Should You Wash Produce With Baking Soda?

By Pang-Chieh Ho We posted a TikTok video that talked about the best way to wash produce. Our recommendation was to wash your fruits and vegetables under running water and never use soap and bleach.  A few viewers had questions for us: What about soaking produce in distilled white vinegar? Or does dousing it in…

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Yes, You Can Buy a Car Online. But Should You?

Online car shopping can eliminate traditional hassles, but in CR’s experience, it can also create new ones—especially if you’re buying from a startup By Keith Barry When Tesla first started selling its Model S EV online in 2012, buying a new car over the internet was unheard of. Since then, a slew of new automakers,…

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Best Blackout Curtains of 2024

If light streams through your window as you’re trying to sleep—because, say, you have street lights or traffic nearby or you’re a shift worker—then blackout curtains may be worth considering. Our 2022 survey found that 88 percent of people who bought blackout shades or curtains in the previous year found them somewhat or very effective…

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Best Patio Coolers

Patio coolers are larger-capacity coolers on wheels that can be kept outside throughout the summer season. CR already reviewed small coolers and wine fridges and regularly tests full-sized refrigerators, so we decided to evaluate outdoor cooler carts, too. After setting them up in our lab to record the temperature inside each cooler for 26 hours,…

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Best Window Air Conditioners of 2024

Top choices for small, midsized, and large rooms from Frigidaire, LG, Midea, and more Window air conditioners from LG, Frigidaire, and Midea (left to right) are among the models that top CR’s ratings in various size categories. By Allen St. John When summer approaches, a window air conditioner can be your best friend, an easy…

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Most Reliable 3-Year-Old Used Midsized SUVs

These solid choices range from comfortable cruisers to rugged off-roaders Honda Pilot By Jon Linkov A 3-year-old used SUV is likely to have many of the same features as a brand-new model—and even look very similar to it—but one thing it doesn’t come with is as high a price. That’s because the fundamentals of car…

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Beware a Flood of Flooded Cars

Cars swamped in stormwater could return to market far from where the damage occurred By Consumer Reports Thousands of cars are damaged or destroyed by floods every year, such as those ravaged by hurricanes or major rainfalls. Don’t assume all those compromised vehicles end up in a junkyard. Some water-damaged cars are repaired and resold…

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What Are Organic Tampons and Are They Worth Buying?

Even tampons labeled organic can contain worrisome ingredients. Here are the potential risks and how to stay safe. By Catherine Roberts If you’ve ever used tampons, then you’re probably familiar with the basic tenets of tampon safety: Don’t leave one in for more than 8 hours, use the lowest absorbency you can based on your…

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How to Choose a Baby Lotion Without Harmful Chemicals

We reviewed popular products from Aquaphor, Aveeno, Burt’s Bees, California Baby, Earth Mama, and other brands to bring you safer, more sustainable picks By Sydney Cook Update: This article has been updated to reflect the reformulation of Tubby Todd’s Every Day Lotion, Fragrance Free, which no longer contains phenoxyethanol. The product is now in our…

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