I got an Echo Dot for Christmas a couple years ago and it’s been in my bedroom. I use it sometimes for music and to check the weather for the next day. I want to move it to a different part of the house to use it more, probably the kitchen. Can you share some other good uses for it, besides just for music?
In the kitchen, timers are really useful. You can also name your timers with your voice, like ‘Alexa, set a rice timer for 5 minutes,’ or, ‘Alexa, set a roast timer for 8 hours.’ This is handy when you have multiple timers going so you know what each alarm is for. Alexa will tell you, ‘rice timer finished,’ or something similar. Also, adding smart plugs will let you get more use out of your Dot. Depending on the size of your space, you can keep it in the kitchen and talk to it from the living room like ‘Alexa turn the living room lights on.’
@Weston
I always use the one in my kitchen for timers, also for adding things to a shopping list when I’ve just run out. It’s a good reminder for when we go shopping.
Robert said:
@Weston
I always use the one in my kitchen for timers, also for adding things to a shopping list when I’ve just run out. It’s a good reminder for when we go shopping.
Measurement conversion is another great use.
@Austin
That’s a great idea. It’s good for quick math problems too.
@Weston
Don’t forget reminders like ‘Alexa, remind me Saturday at 9 am to pay the bills’ or ‘Alexa, remind me every Monday at 8pm to put out the trash.’
@Weston
I didn’t know this! I use timers a lot on my kitchen Echo Show 15 and I’ve been confused more than once about which timer was going off.
I use smart plugs to turn on and off lights, that’s my next most common use. I also have an Echo Show connected to my Ring cameras.
I use Alexa, Dot, and Show to control most of my lighting, including outdoor lights. I can turn on my coffee maker from bed and use it for cooking related questions like ‘how many ounces are in a half gallon.’
Be careful if it’s in a place where guests can speak to it, it will tell them everything you have in your Amazon basket. You can turn this feature off for items you’ve already ordered but not for items still in your basket.
@Frank
That’s funny! Imagine Alexa saying, ‘You have three items in your basket, including some personal items. Would you like to order them now?’ and your father-in-law is there to hear it!
The kitchen is definitely a good place for it. I use it for setting timers, converting measurements, and adding items to my shopping list that I can view in the Alexa app when shopping. Other uses depend on what smart home devices you have. I use it to turn on/off lights, the TV, and sometimes the garage door.
@Celeste
Thanks! Using it for measurement conversions is a great idea!
I’d say the kitchen and bedroom are the most useful places for me. In the kitchen, I use voice timers like ‘Alexa, set a 15 minute timer for garlic bread,’ ask about recipes, and do measurement conversions. In the bedroom, I use a Bluetooth light bulb connected to the Echo, so I can say ‘Alexa, lights on’ and have it control the lights. I also use it for my alarm clock and have set up a routine so the light level slowly comes up starting 30 minutes before my alarm. It’s like those expensive ‘sunrise’ alarm clocks, although the light doesn’t smoothly increase—it sometimes changes color temperatures. I don’t usually wake up before the alarm, just something I noticed.
I use it for light control, timers, playing music throughout the house, and as a noise machine for sleeping. It’s also great for sending announcements through the house, which is better than yelling ‘Dinner!’
Alexa, add blueberries to my shopping list.
Alexa, what time does the pool store close today?
Get a few smart light switches. Also, get a red bean (IR controller for your TV). ‘Alexa, turn off the TV.’ Or set a routine, ‘Alexa, it’s TV time’ (all the lights dim, TV comes on, and Alexa will jokingly tell my wife to give me my pillow back).
Echo’s big selling point is cheap accessories. My house is full of lights and switches that basically run off Alexa. ‘Good morning,’ ‘Good night,’ ‘Bedtime,’ ‘I’m home,’ ‘Goodbye,’ are all timers I use.
Put it in the kitchen! Use it for timers, recipes, shopping lists, controlling smart devices, playing podcasts, or setting reminders while cooking. Super handy!