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Release date 04/06/2010
YONKERS, NY — A low price doesn’t always mean a good deal, especially if the product doesn’t perform well. The experts at Consumer Reports have tested thousands of household items over the past year – from detergents to toilets – and have put together a list of some of the best and worst home products, based on products that are Best Buys or Recommended. The list, featured in the May issue of Consumer Reports, is part of a comprehensive package that also includes the best and worst yard products including lawn mowers, tractors, and string trimmers.
“Faced with all the options on store shelves these days, even choosing something as simple as toilet paper can be a nuisance,” said Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman, deputy home editor for Consumer Reports. “We are sharing the best and worst picks from our rigorous tests to help consumers save time and money when shopping.”
Consumer Reports sifted through its lists of tested products to find some of the best choices for consumers. Staffers looked for products that tested at or near the top of their product category. All picks are recommended, which means they combine performance with value. Consumer Reports’ testers also highlighted some of duds they've discovered.
DETERGENTS
In addition to naming the best and worst in laundry and dishwasher detergents, Consumer Reports May issue spotlights recommended washers, dryers and dishwashers.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT:
BEST: Tide 2X Ultra with Color Clean Bleach Alternative, which costs around 32 cents per average load, was the top-scorer for washing away tough stains in Consumer Reports tests.
WORST: Xtra 2X Concentrated Lasting ScentSations Spring Sun Shine, which costs around 6 cents per average load, may have an attractive price but landed at the bottom of Consumer Reports Ratings.
LIQUID DISHWASHER DETERGENT:
BEST: Cascade Complete with Bleach Hydroclean Action Powder at 12 cents per load, excelled at cleaning dishes, thanks in part to phosphates which can harm the environment.
WORST: Wave 2X Ultra High Performance costs 33 cents a load and left Consumer Reports dishes pretty dirty.
CARPET CLEANING
None of the carpet stain removers Consumer Reports tested were great, but there a few that were able to lift certain stains. The report also features recommended full-sized and small vacuums.
CARPET STAIN REMOVERS:
BEST: Bissell’s Oxypro Carpet Spot and Stain Remover, $4.85, was best overall and one of the best at lifting French dressing and spaghetti sauce.
WORST: Dyson’s Dyzolv Spot Cleaner, $13, left most of the French dressing and spaghetti sauce behind and was even worse on coffee and red wine.
CARPET-CLEANING MACHINES:
BEST: The Hoover Dual V Steam Vac All Terrain with Spin Scrub F7452-900, $270, cleaned almost as well as a professional service Consumer Reports hired. The Hoover left very little solution behind, so the carpet dried faster.
WORST: The Bissell QuickSteamer 1770, $80, left most of the dirt in the carpet.
IN THE KITCHEN
From paper towels to toasters, Consumer Reports has tested many kitchen essentials. There’s also a list of recommended ranges, wall ovens, microwaves and freezers.PAPER TOWELS:
BEST: Walgreens Ultra Quilted, $2.50 per 100 square feet, was one of the top-rated brands of paper towels. It was absorbent and held up well in scrub tests.
WORST: Earth Friendly Products tore easily when scrubbing, held little water, and cost almost twice as much as the Walgreen’s brand.
TOASTERS:
BEST: Cusiniart CPT-170, $180, consistently produced batch after batch of evenly toasted bread, and a digital display counts the seconds until the toast is ready.
WORST: The Toastess Digital TT321, $60, was only fair at toasting and results were inconsistent from batch to batch in Consumer Reports tests.
TOASTER OVENS:
BEST: The Cuisinart TOB-195, $80, was very good at baking and broiling, toasts bread evenly, and is spacious enough for a four-pound chicken.
WORST: The Emerson TOR35, $70, was only fair at baking and took longer to bake and broil than other models.
COOKWARE:
BEST: Earth Pan with Sand Flow (10 pieces), $190, delivered high performance at half the price of some of the other cookware sets Consumer Reports tested.
WORST: The Mercorla Healthy Chef cookware set, $300, landed at the bottom of Consumer Reports Ratings because of burned food, handles that broke during testing, and stuck-on food.
STAND MIXERS:
BEST: KitchenAid Classic K45SS[WH], $200, has topped Consumer Reports Ratings for years because it can whip up fluffy meringues and handle double batches of bread dough with ease.
WORST: Sunbeam Mixmaster 2594, $90, was a lightweight in performance and pounds.
IN THE BATHROOM
Consumer Reports names the best toilet, toilet paper and showerheads.
TOILET PAPER:
BEST: Quilted Northern Ultra Plush, which costs 29 cents per 100 sheets, is top-rated and disintegrated easily when flushed, making it easier on plumbing and septic systems.
WORST: Scott 1000, which costs 6 cents per 100 sheets, was the thinnest toilet paper Consumer Reports tested and was only mediocre in strength and softness.
TOILETS:
BEST: The American Standard Champion 4 2002.014, $425, provided power, quietness, and thorough bowl cleansing in one flush.
WORST: The Kohler Persuade K-3654, $325, has separate modes for liquid and solid waste.
SHOWERHEADS:
BEST: Moen’s top-rated Inspire 21777, $50, offered a strong flow of water at a consistent temperature and seven settings.
WORST: The Price Pfister Bell 15-070, $40, had a big drop in water temperature between the showerhead and one’s body and had so-so force.
For more information on the best and worst home products please visit www.ConsumerReports.org or pick up a copy of Consumer Reports May issue, available April 6th wherever magazine are sold.
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit membership organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. For 80 years, CR has provided evidence-based product testing and ratings, rigorous research, hard-hitting investigative journalism, public education, and steadfast policy action on behalf of consumers’ interests. Unconstrained by advertising or other commercial influences, CR has exposed landmark public health and safety issues and strives to be a catalyst for pro-consumer changes in the marketplace. From championing responsible auto safety standards, to winning food and water protections, to enhancing healthcare quality, to fighting back against predatory lenders in the financial markets, Consumer Reports has always been on the front lines, raising the voices of consumers.
© 2010 Consumer Reports. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports® magazine, ConsumerReports.org® and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our prior written permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open to it to prevent unauthorized commercial use of its content and trademarks.
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit membership organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. For 80 years, CR has provided evidence-based product testing and ratings, rigorous research, hard-hitting investigative journalism, public education, and steadfast policy action on behalf of consumers’ interests. Unconstrained by advertising or other commercial influences, CR has exposed landmark public health and safety issues and strives to be a catalyst for pro-consumer changes in the marketplace. From championing responsible auto safety standards, to winning food and water protections, to enhancing healthcare quality, to fighting back against predatory lenders in the financial markets, Consumer Reports has always been on the front lines, raising the voices of consumers.
© 2010 Consumer Reports. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports® magazine, ConsumerReports.org® and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our prior written permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open to it to prevent unauthorized commercial use of its content and trademarks.