Tip of the Day: How to cut your dry-cleaning costs

My latest bill from the cleaner (right) showed a $1.50 per-item hike for pants and sweaters. It turns out that the cost of wire hangers is largely to blame for the new price. Considering how much laundry my family can generate, I've decided to look for some ways to cut my clothes-cleaning costs.

When I worked as a sportswriter, I used to steam up hotel bathrooms and hang my shirts in there to dewrinkle them.
But I'm not on the road anymore. What's more, notes Chris Allsbrooks, a textile analyst at the Dry Cleaning & Laundry Institute. "Hanging clothes in the bathroom to remove wrinkles doesn't work as well as it once did, since American bathrooms have gotten much larger."

High-tech appliances might be a viable way to cut my costs. But our tests of steam-equipped washers and dryers have shown that these machines are unlikely to replace dry cleaners anytime soon.

However, we did get good results when we checked out the Whirlpool Fabric Freshener, $215, a couple of years ago. This appliance uses a pop-up steam chamber the size of a large garment bag to remove wrinkles and odors from clothes. We filled it with several rumpled dress shirts and other cotton items steeped in cigarette smoke and a cooking concoction of cumin, garlic, and clove. After we added the recommended amount of distilled water and waited about 40 minutes, the shirts emerged relatively wrinkle free, and the load smelled laundry fresh. Whirlpool is offering all shoppers a $40 discount on this device; use the code BZZ40 if you buy off the Fabric Freshener Web site.

A more labor-intensive approach to get my clothes clean for less would be to wash and iron them myself. These tips for effective ironing should make the task easier. Our report on irons reveals a number of capable models starting at $40 that combined performance and ease of use.

Another reason to consider the DIY route is that you can eliminate harsh chemicals; most American dry cleaners use the cleaning solvent perchloroethylene, or perc, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Perc has been linked to liver and kidney damage in animals and nerve damage in humans and is considered a carcinogen. Last year, California began a phaseout of perc in dry cleaning that should conclude by 2023. Read "A Perc You Can Do Without" for more information.

Choosing clothes designed to be wrinkle free could also help me cut down on dry-cleaning expenses. Our tests of permanent-press dress shirts revealed some good performers.

So I'll have to make some simple changes to look spiffy while being thrifty, but they should be worth it. Share your own ways to cut cleaning bills by leaving a comment below or on our laundry and cleaning forum.—Gian Trotta

Essential Information: "Making Laundry Less of a Chore" offers ways to clean your wardrobe.

Mystery solved: The "load-down" on Tide detergent

Some grocery aisles are pretty easy to navigate. In the baking section, for example, you probably buy the same brand of baking powder all the time and choose the granulated sugar that's on sale. But when you head over to the crowded cleaning-supplies aisle to pick up laundry detergent, confusion can set in, especially when you're confronted with myriad formulations for powders and liquids touted to produce Brighter! Softer! Cleaner! loads.

Zack, an eagle-eyed reader of Consumerist.com from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, became a bit bleary-eyed several weeks back when comparing Tide laundry detergents (photo, right). As this post on the site notes:

". . . Each of these three kinds of Tide laundry detergent gives you a different amount of loads - 48, 52 and 64. They all weigh and cost the same, they're all '2X Ultra' formulation. The only difference is they have different scents, Clean Breeze, Mountain Spring, and Original. Can anyone crack this detergent dilemma?"

We're happy to report that we were able to suss out the situation:

Each container of the 2X Ultra Tide detergents shown holds 100 ounces of concentrated detergent. A bottle of Tide Mountain Spring scented cleaner (right) washes 64 loads. When Tide adds a bleach alternative (center), in this case to an "original scent" detergent, the number of loads per bottle drops to 52. Incorporating a fabric softener to the mix results in even fewer loads—a bottle of Tide Clean Breeze with Downy (left) delivers 48 loads.

Procter & Gamble, manufacturer of Tide, had two choices in determining detergent prices: It could have charged more for products with a bleach alternative or a fabric softener, cleaners that a company spokesperson, Lauren Thaman, calls "value-added products." Or the Cincinnati-based P&G could have set one price for the same amount of cleaner but with differing numbers of loads.

Thaman notes that P&G took the second approach, common among manufacturers, because it's more economical for the company and easier for retailers. What's more, things could get complicated when detergents with different prices go on sale.

As for the consumer, Thaman says, the same-size-and-price-but-different-loads method "is more transparent. . . . The shopper is used to shopping for a price, and the number of loads is right on the label."

Still, this pricing structure could be confusing, especially since a unit-pricing label indicating cost per quart like the one Consumerist.com reader Zack saw is not nearly as helpful as cost-per-load information.

Bottom line: When you're choosing among detergents, compare the cost per load (total cost divided by the number of loads). And, of course, use the ratings from our latest report of 34 detergents to find the product that can best handle a variety of tough stains.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Before you shop for new laundry equipment, visit our washing machines and dryers product pages.

Photo courtesy of Consumerist.com

Buzzword: The Tie Goes to the Dolphin

What it means. With the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays under way, you might hear the phrase "the tie goes to the runner" used at some point during the best-of-seven set. Here's hoping there's not a decision as controversial as the blown safe call first-base ump Don Denkinger made during Game 6 of the 1985 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals.

"The tie goes to the dolphin"—more of a buzzphrase than a buzzword—puts an environmental spin on the baseball axiom. It originally referred to canned tuna: When other factors like taste and cost are equal or at least similar, consumers who believe the tie goes to the dolphin will choose a brand with the "Dolphin Safe" logo on the label (shown). But the buzzphrase can be applied to other categories, including all manner of household appliances and gear, when environmental or energy-efficient issues come into play.

Why the buzz? Steven H. Saltzman, the editor of this blog, turned me on to this concept. Saltzman told me that an official from a federal agency had uttered the phrase during a meeting they had to discuss the energy efficiency of and federal standards for appliances. The phrase seems especially apropos at a time when consumers have been greenwashed by marketing campaigns touting the environmental friendliness of products.

Most U.S. consumers don't base their purchasing decisions solely on a product's greenness. They will, however, make green the tiebreaker between two otherwise similar products. In fact, nearly 90 percent of Americans say they would choose an eco-friendly product if it were to cost the same as an equal competitor, according to a report by BBMG, a New York City-based branding and integrated-marketing firm.

That's why we factor in energy efficiency when rating many household products. With refrigerators, for example, we measure not only temperature performance, noise, and usable storage space but also energy efficiency. In a tie-goes-to-the-dolphin scenario, you'd choose the Maytag MFC2061HE[W], $2,250, over the comparable Maytag Ice2O MFI2266AE[W], $2,050, since the former is more energy efficient.

For washing machines, the Whirlpool Cabrio HE WTW6600S[W], $1,000, and Kenmore (Sears) HE2t 4756[1], $900, both provide very good washing performance. But the Kenmore is a front-loader and will use less water than the top-loading Whirlpool. The tie goes to the Kenmore.

In some cases, the energy-efficiency deal maker is not so obvious and becomes apparent only when you calculate the savings you'll generate over their entire lifetime. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs cost more than incandescent bulbs, but because CFLs last significantly longer and use so much less energy, they're the hands-down favorite.

So next time you're choosing among products, opt for the one that will save you money and help the environment.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Use our interactive Home Improvement Guide for room-by-room buying guides.

Check out our appliances forums

With nearly 400 user-initiated topics, refrigerators remain our most active appliance-related forum. A good place to join in is the "Anyone happy with their purchase?" thread, where people are reveling in—or just plain regretting—their recent refrigerator buys. Other notable fridge topics include:
• When you should repair or replace a refrigerator.
• The pros and cons—and costs—of French-door refrigerators (shown).
• Buying advice for narrow refrigerators.

Dishwashers enjoy the second-highest number of member-created topics in our appliances forums. Check out these:
• Bosch, Electrolux, and Kenmore models have received rave reviews in the "I love my dishwasher" forum set up by forums moderator Angelo Mannino.
• Dual-drawer dishwashers are drawing detractors and defenders.
• One member noted a downside to some high-tech models: The circuit boards could prove difficult to replace.

For washing machines, you'll find a number of interesting reads. These include:
• Picks for a dependable front-loader.
• Talk about which store offers the best return policy.
• A thread on curing washers of mold and mildew, a topic that prompted this recent blog post. It's an example of how we can work your specific needs and concerns into our coverage.—Gian Trotta

Essential information: Read about how some appliances have become more energy efficient in recent years, and learn how the federal Energy Star program has lost some of its luster.

U.S. appliances gain in energy efficiency

Not all the news on the energy-use front is depressing. Major home appliances sold in the U.S. in 2007 perform much more efficiently than they did seven years ago, according to a recent study by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

Washing machines, refrigerators, and dishwashers in this country consumed 43 percent less energy overall last year than they did in 2000. Washing machines posted a 63 percent decrease in energy use even as tub capacity grew by 8 percent, refrigerators now use 30 percent less energy, and dishwashers consumer 29 percent less energy.

Taken together, according to AHAM, the energy savings from these three appliances would offset the carbon-dioxide emissions from 1.3 coal-fired power plants or more than 698 million gallons of gasoline. Americans consumed 130.2 billion gallons of gasoline in 2001 and 140.2 billion gallons in 2007.

By comparison, the fuel efficiency of the average U.S. passenger car from 2000 to 2007 remained relatively unchanged at 27.5 miles per gallon—the minimum required to meet federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, standards. "During the last seven years, with more consumers purchasing larger and for the most part less-efficient vehicles, meeting higher CAFE standards has been a challenge," says Charlie Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association that represents 10 major auto companies. New CAFE rules approved last year mandate an increase in fuel economy for cars, pickups, SUVs, and vans to 35 mpg by 2020.

"Dishwashers, refrigerators, and clothes washers have had programs for seven out of the last 10 years that include active efforts by utilities and governments to make it profitable for manufacturers to produce efficient machines and provide a cushion to help overcome any failures," explains David Goldstein, Ph.D. codirector of the energy program for the National Resources Defense Council.

Improved designs often drive efficiency:
• Today's front-loading washing machines, for example, are more water and energy efficient even though these appliances typically have greater load capacities than their predecessors did, according to Emilio Gonzalez a senior program leader in the Consumer Reports Technical division. (Watch our washing machine video buying guide, right.)

• The latest dishwashers filter wash water better and more often so they can avoid multiple large fills and reuse the water they have, cutting down water and energy use. "Soil sensors in dishwashers can save water and energy," Gonzalez says. Updated federal energy-efficiency requirements and Energy Star standards for dishwashers will go into effect in 2010. Our dishwasher Ratings (available to subscribers) reveal the most and least efficient models.

• The average refrigerator today consumes 498 kilowatt-hours—despite even wider use of energy-hungry water dispensers and icemakers. (The capacity of the average refrigerator in this country has not grown in recent years.) That's significantly less than 1,726 kWh used in 1972 and the 704 kWh figure from 1990. The improved efficiency has actually led to slight decreases in annual operation costs, even as the average cost per kilowatt-hour for residential electricity rose from 8.24 cents to 10.80 cents from 2000 to 2007. It cost $58 to run a refrigerator seven years ago but about $53 today.

Tip of the Day: Buy the best washing machine for your home

In our 2007 report on washing machines, some of the top-loading models were only so-so performers. But manufacturers made improvements to their models, as we found in our 2008 washers review.

If you're in the market for a new washing machine, watch our video (right) and read our latest report and buying advice.

Essential information: Follow our washing tips to get your clothes clean, learn about the best laundry detergents, and plan your new laundry room. And don’t forget to check out our new Home Improvement Guide interactive, which provides buying advice and more for appliances, tools, and building materials for every area of your home.

New feature! Home Improvement Guide Interactive

Remodeling a room in your home or simply replacing appliances or buying new gear for your yard and garden?

The Consumer Reports Home Improvement Guide interactive (picture shown) on ConsumerReports.org lets you click on any room in your house and choose the top appliances, paints, flooring, and other remodeling products for your home's interior and exterior, from the kitchen and bathroom to roofing, siding, mowers, and tools.

The Home Improvement Guide includes expert remodeling tips as well links to Ratings of top ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers, decking, mowers and tractors, room air conditioners, windows, washing machines, vacuums, and many more appliances, tools, and remodeling materials you need to upgrade your home.

Take a room-by-room tour of our interactive home today!

Tip of the Day: Check your dryer vents

As the owner of a multiunit brownstone in Brooklyn, I’m used to troubleshooting problems and dealing with malfunctioning appliances. Recently one of my tenants e-mailed me, writing, “The dryer doesn’t seem to be working correctly; we have to run it for hours to dry a single load.”

Visions of dryer fires and carbon-monoxide poisoning sprang to mind, along with possible causes of and solutions for the problem. Did a clogged venting system need cleaning? Was the 12-year-old Maytag washer/dryer combo unit near the end of its service life? I asked the tenants not to use the unit until I could stop by over the weekend.

When I got to the building a couple of days later, I immediately checked the lint screen and the area below it on the dryer. Both checked out clear. (Being able to remove two screws and gain access to the area below the lint screen is a nice feature of some older washer-dryer units.) Pulling the dryer away from the wall revealed that the vinyl vent had sagged with age, and a fist-sized ball of lint had collected at the base of the U-shaped depression.

Installing new metal ductwork cured the problem, and I was spared the high expense of replacing the unit. While my building was completely up to code, I put the money I otherwise would have spent on a new washer-dryer on the following safety upgrades:

• I deployed new smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms throughout the building to provide the highest level of safety. (The existing alarms were due for replacement.)

• I replaced the original hoses on the washer with Floodchek hoses, which are supposed to be burst-proof and were recommended to me by other landlords and property managers in my area. (Consumer Reports has not tested these hoses.) I also ordered the Flo n Stop flood-prevention system, a product we covered at the 2008 International Builders’ Show.

• I added fire extinguishers in every hallway and in every apartment.

It turns out that my dryer has a built-in sensor that prevents the unit from working if it senses a blockage in the vent. To avoid late-night phone calls or endless e-mails, I now check the dryer vent every time I visit the building.—Gian Trotta

Struggling Sears mulls selling its brands at other retailers

Two thousand and eight is a leap year. For Sears, which on February 28, 2008, announced a 47 percent decline in 2007 fourth-quarter net earnings on a 6.8 percent sales drop, a different kind of leaping could be on the horizon.

The Hoffman Estates, Illinois-based Sears announced that it’s considering selling some of its biggest brands—Craftsman, DieHard, Kenmore, and Lands’ End—through retailers beyond its nearly 3,800 U.S. and Canadian stores. (Read the entire press release from Sears.)

“One of our most important resources is the great brands we own, in particular DieHard, Craftsman, Kenmore, and Lands’ End,” said Sears Chairman Edward S. Lampert in a letter to shareholders. “All four of these brands have significant equity with customers and provide tremendous opportunity for value creation.” Lampert went on to explain that DieHard “leads in customer recognition among car battery brands by a wide margin, but it lags dramatically in market share . . . due to fewer points of distribution.” The move to sell Sears brands through other retailers “is an opportunity for us to rethink our brand distribution strategy to create value,” said Lampert.

The announcement is yet another sign of the reeling U.S. economy and points to tougher times for Sears, whose shares were down almost 5 percent in trading on February 29. The good news: The presence of Sears brands at other retailers could be a boon for appliance and outdoor-power-equipment shoppers who don’t live near a Sears store, since Kenmore and Craftsman products consistently get high scores in our Ratings of major appliances and outdoor gear.

Should Sears cross that threshold, it will be some time before its Craftsman, DieHard, Kenmore, and Lands’ End products appear in other places.

For now, you might have to drive the extra distance to a Sears or even to a Kmart store, where some Sears products are sold. If you’re lucky, any deal you get won’t be guzzled up by the rising price of gasoline.

Below we’ve highlighted a few notable performers sold by Sears. You’ll find the latest reports and Ratings for all appliances and outdoor power equipment on our main Appliances and Tools & Power Equipment pages. Note that Kenmore appliances and Craftsman mowers and lawn tractors have tended to be reliable, based on responses to the Annual Product Reliability Survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

Laundry appliances:
The Kenmore Elite HE5t Steam 4778[1], $1,600 (shown), and Elite HE5t 4708[1], $1,300, front-loading washers were among the top-rated machines in our latest report. The Kenmore Elite Oasis 6706[2], $800, and Elite Oasis 6703[2], $700, dryers notched excellent scores in our latest tests. Ratings of washing machines and dryers are available to subscribers.

Kitchen appliances:
Four Kenmore dishwashers were among the top six scorers in our latest tests of dishwashers: Kenmore1374[2], $650; Elite 1378[2], $1,000; Elite UltraWash HE 1315[2], $1,100; and Elite UltraWash HE 1312[2], $900.

Two Kenmore 30-inch electric smoothtop ranges—9641[2], $750, and 9611[2], $580—are among the best performers in our latest report.

The Kenmore Elite 5896[2] side-by-side refrigerator scored highly in our Ratings.

Ratings of dishwashers, electric ranges, and side-by-side refrigerators are available to subscribers.

Outdoor power equipment:
Sears also rides high in lawn tractors. The 46-inch Craftsman 28724, $1,600, and the 54-inch Craftsman 27690, $2,000, are among our top-rated tractors and also among the lowest-priced tractors we've tested. Learn how to choose a lawn tractor and see our Ratings of tractors for more information.—Daniel DiClerico

Inside CR Test Labs: Measuring washing machine performance

It’s one thing to wish away stains that are both metaphorical and real, as in Lady Macbeth’s tormented line, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!” (Macbeth, Act V, Scene I). But in the Consumer Reports test labs, we do our darnedest with literal spots and stains in our assessments of how washing machines remove grime from a variety of common sources.

For our washing-performance test, we use industry-standard strips of sewn-together six-patch swatches (shown). Before washing (top swatch), each patch gets soaked in either cocoa, wine, sebum—that’s human sweat—or oily charcoal dust. For the Lady Macbeths out there, there’s even a blood patch, along with an untreated control patch. Several strips go into each of various normal and heavy-duty cycles in both an 8-pound and a maximum-size load.

After washing, our technicians analyze the swatches and compare the results using a special instrument, called a colorimeter. (They use the same device to analyze the swatches before washing, too.) The middle swatch shown was washed in the front-loading Kenmore Elite HE5t Steam 4778, without steam; this model scored excellent for washing. The bottom one is a reference swatch indicating how a model that rated a poor in wash performance would do. Compare that swatch to the unwashed sample at the top, and it’s nearly, well, a wash.—Ed Perratore

Essential information: Read our February 2008 report on washers and dryers, then refer to our Ratings of front- and top-loading washers and dryers to find the model that’s right for your family. And if you’re having trouble with spots, see our washing tips and laundry detergents coverage. Finally, watch how we tests washers in our labs.

International Builders' Show Product Preview: GE Profile WPDH8800J Washer With SmartDispense

All washing machines are set-it-and-forget-it when it comes to the water—but it’s still up to you to measure and add the detergent. We’ve seen liquid-detergent-and-fabric-softener dispensers for washers before, but GE’s new Profile WPDH8800J front-loader (left in the photo) is the first washer designed to dole out the right amount of detergent and softener based on the load size, soil level, fabric, cycle, or even water hardness. Called SmartDispense, the new feature is built into the pedestal below the Energy Star–qualified washer and has a claimed capacity of up to 350 ounces of detergent and 85 ounces of fabric softener—roughly six months’ worth for a typical household.

Costing $1,800 with the pedestal, the washer and its matching model DPVH880 dryer, $1,329, aren’t cheap. If you’re willing to dispense with the SmartDispense feature, you’ll find high-scoring front-loaders from our washer tests for as little as $650 and top-loaders starting at $400.

The washer and dryer will be in stores in July.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Read our latest report on washers and dryers.

Buzzword: Algorithm

What does it mean? An algorithm is a step-by-step process for solving a given task. The term derives from Persian mathematician Mohammad ibn-Musa al-Khwarizmi (780-850), who’s considered the father of algebra. In a modern context, algorithms are often associated with computer programmers, who use them to tell the machines not just what to do but also how to do it. Google, for example, uses algorithmic techniques to establish PageRanks, which in term determine which sites pop up when you search a term or phrase.

Why the buzz? At Consumer Reports, we’re increasingly encountering the term algorithm in reference to smart appliances: dryers that know when loads are dry, refrigerators that can self-regulate their temperature, and dishwashers that sense when dishes are done. (You can bet the dishwasher shown, from a 1952 Consumer Reports article, did not feature such gadgetry.)

This leap forward in appliance design started years ago when electronic controls replaced mechanical ones. On a range, mechanical controls limited you to turning on the appliance and setting its temperature. You had to make any subsequent adjustments on your own—say, turning down the temperature during the cooking process. More-sophisticated electronic controls have allowed manufacturers to develop software settings based on an understanding of how food reacts at different temperatures.

The pizza setting on two new GE Profile electric smoothtop ranges, for instance, use algorithms to distinguish between fresh and frozen pizzas so the cheese melts evenly without burning the crust. Those same ovens have a slow-cook mode that uses algorithms. “With slow cooking, you can’t just put the oven at 180°F and leave it there,” explains Brian Steurer, systems manager at GE for free-standing electric ranges. “If it’s a beef dish, you first have to raise the temperature to break down the collagen. Then you gradually lower the temperature to tenderize the meat without boiling away the moisture.”

“Algorithms are a good thing if they do what you want them to,” says Robert Karpel, a project leader in our Tech department who handles appliances. But that’s not always the case. The soil sensors on some dishwashers misread dirt levels and increase wash time and water use even if the loads are only lightly soiled. In other tests, algorithmic settings prove no more sophisticated than standard settings: The pizza mode on those GE ovens, for instance, was only as effective as the conventional oven control.

We’re not suggesting you avoid algorithmic bells and whistles, but don’t base a purchase on them—you might end up spending more for no noticeable performance enhancement. Instead, read our reports and Ratings of washers and dryers, ranges, and dishwashers. If a feature ends up saving you time or does a better job at a given task, so much the better.—Daniel DiClerico

Kenmore HE5t Steam Washer: First Look

The addition of steam makes this HE5t one hot performer.

Price we paid: $1,600

Date of Consumer Reports full report: February 2008

What it is. This front-loading washer, model 4778, is an updated version of the HE5t model we’ve previously tested, but it adds Steam Treat, which is supposed to enhance cleaning performance.

When you push the button to select the Steam Treat option, available for five of the machine’s wash cycles, the water temperature is automatically set to warm. As the wash cycle progresses, the water is slowly heated and steam is introduced into the tub. Sears claims the steam washer will provide "optimal removal of organic stains" (food and blood) and "temperature-sensitive stains" (oil), and is designed for "heavily soiled loads that need improved stain treatment, loads with multiple types of stains, or loads you suspect as having stains, but are afraid may have been missed."

This Energy Star–qualified appliance is available at Sears stores nationwide. It comes in white or red (shown; Sears calls it Barolo) and has a stainless-steel wash basket, a sanitize temperature, and a clean-washer cycle to keep the interior clean (we haven’t tested those features).

What we liked. In initial testing, the HE5t has delivered excellent wash performance with and without the steam option. However, when using the steam option, performance has been somewhat better. Among its appealing features are an extra-large capacity (a claimed 4.0 cubic feet), quiet operation, and high marks for water and energy efficiency.

What we didn’t like. The long cycle times. A load using the heavy-duty cycle runs 1 hour, 40 minutes—not uncommonly long for a front-loader--and more than 2 hours with the steam option. The HE5t also has proved to be not as gentle on clothing in small and large loads as most of the other front-loading machines we’re testing.

Our initial take. Our preliminary testing shows this washer to be a top-notch appliance, though it is expensive. Indeed, you can get similar washing performance from the nonsteam HE5t for several hundred dollars less.

Use our free buying advice if you’re in the market for a new washing machine and learn how to set up a laundry room near your living space. And look for our latest report on washers and dryers in the February 2008 issue of Consumer Reports.                         

Buy the best appliances and kitchen gear

Shopping for appliances and kitchen gear shouldn’t be a race against the clock. You’re going to live with these products for years, so it’s important to choose models that blend performance, value, and brand reliability.

But if you can’t dedicate loads of time to researching your purchases, scout our all-star lineup of appliances and kitchen gear below. They’re the top performers from a year's worth of testing at Consumer Reports. Note that models within groups are listed in performance order, and prices for dishwashers, dryers, ranges, refrigerators, and washers are for models with a white finish.

Watch Bob Markovich, editor of the Consumer Reports Home & Yard franchise, present five top-performing appliances on NBC's Today Show, from November 19, 2007.)

(Click on each appliance name below to see models, then learn more about this gear using the links in the "essential information" section.)

• Cooktops & wall ovens
Essential information: Read our buying advice.

• Dishwashers
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and find out which dishwasher detergents work best.

• Gas grills
Essential information: Read our latest report, prepare our easy, delicious grilling recipes, and watch a video buying guide.

• Microwave ovens
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and take our microwave safety quiz.

• Ranges
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice.

• Refrigerators
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and find out how much storage space refrigerators really offer.

• Vacuum cleaners
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and watch a video buying guide.

• Washers & dryers
Essential information: Read our latest report on laundry appliances and buying advice for washers and dryers. Use our washing tips to keep you clothes looking their best, and learn how to avoid dryer fires.

• Wet/dry vacuums
Essential information: Read our latest report.