Home content in the July 2009 issue of Consumer Reports

With summer on the way, the July 2009 issue of Consumer Reports has all the information you need on keeping cool and saving energy and money, as well as articles on washers and dryers, laundry detergents, and deck stains. (Note that some reports and ratings are available only to subscribers.) Some highlights from the issue: 

Air conditioning
The video (right) shows how we test window-mounted and portable air conditioners and split-ductless systems. You'll also find brand repair history for central air conditioning. Don't forget about ceiling fans, which can help you beat summer heat and enhance the performance of your air conditioning.

Washers and dryers
An excellent washer or dryer used to cost $900; now you can take home a top-rated washer and dryer for about that same amount. Read our report on the latest laundry equipment and find out how to choose the right model for your home. We also tested Affresh to see how well it reduced the smell and mold that plague many front-loading washers.

Laundry detergents
Our latest report identified good high-efficiency (HE) and green detergents that cost as little as 17 cents per load of laundry. One CR Best Buy is specially formulated for cold water. It could save you up to $80 a year in detergent over the pricier brands and up to $60 a year in energy costs.

Deck stains
If our recent post on using a pressure washer helped you clean your siding or deck, you can finish the job by choosing the right deck stain. Our June 2009 report on exterior stains included some finishes that worked well on multiple outdoor surfaces. For this month's report, we've added ratings of nine more popular stains specifically formulated for decks.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Comments

[Nancy]

With the trend toward front-load washers (the ones my 87-yr old mother calls the "old-fashioned style washers"), I've been shocked to hear from friends how disappointed they have been at the extremely long wash times. When you plan your day around 20-30 minute wash cycles, and now it takes more than 1.5 hours to do the same load, that is a HUGE efficiency problem!!! My question is, how *efficient* and *green* can a more expensive front-loader be IF it's taking more than 3x as long to run which is also damaging to the clothes? I don't get it...and certainly not worth the loss in efficiency or increased cost to me!

[Bob]

"Top Rated" is NOT equivalent to "RELIABLE AND LONG LASTING" .If you have to replace the high-efficiency government-mandated $1000 washer two or three times as often as your old $350 top-load machine, you aren't saving anything. Rather, you are simply contributing to landfill and pollution problems with additional appliances, in addition to wasting your own money. Wake up people, and smell the PROPAGANDA!

[robertlee]

In today's economic climate, there should be more low-range-cost products featured...I cannot afford to pay $1,000 for a washing machine...I want reliability, not a lot of bells and whistles, and a reputable seller who stands behind its product. Simple and inexpensive...We all know a $1,000 washer will do a better job in many areas than a $400 washer, but more of your subscribers are looking at the lower cost machines. And more, please...the review of washers is pretty limited...let's have more choices