a small gift with a wow effect, as each name can be integrated into the label in different designs for different occasions. Thus, there are many motifs and possibilities to design the candles individually.
Application: When first used, the candle should burn for about three to four hours until the top layer of wax has melted. This way the candle burns evenly.
Effect: The candle enchants with a delicately sweet fragrance composition of creamy vanilla paired with the components rose and coconut. Exactly my taste - for me the scent could even be a little stronger.
Well warmed up
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Product: Cupper Tea "Spiced Orange"
Price: 20 bags cost 2.99 euros.
Benefits: The organic spiced tea with cinnamon, orange and natural aroma is said to warm you up like a "hug by the fireplace".
Application: As always with tea: Put the bag in boiling water, let it steep, done.
