Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs: Reviews of vacuums from Oreck, Garry, Bissell, and Eureka

As part of the testing for our continuously updated ratings of upright and canister vacuums (available to subscribers), our testers come across all kinds of claims from manufacturers.

The Oreck Halo, $600, whose claims we covered in this June post, uses the same UV technology the company bought from Halo Technologies, maker of the Halo UVX upright we tested last year. "Halo Technologies," we reported then, "says its uprights, including the $400 UVX, kill dust mites, flea eggs, and germs using UV light. We didn't test those claims because the UVX was only so-so at the more primary tasks of cleaning carpets and picking up pet hair." So was the Oreck Halo, which excelled only at cleaning bare floors and keeping emissions low. What's more, the Oreck Halo weighs 19 pounds, more than Oreck uprights we've tested in the past.

Among other recently tested models are the Bissell Lift-Off Multi-Cyclonic Pet 89Q9 (shown), $180, and the Eureka Whirlwind+ Pet Lover 3276, $120, both designed with pet owners in mind. The Bissell, like earlier Lift-Off models, has a modular motor/bin assembly that detaches for use as a canister vacuum or a heavy handheld. As a standard upright, however, it fell short of the Eureka in carpet cleaning, vacuuming with tools, and some other tests—including pet-hair pickup, for which the Eureka was excellent.

The Garry Ultra Light vacuum, $200 without shipping, sold through infomercials and at www.garryvac.com, was also among the latest batch of tested models. The manufacturer touts that this vacuum can cut cleaning time because it picks up everything on the first pass and that it can clean the air and kill germs. What's more, the maker's current pitch promises free bags for life, a free (before $30 shipping) steam mop, and a no-hassle guarantee of a free replacement vacuum if you ever have a problem, no matter what.

Get more details on this model by reading "Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs: The Garry Upright Vacuum Is a Lightweight . . . In More Ways Than One."—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're in the market for a new vacuum cleaner, check out our free buyer's guide, which also includes ratings of hand and stick vacuums.

Pet doors can pose a safety risk for children

Accidents involving children escaping through pet doors are more common than one might think, says Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies, who has been researching the pet-door issue nationally. In the past decade, more than 100 children have drowned, nearly drowned, or been injured after leaving the home through a pet door, he says.

Read the rest of the story and get all the details on the dangers of pet doors in "Doggie Doors and Crawling Kids Can Be a Deadly Combination," on the Consumer Reports Safety blog.

In England, some wallabies work for food

We've published a couple of items recently about the use of goats to handle landscaping duties at the Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve in Hempstead, Long Island, and at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California.

These goats have some yard-care cousins in England, in the form of wallabies, which are basically small kangaroos. In "Home-Grown Wallabies Hop in to Help Gardeners Keep Their Lawns Trim," The Times of London reports today that people with enough space and a lot of grass to maintain—and at least a 5-foot-high boundary to keep the leaping landscapers from bounding away—have turned to this native of the Australian Outback.

Demand has reached the point that one longtime wallaby breeder can't keep up with demand. "To be honest, if I had 100 I could easily get rid of them," Trevor Lay told The Times; he sells about 35 a year now. The wallabies cost around $230 for a male and four to five times that for a female. (Rare albino wallabies are considerably pricier.) Since wallabies are social animals, they're sold in pairs. That way they'll always have a partner when cutting the grass.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: If you have a small property and are looking to eliminate mower emissions at your home but don't want to tend to a menagerie, consider using an electric lawn mower. Read about mower-exchange programs in which you swap an old gas mower for an electric model. For the latest news on lawn mowers and tractors, read our May 2009 story (report and ratings available to subscribers) and check out our mowers/tractors buyer's guide.

By the Numbers: The bathing habits of American pets

47%

Percentage of American pet owners who bathe their animals in a home bathtub or shower, according to a poll conducted for bathroom-fixture maker Moen. Kitchen, bathroom, and utility sinks were also popular pet-grooming sites, picked by 15 percent of people.

Dogs were the most likely pets to get bathed at home (86 percent), followed by cats (34 percent), birds and guinea pigs (5 percent), and lizards and snakes (4 percent).

Pet fur or hair can cause clogs and damage your plumbing system, so be sure to use a strainer to catch it. Chemical drain cleaners are an option, but they are among the most dangerous products in your house. What's more, our past tests found that even drain cleaners labeled as professional strength don't clear clogs as well as mechanical methods, such as a plunger.

Look for our new report on showerheads, including ones with handheld sprayers that make cleaning your pet and yourself easier, in the August 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, online and on newsstands in July. Until then, read this earlier buyer's guide to showerheads.

April Fools' . . . Not: Weed-whacking goats are for real

With yard-care season here, you might be considering the best equipment to maintain your lawn. For a small yard, an electric push mower is a good choice. If your property is a half-acre more, you might need a lawn tractor. And for the weeds and edging, you'll want a string trimmer.

If you'd like to go with a more eco-friendly choice, you could do what the Town of Hempstead, in Nassau County, New York, is doing at the Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve, a 50-acre site that used to serve as the local landfill for this Long Island town. The town bought five Nigerian Dwarf goats—four doelings and one buckling—to help rid the preserve of mugwort, bulrushes, and other unwanted growth. Now about four to six weeks old, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Happy, and Doc will grow to about 50 pounds and, as reported in Newsday, should save money that would otherwise go to labor, gas, and equipment.

Costing $240 apiece, each goat cost Hempstead much less than a robotic lawn mower and, if healthy, needs only about $10 a year in vitamins and other care, according to the Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association, so long as you're administering it yourself. Grain and hay can cost $75 a year, but for an all-grazing animal, the cost is zero. Being lightweight, they're gentler on your property than your average zero-turn-radius mower and even friendly to children.

Like any lawn gear, your goat will need shelter—enough to fit two, since a Nigerian Dwarf gets sad without company. The shelter needs a fence they can't jump over on their way to munch on your neighbors' nasturtiums, plus an overhang. (They don't like rain.) And while they'll rid your lawn of weeds, they aren't as fond of grass, topping it off to untrustworthy cutting heights only if weeds are unavailable. Kind of like the reel mowers we tested last year.

No word yet on whether the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has targeted reductions in mower emissions, will address methane emissions from the average grazing goat. But considering that methane is over 20 times more effective in trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide—targeted by the Obama administration—there might be some cap-and-trade debate here, too.—Ed Perratore

Essential information: Read about mower-exchange programs in which you swap an old gas mower for an electric model.

Portuguese Water Dog, Labradoodle vie for key White House post

When First Lady Michelle Obama hinted that that the First Family was likely to choose a Portuguese Water Dog over a Labradoodle, it set off heated debates about each of these breeds.

Both are related to the poodle and are known to be good with children. Their coats are less likely to aggravate allergies, key since Malia Obama is allergic to dogs. Neither sheds, though the White House cleaning crew might want to read our latest report on vacuums (available to subscribers) to find a model that can handle some of the messes the First Puppy makes.

The American Kennel Club breed profile page for the Portuguese notes the breed's long history of useful service to fishermen. Labradoodles, originating from Australia as a Labrador Retriever-Poodle hybrid, are not recognized by the American Kennel Club but they do have plenty of fans. (The dog shown is Sadie, a colleague's multigenerational Australian Labradoodle, at about 4 months.)

While the First Pooch will no doubt get first-rate care in the White House, the information below might come in handy for the Obamas or for you, no matter the type of dog you have or are considering:

Evacuating pets in an emergency.
Buying pet food, including cost and labeling.
Avoiding salmonella in pet food.
Ensuring pet safety when traveling.
Choosing a vet and paying for pet care.

Essential information: Can Rex Plus, a high-tech virtual watchdog, boost home security if you don't own a dog?

Emergency-preparedness plans for your pets

I've got fond memories of childhood and adult trips to Big Sur. This amazing area along the California coast is one of my favorite places in the world, so I've been paying particular attention to the wildfires raging there in recent days.

The section below about pet evacutation in this New York Times news story on the Big Sur wildfires reminded me of an article we ran about emergency preparedness:

"Yellow smoke and ash mixed in the air as a procession of possession-laden cars, trucks and vans streamed north out of town. Horses, goats, cats and dogs were also being trucked out by animal welfare workers, as helicopters ferried back and forth to the ocean, drawing out water to dump on smoldering hillsides east of town."

If you own pets, read "Don't Leave Home Without Them," which includes information about preparing for and dealing with emergencies—a few basic steps can help you safely evacuate yourself and your pets. When an emergency does occur, take these bare necessities for your pet with you:

Harnesses, carriers, crates, and cages. Harnesses are better than collars for safety and security. Each pet should have its own crate, cage, or carrier. Be sure to include comfortable bedding, such as old blankets, and any toys to help your pet feel more secure.

ID, contact information, and medical records. All pets should have ID tags with emergency-contact information in case you become separated. Write the same information in indelible marker on the pet carrier. Include feeding and medical information, as well as a description of any pertinent behavioral issues. Keep a copy of records and identification photos of your pet with you at all times.

Food, water, and medicine. Pack three to seven days' worth of nonperishable food and water for your pet, as well as a week's supply of any necessary medicine. Take separate bowls for food and water.

Sanitation. Pack paper towels, liquid dish soap, a small bottle of household bleach, and a package of garbage bags. This will keep an already difficult situation from getting any messier.—Steven H. Saltzman

Essential information: See our Storm & Emergency Guide for detailed information on dealing with disasters. Also read "Vacation Travel for Dogs," and if you're flying with your pet(s) this summer, watch the video (right).

Furniture-warranty company Stainsafe has plenty of blemishes on its record

Extended warranties can be big moneymakers for retailers. While such warranties are more closely associated with electronics and appliances, they are also a mainstay of the furniture industry. Extended warranties--essentially service contracts that are supposed to cover fabrics and manufacturing defects--are often seen as a sucker's bet because their cost can approach or even outstrip the actual cost of repairs.

One of the major names in furniture extended warranties is Stainsafe, based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Its warranties and fabric-, leather-, and wood-protection products are sold at hundreds of furniture stores nationwide. "We deal with millions of customers," says Anita Mitchell, a Stainsafe spokeswoman. But the company's reputation doesn't match the promises in its warranties. Just ask Carrie Colarusso.

When Colarusso, a 31-year-old x-ray technician from Rocky Hill, Connecticut, bought a sofa and ottoman from a Seaman's Furniture store in February 2004, selling her a $110 five-year extended warranty was easy. She had just gotten two cats, and the salesman "said the warranty was good for all pet stains or tears," recalls Colarusso. "It was perfect for me."

So when one of her cats, suffering from a bladder infection, soiled the sofa last summer, Colarusso figured the warranty would cover the damage. But from the time she first tried to file a claim, she realized getting service would be a problem. What she did not know then was that Stainsafe has a long history of customer dissatisfaction. Colarusso couldn't find out about the status of her claim for weeks and then--after asking the Better Business Bureau in her area to intervene--she finally got her answer.

Claim denied. To date, Colarusso has not resolved the issue.

While it is not clear how many Stainsafe customers have no issue with their warranties or never try to use them at all, the company has frustrated many customers. The difficulties that consumers have experienced with Stainsafe became so acute that the Economic Crimes unit of the Florida Attorney General's Office began an investigation into the company's practices earlier this year. Among the problems the agency said it found was Stainsafe's failure to issue checks in a timely fashion to consumers offered cash settlements and use of language in its warranties that gave the company overly broad discretion to reject claims.

Stainsafe reached an agreement with the Florida attorney general in December. The company admitted no wrongdoing in a document called an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance but agreed to pay the state $300,000. What's more, 574 customers who had been offered settlements but had not been paid for up to 11 months after the offer were issued checks totaling $175,309. The agreement also states that Stainsafe must change its warranty language, shorten the waiting time for settlements to less than 45 days, and give the attorney general full access to its records of dealings with consumers for seven years after the record is made. You can see a copy of the agreement here.

The Better Business Bureau, which rates Stainsafe's conduct as "unsatisfactory" for its failure to respond to or resolve consumers' issues, processed 1,913 complaints against the company in the last three years and 1,004 complaints in the last year, significantly more than its closest competitors. Guardsman generated 330 BBB complaints in the last three years and 126 in the last year; Guardian, 161 and 76; and Ultrashield, 38 and 18. "Obviously, complaints that are not responded to at all are not acceptable," says Al Polizzi, vice president of communications for the BBB of Southeast Florida and the Caribbean. "We don't believe that companies can maintain good businesses by ignoring complaints and ignoring consumers."

The vast majority of customers who file warranty claims with Stainsafe don't lodge complaints, according to Mitchell, who says that the company takes complaints seriously and resolves those it deems legitimate. "There are some people you are never going to satisfy," she says. "They don't read the warranty right. They read what they want to read." The company also is trying to do a better a job of showing the BBB when consumer complaints have been satisfied, Mitchell says.

Consumer Reports recommends against buying an extended warranty for most products (see "Skip the extended warranty," below). But the issue with Stainsafe is not whether it pays to buy a warranty but rather what happens when consumers have a problem product. One provision in the warranty, for example, states that if the damage is not reported within five days, the warranty is void.

Laurie Sheaffer, 35, of Woodbridge, New Jersey, learned the hard way why it's important to read the fine print. Like Colarusso, she didn't need much convincing to buy a warranty when she was shopping for furniture at a Levitz store in January 2004. When the salesman asked her if she had kids, Sheaffer, who had one child and was pregnant, envisioned the damage her kids might someday inflict on the furniture. She paid $380 for five-year warranties for two couches and a loveseat. "He was telling me, anything wrong with the couches, all I have to do is call and get it fixed," Sheaffer says. "It sounded so easy."

With three kids now and a fourth on the way, Sheaffer noticed a hole in her leather sofa in October. She immediately contacted Stainsafe to report the damage, and the customer-service representative asked when it happened. Sheaffer replied that she contacted the company as soon as she saw the hole. But according to Sheaffer, that answer didn't suffice. Customer service insisted on knowing when the leather got punctured, not when Sheaffer saw it.

"I have a five-year warranty," Sheaffer says. "Why should it matter when it happened? Why did I get a warranty? I noticed the hole, and I can't get it fixed."

SKIP THE EXTENDED WARRANTY Consumer Reports believes that extended warranties generally are not worth the expense. Most products don't fail enough to make a warranty a good investment. The warranty for a flat-panel TV, for example, costs about $200 to $400, yet only 3 percent of TVs needed repair during a two-year period, according to our surveys. The average cost of those repairs? About $200. If you are considering buying a warranty, do the following before you pay anything: Negotiate the cost of the warranty. And never buy a warranty that costs more than 20 percent of the purchase price of the item. Determine whether your credit card offers warranty coverage. Why pay twice? Understand the terms. Considering how large some furniture is, ask whether the extended warranty includes in-home repair or pickup. Also find out if there's a lemon clause: After a few repairs, will the product be replaced?

Swiffer cleaners are safe to use around pets, no matter the persistent urban myth

The Swiffer WetJet cloths and Swiffer WetJet Multipurpose Cleaner promise to mop up spills without you're having to use a bucket, but a widespread e-mail-based rumor claims the products might actually cause Fido or Fluffy to kick said container. The missives suggest that the products' cleaning solutions contain liver-failure-inducing antifreeze, which pets are likely to lap off the floor or lick off their paws.

Not true, says Procter & Gamble, manufacturer of the products: "Swiffer Wet cloths and WetJet liquid solution do not contain antifreeze or any ingredient similar to it." According to the products' material safety data sheet (look under Household Cleaners), the cleaning solutions are mostly composed of water mixed with a small percentage of propylene glycol n-propyl ether or propylene glycol n-butyl ether and ethanol. Although propylene glycol is sometimes used in antifreeze, it is generally recognized as safe, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The misleading e-mails probably confuse propylene glycol with another chemical, ethylene glycol, a sweet, colorless, and toxic alcohol that is an ingredient in many automotive antifreezes.

A review of the Swiffer solution by veterinary toxicologists at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals supports P&G, saying that the products' ingredients, when used as directed, are safe to use around pets.

The Swiffer pads still pose a choking hazard and can block a pet's gastrointestinal tract if ingested. If your pet has consumed large amounts of cleaning fluid or a new or used pad, contact the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. The hotline is open 24/7 every day and charges $55 per consultation.

If you're still concerned about using Swiffers, ditch the disposable mops and opt instead for a vacuum.

Protect your pets during emergencies

Starving and bedraggled dogs, cats, and other animals are still very much a part of the disturbing images of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. In August 2005, as the Category 5 hurricane bore down on the Gulf Coast, few shelters and evacuation plans for people accommodated pets. Many evacuees were forced to either leave their companion animals behind or risk their own lives by remaining in the path of the storm.

Animal agencies and volunteers rescued more than 10,000 animals on the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. Even more were believed to be lost. Now in the 2006 hurricane season, federal, state, and local governments are taking steps to ensure that evacuees never have to face leaving pets behind. While no devastating storms have reached U.S. landfall this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in an early-August '06 update, still predicted above-average activity this season, with seven to nine hurricanes forming in the Atlantic basin.

One of the major problems last year was not only lack of preparation but also lack of information, according to Michael Markarian, executive vice president of the Humane Society of the United States. "If people did evacuate with their pets, they didn't know which shelters allowed pets," Markarian says. "Many people refused to evacuate because they could not take pets with them, and many people even died because they were not allowed to take their best friend."

On Aug. 4, 2006, the Senate unanimously passed its version of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act. Similar to a bill passed by the House of Representatives in May 2006, the Senate's version includes additional provisions to ensure that animal evacuation plans are made before disaster strikes. Further, it gives the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the authority to help develop disaster plans for pets, and it allows federal funds for states to set up emergency shelters for people and their pets. The House can either pass the Senate version or bring it to conference, where a committee made up of members of both chambers can reconcile the differences.

In the meantime, several state and local governments are forging ahead with their own pet-evacuation policies. Some examples:

• California: The state senate is currently holding hearings on a bill that would require all state and local agencies to implement emergency-response plans that consider animals.
• Galveston, Texas: Pets are allowed to accompany evacuees on buses.
• Miami-Dade County, Florida: Two shelters that allow evacuees with pets are available. Owners must register pets in advance.
• New York City: The transit authority allows dogs and cats on subways and buses during an evacuation. Animals would have to be leashed and muzzled, and owners would have to provide proof of licensing and shots.
• Suffolk County, New York: The county has established one pet-friendly shelter.

Markarian believes that keeping pets safe in a time of crisis is important to the human-relief effort. "Two-thirds of families in the United States have pets," Markarian says. "If you lose your job, home, place of worship, and you have hardly anything left, having your pet with you or knowing your pet is safe is important emotional support."

Indeed, a May 2006 survey of pet owners by the American Kennel Club found that in the event of a disaster, 97 percent would take pets with them during an evacuation; 62 percent would refuse to evacuate if pets could not come with them; and 61 percent have a pet-evacuation plan.