14 Best Tote Bags of 2025, Tested and Reviewed by WIRED

Honorable Mentions Photograph: Cozy Earth Cozy Earth Waxed Canvas Tote for $115: If you’re into low-key, functional fashion with a hint of “quiet luxury,” this 12-ounce waxed canvas tote delivers just that. Aesthetically, think Yeezy brand circa 2017 (minus the antisemitism). I love mine in washed navy, but the earthy tones—cedar brown, palm green, and…

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Pothole Survival Guide

And unlike a nail-type puncture, a flat caused by a pothole can’t be temporarily fixed with a tire sealant kit. This underscores the value of having a spare tire onboard, even if it is a small, space-saver tire. Without a spare, a flat from a pothole means calling a tow truck.] “A pothole strike can…

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How to Apply Wood Stain

These extra steps, taken before you even open a can of stain, will help make your stain go on more easily and can help ensure a frustration-free experience and seamless results. Sand the wood. Smoothing out any blemishes, splinters, or splits goes a long way to ensure an even application. If your wood deck, fence,…

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How to Clean Vinyl Records (2025): Vacuums, Solution, Wipes

Unless you’re buying them brand-new—and often even then—your vinyl records are probably filthy. New records are staticky and attract dust; old records have been sitting in boxes in other peoples’ basements. Take it from someone who has bought, sold, found, cleaned, and restored some dusty, oily gems: Your records probably need a good bath. Below…

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How to Get Windows Games Working on a Mac

There are all kinds of reasons to prefer Macs over Windows-based PCs. Gaming isn’t one of them. That isn’t to say that you can’t game on a Mac—modern Apple Silicon computers are fairly powerful. The problem is that many popular games don’t offer downloads that will run natively on a Mac. Search the Mac App…

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How to Fix an Overactive Bladder

A class of drugs called antimuscarinics (which include trospium, darifenacin, and oxybutynin, available for women as an over-the-counter patch) can help relax an overactive bladder. But the drugs have been linked to serious side effects, including dementia, and they’re no longer a wise first choice for treatment. “The older you are, the higher the risk…

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CR’s Guide to Deck Maintenance and Safety

To ensure safety and visibility, municipalities usually mandate lighting around deck areas such as steps and landings, says Patrick Harders, a landscape lighting designer and co-owner of Sterling Lighting, an outdoor lighting maker in Danville, Va. But avoid wall-mounted security floodlights. “You don’t need that ‘prison breakout’ look to make things safe,” Harders says. Instead,…

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