Starting this week more than 27,000 consumers who purchased certain vacuum cleaners and air purifiers made by Oreck will be getting checks for $25 from the Federal Trade Commission under an agreement between the government and the manufacturer. Oreck claimed its Halo vacuum and ProShield Plus air purifier could reduce the risk of flu and other illnesses, and eliminate virtually all common germs and allergens. Last year Oreck agreed to pay the FTC a $750,000 fine.

With some of the warmest months on record, folks took to calling 2012 the year without a winter. But we're certainly going to have a summer. Three-quarters of the nation will experience temperatures that are higher than normal from June through August, according to the federal Climate Prediction Center. To help you beat the heat, Consumer Reports has new Ratings of window air conditioners. We also have the results of our central air reliability survey in which readers told us which systems worked for them, as well as energy-saving tips so you can run your A/C without running up your utility bill.

It used to be that spending less on an entry-level refrigerator meant settling for a bare-bones design and limited features. Picture the inside of an old top-freezer, with its wire shelves, single-bulb illumination, and freezer devoid of storage compartments. But our latest report on refrigerators tells a different story, with many low-priced models boasting features once reserved for the higher-end.

Self-propelled walk-behind mowers are useful for most lawns under a half-acre, especially if you have any hills. If you don't want to shell out $350 to $600 for the better self-propelled models, which have multiple speeds for various cutting situations, you might consider a single-speed model. We've separated out single-speed self-propelled mowers, which start at $250 for recommended models, from multiple-speed in our recently updated Ratings for self-propelled mowers.

Even in a weak housing market, consumers still prefer countertops with the look of luxury. A recent survey of potential home buyers found that granite or another natural stone was the most preferred material, with 20 percent of the respondents saying it was essential and another 53 percent who deemed it desirable.

Ever since phosphates were eliminated from dishwasher detergents two summers ago, consumers have been complaining about "clean" dishware coming out of the dishwasher covered in a frosty-white film. The chorus of complaints caused Consumer Reports to add hard-water performance to its dishwasher detergent tests and the results changed the rankings of some products. When the new test was factored into the ratings, Finish Quantum, the detergent that was formerly number one for cleaning dropped to number three. Method Smarty Dish, formerly a fourth place finisher, scored the worst on the new test and tumbled to tenth.

Energy and water efficiency standards released today by the U.S. Department of Energy will deliver clothes washers that use as much as 35 percent less energy and water and dishwashers that use about 14 percent less energy and 23 percent less water. While the standards don't take effect until 2013 for dishwashers and 2015 for clothes washers, many top models in Consumer Reports' current Ratings of these appliances already make the grade.

Getting dinner on the table night after night can be one fine juggling act. Fortunately, many of the ranges on the market today have new features that trim cooking time and offer flexibility. If you haven't replaced your range in a decade or so, you'll be happy to see models with one or two high-powered elements, warming drawers and elements, and convection oven modes that speed baking.

After two of the hottest summers on record, homeowners are now assessing their cooling needs for the coming months and budgeting ways to pay for them. Cooling accounts for nearly 20 percent of a home's utility bill, according to Energy Star. And if you have a leaky central air conditioning system or a window unit that's the wrong size for the room, you'll spend even more and get less cooling. But there are ways to save even on hot summer days.

A backyard barbecue skips the formalities and fills a patio with friends who answer the call of "come and get it" when steaks and corn on the cob are hot off the grill. This simple fare promises to taste even more delicious when eaten outdoors where the mood is relaxed, unless a problem flares up. Here are five gas grill goofs that guarantee your cookout will be unforgettable, although not in the way you intended.

With a long summer of mowing ahead, parents of teens and pre-teens may be wondering when it's safe for a child to take over this chore. Children under 18 suffer 13 percent of the 68,000 mower injuries treated annually in emergency rooms, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. With that in mind, the AAP recommends that no child younger than 12 operate a walk-behind mower, that no teen younger than 16 drive a riding mower and that children never be allowed to ride along as passengers.

Corded-electric string trimmers are definitely tempting if you have a small property without a lot of dense growth. They're the least expensive and fairly lightweight. And because they start with the press of a button, you face none of the starting issues of gasoline-powered models, let alone the maintenance.

Memorial Day isn't the only big event in the month of May. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry has dubbed May National Home Improvement Month, so before you kick back and relax, take advantage of the nice weather to get your property in shape. To mark the occasion, and help you focus your energies in the right direction, we've compiled seven tips for successful home improvement.

There's been a lot of trash talk lately in the Consumer Reports labs, specifically trash bag talk. Our testers wanted to know which tall kitchen garbage bags, the top-selling type, can do the heavy lifting and which can't. Two top brands hoisted 50 pounds of barbell weights before stretching and breaking but one weakling failed at 35 pounds.

Next time you plan to paint your house don't count on finding a contractor in newspaper advertisements or the phone book. The best contractors don't have to advertise. They get work through referrals from satisfied customers. Ask for recommendations from friends and neighbors who have had work done and then go to their homes for a first-hand look. Also listen to complaints from unsatisfied homeowners so you can avoid some common paint pro pitfalls.