Tire Safety Checklist: What to Do Before Your Next Road Trip

Phone charger: In addition to bringing a charging cord and power adapter, carry a small battery-based charger in case your car’s battery dies. Basic tools: Carry standard and Phillips screwdrivers, pliers, and a compact socket set. Add a small replacement fuse kit for electrical emergencies. Tire tools: Pack an easier-to-use lug or torque wrench, as…

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How to Write a Car Safety Complaint to NHTSA

Provide your name and contact information so that investigators can contact you with questions or for more details later, if needed. Vehicle identification number (VIN). This can help investigators pinpoint where and when your car was built, and what major options it may have. These details can help investigators group your complaint appropriately with other similar models….

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The Best Tech for Back to School

As summer melts away like a fruity popsicle left on a poolside deck chair, our thoughts turn to the coming school year. Whether they’re prepping for middle school, high school, or college, every student heading back to class will need the right gear. The WIRED Reviews team has spent years extensively testing consumer tech for…

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Cut Your Bills by More Than $800 a Month

Ask About Time-of-Use PlansContact your electricity provider to ask whether it charges different prices for power at different times of the day. If it does, try to avoid using energy-guzzlers such as dishwashers and clothes dryers during peak hours, when the rates may be highest. What you might save will vary by the time of…

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How to Clean and Sanitize Your Remote Controls

Before cleaning a remote control, remove the batteries. Then turn the device upside down so that the buttons are facing downward and shake it or tap it against your palm to dislodge any debris that might have fallen between the keys. If you have a compressed air canister, give the remote a blast to shake…

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Safe Bassinets Have These 6 Features, CR’s Experts Say

2. A Tight-Fitting Mattress Any bassinet that you buy should come with a snug-fitting mattress. When the mattress is centered in the bassinet, you should see no gaps between the edge of the mattress and the bassinet walls any larger than one-half inch, or about a finger-width. “A mattress that doesn’t fit tightly may shift…

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Best Toilet Bowl Cleaners

The ones that top our ratings effectively remove solid waste, bringing a shine back to your bowl.  We note in our ratings which cleaners should be safe for homes with septic systems, based on their ingredients. Septic systems have sensitive bacterial biomes that can be disrupted by harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia. And you…

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