Houston Consumer Blog

Best Mosquito Repellents

Get ready for a swarm of mosquitoes.  Rain water from Hurricane Alex will likely give rise to millions of mosquitoes in about two weeks.  That's how long it'll take for mosquito larvae to become full fledged flying pests.   Be sure to remove any standing water and don't forget your trash can lids.  Bug experts say that's typically a spot most home owners never check.  If your yard becomes a bug haven, be sure to use the most effective bug sprays according to Consumer Reports.

Off Deep Woods Sportsmen II

Cutter Backwoods Unscented

Off FamilyCare Smooth & Dry

3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent 8

Repel Plant Based Lemon Eucalyptus

Natural 8-Hour with picaridin

Best hair products that fight frizz

Shampoo and Conditioner:

Kerastase Bain Shampoo and Conditioners $38- $40

Goodwell’s Kerasilk Shampoo and Conditioner $14

 

Leave-in Conditioner:

For every hair texture:  Sublimateur $38

Neutrogena Triple Moisture $6

 

Fine and Frizzy hair texture products:

Essence Absolue Shu Uemura $67

Moroccan Oil $45

 

Styling Products to tame curly hair:

Kaze Waze by Shu Uemura $33

Dynamic Loop by Goodwell $14

Curls Up $6

 

Product for all day frizz maintenance:

John Frieda’s Frizz Ease “Secret Weapon” $6

Hair gadgets put to the test

In Stretch Your Dollar, we put several hair styling gadgets to the test.

• TeleBrands EZ Combs - $4.99
• Bumpits Hair Volumizing Leave-in Inserts - $9.99
• Modern Updo Hair Pin - $5.99
• Expandable Ponytailer (Plastic) - $3.99
• Expandable Ponytailer (Two pieces) - $3.49
• No Slip Grip Octopus Clip - $3.99
• No Slip Grip No Damage Oval Clips - $2.99

Looking for oil spill clean up work?

BP is warning job seekers to be careful of scams involving oil spill clean up work.

Apparently people posing as BP employees are charging would be clean up workers a fee for training and job placement.

BP says it doesn't charge to get a job with the company.

Workforce Solutions has a job offer database that lists offers from businesses that have tax I.D. numbers.

https://wit.twc.state.tx.us/WORKINTEXAS/wtx?u=1275509388291&pageid=BROWSE_POST_BY_TEXT

Power Assistance

Hot weather is here and that means your power bill is probably going to increase.

If you need help paying a big power bill the state of Texas has assistance which can be found here,

http://www.puc.state.tx.us/ocp/electric/elecfacts/Electpayassist.pdf

Reliant Energy customers can call the company to see what is availalbe for them.

The company is voluntarily suspending disconnection notices for low income seniors, low income residential custoemrs and those on the Critcial Care List.

Call Reliant to find out more @ 1-866-RELIANT.

The state PUC keeps the Critical Care list, to find out how to get on it, contact your power provider.