Air Cleaners, Heating & Cooling

Dry, hot air can irritate the respiratory system and make a child's cough or cold even worse. A humidifier can help make your baby more comfortable--as long as you keep the unit clean.

All the air conditioners in our latest tests do an excellent job of cooling and come with such convenient features as a digital display, a built-in timer, a remote control, or touchpad controls. But some models are noisy and others struggled to cool during brownouts. Find out which to buy for your home.

The newest steam irons might make you reconsider sending your clothes to the local dry cleaner for a fresh press. Many new irons are safer, easier to use and release enough steam to smooth dry cotton and linen. Our latest tests show that even budget-friendly models can make your casual-Friday chinos look their best.

A dehumidifier can take that sticky feeling out of a damp basement or crawl space. Humidity levels above 50 percent can breed dust mites, mildew, and mold, which may worsen allergies and asthma. Our latest tests show that the best dehumidifiers aren't necessarily the highest priced.

Sales of space heaters are sizzling as millions of homeowners buy into the promise of lower-cost heating in an era of soaring utility bills. But there are also important safety issues to consider, especially if you have small children or pets in your home. Newer models tend to have the most current safety features.