If you read my Wednesday post, I told you that I spent a day last week at Underwriters Laboratories in Northbrook, IL. I learned a ton about the extensive testing that they do there to ensure many of the products we use are safe for our family. What I also learned is that they have been doing so FOREVER. Well, since 1894. How many companies can say the same?
Here is the thing. Nowadays, most products that you buy sport the UL label. Go ahead, grab and appliance and check. I had a hard time finding anything in my house that didn’t have it somewhere. And because they have become the standard in safety certification most big retailers won’t even sell products that aren’t UL certified for liability reasons.
But guess what? I have this old vintage lamp I got at a garage sale a while back. And after hearing all about UL, I got a bit nervous about having products in my house that didn’t have the label because I didn’t trust them to be safe. So today I got a new lamp at Target (after checking for the UL symbol of course) to replace that one. And you know what happened when I unplugged the old lamp? Half of the lamp plug didn’t come off with the lamp. It stayed in the socket. HOW UNSAFE IS THAT??
I am a big lover of garage sales, second hand stores and cast offs. But this was a bit of a wake up call for me. It is really hard to tell how safe things are that you buy second hand. In my opinion, the UL symbol is one way to get piece of mind about what you are buying. I am not saying it is a complete fail safe, but it is a lot better than guessing and risking a lamp catching your house on fire. If it doesn’t have the UL symbol, I wouldn’t buy it no matter how good of a deal it is. Period.
Once again, for full disclosure, I am not obligated in any way to blog about my experience at UL. But they did provide me with a few Target gift cards (which I used today to buy myself a new UL certified lamp!). But I am passing 5 cards worth $25 a piece on to some of my readers. To enter, simply leave a comment letting me know if you have anything in your house you have found without the UL label. Yeah, I want you to hunt around a bit cause I think it is important. If you can’t find anything then leave a comment telling me what you found the label on. Anything with a plug is a good place to look. For extra entries:
- Subscribe to my blog by email or reader and leave a seperate comment telling me you did/do so.
- Blog about this giveaway on your blog and leave a link.
- Become a fan of The Diaper Diaries on Facebook and let me know you did. www.facebook.com/TheDiaperDiaries.
- Twitter about the contest and leave me a link to your tweet. Make sure to leave a separate comment.
You must leave a comment for every way you enter because I will be using Random.org to pick a winner from the comments. Good luck!!
For more frugal tips, head over to Life As Mom.
Thanks for all your comments. This giveaway is closed.
Okay- blog post is up. I don’t Twitter so that’s it for me.
.-= Candace´s last blog ..Giveaway =-.
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I searched the house to find the UL label on my gadgets and gizmos..
I did not find anything sans the label (whew). But, my trusty laptop charger has the label.. Soooo, WOOHOO!!
Jennifer
dropsofjupita(at)yahoo(dot)com
.-= jennifer nash´s last blog ..Tropical Charm Bracelet =-.
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I am a google reader subscriber to your blog.
Jennifer
dropsofjupita(at)yahoo(dot)com
.-= jennifer nash´s last blog ..Tropical Charm Bracelet =-.
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Found an old hairdryer without a label.Throwing it out.
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subscribe
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fan of The Diaper Diaries on Facebook
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I just checked my two oldest appliances and they both passed: the electric pencil sharpener that I received as a high school graduation gift, and my iron that I bought at an estate sale before I was married!
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I bet a bunch of things I own don’t have the UL. I hadn’t heard of it before reading this.
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I’m an email subscriber
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Twitter: EnchantingHavoc
says:
Yikes! Scary!!!
First off, I <3 Target and would LOVE to win a gift card.
Second off, on the memory foam mattress, I have had no problems with my sheets ~ I thought maybe I might, but it has all worked out great!
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..I Figured Out Why =-.
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Okay, so I’m very new to this whole blogging thing. But, FB I know. (-: But for a Target gift card, I’ll do anything! First thing I looked at was my Ipod speaker dock and the UL label was on there. Good enough!
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Yeow . . . the extension cord that my sewing machine is plugged into does not have the label. I wonder what my chances are that it was just taken off . . . not good, I don’t think. (And hoping I can still get in the drawing – I’m a bit slow reading Frugal Friday posts!)
.-= Lenetta @ Nettacow´s last blog ..Link Roundup, MAMA MAMA MAMA Edition =-.
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Twitter: PennyBlessings
says:
I have subscribed to your blog already, and it’s one of the blogs listed as one I follow on my blog. And I just now became a fan on Facebook as well! Yipee! I have also been aware of the UL safety issue for some time, so I tend to be very particular of what I buy, even at yard sales and such! Thankfully, there is nothing in the house, to the best of my knowledge, that does not have the UL safety label! Thanks for posting!
.-= Mandy´s last blog ..Show Us Your Life – Wedding Party and Flowers!! =-.
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Twitter: PennyBlessings
says:
Hello again! I subscribe to your blog!
.-= Mandy´s last blog ..Frugal Fridays – Saturday’s Yard Sale Finds!! =-.
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Twitter: PennyBlessings
says:
I also am a fan on Facebook!
(Thanks for the email too!)
.-= Mandy´s last blog ..Frugal Fridays – Saturday’s Yard Sale Finds!! =-.
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I couldn’t find the UL label on the bottom of the thing that cleans my husband electric razor, which really surprises me!
Thanks for the chance to win! : )
.-= Elaine´s last blog ..PSF – This Week With My Boys =-.
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I have Christmas lights that don’t have the UL label.
.-= Queen of the Click´s last blog ..Small things….signs =-.
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I also tweeted: http://twitter.com/elainea/statuses/3096157895
Thanks again!
.-= Elaine´s last blog ..PSF – This Week With My Boys =-.
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I added you to my google reader.
.-= Helen´s last blog ..I Love The Back End of This Dog =-.
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We had an old lamp that was not UL certified, but is now in the garbage! With a super active 2 year old, who loves to play with lamps, I don’t dare do anything else!
.-= sara@domestically challenged´s last blog ..It makes me tired… =-.
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Well, the lamp that I wired myself and built in high school (almost 20 years ago) clearly isn’t UL certified. I think it might be time to retire it from being plugged in and maybe turn it into an art piece. LOL! Thanks for the great giveaway!
.-= Angie´s last blog ..Is this some kind of joke? =-.
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I couldn’t find anything in my house. But, thanks for the information, I will be paying attention!
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Became a Fan of our Facebook Page
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Twitter: Zaankali
says:
Found one. A lamp that my Grandfather made long ago and passed on to my daughter. The shade is made all out of pennies. My dd had told him he must be rich. He thought that was neat so when he moved into a condo he was getting rid of stuff and wanted her to have it “from her rich grandpa”. Too cute! I guess we will just enjoy it unplugged.
Smiles!
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Seriously! =-.
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Twitter: Zaankali
says:
I subscribe to you through google reader.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Seriously! =-.
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Tweeted the giveaway. By the way, I forgot earlier, but I found it on my toaster…one of many!
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Twitter: FrugalFemina
says:
My battery charger doesn’t have a symbol on it.
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Twitter: FrugalFemina
says:
I subscribe by e-mail.
.-= Frugal Femina´s last blog ..Nielsen Consumer Panel: Back Again! =-.
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We have several surge-protector type thingies that have the symbol.
.-= Jeni´s last blog ..Priorities =-.
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Mom & Dad taught me well – I always look on the box of every electrical appliance I purchase – so important!
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Twitter: FrugalFemina
says:
I Tweeted! http://twitter.com/FrugalFemina/status/3172078180
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I’m a subscriber!
.-= Jeni´s last blog ..Priorities =-.
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Twitter: Zaankali
says:
Twittered it. http://twitter.com/Zaankali/status/3172115812
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Seriously! =-.
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I’m a fan via Facebook!
.-= Jeni´s last blog ..Priorities =-.
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Twitter: FrugalFemina
says:
I’m a fan on Facebook.
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Of course I subscribe!
.-= Once A Month Mom´s last blog ..Think Ahead Thursday: Holiday Appetizers =-.
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My Tweet: http://twitter.com/onceamonthmom/status/3172258195
.-= Once A Month Mom´s last blog ..Think Ahead Thursday: Holiday Appetizers =-.
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How was I not a fan of you on Facebook? I remedied that.
.-= Tricia (Once A Month Mom)´s last blog ..Think Ahead Thursday: Holiday Appetizers =-.
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Wow! Who knew??? i’m checking my electronics as I buy a lot from garage sales! Thanks for the heads-up!
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i became a fan on facebook. thanks so much!
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I tweeted: http://twitter.com/greatcakesoap/status/3172801138
Had to google how to find the URL of a tweet – thankfully Ben Spark helped me out.
.-= Amy Warden´s last blog ..Glowing Testimonials =-.
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I subscribed by email to your blog. Great reading!! Thanks!
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Just became a fan on Facebook!
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I subscribed to your blog.
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My camera batter charger doesn’t have a symbol on it.
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Yeah… thanks for contacting me about my win! Love it, Love Target!
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