Bridal registries for do-it-yourselfers

Love aside, for some folks the best part of getting married is the bridal registry.

The most elaborate of wish lists, a bridal registry allows the couple to dream big. Stunning china and crystal stemware, cutlery with hard-to-pronounce names, and cookware from France that’s the color of the summer sky—these are the material rewards for true love.

When do-it-yourselfers fall in love, their dreams of building a life together might mean a bridal registry at a big-box retailers like Lowe’s or Home Depot. Lovebirds can fill their wish list with chain saws, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, ladders, and the like and publish it online.

Love is grand. Or make that “grands” for couples whose registry doesn't shy away from including items like washing machines, refrigerators, and other major appliances for the kitchen and laundry.—Kimberly Janeway

Tip of the Day: Should you hire a lawn-care service?

If you’re a desk jockey like me, the prospect of getting out in the sun and fresh air to do a few hours of yard work each week might be appealing. I often look forward to tending to my property and the work (and workout) it brings—even if the mowing, weeding, raking, debris blowing, fertilizing, watering, planting, edging, trimming, and sweeping sometimes elicit more exhaustion than exhilaration. I also don’t mind the hundreds of dollars in savings I’ve reaped each of the last eight years through my DIY yard care.

But if you’re tired of tending to your property—and apparently many of you are: Americans spent more than $44 billion in 2006 on professional lawn and landscape services—you might be considering hiring one of the national lawn-care companies.

Find out if companies like Lawn Doctor and Scotts are worth it in “Lawn-Care Services: How They Stack Up.” You’ll find more details on the companies in our companion comparison story (available to subscribers).—Steven H. Saltzman

Essential information: See our lawn and yard guide for more expert advice for your property as well as our mowers and tractors page for the latest reports on this and other outdoor power equipment. And learn what type of work other Americans do at their own home in our survey.

Buzzword: Boomerang Children

What it means. Boomerang children refers to the growing number of young adults who have moved back into their parents’ home after time out of the house, say at a four-year stint at college.

Why the buzz? With the latest crop of college grads having gone through the pomp and circumstance of commencement, a new flood of able-bodied college grads has entered the workforce. Or not. With the “r word”—recession—on every economist’s lips and the U.S. unemployment rate ticking upward, job prospects are less than stellar for the class of 2008.

So rather than light out for the big city in pursuit of entry-level positions, affordable digs, and the sort of twenty-something scraping-by that previous generations accepted as a matter of course, many in the millennial generation are bringing it all back home.

Boomeranging has its supporters and its critics. The pro camp views it as a way for parents and children to forge healthy adult relationships. Those against call the trend perilous pampering that curbs motivation and paves the way for generational conflict.

Consumer Reports can’t settle the debate, but we can help keep the peace by guiding boomerang households through a few potentially key purchases, including:

Mattress
Now that the home office or exercise space you planned or even created has to be turned back into a bedroom, you might be in the market for a new mattress. The process can be perplexing, but our mattresses buying guide tells you what you need to know.

Interior Paint
That reconverted room might need a fresh coat of paint, but who knows how long this boomerang will last? Read our latest report on interior paints, which looks at the issue of one-coat coverage for finishes.

Organizers
After four years of dorm living or, worse, fraternity/sorority rules, your boomerang child may not be so handy with a hanger. So read our report on closet organizers, which includes Ratings of different systems and tips for installing them. The same report covers garage organizers, handy if you suddenly find yourself short on storage space.

Computers
A new computer will help a young B.A. get gainfully employed—or at least keep a Facebook page up to snuff. Our colleagues in the Electronics franchise recently put the latest laptops and desktops through their paces. Check out the results in their report.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: The Money page on ConsumerReports.org contains advice on all things financial, including paying for college and planning for retirement—without kids at home.

TwoDaLoo Toilet: His-and-hers respirators optional

The TwoDaLoo toilet is one unusual commode. The Web site for the wholesaler, WiseRep.com, bills the TwoDaLoo as the "first toilet two people can use at the exact same time" and as "a supertoilet that saves rocky marriages and the planet.”

But you'll have to be flush with cash to buy a TwoDaLoo since it costs $1,400. What’s more, WiseRep.com takes orders of only a dozen or more toilets at a time. If you’re concerned about indelicate noises or just want to multitask, consider the "upgraded version." It includes a 7-inch LCD television and an iPod docking station, according to WiseRep.com.

While some have questioned whether the TwoDaLoo is for real, an article in the San Francisco Chronicle seems to indicate that this loo is legit. A call to the WiseRep.com offices confirmed that the TwoDaLoo is  for sale in the U.S. market. The company hopes to have distribution deals with big-box stores by this summer, says Mark Pardue, vice president of marketing for California-based WiseRep.com.

Essential information: Visit our Bed & Bath page for reviews of toilets, buying advice for countertops, and ideas for bathroom makeovers. And read more home-related Selling It humor.

Tip of the Day: Use a string trimmer to manicure your yard

A string trimmer picks up where your lawn mower or tractor can’t reach, providing the finishing touches as it eliminates grass and weeds around trees and flower beds, along your driveway, and other areas of your property.

If parts of your yard are starting to look a little woolly, it could be time for you to buy a string trimmer. The long Memorial Day weekend means you might find some deals in stores (string trimmers cost about $20 for entry-level electric models and up to $250 for commercial-grade gasoline units), plus you should have a few extra hours to make your outdoor areas look their best.

Keep these points in mind when you’re shopping for a new model, and see our string trimmer product page for more information, including our latest test information and Ratings (available to subscribers).

Consider your landscape. Straight-shaft trimmers can reach beneath shrubs more easily than curved-shaft models. They're also easier to handle for taller users and are less likely to spatter you with clippings. Curved-shaft trimmers trade a straight shaft's longer reach for easier maneuvering and, often, less weight.

Check the specs. Most gas-powered trimmers run on 87-octane regular, though some brands recommend 89-octane fuel for models with higher engine compression.

Most manufacturers also tell you which size replacement line fits your trimmer. Using other than the specified size can result in poor line feeding from the line spool at the cutting head. Line that's too thin can compromise cutting performance in heavier grass and weeds, while line that's too thick can be too aggressive resulting in an uneven and ragged cut.

Mind the gap. Tall grass and weeds can slow or stall a trimmer by wrapping around the top of its cutting head, especially if there's a gap between it and the mounting for the grass-debris guard. Models with a small gap or a protective sleeve around the shaft avoided that problem and did well in tall grass.

Give it the once-over. Check the balance of the trimmer by adjusting the front handle for a comfortable reach and holding the trimmer in the cutting position with both hands. Its weight should feel evenly distributed from top to bottom or slightly heavier at the top. Also be sure the controls work smoothly and are easy to reach. If you're left-handed, see that any gas trimmer you're considering has a deflector to aim hot exhaust gases rearward; most have it.

Essential information: Read about how Consumer Reports tests string trimmers.

Video Report: DirectBuy

Are buying clubs like DirectBuy a good deal? Our new video (right) details the experiences one of our reporters had at sales presentations for the nationwide buying club.

Although some readers commenting on our earlier story on DirectBuy have noted that the club’s prices are competitive, the video includes an interview with one DirectBuy member who found consistently lower prices elsewhere.

If you’d like to share your own experiences at buying clubs with other readers or discuss the pros and cons of these clubs, visit our forum for home shopping.—Gian Trotta

Essential Information: You can save money on cabinets, appliances, and other big-ticket items without committing to a buying club. And, remember, another way to save on appliances is to take advantage of the rebates and tax credits and tax holidays from local utilities and state governments.

Protect Your Investment: Decks

If you own a deck, the arrival of summer means your deck will start seeing a lot more traffic and activity, especially since 2008 appears to be the year of the staycation. A few simple moves will protect your deck from the crush of footfalls and prevent any deck-related accidents from dampening the festivities. (The North American Deck and Railing Association has designated May as Deck Safety Month.)

Check the Structure
Look for water stains inside your home where the deck ties to the house. Ongoing water leakage can lead to wood decay, weakening the deck structure and the house. For decks that are supported by the home’s structure on one side, be sure that the ledger board is properly attached with bolts (not nails) sufficient to support the load.

If you have any doubt about the structural integrity of the deck, especially if it’s a second-story or higher structure, call in a pro to investigate. The NADRA Web site includes a national directory of certified deck builders. Better yet, most municipalities have stepped up their enforcement of proper deck-construction techniques, so check with your local building department. As my colleague, Ed Perratore, reminds in this recent post, it’s important to clean debris from under the deck as well.

Clean the Surface
Rid your deck of moss and mold. If it’s a light build-up, a hose, a stiff-bristled brush, and a household cleaner and/or mild bleach solution may do the trick. But pressure washers are more effective against heavy gunk, provided you use them safely. If you see wood damage, like raised fibers, increase the distance between the spray nozzle and the decking.

If you’re in the market for a new pressure washer and have easy access to electricity near your intended uses, get an electric model instead of a gas-fueled one. Electric models are quieter and easier to transport and store than a gas-powered model (Ratings of pressure washers are available to subscribers.)

Treat the Decking
Check the decking for popped nails and cracked or checked wood. You can bang nails back in but you’ll need to replace boards that are badly splintered or severely rotted. If the finish is worn away or peeling, these are two good signs that the surface is ready for a new protective topcoat. We test opaque, semitransparent, and clear deck treatments. Opaque treatments hold up the longest but the paintlike film of this finish can crack and peel making refinishing more of a chore. This film also hides the natural wood grain. Clear treatments reveal the grain but typically need to be reapplied annually. Semitransparent treatments are a middle-of-the-road solution. For more information on deck treatments, visit our Decks & Deck Stains page.

Secure the Railings
Start by giving banisters a good strong bump to make sure they’re securely fastened to the structure. Then check that all the dimensions are up to code. Railings must be 36 inches high and rails must be no more than 4 inches apart to keep small children and pets from slipping through.

Photo courtesy of the North American Deck and Railing Association

Own a tankless water heater? Take our survey

Consumer Reports is currently testing tankless water heaters for a report in our October 2008 issue, and we’d like to hear about consumers' experiences with tankless water heaters. If you have installed a tankless water heater at your home, please take our survey.

Thanks in advance, and look for our report in the October issue. Please note that we value your privacy and will keep all of your information confidential. (Read our privacy policy here.)

Q&A: Is cocoa mulch dangerous to dogs?

We're considering using cocoa mulch around our entire property but read online that this stuff could toxic to our dog. Any truth to those stories?

The concern over dogs being poisoned by cocoa mulch dates back a few years. Unlike all those urban myths on the Web, there's some truth to the warnings about this mulch, also called cocoa-shell mulch (shown). For more information, read "Cocoa Mulch Is Toxic to Dogs."

Essential information: Visit our lawn and yard guide for more expert advice for your yard and garden.

Low-flow bathroom faucets on the rise

The Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense label appeared on a number of bathroom faucets on display at last month’s Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Chicago. (Many other WaterSense-labeled products were at the show, including the Caroma Sydney Smart 305 toilet.) Dozens of lower-flow bathroom faucets are now being marketed by companies like Delta, Gerber, Moen, and Price Pfister (whose Ashfield faucet is shown), and they have a maximum flow rate that’s about 30 percent lower than standard models. Interestingly, as part of the WaterSense program, an independent laboratory assesses compliance with existing faucet-construction and -performance standards as well as the additional WaterSense requirements.

WaterSense-qualified faucets provide a maximum flow rate of 1.5 gallons per minute at 60 pounds per square inch. To keep manufacturers from introducing trickling faucets that could conceivably satisfy the WaterSense criteria but not consumers—echoes of the first generation of low-flow toilets—the EPA also mandated a minimum flow of 0.8 gpm at 20 psi.

Even if you’re not in the market for a new bathroom faucet, you can still save water by replacing the current aerators on your faucets with new ones ($3 and up) that limit water flow. If you’ve already installed WaterSense faucets, keep them flowing smoothly by clearing or replacing their aerators when they clogs.

The EPA is planning to add showerheads to the list of WaterSense products. I wonder how the agency expects to lower water consumption in showers at a time when multihead, multimedia-equipped spa-style showers seem omnipresent at the trade shows I attend. Think about it: If someone’s in a shower fitted with eight 2-gpm showerheads and a music player or TV, aren’t they likely to spend more time with the water running?—Ed Perratore

Essential information: Visit our Bed & Bath page for more details, including ideas for bathroom makeovers, reviews of toilets, and buying advice for countertops.