Consumers concerned about the healthfulness and safety of products can thank Harvey W. Wiley, an American chemist who championed the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, then did work as head of Good Housekeeping’s Bureau of Food, Sanitation, and Health from 1912 until just before his death in 1930. More than a century ago, Dr. Wiley wrote articles like “Whole-Wheat Flour the More Wholesome,” “Rice Should Not Be White” and “False ‘Ads’ and Lying Labels.” His bureau was part of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s laboratories that today are beehives of activity where, like other groups that do consumer testing, researchers review just about anything that can affect the well-being of consumers, from skin creams to convenience breakfasts, exercise clothes to cleaning products, blenders to baby strollers. ) and in its monthly magazine. Still other products the institute tests seek the much-coveted Good Housekeeping Seal, which offers consumers a limited warranty.

If a product bearing the seal proves to be defective within two years of purchase, Good Housekeeping will refund the purchase price (up to $2,000) or repair or replace the product. Companies seeking the seal must apply for it (there is no fee), and the products must pass stringent tests for effectiveness and safety. The institute now also awards a Green Good Housekeeping Seal for products that, in addition to meeting quality standards, are environmentally sound with regard to ingredients and materials; energy, water and waste needed for manufacture and product use; and packaging and distribution. Products featured in the magazine often reflect consumers’ habits rather than what the institute’s experts might endorse as desirable. For example, Jaclyn London, a registered dietitian who believes people should sit down to eat nutritious meals, is nonetheless testing eat-and-run breakfast foods like frozen waffles, French toast, muffins and pastries prepared in the microwave or toaster oven.

Teams of tasters rate the products, and Ms. London will evaluate their nutritional value and publish the results in the magazine. “More and more people are eating breakfast on the go. water filter vacuum cleaner malaysia priceI’m asking what are the better, more healthful options,” said Ms. London, who looks for whole foods like unrefined grains and real fruit as first ingredients, and considers levels of added sugars and fats.robot vacuum cleaner app Birnur Aral, a chemical engineer, runs the lab that tests cosmetic products like moisturizers, rejuvenating creams, shampoos and hair dyes. tesco value vacuum cleanerIn evaluating skin products, consumers — usually 25 per product — first have their skin “standardized” by using no moisturizer for up to a week and sitting in a climate-controlled chamber, after which their skin is tested for elasticity and analyzed for characteristics like age spots, wrinkles, pores, redness and ultraviolet damage.

The consumers use the product for about eight weeks, or according to product directions, then return for a re-evaluation. “A moisturizer called No7 that comes from Boots pharmacy in England and was originally sold at Target outperformed many prestigious brands,” Dr. Aral said. Using a scope that magnifies 700 times, her team found that none of the seven shampoos that claimed to reduce split ends actually worked as promised. The lab’s test of sunscreens confirmed dermatologists’ lament: Consumers use only products they like and, even then, rarely apply enough to be fully protected. Dr. Aral is concerned about some of the newer products that contain nanolevel substances: “Will they penetrate the skin, and is that safe?” A matter to pursue in the future perhaps. As a daily swimmer, I was particularly interested in the textile lab’s bathing suit tests, which assess stretch recovery and colorfastness against chlorine, perspiration, sunlight and seawater.

For suits described as “minimizing,” the lab found that “they smooth out bulges, but up to four inches of excess weight on the hips just gets pushed up to the waist,” Carolyn Forté of Good Housekeeping said. If asthma or allergies are a household concern, the institute’s tests of vacuums and cleaning products that affect indoor air quality can help. Based on her lab’s tests of vacuums designed to reduce allergens, for example, Ms. Forté recommended an upright Miele vacuum as “the best performer all around: It traps dirt, keeps it sealed, and very little escapes, worth the $900 purchase price if your child has allergies.” Sharon Franke, who runs the kitchen equipment lab that tests products like juicers, said blenders are better because they pulverize whole fruits and vegetables. “People should be eating fruits and vegetables, not juicing them,” she said. “You get very small amounts of the original food from a juicer, and you discard the fiber, which is good for you.

“But if people want to buy a juicer, it’s our job to tell them what’s the best buy for the money — what works well and is easy to clean.” iF Product Design Award, March 2011, Berlin, Germany. The AIRBELT D4 was awarded the prestigous "iF Product Design Award." March 2011 issue, recommended the SEBO FELIX as best for a lightweight upright vacuum equipped with a filter bag system! October 2010, Berlin, Germany, awarded the PLUS X Seal to the AIRBELT D4 in the category "Ease of Use" and "Innovation." September 17, 2010 issue, chose the AUTOMATIC X5 as "Best HEPA Vacuum Cleaner" (among uprights) and noted its low profile for easy under-furniture cleaning, excellent barefloor and pet-hair cleaning, and good embedded-dirt pick-up. September 17, 2010 issue, chose the AIRBELT C3.1 as "Best HEPA Vacuum Cleaner" (among canisters) and noted its good embedded-dirt and bare-floor performance, excellent pet-hair removal performance, and its extended nozzle for under-furniture cleaning.

October 2009 issue, chose the FELIX 1 Premium as "Best Buy" for the bagged upright vacuums. They reported it to be nimble and the easiest to handle during use. They also mentioned the excellent maneuverability of its 180-degree swivel neck and that its 6-inch profile fits under furniture. June 2009 issue, reported the German-made AUTOMATIC X is built to last and features a sealable triple-layer bag and hospital-grade filtration. They also noted its 5.5-inch profile that easily cleans under furniture, its automatic height adjustment, and automatic shut off in the case of a full bag or when the brush roller is jammed. June 2008 issue, London, England, gave a "Five Star Rating" to the FELIX as the best upright cleaner for removing pet hair! It was considered easy to assemble, lightweight in operation, and cleaned exceptionally well on a variety of surfaces. They noted that this stylish vacuum earned the "Seal of Approval" from the British Allergy Foundation. See pages 34 to 36.

Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, May 2008 issue, chose the AIRBELT K2 as an "Editor's Pick" and noted its strong suction, its bumper that prevents damage to walls and furniture, and its stylish design. New York Times Style Magazine, November 4, 2007 issue, displayed the FELIX Fun on the front cover. There was also a brief article called "Inside the Box," on page 114. November/December 2007 issue, chose the FELIX Premium Classic for the "What is on Your Gift Wish List?" The featured photo appears on page 42. October 2007 issue, chose the AUTOMATIC X4 as "Best Buy" for bagged upright vacuums. It reported that the X4 is the lightest vacuum in its price range and has automatic height adjustment. May 24th, 2007, Berlin, Germany, awarded the PLUS X Seal to the AUTOMATIC X4 in the category "Innovation." May 24th, 2007, Berlin, Germany, awarded the PLUS X Seal to the AIRBELT K3 in the category "Ease of Use." March 2007, the AUTOMATIC X4 made "The Green List," and it mentioned it lies flat to get under the sofa.