Sewing machines have come a long way since Elias Howe invented the first one 150 years ago. Today’s smart machines do everything but tummy tucks. (And someone’s probably working on that.) High-Tech Sewing Today’s machines sport computer microchips for a panoply of …

Ever savor August’s ripest peaches suspended in rich, homemade ice cream? Then you know the advantages of owning an ice cream maker: peak ingredients, no preservatives, near immediate gratification. You may not, however, realize how far ice cream makers have …

A good food processor is a cook’s best friend. Food processors come in three capacities: full size (14 cups and larger), midsize (7 to 11 cups) and mini (2 to 4 cups). Full-size processors are high-end, professional machines designed for …

Wet/dry vacuums come in more permutations and perform more jobs than just about any two tools combined. Yet they’re exceedingly simple machines. Hard Workers Not much more than a hose fitted to a motor mounted on a bucket, these vacuums can mop …

If the taste of your tap water makes you gag, you’re not alone. Americans buy more than 3 billion gallons of bottled water each year, at a cost of up to 30 cents per glass. Any water filter will produce …

All basic models chop, shred, dice and puree, and deluxe machines can juice, whip, knead dough and even grind meat. To find the food processor best for you, check out these tips on must-have features. Bowl size: The larger the work …

Trekking to the corner coffeehouse for your espresso fix may be a thing of the past. Today’s home machines — which range from adequate to excellent — produce the supercharged brew in your own kitchen or office. Whether manual or …

Imagine walking on a favorite blanket 24/7, then attempting to return it to pristine condition by cleaning it annually with a damp mop. That’s essentially been state-of-the-art carpet cleaning until very recently. Nature Abhors a Vacuum The chief advantage of owning your …

The dirtiest air you breathe is the air in your own home. According to the EPA, indoor air can be up to five times as polluted as air outside. Dust, pollen and smoke are the most common irritants, but carpets …

Today’s dishwashers offer a nearly mind-boggling array of options to get this daily chore done. You can match your cabinets, pots, lifestyle and even noise tolerance by choosing the right features. All models give you clean dishes, but some give …

Cooktops offer flexibility — in fuel source and layout. Typically, cooks who want a different fuel source for cooking and baking will buy a cooktop instead of an all-in-one range, although many of today’s ranges offer dual-fuel (gas cooktop/electric oven). …

Confused about which big box to buy? We’re here to help. Buying a clothes washer isn’t the most exciting (or easy) chore. Face it, they all look pretty much alike, and they all do basically the same thing. But the …

There is more than one way to dry your clothes. Putting on warm, clean clothes fresh from the dryer is one of life’s simple pleasures. How your clothes get that warm and dry depends on the type of dryer you …

Room air conditioners — which come in window, wall-mount and portable styles — are designed to cool one room or area of house. And today’s room air conditioners are more efficient, quieter, and easier to use and maintain than even …