Consumer Reports analysts track prices all year-round, so we can tell you when things are at their deepest discounted prices, month by month. If you crave a new MP3 player, new carpeting, or a new lawn mower, you can find great deals on them in May.

May flowers? This is the month many of us can finally get out and enjoy them, and start exercising outdoors; luckily you'll also find great prices on athletic apparel and shoes. Nature-lovers will also see sales on outdoor gear such as camping equipment. Small consumer electronics and cordless phones will be discounted, and you can find lower prices on mattresses.  

If you're in the market for any of those discounted items, we've got shopping tips and buying guides that can help you find the right models. Want to know what's on sale the rest of the year? Check our calendar of deals.

—Mandy Walker

Our panelists have logged thousands of miles evaluating running, walking, and cross-training shoes. We've tested them on pavement, in gyms, and in our labs, too. We've checked whether the front of the shoe flexed enough to let you push off easily with the ball of your foot. And we've measured stability (control of ankle motion), shock absorption at the forefoot and heel (where the impact is greatest), and breathability (the ability to dissipate moisture). Weight also matters. The lighter the shoe, the better—as long as cushioning and stability don't suffer. For more tips, see our athletic shoe buying guide.

To get the deepest discounts on athletic (and other) apparel, make sure you time it right, say the editors at Shop Smart magazine. Kohl's fans, for example, should check out the "Gold Star Clearance" racks, where prices are slashed up to 80 percent on weekend nights. Every Wednesday, shoppers who are 60 years old and older get an extra 15 percent off.

At Target, women's clothing is generally marked down on Tuesdays, men's on Wednesday, and kids' on Mondays. Markdowns at Marshalls and T.J. Maxx usually happen on Wednesday.

About 40 million Americans go camping each year. That's more than the number who play golf. When we tested tents in the past, we found you'd be wise to doubt most tents' claimed accommodations. If a package says the tent fits eight people, that may be true only if they're stacked like cordwood or stash their gear in the car.

But large tents can weigh more than 30 pounds and often require two people to set up. Small tents generally weigh 6 to 11 pounds, but they can feel confining. To find the best tent for you and your family, visit several stores, including big box stores such as Sears and Walmart, and sporting-goods chains. You can also buy online, but set it up in a store first and walk (or crawl) inside. While you're at the store, see if the staff will beat any deals you found online.

Even the most luxurious carpet doesn't have to cost a fortune. Shop around to find carpet that fits your lifestyle and budget. Always request separate pricing for materials and installation so you can make an "apples-to-apples" comparison among different suppliers.

The wrong carpet may wear out quickly, fade, or show stains that resist your best cleaning efforts. Our carpet cleaner buying guide lists the pros and cons of DIY carpet cleaning versus hiring an expert. Our Ratings of carpet cleaning machines show which ones did best in our tests. We also have stain-fighting tips in our carpet stain remover buying guide, and Ratings of the most effective stain-removing products. And we've found that upright vacuums, especially with a bag, clean carpets best.

Our tests show that many new cordless phones have very good overall voice quality. Some are excellent, approaching the voice quality of the best corded phones.  

In the store, hold the handset to see whether it fits the contours of your face. The earpiece should have rounded edges and a recessed center that fits nicely over the middle of your ear. Check the buttons and controls to make sure they're reasonably sized and legible.

Most cordless phones won't work without electricity unless they have some kind of power backup system. Look for a compartment in the charging base for a spare handset battery pack or for alkaline batteries for base-power backup. For more shopping tips, see our cordless phone buying guide.

A gas or electric push mower is fine for a small lawn. But you'll probably prefer a self-propelled gas model for slopes and a lawn tractor for a lawn one-half acre or larger.

Our tests show that you don't have to pay top dollar to get a great mower or tractor. Several models cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars less than our top-scoring machines, yet perform virtually as well. But paying just a little more often buys a lot more mower, especially at the lower end of the price spectrum.

To see which models make the, ahem, cut, read our lawn mower and tracker Ratings. For more shopping tips, see our lawn mower and tracker buying guide.

Buy at a store, not online or over the phone, unless you've already tried the identical mattress in a store. A product manager for Tempur-Pedic told us that more online customers return their mattresses than shoppers who buy in a store.

Manufacturers usually modify innerspring mattresses for different sellers, changing the color, padding, quilting pattern, and so forth. Then each seller can call the mattress by a different name. Because such mattresses are at least somewhat different, and the names vary, you can't comparison shop. (A big chain such as Sears or Bloomingdale's has the same model names for the same beds at all of its stores, usually at the same price.)

Start out with the least expensive bed from a few top brands, and work your way up in cost. Hint: Stores keep the priciest models up front. Our mattress buying guide contains lots of additional shopping tips. We put mattresses to tough tests; you can see which ones came out on top in our Ratings.  

If you're in the market for smaller consumer electronics such as an MP3 player, Blu-ray or streaming media player, or a home theater system, you should find some good savings this month.

Before you hit the stores, check out our shopping tips in our MP3 player reviews, buying guide, and Ratings. We've also got a buying guide for Blu-ray players and streaming media players and services, and one for home theater systems and sound bars. Check our Blu-ray player Ratings, streaming media player Ratings, and home theater systems and sound bars Ratings for the top models.

If you're in the market for a home theater or want to learn more about them, see the video below.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Cree claims that its TW Series LED lightbulb "shows colors true and natural." One of the knocks against energy-saving LEDs has been that they don't produce the same type of light as inefficient incandescents. But manufacturers are trying. This LED is better at showing actual colors, especially reds. Better still, the cost of these sometimes pricey bulbs continues to drop. Consumer Reports is testing the Cree now. Here are our preliminary findings.

Straight out of the box. The Cree 60W Equivalent Soft White A19 TW Series Dimmable LED replaces a standard 60-watt incandescent yet consumes only 13.5 watts of energy and can be used in a lamp, ceiling fixture, or outdoors. It instantly cast a warm, bright light in our preliminary tests and has a high color-rendering index of 93 as claimed. The CRI lets you know how accurately colors appear under a bulb’s light and ranges from 0 to 100, with incandescent bulbs around 100. Most LEDs we’ve tested are in the mid-to-low 80s. Some manufacturers are working to improve their CRI to meet California’s new standards, which are tougher than Energy Star’s, to qualify for California utility rebates. But Cree is already there, and offers a 10-year warranty.   

You’ll know it when you see it.  We wanted to know if members of our staff could see a difference between a Cree LED with an 80 CRI and the Cree TW with a 93 CRI. So we set up two identical viewing boxes with two identical color charts. One by one, a dozen staffers viewed the two charts side-by-side. Everybody saw a difference. Many said that some of the colors looked more vibrant or brighter under the Cree TW’s light, although not everybody liked it better.

Prices are falling. We bought a six-pack of these LEDs online at Home Depot in late March for $109. Now they’re $90, and in May Home Depot stores will sell this LED in a single pack for $16.

Cree claims the TW Series LED is dimmable, casts light evenly in all directions, and lasts about 23 years when used 3 hours a day. We’ll put these LEDs through all of our lightbulb tests and report back. Our ongoing lightbulb tests also include the Cree 60W Warm White Dimmable LED. It’s usually $13 but we just saw it at HomeDepot.com for $7. In our preliminary tests it was impressive, has a CRI of 81, and uses 9.5 watts. Take a look at our Ratings of LEDs and CFLs. They tell you just how good these bulbs were after 3,000 hours of testing.

—Kimberly Janeway

Follow me on Twitter @CRJaneway.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

To get great tasting grilled food you should start with clean grates. That’s why the Grillbot, with its promise to clean grimy gates and eliminate scrubbing with the push of a button, is so alluring and why the grill pros at Consumer Reports couldn’t wait to get our hands on it.
 
We bought it online for $130. A rechargeable battery powers the Grillbot, which can be used with gas or charcoal grills, and on already cold grates or grates that have been allowed to cool for 5 minutes for a gas grill and at least 20 minutes for a charcoal grill. Set the timer for a scrub that’s 10, 20, or 30 minutes and close the lid. You’ll hear it banging into the lid. One tester described it as sounding like a deranged squirrel trying to escape.
 
We tried the Grillbot on stainless-steel and coated cast-iron grates covered in burnt-on food. After 10 minutes the grates were cleaner, and after an additional 20 minutes of cleaning the grates were much cleaner although not spotless. The Grillbot didn’t reach the grime between grates, but preheating on high heat turned what was left into ash. We used a grill brush to wipe it away.
 
Our biggest beef is the racket it makes when working as it bounces off the inside of the grill’s cover—the directions say the lid should be closed. When we left the lid open to shoot a video the Grillbot almost ran off the edge. Removing the Grillbot’s dishwasher-safe bristles is a bit tricky, but when we washed them, they came out of the dishwasher clean and intact. That’s important because loose bristles—from any grill brush—that get left behind after cleaning could make their way into grilled food. If swallowed the bristles can puncture your digestive tract or stomach.
 
The Grillbot beats scrubbing, but a regular grill brush and some elbow grease on a warm grill is faster, more through, cheaper, and quieter. For best results and maximum safety, Grillbot recommends new brushes every grilling season or after 100 uses. The 180-day warranty doesn’t cover brushes, batteries, or the charging cord.
 
Need a grill to go with your Grillbot? See our Ratings of over 100 gas grills.

 –Kimberly Janeway
Follow me on Twitter @CRJaneway

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Hold on to your coffee cup: One of the worst Brazilian droughts in decades has slashed the supply of coffee beans, which could mean higher prices at the supermarket. Pricier coffee makes smart storage even more critical for the beans you buy. And while Starbucks told us it doesn’t plan any price increases now, other coffee shops may pass on the added costs—yet another incentive to save by brewing your own cup of joe at home. Here are some tips from the experts for storing your favorite coffee and some coffeemakers from Consumer Reports’ latest coffeemaker tests.
 
1. Stash it in the right place.  Whether you brew it now or save it for later, all coffee should be stored away from light, heat, moisture, and odors, which can affect its freshness and taste.  If you buy a lot of coffee, divide it into two portions—the one you’re using now and a larger batch stored in an airtight container until you need it. Don’t put coffee in the refrigerator where it can absorb odors from neighboring foods. Instead, keep it in a cool, dark cupboard away from the oven or even an outside wall. Use a ceramic, glass, or nonreactive metal container with an airtight gasket. If you’re a real stickler for fresh-roasted flavor and don’t care about the price, buy coffee in smaller quantities—one or two weeks’ worth—so it doesn’t sit around.
 
2. Consider freezing it. You can also freeze coffee. Here are some guidelines from Kevin Sinnott, author of "The Art and Craft of Coffee," creator of CoffeeCon, the Consumer Coffee Festival, and blogger at CoffeeCompanion.com. “It’s always best to keep roasted coffee in bean form until moments before brewing,” Sinnott wrote in an e-mail, whether you freeze them or use them fresh. According to Sinnott, you should be able to keep frozen coffee for up to six months with no obvious flavor or aroma loss, as long as it’s in an air-tight freezer bag. Prefer buying preground coffee? “The freezer is still the best place to forestall staling,” wrote Sinnott, “but a cool, dark, dry place, such as the bottom of a cupboard or closet, is the next best thing.”

3. Get a good coffeemaker. In our coffeemaker tests, drip coffeemakers still brew the best coffee, outperforming today’s fast-growing pods, packs, and pouches for flavor if not convenience. The Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT, a CR Best Buy at just $40, brewed superbly and was relatively easy to set up, use, and clean. Willing to forgo some flavor for a quicker cup? At $100, DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Piccolo EDG200T costs less than our other top-scoring pod coffeemakers and delivered a passable-but-speedy cup of java. Fan of French presses? The electric iCoffee RCB100-BC12, $170, makes a pleasing brew.
 
—Artemis DiBenedetto

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

You know the feeling. You’re on your way to work or the airport, and you can’t remember whether you turned off the lights and turned on the security system or locked the door. Do you go back home? Continue on your way and hope for the best? Or do you simply pull out your smart phone, open an app or two, and make sure everything is OK? Convenience, control, and peace of mind are the powerful combination that the newest smart products are selling.

With mainstream corporations such as Amazon, AT&T, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Staples, and Verizon introducing smart products and services that let you run your home from your phone (and other devices), this might actually be the year that home automation catches on in a big way—or at least becomes difficult to ignore, given those companies’ fat advertising budgets.

Product selection is growing, with 37 billion smart products expected on the market by the year 2020, says network-­hardware maker Cisco. Already there: Ranges and ovens from Dacor and GE can be set to preheat during your drive home, so you can get dinner on the table faster. A side-by-side refrigerator from Whirlpool texts you if a door is ajar, helping you save energy and prevent food from spoiling. Certain dryers can tell you if your dryer exhaust duct is clogged, which prolongs drying time, wastes energy, and is a fire hazard. ­Appliances from Kenmore and LG can self-diagnose problems via your smart phone, potentially saving on repair costs or time waiting for the service technician.

The public is definitely intrigued. Almost 20 percent of Consumer Reports subscribers already use their phone or tablet to remotely control some of their home, and almost 70 percent of those who don’t voiced interest in doing so in the future, according to our latest survey. Thermostats, security systems, blinds, lighting, and door locks are the home items readers most want to manage remotely.

Picks and pans from our tests

At Consumer Reports, we put our experts in the labs and our investigative reporters to work to see which products can make your life easier, which fail at their basic function, and which may leave you vulnerable. Our picks and pans are based on months of testing, and analysis of benefits, payback time, up-front and ongoing costs, and other concerns. Here are our findings:

Your Wi-Fi network is vulnerable. Even if the security settings on your home’s router limit access to devices you’ve authorized, you need to be just as careful about the security settings of each device you add to the network, whether it’s a whole-house suite of products controlling lighting, ­security, and smoke/CO alarms, or just an Internet-enabled fork. Otherwise the ­device could allow hackers—and whomever they sell your data to—access to other connected products in your home, such as the computers on your home network. In one cyber­attack, about 100,000 products, such as routers, TVs, and at least one connected refrigerator, sent out more than 750,000 phishing e-mails over two weeks, according to security consulting firm Proofpoint. The blame: weaknesses in their basic protections or setup. Proofpoint would not disclose the model of refrigerator, suspecting the user hadn’t changed the default password, but not every smart device is ­even designed for high security.

Privacy can be a problem. An unconnected “dumb” gadget shares no information that you might prefer to keep to yourself, such as when your home is empty. But a smart thermostat might be less discreet, alerting hackers when it’s in vacation mode. Or the history log of a smart-lock app might let thieves learn when you usually get home from work without having to stake out your house.

You could bet on the wrong horse. Connectivity is still in its infancy, with no clear winner among competing technologies. So you can control a product via its app on your phone, but you’ll need multiple apps to control your household, which isn’t all that convenient. The alternative, a suite of products from a single brand or that run on the same wireless standard, such as ZigBee or Z-Wave, leaves you vulnerable to ­potentially buying into the ­Betamax of smart products. And based on our testing, some product designs need refinement, unless you like being an ­unpaid beta tester.

Though certain connected products ­deliver, so far the promise of an easy, centrally controlled smart home has yet to catch up with reality.

The possibilities seem endless, judging from what’s available and the increased bundling by top-name companies of multiple products with one controller—and, of course, monthly fees. Home size and construction, plus the distance between devices, make a difference. Drywall and plywood should do fine, but nonporous materials such as plaster, brick, and stone could slow down or block signals.

1. Burglar alarm. Major providers offer multidevice systems that you can monitor from afar.

2. Generator. Lets you know whether the generator is working and can e-mail or text you and a service technician if there’s a problem.

3. Thermostat. Senses patterns in human presence and controls equipment accordingly.

4. Lighting. Lets you control lights from an app and set vacation schedules.

5. Smoke/CO detector. Can notify you and prompt the same-brand thermostat to shut off fuel-burning appliances.

6. Refrigerator. Alerts you if power is out and even if a door is left ajar.

7. Range. Lets you preheat the oven, set the timer, and check cooking status without being in the room.

8. Electronic door locks. Let you remotely lock or unlock and change who’s authorized to enter.

9. Water alarm or shutoff. Can text you when water is spilling from a pipe or an appliance; shutoffs can cut off your water main to minimize flooding.

10. Washer and dryer. Lets you start cycles and monitor progress, and alerts youif your dryer duct is clogged.

Internet-enabled products often cost more than their low-tech siblings. To tell whether they’re worth it, we test their “life improving” claims and their primary function. We also determine how easy these smart features are to set up and use. Here are several products, most of which we’ve tested, and whether we’d pay for them.

Worth buying

Connected by TCP light system, $50
Hate the idea of coming home to a dark house? Unlike a standard timer, this system can be used to program multiple lights to come on before you pull into the driveway, schedule morning wake-ups in your kid’s room, or change settings remotely. The kit includes two LEDs and a controller. In our tests, setting up the hardware and app were easy. So was remote control, which let us turn lights on and off and dim them. The app lets you group certain bulbs to switch on with one press of a button for settings such as a romantic dinner. And you can set a bulb’s brightness at the point of switching on. The 12-watt LEDs were as bright and warm as 60-watt incandescents in our tests.

Generac Mobile Link, $280
Just having a stationary generator doesn’t guarantee you’ll have power. You still need to regularly check the LCD screen on the unit to ensure that it’s working right and isn’t displaying any service-needed messages. But you can’t always be home to do that. Mobile Link is one of a few products that can e-mail or text you or a servicing dealer if a problem arises during the generator’s periodic self-check. Service after the first year is $12.50 per month or $100 per year. Among stationary generators it works with are two that we recommend: the 7-kilowatt Generac 6237, a CR Best Buy at $2,250, and the 13-kW Generac 6241, $3,500.

FortrezZ Wireless Z-Wave water valve, $485 to $565
Whether it’s for a flood-prone basement or an appliance on a higher level—think washing machine, toilets—you want to know whenever anything springs a water leak before it damages flooring, wiring, or furniture below. Water shut-off valves directed by water-alarm sensors aren’t new, but this one can e-mail, text, or call you if water is where it shouldn’t be. So you don’t have to be home to know there’s a problem. The kit includes the valve, its power adapter, and a monitoring probe. We haven’t tested the FortrezZ but find it promising. It’s costly once you add water sensors, about $60 each, and installation.

Never mind

Nest Learning Thermostat, $250
Programming a thermostat can be a pain, so one that programs itself and adapts to your schedule sounds great. And you can ­remotely change the Nest’s setting using its app if your routine changes. But the initial setup wasn’t as intuitive as other digital or smart thermostats we tested. The Nest thermostat is also connected online via Wi-Fi, so it automatically updates its software. But there’s the rub: User reviews have complained of Nests shutting down the heating system ­after updates, with a few ­reports of frozen and burst pipes as a result.

Nest Protect, $130
This combination smoke and carbon-­monoxide detector was impressive as a CO alarm and was top-notch at detecting smoldering fires. It also can tell the Nest Learning Thermostat to shut off the furnace or boiler if the detector senses CO. But the Nest Protect lacks an ionization sensor, available on dual-­sensor smoke alarms. So it’s poor at detecting a fast, flaming fire. And as we went to press, Nest had temporarily halted sales because of a feature that lets you silence nuisance alarms with the wave of a hand but could, the company found, be unintentionally activated and delay the alarm in case of a fire.

GE Profile PT9050SFSS wall oven, $2,600, with free Brillion app
Dacor Discovery iQ 30” wall oven, $4,300 (single), $7,400 (double)
Dacor Discovery iQ dual-fuel range, $12,000
Save time by preheating your oven while you’re driving home. Change cooking temperature from another room. The Brillion app lets you do those things, and the GE Profile oven offered fine baking and broiling, though it wasn’t the best in our tests. The two Dacor products, not tested, also let you control cooking from the built-in wireless tablet or a smart device. We like being able to check on a meal’s cooking status while relaxing in another room. But we don’t recommend turning on your oven, even to preheat, from anywhere other than your home.

Lixil Satis smart toilet, $5,685
The toilet will open at your approach, play music (“Ring of Fire,” anybody?), flush automatically, close its lid, and clean up using deodorizers and even a built-in air purifier. But software-security firm Trustwave hacked the toilet’s Android app. How? The app uses “0000” as its permanent PIN, so a hacker could cause the toilet to repeatedly flush or spray its bidet into the air. If designed with similar disregard for security, other connected toilets could face similar mischief. Repeated flushing could prove costly and messy. As for connected toilets in general, we’d rather not go there.

The jury’s out

Philips Hue Connected LED system, $200
The system lets you dim or switch the color of the LED bulbs to almost any other color using an app. The set has three LEDs and a device that plugs into your router. Setup and operation were easy in our tests, and the bulbs provided instant light. Still, there were trade-offs in addition to the high price. When the color temperature of the light was warm, the rendering accuracy was great, but the light was only a bit brighter than a 40-watt bulb.

Belkin WeMo light switch, $50
This switch replaces regular switches and lets you control your lights from home or afar using an app and your home’s Wi-Fi system. You can program a lighting schedule or check whether you left the lights on. It worked well once installed, sending e-mail alerts indicating whether lights were on or off. But installation isn’t quite the snap the company claims it is. Only serious do-it-yourselfers should try it because the WeMo is taller, deeper, and wider than the typical light switch.

Samsung WF457ARGSGR, $1,550, and Samsung DV457EVGS[GR], $1,550
Whirlpool Duet WFL98HEBU, $1,500, and WhirlpoolDuet WEL98HEBU, $1,500
Sometimes you don’t feel like running up or down stairs to see whether your clothes are done. These matching washer and dryer pairs have apps that let you track your laundry’s progress while you’re playing with your kids and even turn your machine on or off. The dryers are also among those with a duct-blockage indicator, which the manufacturers say improves lagging performance and efficiency—though clogged exhaust vents cause thousands of fires a year. All are among our picks, but you can get great performance for hundreds less if you forgo the smart feature and regularly check the vent. The indicators told us of a full blockage, but we’d prefer to know before dust buildup has become a fire hazard.

This article also appeared in the June 2014 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Sixty years ago an American who made it to 65 could expect to live an additional 14 years. Today, it’s 19 years. The most important question then: how to grow older healthfully so that we can actually enjoy those extra years? A ­Con­sumer Reports survey of 2,066 Americans age 50 and older ­revealed that we’re eager to maintain our quality of life into retirement and far, far beyond.

“Whether you’re just starting to think about your golden years or are well into retirement, it turns out that most of us have pretty similar goals: remaining independent, keeping mentally sharp, and staying as mobile as possible,” said Fernando Torres-Gil, Ph.D., director of the UCLA Center for Policy Research on Aging.

But that kind of successful aging requires savvy planning and decision-making. Our survey found that multiple chronic illnesses, shelves full of medications, and numerous medical specialists are common for Americans older than 50, so lining up good health care and managing it smartly are important. We also discovered that mobility decreases dramatically as you age; 33 percent of those older than 80 have difficulty walking, and more than 25 percent have a tough time simply getting out of chairs, so a fitness plan that maintains strength, flexibility, and balance is vital. Our survey group told us that their current home was the top choice of where to live as they aged and needed more care. But the ability to do so is highly dependent on the home’s location and physical features. Also, maintaining an active social network for yourself and being a lifelong learner are the best ways to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, the situation that respondents feared most about old age.

(Read the earlier reports in our series on managing your health and health care: "The Nurse Practioner Will See You Now," "A Doctor's Office That's All About You," and "Your Doctor Will E-mail You Now.")

The good news: No matter whether you’ve just hit 50 or are well on your way toward the century mark, there are strategies that can help you stay healthy, keep you socially and intellectually engaged in the world around you, and create a living situation that is comfortable and safe.

Three out of four of those we surveyed had at least one health condition, such as high blood pressure, arthritis, or dia­betes—and 31 percent had three or more.

“You’re likely to end up with multiple doctors, not all of whom are coordinated with each other," said Daniel Callahan, Ph.D., a medical ethicist specializing in aging (who, at 83, says “I’ve now got a chance to study myself”). "The basic question is who’s in charge here anyway?”

It’s not easy to get your arms around the complexities of modern health care. But if you assemble a capable team and take ­advantage of some of the recent improvements in the way doctors are organizing their services, you can minimize confusion. What are the most important items on your medical to-do list?

A great primary care doctor

This person (usually an internist or family practitioner) should be your main point of contact with the health care system. Seventy-two percent of our survey respondents said they already have such a doctor, but if you don’t, find one now and make an appointment for an initial visit. Look for a physician whose practice is a “patient-centered medical home.” That means the doctor’s office has organized itself to quarterback all of your care, including alerting you when it’s time for a test or visit, intervening if it looks like you’re likely to develop type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, keeping tabs on all of your medications, and coordinating care with your specialists. That last point is crit­ical; about three-quarters of survey re­spondents 65 and older said they had seen two or more specialists in the previous year. (Read more about patient-centered medical homes.)

Well-managed medications

Among respondents 80 and older, 72 percent took at least three prescription medications, and 84 percent took three or more over-­the-­counter medications, including vitamins and nutritional supplements.

“People are on five, 10, 20 medications," Mary Tinetti, M.D., chief of geriatric medicine at the Yale New Haven Health System and the Yale School of Medicine, said. "And nobody thinks that 20 medications are beneficial.” A least once a year, you should put all of your pill bottles in a bag (including all over-the-counter drugs and supplements) and take them to your primary care doctor for a review. Make a note of any side effects or problems you’ve noticed. If it turns out your medications are working at cross-­purposes or causing unacceptable side effects, ask your doctor to work out the optimum combination of medications. Also keep an up-to-date list of your drugs (including dosages) in your wallet or handbag in case of a medical emergency. (Learn more about managing your medications.)

Health-insurance savvy

Carefully go through your health plan’s requirements, so you really know how it works and whether you need to get referrals for specialist visits or prior authorization for elective surgery or costly tests. Not following those rules could result in a nasty surprise on your bill. You can find all of that information in your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage, a standardized plan-information document that should have come with your policy. (If it didn’t, ask for it.)

A few months ahead of your 65th birthday, be sure to enroll in Medicare. The process can be complicated, especially if you are still working at a job with health benefits, so study up at Medicare.gov or at Consumer Reports' Medicare information page. Review your plan choices every year at open enrollment.

One of the ongoing effects of aging is loss of muscle mass. If you don’t do anything to fight it, you could find yourself unable to get out of an armchair or off the toilet one day. Aging also brings declines in aerobic capacity and flexibility. And those factors together increase your risk of falls—at a time in life when bones tend to be more brittle. Eighteen percent of our survey respondents said they had fallen in the last year, and of those, 71 percent were injured, including 8 percent who broke a bone.

Here’s a quick test to find out whether your fitness has deteriorated to a point that puts you at risk: Time how long it takes you to get out of an armchair, walk 10 feet, walk back, and sit down again. A healthy adult older than 60 should be able to do it in 10 seconds or less.

Flunked the test? The good news is that it’s never too late to start working out to counter aging’s effects. “There’s no medication, no medical device that has anywhere near the effectiveness of physical activity,” Tinetti said.

Here are some concrete steps you can take, based on recommendations from experts at the American Heart Association and American College of Sports Medicine.

Get a physical-therapy evaluation

Ask your doctor to prescribe a consultation with a licensed physical therapist who can help you design a safe exercise program.

Do 150 minutes of cardio every week

Aim for at least 30 minutes at a time of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (think a brisk walk where you’re not breathing so hard that you can’t carry on a conversation) five days per week. For motivation, consider using an activity tracker; the Fitbit One is our top-rated model.

Add strength training

You should strength train on two or three nonconsecutive days each week and do eight to 10 exercises targeting the muscles of your upper body, lower body, and core. Start slowly and work up to a weight or resistance that causes fatigue after eight to 14 repetitions. If you have problems with your joints or bones, consult a certified trainer or physical ther­apist before starting a program.

Keep your balance

One of the simplest exercises is to practice standing on one leg. Also consider tai chi, which numerous studies have shown improves balance and reduces the risk of falls. Find local classes by putting “tai chi” and the name of your city into a search engine.

Stay flexible

Yoga is great for improving your flexibility. But clear the idea with your doctor first if you have any chronic problems, find a qualified instructor, and make sure he or she knows about any physical limitations you have.

The older Americans we surveyed said that losing their cognitive abilities was their No. 1 fear about aging. Nothing you do will protect you 100 percent from developing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, but there are ways to reduce your risk:

Remain physically fit

Follow the fitness advice in the previous section because staying physically active decreases the risk of cognitive decline.

Stay socially engaged

Our survey found that our social lives start to dwindle even before retirement; 43 percent of respondents ages 50 to 64 said they spent less time with friends than they had a decade previously. Keep in contact with family and friends, and expand your social circle by volunteering, attending local cultural events, taking continuing-education classes at a local college or traveling with a group such as Road Scholars (formerly known as Elderhostel).

Learn something new

Crossword puzzles or Luminosity aren’t enough, especially if you’ve been doing them for years. The key to brain fitness is to establish new neural connections by taking on fresh mental challenges. Try learning a new foreign language or taking lessons on a new musical instrument.

Fifty-five percent of our respondents wanted to stay in their own homes, with help as needed, as they got older and required more care. But a recent AARP survey revealed that only about half of older adults thought their homes could accommodate them “very well” as they age; 12 percent said “not well” or “not well at all.”

“The time to think about your housing options is when you first retire and are relatively healthy and young,” said Linda Fodrini-­Johnson, a geriatric-care manager in Walnut Creek, Calif. “You need to think realistically about the things that might happen over the next 20 years.”

If you want to “age in place,” here are some modifications to consider if your home doesn’t already have them.

• Ground-floor sleeping space. Adding a first-floor bedroom and bath would be great, but at an average cost of $225,000, according to Remodeling Magazine, it might be out of reach. A more cost-effective option might be converting a den into a bedroom and expanding the ground-floor powder room into a full bath.
•  Bathroom safety features. Replace the tub with a roomy shower that has no threshold to step over. Add grab bars and a shower seat. Install a “comfort height” toilet seat, 2 inches taller than usual, that’s easier to get off of.
• Lever-type doorknobs and faucet handles. They’re easier to turn for people with stiff or weak hands and arms.
• Chairlift. If your stairs are wide enough (37 inches is the recommended minimum) you can install an electric chairlift. But they are expensive—more than $10,000, depending on needed modifications, models, and specifications.

Here are some more "aging-in-place" renovation ideas. 

The National Association of Home Builders has a searchable list of Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists with special training in designing and building aging-friendly home renovations. 

Check to see whether you already live in an area served by a village, a membership network of people who are “aging in place” in their own homes with the help of services such as rides to the doctor, home maintenance and repair, computer troubleshooting, social events, in-home medical care, and light housekeeping in exchange for a monthly or annual fee. Find one near you at Village to Village Network.

Renovations and villages aren’t an option for everyone. You might find yourself struggling to take care of a big yard or feeling isolated because driving at night has become difficult. Those may be signs that it’s time to relocate to a more aging-friendly home.

Ray Mack, 68, a retired chemist, reached that point after “one too many visits to the emergency room” for mishaps involving heavy machinery and yard maintenance on his 5-acre spread near Houston. He and his wife relocated to a house on a small lot in Baton Rouge, La., within walking distance of a university, museums, and parks.

Some features to look for include:

• Entryways and interior doors without raised thresholds.
• Wide hallways and doorways.
• Bathroom, bedroom, and laundry on the main floor.
• “Universal design” features such as levered door handles, grab bars in bathrooms, and a place to sit while preparing meals.
• Services, shopping, transit, and recreational facilities within walking distance. Go to walkscore.com to calculate a neighborhood’s walkability.

In certain areas you can also buy into a cohousing development. Cohousing features regular private homes built on small parcels and clustered around common facilities such as a recreation building where residents gather to share weekly meals and social events. The Cousing Organization of the United States has more information on this option, including a directory of communities. 

Or you might reach a point where even those types of homes are too much to manage. When? “If you realize you’re not getting out at least three times a week,” Fodrini-­Johnson said “When your vision is poor and you can’t set your thermostats, or read your medicine bottle, or just don’t have the stamina to take care of yourself.”

Here are your top choices at that point.

• Continuing-care retirement community. These developments offer a continuum of housing options, from regular independent apartments to assisted living to skilled nursing facilities, which residents can move among as their medical and physical needs dictate. But the buy-in can run from the low six figures up, with additional four-figure monthly fees for any extra services you might require. And, Fodrini-Johnson said, the communities might not accept you if you’ve already developed a serious ailment such as Parkinson’s disease.
• Assisted living. If you don’t need skilled nursing care but can no longer manage on your own, assisted-livings offer some combination of housing, meals, help with daily-living tasks such as dressing and bathing, and, in some cases, help with medical tasks such as medication management. Prices and amenities vary widely.

Start your search at eldercare.gov, which will guide you to local agencies that can help you avoid unlicensed centers.

You may have received a notice that you’ve been assigned to an Accountable Care Organization, or ACO. Here’s what it is and how it’s supposed to work.

An ACO consists of a group of doctors, a hospital, or a combination of both, who have made a deal with either Medicare or a private insurance company that upends the usual financial incentives. Normally providers are paid a fee for every service they provide, even if it’s to fix a mistake they made or isn’t necessary to begin with. An ACO gets a financial bonus for providing safe and appropriate care that keeps patients healthy. It becomes “accountable” for the overall cost and quality of care of its assigned population.

ACOs that do a good job on quality measures, such as controlling diabetics’ blood sugar or giving the appropriate medications to people with heart disease, share the savings with the insurance company or Medicare. In practice, that means giving extra attention to people with serious or multiple conditions. The first hospital-­led ACOs started up in 2010, and the first Medicare ACOs in 2012. Now almost 500 of them are in operation, covering more than 31 million patients.

If you’re assigned to an ACO, it most likely means that your doctor’s office is participating in one. You can opt out, but we recommend that you don’t. Being in an ACO has no effect on your insurance coverage and doesn’t restrict your ability to see the doctor of your choice. And if the ACO does a good job, your out-of-pocket costs might go down if you need fewer doctor visits or hospital stays to manage your condition.

This article also appeared in the June 2014 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. This report is the fourth in a series on how to manage your health and health care in the years ahead, funded in part by a grant from the Atlantic Philanthropies. Read our earlier reports: "The Nurse Practioner Will See You Now," "A Doctor's Office That's All About You," and "Your Doctor Will E-mail You Now."

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Need more space to entertain? Just open your back door and step outside. But after a harsh, unrelenting winter, you might not like what you see. Forty-four percent of Americans plan to improve their yard for outdoor entertaining, according to the latest Consumer Reports nationally representative survey of 2,000 adults. Almost 30 percent say they’ll spend $500 to $1,999, and 36 percent plan to spend $100 to $499.

Improved landscaping, better lighting, a new grill, and adding a deck or sprucing it up are high on the to-do list, as backyards evolve into true living spaces customized for fun, not resale value. Use these tips, gleaned from our experts and testing, to enjoy the long, leisurely days of summer ahead.

If you're a fan of cooking outdoors, join in the discussions about grills in our forums. And watch our gas grill buying guide, review of the Grillbot robotic cleaner, tips for cooking the perfect steak, and advice on avoiding grilling blunders.

Choose quality furniture

Comfortable furniture invites your friends to settle in. Painted metals should have a uniform finish and smooth welds. All-weather wicker that’s tightly wound on its frame is best; many now have more realistic-­looking textures. No matter the type, joints should be tight and well fitted. End caps help protect screws and bolts from moisture. Read "Patio Furniture: Spend Less, Get More" for more details.

Take care of cushions

Vacuum dust and dirt, then use a damp sponge and mild dish detergent to clean. Rinse thoroughly and let dry. For pet stains, try a pet odor and stain remover, or blot with a solution of 1 tablespoon of household ammonia with ½ cup of water. Stain still there? Use ⅓ cup of white vinegar mixed in ⅔ cup of water. As always test an inconspicuous spot first and check for damage.

Create a nook

Wall-mounted planters and trellises can transform an ugly wall or fence. A hammock or bistro set and large containers of plants are just a couple of ways to make a charming pocket in a large yard. You’ll find plenty of inspiration online and at home centers.

Light the night

Low-voltage fixtures are do-it-yourself-friendly. The wiring can be buried only 6 inches, not the 18 required with standard voltage. Place heads every 8 to 10 feet to deliver uniform path lighting, and use floodlights and spotlights to illuminate dark areas. Long-lasting LED bulbs are ideal for hard-to-reach spots and use significantly less electricity than incandescent bulbs. To find a bulb for your outdoor sockets, see the results of our lightbulb tests.

Add a little music

What’s a party without music? The portable TDK Life on Record Wireless Weatherproof Speaker A33, $145, uses Bluetooth and offers good sound. The top-­rated Libratone Zipp, $400, offers even better sound, but the portable Wi-Fi unit isn’t weatherized. Neither should be left outside.

Let your new grill add a splash of color

Grills are often the centerpiece of an outdoor room and come in vibrant reds and earthy greens, browns, and copper, not just black and stainless steel. Check out the best from our latest gas grill tests.

Keep your grill in good shape

Skip the cover if your grill is in a very damp or heavily shaded area—lots of moss is a clue—because it’s likely to trap moisture even if the cover has vents. Otherwise remove the cover after a very wet or damp spell to let it air dry. Occasionally rinse your grill with water to remove any corrosive residue.

Establish a safety zone

The allure of gathering around a fire remains strong and explains why chimineas and fire pits have become popular; 16 percent of those surveyed plan to add one to their yard. Create a 3-foot safety zone to keep kids away, and keep a fire extinguisher within reach. Before calling it a night, check that embers are fully extinguished by dousing with water or burying in dirt.

Do a deck check

Leaves and other yard waste under the deck can cause mildew, so regularly clear the debris. And while you’re at it, check the framing and deck platform for insect damage and rot, especially where the deck ties to the house. If you find any, have a pro do the repairs. For the best deck stains, see the results of our deck stain tests.

Deal with mosquitoes

A fan sweeping a gentle breeze across your deck or patio can help keep mosquitoes away. They aren’t strong fliers, and the brisk airflow makes it tough for them to hone in on your scent and find you. Find the best insect repellents and learn how to deal with insects.

Protect your skin

Using sunscreen is a no-brainer, but you might be surprised how much you need to use. A family of four spending 4 hours in the sun wearing shorts and T-shirts should go through an 8-ounce bottle. And don’t leave the bottle in a hot car, which can degrade its effectiveness. Equate Ultra Protection SPF 50, from Walmart, is a CR Best Buy.

This article also appeared in the June 2014 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Summer’s insects can be more than annoying—they can also make you sick. Mosquitoes spread serious illnesses such as West Nile virus, and ticks carry Lyme disease. Those illnesses can cause fever, aches and pains, and, in rare cases, even death.

This year, there’s a new mosquito health worry: Chikungunya virus, or ChikV, which is now in the Caribbean and headed for the U.S. It can cause fever, severe joint pain, and a crippling arthritis.

So how do you keep the bugs from biting? Our tests over the years have found that certain insect repellents, especially those with the chemical deet, can help keep mosquitoes and ticks away. But our safety experts worry that the products might pose risks to people and the environment.

“Deet and other chemical-based repellents should be used only if other safer methods don’t work for you,” Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., executive director of Consumer Reports’ Food Safety and Sustainability Center, said. “People should first try safer ways of avoiding bugs, such as wearing protective clothing and avoiding scented products when outdoors.”

Here are 15 expert tips on keeping the bugs away without dousing yourself in potentially dangerous chemicals.  

For mosquitoes

• Stay inside or in screened-in areas during mosquito hours. The bugs like to come out during sunrise and sunset, and in early evening.
• Cover up. During mosquito heavy hours, put on long sleeves, long pants, socks, and closed-toe shoes.
• Plug in a fan. It will help you keep cool and keep mosquitoes from landing on you when you’re outside on your deck or patio because the insects are not very efficient flyers, even in wind speeds of as low as 5 mph.
• Buy outdoor LED or yellow bug lights. Use them on your porch and around your house because they won’t attract pests like other lights might. (Read our light bulb buying guide.)
  
• Light citronella candles or tiki torches. These standbys work as mild insect repellents.
• Keep mosquitoes from breeding in your yard. Dump out any water-filled containers, such as birdbaths, tires, wheelbarrows, and wading pools. Clear away decaying leaves and ivy on buildings and on the ground, because mosquitoes like cool, dark places to rest during the day.  

For ticks

• Wear light-colored clothes. They can help you spot ticks. Also stick with long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Tuck your pants into socks, wear boots, and pull your hair back into a hat.
• Check your clothes and skin for ticks when you get inside. They have to be on you for at least 36 hours to transmit Lyme disease. Even if you see no ticks, it’s smart to shower and wash your clothes, or at least toss them into a dryer to kill any ticks.
• Inspect pets, too. Always examine your animals for ticks after they come into the house from being outside.
• Keep your lawn mowed. And try to let as much sun into your yard as possible. Ticks prefer long grasses and shady spots. (Read our lawn mower buying guide.)
  
• Consider putting up a fence. One way to keep the ticks away is to prevent deer and other large animals that can carry them from wandering around on your property.

For both pests

• Try a plant-based repellent first. Examples include Repel Lemon Eucalyptus (which has a synthetic version of a naturally occurring chemical) and Natrapel or other products that contain 20 percent picaridin (a chemical similar to a compound in black pepper). In our 2010 tests (Ratings appear below), both worked for at least 7 hours, though the Repel product has since been reformulated with less of the active ingredient and so no longer appears in our Ratings chart. The risk of side effects for both is low, but the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says not to use the Repel product on kids younger than 3.
• When you use deet, keep levels low. If a product with 15 percent deet keeps bugs away for 8 hours or more, as our tests found, one with 98 percent deet has to be even better, right? Actually, no. Off Deep Woods Sportsmen mini pump spray (98 percent deet) is claimed to provide maximum-strength protection for up to 10 hours. But products with 95 percent or more deet have been linked with serious side effects, including seizures, slurred speech, and coma. It can also cause eye irritation and allergic reactions. Our experts recommend using no more than 30 percent deet, ever. If you’re, say, on an overnight camping trip and need long-term bug protection, reapply a product with 15 percent deet (such as Off FamilyCare Smooth & Dry spray) and use it sparingly. Each application will protect you from mosquito and tick bites for at least 8 hours.
• Think twice about using deet if you’re in a high-risk group. Children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems should use deet only with extra caution. The American Academy of Pediatrics says not to use it at all on infants younger than 2 months.
• Apply repellents outdoors, and only to clothing or exposed skin. Wash repellents off before you go to bed, and wash clothes before you wear them again.

What not to do

These products either don’t work well or aren’t worth the risks:

• Products with more than 30 percent deet, such as Jungle Juice 100. The potential side effects aren’t worth it.
• Off Clip-on, a device that attaches to your waistband or belt and uses a fan to circulate a repellent around your body. The active ingredient, metofluthrin, can pose risks to your nervous system, and our tests found that it didn’t work very well anyway.
• Wristbands with repellent claims.
• Garlic or vitamin B1 pills.
• Devices that give off sound waves designed to keep insects away.
• Backyard bug zappers. (They might actually attract mosquitoes.)
• Also avoid tight clothes (which mosquitoes can penetrate), dark
  clothes (where ticks can hide), and strong scents, which may attract pests.   

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Summer’s insects can be more than annoying—they can also make you sick. Ticks carry Lyme disease and mosquitoes spread serious illnesses such as West Nile virus. Bill Gates has even declared the mosquito to be "the deadliest animal in the world" because it spreads malaria, which is linked to more than 700,000 deaths a year. While few of those deaths occur in the U.S., several other tropical, mosquito-borne diseases are heading this way, including dengue fever and a new worry this year, Chikungunya virus, or ChikV. It's now in the Caribbean and can cause fever, severe joint pain, and a crippling arthritis.

So how do you keep the bugs from biting? Our tests over the years have found that certain insect repellents, especially those with the chemical deet, can help keep mosquitoes and ticks away. But our safety experts worry that the products might pose risks to people and the environment.

“Deet and other chemical-based repellents should be used only if other safer methods don’t work for you,” Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., executive director of the Consumer Reports Food Safety & Sustainability Center, said. “People should first try safer ways of avoiding bugs, such as wearing protective clothing and avoiding scented products when outdoors.”

Here are 15 expert tips on keeping the bugs away without dousing yourself in potentially dangerous chemicals.  

For mosquitoes

• Stay inside or in screened-in areas during mosquito hours. The bugs like to come out during sunrise and sunset, and in early evening.
• Cover up. During mosquito heavy hours, put on long sleeves, long pants, socks, and closed-toe shoes.
• Plug in a fan. It will help you keep cool and keep mosquitoes from landing on you when you’re outside on your deck or patio because the insects are not very efficient flyers, even in wind speeds of as low as 5 mph.
• Buy outdoor LED or yellow bug lights. Use them on your porch and around your house because they won’t attract pests like other lights might. (Read our light bulb buying guide.)
  
• Light citronella candles or tiki torches. These standbys work as mild insect repellents.
• Keep mosquitoes from breeding in your yard. Dump out any water-filled containers, such as birdbaths, tires, wheelbarrows, and wading pools. Clear away decaying leaves and ivy on buildings and on the ground, because mosquitoes like cool, dark places to rest during the day.  

For ticks

• Wear light-colored clothes. They can help you spot ticks. Also stick with long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Tuck your pants into socks, wear boots, and pull your hair back into a hat.
• Check your clothes and skin for ticks when you get inside. They have to be on you for at least 36 hours to transmit Lyme disease. Even if you see no ticks, it’s smart to shower and wash your clothes, or at least toss them into a dryer to kill any ticks.
• Inspect pets, too. Always examine your animals for ticks after they come into the house from being outside.
• Keep your lawn mowed. And try to let as much sun into your yard as possible. Ticks prefer long grasses and shady spots. (Read our lawn mower buying guide.)
  
• Consider putting up a fence. One way to keep the ticks away is to prevent deer and other large animals that can carry them from wandering around on your property.

For both pests

• Try a plant-based repellent first. Examples include Repel Lemon Eucalyptus (which has a synthetic version of a naturally occurring chemical) and Natrapel or other products that contain 20 percent picaridin (a chemical similar to a compound in black pepper). In our 2010 tests (Ratings appear below), both worked for at least 7 hours, though the Repel product has since been reformulated with less of the active ingredient and so no longer appears in our Ratings chart. The risk of side effects for both is low, but the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says not to use the Repel product on kids younger than 3.
• When you use deet, keep levels low. If a product with 15 percent deet keeps bugs away for 8 hours or more, as our tests found, one with 98 percent deet has to be even better, right? Actually, no. Off Deep Woods Sportsmen mini pump spray (98 percent deet) is claimed to provide maximum-strength protection for up to 10 hours. But products with 95 percent or more deet have been linked with serious side effects, including seizures, slurred speech, and coma. It can also cause eye irritation and allergic reactions. Our experts recommend using no more than 30 percent deet, ever. If you’re, say, on an overnight camping trip and need long-term bug protection, reapply a product with 15 percent deet (such as Off FamilyCare Smooth & Dry spray) and use it sparingly. Each application will protect you from mosquito and tick bites for at least 8 hours.
• Think twice about using deet if you’re in a high-risk group. Children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems should use deet only with extra caution. The American Academy of Pediatrics says not to use it at all on infants younger than 2 months.
• Apply repellents outdoors, and only to clothing or exposed skin. Wash repellents off before you go to bed, and wash clothes before you wear them again.

What not to do

These products either don’t work well or aren’t worth the risks:

• Products with more than 30 percent deet, such as Jungle Juice 100. The potential side effects aren’t worth it.
• Off Clip-on, a device that attaches to your waistband or belt and uses a fan to circulate a repellent around your body. The active ingredient, metofluthrin, can pose risks to your nervous system, and our tests found that it didn’t work very well anyway.
• Wristbands with repellent claims.
• Garlic or vitamin B1 pills.
• Devices that give off sound waves designed to keep insects away.
• Backyard bug zappers. (They might actually attract mosquitoes.)
• Also avoid tight clothes (which mosquitoes can penetrate), dark
  clothes (where ticks can hide), and strong scents, which may attract pests.   

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Joining Costco can lead to big savings in your household budget. But you need to shop strategically, or that oversized shopping cart will fill up, even when you're just popping in for a few staples. The lack of signage in store aisles doesn't help matters. Knowing which products to avoid does—and that's where Consumer Reports' testing comes in. We've rated a slew of Costco products, from small everyday products, like dish detergent and paper towels, to mattresses, grills and other big-tickets items. Here are the winners and losers from our latest tests.

Costco winners   

Bacon. Mmm, bacon—to quote the great ham-loving Homer Simpson. We think he'd go along with our testers, who gave Kirkland Signature Regular Sliced Bacon, $14 for a 64-ounce package, top marks in our latest bacon test. The strips crisped up nicely, with a balance of fat and meat flavors, complemented by wood smoke and a hint of sweetness.

Car battery. Suitable for large cars, trucks, and sport-utility vehicles from Ford or Mercury, the Kirkland Signature 12866, $85, aced all of our tests, nearly beating out the category's top-rated pick from Interstate, which sells for $280. If you drive another type of vehicle, see our full battery Ratings, since there are other Kirkland batteries that performed very well in our tests, though they missed our recommended list.      

Coffeemaker. Costco's well-priced Mr. Coffee BVMC-EHX33CP, $30, is one of the highest scoring models in our Ratings of drip coffeemakers. Its brew performance was outstanding, and we also found it convenient and easy to handle. Programmable settings let you set when the machine starts to brew, helpful if you like waking up to the aroma of coffee.    

Ice cream. Beating out brands such as Breyers and Baskin-Robbins, the Kirkland Signature Super Premium Vanilla was described by our ice cream tasters as full and dense with big dairy flavor and complex vanilla-extract flavor, though some commented that it could be slightly gummy at times. It works out to about 30 cents per serving, compared with a dollar per serving for the top-rated Ben & Jerry's.       

Laundry detergent. Our winner's list of detergents that can be used in all types of washing machines includes the Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean, a CR Best Buy that works out to just 9 cents per load. The powder detergent was tough on grass, blood, and ring-around-the-collar. If you prefer the convenience of a laundry pod, consider the Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean Pacs, 14 cents per load.

Costco losers

Gas grill. At $1,600, the Costco exclusive Urban Islands 4-Burner by Bull is actually more expensive than most midsize grills in our gas grill Ratings. And it's nowhere near as proficient as our top-rated models. It's particularly bad at maintaining even heat at high temperatures, a must for perfectly seared steaks. A better bet from Costco is the KitchenAid 720-0733A for $750, which misses our recommended list but was very good overall. 

Gel dishwasher detergent. With an overall score of 34, the Kirkland Signature Gel is one of our lowest-rated detergents. It struggled with dishes, pots and pans, and resistance to water spots. But all is not lost in the Costco detergent aisle. While it fell short of our picks list, the Kirkland Signature Dishwasher Pacs was very good or better in each of our tests. 

Facial tissue. With an overall score of 60, Kirkland Signature facial tissue, $1.23, is middle of the pack in our facial tissue Ratings. So-so strength is its big shortcoming, though the tissue is pretty soft. A better bargain buy is the Puffs Basic, $1.23, which combines superb softness with very good strength.      

Mattress. The best mattresses in our Ratings offer very good, if not excellent, support for back or side sleepers. Costco's $1,100 Ara 13" 100% Visco Memory Foam is just so-so for side sleepers and even worse for people who sleep on their back. It's also mediocre at providing stabilization.  

Toilet paper. Though it's quite soft, Kirkland Signature toilet paper offers only so-so strength and tearing ease, making it an also ran in our toilet paper Ratings. Though it costs twice as much, White Cloud 3-Ply Ultra, a Walmart exclusive, combines superb strength and softness, making it our top-rated toilet paper by a wide margin.  

—Daniel DiClerico (@dandiclerico)  

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Bet your Mom would love it if she were able to spend more time with the family and less doing chores. The experts and editors at Consumer Reports are always looking for time-saving features in our tests of appliances and other home gear. We’ve discovered top-performing products that speed through routine household tasks. Of course, the best way to save Mom time is to do it yourself or at least pitch in and help. Here are some of the best time-savers from our tests.

Single-serve coffeemakers
Three models of Delonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto perked to the top of our pod coffeemaker tests and a fourth wasn’t far behind. The top-rated DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Genio EDG455T, $130, and its brandmates turned out first cups of coffee quickly and were just as speedy at making the second. We also liked them for their temperature consistency.

Toaster ovens
Speed up breakfast or lunch with the Panasonic FlashXpress NB-G110P, $125, toaster oven. Its quartz and ceramic heating elements cook more efficiently than conventional coil-heated ovens and don’t require any time for preheating. It’s a remake of a popular model that was discontinued in 2006 and the compact shape means it takes up less counter space.

Personal blenders
None of the personal blenders in our tests spun to the top of our Ratings but the Hamilton Beach Single Serve Blender 51101, $20, is worth a look. It’s convenient, makes very good purée and a similar model comes in a host of colors. Some of the other personal blenders in our tests have to-go cups that you can take with you without having to transfer your smoothie from one container to another.

Microwaves
Our quickest microwave oven was the GE Profile PEB2060DM[BB], $270, which was the only microwave in our tests to get excellent marks for speed. It was easy to use and very good at defrosting and evenly heating food. It's relatively quiet on high and has a sensor that determines when food is done.

Tablets
For the cook who loves to print out recipes or display them online, Sony has a Kitchen Editon of its Xperia Tablet Z, $550. It comes loaded with cooking and recipe apps, and includes a stand. Also included is an iGrill wireless digital thermometer, which lets you monitor food temperatures using an electronic device. And the best part is it’s easy to keep clean. It’s water-resistant, so you can wipe it clean with a wet cloth or even rinse it under the faucet.

Robotic vacuums
Two of the three robotic vacuums we tested made our list of top vacuum picks—the Roomba 760, $450, and the LG Hom-Bot Square LrV790R, $800. The Roomba edged out the LG Hom-Bot Square on floors and carpet but the LG Hom-Bot was quieter. And think of the entertainment value she’ll get watching them skitter across the floor.

Steam irons
A steam iron with a fast steaming rate can help you get out of the house in no time. Our top-rated Panasonic NI-W950A, $220, had an excellent steaming rate and was also top-notch at ironing fabric. For a lot less, you can buy one of our two CR Best Buys, the Singer Expert Finish EF, $60, or the Rowenta Effective Comfort DW2070, $50, which scored similarly to the Panasonic.

Gifts that require no work
If you think your Mom would be insulted by the gift of an appliance, take a look at our taste tests of boxed chocolates, ice cream, sparkling wines, and craft beers. We also just ordered Mother’s Day bouquets from FTD and 1-800-flowers. Respondents to our questionnaire were pretty happy with the arrangements we received until they compared them to the bouquets on the florists’ websites. They were disappointed when they found flower substitutions in the mixed bouquets but were slightly more satisfied with FTD overall.

—Mary H.J. Farrell

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Summer brings barbecues, backyard parties—and sometimes the reality that your deck has seen better days. A quick freshening with a top wood stain that weathered Consumer Reports’ tough outdoor tests may be all it takes to bring your deck up to snuff. Roughly 80 percent of homeowners handle deck staining themselves. But doing the job right includes the right tools, some smart planning, and a little cooperation from Mother Nature. Here’s where to start.
 
Walk the deck.  Check the deck boards for cracked or rotted areas, which you need to replace. Do a walk-over and feel for any softness or excess flexing, especially in areas that tend to stay damp. Check for popped nails and tap them back below the wood’s surface.  Step on the stairs and press on railings and banisters.
 
Don’t forget to check underneath the platform that supports the decking, railing, and stairs. If you spot trouble signs such as rot, insect holes, and other damage, you may want to get an inspection by a pro (check the North American Deck and Railing Association for a list of certified deck builders).

Prep it properly.  If the old finish is sound, remove dirt and mildew using a hose and a stiff, nylon-bristled brush with a long handle and a solution of water and dishwashing liquid For tougher grime use 1 quart of bleach to 3 quarts of water. If the finish is faded, peeling, or flaking, you’ll need to remove it with a pressure washer (about $200 to $500 to buy or $50 to $80 per day to rent). Wear long sleeves, long pants, work shoes, rubber gloves, and eye protection. Avoid gouging or splintering the wood by angling the spray, and keeping it 6 to 12 inches from the wood surface.
 
Decks built before 2004 are typically made of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) lumber, which contains toxic arsenic. Call in a pro if you aren’t sure. And let the pro do the refinishing to capture and safely dispose of any arsenic-laden dust and debris.
 
Find the right finish. Solid-color stains can last three years or more, but they completely cover the grain. Clear finishes let you see all the grain, but even the best last no longer than a year in our tests. Semi-transparent stains are tinted, show some of the wood grain, and can still look good after two years. Top picks from our tests include Behr Solid Color Waterproofing Wood Stain, $29 per gallon, and Behr Premium Semi-Transparent Weatherproofing Wood Stain, $37, plus Thompson WaterSeal Advanced Waterproofer, $23, which topped the other clear finishes.
 
Apply it right. Some finishes now claim to go on over wet wood. But we still recommend making sure the deck has fully dried (figure on roughly 48 hours) to avoid a blotchy finish that fails early. Stick with synthetic brushes for water-based stains, since natural bristles are hollow and can lose their rigidity as they absorb the water. An angled handheld brush works well for balusters and other close work. For rollers, use one with a nap that’s ¼-inch or shorter.
 
Be wary of the weather. Finally, be sure to watch the weather forecast: Temperatures between 60 and 85° F with no severe dips at night and little or no wind are ideal. Plan on four dry days in a row—a day or two to prep the wood and apply the stain, and another two for the finish to dry. And be sure to avoid staining in direct sunlight or when the deck is hot to the touch; stain that dries too quickly doesn’t stick properly.

—Bob Markovich

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

A toxic cocktail of bad weather, plant disease, and criminal activity has spawned a lime shortage in Mexico—where nearly all of America’s limes come from—and quadrupled prices this year. Though the lime squeeze and stellar price stickers appear to have peaked, limes remain relatively expensive and harder to come by. That makes a top-scoring blender from Consumer Reports’ tests all the more critical for getting those precious limes into the perfect frozen margarita.
 
Our icy-drink test is the big one for frozen-drink lovers this Cinco de Mayo: Our testers and sensory experts measure how smoothly and consistently blenders can whip up a non-alcoholic pina colada (we leave out the booze while we’re working). The top-rated Ninja Master Prep Professional QB1004, a CR Best Buy at $60, is one of just four out of more than 50 conventional blenders that aced that test.
 
Blenders should also serve your other food-prep needs: The Ninja Master Prep Professional QB1004 also sailed through our ice-crush durability test, a grueling task for blenders, and proved superb at pureeing (guacamole, anyone?). Its brand mate, the Ninja Professional NJ600, $100, offers similarly impressive performance plus more speeds and added capacity, though it’s a bit larger and noisier.

Want hot tortilla soup with your frosty margarita or colada? Paying $450 for the Vitamix 5200 buys you a blender that spins fast enough to heat soup. Check the results of our tests of more than 70 other blenders, including immersion models, for our other top picks (and a few we panned).

—Artemis DiBenedetto

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Whether you’ve been using it all year or haven’t touched it in months, you should give your grill the once-over before prime grilling season starts. Though Americans haul their grills to the curb after three years on average, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, age isn’t the best way to know when your grill should be replaced. Instead, use these maintenance tips to help keep your grill in top shape or to spot problems that aren’t worth fixing.

Test for gas leaks. Mix a small amount of dishwashing liquid and water in a spray bottle and spray over connections and along the hose. Turn on the tank, or if there’s no tank, the natural gas line. Bubbling along the hose means a new one is needed. If bubbling occurs at the connection, tighten it.
Quick tip. Hairline cracks or tiny holes can be hard to spot by just looking, so soapy water is a must.

Check burner tubes or ports. Yellow or uneven flames or heat can mean it’s time to clean the burner tubes or ports (a toothpick can help clear burner holes). But if that doesn’t solve the problem or you spot corrosion or rust, then it’s time for new burners, which usually cost from $40 to $150.
Quick tip. Burners are the most frequently replaced grill part. Before buying new ones, check whether yours are still under warranty. Some are covered for 10 years or longer.

Inspect the firebox. Remove light corrosion with a stainless-steel brush. But extensive rust or cracks means it’s time to buy a new grill.
Quick tip. The firebox often collects grease and food that has dropped through the grates. Clean the drip pan and remove grates and burners to clean the firebox. Your owner’s manual will suggest appropriate cleaning solutions. Replace corroded or cracked drip pans. Don’t try to get away with lining them with aluminum foil, which can cause grease to accumulate and cause a fire.

Clean the grates. Use a stiff wire brush to clean each side, but skip the soap. Porcelain-coated grates require a nylon brush. Ideally you should clean grates before grilling, then oil and clean them right after cooking. Porcelain-coated grates rust only if they chip. Replace them when the coating is chipping or flaking because it can stick to food.
Quick tip. Grates can be expensive to replace. So before you put money into parts, consider how much you paid for the grill, its age and replacement price, and whether the rest of it is in good shape.

Top grills from our tests
If your grill is beyond repair, now is a good time to buy a new one. Here are the winners from our tests, according to size.

• Small: Weber Spirit E-220 46310001. This small grill offers impressive performance. Preheating was fast and even, and high and low-heat cooking were excellent.
• Medium: Weber Spirit SP-320 46700401. This top-rated grill preheated quickly and evenly. It was superb on high and low heat and indirect cooking.
• Large: Kenmore 16136. This top-scoring large grill was offers superb temperature range. It also delivers excellent low-heat and very good high-heat cooking. Preheating is fast and even.

--Kimberly Janeway

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

You have few shopping days left until Mother's Day, May 11, so get shopping. Don't limit yourself to the classics and the clichéd when it comes to the moms in your life. When choosing a Mother's Day present, the sky's the limit, as you'll see below.

Don't forget to make brunch/lunch/dinner plans ASAP. If you're planning to eat out, book a table via Yelp, OpenTable, or another dining site right away—restaurants are packed on Mother's Day.

And if you do decide to go with flowers, read our comparison of bouquets from 1-800-Flowers.com and FTD.com.

Mother's Day gifts for the mom who:

Is an early adopter

Does Mom crave the latest tech toys? The Samsung Galaxy S 5 smart phone ($200 with contract) sits at the top of our smart-phone reviews as of mid-May. It offers a superb 5.1-inch display, an ultra-responsive 15.9-megapixel camera, and, Methuselahlike battery life. If you want to go over the top with the gift, add in the Samsung Gear Fit smart watch ($200). The second-generation Gear 2 has a cleaner look, better design, and longer battery life than the original.

Listens to music everywhere

Mom will flip over a the Sonos Play:1 wireless speaker system ($200), which lets her stream all digital music. This small model is a stylish, solidly constructed mono Wi-Fi speaker that delivers very good sound quality and is very easy to use. Mom can pair it with another Play:1 speaker in a stereo configuration for even better sound.

Consumes a lot of media

If mom loves to stream movies and TV shows, browse digital publications, and play a game of Candy Crush Saga here and there, the Google Nexus 7 tablet ($230 for the Wi-Fi-enabled 16GB model) will make her very happy. The second-generation Nexus 7 is a very well-configured small tablet with a vivid full-HD display, and it delivers extraordinary battery life.

Wants to stream video

If you want to get Mom a budget-priced streaming media player, consider Google Chromecast ($35) or the Roku Streaming Stick ($50). Chromecast has access to fewer streaming services—it does have Netflix and Hulu—but it lets you "cast" content to your TV from a computer using the Chrome browser. The Roku Streaming Stick delivers tons of content in a nearly invisible package.

Loves to bake

The Breville BEM800XL ($300) was excellent at whipping cream, mixing large batches of cookie dough, and kneading bread dough. Convenience features on this stand mixer include a leaf beater with a flexible edge that scrapes the bowl as it turns, plus a timer that lets you set the mixing time.

Cooks with fresh ingredients

Thanks to its superb performance chopping onions, slicing celery, shredding cheese and carrots, and grating parmesan cheese, the Breville BFP800XL/A ($400) is a top food processor for making hearty dips and chopping raw ingredients. And it’s surprisingly quiet. It can hold as much as 16 cups, but also has a convenient mini-bowl attachment for smaller batches.

Check our selection of the 7 gifts that save Mom time all year long.

Wants to juice without a juicer

One of our top-scoring blenders, the Vitamix 5200 ($450) can turn whole fruits and vegetables into a smooth creamy juice in just a minute. In our tests, we used apple, carrot, orange, pineapple, ice, and water. This versatile blender also excels at puréeing and is one of the few models that makes hot soup.

Enjoys a good cup of coffee

It’s a snap for the DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Genio EDG455T coffeemaker ($130) to make one cup of coffee. Cup speed and size consistency are top-notch, and the unit is easy to use, refill, and clean. It can also make subsequent cups quickly and consistently. But true coffee lovers may prefer the taste of freshly ground coffee made in a drip machine. For that try the Cuisinart Perfec Temp DCC-2800 ($100).

Appreciates fine wine

Maintaining a uniform temperature is key to preserving the flavor of any wine. In our tests of wine chillers, the Electrolux IQ-Touch EI24WC65GS ($1,530) delivered very good temperature performance and energy efficiency.

Wants to work out

The Nautilus CoreBody Reformer ($250) lets Mom perform well-rounded routines without bone-jarring motions or muscle-popping weights. Also consider an activity tracker, treadmill, or elliptical.

—Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Whem moms told Kohler that they worried about the germs on toilet handles, the manufacturer came up with a solution. Toilets that you flush with the wave of a hand. In addition to introducing new models, the company also created a kit to convert existing single-flush toilets to non-touch flush.

So far, three Kohler toilets include a sensor that lets you wave a hand over the toilet tank to flush: two Cimarron two-piece, comfort-height models, one round-front ($363 before installation) and one elongated ($462); and a one-piece San Souci elongated for $934. Kohler is also offering a do-it-yourself upgrade kit that fits many toilets. The touchless technology needs 4 AA batteries for the electromagnetic signal that detects your hand.

The kit can’t be used on top-mount-flush, pressure-assist, and ballcock-valve models. It also won’t work on dual-flush toilets, which let you press one button for liquid waste and one for solid using less water for the partial flushes. 

Early-adopters can spend way more for a hands-free toilet, according to our recent report on the connected home. The Lixil Satis smart toilet, $5,685, will flush itself automatically, play music—“Taking Care of Business,” perhaps—and clean up afterward with deodorizers and a built-in air purifier. But there’s a catch. Read our report for details on this and other smart phone-enabled products.

We don’t expect to test the Lixil Satis anytime soon. But we do plan to purchase one of Kohler’s touchless toilets for our next round of testing, scheduled for next year. If you need a toilet now, check out our Ratings of 25 single- and dual-flush models, which include recommended models from Kohler including the Kohler Cimarron Complete Solution K-11813, $250, and the Kohler Cimarron K-3589, $270.  But you'll have to flush them the old-fashioned way. If you haven’t had to shop for a toilet in some time, you’ll want to also see our toilet buying guide.

—Ed Perratore (@EdPerratore on Twitter)

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Celebrating your first Mother’s Day is a milestone for new parents. Now it’s you who gets the brunch and accolades. New moms and babies need baby gear that’s safe and easy to handle. Consumer Reports looks for those attributes and more in its tests of dozens of strollers, high chairs, and humidifiers. Here are some recommended models from our recent tests for the new mom and baby on your list.
 
Strollers
There are several stroller types for new parents to consider. Some grow with the child and others need to be replaced when your baby gets too big.
 
Travel system. A travel system is a stroller that comes with an infant car seat and base that you leave in the car. Our top-rated travel system, the Graco Stylus, $245, is sturdy and easy to fold, with such useful features as a large basket and adjustable handle. It can also be used as a carriage so a baby can lay flat. It comes with the Graco SnugRide 30 Classic Connect, a CR Best Buy, which was among the best in our tests for crash protection, and scored very good for fit to vehicle using the LATCH system.

Traditional stroller. If you choose one of these basic strollers, consider the top-rated Graco Vie4. At $90, this CR Best Buy was notably sturdy, with an adjustable handle, large basket, and excellent maneuverability. It converts to a carriage so you can use it for babies starting at birth.

Combination stroller. A combination stroller comes with separate components such as a car seat that you typically buy separately. The Peg Perego Book Plus, $500, has a sturdy feel, excellent maneuverability, and a smooth ride. It also has a reversible seat and adjustable handle, and pairs with the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30-30 infant car seat, $190, which was among the better car seats in our tests for crash protection.
 
Car seat carrier frame. Another option is a frame that accepts a variety of car seats. The CR Best Buy Baby Trend Snap N Go, $60, is lightweight and compact, with excellent maneuverability and a large storage basket.
 
High chairs
Babies are typically ready for a high chair at about 4 to 6 months. Meal time can be messy, so a chair that’s easy to clean is a good choice. The top-rated Peg Perego Prima Pappa Best, $250, comes equipped with the safety features we recommend, such as a good harness. Other helpful features include multiple seat heights and back adjustments, an adjustable tray, and wipe-clean fabric. Among lower-priced high chairs, the recommended Fisher-Price EZ Clean, $85, a CR Best Buy, is easy to adjust and clean and is a good choice if you want to keep a second chair at the home of grandparents or a babysitter.
 
Humidifiers
When a baby gets the sniffles, a humidifier can offer relief. In our tests, the Crane Penguin EE-865, $45, a CR Best Buy, earned top marks for tabletop models. With its excellent moisture output, quiet operation, and many whimsical styles, the Crane humidifier is a good choice for a child’s room. For a less-cutesy look, the Air-O-Swiss 7135, $180, was also a top performer for output and quietness.

—Artemis DiBenedetto

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Most smart locks let you instantly add or ­delete distinct user codes, so you can let your children in when they forget their keys or grant temporary access to workers from afar. Unfortunately, like many regular locks, some electronic locks come with flimsy parts that can be defeated by a well-placed kick or a small cordless drill. In fact, the best door lock from Consumer Reports' tests is a dead bolt with a standard key.

Electronic connected. The Schlage Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt smart lock, $200, easily withstood our simulated kick-in test, which is why it made our recommended list, though a cordless drill disabled it in less than 2 minutes. The keyless Yale YRD240 smart lock, $275, was difficult to drill because it lacks a key cylinder, but it was easy prey to kick-in. Once we replaced its cheap strike plate with a better one (about $10 at home centers and hardware stores), the Yale aced our kick-in test, as did others in this group. But we think a lock should be secure as sold.

Electronic. These locks can’t be controlled via an app. All work using a keypad or a key, and one opens by fingerprint, passcode, or key. But none could beat a drill, and one, the Schlage BE365 V CAM 619, $130, was the easiest to pick of all of the electronic locks. But that model was also among the toughest against kick-in, which raised it to the top of its category.

Standard. The rekeyable Kwikset 980, $30, Baldwin Prestige 380, $40, and Falcon D241, $55, did best in our tests of standard locks. All come with a sturdy strike plate and resisted all of our assaults except for drilling.

Best from our tests. But your best bet for the most protection is the key-equipped Medeco Maxum 11*603, $190 (shown). The high-security lock aced our best efforts to crack it. Of course, even the least expensive dead bolt is an improvement over the traditional key-in-knob variety.

—Ed Perratore

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

With warmer weather here, you may be planning a home improvement project. But we’re seeing a lot of complaints about roofing contractors, paving companies, and other home improvement service providers. So it’s wise to exercise cuation before signing a home improvement contract.

For instance, the Kansas attorney general in April announced that a court had ordered a Minnesota roofing company to pay an $80,000 penalty and barred it from doing business in the state after it was accused of engaging in deceptive and unconscionable practices while selling roofing services door-to-door and of attempting to collect money from consumers for work never performed.

In another Kansas case announced earlier in the month, the attorney general said that two paving contractors had been ordered to pay a $100,000 civil penalty in connection with allegations that in helping a consumer fill out a check for payment, they wrote $17,500 instead of the $1,750 agreed-on price. The state said the consumer could not write well on his own. The company had solicited the consumer’s business by going door-to-door and asserting that it was offering a good deal because asphalt materials were left over from a previous job, a tactic we’ve seen used before. Along with the penalty, the company was ordered to reimburse the consumer and was barred from doing further business in the state.

Also in April, the Kentucky attorney general announced that a roofing contractor had pleaded guilty to one count of theft by deception under $10,000 and was given a two-year prison sentence that was suspended on the condition that he pay $3,700 in consumer restitution. He previously had been indicted on 26 counts involving the same charge, primarily in connection with storm-related repairs. Most of those cases still are pending.

Finally, the New York attorney general recently said he had filed a lawsuit against a home improvement contractor whom he accused of defrauding consumers by accepting payments for work he never performed and for supplies that he never ordered. In one case, the attorney general said, the contractor took more than $50,000 from the parents of a disabled adult for home improvements needed to allow them to keep their daughter in their home. But the project wasn’t completed as promised, and work that was done was substandard.

For more tips, read “How to Hire a Reputable Remodeling Contractor.”

What to do

Never hire a home improvement contractor without first doing your homework. Here are tips on how to proceed.

Check the Better Business Bureau.  Find out whether the contractor has a report at the BBB. If it does, don’t pay attention to just the letter grade the BBB has given the company. Also review the number and types of complaints, if any, and look for reports of government actions.

Search for complaints and reviews. Try a web search with the company and contractor name and such words as "complaints” and “reviews.”

Check your state’s law.  Review your state’s laws and regulations governing home improvement contractors. You typically can find them on your state’s consumer protection website, along with advice. Some states, for example, require contractors to be licensed or registered. Some also give consumers a three-day right to cancel a contract with a contractor.

Beware of cold calls. Avoid doing business with a contractor that contacts you unsolicitedly by telephone, mail, e-mail, or by going door-to-door. Don’t fall for the old scam in which a contractor says he’s offering a great deal because he has materials left over from another job.

Get references. Ask the contractor to provide references from at least three past jobs. Contact the former customers to find out how the work is holding up. Read our report “Find a Contractor Who Won't Rip You Off or Ruin Your Project" for our advice on the questions you should ask when checking references. Or better yet, get referrals from friends and family.

—Anthony Giorgianni

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

Water filtration systems can be a smart purchase if there really are contaminants you need to remove from your drinking water. But don't be tricked into buying a filtration system unnecessarily.

The Massachusetts attorney general recently accused two companies of trying to mislead consumers into believing that their water was not safe, fit and pure to drink. The companies used mailed advertisements and door-to-door flyers to promote home water filtration systems that in some cases cost of thousands of dollars.

Both companies have agreed not engage in deceptive marketing of water filtration systems and to pay thousands dollars in penalties and costs.

What to do

Don't be duped if a water filter company contacts you unsolicitedly or runs advertising suggesting that your water is unsafe or otherwise not fit to drink. One way to find out what's in your water is to check your water utility's so-called consumer confidence report. The EPA requires utilities to provide a CCR to customers every year. You also might find the CCR printed in your newspaper or posted on your local government website.

If you have well water, the only way to know if it's safe is to have it tested. Call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) for the names of state-certified testing labs or for information about your local health authority, which might offer low-cost or free test kits. Or visit the Environmental Protection Agency's laboratory certification program. You might find that you don't need a water filter after all.

Check our water filter buying guide for reviews of filters and more information about water quality and advice for selecting a water filtration system when you really need one.

—Anthony Giorgianni

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.