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Should I become a member of Costco or Sam’s Club to save money on gas?

It’s probably a good idea. At these membership clubs, which include BJ’s, Costco, Sam’s Club, and others, you’ll typically pay 5 to 25 cents per gallon less than the average price at other gas stations. That’s a big savings, given the sharp rise in gas prices (recently as high as $5.91 per gallon in California). It’s likely that over the course of a year of driving, the savings would even cover the cost of these clubs’ annual membership fees (which range from $45 to $120 per year).

You can save even more by signing up for a warehouse club’s credit card because they can be used at any gas station that takes major credit cards. Costco’s Visa credit card pays 4 percent back on gas purchases at any gas station up to $7,000 per year. Sam’s Club offers a Mastercard that pays 5 percent cash back up to a $6,000 annual cap. Plus, Costco stations offer Top Tier gasoline, meaning their gas meets higher-than-required detergent standards. Filling up with Top Tier gas can help keep an engine running smoothly, according to one AAA study.

Keep in mind that with so many people looking to save on gas, there can be long lines at these discounted pumps. But there’s little risk to trying out a membership: BJ’s, Costco, and Sam’s Club will let you cancel at any time and get a refund for the unused months of your membership.

Are those ‘natural flavors’ touted on soda labels better for me than artificial ones?

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… and watch for the answers. Not NecessarIly. According to Michael Hansen, PhD, senior scientist at CR, “There’s no real difference between natural and artificial flavors in terms of nutrition.”

“Natural flavors,” as defined by the Food and Drug Administration, means that a flavoring comes from a plant or animal source—but those flavors aren’t always derived from the ingredient whose taste they mimic. Scientists extract chemicals from these natural sources in the lab, but they can use synthetic solvents and artificial preservatives and processing aids to do that. (The natural flavors used in organic foods may be preferable because organic regulations state that they can’t be made with synthetic solvents or artificial preservatives.) Creating an artificial flavor is a similar process: The only difference is that the flavor compounds are developed in a lab rather than taken from a plant or an animal.

Both natural and artificial flavors are probably safe for most of us to consume, Hansen says. But because the specific ingredients generally aren’t reviewed by the FDA—and companies are usually not required to disclose the ingredients of natural or artificial flavors on food labels—it’s difficult to know for sure. For this reason, people with food allergies should be particularly careful when consuming food or drinks that have either natural or artificial flavorings. Why do some of my clothes have white streaks after I wash them? Am I using the wrong detergent?

It mIght Not be the brand of detergent you’re using but how much of it you’re adding to your wash load. You might be using too much concentrated detergent or fabric softener per load (especially when combined with the low water levels in today’s more efficient washing machines). Other reasons may include incomplete rinsing, hard water, and an overloaded washing machine. When you load a washer with too much laundry, the items don’t agitate one another sufficiently, which is what helps to remove dirt and detergent residue. That chalky residue left over from detergents can also result in itching and rashes if you have allergies or sensitive skin.

To remove detergent buildup from your laundry, put clothing and other items— without detergent—into a rinse-and-spin cycle if you have a front-loader, or a deep-soakand-spin if your machine is a top-loader, says Rich Handel, CR’s washing machine expert. And to prevent buildup in the future, cut back on the amount of detergent you use. (Try using just 1.5 ounces of detergent per load to start.) Use less fabric softener, too—or skip it altogether—because a little can remain embedded in fabrics. Finally, don’t overload your washing machine.