Clear away combustibles. Keep flammable materials at least 5 feet from your home and 30 feet from decks, overhangs, and wood piles. Avoid outdoor furniture that easily catches fire, like wicker or untreated hardwood. For more ideas, check out this CalFire guide on creating a defensible space. Keep the yard clean. Regularly remove dead leaves, pine needles,…
Whether you’re worried about the open network at your local coffee shop or want to get around geo-restrictions when you’re traveling, NordVPN can help. A virtual private network (VPN) is like a protective tunnel, keeping your data safe from prying eyes. VPNs aren’t perfect protection (you need to trust your VPN provider), but they’re always…
To help you decide on the best bottle warmer for you, Dana Keester, a Consumer Reports usability specialist assessed seven popular models. Each bottle warmer was evaluated in our lab for warming speed and ease of use. We also evaluated the top bottle warmers for overheating to find out whether they exceed 104° F, which…
Home security systems differ in ways you can’t see, such as the reliability of their sensors and their tech support services. These differences came to light in our first-ever survey on home security systems owned by more than 11,000 Consumer Reports members. We used those results to create our first home security system satisfaction ratings….
You can digitally search for tags, genres, and locations at the top, and I recommend you do so if you’re looking for something specific. It can be helpful if you are trying to buy something from your home town, for example. Screenshot courtesy of Wired As with anything collectible, you can find good deals (and…
10. Using Magic Eraser Sponges on Stainless Steel When you realize how well a magic eraser sponge handles a variety of surfaces, like walls, baseboards, bathroom tile, and even sneakers, it’s tempting to try and put it to work on every surface that’s annoying to clean. Stainless steel dishwashers and fridges, we’re looking at you….
Other Alexa (or Alexa Compatible) Speakers Amazon Echo Pop for $40: The Echo Pop (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a perfectly fine little speaker, and the cutest one in Amazon’s lineup. Does it have great sound? No. It’s fine enough for background tunes or if you’re limited to a dorm room, but you’ll get much better…
If you have an iPhone, AirPods, and an Apple Watch, congrats! You have the holy trinity of Apple products. But keeping all these gadgets powered up can be annoying, since they all have individual cables and proprietary charging solutions. Why deal with all that hassle when the best 3-in-1 Apple charging stations can accommodate everything?…
Unpacking a new console is always an exciting moment, which is often followed by realizing you don’t have a crucial piece you need to get playing. Whether that’s a second controller for your younger sibling, a proper audio setup, or a new racing wheel, we’ve got our favorite bits and bobs to enhance your Xbox…
There are gifts for men. And then there are manly men gifts. Countless gift guides for the men in your life offer up the same neckties and tool sets and tasteful leather belts. And don’t get us wrong: We’re classy people, too. We like only the finest T-shirt a Savile Row tailor recommends, and anything…