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You wanted to know...
Should I spend $300 on a calibration service for my new LCD television?
Geertruida de Moel
Chicago, IL
Try doing it yourself. Go to the TV’s video or picture menu and choose cinema, standard, normal, or pro mode. (Names vary by brand.) That should yield a very good picture for typical viewing. To fine-tune things further, use the user or custom mode. Adjust brightness, contrast, and color, in that order. Start with settings in the middle, then adjust up or down till you can see detail in dark and light areas and colors look natural. Turn off edge enhancement and set sharpness as low as possible. You’ve just saved $300!
Learn how to adjust your television sets and refer to our Ratings of LCD, plasma, and rear-projection models (available to subscribers) to find the best TV for your home.
Is it safe to use a microwave oven as a sterilization tool?
Louis Douglas
Los Angeles, CA
You’ll kill most germs in a wet sponge by microwaving it for 2 minutes, but we suggest you put it in the utility basket of your dishwasher. To sterilize glass or non-BPA bottles and silicone nipples, if your water is chlorinated, run them through a dishwasher cycle (top rack). For unchlorinated or well water, place them in a pot of boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes.
Read more about microwave ovens sets and see our Ratings (available to subscribers) of these kitchen appliances.
Am I responsible for a deceased spouse’s credit-card debt?
Eugene Flynn
Melville, NY
The debt would most likely be paid by the deceased’s estate, so unless you’re an account cosigner, you shouldn’t be liable. If there’s no estate and all of your spouse’s property passes directly to you, there might be no need to repay the debt. In a state with community-property law, the credit-card issuer might expect you to assume the debt. But you should be able to challenge the debt by negotiating with the company, directly or using a lawyer.
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