Shopping Guides - Houseopedia, LLC

What Do Those Food Expiration Dates Really Mean?

We’ve all seen those “Best By,” “Sell By,” and “Use By” dates on foods such as meat, milk, and canned...

OEKO-TEX®? GOTS? What Those Textile Certifications Mean

You may have been puzzled by acronyms on the label when buying sheets or towels. OEKO-TEX®? GOTS? What do these...

Buying the Best Bed Sheets For You

A cozy mattress and the perfect pillow are vital to a good night’s sleep but don’t overlook the importance of...

Watch Out for Hidden “Junk Fees” Draining Your Wallet

So-called “junk fees” – also known as service charges, termination fees, convenience fees and administrative costs – can take you...

Induction Cooking Makes It Easier to Say So-Long to Your Gas Stove

You may be loyal to your gas or electric stove, but induction cooking deserves a second look. The recent Consumer...

Essential Items For Your New Home

When you buy your first home, friends and family shower you with “housewarming” gifts that mostly center around decor and...

College Move-In Day: How to Prepare

Moving a son or daughter off to college is an emotional milestone, especially during their freshman year. Here is a...

When That Expensive Appliance Purchase Goes Bad

Home appliances offer great convenience … until they don’t. So what should you do when that sleek new appliance has...

More Than You Bargained For: Avoiding Online Shopping Scams

Most consumers realize they need to watch out for shopping scams. Yet bad actors continually find new and more clever...

Customer Reviews: The Art of Effective Complaining

Most people dislike confrontation, but sometimes when a product or service goes wrong, you need to let the provider know....

How to Welcome a New Pet on a Budget

Pets are wonderful additions to the family and have been proven to reduce stress and blood pressure. However, their expenses...

A Calendar for Shoppers: February’s Best Buys

Appliances, furniture, mattresses, housewares, winter apparel, cameras, big-screen TVs and accompanying home-theater equipment are all marked down in February, making...

A Calendar for Shoppers: January’s Best Buys

With Christmas over and Super Bowl on the horizon, January is a big month to score deals on purchases for...

A Calendar for Shoppers: December’s Best Buys

With the holidays upon us, consumers will be inundated with sales and discounts on a range of home-related products. While...

A Calendar for Shoppers: November’s Best Buys

Just about everything’s on sale in November as brick-and-mortar and online retailers compete for your hard-earned dollars. The month begins...

Mattresses by Mail—A Good Buy?

Brick-and-mortar mattress stores rival car dealers when it comes to television ads loudly promoting hot sale prices. Now consumers can...

A Calendar for Shoppers: October’s Best Buys

October is a prime time for home-related purchases such as paint, leaf blowers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and air...

A Calendar for Shoppers: September’s Best Buys

Major appliances, furniture, laptops and school supplies are all discounted in September, starting with heavily advertised sales over Labor Day...

A Calendar for Shoppers: August’s Best Buys

Watch for deepening discounts on summer items, along with back-to-school discounts on office supplies and computers. Late summer is also...

Nothing Beats a Real Christmas Tree

It’s an iconic Christmas scene: a family driving home from the tree lot with a real Christmas tree tied to...

A Calendar for Shoppers: July’s Best Buys

Fourth of July sales on furniture and appliances are retail traditions followed by deep discounts on summer items, making this...

A Calendar for Shoppers: June’s Best Buys

Father’s Day and high school graduations are big drivers of what’s on sale during the month of June. Grills, tools,...

Modern Indoor Trash Can Design

The modern indoor waste basket has come a long way since its modest beginnings as a simple circular catch-all stuck...

A Calendar for Shoppers: May’s Best Buys

You can thank Mom for many of the home best buys that can be scored in May with Mother’s Day...

A Calendar for Shoppers: April’s Best Buys

It’s April, which means it’s a great time for spring cleaning, gardening, home repairs, and let’s not forget, pressing the...

A Calendar for Shoppers: March’s Best Buys

Project materials for home repairs and renovations, garden supplies, winter-related items and digital cameras are among the items on deep...

How to Buy a Window Air Conditioner

If you find yourself living in a house or apartment without central air conditioning, it’s time to go shopping for...

Let’s Go Shopping for a Leaf Blower

If you’re in the market for a leaf blower, it’s best to do your homework before heading to the store....

Let’s Go Shopping for a Ceiling Fan

If you watch any of the TV design shows, the ceiling fans seem to be ignored in makeovers. By omission,...

Don’t Leave Home Without These 12 Items In Your Car Emergency Kit

When it comes to safety, be sure to travel with a fully charged cellphone and a car charger. But it...

How to Buy a Laptop Computer

If you are in the market for a laptop, the choices are better, but more confusing than ever. Here’s how...

9 Essential Tools for the DIY Painter

Painting can be a big job, but with the right tools the task will be easier and the finished product...

Let’s Go Shopping for a Grill

As the weather warms up, it’s prime time to buy a new grill for those backyard barbecues. To keep your...

Let’s Go Shopping for a Coffee Maker

If you start your day with coffee, buying a new coffee maker is a major decision. With so many options,...

Television Technology: Getting Better All the Time

Advances in television technology move so quickly these days that it’s hard to keep up with what’s truly the latest...

Advances in Headphone and Earbud Technology

Digital technology is revolutionizing home entertainment, including headphones and earbuds. Listen up, audiophiles. Bluetooth technology has matured, making wires and...

Let’s Go Shopping for a Wine Chiller

Most wine enthusiasts don’t have the room or the budget for a wine cellar, but a wine refrigerator or chiller...

Let’s Go Shopping for a Range Hood

Proper cooking ventilation is a must for every kitchen. A hood removes grease, smoke, chemicals, condensation, and odors generated by...

Let’s Go Shopping for a New Washing Machine

Dealing with dirty laundry is a lot of work, but the right washing machine can make this chore a lot...

Let’s Go Shopping for a Dishwasher

The average dishwasher lasts about 15 years, so it’s important to do your homework before shopping. The ideal model will...

Let’s Go Shopping for a Microwave Oven

The layout of your kitchen is key to choosing a new microwave oven. Once that decision is made, consumers still...

Let’s Go Shopping for a Range

If you do a lot of cooking at home, you know how critical it is to have a great range....

Let’s Go Shopping for a Clothes Dryer

Shopping for a clothes dryer has never been more complicated. The choices can be overwhelming. Beyond capacity and color, consumers...

What You Need to Know to Find the Best Mattress

The right mattress can make the difference between tossing and turning and getting a great night’s sleep. With so many...

Getting Comfortable with Choosing the Right Sofa

Selecting a new sofa is a major decision. The focal point of most family rooms and living rooms, they get...

Choosing a Bed Style That’s Right For You

Since beds are typically the focal points of most bedrooms, the pressure is on when it comes to choosing a...

Check Out the Latest Trends in Commodes

If you’re custom building a home or remodeling an outdated bathroom, don’t forget to consider an updated toilet. Take a...

Take a Look at Latest Trends in Kitchen Faucets

Today’s faucets are attractive, sleek and come in a beautiful array of shapes, sizes and even colors. Perhaps the most...

Essential Tools for the Home Workshop

Even the simplest household fix-it job goes more smoothly with the right tool in hand. Here’s a quick guide to...

Cutting Edge Advice on Buying a Lawnmower

Are you in the market for a new lawnmower? Let’s go shopping to find a great deal on the right...

5 Things to Consider When Buying a New Refrigerator

Buying a refrigerator is a significant investment. With all the options available, shopping for a new one can be overwhelming....

What’s the Lifespan of Your New Home’s Big-Ticket Appliances?

Gone are the days when big-ticket home appliances lasted for decades. With some exceptions, the life span for most appliances...