Home Appliances

Make your kitchen feel like new with our instructions on sharpening knives and scissors; fixing china, porcelain, and glass; making a polish for brass, silver, and copper; and making new potholders out of old towels.

By Editors of Consumer Guide

For busy families, every minute in the kitchen counts. But for some chefs, it's less about how long it takes to cook and more about how long it takes to clean. That's where nonstick cookware comes in.

By Jessica Brown

Washing machines make the work of getting your clothes clean so much easier than laundering them by hand. How do these machines mix duds and suds so effectively?

By Stephanie Crawford

Many new freezers have features to prevent frost and digitally monitor temperatures, but the technology has been evolving for years. How do freezers keep your food from spoiling?

By Brian Boone

If you're a foodie, or if you're just looking for a way to modernize your kitchen, you may be considering an induction cooktop. But how do these cooktops work, and are they worth the expense?

By Nicholas Gerbis

Burned chunks or gooey paste can be the disappointing result of rice gone wrong, but a rice cooker can even the odds for even the klutziest cooks in the kitchen.

By Jessika Toothman

Getting your oven dirty is easy. Getting it clean again is another matter entirely. Self-cleaning ovens sound good, but do they really work as well as their makers promise?

By John Kelly

There's nothing worse than having your AC go on the fritz in the middle of summer. And one of the biggest reasons for air conditioning failure can be easily prevented.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Everyone loves a fire. But the chopping and storing and constant stoking of firewood can be a drag. Now there's an alternative that's not only more convenient, but also cost-effective and environmentally friendly: the wood pellet stove.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Steam is a powerful cleaning agent. It sterilizes without detergent and can effectively detach dried-on muck from plates and cups. But do steam dishwashers live up to their hype?

By Jane McGrath

Lots of people like the relaxing massage they get from the water jets in a hot tub. But some people prefer a gentler touch. How are air tubs different from whirlpools?

By Dan Fontaine