Some contaminants, like lead and cadmium, are naturally found in the environment, which can partly account for their presence in food. But processing can also introduce heavy metals and chemicals found in plastic. In CR’s tests, our experts found lead, cadmium, or both in all the kits. Even in small amounts, these heavy metals can…
Manufacturers report a model’s noise level in decibels, averaging the readings over the dishwasher’s full cycle. But that isn’t necessarily the best indicator of noise output. So CR’s panel of judges sit and listen to each dishwasher that we test through its entire cycle—even if it takes 3 hours. “People remember a noise when it’s…
Ask the search engine Ecosia about “Paris to Prague” and flight booking websites dominate the results. Ecosia’s CEO Christian Kroll would prefer to present more train options, which he considers better for the environment. But because its results are licensed from Google and Microsoft’s Bing, Ecosia has little control over what’s shown. Kroll is ready…
Branch has become one of my favorite home office furniture companies for three main reasons. First, its products are easy to assemble, with clear instructions and helpful assembly videos. Second, they look good, with multiple color options and an overall aesthetic that’s easy on the eyes. Third, everything is reasonably priced. Sure, you can find…
Despite those aforementioned anecdotes, self-clean disasters are the exception, not the rule. Sutton has seen little evidence to suggest that running the self-clean cycle is likely to damage your oven. “I recall hearing of a few malfunctions during self-cleaning over the years, but it’s not a common thing,” he says. In fact, such problems emerge…
1. Don’t put hot items in the fridge right away. If you put food on the glass shelves when it’s still piping hot, the shelves could break. The hot items might also raise the temperature inside your fridge. That could put a burden on the compressor because it has to run longer to bring the…
The two most important metrics to look for when shopping for a flashlight are the batteries and the lumens. Batteries: There are two big categories of both flashlights and headlamps: rechargeable flashlights and those that take batteries. The difference is in how you recharge them. AA or AAA batteries are easy to find and can…
Other Phones to Consider Google Pixel 9. Photograph: Julian Chokkattu We test a ton of Android phones. We like the ones below, but you’ll be better off with one of the options above. If you haven’t yet done so, check out our Best Cheap Phones and Best Folding Phones guides for more. Google Pixel 9…
Because there are so many variables—including your local climate, your home’s size and design, how the system is installed, and construction of the ductwork—Consumer Reports doesn’t test central air conditioning systems. Instead, we estimate the reliability of major brands on the market by asking our members about their experiences with the AC systems they purchased…
Certification: Make sure the heater you buy carries a safety certification label from an independent testing organization, such as the UL mark, the ETL label from Intertek, or certification from CSA International. Shutoff features: A smart sensor that automatically shuts off a heater when it overheats is a must. You’ll also want a tip-over switch…