There are a lot of surfaces in our homes, and some are easier to clean than others. You can wipe down counters, toss small items in the wash or use a leather cleaner on furniture or car interiors. But ...

Fabric softener is notoriously divisive. In fact, when we interviewed Rich Handel, a test project leader at Consumer Reports who specializes in laundry, about the things he would never do as a laundry ...