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Four alternative products our editors swear by.

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These days, it seems like every kitchen appliance, speaker, TV, and security system is more clever than us. There are refrigerators with built-in grocery lists, digital assistants that can remind us of every upcoming to-do, and even washing machines that’ll memorize our rinse preferences, all in the hopes of making our lives a little easier. In other words, Disney Channel’s Smart Home movie from 1999 has officially come to fruition.

However, not everyone wants to live fully on the grid. In fact, 55 percent of Americans think that smart homes are intrusive, according to a survey done by Cinch Home Services that polled 1,000 people. That’s not all: Seventy percent of respondents said that they believe their Alexa, Google Home, or Siri is always listening. If you’re also the skeptical type, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite analog-ish home finds that are extremely useful but won’t make you feel uncomfortable in your own house.

A scalding shower can be a much needed reset after a long day, but stepping out into a saunalike, fog-filled bathroom isn’t as relaxing. Cue the Robern AiO surface-mounted mirror. Now you don’t have to waste time moving between getting clean and your nightly skin-care regimen.  

Whether you suffer from seasonal allergies or are just looking for something to help curb those post-cooking smells, the Molekule air purifier, available in two sizes, can handle both (and more) with its five fan settings. 

Upgrade your bathroom’s aesthetics while at the same time being more environmentally conscious with Hai’s showerhead. The hardware’s Bluetooth capabilities connect to an app on your phone so you can track your water usage after every shower, but don’t worry, there are no speakers that’ll start singing at you mid-shampoo. 

While most vacuums now look like they belong on a spaceship (or in Blade Runner 2049), Samsung’s Bespoke Jet goes beyond appearances: It cleans itself. With just a push of a button on the charging dock, all of the dust in the canister gets sucked away into an airtight bag. 

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