The kids are back at school wearing caps and hats to keep warm. And, even though it is not a pleasant subject, head lice love those caps and like to visit with everyone. Once head lice come home from school, it’s time for some special care for hair and laundry. Learn how to control the spread of head lice by ridding linens, clothes and stuffed toys of the infestation. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Read More...

The genius behind the genius bar at Apple is now reimagining JCPenney’s 1,100 stores. Penney CEO Ron Johnson, who made it more attractive to go to Apple stores than shop elsewhere, wants to do the same for the 110-year-old retailer. To do so he is creating stores-within-a-store and a “town square” where shoppers can hang out—just like they do at Apple. He’s also enlisting the help of such A-listers as Martha Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres and designer Nanette Lepore. Read More...

When it comes to pro-style ranges, the claims are big and bold, just like the ranges: “The ultimate in performance and design,” says Viking. “Kitchen artistry” boasts Wolf. Thermador touts its “state-of-the art functionality.” With claims like these, it’s no wonder people are tempted to spend $7,000 for a range. But, as Consumer Reports’ testing suggests, you may want to think twice before going pro. Beneath all that shiny stainless steel are Read More...

I know you secretly love to do laundry! Even if you don’t, Newegg.com is giving you a chance to “heart” laundry by winning a new LG washer and dryer. Our expert guide to contests, Sandra Grauschopf, found this sweepstakes and I’m sharing it with you. Just fill out this entry form and hit submit. The contest ends January 31, 2012 and you can find the official rules here. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, you can claim “I Heart Laundry”! Read More...

Q:  Can I use Clorox® Regular-Bleach in my old washing machine to clean it? A:  This is an interesting question!  My first thought is yes, but your washer is old so it depends on the condition of your machine.  If enamel or metal surfaces inside the washer have been chipped or scratched, then the machine could be rusty.  In that case, it may be time to replace your washing machine to avoid rust stains from transferring to the clothes.  However, if your washer is in generally good Read More...

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has issued a safety recall notice for insulated lunch boxes with freezer gel packs from California Innovations Inc., of Toronto, Canada. The gel packs contain diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol which can leak out of damaged freezer gel packs, posing a poisoning hazard if ingested by children or adults. According to the CPSC, California Innovations has received two separate reports of a dog chewing and ingesting gel from the gel pack. One dog Read More...

Which products are leading the The 2012 About.com Readers’ Choice Awards nominations? Best Laundry Detergent – Leaders are method and Rockin’ Green Best Fabric Softener – Leaders are method and Bounce Best Washer and Dryer – Leaders are Maytag and Kenmore Nominations will be accepted until February 15, 2012. After the nominations are gathered (yes, you can nominate more than one choice), the top five products receiving the most nominations will move on to the Read More...

Whether you iron daily, weekly or only when necessary, there are some basics that will make ironing more productive and even easier. Ironing 101 gives you best practices for using an iron, selecting an ironing board and tips on how to iron like a professional. (Image:Univ. of Florida Baldwin Library) Read More...

Q: What is bleach? A:  The active ingredient in household bleach is sodium hypochlorite, which is derived from salt.  In fact, Clorox is headquartered in Oakland, California because we started making bleach here by running electricity through salt water from San Francisco Bay! So household bleach begins and ends as salt and water. During the laundering process, about 95 to 98 percent of household bleach quickly breaks down into oxidized salt and biodegradables, which is the primary reaction Read More...

Every week I get questions from readers about how to handle laundry stains and problems. I’m sure that many of us have experienced the same problems and asked the same questions. So, I’m sharing a Laundry Q and A every Monday, the traditional laundry day. Hope you find it helpful! … Read Full Post Read More...

Here are the laundry deals I found on sale this week: Walgreens: Purex Laundry Detergent 33 loads Buy one Get one Free; Nice! Dryer Sheets 80 ct. $2.00; Nice! Liquid Bleach 96 oz. 2 for $3.00; Nice! Laundry Detergent 32 loads $4.00; Purex Complete 3-in-1 22 sheets $5.99; Oxi Clean Stain Remover 48 oz. $5.99; Woolite 25 loads $5.99; Clorox 2 24 loads $5.99 … Read Full Post Read More...

Spicy foods are perfect for winter’s chill. At least for a short time they get the blood flowing and you feel all warm inside. And, if you happen to spill a bit of my Chicken Sausage with Sweet Potato Curry, just follow the links to remove the stains. Chicken Sausage with Sweet Potato Curry 4 chicken sausages 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small onion, diced 3 medium green apples, cored and sliced thinly 4 teaspoons sugar 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons curry powder 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 3 Read More...

A three-bedroom, two-story, single-family house with two bathrooms, central air-conditioning, a gas furnace and working fireplace on a 17,590 square-foot lot. Those were the characteristics of the typical new home of the 496,000 built in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. With baby boomers now becoming empty nesters, new homes are shrinking—down to 2,392 square feet from 2,438 in 2009. The average sales price was $272,900, up from $270,900 in 2009 but a steep drop from Read More...

Thirty-two percent of American grill owners fire up their grills for the Super Bowl making it one of the most popular grilling days of the year, according to the latest Weber GrillWatch Survey. But with two great playoff games this weekend, why wait? And if you need a grill for Super Sunday, Consumer Reports has some recommendations. We checked the availability of some of our top-rated grills using the Price & Shop feature on our website, and retailers appear to have plenty in Read More...

Q:  Can I use Clorox® Regular-Bleach on my blue jeans to create a “stain” look? A:  To create a “stain look” by using bleach to lighten portions of the denim, first let me remind you to never apply full-strength bleach to anything, even if your goal is color loss.  Bleach should always be diluted with water before using it on fabric or for cleaning hard surfaces.  That said; you may want to consider using the Clorox® Bleach Pen® Gel to achieve a decorative color loss effect on Read More...