Security & Lighting
Keeping Your Edge: Top-Rated Shredders
More of today’s shredders have sensors that prevent paper jams and overheated motors.
Consumers Digest’s 2012 Automotive Best Buys
Forty-two recommendations across 12 categories.
New MPG Labels: Fueling Debate & Controversy
Labels designed to provide a better comparison of how much fuel and energy vehicles consume tend to oversimplify the differences.
Driving Innovations: Auto Trends 2012 & Beyond
Federal fuel-economy regulations will add to the motivation of automakers to produce more hybrids.
Feb. 17, 2012—As infotainment systems become more prevalent in vehicles than ever before, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has stepped in to create voluntary “distraction guidelines” to maintain road safety in an age when social networks literally are at a driver’s fingertips.
Feb. 9, 2012—Consumers Digest saw automakers reveal 2013 models for several vehicles at Chicago Auto Show, which opened to the media Feb. 8.
Feature Attractions: Best Values in Microwave Ovens
New features appear to deliver limited cooking benefits.
Hands On: Next-Generation Specialty Vacs
New features and designs now make specialty vacuum cleaners more powerful and more versatile.
Upper Crust
Today’s Hottest Toasters & Toaster Ovens
Oct. 7, 2011—The LG Styler, which is a 6-foot-4-inch cabinet that can store clothes, hats, towels and even plush toys, features a steam generator and a heat pump that can deodorize, dry and remove dirt and wrinkles from cloth items.
Sept. 23, 2011—Underwriters Laboratories is notifying consumers and retailers that the EcoWatt 2700K compact florescent lamp (CFL) has an unauthorized UL mark.
Tablet Computers: It’s All About the Apps
More pretenders than contenders are in the market.
The Word on E-Book Readers
How to read between the lines.
A Bad Connection: Cellphone Radiation & Health Risks
The possible connection between cellphone-radiation emissions and health risks is worrisome—and seemingly ignored.
Feb. 22, 2012—Google plans to introduce a pair of eyeglasses by the end of this year that would stream data from a consumer’s smartphone for real-time viewing, The New York Times reports.
Feb. 20, 2012—If you own an Apple iPhone 4, you could get a $15 check or an Apple “bumper” cellphone case as a part of a settlement of a class-action lawsuit that’s related to the smartphone’s alleged antenna problems.
Homebuyer’s Guide: How to Get the Best Deals Now
Don’t assume that this is the perfect time to buy a home.
Affordable Bathroom Updates
Top-Rated Bathtubs, Whirlpool Tubs, Sinks, Toilets, Vanities, Faucets, Showerheads & Medicine Cabinets.
Leading-Edge Cutlery
You’ll have to be sharp when you shop for kitchen cutlery.
Feb.10, 2012—Although the unprecedented $25 billion mortgage-fraud settlement is a step toward holding the mortgage-loan industry more accountable, it doesn’t come close to repairing the damage that homeowners suffered at the hands of fraudulent mortgage servicers in recent years, consumer advocates tell Consumers Digest.
Feb. 9, 2012—Five of the nation’s largest banks agreed to pay a $25 billion settlement to the federal government that will help to compensate former and current homeowners who were victims of widespread mortgage and foreclosure abuses.
How Your Personal Health Records Are at Risk
Storing information electronically is a double-edged sword.
New Age of Dentistry: Choices, Costs & Cautions
Dental services and alternatives: alluring but suspicious.
Treating Arthritis: Why the Truth Hurts
False promises of “miracle” arthritis cures persist.
Jan. 23, 2012—Combination treatments are effective for tendon injuries such as Achilles tendinitis, according to a Mayo Clinic study.
Jan. 23, 2012—Department of Health and Human Services announced Jan. 20 that it will include nonprofit religious organizations in its ruling that employers’ insurance plans must cover contraceptive options without charging a co-payment.
Baggage Claims: Today's Best Lightweight Luggage
New materials make luggage lighter. That can mean lower costs at baggage check-in, but you’ll pay more in a retailer’s checkout lane.
Trouble in Paradise: The Turbulent Timeshare Market
A struggling economy has led to a buyers’ market. But higher fees are the rule of the day.
The Great Beer Challenge
Major brewing companies and beer distributors want to limit your access to the wide array of beers that are available.
Feb. 6, 2012—Globe-trotting U.S. citizens will be able to zip past long lines at customs if they qualify for a new government program that’s designed to speed up the check-in process.
Feb. 3, 2012—Spirit Airlines took a well-deserved public beating for its reaction to new federal rules that force airlines to be more transparent about their advertised prices and that give consumers more wiggle room to cancel flights without being punished.
'Premium' Pet Food: Begging for the Truth
There is little evidence that cats and dogs benefit from costly and unusual ingredients in their food.
Learning a Foreign Language
Finding a Method that Works for You
Hard to Swallow: The Truth About Infant Formula
Evidence doesn't support claims that because premium infant formula includes supplements, it's an improved product.
Jan. 18, 2012—Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit today against for-profit school Westwood College, seeking to shut down the school’s criminal-justice program.
Dec. 13, 2011—An alternative Census Bureau poverty-threshold measurement finds that the number of senior citizens who live at the poverty level has increased.
Exceptional Values in Outdoor Fireplaces
Manufacturers have improved the design and functionality of their outdoor fireplaces at all prices.
New Steps for Backyard Playsets
Climbing walls are popular, but a few factors, such as adjustability of the wall and climbing-grip variations, can make prices steep.
Getting an Edge
String Trimmers • Hedge Trimmers • Pole Saws
Dec. 15, 2011—Consumers who seek a new snowthrower and aren’t sure whether to buy a single-stage model or a dual-stage model should take their geographic region into consideration, experts say.
Oct. 26, 2011—In Husqvarna’s third-quarter financial results, the company reported that production issues that affected its manufacturing operations this year hasn’t had any effect on consumer products.
New Age of Retirement: How to Revitalize Your Plans
Shrinking private pensions might dim your golden years.
License to Steal: Outrageous Bank Fees and Business Practices
Banks are living high on the hog while consumers are hog-tied by exorbitant fees. The government can’t be counted on to help.
The Hidden Costs of Higher Education & Consumers Digest's Top 100 College Values
It’s easier today to get a student loan from a university’s financial-aid office, but it’s tough to decipher the hidden fees that you will pay.
Feb. 22, 2012—Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today said it will investigate overdraft fees that banks charge to consumers.
Feb. 17, 2012—First-class-stamp prices will increase to 50 cents if U.S. Postal Service gets it way.
A Bad Connection: Cellphone Radiation & Health Risks
The possible connection between cellphone-radiation emissions and health risks is worrisome—and seemingly ignored.
'Premium' Pet Food: Begging for the Truth
There is little evidence that cats and dogs benefit from costly and unusual ingredients in their food.
Risky Business: How to Avoid Work-At-Home Scams
Scam artists find new ways to prey on consumers who are desperate for jobs or who seek extra cash.
Think twice before you take your computer to the nearest repair specialist. Many people are scammed by technicians who are moved more by profit than principle.
You might face more than the grief of the loss of a loved one: grave desecration and double-sold plots.
Home > Home
Don’t assume that this is the perfect time to buy a home.
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Top-Rated Bathtubs, Whirlpool Tubs, Sinks, Toilets, Vanities, Faucets, Showerheads & Medicine Cabinets.
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On Guard: Next-Generation Home-Security Systems
Monitor and control your home-security system from your smartphone.
High-Efficiency House Warming
Furnaces · Boilers · Heat Pumps · Fireplaces · Heaters
Sleeping Beauties: Sensational Mattress Values
Manufacturers are experimenting with soy and coconut.
More of today’s shredders have sensors that prevent paper jams and overheated motors.
Volatile prices for down and cotton mean that you’ll pay more than you did before for comforters and pillows.
The latest smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide alarms take safety to a new level.
Manufacturers want low-cost alternatives that can duplicate the look of leather recliners.
Drills • Impact Drivers • Saws • Sanders
Manufacturers have improved the design and functionality of their outdoor fireplaces at all prices.
Now you have a wider choice of how your sounds fit in with your outdoor living space.
Adding more-energy-efficient glass might be a waste.
Monitor and control your home-security system from your smartphone.
The variety of fabric coverings for outdoor furniture has expanded in all price ranges.
Installation costs for central air conditioners are up because of a switch in refrigerant.
New energy regulations won’t increase the cost of a spa, but new models will run slightly more efficiently than they did before.
Manufacturers now give consumers more variety in grills, but you’ll find higher prices as well.
The latest options that are designed to help to keep you in your home can work against you.
Manufacturers say their products are winning the war against germs, but their claims are suspect.
Control your door with a finger swipe or via your cellphone.
Smart meters are supposed to give you more control over your energy use, but experts doubt that you’ll ever see the touted savings.
New nonstick coatings supposedly contain fewer toxic materials, but a lack of industry transparency gives consumers little assurance.
Insurers use credit scores and higher deductibles, and sell more policy add-ons to cull more cash from consumers.
Dozens of useless rooftop wind turbines have been introduced in the past 2 years as manufacturers dangle big tax breaks as incentive.
Don’t let tax credits for ultra-efficient models make you overlook less expensive options.
Furnaces · Boilers · Heat Pumps · Fireplaces · Heaters
Today’s dinnerware brings fresh ideas to the table.
Outdoor Lighting That Earns Glowing Reviews
Desks · Chairs · Workstations · Closed Units
New models emit less pollution, and some are even more fuel-efficient. But they cost up to 20 percent more than older models do.
Extreme Values in Cabinets, Countertops & Flooring
Innovation in faucets? No surprise. Innovation in sinks? Believe it or not, you can get your fill.
Manufacturers claim that systems capture 95 percent of airborne irritants. But conditions in your home vary from those in a laboratory.
Much recyclable waste picked up at the curb ends up in the same place as the trash: the landfill.
Today’s new machines have touchscreens and cameras.
Manufacturers agreed to a standard for measuring a deadbolt lock’s protection from break-ins by use of so-called bump keys.
Flat-panel mounts can hold bigger sets closer to the wall.
Now you can match your shed to the style of your house.
Electric models pack a bigger punch than before but still can’t clean or strip as well as their least expensive, gas-powered counterparts.
Paint companies lay it on thick when they tout the environmental friendliness of their products. But they don’t disclose the fact that “green” paint does not work well.
Many manufacturers boast that their filters remove pharmaceuticals from household drinking water, but these claims aren’t based on any third-party standards.
Ceiling-fan-makers are adding even more lighting to their products and are expanding their offerings that can withstand moisture to be right at home on your patio.
Many of today’s outdoor dining sets are chic enough to put in your living room, but they’re tough enough to sit on your porch and withstand the elements, too.
Manufacturers are experimenting with soy and coconut.
Climbing walls are popular, but a few factors, such as adjustability of the wall and climbing-grip variations, can make prices steep.
New pieces accommodate flat-panel monitors—even ones that make your television look as if it’s floating in air.
Customizing storage space in the home and garage is easy.
Types and styles of alternative beds continue to increase.
Today’s water softeners use less water and salt to produce a stream of better treated water. Plus, sensor technology has made them smarter.
Carriage-house-style designs can give a garage curb appeal without breaking the bank.
The latest compressors operate more quietly. Believe it or not, tomorrow’s versions won’t be much louder than a dishwasher.
Advanced sealants and sump pumps go a long way toward keeping your basement dry.
Feb.10, 2012—Although the unprecedented $25 billion mortgage-fraud settlement is a step toward holding the mortgage-loan industry more accountable, it doesn’t come close to repairing the damage that homeowners suffered at the hands of fraudulent mortgage servicers in recent years, consumer advocates tell Consumers Digest.
Feb. 9, 2012—Five of the nation’s largest banks agreed to pay a $25 billion settlement to the federal government that will help to compensate former and current homeowners who were victims of widespread mortgage and foreclosure abuses.
Feb. 8, 2012—Insurance watchdog groups are crying foul over a new program by Allstate Insurance that uses your driving records and vehicle-claims history to determine how much that you’ll pay for a particular homeowner’s policy.
Feb. 3, 2012—Fallout from the foreclosure crisis continued today when New York filed a lawsuit against three of the largest banks in the United States.
GreenChance has a new twist for consumers who want to extend their time outdoors without getting cold.
Consumers should be aware of potential solar-panel-installation scams to avoid being burned.
Dyson already provided consumers with an oblong, bladeless fan that blows cool air around the room.
Consumers who are in the market for a used vehicle can get a Carfax history report on it.
Reports of flawed foreclosures continue to roll in.
Feb. 15, 2012—JN Bailey & Associates recalled a product called the Adjustable Ottoman Bed.
Feb. 7, 2012—Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Designs Direct, recalled Living Traditions 21-inch rooster lamps because the electrical cord might fray, posing a fire or shock hazard.
Jan. 26, 2012—BJ’s Wholesale Club is recalling its Superex Safteto Go LED flashlight and battery set because the flashlight can heat up, smoke or melt when they are turned on.
Jan. 19, 2012—Steelcase recalled itsmodel 482 seriesAmia desk chair because the pivot pins that are installed in the control mechanism that’s under the seat can fall out.


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