Productopia | Catherine Jo Morgan

You see an ad for a snazzy lawn tractor at a good sale price. The ad is so vivid and attractive that it's easy to picture yourself riding instead of walking -- and with a cool can of refreshment right at hand. No more hard labor! Well, we hate to be pessimists, but here's the thing. In all the years we've been analyzing reviews of lawn tractors, we've never found a single model or brand that never, ever breaks down. Belts slip and keep slipping, a mowing deck can't be leveled because of a factory defect, the dealer misses a vital part of setup. You name it: it can break. That's why looking at the warranty and your options for service are an important part of finding the right lawn tractor. Read more

Get an early start on spring cleaning with a quick indoor project: cleaning out the medicine cabinet. First step: clear out all the medications, because the medicine cabinet is too humid and often too warm a place to store them safely. See our earlier article on storing medications. Read more

The term "medicine cabinet" is an anachronism, because pharmacists say it's one of the last places medications should be stored. Why? Bathrooms (and often, kitchens) get too humid and warm for storing both prescription and over-the-counter drugs (including vitamins). Heat (over about 85 degrees, according to an article in The New York Times) can physically alter medicines, affecting their potency and possible making them dangerous. Especially susceptible, according to the Times article, are thyroid medications, birth control pills, insulin, seizure medications and anticoagulents. And any type of test strip is sensitive to humidity, making bathrooom storage a dicey choice for those as well. 

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Summer's heat can lead to some unexpected surprises -- especially when opening up your utility bill. However, with an energy monitor you can keep track of just how much juice that old air conditioner drinks up, and see the effect that setting its thermostat just a few degrees warmer might have. If the air conditioner is a must -- and for some it might be, given the heat wave that's stricken parts of the country -- you can use an energy monitor to identify and turn off those little electrical juice sippers (printers, wall power supplies, etc.) that are often on without you even realizing it, at least taking a little sting out of your electrical bill. Our brand new report on energy monitors covers the details and names some of the best options. Read more