Consumer Reports December 2022

I OFTEN GET ASKED how CR decides what to test, what to write about, or what corporate overreaches to investigate. Well, one way we keep our finger on the pulse of the consumer marketplace is by asking consumers. Every year we survey more than 1 million, including through our American Experiences Surveys. The insights we gain help us put consumers first in a marketplace that too often makes it challenging for them to choose wisely. They give us a window into new trends that may be emerging, some promising and some more troublesome. For example, in one of our recent nationally representative surveys, only 35 percent of Americans said they could trust that the products and services they buy will not cause physical harm. That’s alarming. And nearly two-thirds said the…

Seeking Free Credit Reports Credit scores can make or break your financial future, potentially determining whether, for example, you can land an affordable home or auto loan. And they’re frequently used by employers to evaluate job applicants, by landlords to screen prospective tenants, and by insurance companies to price their policies. So the ramifications can be enormous if credit reports—the collections of raw credit information on which credit scores are based—aren’t accurate. In fact, when CR asked consumers to review their credit reports in 2021, about a third of the almost 6,000 volunteers reported finding errors. (While this wasn’t a nationally representative sample, the findings were comparable to earlier studies by other organizations.) The best way to ensure that your credit reports are accurate is to check them frequently. That has been relatively…

I LIKED THE article, especially the breakdown of services and prices. One element missing was the cost of internet service itself, particularly for a standalone internet package without cable vs. an internet and cable bundle—which can play a significant role in the total bill. —Kathryn Price, Nashville, TN EDITOR’S NOTE Moving from cable TV to streaming does require a decent internet connection. Several things will affect price, including where you live and whether there’s competition in your area. The cost of internet service can go up if you separate it from TV service. Try negotiating with your provider; as cable companies lose TV business to cord-cutters, they appear to be more willing to deal to keep their internet customers. Ask about a lower-cost plan—it may not be advertised. Providers may have plans…

What’s the difference between a stain remover spray and laundry detergent? STAIN REMOVER SPRAYS, like the three shown above, are typically made with the same ingredients often found in your regular liquid laundry detergent bottle: surfactants, enzymes, and polymers, which are cleaning agents and compounds that help remove the soil from clothing. But stain removers are more concentrated, while regular detergents are made to be diluted with lots of water. That said, in past tests we’ve found that the very best liquid detergents (such as Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release and Persil ProClean Stain Fighter) can rival the stain-removing power of many sprays if you dab some of the detergent directly onto a stain and let it soak for 5 minutes before washing.…

Slow Cookers WE TESTED: 19 models WE TEST FOR: The tenderness of meat after slow cooking for 5 hours on high heat or 8 hours on low heat; how easy the model is to use and to clean; and more. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 72 Range: 59-87 MAKES EXCELLENT STEW Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker 6 Qt. 33866 $82 OVERALL SCORE BIG ENOUGH TO FEED A CROWD Elite Platinum 8.5 Qt Programmable MST-900D $70 OVERALL SCORE NICE PRICE Black + Decker Digital Programmable SCD1007 (7-Qt.) $62 OVERALL SCORE Stain Remover Sprays WE TESTED: 6 products WE TEST FOR: How well a spray removed dirt, coffee, salad dressing, and other tough stains. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 76 Range: 71-86 BEST STAIN REMOVER OxiClean MaxForce Spray 36¢ per ounce OVERALL SCORE GOOD VALUE Shout Triple-Acting Spray 11¢ per ounce OVERALL SCORE TOPS FOR COFFEE STAINS Spray ’n Wash Max Spray 25¢ per ounce OVERALL SCORE Robotic Vacuums WE TESTED: 41 models WE TEST FOR: How well a vacuum cleans…

What’s the best way to keep indoor plants healthy in winter? WINTER’S SHORTER DAYS and drier air can mean your plants may require a little extra TLC to thrive. First, you may need to adjust your watering schedule. Most houseplants don’t need as much water during the winter months as they do the rest of the year. Instructions for proper watering should be on the care tag that came with your plant. (If that’s long gone, you can look up care instructions for free on a website such as Almanac.) But in general you should water the soil only when it’s mostly dry. Just stick your finger into it: If it feels dry at a depth of about 2 inches, it’s time to water. Still unsure? Invest in a moisture meter…