This Week's Best Home and Kitchen Deals
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When your home has become your office—not to mention your kid’s school—everyday items can preserve peace of mind.
Whether it’s a coffee maker that turns out a great cup of joe or supplies to get a head start on spring cleaning, you can still get what you need online.
Retailers are offering great deals on CR-tested coffee makers, vacuums, and other small appliances that may take the edge off staying in. You can also find grills, mattresses, and large appliances like refrigerators, freezers, and washing machines on sale right now.
Just bear in mind that online retailers are experiencing extremely high demand right now, so delivery may take longer than usual.
For more on these and many other products, check out the ratings for all the appliances and home and garden gear we test at Consumer Reports.
Coffee Makers and Small Appliances
Calphalon 10-Cup Coffee Maker
The deal: $130 at Amazon
CR’s test results: Calphalon Special Brew BVCLDCG1 coffee maker
Early risers and night owls agree on at least one thing: the need for a reliable coffee maker. This Calphalon brewer, which usually costs $160, is one of the best-rated drip coffee makers in CR’s tests, with top marks for brew performance and convenience. It’s worth noting that it makes up to 10 cups at a time, which is fewer than many models. But it has no problem brewing a full pot using a filter filled almost to the top with grounds, a tough test for many coffee makers.
KitchenAid Stand Mixer
The deal: $230 at Target
CR’s test results: KitchenAid Artisan 5-quart stand mixer
Typically, you’ll find this top-performing mixer selling for $300 or more, and Target has it for $70 less than usual and in three colors: gray, matte gray, and ocean drive (a bright teal). Macy’s has the classic Empire Red for $20 more, still a $50 discount. Plus, if you buy it at Macy’s, it comes with a flex edge beater that scrapes the sides of the mixing bowl for you. This is in addition to the standard attachments (a stainless steel bowl, a wire beater, a dough hook, and a flat beater) you’ll get regardless of where you buy.
Nespresso Pod Espresso Maker
The deal: $190 at Amazon
CR’s test results: Nespresso Pixie Espresso Maker in Aluminum EN125S
This top-rated espresso maker offers dynamite performance across the board, and it costs $40 less than usual right now. It’s fast to make both the first and subsequent cups, very consistent in terms of brew size and temperature, and allows users to customize their coffee by adjusting temperatures. Nespresso coffee makers also earn top reliability and satisfaction ratings, based on our CR member survey.
Ninja 10-Cup Drip Coffee Maker
The deal: $160 at Best Buy
CR’s test results: Ninja Specialty 401 coffee maker
This robust 10-cup coffee maker costs $40 less than usual right now. It has great features, including a permanent cone filter, so you’ll never need to buy paper filters. There’s also an indicator that lets you know when it’s time to deep clean the machine and a removable water reservoir for even easier fill-ups.
Ninja Foodi OP301 Multi-Cooker
The deal: $180 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Kohl’s
Consumer Reports did not test this model, which costs $40 less than usual at a few retailers, but we expect it to perform much like the Ninja Foodi OP302. (The untested 301 model lacks a dehydrate function.) The 302 performed well in most every test, but we found that it was tricky to clean.
Vacuum Deals
iRobot Roomba 890
The deal: $280 at Walmart
CR’s test results: iRobot Roomba 890
The iRobot Roomba 890 costs an impressive $120 less than its usual price at Walmart right now, $20 lower than we’ve seen it all year. It earns top scores for cleaning carpet and bare floors, and you’ll appreciate how quietly it navigates a room without getting trapped under furniture or tumbling down stairs. If you have a pet, you may want to find a different model because you’ll have to manually remove the fur from the brush. That can be problematic, especially if you’re running the robovac when you’re not home.
iRobot Roomba e5
The deal: $300 at Amazon and $330 Best Buy
CR’s test results: iRobot Roomba e5
This high-scoring robotic vacuum usually costs almost $400, so at $300 it’s a great deal. Best Buy’s price is a bit higher but may be worth the added cost, depending on delivery options. This Roomba isn’t as “smart” as the top-of-the-line iRobot Roomba i7+, but it performs well cleaning carpet and bare floors. The e5 is also a champ at navigating a room and returning to its base for recharging. But if you prefer a model with a remote, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum
The deal: $180 at Amazon
CR’s test results: Kenmore Pet Friendly CrossOver 31220
Looking for a vacuum that can handle all the pet hair in your home? This Kenmore model is one of the best vacuums for pet hair, according to our lab tests, and it’s $70 below its list price right now. At 18 pounds it’s no lightweight, but it’s powerful enough to suck up pet hair and debris from carpets and hardwood floors with ease.
Shark Ultra-Light Stick Vacuum
The deal: $160 to $180 at Amazon
CR’s test results: Shark Rocket HV 302 vacuum
This Shark stick vacuum usually sells for $200, but it has been fluctuating between $160 to $180 lately. If it’s closer to $180 right now, you can leave it in your cart and check back every day for the price to dip again. It weighs in at a hair over 8 pounds, making it easy to maneuver throughout your home. And it converts to a handheld model, too, so you can get to hard-to-reach areas and spot-clean small messes with ease.
Grill Deals
Monument Grills Gas Grill
The deal: $543 at Home Depot and Lowe’s
CR’s test results: Monument Grills 77352 grill
This large grill is already on the affordable side compared with other gas models, but it costs more than $50 less at Home Depot and Lowe’s than at other retailers selling it for $600 or more. It has six burners that heat up quickly and cook food evenly with the help of stainless steel racks.
Broil King Kamado Grill
The deal: $809 at Amazon and Lowe’s
CR’s test results: Broil King Keg 911470 grill
Kamado grills are not for the novice griller, but if you’re ready to step up your game, this typically $900 model is almost $100 off at Amazon and Lowe’s. CR’s testers find it to be very easy to use and clean but note that the built-in temperature gauge stopped working during our tests.
Camp Chef Pellet Grill
The deal: $700 at Amazon
CR’s test results: Camp Chef Woodwind PG24WWSS grill
This pellet grill does well when it comes to cooking food evenly and with indirect heating. It’s also easy to clean, a must when you cook outside often. And at $200 less than you’ll find it elsewhere, Amazon’s sale price may make this versatile grill a prime choice.
Freezer Deals
Frigidaire Chest Freezer
The deal: $494 at Lowe’s
CR’s test results: Frigidaire FFFC13M4TW freezer
If you’re in need of more freezer space, a stand-alone freezer can be a great investment. For under $500, this chest freezer is a great option. It’s energy-efficient and does well with temperature uniformity and thermostat control, but it’s a bit noisier than some models.
GE Chest Freezer
The deal: $675 at Lowe’s
CR’s test results: GE FCM16DLWW freezer
This GE model usually costs $750, but Lowe’s has dropped the price by $75. In our tests, we find that it delivers on energy efficiency, thermostat control, and temperature uniformity, all key features in a quality freezer.
Refrigerator Deals
Frigidaire Top-Freezer Refrigerator
The deal: $875 to $881 at AppliancesConnection, Home Depot, and Lowe’s
CR’s test results: Frigidaire Gallery FGTR2037TF
This 30-inch-wide top-freezer is a good choice if you’re short on space. And at about $100 less than usual, it’s also a good deal. Both the refrigerator and freezer compartments hit their ideal temperatures and maintain them without warm and cool spots inside. The Frigidaire does all that while saving energy, too. That said, this fridge is a bit noisy, and our testers are not enamored with the controls or the performance of the icemaker.
LG French-Door Refrigerator
The deal: $2,495 to $2,500 at AJ Madison, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe’s
CR’s test results: LG LRFXC2406S refrigerator
This French-door fridge originally cost more than $3,000, and these four retailers have it for $200 cheaper than anywhere else right now. It has ice and water dispensers on the door and is among the quieter models you’ll find.
Whirlpool Top-Freezer Refrigerator
The deal: $648 to $650 at Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe’s
CR’s test results: Whirlpool WRT518SZFM refrigerator
This top-freezer fridge from Whirlpool is $100 off right now. It doesn’t come loaded with features, but if you just want something that works and doesn’t cost a ton, it may be worth checking out. Our testers note that it’s energy-efficient and reliable when it comes to temperature uniformity and thermostat control.
Washing Machine Deals
LG Front-Loading Washing Machine
The deal: $648 to $650 at Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe’s
CR’s test results: LG WM3500CW
This front-loading washing machine typically sells for around $750 to $850, but it’s priced at $650 right now at a few retailers. CR’s testers find it to be energy-efficient, and it ranks high among top-performing models. It also features WiFi connectivity, so you can control aspects of your wash cycles from your phone to take better care of your clothes and linens. The matching dryer is on sale for the same price.
LG Front-Loading Washing Machine
The deal: $985 to $989 at AppliancesConnection, Home Depot, and Lowe’s
CR’s test results: LG WM3900HWA
This LG front-loader is a miser at conserving energy and water. Add that to the $210 to $215 you’re saving on the purchase price and this deal, while not the best we’ve ever seen, is hard to pass up. It also has WiFi connectivity and operates quietly, and vibrations are low, so if your washer is located near your living areas, it won’t bother you when it’s running. One drawback is that it isn’t the most gentle on fabrics, earning subpar marks on that test.
LG Top-Loading Washing Machine
The deal: $995 to $999 at AJ Madison, Home Depot, and Lowe's
CR’s test results: LG WT7900HBA
This washer is half of one of the top-scoring matching laundry pairs in CR’s tests. The HE top-loader is one of the few to ace our cleaning tests. Wash time is 70 minutes. The TurboWash will trim time, and in our tests the shorter cycle was just as good. A bonus is its large capacity. This washer is relatively noisy, however. Both the washer and its matching dryer are WiFi-enabled and Energy Star certified. You’re saving about $170.
Mattress Deals
Allswell Home
The deal: 15 percent off all mattresses with the code SPRING15 at Allswell; $548 for a queen Luxe Hybrid
CR’s test results: Allswell Luxe hybrid mattress
The Allswell Luxe Hybrid is likely to be one of the least expensive mattresses you’ll find on sale right now. This innerspring mattress (typically sold for $645) offers decent support for most body types and sleep styles, and fares well in our stability tests—with this mattress, your partner shouldn’t jostle you around much in your sleep. This deal ends May 1.
Avocado Mattress
The deal: $175 off all mattresses at Avocado Green; $1,225 for a Green queen-size mattress
CR’s test results: Avocado Green mattress
Avocado makes some top-notch mattresses, and this is a great chance to save on one. (The queen-size Green usually goes for $1,400, and the Green Pillowtop is priced at $1,700.) Both Avocado mattresses support a wide range of side- and back-sleeper body types. On our firmness scale, the Avocado Green is very firm and the pillowtop is medium-firm.
Tuft & Needle Mattress
The deal: Save up to 30 percent at Tuft & Needle; $506 for a queen T&N Original on Amazon
CR’s test results: Tuft & Needle T&N mattress
There’s a sitewide sale at Tuft & Needle, which is offering up to 30 percent savings on all the brand’s mattresses, including the original, the Mint, and the Hybrid, as well as accessories such as sheets and mattress protectors. Amazon also has the queen-size original for about $30 less than T&N’s discounted price. CR’s tests show that Tuft & Needle makes decent mattresses all-around, but the original may be softer than advertised, so be sure to read up on each model before you buy.
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