Inhaltsverzeichnis für July 2022 in Consumer Reports

OUR WORK BEGINS by listening to you. That’s why we’ve increased our coverage of sustainability issues, so you’ll know more about products and services that don’t harm your health or the environment. Since 2009, CR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of consumers on environmental issues, and our January 2022 nationally representative survey revealed that 72 percent of you believe your actions can help protect the planet, with a majority saying you’d purchased various types of eco-friendly products, including efficient appliances. People want choices that fit their lifestyles, values, and budgets. It’s why we created CR’s Green Choice designation, so you can learn which vehicles produce the cleanest emissions and which washing machines use less water and energy. And it’s why this month’s cover story, “Save More, Waste Less” (on page…

Mesh Routers WE TESTED: 34 models WE TEST FOR: The internet speed (“throughput”) from 8 to 55 feet away from the router base, how easy the model is to set up, how well it protects your privacy, and more. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 72 Range: 31-83 EXCELLENT SPEED Netgear Orbi AC1200 (3-Pack) $200 82 OVERALL SCORE EASY TO SET UP Google Nest Wifi (3-Pack) $250 81 OVERALL SCORE BUDGET-FRIENDLY PICK T-P Link Deco W3600 AX1800 (2-Pack) $130 73 OVERALL SCORE Electric Pressure Washers WE TESTED: 24 models WE TEST FOR: Efficiency and ease in cleaning a range of surfaces, the amount of pressure offered, and noise level when in use. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 58 Range: 45-68 BEST OVERALL CLEANER Greenworks GPW2301 $250 68 OVERALL SCORE NICE PRICE & EASY…

HAVE YOU NOTICED the ever-increasing number of boxed wine options appearing in your local wine shop? The cost can be very attractive—about 50 percent less per ounce of wine than you’d pay for a traditional glass bottle. Many boxes contain about 3 liters of wine (four times more than a standard 0.75L bottle). What’s more, boxed wine stays drinkable up to six weeks after it has been opened. And—in spite of the plastic bag inside that holds the actual vino—boxed wine has a lighter environmental footprint than glass, partly because it weighs less and stacks easily, making it much more sustainable to transport. Our staff evaluated 11 popular boxed red and white wines—and we found some delicious, budget-friendly options that are worth a try. Our top three picks are below.…

→ Adopt a “FIFO” rule. That’s first in, first out. Whether in your pantry or freezer, pull items from the back. That way there’s a better chance you’ll use older (often forgotten) items before they expire or go bad. → Put your pantry to work. Spend a week cooking primarily with ingredients from your pantry to thin out older provisions. → Freeze what you won’t get through. Bread keeps in the freezer for up to three months. Freeze just-past-their-prime bananas, berries, spinach, and more to use in smoothies. Think of leftovers, frozen in individual servings, as meal prep. → Build a freezer file. Keep an itemized list on your phone of what goes into your freezer. Plan meals around it so that you don’t have to toss forgotten food when…

I confess, I was once a chronic overuser of paper towels—for wiping the counters, drying my hands, and cleaning up spills. It got so bad during the pandemic that my family of five was burning through about 20 rolls a month. To wean ourselves, we bought 60 thick white cotton washcloths at a cost of about $37 and put them in an easy-to-access bin on the kitchen counter. Then I stashed the disposable roll in a harder-to-reach place, reserving it for essential use only, like cleaning a counter with hot, soapy water after cutting up chicken. (I’m grossed out at the thought of a washcloth, potentially swimming with salmonella, mixing with my clothes in the hamper.) We have a few extra washcloths in our laundry loads, but we’ve whittled our…

At the height of the pandemic, our household electricity bill reached $200-plus nearly every month, so my wife and I wanted to install solar panels on our Maryland home. The provider told her our roof was too shady and recommended community solar as an alternative. We decided to give it a try. Our electricity is now generated by a solar farm, rather than by the utility company. Since signing up last September, our energy costs have been significantly less, thanks to the low cost of solar and credits we receive for excess solar energy we don’t use. We can revert to the main utility company if we ever want to, but with these savings? That’s not likely to happen. *Source: Nationally representative CR survey of 2,240 U.S. adults conducted in…

First, decide whether you'll DIY or hire an estate planner. In general, you can do it yourself if you know your estate won’t reach the limits of federal or state tax exemptions and you don’t have complex family dynamics—say, a blended family or relatives likely to challenge your will. This is the least expensive path to take. You can even handle your update free at online sites such as FreeWill, a service that guides you through the process of creating a legally binding will. (CR partners with FreeWill as a resource for CR members.) You can also pay a fee—starting at $99 for LegalZoom and $200 for Trust & Will—to do most of the work yourself but with some ability to ask questions or have an attorney review your plan,…

USDA Organic Seal This certification from the Department of Agriculture is rated Excellent overall by CR. 100% Organic This means all ingredients are certified organic. Products also carry the USDA Organic seal. Organic At least 95 percent of ingredients are certified organic. Products also carry the USDA Organic seal. “Made With” Organic Ingredients At least 70 percent of ingredients must be certified organic, but products can’t carry the USDA Organic seal or use “organic” on their main label panel. Products less than 70 percent organic can note organic items only in ingredients lists, such as “organic carrots.” Real Organic Project Seal A nongovernment seal, though only farms that are already USDA certified organic are eligible to pursue it. Foods must be grown in soil, not water, as USDA allows. Animals…

APPLY INDOORS Put sunscreen on 15 to 30 minutes before heading out to give it a chance to start working before UV rays hit you. USE ENOUGH LOTION In a bathing suit, use a shot-glass-sized amount of sunscreen to cover your whole body. If you’re mostly clothed, use a teaspoon on each arm, leg, or other exposed body part. SPRAY SAFELY Spray into your hand and rub into your body. Or hold the nozzle an inch from your skin and spray until your skin glistens, then rub in. DON’T FORGET THESE SPOTS Ears, upper back, backs of hands and knees, and tops of feet. And swipe on a lip balm with SPF. REAPPLY Put on more every 2 hours you’re outside and right after swimming or sweating.…

Use a credit card with strong cash-back benefits for gas. The best ones currently offer up to 5 percent—beating many gas-station-branded cards—and can save $3 to $4 on a 15-gallon fill-up. Gas is often cheaper at Costco, if you’re a member, and the gas meets the Top Tier quality standard. Plus you can save even more if you pay with the Costco Visa cashback card. Find low-cost gas with the Google Maps or Waze app, or check the GasBuddy website. Be sure to read privacy and terms-of-use disclosures before using apps to ensure you’re comfortable with the type of information they collect. Retailer rewards programs, such as Walmart+ and Kroger Fuel Points, and apps like Upside, can give you cash or points on gas purchases. Again, read any terms and…

PRESSURE WASHERS are great for cleaning concrete patios and driveways, but there are some surfaces to avoid. Decks made from hardwoods (like ipe) and even many pressure-treated woods (like Southern yellow pine) are usually fine to pressure-wash, but composite decks might not be, and doing so could void your warranty. Check with the brand first, and start with a low-pressure nozzle on an inconspicuous spot to ensure that the spray doesn’t leave marks. Take care with aluminum siding and wood shingles—the spray can dent aluminum and loosen shingles. (Low pressure on vinyl, fiber cement, and wood clapboard siding should be fine.) Finally, never pressure-wash roofing or a car—it could result in damage.…

BATTERY PUSH MOWER FOR SMALL LAWNS Ryobi RY401220 $700 83 OVERALL SCORE For lawns up to a quarter-acre in size, try a push mower. This Ryobi cuts grass evenly and comes with two batteries that, combined, offer 1. hours of run time—longer than other push mowers we’ve tested. AGILE GAS MOWER FOR LARGE LAWNS Honda HRX217HZA $980 87 OVERALL SCORE If you have a large yard (near a half-acre), our experts say a gas, self-propelled mower may work better for you. This Honda is easy to handle—but keep in mind that gas prices have been rising, and gas mowers require more maintenance than battery models. LIGHTWEIGHT TRIMMER Stihl FSA 57 $200 86 OVERALL SCORE Neaten the edges of walkways or whack weeds in a flash with this 7.5-pound Stihl trimmer.…

1 BEST BUDGET PICK AMAZON ECHO DOT (4TH GEN) $50 53 OVERALL SCORE 2 GREAT SMART DISPLAY DESIGN AMAZON ECHO SHOW 8 (2ND GEN) $130 64 OVERALL SCORE 3 TOP-QUALITY SOUND SONOS ONE (GEN 2) $220 64 OVERALL SCORE 4 MULTIFUNCTIONAL VALUE GOOGLE NEST MINI (2ND GEN) $50 44 OVERALL SCORE ONLY A FEW YEARS AGO, smart speakers seemed like little more than quaint novelties with a sci-fi twist—The Clapper meets HAL 9000 from “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Now more than 40 percent of households in the U.S. own one, and millions of us routinely issue orders to (and direct questions at) these voice-controlled, internet-connected devices, which answer to names like Alexa, Siri, and Hey, Google. It’s little wonder: Smart speakers are generally simple to set up and use. They…

Composting breaks down fruits and veggies into a nutrient-rich fertilizer—and keeps food scraps out of landfills. I have zero outdoor space and can drop off food scraps for composting at my local farmers market, but I wanted to see if I could compost in my apartment. I tried several indoor options, including the Vitamix FoodCycler, $400; the Lomi Home Composter, $499; and a few vermicompost bins, where worms do the work. (See my reviews at CR.org/composters.) The Simplehuman Compost Caddy, $50, which I was already using to collect food scraps, proved to be best: It fits in the freezer and keeps smells and bugs at bay. I then schlep the scraps to the market, happy to know that they are going back into the ground here in New York. Some…

Replacing old toilets with WaterSense models could save more than $140 a year on your water bill, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Federal standards require that new toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush; those that qualify for the EPA’s WaterSense label use only 1.28 gallons. “In our tests, many WaterSense models perform just as well as—if not better than—some higher-gallon toilets,” says CR test engineer Chris Regan. Here are three options. American Standard Champion 747BA107SC.020 $250 (shown) 77 Delta Turner C43908-WH $170 70 Glacier Bay N2428RB/N2428T $90 71 *Source: Nationally representative CR survey of 2,240 U.S. adults conducted in March 2022.…

When you need to replace a major appliance or you’re outfitting your kitchen or laundry room with a new suite, choosing a reliable brand can help you avoid problem-prone machines—and the cost of repairs. Our fourth annual Brand Reliability Rankings show how reliable a brand is relative to others, across multiple appliance types. The results are based on data CR collected from our member surveys covering more than 669,500 kitchen and laundry appliances purchased new between 2011 and 2021. Fifteen of the 29 brands in this year’s rankings earn a favorable average predicted brand reliability score. For the complete list, go to CR.org/appliancereliability.…

JOHN T. MIDGETT, an estate planning attorney in Virginia Beach, Va., recently met new clients who shared that they hadn’t eyeballed their will since their daughter was 2 years old. She’s now 54. “Just a few things have happened in their family’s life since then—and tax law has changed a lot too,” says Midgett, president-elect of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC). Even if it has been less than 50 years since you last looked at your estate plan, you’re going to want to update it, not just because you may have some changes in your family situation but also because federal estate law has been altered, especially in the past 12 years. For example, you’ll want to revise your will if any of the following apply…

SUE SCHAEFER, 57, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., is facing a conundrum. “I’m a thrifty shopper, but I prefer to buy organic,” she says. “I just feel better when I eat organic.” Because organic products are usually more expensive than their conventional counterparts, she heads to less-pricey stores that sell organic food. Even so, inflation is exacting a toll. “We used to buy organic eggs when it was just a dollar difference, but now it’s several dollars difference.” With overall food prices up almost 9 percent from the end of March 2021 to the end of March 2022, Schaefer isn’t alone in eyeing her grocery list more carefully. In a nationally representative Consumer Reports survey of 2,224 U.S. adults in April, 43 percent of those who said they had bought organic…

A SMALL BUT growing number of farmers are now earning certification (not federally regulated) for what’s called regenerative farming. This aims to stop soil erosion, which is due to climate change and practices like growing the same crops repeatedly, rendering farmland unproductive. It’s also about clean water, “land access for animals, farmworker justice, and healthy world communities,” says Mark Muller, executive director of the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation. These farmers use a variety of methods, such as improving the soil by having livestock “massage” nutrients into the land with their hooves while grazing. Regenerative Organic Certified products also carry the USDA Organic seal. Those with Regenerative Organic Alliance or Certified Regenerative by A Greener World (AGW) seals may or may not.…

MINERAL These sunscreens have titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or both. They sit on the skin’s surface, and unlike chemical active ingredients, aren’t absorbed into blood, though they also tend to be less effective. REEF SAFE You often see this on mineral sunscreens or those without oxybenzone. But there’s no standardized meaning behind this or similar claims. FOR BABIES The FDA doesn’t make a distinction between sunscreens for babies or children and those for adults. They all contain the same active ingredients and must meet the same criteria for safety and effectiveness. DERMATOLOGIST TESTED This isn’t a regulated term, so you don’t know what the product was tested for or how extensive the testing was. SPF 100 You might think SPF 100 provides twice as much protection as an SPF 50,…

CAR EMERGENCY KIT Take jumper cables, a flashlight, duct tape, basic tools, and a tire gauge. A portable jump-starter can juice up your phone and car. PACKING If your car has cargo tie-down anchors, use them to secure heavy items. Don’t let luggage block the driver’s view. ROOF AND BIKE RACKS After installing, double-check your work by driving for a few minutes (with the rack empty). Pull over and make sure the rack is still well-secured. INTERNET If your car has a built-in WiFi hot spot, consider enabling it for a month so that all passengers can use their devices. PETS For your safety and theirs, pets should be in a crate or a secured seat harness with padded straps. If needed, you can find accredited animal hospitals en route…

GLASS REPLACEMENT Coverage for a windshield or windows damaged in a crash is usually included in collision policies. Comprehensive policies will often pay to repair or replace glass due to noncollision incidents, such as storms, attempted theft, or a pebble from the roadway striking the windshield. Without that coverage, those types of repairs, which can be costly, are not covered. If your car is equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), make sure your auto glass policy will pay for the required sensor calibration, which makes the cost much higher than a conventional windshield replacement. GAP INSURANCE This is coverage you may want to skip. It’s designed to protect people who owe more on their loan than the car is worth, in case it’s totaled and collision insurance won’t cover…

1948 We test corded electric lawn mowers and say they’re lighter and quieter than gas mowers, but the power cords can snag on trees. 1954 At Bell labs, scientists develop solar “cells” that convert the sun’s energy into electric power to run equipment, such as a telephone. 1959 We tell readers how to make any A/C unit more efficient: by vacuuming condenser coils and cleaning or replacing filters regularly. 1975 President Gerald R. Ford signs the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), which includes efficiency standards for appliances. 1980 We find that bottom-freezer fridges aren’t energy-efficient. Buying a top-freezer saves more than $2,000 in electric bills over the life of the fridge. 1992 The EPA launches the Energy Star Label, which points consumers to energy-efficient products. Computers are first to…

HAND PRUNER Corona FlexDial ComfortGel Bypass Pruners $39 This cushy pair has gel grip handles that adjust to your hand size, which may reduce muscle fatigue. GARDENING GLOVES Pine Tree Tools Bamboo Gardening Gloves $10 Protect your hands from dirt and thorns—but still be able to use the touch screen on your smartphone. STANDING WEEDER Fiskars 4-Claw Weeder $49 This tool keeps you from having to hunch over while you weed, and it’s especially good at extracting deeprooted dandelions.…

Yes. Pure maple syrup is made from maple tree sap that’s been boiled down to concentrate the sugars, resulting in its char acteristic rich color and flavor. (The darker the syrup, the more intense the flavor.) But table syrup, such as a bottle of Mrs. Butterworth’s or Pearl Milling Company syrup, is a highly processed product—and most don’t contain any maple syrup at all. The primary ingredient in table syrup is corn syrup and/or high-fructose corn syrup. You’ll also find added coloring, flavoring, and preservatives in table syrup. Though maple and table syrup contain similar amounts of calories and sugars per serving, maple syrup should have only one ingredient on its nutrition label: maple syrup. Pure maple syrup also offers some nutrients that table syrup doesn’t, such as the mineral…

1 Find your phone. Is it under a sofa cushion or in the den? Ask your speaker to ping your smartphone (“Alexa, dial my phone”) to find it fast. 2 Empower someone with mobility issues. A smart speaker can make it much easier to adjust the thermostat or answer the phone without getting up or rushing across a room. If you buy separate smart bulbs or smart plugs, you can use your voice to control the lights, too. 3 Translate in real time. Smart speakers can do translation—and a model with a screen can also show you the written exchange, making it a great language coach. 4 Snooze without a snooze button. A digital valet that wakes you up at an appointed time to a duet by Tony Bennett and…

If you buy purified bottled water because you aren’t happy with what comes out of your tap, try a high-quality water filter pitcher, which can save you money while reducing waste. Take the top-rated Brita Rapids Stream. For a $25 investment, this pitcher filters up to 40 gallons of water per cartridge (replacements cost $7 each). That’s about equal to the amount of water in 303 plastic bottles (16.9-ounce), or more than twenty-five 12-packs. Brita Rapids Stream OB55 $25 (shown) 81 Pur Ultimate With Lead Reduction PPT711W $30 76 Kirkland Signature Water Filtration System $25 69 *Source: Nationally representative CR survey of 2,240 U.S. adults conducted in March 2022.…

Get more life from the mattress you have by rotating it or flipping it (depending on manufacturer guidance) at least twice a year. And follow our cleaning advice at CR.org/cleanmattress. When it’s time to replace it, don’t be fooled by terms such as “natural” or even “organic.” The two most meaningful standards are the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) certification. These three options carry one or both. Innerspring Avocado Green $1,600 (shown) 85 Foam Sleep on Latex Pure Green Firm $1,000 80 Innerspring Birch by Helix Natural $1,300 73…

Keep your documents safe. Store the original signed copy of your will in a fireproof safe at home and tell your executor and family where it is and how to access it. Share with your team. Give printed copies or electronic files to your executor, your designees for financial and healthcare powers of attorney, and anyone you have given HIPAA authorization. Your healthcare proxy should also have a copy of your advance directive. Midgett says it’s wise to store and share all of these documents in digital form, so someone who’s acting on your behalf can pull up a copy from their smartphone or laptop in any kind of emergency. Also, be sure to file your healthcare proxy and advance directive with your primary physician’s office. (You’ll want to have…

ORGANIC CAN BE a loaded term. “There’s a lot of confusion about what it means,” says Kathryn MacLean, RD, a dietitian with UC Davis Health Food and Nutrition Services in California. In CR’s survey, 42 percent of Americans said they thought organic food was more nutritious, and 66 percent thought it was better at limiting their exposure to pesticides or fertilizers. What’s true? The rules for using the USDA Organic seal on food include no use of most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Those that are allowed are tightly regulated, permitted only when other methods have failed, and must be shown to be safe for people. Organic food is also grown without genetically modified organisms or the ionizing irradiation sometimes used for pest control. For meat, poultry, dairy, or eggs, animals…

LAST SPRING, a small Connecticut lab called Valisure announced it had found benzene, a known carcinogen, in Neutrogena spray sunscreens. The findings prompted Johnson & Johnson, which makes the sunscreen, to recall affected products. And the Food and Drug Administration told manufacturers of other aerosol personal care products to test for the chemical, too. Many found it. To date, at least 15 brands have been affected, with more than 25 million products recalled because of contamination with the chemical. That includes other aerosol sunscreens, such as some from Aveeno and Coppertone; deodorants from Old Spice and Secret; and spray conditioners and shampoos from Aussie and Pantene. The recalls also prompted Consumer Reports to look for benzene in every aerosol sunscreen in our ratings, as well as several top-rated spray insect…

FIRST DRIVE Kia Sportage The redesigned 2023 Kia Sportage, cousin to the Hyundai Tucson, offers gasonly, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions, along with three adventure-themed trims. It has many key safety features, and offers a few showoff items. CR’S TAKE: The Sportage we bought makes a strong first impression, with its fancy screens and trim details. It’s roomy—front and rear. Ride and handling are competent, but the power from the base engine doesn’t stand out. BASE PRICE RANGE $25,990-$36,790 DESTINATION CHARGE $1,255 PRICE AS DRIVEN $31,220 ASK OUR EXPERTS Do I need to remove personal data from my infotainment system when I trade in my car? Yes. To safeguard your privacy and security, clear your personal data from your car before selling it. Start by reverting the infotainment system to…

SPORTY CARS BMW 2 Series Coupe Thrilling to Drive, and Fuel-Efficient 79 OVERALL SCORE ROAD-TEST SCORE 85 HIGHS Handling, braking, acceleration, fuel economy, fit and finish, front-seat comfort LOWS Tight rear-seat room POWERTRAIN 255-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine; 8-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive FUEL 31 mpg on premium PRICE $36,350-$48,550 base price + $995 destination charge Total MSRP as tested $39,595 THE REDESIGNED 2 SERIES Coupe is a rear-wheel-drive thoroughbred that’s a blast to drive, thanks to sharp handling and an energetic powertrain. It’s impressively fuel-efficient, too. Think of it as a grown-up alternative to a Toyota GR86 or Volkswagen Golf GTI. The 230i Coupe we tested proved a potent performer, with its 255-hp, turbo four-cylinder and smooth, quick-shifting eight-speed automatic. Power delivery is linear and punchy from low on…