Even a minor kitchen remodel can cost you $20,000 and if price is no object, you can easily spend $100,000 or more to get the custom kitchen you want. By including some smart upgrades in your plan you can build in energy efficiencies that will save you for years to come. For starters, buy Energy Star-rated appliances, which are 20 percent more energy efficient than non-Energy Star versions. Appliances with Energy Star's "Most Efficient" designation are another 10 percent more efficient. Here are more ways to save.

Replace the refrigerator. Trade a 10-year-old refrigerator for an Energy Star-rated model and save about $100 a year.
Refrigerator Ratings and recommendations.

Switch to CFLs. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs can amount to annual savings of $24 a year just in your kitchen (based on four light fixtures). CFL bulbs each save about $6 per year in electricity, so if you have 30 bulbs in your home, that's $180 per year in your pocket. CFLs produce 75 percent less heat than traditional incandescent bulbs, so your home will be cooler in the bargain.
Lightbulb Ratings and recommendations.

Ditch your dishwasher. Save around $40 a year (and 10 gallons of water per cycle) by replacing a pre-1994 dishwasher with an Energy Star model.
Dishwasher Ratings and recommendations.

Install new windows. Time to replace your windows? You'll save some $95 per year by installing ones with the Energy Star label. As with all windows, proper, gap-free installation is a must.
Window Ratings and recommendations.

Lead with LEDs. Choose LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs for under-cabinet lighting to save even more money. They cost $25 to $200 per unit, but Energy Star versions should last 22 years based on three hours of use per day.
Lightbulb Ratings and recommendations.

Right-size your cookware. Save $36 a year for an electric range and $18 annually on gas simply by using the right size pot for cooking. A smaller pot will require less energy to heat its contents, something to remember next time you consider using a 10-quart stock pot to heat up a small package of peas. Also, keep those pots covered: You'll cook more efficiently and keep the kitchen cooler, to boot.
Range Ratings and recommendations.

Adapted from Consumer Reports Kitchen Planning & Buying Guide

In Consumer Reports' latest laundry detergent Ratings, Wisk Deep Clean Free & Pure HE delivered superb results, rivaling the top-rated Tide Ultra Plus Bleach Vivid White + Bright. It actually earned the highest score of all detergents in our tough ring-around-the-collar test, making good on its promise to tackle trapped body oils and sweat. Unfortunately, a lot of consumers are having trouble finding Wisk's winning formula in stores.

"Works if you can find it!" writes one reviewer on the Wisk website. "This is the best for removing yellowing around the collar and other body oil stains. I use it on white towels and they look new again. But lately I haven't been able to find the Free and Pure version. Why are the unscented always the first go?" grouses another. We checked in with Sun Products, maker of Wisk, to see how they're handling the apparent shortage. "Wisk Deep Clean products typically have a broad distribution at retailers, including online at Walmart.com," Kathryn Corbally, director of corporate affairs, wrote in an e-mail. "However, Wisk Deep Clean Free & Pure has a narrower distribution currently, which we are seeking to expand in 2014."

Wisk Deep Clean Free & Pure HE, which can be used in high-efficiency and conventional washers, is difficult to find online, though Corbally provided a list of brick-and-mortar retailers where you should be able to find it. Most are regional stores, with names like Piggly Wiggly in the Southeast, Giant Y in the Midwest, and Price Chopper in the Northeast. So it's worth checking your local supermarket. If you can live with dyes and fragrances, you could also try Wisk Deep Clean HE, which performed very well in our Ratings and has broader distribution, including online.

Alternatively, you may have less trouble finding the five Tide products that make our list of recommended laundry detergents. And if you're a Costco member, we think you'll be impressed by the performance of the Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean Pacs and the Kirkland Signature Ultra 33% more cleaning power. Both are suitable for use in high-efficiency and conventional washers, and they're among the least expensive detergents in our Ratings.

A government rule that would require a backup camera to be standard on all new cars has been delayed a fourth time, now pushed to 2015.

The announcement came from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D, WV). In a statement Rockefeller responded, "I am deeply disappointed by the Administration's foot dragging over a rule that could help save the lives of hundreds of young children and prevent thousands of heartbreaking injuries."

The initial rule was part of the 2007 Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act signed into law by President George W. Bush to mandate the safety feature on all vehicles starting with the 2014 model year. The act was named after two-year-old Cameron Gulbransen who was killed when his father accidentally backed over him in the family driveway. Back-over accidents injure an average of 50 children a week according to KidsandCars, an advocacy group that promotes child safety in and around vehicles.

The technology is estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to cost consumers between $159 and $203 for a vehicle without a navigational screen. The price will drop to between $58 and $88 for those vehicles already equipped with a visual display.

Until the rule comes out, NHTSA wants to encourage increased adoption of these camera systems by including them as a recommended technology under its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

As more vehicles are designed with low slopping roof-lines and small rear windows, a backup camera is fast-becoming a necessity--not just for spotting children behind vehicles, but for help with parallel parking, and backing up out of parking spaces. About half of the new vehicles on the market currently offer the feature as standard equipment.

The cameras are a safety feature that you can appreciate every time you get behind the wheel. The focus for legislation has been child safety, of course, but it is truly a welcomed convenience that once experienced can be hard to live without.

Fortunately, some automakers have been integrating back up cameras in anticipation of this rule, and they have become almost commonplace--all the more reason for this rule to be finalized.

"These rules are long overdue. It's time to stop the delays and put these rules into place. Rear visibility and vehicle backovers are a serious problem, and consumers shouldn't have to wait any longer for the reforms that Congress asked for," said Ami Gadhia, senior policy counsel, Consumers Union.

When shopping for your next car, Consumer Reports highly recommends choosing one with a rear-view camera.

The most capable mowers have engines powerful enough to run the blade through tall, heavy grass. Even more essential is the mower deck, which houses the blade and takes care of processing and evenly dispersing the grass clippings. But how to tell one mower deck from another? Good news, you don't have to. The latest models of self-propelled mowers from Cub Cadet, Snapper, Troy-Bilt and even some from Craftsman, have the same exact deck and blade made by MTD. And, as we discovered in our latest lawn mower tests, it proved to be a good pairing.

Out of the newly tested, self-propelled, multiple-speed mowers, nine models from those four brands have the same blade/deck combo. And some newer self-propelled, single-speed mowers from Yard Machines and Murray have this deck and blade as well. Among push mowers, several MTD-made machines feature identical blades and decks, though their decks differ slightly from those of self-propelled models. Where the mowers differ is in engine size and quality, drive wheels, controls and other features.

What at first seemed like a cost-cutting measure has resulted in easier shopping. In our mower tests we found a crop of fine self-propelled mowers that, with little exception, cut impressively across all three mowing modes. In fact, the Troy-Bilt TB-280ES 12AGA26G, $340, and Troy-Bilt TB-320 12AVC35U, $330, both CR Best Buys, made it onto our most recent list of top mower picks, giving long-time front-runners Toro and Honda something to think about. Two models from Snapper would also have ranked among our picks, but Snapper is among the most repair-prone brands of self-propelled mowers.

From top-scoring models like the Honda HRR2169VKA and the Toro Recycler 20333, both $400, you can get mowing evenness that's a notch higher, at least when you're mulching clippings. And our lawn mower Ratings feature more top picks of walk-behind mowers, lawn tractors, zero-turn-radius mowers, and rear-engine riders. For more mower information, see our buying guide, which includes a video on how we test mowers.

What's the difference between Consumer Reports' best and worst gas grills? For starters, the best preheat quickly and evenly, and when it comes to evenly cooking food on high- and low-temperatures, they're superb. But the worst didn't deliver even heat, making grilling a challenge. Here's how to find a grill that'll get you through a summer of entertaining.

First up, figure out how much cooking surface you need. It should be large enough to fit enough food to feed the regular crowd. Larger grills usually have bigger cooking areas, but not always. Manufacturers might count warming racks and searing burners in their measurements, but we don't. To help you choose we categorize grills by their cooking areas.

Medium-sized grills
The most popular size grill, these can fit 16 to 30 burgers and the Weber Spirit SP-320 46700401, $600, tops the category. It has three main burners and preheated quickly and evenly in our gas grill tests. It excelled at high- and low-heat grilling and indirect cooking, which is ideal for slow cooking cheaper cuts of meat or whole fish and poultry by placing them next to the heat, not over it. An electronic igniter starts the grill and a side burner keeps the baked beans warm.

The bottom-rated Char-Broil 463440109 is only $200 but preheating takes longer than most medium-sized grills and wasn't so even, and high- and low-heat evenness was poor. A better bet, consider one of the CR Best Buys in the ratings, which range in price from $260 to $400.

Large grills
These hold 30 or more burgers. The highest scoring is the Jenn-Air 720-0709. It's $950 at Sam's Club. Quick and even preheating, superb high-heat grilling, and very good low-heat and indirect grilling help make it a recommended model. It has lots of stainless steel, an electronic igniter, five main burners, infrared searing and rotisserie burners, stainless steel grates, lighted cooking area, and a warming drawer. But it lacks a long burner warranty—a shame since burners are the most frequently replaced part.

The Grand Hall Odeon 32-inch Crossray Stainless Steel grill costs $1,600 and was the worst of the large grills. Preheating was slow and uneven, low-temp evenness was poor, and high temp was only fair, giving this grill an overall score of 35 out of 100. There's more. We bought it online and during testing the front right burner shut off repeatedly. The retailer told us to call the manufacturer. We did, and a month later the part finally arrived, without instructions.

Small and portable grills
With space for 10 to 15 burgers the Weber Spirit E-220 46310001, $450, is tops and the four casters make it easy to move. In our tests, preheating was fast and even, and high- and low-heat cooking were excellent. Indirect cooking was very good. An electronic igniter fires it up and the grill has coated cast-iron grates, which tend to be better for searing and maintaining even grill temps. But the coating can crack, chip, or scratch, exposing the cast iron to corrosion. Fortunately, the burners come with a long warranty.

The bottom-rated Cuisinart CGG-200 is a portable grill and costs $190. Preheating was fast and even but as this one-burner grill heats up it becomes less even on high heat, and with only one burner indirect cooking is not an option.

See all the grills that made our list of top gas grill picks.

Linen has been "a warm-weather go-to fabric for ages," according to Lucky magazine. And GQ and the Gentleman's Gazette recommend it for outings this summer. But all three style magazines caution that linen can be a challenge to keep crisp. "It does wrinkle extremely easily, however—so consider yourself warned," says Lucky. With lawn parties in high season, we asked our textile expert to share her secrets for ironing linen and other fabrics using some of the top-rated steam irons from our tests.

"Linen is sensitive to any moisture," says Pat Slaven who oversees Consumer Reports' steam iron tests. Instead of spraying dry linen with water, she recommends smoothing it out using the steam function of your iron and then making a second pass with a dry iron. "The bit of moisture left after the first pass will make the fabric relax and pucker," Slaven explains. "The second dry pass will eliminate that."

When ironing linen, it's helpful to have a steam iron with separate controls for turning the steam on and off when you need it like those on the Singer Expert Finish EF, $60, a CR Best Buy. The SInger steam iron was excellent overall and a champ at ironing. It delivers plenty of steam and has a vertical steam feature that lets you remove wrinkles from hanging garments or drapes.

In addition to using an iron than works with and without steam, Slaven has some other ironing tips that'll keep you looking dapper this summer.

• Read the manual. "Too many of us just throw it away," Slaven said, adding that the owner's manual is full of information about the iron's settings and most importantly, it contains a warranty card.
  
• Damp dry your clothes. Reducing time in the dryer makes ironing easier since "it's much easier to iron with a little bit of moisture," Slaven said.
  
• Start at the lowest temperature. Iron your silk garments first, followed by cotton and linen. "It's very easy to get your iron hotter, but it may take an hour for the iron to get cold," said Slaven. High temperatures can damage delicate fabrics.
  
• Use tap water. Irons are designed to be used with tap water, the chemistry of mineral water can damage the iron. It's fine to use filtered water.
  
• After every use, empty the iron's water reservoir.
  
• Clean your iron. Put the iron through a cleaning cycle at least once a month to keep the water jets clean.

Izabela Rutkowski

Craft beer is touted as the "it" beverage, the new wine, and becoming more popular even as domestic lager sales have slowed. So Consumer Reports' experts conducted blind taste tests of 23 craft ales and lagers and found three that were excellent and 10 more that were very good. Tough job, but somebody had to taste and tell.

An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional, and produces 6 million barrels a year at most, according to the Brewers Association. But craft beers are supposed to be free from substantial ownership by a non-craft brewer, yet some don't fit that description. There are more than 2,400 U.S. breweries and only several dozen aren't defined as craft brewers, says the association.

Craft beer is typically made with traditional ingredients although brewers may add ingredients for interest and highly original names for distinctiveness—Dogfish Head, Shock Top and Shiner, to name a few. For excellent ale consider the top-rated Stone IPA. Our experts found that it's very fragrant, with floral, fruity and juniper notes from the added hops. Next was Dogfish Head 60-minute IPA, which has a great mix of malt and hop notes and is more intense than most. The third was Samuel Adams Hopology Collection Latitude 48 IPA, which has fruity and malty notes. Five of the ales we tasted were very good.

The best lagers were very tasty but not quite complex or intense enough to be rated excellent by our tasters. Five are recommended, including the top-rated Brooklyn Lager and Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

See the results of our craft beer taste tests for all the details. And to make sure you truly enjoy your beer, here are a few tips from our experts and Restaurant-Hospitality.com, which serves the trade.

Drink from a glass, not the bottle. Much of the taste comes from the aroma and if you drink from the bottle, you won't be able to take in the aroma as well.

Don't chill the glasses in the freezer. When the ice crystals melt they add water to the beer and can dilute the flavor.

Pair craft ales with burgers. Craft ales usually have more intense flavors so their pronounced bitterness and malt, fruity, and floral flavors complement the strong flavors of burgers, ribs, steaks, sausages, and other fatty foods. The fat can help cut the beer's bitterness.

Are you planning to hit the beach or pool during the Fourth of July weekend—along with your favorite portable device? Water and sand can ruin gadgets, so you'll want to protect them. Here's how.

You can buy bags that makers claim offer maximum protection against these elements, some with features such as headphone jacks. The bags we tested last summer—from DryCase, TrendyDigital, Seattle Sports, and Lavod—stayed dry inside when we gave each a brief dunking in water. They also kept out sand sprinkled along their seals.

Out of curiosity, though, we also did the same tests with a humble Hefty Slider Bag. And guess what: It did just fine in our tests, too.

All the bags let us control the key functions of the devices inside. We could swipe and press touchscreens, for example, and adjust volume and brightness controls. We were even able to shoot photos from the enclosed devices, though the images were cloudy (especially when shot through the thicker bags). The bags' shiny plastic also increased glare, so you may want to use them in the shade.

The tighter the bag, the easier the device was to use. If your bag's a bit baggy, try to create a vacuum seal by nearly closing it, pushing the air out of the bag, and then closing it completely.

Bottom line. We recommend that you bag your gadgets for the beach or any other place where they might be ruined, say at a pool or on a camping trip. Any zipper or slider bag will probably provide passable protection, and the price is certainly right.

Go for bags that fit your gadgets well. Consider replacing a bag periodically, particularly if sand has scratched its surface. Place your device in a bag before you leave home, and try not to remove it until you're back home and have brushed sand and water off.

Q: A grill dealer recently cautioned never to use a wire brush to clean the grate, as bristles break off and get into the food. Is it unsafe to use a wire brush? —Roberta Goldenberg Bayside, NY

A: It can be. There have been recent reports of injuries, some requiring emergency surgery, when wire bristles were accidentally swallowed. Consider oiling outdoor gas grill grates to prevent sticking, and to clean grates, use high heat, crinkled aluminum foil, or other tools. If you use a wire brush, check the grates for stray bristles. If you find some, throw the brush away.

For more helpful information, check out:

• Eight great gadgets for grilling fish, veggies, ribs and more
• Is the Grill Daddy the mother of all grill-cleaning brushes?
• Five ways to botch your backyard barbecue
• Delicious dishes for the grill

To submit your own question, see: ConsumerReports.org/AskOurExperts.

A blind-spot warning (BSW) system can reduce both stress and the risk of a crash by helping you keep tabs on vehicles lurking over your shoulder and out of sight. But until recently, the only way to get one was to invest in a new car.

Never ones to miss an opportunity, the ever-vigilant automotive aftermarket has risen to the occasion, and a handful of kits are now available to update almost any vehicle with the technology. And we purchased one to try.

The Goshers Blind Spot Detection system includes a sensor for each side of the rear bumper, a left and right side LED warning display, an audible alarm unit, a controller, and all the necessary wiring to link the whole thing together.

The suggested retail price is $250; we paid $200 from an online retailer. A Premium model with two more sensors for the front is available for $350.

Installation is somewhat complicated. It requires splicing into the car's wiring, holes in the rear bumper for the sensors, and removing and reinstalling various interior trim pieces to route the wires and keep them out of sight.

The company website stresses that professional installation is required, but it does not provide a list of installers or a cost estimate to do the job. Your local repair shop should be able to perform the installation, but get an estimate first if you decide to buy the kit. One of our staff certified automotive technicians needed about four hours to install the system in a Chevrolet Cruze test car.

Overall, we found that the Goshers system works as advertised; it consistently warned us of other cars in the Cruze's blind spots with both an audible and visual warning. If anything, the system was a little overzealous, at least until we set the adjustable sensitivity level to its lowest setting and opted to receive warnings only when a turn signal was switched on. Without making those adjustments, warnings were pretty much constant, as the Gosher system warned us of guardrails, roadside walls, tunnels, and other large objects.

What cannot be changed is that unlike a built-in system that typically deactivates below a certain speed threshold, the Gosher kit operates at any speed, and there is no on/off switch. Sound can be turned off, but expect to be looking at LED warnings even at low speeds, such as when parking or stopped at a traffic light.

The Goshers system may not be perfect or have the built-in integration of one from the factory, but if you've been wishing for the added convenience and security of a blind-spot warning system, it might be worth a look. It's a lot less expensive than a new car. But even with this limited technology, these systems are not a replacement for common sense practices of glancing over your shoulder and checking your mirrors.

You can't say that GE doesn't think outside the refrigerator box. When the appliance maker decided to target the millennial market it turned to someone in that cohort to design a kitchen suite that's both trendy and affordable. Created by a 27-year-old industrial designer, the GE Artistry Series turns back the clock from digital to analog and features appliances with a high gloss finish and chunky metallic knobs and handles. The four-piece suite will sell for $2,400.

The designer, Tomas DeLuna, focused on the features that consumers interact with most—handles, knobs and clocks. "Making the critical consumer touchpoints metallic, and set against either a pure, white gloss or black gloss finish, creates a look that is both familiar to our consumers, yet remains fresh and modern," he said in the announcement. "The design is authentic and contemporary with a nod to the past."

The suite, which will be available in late summer, features a conventional bottom-freezer refrigerator, $1,099, dishwasher, $499, over-the-range microwave, $219, and an electric smoothtop or gas range, $599. The refrigerator and dishwasher are Energy Star qualified. But in other ways the appliances are retro-tech without the digital touch screens and clocks typically seen on today's models.

Because it's not on the market yet, we haven't tested appliances from the Artistry Series but we have tested plenty of GE appliances with varying results. A conventional bottom-freezer refrigerator in the same price range, the GE GBSC0HBX[WW], $1,050, had very good temperature performance and energy efficiency but our testers found the layout, controls and lighting to be lacking so it missed our list of top refrigerator picks.

Our top dishwasher, a Kenmore, scored an 85 out of 100. The best score earned by a GE model, the GE GDT550HSDSS, $650, was 74. The dishwasher was excellent at washing and energy efficiency but not as quiet as others that scored better or as convenient to use. An over-the-range microwave priced similarly to that in the Artistry Series, the GE JVM1540DP[WW], $200, was excellent at heating and defrosting and quieter than most but was not as quick at heating water as models that rated better.

An electric smoothtop range, the GE JB705STSS, $1,000, did make our list of top range picks but cost $400 more than the Artistry range. It was excellent overall and superb at most cooking tasks in our tests. An $800 gas range, the GE JGBS23SETSS, missed the mark with mediocre high-heat and broiling results. We'll be interested to see if the Artistry ranges cook as good as they look.

Revisions to COPPA, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, went into effect today after nearly two years of review. The changes reflect new ways kids are using the Internet, including how they interact with mobile devices and social networking.

COPPA, first put into effect in 2000, regulates the ways in which businesses and other online operators are allowed to collect and use personal information from children under the age of 13. The new rule adds "persistent identifiers such as cookies that track a child's activity online, geolocation information, photos, videos, and audio recordings" to the definition of children's personal information.

Operators have to notify parents and get their verifiable consent before they're permitted to collect, use, or disclose such personal information, and collected information must be kept secure.

"These are important new tools for parents and children. The ways that children use the Internet have changed enormously since COPPA became law in 1998 and took effect in 2000," said Delara Derakhshani, policy counsel for Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports. "Kids engage in online media at earlier ages, and companies have greater access to children's personal information through social networks, mobile apps, and gaming. The new rules put stronger protections in place that are aimed at a wider variety of digital media. They help bring much-needed clarity to what's considered 'personal information,' as well as the rights and responsibilities for parents to protect their children."

The FTC is also offering an updated guide for parents called "Protecting Your Child's Privacy Online" that explains what COPPA is, how it works and what parents can do to help protect their children's privacy online.

Soleus Air's $225 SG-DEH-70-2 dehumidifier has been a CR Best Buy in Consumer Reports' Ratings. But it's also among the models cited in a recent stop-sale notice issued by the manufacturer after reports that the dehumidifier can overheat, smoke, and catch fire. For that reason, we've removed this dehumidifier and two other Soleus Air models affected by the stop sale from our Ratings of dehumidifiers.

The company's notice includes models that were sold between January 2010 and the beginning of 2013 and distributed under either the Soleus Air or Kenmore brands in 25, 30, 45, 50 and 70-pint sizes. MJC America, which owns the Soleus Air brand, recently filed suit in federal court in California asserting that the dehumidifiers were defectively designed and encased in a non-fire-retardant plastic by its Chinese manufacturing partner, Gree Electric Appliances.

Gree Electric Appliances says it is investigating the issue in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. While the CPSC couldn't provide further specifics, a federal official told Consumer Reports that a stop-sale announcement can be a precursor to an official product recall.

The Soleus Air SG-DEH-70-2 dehumidifier we tested showed no fire risks in our tests and performed well enough to earn a CR Best Buy in our Ratings. But as a result of the stop sale, we have removed it from our Ratings. We also tested two smaller Soleus dehumidifiers that are affected by the stop sale, the Soleus Air SG-DEH-45-2, and the Soleus Air SG-DEH-45-1, but they did not make our list of top picks. We did not test the Kenmore models in the stop-sale notice.

We'll update this story with any new information, including details of any CPSC recall, as it becomes available. Meanwhile, if you own one of the dehumidifiers listed in Soleus Air's safety notice, which includes dozens of models, stop using it immediately and call the manufacturer at 866-853-2802. Lowe's, one of the retailers that sold the defective dehumidifier, says that customers can return the product to its stores for a refund.

If you're shopping for a dehumidifier, consider the $238 Frigidaire FAD704DUD, which costs a little more than the Soleus Air and was tops overall in our dehumidifier Ratings.

Some dishwashers clean better, faster, and more quietly than others; of the dozens we test each year, only the Fagor LFA-65SS, $1,000, repeatedly drenched our lab floor with water. We've judged it a Don't Buy: Performance Problem as a result.

We bought and tested two samples of the Fagor. The same thing happened through five separate runs: Food from our test load of dirty dishes clogged the machine's filter after the initial rinse, prompting its control system to add more water, which rose in the tub and spilled out through the door. The control system eventually shut off the dishwasher and sounded an alarm in each case. But by that time, the Fagor had already leaked for two to three minutes and spilled roughly 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 gallons of dirty water onto our floor. We called an authorized repairmen and were told that the "unit was functioning properly."

Most dishwashers have a float at the bottom of the tub that's designed to cut off the water supply if the level rises too high. The Fagor's float is beneath the circulation pump, not in the tub. That means the float can help prevent leaks at the pump—but can't control water levels inside the tub.

The Fagor LFA-65SS did its job without leaking after we cleaned its filter and screen. Most dishwashers require those cleanings regularly but without flooding your floor if you forget.

Our advice: If you're dishwasher shopping, choose the Kenmore Elite 12793, $1,200, or Bosch Ascenta SHX3AR7[5]UC, $700, instead. Both topped our tough tests and cleaned superbly without spilling a drop. And if you already own the Fagor LFA-65SS, we suggest pre-rinsing your dishes—a water-waster we don't recommend for other dishwashers—and cleaning the filter and screen after every load.

The hot weather combined with heavy rains in parts of the country have made this a particularly bad year for mosquitoes, which suggests it could also be a bad year for West Nile virus, which is spread by mosquitoes.

Last summer's outbreak of West Nile was the deadliest on record in the U.S., with 5,674 cases reported in 48 states, including 286 deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has logged only six cases of West Nile infection so far this year, including one fatal case in California. But it's still early in the season (last year's outbreak peaked in August), and if you haven't already taken steps to protect yourself from mosquito bites, now is the time to start. Those include the following:

• Use insect repellent when you'll be outside. See which repellents performed best in our most recent tests.

• Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt if you go outdoors at dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.

• Empty standing water from gutters, flowerpots, buckets, or other items outside your home.

• Install or repair screens on windows and doors.

• When possible, keep your windows closed and use air-conditioning. That helps keep mosquitoes from getting inside in the first place, plus it creates a less-hospitable environment for them, since they thrive in warmth and humidity.

There's no specific treatment for West Nile infection. But seek medical attention if you develop symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. You might need interventions to help support your body's functions until the infection clears. In severe cases (less than 1 percent overall), West Nile can invade the nervous system, potentially causing serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis. About one-tenth of serious cases—known as neuroinvasive illness—are fatal, the CDC says.

Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Borrowing from the concept of a designated driver, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is recommending that every swimming event have a dedicated "water watcher" to keep an eye on young swimmers. Doing so could help prevent some of the nearly 400 drownings and 5,100 swimming accidents that occur each year in children under 15. Those incidents peak on July Fourth weekend.

Of the deaths, 73 percent happen at someone's home. Two-thirds of the injuries and fatalities involved children between the ages of one and three. The majority of deaths, 60 percent, occur in in-ground swimming pools, 15 percent in above-ground swimming pools and 9 percent in so-called portable pools.

Because they are inexpensive and easy to set up, portable or inflatable pools are a growing category. But while they resemble small kiddie pools, the newer versions are much bigger and hold a lot more water—up to 2,000 gallons. Too much, our safety experts caution, to make it practical for them to be filled and emptied each time they're used, as warnings on the pools advise. Unlike other above-ground pools, the sides of the inflatable pools are soft and squishy so kids can easy climb over and fall into the water.

No matter what kind of pool or body of water you're splashing around in, the CPSC says to take precautions. "I want families and friends to enjoy their time together in and around the pool during the July Fourth holiday," Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said. "But if past years are any guide, unless we all follow the simple safety steps around the pool, more than two dozen families will suffer a tragic loss during the week of Independence Day." Here are some tips from the CPSC's website, PoolSafely.gov.

• Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa, and always watch children closely around all bodies of water.
  
• A designated water watcher supervising children should not be reading, texting, using a smart phone or otherwise distracted. Adults can take turns watching swimmers.
  
• To avoid entrapments, keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings.
  
• Have lifesaving equipment such as life rings, floats or a reaching pole easily accessible.
  
• If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first.
  
• Keep a telephone close by when you or your family are using a pool or spa.

With all the graduations that June brought and summer weddings that follow, you might as well keep the tissues close at hand. Sure, they become a necessity during the cold and flu season, and allergy season is nothing to sneeze at, but tissues for tears also require softness and strength. Consumer Reports put 18 products to the test and found big differences.

First, a look at our tests. We used an Instron material testing machine, which stresses each tissue until it rips, to test strength. For softness human hands work better, so up to seven trained testers judged each tissue against predefined softness standards using a five-point scale in a room with a set temperature and humidity. The results? Our tests found that the products ranged from fair to excellent.

Puffs, Kleenex, repeat. Five products offer an impressive combination of strength and softness and are recommended. The top-rated Puffs Ultra Soft & Strong was the strongest of all and soft, making it excellent. Kleenex Lotion Aloe & E was softer and strong, and its price and excellent score make it a CR Best Buy. The other recommended picks are from Puffs, Kleenex, and Puffs again.

What's in a name? Bottom-rated Ology Soft & Strong sold at Walgreens was one of the least soft. And CVS's Total Home Soft & Strong? Not so strong. However, if what you've always wanted is a tissue that feels cool right out of the box, Kleenex Cool Touch tissues do. The Kleenex website claims this is the only tissue that actively releases a cool sensation to soothe a sore nose.

For the full list check the results of our facial tissue tests. You'll see tissues with lotion, store brands from Costco, Target, Walmart, and others. Need a dehumidifier to go with those tissues? Humidity levels over 50 percent can breed dust mites, mildew, and mold, which may worsen allergies. Our dehumidifier Ratings show that the best dehumidifiers aren't necessarily the most expensive. Now that's a relief.

Who owns barbecue bragging rights is a debate that won't be settled anytime soon. Folks from Texas to Kansas City to the Carolinas, among other regions, boast that they have the best and most authentic barbecue. Countless books have been written on the subject and competitions across the country proclaim their own barbecue kings. At Consumer Reports, we're not taking sides but we do have an opinion on the best gas grills and will throw in our recipes for barbecue rub and sauce to help you enjoy your Fourth of July.

When choosing a gas grill, pick one that accommodates the amount of food you usually grill. Mid-sized grills are the most popular size. They can fit 16 to 30 burgers and in our gas grill tests, the Weber Spirit SP-320 46700401, $600, topped the category. It has three main burners and preheated quickly and evenly. Large grills hold 30 burgers or more . The highest scoring is the Jenn-Air 720-0709, $950, sold at Sam's Club. Quick and even preheating, superb high-heat grilling, and very good low-heat and indirect grilling help make it a recommended model. With space for 10 to 15 burgers the Weber Spirit E-220 46310001, $450, is tops in our tests of small grills and the four casters make it easy to move. In our gas grills tests, preheating was fast and even, and high- and low-heat cooking were excellent. Indirect cooking was very good.

Below are recipes for barbecue rub and sauce from the kitchen at Consumer Reports. You can use them together—first the rub, then the sauce:mdash;or separately. If you like your food spicier or milder, adjust the ingredients to taste.

Simple barbecue rub

• ½ cup sweet paprika
  
• 2 Tbsp ground cumin
  
• 2 Tbsp mild chili powder
  
• 2 Tbsp ground black pepper
  
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  
• ½ tsp ground cloves

BBQ sauce with a kick

• 1 cup ketchup
  
• ¼ cup mustard
  
• ½ cup red wine vinegar
  
• ¼ cup molasses
  
• ½ cup water
  
• 1 cup brown sugar
  
• ½ cup sweet paprika
  
• 2 Tbsp ground cumin
  
• 2 Tbsp mild chili powder
  
• 2 Tbsp ground black pepper
  
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  
• ½ tsp ground cloves
  
• 1 tsp salt
  
• 1 tsp garlic powder

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Maybe it's time to change up the traditional cookout menu of burgers, steak and hot dogs. Today's grills come with a bounty of new features and accessories that make it easier than ever to do more than flip burgers. One good option that's surprisingly easy is pizza on the grill. You can put your pie right on the grates or use a pizza stone made especially for gas grills. Here's how, including recipes for both the pie and the sauce.

Consumer Reports recently tested two pizza stones. The Weber Style 6430 pizza stone, $50, is good for cooking one large pizza or several personal-sized ones. A handle allows you to easily move the stone from the grill or rotate it during cooking to adapt to hotter spots. But they get very hot. The Brinkmann 13-inch pizza stone, $13, sold at Home Depot, is best for cooking pizza or flatbread with a crispy crust. But, like like other pizza stones, it's fragile and can break if exposed to extreme temperature changes (from the grill to a cold or wet counter, for example). And it's hard to move because it gets blazing hot and has no handles.

Some recipes for pizza on the grill recommend putting the crust right on clean, well-oiled grates so that's an option. Below are recipes for sauce and the crust. You can add cheese and some thinly sliced veggies or meat but too many toppings can make your pizza soggy.

Rustic pizza sauce

• 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  
• 6 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped
  
• 2 large tomatoes
  
• Salt, pepper, red pepper flake to taste

Pizza dough

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1 packet active-dry yeast
  
• 1 ½ tsp salt
  
• 1 tsp sugar
  
• 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  
• 1 cup + 1 tsp warm water (approx. 120 degrees F)
  
• Extra flour for dusting
  
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  
• ½ cup fresh basil, chiffonade

Top grills
We've added new brands, new tests and lots of lower-priced models to our tests of more than 100 gas grills. We found 31 winners in our recent gas grill tests including the small Weber Spirit E-220 4631000, the mid-sized Weber Spirit SP-320 46700401 and the large Jenn-Air 720-0709 sold at Sam's Club.

Tired of a boring deck, patio, or terrace? The eight products listed here will help you transform a drab outdoor space into a summertime fun palace.

Blender: We've got the scoop on the best blenders for summertime smoothies and more adult-centric libations.

Deck stain/sealer: To restore or maintain your deck's luster, you'll need a stain or sealer that excels in our tests. Home Depot's Behr is tops in the solid and semitransparent categories, while Thompson's WaterSeal is best among sealers.

Gas grill: A highly rated grill might not morph you into a grillmaster but it sure will impress family and friends. Check out the best and worst grills.

Insect repellent: A reliable insect repellent can keep you from being eaten alive and protect you from West Nile virus.

Outdoor lightbulbs: Good lighting means you can enjoy your outdoor space well into the evening. And energy-efficient CFLs will lower your utility bill. For best performance, match the lightbulb to the fixture.

Sunscreen: Don't let a sunburn ruin your outdoor fun. Learn about the three things to look for in a quality sunscreen.

Tablet or e-book reader: Whether you're catching up on a TV series on Netflix or just reading a good book, you'll want a device with good battery life and the ability to handle bright light. Check our Ratings for all the details.

Wireless speakers: These gadgets let you play the tunes stored on your mobile device via Bluetooth. We've identified three top choices in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speakers.

Related:
Eight great gadgets for grilling fish, veggies, ribs and more
A geek's guide to summer survival
Protect yourself from hot-weather perils
How to childproof the four highest-risk areas of your yard