SteamCleaner

Say the phrase "owning vs. renting," and you're likely to find yourself in a debate between the merits of a mortgage and a landlord. But that's thinking small -- these days, almost anything you can buy, you can also rent. This particularly makes sense when you're talking big-ticket party or home-improvement equipment, whether it's a big-screen TV, a steam carpet cleaner or a rototiller for your garden.

In a recession, families are looking to cut every little cost. And for white-collar workers who wear dry clean-only clothing to work every day, laundry bills can add up in a hurry. Fortunately, modern technology has produced some alternatives to expensive, in-store dry cleaning that could save you a ton of money.

The H2O Mop Steam Cleaners, as seen on TV, is being recalled after at least 18 reports of users being shocked or burned, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.About 580,000 units that were sold nationwide for about $100 between June 2007 and December 2008 are subject to the recall. The...