Productopia: The ConsumerSearch Blog

Liquids vs. sheets: Which fabric softener wins?

Sarah Burns — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:40:09 +0000

We set out to settle the score: Are liquid fabric softeners better than dryer sheets? And what about those weird-looking dryer balls? In researching our new report on fabric softeners, we looked for reviewers that compare them head-to-head on their ability to soften clothing and control static. We also checked out eco-friendly options (which skip petroleum and animal-derived ingredients in favor of plant oils) to see if they work as well.

The best and wackiest iPhone Apps - the results are in

Molly McLaughlin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:10:07 +0000

Our informal "weird iPhone app" poll yielded a lot of games and novelties, ranging from a driving bear, to a surgeon armed with a pizza cutter, to some rather creative musical instruments (Pocket Sitar, Fart Piano). Just about everyone I asked has some form of lightsaber app. Celebrities from Sam Jackson to Lady Gaga have their own apps. And then there's the headscratchers such as Ask the Hoff and Blower. My favorite? Hands down, A Rotary Phone! (Oh, and RubberDuck.)

For starters, the About guide to graphic software recently reviewed the Jackson Pollack app (99 cents) that basically lets you create Pollack-style paintings on your iPhone. Sue calls it "simple, yet delightful" and "freeing," though she does point out that it's easy to inadvertently erase your painting with a slight shake of the phone. Here's what everyone else had to say.

Choosing the best mustard

Scott Nyerges — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:10:12 +0000

Mustard is one of America's favorite condiments, and it comes it literally dozens of varieties: yellow, Dijon, honey, deli-style, hot and more. With so many choices, choosing the best mustard is a challenge to say the least, but we found several good mustard reviews online, making our task easier. Read on for our take on the best mustard out there.

The paper chase: Finding the top toilet paper

Sarah Burns — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:13 +0000

Ah, toilet paper. Think these tidy white rolls are all the same? Think again.

The truth is, there's more to toilet tissue than meets the eye: softest, strongest, cheapest, gentlest to the environment, least likely to clog your plumbing -- the list of current offerings is surprisingly extensive. In our quest to find the best of the best, we researched an array of interesting reviews. Evaluations range from scientific to rude and crude, but together they reveal some surprising truths about this bathroom staple.

Family Affairs: Should parents be able to bring their kids to work?

Sarah Burns — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:00:20 +0000

Anyone who's ever juggled the work and family circus knows balance isn't easy to achieve. However, many offices have begun offering an interesting option. An increasing number of US companies are now allowing parents to take their children to work.

A crying baby in the next cubicle? Cute...or distracting? You be the judge, but know that this trend is growing.

Can you handle the truth? Picking the most accurate bathroom scales

Sarah Burns — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:50:08 +0000

If you're making a concerted effort to watch your weight, it can be a real pain if your scale gives you inconsistent measurements. If you're using an older stand-on mechanical model (the kind that displays weight with a needle and a dial), our updated bathroom scale report notes that your next scale should be digital. You'll get easier to read, more accurate and more consistent readings in most cases.

Can the Neckline Slimmer help tighten sagging skin?

Sage McHugh — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:02:30 +0000

The Neckline Slimmer, a new As Seen On TV product, promises to firm up loose skin in just two minutes a day. It's a small, spring-resisted plunger that you place under your chin to exercise the neck muscles. Developed by physiotherapist Paul Younane, it claims to be "the world's first resistance toning system for the neck, chin and face." Could this $20 gadget be an alternative to plastic surgery and make you look years younger?

Super Bowl brings HDTV bargains

Carl Laron — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:09:30 +0000

Traditionally, the week before the Super Bowl is one of the busiest TV shopping seasons of the year, as football fans use the big game as a good excuse to spring for a shiny new set. Though it's not exactly Black Friday, retailers traditionally use Super Bowl week to offer some attractive deals to lure TV buyers into their stores. Significant sales on the best performers are few and far between -- especially at bricks-and-mortar retailers. However, for shoppers willing to settle for less than the very best picture quality, we spotted a few tempting TV offers.

Appliance "clunker" rebate programs now underway

Alex Nunez — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:41:15 +0000

Back in September, we told you about the $300 million in stimulus dollars the feds were distributing to the states for use in appliance rebate programs. Distilled to its most basic level, the plan is simple: Dangle rebate cash as an incentive for people to replace older, less-efficient appliances (such as room air conditioners, dishwashers, refrigerators, central A/C, etc.) with new models that consume less energy. While that basic premise is uncomplicated, like most government programs, the execution of said premise is anything but.

Make your Super Bowl party a winner

Scott Nyerges — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:14:21 +0000

With Super Bowl XLIV just a few days away, now's the time to start planning your Super Bowl party in earnest. A good television is important, but so's the food and fun. We've scoured the web, searching for the best sources for Super Bowl party recipes and tips, and compiled them for easy reference. Whether you're a New Orleans Saints fan or you're cheering for the Indianapolis Colts (full disclosure: ConsumerSearch was pulling for the New York Jets), you'll find something to make your Super Bowl party memorable.

Clearing the air: Experts differ on air purifiers

Christine Frietchen — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:00:01 +0000

Air purifiers touted in advertisements are often hailed as miracle products, washing the air of viruses, bacteria, dust, pollen and cigarette smoke. But according to experts, air purifiers really aren't the best way to free your home from allergens in the first place. And because air purifiers can only filter air that passes through the machine, the most effective models turn out to be big and expensive. Furthermore, in an industry that seems filled with snake-oil product claims, the most heavily advertised models are usually the least effective. Our air purifers update covers models that work ... and a lot that don't.

Choosing a spill-proof travel mug

Christine Frietchen — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:00:01 +0000

If you're like most of us -- your intrepid ConsumerSearch editors -- you've probably got two or three of those silver thermal mugs at home, usually emblazoned with company logos. Banks and employers love to give away those freebie travel mugs, but we've noticed there's almost always a catch. Either the lids don't fit right and they leak like crazy, or they just don't keep coffee hot very long. We were willing to ditch all of our freebie mugs for one that works. The result? Our new report on the best travel mugs includes models that actually keep stuff hot and don't leak all over your front seat.

Dead in the water: Which blooms give you the most bang for your buck on Valentine's Day?

Sarah Burns — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:49:52 +0000

Valentine's Day, that time of the year when flowers flow like wine, is almost upon us. Unfortunately, few things are more depressing than seeing your fancy new bouquet droopy and dying the next day. To help you avoid this downer, we set out to find which flowers last the longest and determine how you can increase their natural lifespan. Here, a quick list of florists' tips on how you can breathe more life into your flowers beyond Valentine's Day.

Thinking of buying adjustable dumbbells?

Christine Frietchen — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:50:11 +0000

If you're looking to add some dumbbells to your home workout routine, fixed-weight models are the cheapest way to go. (We discuss the various options in our new report on dumbbells.) But the problems are obvious: When you're ready to graduate to heavier weight, you have to buy new ones, and if you'd like to use dumbbells for both upper and lower body exercises, you'll likely need several sets in various weight increments.

With adjustable dumbbells, you can add or subtract weight, so they take up less room and can grow with you. But there are a few things you should know before you buy.

Flyer beware: Consumers complain about two travel sites

Scott Nyerges — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:07:23 +0000

Recently, a reader contacted ConsumerSearch to ask about two travel websites, CheapoAir.com and OneTravel.com, which offered the lowest airfares for a trip to Europe he was researching. "Unfortunately," he writes, "I have found reviews on the web warning that [these] sites are not reliable and offer tickets that cannot be booked."

Although ConsumerSearch has reviewed travel sites, we weren't familiar with CheapoAir.com and OneTravel.com, so we decided to take a closer look at them. What we found suggests that you might want to think twice before using either of these travel sites to book your next flight. Plus, we turned up some tips for researching such websites on your own.

Fire risk prompts Honda Fit recall

Alex Nunez — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:25:53 +0000

Honda announced this morning that it would be recalling approximately 646,000 Honda Fit models globally due to a potential fire hazard posed by a faulty master switch. In the United States, this recall affects 141,140 examples of the 2007 and 2008 Honda Fit. Note that the 2007 - 2008 Honda Fit is the previous-generation car, as pictured to the left, and not the model currently available at your local Honda showroom. Also included in the recall are the Honda Jazz (that's the Fit's name in Europe) and City (a Fit-based sedan sold in non-U.S. markets).

Can Direct Buy really save you thousands of dollars on home improvement products?

Sage McHugh — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:48:19 +0000

You've probably been bombarded with TV commercials for Direct Buy lately. According to its website, this nationwide buying club allows members to purchase items from over 700 manufacturers at a discount. A steep, upfront membership fee of nearly $5000 gives you access to a catalog of home improvement items for three years. Direct Buy claims that members will save 25 percent on all purchases.

It's Official: The Apple iPad is unveiled

Carl Laron — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:24:38 +0000

Well, it's finally here. Following months and months (and months) of speculation, Apple has finally drawn back the curtain on its tablet computing device. Called the iPad, it more closely resembles an iPhone or an iPod touch on steroids than a full-fledged tablet computer like the ones discussed in our report on ultraportable laptops. But just because it's a better companion for fun than it is for serious work doesn't mean that people won't line up for blocks to buy an iPad once it goes on sale in late March. Or does it?

Weirdest iPhone apps: What have you downloaded?

Molly McLaughlin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:49:15 +0000

Recently, I received a pitch about an iPhone app for flooring. Yes, flooring. It's called "Floor Finder" and that's literally what it helps you do. While I've never purchased flooring in my life, I imagine shopping for it is difficult to do online - and even more difficult to do on an iPhone screen. (ConsumerSearch does have a flooring report though, if you're interested.)

Update: Toyota suspends sales of vehicles affected by latest recall

Alex Nunez — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:30:05 +0000

Last Friday, Toyota announced a recall of several models due to the possibility of the accelerator mechanism sticking, even without the presence of floormats. (Stuck accelerators due to the improper installation of aftermarket floormats are the subject of an entirely separate and ongoing Toyota recall.) When Friday's recall was announced, Toyota had still not determined a course of corrective action for the affected cars, which number in the millions.

That is still the case today, according to the latest press release from Toyota, which announces that the automaker is now taking the more drastic step of temporarily suspending sales and production of the affected models while they determine the proper course of action to address the underlying problem.

Surprise! General Motors sells Saab

Alex Nunez — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:56:14 +0000

About an hour or so ago, General Motors made an announcement that, frankly, didn't seem possible last month: Saab has been sold. GM struck a deal with Dutch supercar manufacturer Spyker, which will officially take over the beleaguered Swedish automaker.

Ignore the siren call of refund-anticipation loans

Christine Frietchen — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:48:20 +0000

It's officially tax season, and thus as good a time as any to talk about the evils of refund anticipation loans, known in industry-speak as RALs. Refund anticipation loans are offered by all of the big tax-prep services; companies will loan you the amount of your refund in exchange for a load of fees and extra charges. The advantage, say the companies, is that you get your refund faster -- anywhere from one day to two weeks. But unless you have an immediate and unavoidable emergency, every credible financial expert will tell you to skip these loans and just eFile your tax return, selecting to receive your refund by direct deposit. You'll then have your refund within two week's of your return's acceptance.

Toilet Training 101: Basic potty seat or full-featured throne?

Scott Nyerges — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:30:01 +0000

As we note in our full report on baby potties, potty chairs and potty seats are a lot more elaborate than they used to be. Some potties play music or sound effects, have flashing lights, even dispense stickers. Of course, there are still plenty of simple potty chairs and potty seats available, too. Ultimately, choosing the best baby potty comes down to a matter of personal preference. Whether you plan to go the fancy or plain route, there are a few baby potties best left on store shelves.

Up in the air: Choosing a zero-gravity flight experience

Carl Laron — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:34:48 +0000

"Up in the air junior birdman, up in the air upside down" are the first words of a 1930s jingle that's survived to this day as a children's camp song. Modern birdmen (and birdwomen) interested in experiencing flight upside down -- and in any other imaginable direction -- might want to look into one of the zero-gravity flights offered by a handful of services. However, the experiences don't come cheap, and they are not for the faint of heart; after all, there's a reason why NASA's zero-G training plane has been nicknamed "The Vomit Comet."

Rest Assured: Are these sleep "helpers" holding you back from optimal Zzzs?

Sarah Burns — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:30:03 +0000

With all the stress sneaking into our lives these days, it's no surprise we're not getting enough sleep. A recent study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that a whopping 41 percent of Americans are not catching sufficient Zzzs. But stress isn't the only thing that's holding us back from getting good sleep. Contrary to popular belief, sleep-inducing tactics like a warm bath or boozy nightcap can actually prevent you from getting restful winks, says Gregg Jacobs, author of the book, Say Good Night to Insomnia. Here, we present three traditional sleep "helpers," how they can sabotage shuteye, and what you can do to get better rest at bedtime.