Honorable Mentions Courtesy of Amazon bkr Spiked Big Bottle 1L for $62: Glass water bottles remain the cleanest, nontoxic, and greenest choice. Bkr’s signature silicone protects the glass from shattering but also adds an edgy, grippy texture. It won’t dent or clang against surfaces, and if you drop it in a crowded room, it lands…
Top Choice: Porcelain TileA natural fit for high-traffic areas of the home, porcelain tile outperforms every other flooring material we test for resistance to scratching, and it resists dents from light objects like falling utensils very well, says Li Wang, the CR engineer responsible for rating flooring. Porcelain tile comes in a range of styles…
Not all water needs fixing. Whether a softener is worthwhile depends on how hard your water is, how it’s affecting your home, and what you’re hoping to improve. A good plumber or water treatment specialist can help assess your needs. But keep in mind, most installers have a product to sell. “I don’t recommend treating…