It’s looking like a lock. Apple is set to announce its HomeView smart home hub at the October 13 “Welcome home” event. Think like an Amazon Echo Hub, but Apple-fied with a (rumored) premium design and Siri at its heart.

There’s been plenty of leaks, many from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, so let’s take a look at them all and figure out what you can expect to see Apple CEO John Ternus talk about tomorrow.

iMac G4 nostalgia

As someone who fawned over the iMac G4 in the window of my local PC World, this calls to me. The hardware is set to come in two form factors — first is the 6-inch screen attached to a flat, square mounting plate on the wall. This is probably the common sense option to free up countertop space…but I’m not one for common sense.

That brings me to the second form factor — that same 6-inch screen suspended over a spherical metal and fabric speaker base.

A18 muscle for Siri AI

To get Siri AI running zippy, you need some serious horsepower under the hood. That’s where the rumored A18 chip and 8GB of RAM come in. This is going to be the big differentiator from other home hubs — all of which rely exclusively on the cloud to get things done.

This should enable small models to run locally on HomeView without any of that cloud lag to do simple things like adjust lighting or temperature, while offloading to the cloud if you’ve got something more complex in mind.

The catch: no App Store allowed

This is the most surprising part if you ask me. The App Store has always been a jewel in the crown of Apple devices, so to (reportedly) see the HomeView not get one is a little concerning.

If you want third-party functionality, leaks suggest you’ll have to “project” widgets from a nearby iPhone, for things like pulling up a native YouTube recipe video, for example.

In terms of actually using this device, that could be a problem. I know many people who use their Echo Shows in the kitchen with recipe videos, so hopefully the OS gets an update to support this in the future. Also, I hope this doesn’t mean the smart home device support isn’t walled off so significantly.

The price may be steep for a smart home hub

Now for the cost. Rumors are pointing to $350, which is quite a bit more than the likes of the $249 Echo Show — placing it costwise $100 shy of the base iPad (which does have a full App Store, larger screen and a battery). That means smart home control is available on a bigger slab already.

Apple’s mission with HomeView is going to be proving that this separate device with its iMac G4 looks and a better speaker in the base justifies the cost for a more locked-down OS.

The supporting cast

No, I’m not talking about the rumored Apple TV 4K or HomePod mini 2 announcements. Rather, what seems to be a suite of devices that have been designed to play nice with the HomeView.

It’s looking likely that we’ll see a smart lock, temperature sensor and thermostat all co-developed with LG — all of which seem to have been leaked pretty extensively on X.

The Smart Deadbolt Lock will support all the things you’d expect like tap to unlock, master codes, and a rotatable keypad revealing a physical lock if you need to use a key in clutch moments.

The Smart Thermostat can be temperature calibrated, and can also display humidity too with a simple UI that should be readable from across the room.

And this comes paired with a Temperature Sensor with a magnetic back to attach to metal surfaces (as well as an adhesive back for other surfaces). The battery is replaceable in this, and it links up with the thermostat to give an accurate real-time reading.

Outlook

Apple’s HomeKit launched in 2014, yet Amazon Echo Shows and Google Nest Hubs have owned the kitchen counters for a decade. Tomorrow, Apple looks finally set to fix that with HomeView with an updated Siri AI in tow.

I’m hoping the support isn’t walled off to specific devices, and that the wider smart home ecosystem is supported through this central command center. That alongside the “it just works” nature of Apple could be a game-changer for the home.

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Apple is set to host the first of possibly two October hardware events tomorrow, and the likelihood is that the "Welcome Home" event will focus on smart home gadgets. According to Mark Gurman over at Bloomberg, that includes an all-new product called a HomeView, as well as updates to the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini.

Gurman's report zeroes in on the HomeView as the product that will 'close the biggest hole in its ecosystem' by essentially fusing an iPad with a HomePod. Rumors have circulated about this product for a long time but Gurman has corroborated previous reports — 24 hours before the product is officially unveiled.

This will be an all-new product to act as the control center for your smart home, but Apple has apparently partnered with other brands to make sure that compatible accessories — like a smart doorbell and thermostat — are in production.

Part of the reason Apple's smart home ambitions haven't been met was, as Gurman puts it, because Siri's capabilities were never "reliable or capable enough to serve as the connective tissue holding everything together". That's changed with Siri AI and Apple now appears ready to launch an all-out assault on the smart home market.

Here's what to expect at tomorrow's event.

Apple HomeView smart home hub

According to the report, the HomeView will be equipped with an A18 chip, likely paired with the same 8GB of RAM used in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus that it first appeared in. The device will use Siri AI for voice control and be available in either a free-standing tabletop version or as a wall-mounted version that packs the speaker into a flat, square wall plate.

Despite being built on the shoulders of the HomePod, the HomeView will reportedly feature better sound than Apple's smart speaker and come in a choice of four colors: Gray, Silver, Starlight and Rose. However, the wall-mounted version will be limited to Gray and Silver.

There are a few caveats also apparently in place with the HomeView. While it will be revealed tomorrow, Gurman says it won't launch until "mid-November". Furthermore, it will arrive with first-party Apple apps on board, but no App Store for any third-party options. Lastly, the mentioned accessories above — which will also include indoor and outdoor security lights, a deadbolt lock and a floodlight camera — won't ship until later this year "at the earliest."

So while the arrival of a wholly new Apple product is an exciting one, Apple may have a bit of a waiting game to play with this one.

New Apple TV 4K

It was a bit of a surprise not to see a new Apple TV 4K announced back in September but apparently the device is coming tomorrow. The current Apple TV is nearly four years old and, according to the leaks, little will change when it comes to the outward appearance.

Instead, the new set-top box will have an upgraded A17 Pro chip inside (taking over from the A15 Bionic) as well as a RAM boost to 8GB. It will also feature the N1 chip and support for Apple Intelligence, Siri AI and — crucially — Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Oh, and we may get a revamped Siri Remote.

One thing we don't know is whether or not the new Apple 4K TV will stick at the same $199 starting price (it was hiked earlier this year from $129) or be increased further.

New HomePod mini

Like the Apple 4K TV, we are probably going to see a long-overdue refresh to the HomePod mini that upgrades the internals but keeps the outward design exactly the same. Well, apart from some new colors. Gurman claims we'll see the speaker drop in Green, Pink, Blue, White and Midnight.

The new HomePod mini 2 will be equipped with the same S10 chip that debuted in the Apple Watch Series 10 — a big upgrade over the S5 in the current version. As someone who still uses a first-gen Apple HomePod, I'm really looking forward to even an iterative update to Apple's smart speaker.

Again, as with the Apple 4K TV, I just hope that Apple doesn't increase the pricing too much. We'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out. As a reminder, the event is taking place in New York and is set to kick off at 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. BST.

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It is almost unbelievable that a bird weighing less than a single AA battery can survive sub-zero nights, but black-capped chickadees are absolute winter tough guys.

To make it to morning, these tiny songbirds intentionally drop their own body temperature by up to 15 degrees overnight just to save energy. But that survival mode comes at a steep price. A chickadee can burn through up to 10% of its entire body weight in a single freezing night just keeping its heart beating. By sunrise, their engine is running completely on empty.

When a cold snap hits and natural seed sources get locked under a layer of ice, their margin for survival drops to zero. Giving them a fighting chance to rebuild those critical fat reserves before sunset comes down to one simple, high-impact yard addition.

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Fall is official here, and it’s already taken its toll on my previously lush and green grass. But, before things get too chilly, October is the ideal time to repair your damaged lawn and prepare for the colder months ahead.

And if, like me, you’ve tackled this by scattering grass seed on those sparse or bare patches, it can be a little disheartening when you haven’t seen any growth sprouting through at all.

That's why I called on a lawn care expert to find out why my grass isn't growing, common mistakes to avoid, and top tips on how to fix it.

Check the weather forecast

According to experts, now is the time to do those all-important lawn repairs. But the process just takes a bit more preparation than expected, and results will naturally depend on weather conditions and technique.

“Thriving spring lawns are built in fall. Thanks to a shift in weather patterns, soil temperatures are staying warmer for longer,” says Chris McIlroy, a lawn expert at The Grass People.

“If temperatures start to stay consistently below 46.4 °F to 50.0 °F, then the window for sowing is closing, so do keep an eye on the forecast. You need a two-week window where the temperatures are above this.”

In addition, be sure to check your soil temperature using a soil thermometer before seeding. Typically, cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass need soil temperatures below 65°F, while warm-season varieties like Bermuda grass need at least 65°F.

For more top tips, check out how to overseed your lawn in fall.

Protect it from hungry birds

If you enjoy feeding or watching birds in your yard, these feathered visitors might be another reason your grass seed isn't growing.

“Birds can see freshly laid grass seed as an easy-access buffet, especially at this time of year when other food resources are starting to dwindle,” explains McIlroy. “So they’re taking your seed before it even has a chance to germinate."

So what can we do to prevent our hungry birds from swiping our freshly-laid grass seed?

"Shiny objects like tin foil and old CDs can deter birds from your garden, as the way they reflect light confuses them," adds McIlroy.

"Or you can also cover the seeds with tarp or netting, but make sure it’s not blocking too much light or water from the seeds.”

Not sowing deep enough

Another common mistake is failing to plant seeds at the right depth or in suitable growing conditions. “Seeds should be roughly the depth of three stacked coins to ensure the right seed-to-soil contact for germination, advises McIlroy.

“It keeps seeds protected and warm, and provides the nutrients they need to grow. If the elements have left your seeds exposed, try adding a light layer of topsoil to give seedlings that extra support.”

In addition, you need to ensure you water your seeds properly, but don’t oversaturate them. If seeds are waterlogged or sitting in a pool of water, they won't survive. “Seeds also need to be hydrated but not waterlogged. If they’re left too dry, the seeds will die off, so keep an eye on soil moisture levels".

“Fixing drainage by aerating your lawn is a key step for success, ensuring water has somewhere to go when it rains. Similarly, if your lawn is bumpy, this creates areas for water to pool.”

Other tips include feeding your lawn with a starter fertilizer, which can help grass establish faster with stronger roots. Or simply have some patience, and let nature take its course.

"Sometimes seeds just need a little more time; depending on the conditions, germination can take up to 14 days, and noticeable grass growth even longer."

Check out our expert-approved tips on how often you should aerate your lawn and how many passes are best.

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When it comes to natural cleaning solutions for tough stains, white vinegar is a popular, non-toxic choice. In fact, white vinegar has now become my staple household cleaner that I simply cannot live without.

Beyond cutting through limescale, lifting surface stains, and clearing clogged drains, white vinegar can also be put to good use outdoors to clean mildew off patios.

But if you assume that vinegar can clean stains off your concrete patio or driveway, you might want to think again. Especially if you don’t want to risk damaging the surface — and needing expensive repairs.

I asked the experts if I can use vinegar on concrete, the best way to use it, and safer alternatives. Here’s what they say.

Can I use vinegar to clean concrete?

Generally, no — avoid cleaning sealed concrete with vinegar. Since white vinegar is highly acidic, applying it to porous concrete can eat away at the protective seal — leaving the surface rough, uneven, and prone to discoloration over time.

“That acidity can react with the concrete’s surface, gradually dissolving or weakening some of the cement paste that holds the aggregate together,” advises Sofia Martinez, cleaning expert and owner at Sparkly Maid Austin.

In addition to causing corrosion, vinegar can damage concrete in other ways and harm surrounding surfaces it touches.

“Vinegar can etch some concrete. Etched areas become porous and absorb stains more easily in the future,” adds Martinez.

“Aggressive cleaning can remove aggregate or roughen previously smooth floors. Runoff could damage plants, natural stone, or other surfaces it may come in contact with.”

More importantly, using vinegar can lead to expensive repairs if it damages aggregates, patching compounds, grout, or penetrates cracks in the surface.

So don’t even think about using it when cleaning your beautiful patios or driveways.

What are safer alternatives to clean concrete?

If I can’t rely on my trusted white vinegar, what is the best way to clean concrete and remove surface stains? Experts recommend using safer alternative methods, noting that investing in a good pressure washer is the most effective way to tackle tough marks and grime.

“As an alternative, oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) is excellent and can brighten and lift tough stains,” suggests Sara Aparacio, cleaning expert at Homeaglow.

“For oil spills, you can use something like cat litter or even baking soda to help catch fresh spills. For general cleaning or as part of a routine clean, use dish soap.”

If you’re just dealing with certain light stains such as grease and oil, these may require degreasers.

“Dish soap is great at cutting through grease and lifting dirt and grime, and because it's generally alkaline, it doesn’t react with concrete surfaces," Aparacio says. “It only costs a cent to add a few drops into a bucket of water, and from there you can use a nylon brush to help work it into the surface. I usually rinse the area soon after to remove any suds and wash out anything that dislodged from the soap solution, but I didn’t fully remove it the first time.”

Additionally, avoid scrubbing too vigorously—especially with harsh tools, which can easily scratch the surface.

It’s also worth noting that since concrete types vary, experts recommend testing any cleaning method on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it won’t cause damage.

So if you don’t want to ruin your concrete patio or driveway for good, put away your vinegar (this time).

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You wipe down your refrigerator, step back to admire the shine, and immediately spot a new cluster of smudges glowing under the kitchen lights. Bummer.

Stainless steel looks sleek in showroom displays, but in a real kitchen, it acts like a magnet for fingerprints, water spots, and cloudy streaks that only seem to spread when you try to clean them.

Getting that flawless, factory-fresh shine doesn't require cabinets full of speciality polished sprays — it comes down to working with the grain of the metal instead of fighting it. Here's how to get your stainless steel appliances streak-free and keep them looking fresh with minimal effort.

Always wipe with the grain of the steel

Before applying any cleaner, take a close look at the surface of your appliance to identify the direction of the metal grain.

Just like wood, stainless steel features faint brush lines running either horizontally or vertically across the surface. Wiping against or across these micro-grooves traps dirt, moisture, and cleaning residue inside the steel's texture, which creates those frustrating hazy streaks.

Wiping strictly in the direction of the grain ensures your cloth lifts grime out of the microscopic ridges rather than spreading it around.

How to get your stainless steel streak-free

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I feel like I'm always using my vacuum cleaner. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but it's a chore I think I do the most. So, it shouldn't come as any surprise to hear I've been trying to find ways to cut down the time it takes me to vacuum my home.

And everything changed when I realized that getting the vacuuming done quickly isn't just about how fast I can get my vacuum around my home. In fact, it's the total opposite.

The key to cutting down your chore time in half lies in how efficient you are and how efficient your vacuum is. Fortunately, I've put together 5 vacuum cleaning tips, including a simple overlap technique, that have entirely rebuilt my routine. Don't get me wrong, I still need to vacuum regularly, but I'm never disappointed by the results when I'm done.

Perform simple vacuum maintenance

Before you even get started on your vacuuming, there's a few quick maintenance steps you should follow first to ensure your vacuum is working at maximum efficiency. Clear the brush roll of any tangled hairs, wash and completely dry the filter (as per manufacturer's instructions), and check your hose and/or wand for blockages.

These steps won't take long at all, but will impact your vacuuming over time, especially when it comes to how well it suctions. And the key to faster vacuuming is definitely about how efficiently your vacuum is working in the first place. With a little more time on your hands, you can even learn how to deep-clean every part of your vacuum for peak performance.

Start at the back

Whenever I'm vacuuming a room, I think about it like I'm using a wet mop. I don't want to go over the same place twice and I also don't want to forget where I've been. Without a wet floor threatening to give my soggy feet though, I have to think methodically. So, to avoid going back on myself multiple times, missing any dirt or drawing any dirt back over clean areas, I always start at the back of the room.

For this, I aim for the back corner furthest away from the entryway. Then I work my way over the entire back edge of the room before starting in the furthest corner from the door at the front of the room. Eventually, you'll find you have an entirely clean room without wasting time.

Don't rush

This tip may seem counterintuitive, since you're trying to do your vacuum cleaning as fast as possible, but there's a very good reason behind it. If you rush your cleaning, you'll find you aren't getting the best performance out of your vacuum.

Going slower allows your vacuum to pick up any hidden dirt and debris that might otherwise get missed. And if you miss any, you'll find you might end up vacuuming your home more often, thus negating any 'quicker' vacuuming. Do a thorough job and you'll save yourself time in the long run.

Try a W pattern

My favorite way to vacuum my home (and that's something I never thought I'd say) is to perform a W-shaped pattern across my floors. Starting at the back corner, as per my second tip, I create a W with the movement of my hoover. This is easier to do on carpeted floors as you'll create a visual effect, but it works just fine on any floor. Then, I turn 90-degrees and do it again in a cross-hatch effect.

This technique provides great coverage, as well as being incredibly time-efficient. It agitates the floor in multiple angles meaning I know it's been cleaned thoroughly and can last longer before it needs another clean.

Don't wait until your dustbin is full

To cut your time in half, it may feel like it makes sense to use the entire capacity of your vacuum's dustbin, waiting until it's full before emptying it. But, this actually works against you.

If you let your dustbin fill up, it'll restrict the airflow to your vacuum, reduce suction and ultimately make it less efficient. Consequently, you'll find you have to repeat your vacuuming over the same spots. Instead, empty your dust bin when it's around 50-70% full. It only takes a few seconds and will make your vacuum work harder (and faster).

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The Roomba Max 775 Combo isn’t the worst robot vacuum I’ve ever tested, but I can’t recommend it as one of the best robot vacuums. There’s a lot to love about it, but unfortunately the bad outweighs the good.

The vacuum’s design is incredibly stylish and will suit the interior of most homes. There’s decent performance on hardwood floors, and the user-friendly app gives a whole lot of control. There’s a plastic cover that extends over the mop to protect your carpets from getting wet, and the docking station can maintain the robovac for up to 90 days.

Unfortunately, the side-sweeping brushes push debris away from the vacuum and make a lot of noise. Mopping also leaves residue, and if you have low-set furniture, the robovac may not be able to get underneath since it’s so tall. To find out more, you can keep reading this full Roomba Max 775 Combo review.

Roomba Max 775 Combo review: Specs

Roomba Max 775 Combo review: Price & availability

The Roomba Max 775 Combo robot vacuum is available in black or white for $999 at Amazon U.S. and for £799 at Amazon U.K. This is a pretty affordable price for a robovac that can also mop your floors and self-clean with heated functions.

The Roborock Qrevo 2 Pro is around the same size as the Roomba for $799. The Roborock also has mopping and self-cleaning features, and honestly, I’d recommend siding with the cheaper option as it has better vacuuming performance.

If you want something even cheaper, you can look at the Dreame D10 Plus Gen 2 for $299. Since it’s so much cheaper, the suction power is naturally a lot lower, just 6,000Pa to be exact, and you’ll have to clean the mops yourself. The Roomba is certainly the more convenient, user-friendly option here. But for something that takes better care of itself and has round mops, the Robrock Qrevo Curv for $699 is a great choice.

Roomba Max 775 Combo review: Design

I was struck when I first laid eyes on the Roomba Max 775 Combo. Wow. It really is a beauty. Clearly a lot of consideration has gone into the design here, which is lovely to see since a robot vacuum automatically becomes part of your home decor. The wood paneling finish on the front of the dock makes it look expensive. The docking station doesn’t take up too much space and measures 18.0 x 17.0 x 16.6 inches.

The base houses a clean and dirty water tank and a dust bag. There’s a slot to store a spare dust bag and a slot at the top of the lid with a dual-ended brush and cutter to remove trapped debris or tangles. It’s great to have these accessories stored neatly away instead of floating around the house and getting lost.

The vacuum itself is quite chunky and measures 6.8 x 14.4 x 4.1 inches. It’s a lot taller than the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete, which is 1.5 inches tall, and the Dreame D10 Plus Gen 2, which is 3.8 inches tall, so if you need it to get under low-set furniture, the Roomba won’t be the best choice for you.

On the underside of the vacuum, there are two rubber rollers that help with directing debris toward the suction and a mop roller. The design of the heated mop roller is great, as it has a retractable cover to prevent it from getting any of your carpets wet.

Roomba Max 775 Combo review: App

The Roomba Max 775 Combo uses the Roomba Home app. This is the smoothest app setup I’ve experienced of all the brands I’ve tested, including Shark, Roborock, Dreame and many others. The process was intuitive, and it automatically detected the vacuum — everything was ready to connect in seconds.

Until now, my favorite app has been Roborock for its easily digestible layout, but I think Roomba has it beat. Online, a few users mention that the app can be buggy, but I didn’t experience this at all. In fact, everything ran extremely smoothly throughout all my testing.

I was able to easily change the settings of the robot, like cleaning schedules, keep-out zones, and water flow or suction power. It felt like I was taking charge of the cleaning, even though the Roomba took care of all the hard work.

Roomba Max 775 Combo review: Mapping

Mapping was very quick with the Roomba Max 775 Combo. It skirted the edges of the room and created a map that I could adjust and rename in the app easily.

The mapping looked accurate on my phone screen, and even featured pictures of my sofas. But despite the accurate-looking map, the Roomba bumped into the edges of the room. I suppose it’s good to know it’s getting to the edges at least, and it has a buffer on the front to bounce back, but this much contact can’t be good for the robot or my walls. I don’t have this issue with the Roborock Qrevo Pro 2.

Roomba Max 775 Combo review: Cleaning

The Roomba Max 775 Combo isn’t the best robot vacuum you’ll ever use. It’s far from it. But it still does a pretty decent job of picking up noticeable debris from floors.

The most concerning thing about this vacuum is the noise it makes. Most robot vacuums I’ve tested have been a lot quieter than a handheld vacuum cleaner, but not the Roomba. It’s virtually screaming at you as it cleans. And it’s not just the sound of the suction — which I would be able to accept — it’s the wheels and the side-sweeping brushes that make all the racket. But if you leave the room and leave the robovac to do its thing, you can probably accept the noise.

Vacuuming

Rather than drawing debris towards the vacuum, the side-sweeping brushes were actually pushing pieces of debris and fluff away. After chasing it down, the Roomba did eventually catch them, but it was annoying. I noticed that more often than not, after cleaning sessions in my home, there was always something left behind on the floor. I get far better results with the Roborock Qrevo Pro 2, and it has a lower suction power of 25,000Pa.

Hardwood floor:

On hardwood floors, the Roomba’s performance was pretty good, apart from when it needed to pick up hair, because the side sweepers were pushing it around the floor. It also became tangled in the rollers.

The wheels did a lot of crushing, as they’re quite chunky, so I had a Rice Krispies massacre on my hands, but the Roomba picked up the majority of what was on the floor. It did a great job with seeds, although, again, the side-sweeping arms spent a lot of time pushing them around the room before sucking them up in the end.

Carpet:

The carpet performance was a little worse. Only about half of the debris on the floor was picked up, and it particularly struggled with smaller seeds.

Since the wheels were crushing the Krispies, they became trodden into the carpet. This one is better suited to hard floors.

Mopping

To test how the Roomba Max 775 Combo handles mopping, I put a little soy sauce, mayonnaise, and mud on my kitchen floor. This is my usual test, and usually vacuum mops can pass with flying colors, but I wasn’t giddy about the results here. There was a slight residue left on the floor, and at first, it looked like the Roomba was doing the robovac equivalent of finger painting with the condiments.

I much prefer the circular mop style you get with the Roborock Saros 20, as I think this is more reliable. The Roomba’s mopping is also 167ºF heated, so I was expecting something a little more thorough.

The Roomba has a cover that flips over the mop when moving over carpet, so the wet mop doesn’t drip any water. I love this feature as there’s nothing worse than a damp carpet.

Roomba Max 775 Combo review: Storage & maintenance

The Roomba Max 775 Combo doesn’t take up too much space and is also very short. As long as it’s set up near a power outlet so there’s no outstretched cord, it shouldn't get in your way.

It’s also very easy to maintain. The vacuum is self-emptying, and the dustbag in the dock can store debris for up to 90 days. This is at the top end of how long a robot vacuum can sustain itself and puts it in step with the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 ThermaCharged NeverTouch, which is a lot more expensive. The water tanks of the Roomba will need to be refilled and emptied as needed, but the cleaning solution auto-dispenses so there’s always the right amount.

The mop has a self-cleaning cycle in the dock, which uses hot 167ºF water and is then dried by hot air in the dock. This means less handling of gross mops, making the Roomba feel like it’s actually helping out around the house, rather than just another thing to maintain.

Roomba Max 775 Combo review: Verdict

The Roomba Max 775 is hard to recommend outright, although it will be a decent-enough choice if you only have hard floors throughout your home. The design is very stylish, and it feels almost like home decor, so you won’t want to hide it away in a corner. The app is very easy to get on with too. The docking station can maintain the robot for 90 days, and the mop cover for the roller is very convenient.

Unfortunately, the side-sweeping brushes caused me big problems. Not only are they loud, but they also push all of the debris away from the vacuum, meaning a lot of mess gets left behind. Mopping isn’t the best either, with a little residue left behind afterward, which undermines its vacuuming performance on hard floors. The bulky build makes it problematic for anyone with low furniture too.

Ultimately, it’s not the worst robot vacuum we’ve tested, but you can get way better for your money elsewhere.

The humble clothespin (or clothes peg, if you live outside the US) has remained virtually unchanged for nearly two centuries. It is such a familiar fixture of daily life that most of us use it on complete autopilot. We squeeze the ends together, clamp the jaws directly over a shirt onto the line, and call it a day.

However, if you take a closer look at the inner profile, you’ll notice a deliberate little engineering trick hiding in plain sight: two distinct circular cutouts running along the gripping jaws.

Far from being a decorative choice, these separate openings actually serve a specific purpose.

The secret anatomy of a standard clothespin

If you inspect the inside jaws of a clothespin, you will notice one opening positioned closer to the metal spring and a second cutout set near the tip. The smaller cutout nearest the spring is designed to wrap around the clothesline itself.

The second, larger opening is contoured to hold fabric underneath or across the line. When you clamp the entire pin directly over heavy fabric and a thick wire at the same time, you force the jaws wide open, which concentrates all the spring's clamping force into two sharp pressure points.

3 ways to use clothespin holes to save your clothes

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It's a great time of year to roll out your lawn aerator and get to work. Bringing air into the lawn soil will not only help relieve any pressure and compaction that's happened over the year, but it'll also improve airflow, water absorption and your lawn's overall ability to access nutrients to help it grow.

It's not something you need to do too often, but it's a step you don't really want to miss if your lawn is heavily compacted or struggling to drain water (especially with all the rain).

Only after you put in all that effort to push your lawn aerator across your lawn, you might be left wondering if you've done a good enough job. It's certainly something I've contemplated as I stare at my own lawn, unsure whether I've made any real difference.

I've asked the experts for their professional advice on how often you should aerate your lawn, how many passes are enough, and other tips and tricks to get the best results.

When to aerate your lawn

Soil compaction is the ultimate telltale sign that your lawn needs aerating, but how exactly do you figure out if that's what's going on beneath the soil?

Allison Koenig, a lawn and garden expert at Tractor Supply, says: "Homeowners should consider aeration if they're seeing standing water after rain, hard-packed soil, thinning grass, or areas that get a lot of traffic.

"A good rule of thumb is the screwdriver test: if it's hard to push a screwdriver into the soil, compaction is probably preventing healthy root growth."

And once you've figured out that your lawn needs aerating, you also have to consider if it's a good time to do it.

"Timing is everything when it comes to aeration. The best time to aerate your lawn depends on the grass type you have," explains Chris Ramos, PR & Events Coordinator at Blain's Farm & Fleet

When it comes to cool-season grasses like Fescue and Bluegrass, early fall or spring are ideal times, as these grasses grow most vigorously during colder months.

And if you've got warm-season grasses like Bermuda or Zoysia, then late spring to early summer is optimal, coinciding with their peak growing season.

Though Koenig adds: "However, once the ground freezes or the grass has gone fully dormant, it's best to hold off on aggressive projects like aerating, heavy raking, or major repairs."

Once you've figured out the best time though, Ramos reveals you only really need to aerate your lawn once a year.

How many passes should you make with your lawn aerator

So, you're planning to aerate your lawn, but how many passes should you be making to get the best results?

According to Ramos, one or two passes should relieve soil compaction. In addition, choosing the right tool in the first place will have a major impact on how effective your lawn aeration is.

"There are two types of aerators. Spike Aerators: These tools create holes by pushing spikes into the soil," adds Ramos. "They're simple to use but might not be as effective on highly compacted soil.

"Plug Aerators: These remove small plugs of soil from your lawn, providing more lasting benefits by reducing compaction more effectively. They're generally the preferred option for most lawns."

Additional top tips

Lawn aeration alone isn't all you should be doing. As Brian Feldman, Senior Director of Technical Operations and Agronomy at TruGreen explains: "One of the biggest misconceptions in the industry is viewing aeration as a standalone service.

"The greatest results occur when aeration is intergrated into a comprehensive turf management program that includes proper mowing, fertilization, irrigation, and overseeding practices."

In fact, he suggests that if you're really looking for best practice when aerating your lawn, you should be "overseeding and fertilizing immediately after aerating to maximize growth.

It's also important to leave the soil cores on your lawn after aerating, as they will naturally break down and help recycle nutrients and other beneficial microorganisms."

So, while you can do an excellent job with your lawn aeration, timing it right and carrying out one or two passes until you're satisfied that you've relieved compaction, it's important to take the opportunity to do more for your lawn when it's at its most receptive.

More from Tom's Guide

• How to aerate a lawn and when to do it
• I asked gardening experts the secret to a greener lawn — here's what they want you to do
• 9 signs your lawn needs aerating

This week, Apple teased a new product event taking place in New York on October 13 at 9 a.m. ET dubbed "Welcome Home." The trailer from Apple's Greg Joswiak hints at Cupertino's smart home ambitions.

A suite of Apple-designed smart home devices has been rumored for years, and it seems they're finally going to hit store shelves.

Based on recent leaks, we expect at least three new devices to be announced next week and possibly up to 10 gadgets, from a video doorbell to the headlining HomePad smart home hub.

Read on to find out what we know about each potential device.

HomePad home hub

The HomePad or HomePod 3, whatever Apple dubs it, will be the headliner of the Welcome Home event since it's supposed to connect your entire smart home together.

Rumors have started to coalesce around a speaker with an attached iPad-esque touchpad that utilizes the new Siri AI to handle requests similar to Alexa+ or Gemini on the best smart speakers or smart displays. It's unclear if there will be two versions: the speaker and a wall-mounted touchpad, or if the touchpad will be more portable. Both have been rumored.

Beyond that, the hub should have a FaceTime camera for video calls and presence sensors to initiate smart home routines. It's also rumored to be able to recognize individual users.

HomePod mini 2

Like the upgraded HomePod, we've been waiting for a sequel to the HomePod mini for a few years. However, a new HomePod mini is one of the expected devices.

The upgrade should be small, mostly a faster new chip capable of handling Siri AI and some audio improvements. There will also likely be some new colorways as well.

The original HomePod mini dropped in 2020, and the update has been on our rumor radar since at least 2023.

Apple TV 4K 2026

There are more smart home specific devices (more on those in a moment), but we do believe an updated Apple TV 4K should debut on October 13. It's been long overdue for an upgrade.

Rumors in the last couple of years suggested that the new set top streaming box would feature the A17 Pro chip, but at this point it's more likely it'll get an A19 or A20 chipset. The new Apple TV should also get the rumored N2 chip for better Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Once again, Siri AI will be the headline feature which should allow you to connect the Apple TV as a hub for other smart home devices. One of the crazier rumors is that the Apple TV will feature a camera for FaceTime calls and gesture-based controls. At a bare minimum though, we expect upgraded chips and possibly a redesigned remote.

Apple & LG partnership

Earlier this week, a Bloomberg report revealed that Apple and LG are apparently partnering on several smart home devices, including a video doorbell, smart thermostat, and more. Leaked renders of some of them lent some credence to the rumor.

There are at least seven devices we believe could get announced during "Welcome Home." A few of them we don't know much about yet.

Per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple and LG are also working on a video doorbell and a trio of security cameras (indoor, outdoor, and floodlight). Specifics about those four devices have not yet been revealed.

Here's what we do know so far.

Smart Deadbolt Lock

Unlike the HomePad or Apple TV, the LG devices apparently don't feature an Apple logo but do have an LG one.

The Smart Deadbolt lock appears to feature a rotating keypad to open. It's supposed to come with a swivel pin to limit the rotation so it doesn't ding a wall.

It should come in two sizes: 2.375-inch (60.3mm) and 2.75-inch (69.9mm) brackets with two mechanical keys.

There are settings for a touchpad light ring, door left open alarm and lock sound volume. Also, it should support auto-unlocking, tap-to-unlock, emergency power and master codes.

Smart Thermostat

We don't know as much about the smart thermostat beyond it having a far-sight display, humidity display, brightness and language settings. It should also feature a calibrated temperature and temperature offset options.

The rounded design looks similar to the latest version of Google's Nest Learning Thermostat.

LG Temperature Sensor

The final device that saw leaked renders of is the Temperature sensor that should be able to detect humidity levels too.

The little white circle reportedly has a magnetic back to attach to metal surfaces and comes with a metal plate that can be adhered to other surfaces as well. It should have a replaceable battery and replacement alerts.

Are you excited for a more Apple-centric smart home? Let us know in the comments.

More from Tom's Guide

• Pre-ordering iPhone Duo? Use these tips to get it on day one and avoid huge shipping delays
• Apple insider walks back OLED MacBook Pro redesign claims — new touchscreen laptop promised to be 'lighter,' not thinner
• I 'downgraded' my iPhone 15 Pro Max to a regular iPhone 17 — and I have zero regrets

If you've read any of my Cricut reviews on Tom's Guide, then you wouldn't be surprised to find that I enjoy making stickers. From designing to cutting and sticking to any available surface, creating Cricut stickers has become one of my pastimes in the last two years.

When the die-cutting brand approached me with a secret briefing on a new range of products, I was rather intrigued. What more could the craft-focused brand do? My first thought was anything BUT a sticker-exclusive device. I had envisioned perhaps an even smaller die-cutter than the Cricut Joy 2, or maybe a new suite of tools, but I was more than happy to be wrong.

Upon first unveiling, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the StickerPix Print + Cut was an entry-level Cricut device that keeps the essence of the brand alive and well, all while appealing to a beginner-friendly market. In the grand scheme, by using thermal dye-sublimation technology and a precise-cut blade, the StickerPix takes a popular Cricut hobby — a.k.a. making DIY stickers — and puts it into a slightly more affordable, yet exclusive package.

In fact, the StickerPix comes in two packages — the Print model and the Print + Cut model. The glaring difference between the two? The standalone Print model uses pre-cut sticker sheets, whereas the Print + Cut can trim its own sheets. For transparency's sake, I opted for the Print + Cut for this review solely for the additional cutting factor.

After reviewing the newest flagship, the Cricut Maker 5, last month, among the other Cricuts I've tried in the past, I was well-placed to try the StickerPix Print + Cut. But how will the brand's first solo sticker and photo printer stack up? I put it to the test to find out.

Cricut Stickerpix Print + Cut review: Price and availability

Globally, the Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut can be found at craft stores and major retailers. In the U.S., crafters can buy the machine and the Essentials Bundle for $299 (more on that below). Similarly, crafters in the U.K. can buy the Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut directly from the brand's website for £249.99 with the Essentials Bundle.

In Australia, the machine and the Essentials bundle retails for AU$469. You can buy it from retailers such as Harvey Norman and Spotlight. Aussie crafters should note that the machine is only available starting October 15, 2026.

Similar to the Joy 2, the StickerPix Print + Cut comes in a two-tone Powder Blue colorway, which I am officially dubbing "Cricut Blue". The machine is quite compact, only taking up 8 in x 11.3 in x 4.1 in / 20.4 cm x 28.7 cm x 10.4 cm of desk space. It has one LED power on/off button on top, a storage space for extra sticker or photo paper, and an internal system that slides the paper from the Print side to the Cut side when making stickers.

Much like newer Cricut-branded machines, the StickerPix now comes with a bundle of materials in the box. The Essentials bundle includes 18 sticker sheets, 18 photo paper sheets and one ink cartridge. In the U.S. and UK, crafters can opt for an Ultimate Plus bundle instead, which includes 90 sticker sheets and 90 photo sheets; however, this does come at an additional $80 / £90 cost.

If you run out of sticker or photo paper, Cricut has extra materials available to purchase. For the Essentials bundle on its own, it will cost you $24.99 / £24.99 / AU$44.95. This is a bit costly for a pack of sticker sheets and photo paper, but it also includes an additional ink cartridge, which could be useful in the long run.

Cricut Stickerpix Print + Cut review: Specifications

Cricut Stickerpix Print + Cut review: Performance

The Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut (and the Print-only model) uses thermal dye-sublimation technology to produce high-resolution, ultra-vivid sticker and photo prints that are water-, scratch-, and fade-resistant. On the Print side, the machine will print each ink color, as represented by the LED-lit power button, before passing it through the machine to the Cut side. On the Cut side, a built-in fine-point blade cuts neat edges for every kind of sticker or label shape.

In terms of set-up, you'll need to download the Cricut Design Space app and follow the instructions to insert the ink cartridge. I found I didn't need any handholding, but there are setup tips in the app and in the box if you need them. I was very much ready to get started as soon as I plugged the StickerPix Print + Cut in and turned it on.

The only thing to note is that you'll need to load the sticker or photo paper sheets into the printer from the storage slot before each use, which is simple enough to do. And you'll need to leave some space on either side of the machine to allow the paper to slide in and out when printing or cutting. I'd suggest leaving at least 10cm on either side.

Because the machine has two basic functions — i.e., printing and then cutting — and operates on two media — stickers and photo prints — it was easy to test its performance.

Stickers

I'm not beating around the bush here — this machine had me mesmerized.

There are thousands of templates to choose from on the Design Space app, and you can even make your own stickers using your own photos or graphics.

The software has gotten substantially better in the last two years, and has had a mini glow-up for the StickerPix machines. Now you can create sticker sheets with printed backgrounds and use label or photo templates. You can even let the software fill the sheet to optimise space or let it 'surprise' you with the sizes of your stickers.

I stuck pretty true to form for my tests. For this project, I made a mix of my own photo stickers and cute Design Space templates, and let the app organise them for me. After selecting a sticker sheet template in Design Space, I edited the stickers and made some adjustments, but otherwise I was good and ready to print.

Once the sticker paper was loaded into the machine, I hit the 'make' prompt and watched the machine go. It started printing the designs, color by color, before sliding it into the cutting side and making accurate kiss-cuts for each sticker. The entire process took around 2-3 minutes from start to finish.

After cutting five or so sheets, the StickerPix more than excelled in every way. There were some instances where user error impacted the overall design of the sticker — i.e. sizing a detailed sticker too small or photos needing a simple edit to make the color pop more — but other than that, I was particularly impressed with every sticker I made.

Photo Prints

Next up — photo prints. Honestly, this wasn't something I thought I'd be particularly interested in. But after thinking about making upcoming holiday party invites or printing cute photos of my niece and nephews, the thought immediately erased itself from my mind.

Sure, I might be used to heading to my local office supply store and printing photos for 80c a piece, but now, I could just as easily do it from home — and from my phone, which is a big win in my book.

Again, much like the stickers, there are hundreds of photo print designs to choose from in the Design Space app, or you can make your own. I decided to go simple for my initial test, and uploaded a commissioned graphic of myself and my husband with our favorite Pokémon... cheesy, I know!

This image was particularly detailed, especially with the amount of blues and greens in the background, so I was a little hesitant. But sure enough, it delivered a pristine, crystal-clear image.

It's worth noting, though, that the photo paper prints at a different size than the stickers, and you'll need to adjust the paper tray when loading each time. Sticker sheets are 4 x 7 in, whereas the photo paper is 4 x 6 in, which is pretty standard for everyday photo prints. I forgot to do this while making stickers, and it ended up chopping my sticker sheet in half...

Cricut Stickerpix Print + Cut review: App features

All Cricut machines, including the StickerPix Print + Cut, are dependent on the companion design software, Cricut Design Space.

You'll need to download the software to set up the machine, and you'll find QR codes on the box and in the instruction manuals for the App Store and Google Play Store. Design Space is also available for PC and Mac. It's also worth noting that the software needs to be regularly updated to use StickerPix effectively.

As mentioned, Design Space has gotten a lot more user-friendly, especially when using the StickerPix machines. Templates for stickers, labels, photos and cards are displayed on the homepage, and there are easy ways to tweak existing designs. You can also upload your own images or files to use in your designs.

You can also add the designs straight to a blank canvas or bookmark them for later projects. If you haven't used Design Space before, the software does have a step-by-step tutorial you can follow.

Now you can pay for a subscription that gives you access to everything Design Space has to offer; however, most users can get by without one. In full transparency, for this review, I was supplied with a paid subscription, which I've used a fair bit more than the average crafter.

Cricut Stickerpix Print + Cut review: Verdict

In a world of fun hobbies, let making stickers reign supreme! But in all seriousness, the Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut didn't disappoint. That said, it's definitely not a must-have machine for every crafter.

Here's my breakdown: if you're just as keen on sticker making and want to join the Cricut gang, this machine could be considered a 'gateway drug'. The StickerPix Print + Cut has all you need to make your own stickers and photo prints, without the cost of forking out for a Maker 4 or Maker 5.

If you want to craft more than just stickers and photos, but still want a taste of the Cricut life, I'd suggest opting for the Joy 2, which has a speedy print-then-cut sensor exclusively for making stickers.

But regardless of which sticker or photo-making machine you choose, if your life depends on crafting, you can't go wrong with a Cricut.

About a month after it announced the iPhone Duo, Apple is holding yet another event, but this time around, it looks to be aimed at the smart home. The event, which will take place in New York on October 13th at 9 a.m. ET, is titled "Welcome Home."

Bbased on the rumors we've been hearing, the event will be centered around the company's new smart home device, which could be called the HomePad. Apple sent around invites, and also posted a somewhat cryptic announcement on X, which shows two people doing a needlepoint of the old-school Apple logo.

What we expect to see at the Apple October event

As noted, we expect that the Apple HomePad, or whatever it will be called, will be the highlight of the event. This new smart home hub/tablet is likely to have a new interface similar to the Apple Watch, and will be able to customize what it displays based on who's in the room.

It should also feature the new-and-improved Siri, to better handle requests, a la Alexa+ and Gemini can with the best smart speakers and displays from Amazon and Google. It's been speculated that the HomePad, which was rumored to come out at least a year ago, has been delayed until Apple could get Siri right.

Also rumored to make an appearance at the event could be a new HomePod smart speaker, as well as a new Apple TV device; it's been several years since either has been refreshed.

As part of its renewed push into the smart home, we could also see a series of new smart home devices that Apple is developing in conjunction with LG. Just recently, a number of images leaked showing several smart home devices, including a video doorbell, smart thermostat, and smart lock made by the Korean company, which would purportedly work with Apple's ecosystem.

More from Tom's Guide

• 7 Apple products expected to be announced in October — touchscreen MacBook Ultra, HomePad and more
• Apple HomePad rumored release date, price and all the latest leaks

I was always dead set against buying a cordless vacuum. I thought it wouldn't be able to cope with cleaning my entire house, running out of battery or needing constant emptying. Then, I bought one. I desperately wanted something I could just grab-and-go without having the hassle of cords or being weighed down.

Sure, I weighed up the pros and cons of having a cordless vacuum, but ultimately I decided it would be a great addition to my home cleaning setup. And now, I can't imagine my life without it.

But, there's definitely some things I've had to learn along the way to make sure I'm getting the most out of it — and fortunately, they're pretty simple to do. Here are my five top cleaning tips when using a cordless vacuum.

Give it a good clean

While I was hesitant to buy a cordless vacuum because it needed a bit more maintenance, as long as you keep on top of it a little at a time, it's barely noticeable. But, if you neglect your cordless vacuum, you'll suffer with low suction and a battery that won't last as long.

So, be sure to give it a regular clean, rinsing out the filters at least every month (following the manufacturer's instructions) and emptying the dustbin in-between cleans, sometimes even during your clean. You'll also want to make sure the brush roll is clear of tangled hair by snipping it away and removing it.

Utilize low power modes

I always thought using max suction was going to mean I was doing the best job, but I also kept running out of battery as it was depleting so much faster than in a regular mode. Then, I'd stick it on charge and forget to go back to finishing the job.

Instead, I recommend utilizing the low power modes that your cordless vacuum may have onboard like Eco, Standard or Auto for everyday dust and debris removal. You'll get a lot more time with your cordless vacuum and then you can save those high-powered modes for the deeper cleans and more extreme messes.

Always put it back on charge

Most modern cordless vacuums use smart charging meaning they won't continue to power up your battery once it's reached 100%. When I learned this, I felt a lot more comfortable about putting my vacuum back on charge after each use.

By doing this, I've worked up a habit that means whenever I go back to my cordless vacuum, it's always fully charged and ready to go. It's also a great place to dock your vacuum out of the way, as long as you set it up in a good location in your home (somewhere dry, indoors and near a wall socket).

Switch to attachments, when needed

Yes, a cordless vacuum is super convenient because it's often much more lightweight than a corded model and it also isn't encumbered by a cord, but that doesn't mean you should use the main stick everywhere across your home.

When it comes to the stairs, hard-to-reach places and edges of your furniture and baseboards, it's always a good idea to swap to the attachments to make sure you get a deeper clean. Not only is it easier for you, but it'll also give you better control overall.

Cross-hatch your vacuuming

There's a method I really like to use and it's called 'cross-hatching'. You might have learnt it as a kid when you were using your first coloring pencils, but essentially it's vacuuming in straight lines and then turning 90-degrees and coming back over the same spots in a different angle altogether. This provides, hopefully, the ultimate coverage.

This type of vacuuming is also made for cordless vacuums as it's a lot easier with no cord getting in your way, but it's also just a great technique for overlapping your cleaning and ensuring you're giving each area a thorough pass.

More from Tom's Guide

• How to choose the right vacuum cleaner — 7 things to consider
• 9 vacuuming mistakes you’re probably making
• Stop vacuuming for hours — here’s my bulletproof 5-minute cordless vacuum routine that cuts chores in half

After years of leaks and rumors, Apple's smart home ambitions are starting to come into focus. A Bloomberg report early this week claimed that Apple and LG are partnering to develop a number of smart home gadgets, including a doorbell and thermostat.

Apple is reportedly holding an event on October 13 where several smart home devices could be announced, including the much-rumored HomePad smart home hub.

Now the reputable leaker, pdfu has followed Mark Gurman's report with leaked renders of the LG/Apple lock, thermostat and a smart temperature sensor, plus some details about the devices. Here's what they look like and what each device is supposed to feature.

Smart Deadbolt Lock

Notably, of the three devices that pdfu revealed in their posts, none of them have an obvious Apple logo. However, they all feature an LG log, typically on the top of the device but not front and center. These first smart home devices are reportedly going to launch under LG's branding and not Apple's.

Starting with the Smart Deadbolt lock, it features a rotating keypad to open. It supposedly comes with a swivel pin to limit the rotation so it doesn't hit a wall.

There are settings for a touchpad light ring, door left open alarm and lock sound volume. It should support auto-unlocking, tap-to-unlock, emergency power and master codes. All typical for a smart lock.

It should fit 2.375-inch (60.3mm) and 2.75-inch (69.9mm) brackets and comes with two normal keys.

Smart Thermostat

The leaker did not provide as much information about the smart thermostat. Reportedly, it will have settings for a far-sight display, a humidity display, brightness and language.

It should also feature a calibrated temperature and temperature offset options.

Interestingly, the rounded design feels similar to Google's Nest thermostat, while most other smart thermostats, like the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential, seem to have a squircle design.

LG Temperature Sensor

Finally, the little white circle that is the Temperature Sensor should detect both temperature and humidity.

It allegedly features a magnetic back to attach to metal surfaces and comes with a metal plate that can be adhered to surfaces. It should come with a replaceable battery and replacement alerts.

Per Gurman, Apple and LG are also working on a video doorbell and a trio of security cameras (indoor, outdoor, and floodlight).

Are you excited for a more Apple-centric smart home? Let us know in the comments.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested the iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max side-by-side: Is it time to upgrade?
• AMD just flaunted its own 192GB monster chip to spoil Nvidia’s RTX Spark party — Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 495 should worry Apple, too
• I 'downgraded' my iPhone 15 Pro Max to a regular iPhone 17 — and I have zero regrets

No one ever likes the thought of rats roaming their yard or property. And as temperatures drop this fall, rodents are actively searching for food and shelter—making your yard a prime target if left unprepared.

That’s why it’s crucial to ensure you don’t make your home inviting for such pests by removing the things in your yard that attract rats and mice to your space. The last thing you want is an infestation.

However, even if you maintain a clean and tidy yard, you could be missing one overlooked item. If you (or your neighbor) have fruit trees, you could be unknowingly inviting rats to feast in your yard.

Here’s why a pest expert urges homeowners to clear fallen fruit right now — and a few other top tips to be mindful of, too.

Clear fallen fruit often

Fruit-picking season might be over, but there could be a late crop that is still ripening or falling on the ground. And if left to pile up under the tree or lying around on your lawn, this is an open invitation for rats to feast on.

“Gardens can provide plenty of easy food sources, especially when fallen fruit is left lying around,” states Chris Bonnett, horticulturist and founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk.

“Fallen apples, pears, plums and other fruit can provide an easy source of food for rats, particularly when it is left on the ground to become overripe. Check underneath fruit trees regularly and collect fallen produce before it has a chance to build up.”

To prevent an infestation, be sure to clear fallen fruit from your yard frequently and either discard it or throw it in your compost bin — where you can repurpose it in your garden all year.

“A quick tidy-up every few days can make a big difference. Clear away fallen fruit, keep bird food contained, and make sure bins are properly secured to avoid giving rats any easy reasons to stick around.”

Top tips

Rats are relentless opportunists when it comes to food, and even tiny scraps of bird seed or pet food can quickly transform your yard into a rodent buffet.

“Bird feeders can unintentionally provide food for rats,” adds Bonnett. “Try to position them where spilled seed is less likely to build up, and give the area underneath a regular sweep. Avoid putting lots of food directly on the ground, as this can make it an easy target for rats.”

Other top tips include securing trash cans and maintaining your yard. Overgrown grass and weeds offer ideal hiding spots for rats, so keeping your lawn trimmed and pathways clear makes your outdoor space far less inviting.

“Keeping grass cut, weeds under control, and areas around sheds and paths clear can make your garden less appealing to them.”

So if you don’t want to invite rats for a backyard feast, be sure to clear that fallen fruit right now.

For more top tips, check out how to rat-proof your yard.

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 tips to keep your deck looking great all summer
• 7 hacks to stop birds from pooping on your patio
• 7 plants that keep mice and rats from invading your home

Bathrooms are the ideal breeding ground for mold — with warm water and trapped steam creating the humid, damp environment the invasive spores thrive on.

And once you spot unsightly green or dark patches, removing mold for good can be a challenge, taking a good deal of elbow grease.

Black mold in particular can be a worrying sign, as certain types can lead to potential health concerns, triggering existing allergies or respiratory illnesses over time.

According to experts, fall is a critical time for black mold — it brings cooler, damp weather, making bathrooms more prone to condensation and mold issues. That’s why it’s so important to identify and prevent mold right away.

In addition, while our bathroom tiles themselves are relatively easy to clean, grout and silicone underneath can quickly show signs of black mold when moisture is left sitting on the surface.

I asked an expert about the telltale signs of black mold and how to prevent it from occurring in your bathroom this season.

What is black mold?

Essentially, black mold is a type of fungus that grows in damp, humid conditions or anywhere there is condensation. It often grows in dark green or black spots/pacthces and can be commonly found around bathtubs, grout, and around windowsills.

“In bathrooms, it can develop when moist air from showers and baths meets cooler surfaces, and condensation builds up,” states Richard Hill, Tile Expert at Waxman Ceramics. “Grout and silicone can be particularly susceptible because moisture can sit around the edges of the tiles.

“If you spot black marks appearing on your grout, deal with them as soon as possible. Use a bathroom mold remover and follow the instructions on the product rather than reaching for harsh chemicals that could damage the grout or sealant.”

Additionally, black mold can cause a strong, musty odor if left untreated. If you smell an unpleasant odor but can’t see any mold, it might be growing behind walls, under floors, or hidden in your HVAC system. In that case, you should call in a professional to inspect for mold.

1. Replace damaged grout

Since mold can grow beneath grout, tiles, and surfaces, cleaning alone will not be enough to prevent black mold from coming back.

This is especially the case if your grout shows signs of wear and tear. In fact, this could be a sure sign that you have black mold underneath. Rather than always scrubbing away, experts recommend replacing damaged, cracked, or permanently stained grout altogether.

“Damaged grout can be harder to clean thoroughly, as any gaps can allow more moisture to stick and create black mold,” adds Hill.

“It's also worth checking the silicone around your bath or shower. If it has started to break down or become badly discoloured, it may need replacing rather than another deep clean.”

Also ensure that the sealant around your bathtub is suitable for a wet environment and always in good condition.

2. Wipe down wet tiles and surfaces

It’s common practice after we have a shower to leave a door or window open so tiles can air-dry. However, sitting moisture can quickly lead to black mold, especially in a steamy environment.

To prevent this, make a habit of wiping down wet tiles and your shower area immediately after use.

”It's worth getting into the habit of wiping down the shower area after use, particularly around grout and corners where water can sit," says Hill.

“You don't need to dry every tile in the bathroom, but removing excess water from the areas that stay wet can help keep mold at bay”. In addition, make sure you leave your shower curtain fully open to allow it to fully dry.

In fact, I’ve been encouraging mold in my shower with this one daily habit — here’s what I've been doing wrong.

3. Deal with condensation

Since black mold thrives on moisture and condensation in the bathroom, proper ventilation in those key areas is essential to keep it at bay. And as we move into the colder months, condensation is more noticeable.

“Condensation can settle on colder surfaces, so pay attention to areas of the bathroom where moisture regularly builds up,” adds Hill. “If your tiles are constantly covered in condensation after a shower, it's a sign that the room isn't clearing moisture quickly enough.”

Besides cracking a window open, make use of your extractor fan, and leave it running after showering or bathing to help clear moisture from the room.

If humidity is an ongoing issue, using one of the best dehumidifiers can quickly extract excess moisture to keep the space dry.

More from Tom's Guide

• ‘I clean my shower while I'm washing' — expert shares her bizarre hacks to cut your chores in half
• How to clean a glass shower door
• I recommend these 5 easy tips to keep your shower curtain mold-free

The most terrifying thought concerning smart home privacy is the idea that my baby monitor is being watched by anyone other than myself. In the era of privacy beaches, your smart home devices might be leaking your data, and you need to shut that down ASAP.

Smart devices, from your thermostat to your washing machine, utilize IoT (Internet of Things) technology, which means that they’re embedded in a network that exchanges data with other devices over the internet. But what sort of data could a washing machine collect that could pose a potential privacy issue? Well, that simple smart appliance is connected to the same network as your laptop or computer, so hackers can bounce from a lightbulb to a PC.

We live in a time where we’ve traded our privacy for convenience, and while these companies have gathered a ton of data on us already, it doesn’t mean we need to keep the toxic river flow going. Let’s go over how to secure your devices.

Change your password

Come on now, don’t walk around with your username as “admin” and password as “password” for your router or any of your smart devices. You might as well be handing the manila envelope of your life directly to a hacker.

If you’re looking for convenience, use a strong password manager to autogenerate a password for you. Using personal information in a password is almost as bad as whatever the default is. Simple words are also ill-advised. If you really want to know how fast a hacker can break your password, Hive Systems produced a convenient graphic for you to get the idea.

Most importantly, don’t use the same password twice. I know it’s a pain, but it’s necessary, and let’s move onto why.

Enable 2FA or MFA

Changing your password is not enough. Even if you’ve somehow developed an impenetrable string of letters, numbers, and symbols, it could easily be put on blast if there’s a security breach. And suddenly, a hacker knows the password for your Samsung washing machine, which could be the same password you use for your laptop (if you happened to not take my previous advice).

Most devices let you set up two-factor authentication (2FA) or multifactor authentication (MFA), and it is a simple way to stop a hacker from breaching your smart home even if they have the password to your device. Setting this up, typically through your phone, is another layer to keep your smart home safe.

Enable automatic firmware updates

This may seem rather obvious, but it’s important to point out that you should keep all your smart home devices, especially your router, up to date and this includes your other devices too, like your smartphone and laptop. The easiest way to do that is to enable automatic firmware updates. Whenever there’s a security issue, manufacturers will ideally patch the vulnerability as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, that might not always be the case. If a company is no longer supporting the product or simply discontinued it, that might be your cue to do the same. No one likes spending money on something new when the old one works just fine, but the older a product is, the more vulnerable it could become.

Use a router-level VPN

Setting up a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can not only secure your smart home devices but all of the devices on your network. A VPN encrypts your data, so hackers won’t be able to see what exactly your smart home devices are communicating. It’s not impenetrable, but it’s a strong layer of security.

Now, the only problem with this is that most VPNs aren’t free and not all routers are compatible with VPN integration. However, if you have access to a VPN and a compatible router, you should be able to set it up via your router settings, in a section likely labeled VPN Client mode.

Set up a smart home network

One of the most significant changes you can make to your smart home is using a local or separate Wi-Fi network for your smart home devices. This does come with some drawbacks, however.

You can set up a guest network on your router and throw all your smart home devices on there, effectively isolating them from your primary network. How effective this is comes down to the type of smart home device you’re connecting. Some can get temperamental with your phone not being on the same exact network. You might need to switch to the guest network, connect with the device, and switch back to see if that works. In other cases, it might not be compatible at all.

If you want to go the local network route, things will take a slightly more challenging but effective turn. You’ll need to get your hands on a Raspberry Pi or an old laptop and start looking into Home Assistant, an open source home automation system that keeps all of your smart home devices local.

If you’re willing to trade convenience back for privacy, this should be your next step. It’s more involved than what we can cover here, but to put it simply, your smart home devices connect to your laptop or Raspberry Pi locally and then can be managed through the Home Assistant app.

Bottom line

The more steps you take to secure your network, the less likely you’ll have to worry about your personal data being breached because of something as simple as your washing machine. Even one of these steps will drastically improve your security, but changing your passwords and using 2FA or MFA is great advice in and out of your smart home.

More from Tom's Guide

• Does antivirus software still slow down your PC in 2026? We tested the top security software to find out
• AI scams are getting scary realistic — 4 red flags to watch out for
• Your personal information is everywhere online — 5 ways to start removing it from the internet

Last October, I set up on my front lawn what I thought were two of the more ridiculous Halloween decorations: the 12-foot Home Depot Skelly and Lowe’s 20-foot inflatable skeleton. They were an instant hit with the kids, and in the end, Lowe’s won out, as it was easier to set up, and was simply more ridiculous for its size.

This year, both Lowe’s and Home Depot came out with animatronic oversized skeletons; Home Depot’s 12-foot version has a head that turns and a jaw that moves; you can even program custom phrases via a smartphone app. Lowe’s 15-foot skeleton — called the Watcher — holds its head above its body, rotates back and forth, beams lights out of its eyes, and also has a speaker with a bunch of spooky phrases.

Naturally, I wanted to see how these two teched-up decorations compared. The neighborhood children also couldn’t wait. Neither are cheap; Home Depot’s skeleton costs $379, while Lowe’s model is $429, yet as of this writing, both are selling out fast.

Storage and setup

The first thing to note is that while neither are small, the Lowe’s skeleton comes in a box about two-thirds the size of Home Depot’s — the latter measures 40 x 44 x 27 inches — something to consider if you have limited storage space.

Assembling Lowe’s skeleton was a more involved affair; the internal frame is made up of metal hoops running up each leg and the torso, which gives the skeleton its shape. Each hoop is held in place with cotter pins, and each part of the frame is secured with thumb screws. Suffice it to say, there’s a lot of really small pieces that could be easy to lose.

And, you also have to "dress" the skeleton with its gigantic overalls. I don't know that a farmer's getup is the outfit that's most going to instill fear in the hearts of trick-or-treaters, but here we are.

As you’re putting the whole thing together, you also have to attach a series of electrical connectors inside the body; they snap together easily enough, but there are more than a few of them. It took me a good hour or so to piece everything together. It’s also held in place by four guy strings, to keep it from toppling over.

Home Depot’s Skelly instructions are pretty much the same as its non-smart version. It’s a metal frame with plastic pieces covering it, and far fewer pieces than the Lowes model. The only real difference are the few wires that connect from its pelvis, up the spine, and to the head. Maybe it was my familiarity from last year’s model, or the fact that there are not as many parts, but assembly went much faster. I was done in about half an hour.

I assembled both skeletons myself, and while it’s not advisable, it’s doable. The trickiest part is lifting the whole thing in the air. There was a moment or two with each that I thought it would topple right over.

Animatronics

Both models have motion sensors, so you can set them to activate only when someone approaches your house. The sensors are sensitive enough to detect motion up to 20 feet away; I found that traffic driving by my house would trigger the Home Depot skeleton, which became annoying after a while.

The upper torso, arms, and head of the Lowe’s skeleton rotate back and forth, and its eyes beam two rays of light that were bright enough to illuminate my sidewalk some 20 feet away. As it moves, it also runs through several pre-set sayings. Hidden inside the left leg is a large control box, where you can adjust the volume and even connect a larger speaker, should you choose.

Home Depot’s Skelly is a bit more, well, animated. Its head moves back and forth and its jaw moves up and down in sync with whatever it’s saying.

You have to download an app to customize what the Home Depot Skelly says. You then have to press a button on its underside (which feels a little dirty) to put it in Bluetooth mode. Only then can you connect it with the app. However, you then have to switch it out of Bluetooth mode if you want it to do its thing.

Recordings can be up to 30 seconds in length, and not only can you control what it says, but you can also customize the chest and eye lights. What it says is only limited by your imagination. We had the most fun when we recorded our daughter. The sight of a 12-foot-tall skeleton threatening doom in a small child’s voice is hilarious.

I even got it to “sing” the Philadelphia Eagles fight song, which no doubt rankled my Giants-loving neighbors.

Which was the most spooktacular?

Ultimately, Home Depot’s 12-foot Skelly won this year’s faceoff. I found it easier to set up, and, despite a little wonkiness with its app, the ability to have it say anything you want really adds something special. It also happens to be $50 less than Lowe’s model.

You can’t go wrong with either skeleton. There’s something sublimely ridiculous about a massive decoration in your yard, especially for Halloween. But, being able to customize the Home Depot Skelly to make it truly frightening or funny made it the real winner.

More from Tom's Guide

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• How to make a no-carve pumpkin for Halloween

I’ve been seeing advice online recently telling people to spray WD-40 to get rid of carpenter bees. While it might sound like a quick, clever hack, it doesn't solve the problem long-term — and worse, it can stain your wood and harm beneficial garden pollinators.

Unlike honeybees or bumblebees that live in social colonies, carpenter bees are solitary insects with a destructive habit: boring perfectly round holes into exposed outdoor wood to nest. While they don't eat wood like termites do, their tunneling in decks, fascia boards, and porch railings can weaken structural timber over time and leave unsightly yellow stains along entry points.

If you prefer a gentler approach that won't harm pets, children, or local wildlife, a peppermint-based spray is the best natural deterrent. Carpenter bees have highly sensitive scent receptors and despise these strong, localized odors.

Here's exactly why that viral WD-40 trick fails, how to make the DIY spray, and the best way to apply it for maximum protection.

Why WD-40 doesn't work

Spraying WD-40 into carpenter bee holes is one of the most common internet myths circulating today. While the solvent might temporarily kill a bee on direct contact, it fails entirely as a long-term deterrent.

WD-40 dries quickly, leaving behind a slick residue that fails to repel future bees. Worse, spraying petroleum-based lubricants onto raw, weathered wood can stain your deck, break down protective wood sealants, and leach toxic chemicals into nearby soil and garden beds. Relying on WD-40 leaves your home exposed while risking unnecessary environmental harm.

Pro tips for maximum prevention

No spray is 100% permanent on its own. To secure your home against future infestations, pair your natural spray with these physical barriers.

Before applying your spray, pack old or active nest holes with steel wool or copper mesh, then seal over them with exterior wood putty or caulk. Carpenter bees are naturally drawn back to the scent of old nests year after year— losing entry points breaks the cycle.

Carpenter bees strongly prefer bare, weathered softwoods. Applying a fresh coat of exterior latex paint or a thick polyurethane varnish creates a synthetic outer shell that bees rarely attempt to bore through.

More from Tom's Guide

• The hidden ways carpet beetles get inside your home — and how to spot them
• I stopped spiders from taking over my porch — without squishing them or using harsh chemicals
• The 2-herb combo that creates a "no-fly zone" for wasps (and exactly where to plant it)

If you’ve got kids or pets, your home is going to see a fair amount of messes.

Knocked-over drinks, sticky jam fingers on sofas, muddy footprints and pet accidents on your carpet — you could find yourself cleaning all day long.

What’s more, besides clearing up the mess, you’ll want to make sure stains don’t stain and odors don’t linger.

Right now, the Bissell Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner is $84, down from $129 on Amazon.

Now under $100, that’s an impressive 35% saving you can pocket.

From personal experience, I know having a dedicated spot cleaner — rather than endless scrubbing by hand and pushing stains deeper into the fabric — is a total game changer.

• shop today's best October Prime Day deals

Why every pet household needs this compact cleaner

If you’re a pet owner, this compact cleaner combines super suction power and spray to remove pet spots and stains from carpets, rugs, upholstery and car interiors. Even pet-free households will benefit from its ability to remove tough coffee stains, wine, and grease.

What's more, this compact appliance, weighing just 9.6 lbs, is perfect for cleaning up spills and messes in small spaces, and it’s lightweight and portable enough to take outside to clean your car — making it especially handy if your vehicle is covered with pet fur and muddy paw prints.

With a 4.5-foot hose and a 15-foot cord, this appliance is flexible enough to clean hard-to-reach places — spraying, scrubbing and lifting dirt away while neutralizing odors. To help you get started, it includes specialized stain-removing tools and an 8oz bottle of cleaning solution.

The large-capacity clean and dirty water tanks let you get on with the task at hand, rather than spending time emptying and refilling the units.

Over one million consumers have already purchased Bissell's Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner. Are you going to join the gang this October Prime Day?

• shop all October Prime day deals
• YETI sale: deals from $10
• Amazon devices: deals from $12
• Anker Smart Display Charger: was $39 now $23
• Skechers: from $25
• TV sale: deals from $69

One of the common issues with just about every smart lock is that, eventually, their batteries are going to run out. If, like me, you put off the low battery warnings, you'll ultimately be locked out of your house. More than once, I've had to run to the local 7-11 to pick up a 9-volt battery to temporarily get back inside.

While a few smart locks with solar panels were launched earlier this year, Ring — the video doorbell company — thinks it found a better solution with its first smart lock.

The Ring Smart Lock, as the new device is creatively named, has a small dial below the keypad; if the lock's batteries run out of juice, you can twist the dial back and forth a few times to charge up a supercapacitor inside the lock. This will give the lock enough power for you to enter your code to get back inside your house.

I tried it out with a demo unit, and all it took was a few short twists to charge up the lock, which remained powered for about 20-30 seconds, which should be plenty of time for you to enter the code. You can see in the GIF below how quickly it charges; the display is not included in the actual lock.

Apart from that, the Ring Smart Lock looks to be on a par with most other basic smart locks. It has a fingerprint reader directly above the keypad, but lacks any other sort of biometric authentication — not that it's needed.

While the lock will work with Alexa, it's not Matter-compatible, nor will it work with Google Home. The lock uses Bluetooth for setup, then Amazon Sidewalk to maintain its connection to the cloud — no Wi-Fi here, but you will need something like an Amazon Echo Dot to act as a bridge. The lock also lacks NFC or Aliro, but has ANSI Grade 2 certification.

The Ring Smart Lock will be available in the first quarter of 2027, and retail for $249. The lock will come in three finishes: black, silver, and bronze.

While it may not have any fancier features such as palm or face recognition, the fact that you won't have to worry about getting back into your house could be the only reason you'd need to get this lock.

New 4K cameras, including a pan-tilt model

Ring is also announcing a spate of 4K cameras for both indoors and out, as well as a new 2K indoor cam that can pan and tilt; while not a new feature among the best home security cameras, it is a first for Ring.

• Available for pre-order October 7:
  • Outdoor Cam 4K Plus ($149.99 at Amazon)
  • Spotlight Cam 4K Plus ($199.99 at Amazon)
  • Floodlight Cam 4K Plus ($219.99 at Amazon)
• Available for purchase October 7:
  • Indoor Cam 4K ($99.99 at Amazon): This camera has a 115-degree field of view, dual-band Wi-Fi 6, and a physical privacy shutter.
  • Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K ($69.99 at Amazon): This camera can rotate 360 degrees and tilt 175-degrees, and can follow subjects across the room.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested two solar smart locks that never need to be recharged — and there is one clear winner
• Best video doorbells
• Forget fingerprints and codes — the new Aliro standard is about to revolutionize smart locks

My lawn is a colorful mix of yellow, gold, and russet tones, draped in a thick layer of fallen leaves from my trees. And while I’m tempted to grab my garden rake and clear them up so I can see my lawn again, an expert urges gardeners to think twice before clearing them away.

Instead of raking my leaves into piles and tossing them in the garden trash, Craig Wilson, co-founder and garden expert at Gardeners Dream, shares how to reuse them to prevent weeds.

A free weed suppressant

Rather than discarding fallen leaves, Wilson recommends shredding them into a natural mulch to place around plants to suppress weeds.

So what's the best way to shred leaves? Wilson explains, “Allow dry leaves to build up, then run over them with a lawnmower to shred them into smaller pieces.

I tend to place leaves on my beds without shredding them first, so I asked Wilson why he recommends breaking them down.

“Shredding them first helps the leaves break down more easily and reduces the risk of whole leaves forming a thick, compacted layer,” he explains.

And he adds, “The smaller pieces are easier to spread around flower beds and established plants and will generally break down more readily than whole leaves.”

Top tip

If you shred leaves with a lawnmower, make sure you’ve left them to dry out before mowing over them—it will help you cut through them effectively.

Leaves are much more than a weed suppressant

Beyond forming a layer to suppress weeds, Wilson also shares how fallen leaves can boost your soil. He explains they “help to retain moisture and regulate an appropriate temperature for the season.”

So instead of thinking of fallen leaves as garden waste, he says gardeners should see them as a free resource they can return to the soil.

3 mistakes to avoid with fallen leaves

1. Don't leave thick layers on your lawn

While shredded leaves can benefit flower beds, don’t let whole, wet leaves sit heavily on your lawn.

Wilson says, “A thick covering can block light and air from reaching the grass, so rake or remove them regularly.”

Apart from blocking photosynthesis and discouraging lush green grass, heavy layers of leaves trap moisture, encouraging snow mold and root rot. What’s more, a lack of oxygen and nutrients weakens the roots, and your lawn may start to turn yellow, with bare patches appearing. A damaged lawn also takes longer to recover when the warm weather returns.

2. Not removing diseased leaves

Wilson warns that you shouldn’t put every fallen leaf back into the garden. “If leaves are showing obvious signs of disease, it is better to remove and dispose of them appropriately rather than spreading them around your flower beds.”

Removing diseased leaves can help reduce the risk of carrying problems into the following growing season.

3. Being too tidy

I’m a tidy gardener, but Wilson warns against being too precise with your yard in fall. “It’s tempting to completely clear the garden before winter, but you don't need to remove every piece of natural debris. In suitable areas, leaving some leaves, stems and other plant material undisturbed can provide shelter for wildlife over the colder months.”

He says the key is to be selective with how much you tidy, “Keep your lawns and paths clear and make use of healthy leaves as mulch, and leave suitable, less-formal areas a little more natural to create that magical fall feeling.”

More from Tom's Guide

• 3 essential fall jobs to protect young trees before the first cold snap
• Why you can’t ignore your lawn in October: 7 tasks to complete this month
• Before your lawn goes dormant, do this 15-minute job for thicker grass next spring

Of all the appliances in our kitchen, the one device that probably gets used the most (aside from the refrigerator) is our toaster oven. Not only do we use it for toast, but we also use it to bake muffins, roast chicken, air fry nuggets, and even make little pizzas.

When I reviewed the ChefIQ MiniOven last December, I had been testing it for about three months, and gave it a 4-star rating. Well, a year has gone by, and it's still going strong — and now it's 37% off on Amazon for Prime Day.

The biggest knock I had against the MiniOven is that it costs $599, which is pretty high for a toaster oven, even one that's smart. However, this Prime Day deal discounts it to $379, which is $220 off its regular price, making it far more palatable.

One of the nice features of the MiniOven is that you can link it wirelessly to the ChefIQ Sense, which we also rated as one of the best meat thermometers we've tested. With it, I've roasted many a chicken in the oven, and all have come out wonderfully juicy and perfectly done.

Also, because this is a smart oven, I'm able to monitor things from my phone, so I can get alerts when things are ready, even if I'm elsewhere in the house. The MiniOven also has received a few firmware updates over the past year, which I think has also helped with one feature it was a little lax with — toasting bread.

The MiniOven's touchscreen control panel is easy to view and use. While we don't often go deep into the settings, it only takes a few taps to get to what we need. It's one of the smart home devices I've brought home that my spouse has no complaints about, either, which is another notch in its favor.

It is a little larger than your typical toaster oven, but if you have the space for it, this is one appliance I'd recommend picking up, especially now that it's on sale.

Savings Squad Widget

Having a pet is lovely, but having pet hair all over your home isn't. It's something I feel like I'm constantly battling — and while I found a $5 beauty hack that gets rid of pet hair on my clothes, I'm always on the lookout for ways to vacuum it up from the rest of my house with ease.

I've been eyeing up a new vacuum, preferably one with some sort of special attachment or built-in technology, but I want to make sure I'm doing everything I can first to eliminate the stubborn pet hair that just won't quit.

And as I've scoured the internet for advice, I think I've finally found five vacuum cleaning tips to help you (and me) get spotless floors.

Take your time

Yes, you probably want to get the vacuuming done as quick as possible, but there's something to be said for taking your time when there's pet hair to remove. Taking it slower, as well as ensuring you're revisiting spots at least once, is a great way to make sure you're really giving your vacuum the best chance at sucking up all that pet hair.

Slow vacuuming will give your appliance more time to lift up the pet hairs that may be embedded into your floors, especially carpets. And an even better step to take is to vacuum your floors in different angles, ensuring you're picking up the hairs that might be avoiding you.

Start from the top

Before you even get to vacuuming the floors though, it's best to work over any soft furnishings or areas where pet hair can gather to ensure it's all on the floor by the time you reach it.

As you disturb pet hair on those higher up areas, you'll be bringing it back onto the floor where it'll be likely to stay if you're not going to vacuum it up. It's certainly a way to make sure the floor remains spotless and it'll also save you a lot of time.

Try a little baking soda

One clever trick I've really enjoyed doing is sprinkling a little baking soda over my carpets and upholstered furniture. Not only is it great for eliminating odors, but it'll also reduce the static charge in the fibers, releasing the pet hair more readily when you go over it with a vacuum.

Just be sure to only spread it lightly and vacuum it all up afterwards to avoid any irritation for your pet. With this in mind, it's likely to make you even more thorough with your vacuuming as well, so that's always a plus.

Keep the brush roll clean

If you want your vacuum to perform at its best, keeping the brush roll clean should be high on your list of little jobs around the home. This is especially true if you have people who shed a lot of hair (like me in my household) or pets. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines, but what you're aiming to do is cut away and detangle any hair that is gathering on the roll.

While some vacuums come with anti-tangle brush rolls made to prevent a mess of long hair and pet hair gathering, some will require you get a bit more hands-on. And even if you do have an anti-tangle brush, you'll still need to clean it, just maybe not as regularly.

Ensure maximum suction

You might not realize it, but your vacuum could be carrying a lot more weight in its dustbin (or bag) than it looks, especially when you've got pets. A lot of pet hair in the dust compartment can impact your vacuum's suction power – and that's no good for pulling up stubborn pet hairs.

Instead, be sure to empty it a little more often than you're used to. This will also help maintain good airflow to your motor, as well as reduce odors from pet hair saturating inside.

Do you have any awesome tips for tackling pet hair in your own home? Let me know in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 quick hacks to get rid of pet hair in your home
• I love this pet hair cleaning brush for keeping my home spotless — and I don't even own a pet
• 7 tips for staying on top of pet hair

Prime Day is officially here, and while the homepage is flooded with discounts, the Blink Mini 2K+ is on sale for $27, down from $69, and it has caught my attention. Saving $42 (a massive 60% discount) on a brand-new two-pack means you are getting sharp, multi-room security for under $14 per camera.

In our testing, Blink’s compact plug-in line has consistently earned top marks for hitting the sweet spot between low cost and reliable performance, making this steep Prime Day price cut an absolute no-brainer if you want to cover your home without spending a fortune.

When evaluating budget home security, you might have to settle for blurry footage, tinny speakers, or clunky interfaces. What makes the new Blink Mini 2K+ worth talking about is how it tackles those exact pain points without bumping up the price tag.

The biggest upgrade is video clarity. Bumping the sensor up to 2K resolution gives you much cleaner detail and up to 4x digital zoom, making it far easier to read text on packages or identify faces across a room, even in tricky lighting. The Mini 2K+ also adds noise cancellation to two-way talk so conversations actually sound clear and natural.

On the software side, the upgraded internal chip processes computer vision directly on the device. That means you get accurate person and vehicle detection to filter out false motion triggers like passing cars or blowing curtains. It even integrates directly with Alexa displays and can double as a real-time chime if you own a Blink Video Doorbell.

It is also no longer strictly an indoor device. With an optional weather-resistant power adapter, you can mount these under an eave or on a patio to watch entryways. Setup takes roughly two minutes: simply plug it into a wall socket, scan the QR code in the app, and you are live.

Getting a single 2K camera for $27 would be a steal, but getting a two-pack of the Blink Mini 2K works out to under $14 per unit. If you want a low-cost way to keep an eye on multiple rooms or front doors, this is easily one of the smartest budget picks on sale right now.

More from Tom's Guide

• Blink Mini 2 security camera review: Mini but mighty
• My favorite streaming stick just hit $15 for Prime Day — plus 4 more Amazon device deals worth grabbing
• Amazon Fire TV devices explained: Which streaming stick (or Cube) is right for you?

I’ve been through a couple of grills since I moved into my house 10 years ago, and I usually just get the most burners I can get for the least amount of money. But when it came time to put my latest Monument Grill out to pasture — complete with a door that came off the hinge every time I touched it — I decided to try something different.

Over the years I’ve seen plenty of Weber grills but never had the opportunity to test one myself. So when I got a chance to try out the Weber Genesis E-325 Titanium Edition ($999 at Home Depot), I was intrigued to see if the “Weber premium” was worth it and how it stacks up to the best grills. But I wouldn’t be the only judge.

What makes the Genesis E-325 stand out

The first thing that stood out to me was the build quality of the Genesis E-325 Titanium. While my previous grills were thin and frail, the Genesis looks and feels rock solid. And I’m not just talking about the outside.

The two dual-row PureBlu burners are designed to deliver heat evenly across the cooking surface, and the raised ports that keep the flame above the tube, which minimizes both clogs and corrosion. Plus, the flavorizer bars do a great job of catching and vaporizing juices, keeping grease away from the burners to minimize flare-ups.

Then there’s the porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates. I like that they heat up quickly and retain heat, which is great for searing. These grates flip over to handle other grill accessories, such as a Griddle, Pizza Stone and Grilling Basket (all $99). I tried the latter with mixed results; more on that below.

Test No. 1: Sriracha BBQ chicken

For my first test I wanted to make some barbecue chicken, and normally I like to marinate it in sauce. In this case I picked Trader Joe’s Organic Sriracha and Roasted Garlic BBQ Sauce.

After letting the chicken marinate for 30 minutes, I fired up the Genesis E-325 and it got to 400 degrees within a few minutes. For this meal I put the cooking grates on the flat side, as that’s recommended for chicken. I used the peaked side for grilling steaks later.

Granted, this was just my first time using a Weber, but I was impressed with how evenly the chicken cooked. I noticed some of the pieces got more of a char towards the back of the 513-square inch cooking area and just moved a couple of the breasts around.

Once the chicken was done I paired it with some jasmine rice and mixed vegetables, and it was time for the family to weigh in.

The best endorsement came from my 18-year-old-son, who usually doesn’t say much more than “thanks for making it.”

In this case I got a “this is really good” — unprompted. My wife also approved, commenting that the chicken was juicy on the inside and had a nice crispy crunch on the outside. I’ll take that as a win.

Test No. 2: Ribeye steaks, filets and roasted vegetables

For my next test of the Weber Genesis E-325 I tried something a bit more complicated. I grilled some ribeye steaks and small filet mignons while also attempting to roast some broccoli and sweet potato slices on Weber’s Crafted Grilling Basket ($99).

To prep, I hit the steaks and filets with a combination of Season All, Spice Lab’s Smoked Butcher’s Blend and Dan-O’s Seasoning.

My wife helped with the veggies, preparing the broccoli with roasted garlic and chili oil, salt and pepper, onion powder and crushed red pepper flakes. And she drizzled the sweet potato medallions with roasted garlic algae oil, hot honey, salt and pepper and hot honey dry seasoning.

Sounds like the recipe for success, right? Well, mostly.

The Genesis E-325 did a fantastic job searing the ribeyes with its dedicated Sear Zone, which gets up to 750 degrees. After I got those perfect marks, I moved the steaks over to the left and cooled the right side down to 350 degrees to roast the vegetables.

Unfortunately, I overcooked the broccoli and it got a little too much char, but the sweet potatoes were spot on. I should have waited a bit longer to add the broccoli to the grill basket.

The ribeyes, however, came out practically perfect. I got the sear I wanted without losing the juices on the inside. And the filets I cooked were nice and tender. I put them on the top shelf while the bigger steaks finished cooking.

Overall, this meal was a home run with the family despite my messing up the broccoli. We just sprinkled some cheese on top to mask the burning, and it still tasted great.

Cleaning: Where I messed up

The biggest mistake I’ve made with the Weber Genesis E-325 is not reading the instructions before cleaning. You’re not supposed to use a wire brush, as it can strip the enamel, and Weber suggests you let the grill cool before you clean.

I’m accustomed to using my Grill Rescue brush, which on other grills you dip in water and leverage the heat of the grill to steam clean. I made things worse, making some residue harder to get off.

I learned my lesson. You’re supposed to let the grill cool, then use a Nylon bristle brush to clean the grates. For deeper cleaning, you can use a sponge and hot soapy water to clean the grates.

Accessories: Lots of options

As mentioned, the Weber Genesis E-325 can accommodate a range of custom-fit grillwork. This includes a Pizza Stone, Grilling Basket (good for veggies) and Griddle (great for breakfast items or smash burgers). These are all $99.

It doesn’t stop there, though. The Genesis has a side table you can drop accessories into and side rails for clipping on other add-ons. You can get everything from a basin with cutting board lid ($39) to a bottle holder ($12.95).

Outlook

So far I really like the Weber Genesis E-325. I’ve only tried it with a couple of meals so far, but the food has been delicious and evenly cooked, and I’m happy with the overall build quality.

I also love having a dedicated Sear Zone for steaks, and even though I’m used to 6 burners, there’s plenty of cooking area on this 3-burner grill for me and my family. I think larger parties could be a challenge, though.The only thing that’s thrown me so far is the cleaning for the Genesis E-325. But now that I know the proper technique I don’t think it will be an issue. Would you invest this much in a grill? Let me know what you think in the comments and if you already have a Weber please feel free to share your experience.

Cleaning my floors is one of those jobs I just never want to do. For some reason, the idea of filling up a bucket with soapy water and pushing a soggy mop around my kitchen and bathrooms is so low on my priority list that it often gets ignored completely. And don't even get me started on cleaning the mop head afterwards.

I've tried a spin mop, mops with replaceable and washable heads, and even a vacuum mop hybrid, yet the idea of washing my floors still feels like too much of a chore.

But, my social media has clearly been listening to me ranting about what mop I should be buying as my feed was suddenly very mop-heavy.

And then, amongst it all, I saw someone cleaning up their floors in record time with what appeared to be no fuss at all – and it was thanks to the Flash Speed Mop. Well, consider me thoroughly influenced to try it.

How does it work?

The Flash Speed Mop is ridiculously simple. It's an all-in-one flat floor mop equipped to hold scented wet wipes, or dry wipes, which are then pushed around your floors with a little bit of scrubbing.

The wet wipes are pre-moistened and contain dirt-dissolving cleansers ready to wipe up any spills and stains. It also has 360-degree swivel, meaning its super flexible when you're trying to get in hard-to-reach places and up against corners.

Then, when you're done, you simply remove the wipe, throw it in the bin, and replace whenever you're ready to clean again.

Here's what happened when I tried it

The kit I ordered came with both the easy-to-assemble mop and a packet of lemon-scented wipes to get started. And I can happily say it was really simple to put together and also super affordable.

The only thing that was a little bit 'tricky' was putting the wipes onto the mop head as they're very wet in order to spread across as much floor as possible. Unfortunately, that meant my hands also get pretty wet when pushing the wipes into the mop head in the four gripper holes (one on each corner).

Fortunately, it takes around 10 seconds to do, so it's not much of a complaint and I found it secures the wipes on very well. It's also worth the soggy sacrifice because that solution then made the mop easy to glide around the floors and also had a surprising amount of coverage (as well as picking up a surprising amount of dirt).

It was also a lot nicer than getting down on my hands and knees and pushing the wipes around myself, which is something I find myself doing in hard-to-reach places.

But, what I enjoyed the most about this handy mop was being able to pull the wipe off at the end and throw it in the bin. None of the hassle of a mop and bucket, none of the extra cleaning needed to get your mop head washed, and at the end, it was easily stored away.

We're about to get more hard floors put down in our house, which made my search for a new mop even more necessary. But, even if you've only got a room or two with hard floors like the kitchen or bathroom, it's not an expensive investment to only use sometimes.

Plus, the wipes are resealable meaning they're ready to use whenever you want. There's a couple of things that are worth weighing up though. The Flash Speed Mop is certainly less environmentally-friendly with one-use wipes and it also can't be used on certain floor types. These include unfinished, oiled, or waxed wooden boards, plus non-sealed tiles or carpeted floors.

For me though, it's made cleaning my floors easier than ever before and I can finally stop buying mops that I end up actively avoiding while I watch my floor get dirtier and dirtier!

More from Tom's Guide

• How to mop your floors properly — 5 tips for spotless results
• No more dirty mop water — this simple cleaning tool is a game-changer
• I tried Roborock’s new wet floor cleaner and it does one thing that Dyson doesn't

There is something deeply satisfying about aligning your home with the shift in seasons. As fall settles in and we naturally spend more time indoors, clearing out accumulated clutter makes space for the cozy season.

However, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by what stays and what goes, and while some items are obviously no longer needed and can head for the rubbish or donation pile, other items remain in the ‘unfinished business’ pile and may stay cluttering up your home for months.

Dealing with what you've decluttered

The hardest part of decluttering is deciding what to do with items that aren’t quite trash but that aren’t actively being used. It could be a pile of clothes waiting to be listed for sale, boxes from a house move still unpacked, children’s toys ready to be donated, or an unused piece of furniture you planned to sell online.

These items may not seem like a problem on their own, but when several start to accumulate and fill your hallway, bedrooms and living space, they can make your home feel much more crowded. At this time of year, when you’re spending more time inside, the clutter from what you’ve decluttered can start to take over.

According to Chris Hutton, storage expert at Adams Selfstore, decluttering becomes harder when each item comes with a task attached. This is why he says, “Some people can live with the same pile of things for months without really seeing it as clutter. You know why it’s there, so it doesn’t feel like rubbish.”

So although there may be a job attached to every item, whether it needs selling, donating, returning, or simply unpacking, if you apply the “I’ll deal with it later” mentality to each object, he says you’re creating your own very long-term storage system — what I’d prefer to call a storage problem.

“If something has been waiting for you to do something with it for six months, ask yourself whether that job is actually going to happen anytime soon,” he advises.

Fall is a good time to tackle these items, as children have settled back into school, work routines return to normal, and Thanksgiving is still a fair distance away.

What is the 'unfinished business' test?

To help you sort out your clutter, Huttons proposes trying the 'unfinished business' test. Rather than telling people to throw things away, he recommends asking why an item is still in your home.

“Not using something recently doesn’t automatically mean it needs to go. The better question is why you’re keeping it, and whether you’re realistically going to get around to doing what you’ve been putting off.”

He proposes three methods to help you decide and take action.

1. Set a deadline

Hutton’s main advice is to set yourself a deadline rather than sticking with vague intentions. “If you’ve got a bag of clothes you’ve been meaning to sell, give yourself a realistic date to do it. If you haven't got around to it by then, make a different decision.

“The important thing is stopping temporary piles from becoming permanent fixtures in your home.”

2. Reconsider where objects are stored

If you decide to keep an object rather than selling or donating it, it doesn’t necessarily have to stay in a prime spot in your home. Hutton explains, “Keeping something doesn’t automatically mean it needs to take up space in the room you use every day. There are belongings that are worth holding onto but that don’t need to be within arm’s reach all year round.”

Items don’t need to be within easy reach unless you use them daily. I use this method in my kitchen, and I keep any appliances I don’t use regularly in an appliance cupboard. But a word of warning: only keep the items you use. You still need to be ruthless about what you declutter.

3. Start at your clutter zones

Hutton says the easiest place to start is often the areas that have gradually become holding zones. For me, that’s an area in my hallway where I put items ready to be donated.

“Look at the things you’ve walked past so often that you’ve stopped noticing them. That’s usually where you’ll find the unfinished business. Pick one of those areas and finish the jobs attached to what’s there.”

Over to you

I’d love to hear your decluttering tricks and whether you have a problem with clutter zones in your home. Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• The decluttering hack that will help you break up with your clutter
• 7 ways to declutter your kitchen like a minimalist
• How to achieve a clutter-free home with the ‘One In, One Out’ method

There’s nothing I love more than the fresh aroma and taste of coffee to kick-start the day. And if your morning routine involves grabbing a custom drink from a local cafe, why not set up your own barista-style station at home?

I brought trendy coffee-house vibes to my own kitchen with a few simple upgrades. Not only did these coffee essentials instantly spruce up my space, but they were all under $20.

So if you want to sip your espresso in style, here are some budget-friendly options for your home coffee bar.

1. Decant your coffee beans

If, like me, you hate messy packages ruining your countertop, then transfer your whole beans into sleek glass canisters and chic storage jars. I poured my beans into a glass jar with a wooden lid and scoop, which instantly elevated my setup.

You can find different sizes and styles to suit your kitchen counters, tuck away neatly inside cupboards, or fit snugly in your cabinets. Plus, it gives those coffee-shop feels instantly.

2. Upgrade your coffee cups

Swap out your traditional ceramic mugs for stylish glasses to give it that coffee-shop appeal.

I love these chic, double-walled espresso glasses, or if you prefer milky cappuccinos or lattes, opt for tall coffee glasses. Not only will these upgrade your boring mugs but they will also impress your guests. And, their double-wall construction will help keep your coffee hot for longer, without burning your fingers.

Best of all, these look way more expensive than they are.

3. Opt for stackable storage

If you are dealing with small kitchen counters, maximizing your area is essential. These space-saving stackable containers are ideal for organizing your coffee grounds, tea bags, and sugar cubes without cluttering your space.

Since I bought my canister, it has literally doubled my kitchen countertop space. Not only is this a great way of making use of vertical space, but it looks less cluttered.

4. Spruce up your spoons

Along with stylish glassware, bringing in chic cutlery helps to give it that finishing touch. I love these long-handled stirring spoons and silver stirrers to complete the look.

Not only do they make preparing your favorite drinks effortless, but they also add an elegant style to your coffee station. And for me, it’s all about the details!

5. Powdered sugar shaker

If you love a milky mocha or cappuccino, you'll need to top it off with chocolate or even cinnamon powder. And a shaker is the best coffee essential to do that without creating a messy counter.

If you want to that extra mile, you can even purchase different templates to create those barista-style shapes. I've tried (yet failed) so it may take some practice!

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 coffee makers worth swiping up before October Prime Day: up to 28% off my top picks
• Best coffee maker 2026
• What's the difference between drip and espresso? Ask Tom's Guide's coffee expert in live Q&A

Between meal prep, constant snacking, cleanup, and family hangouts, the kitchen never really rests. It’s easy to feel like you’re fighting a losing battle against the daily clutter, and even after a blitz, it doesn’t take long to look messy again.

But with a few smart habits, you can reclaim your time and enjoy a clean kitchen without feeling like you’re constantly stuck in cleaning mode.

Here are five simple practices I follow to keep on top of kitchen mess in my own home.

1. Declutter your countertops

I’ve recently got a new kitchen and wanted enough storage to hide the appliances I don’t use daily. Beyond keeping food prep areas clutter-free, it makes cleaning so much easier — with fewer items on the countertops gathering dust, wiping down the surfaces is quick and effortless. If you don’t have the luxury of an appliance cupboard, you could invest in a kitchen trolley, like this RÅSKOG trolley, $37 at IKEA.

Apart from limiting the number of appliances on my countertop, I keep them as minimal as I can, and if anything can go away in a cupboard, such as my bread maker and blender, it does! The only area where I relent is around my sink, where, for the first time, I have some space in front of my window to place plants.

I don’t even have a coffee station, as I rely on an AeroPress manual coffee press, which takes up minimal space and gets stored in a cupboard when not in use.

2. Clear up as you go

Get into the habit of clearing up your cooking and baking items as you go. Instead of leaving everything in a jumble on your countertop, and frankly, in the way, move that cutting board, measuring jug and utensils into soapy suds in your sink, or better still, straight into your dishwasher.

So, while you're waiting for that sauce to simmer, or your cookies to bake, have a tidy up. Wipe down the surfaces and wash up what you no longer need.

3. Wipe up spills straight away

Lifted up your fresh cup of coffee and spotted a ring on your countertop? Don't leave it to linger. Wipe away spills before they stain your surfaces. You’ll thank me later, as it will save you from scrubbing away at nasty coffee and tea stains set into your surfaces.

The same goes for cleaning up after food prep, especially when dealing with dairy products and raw meat. It’s a quick task that will stop harmful germs from growing and spreading to other foods.

Beyond visible surfaces, always tackle refrigerator spills right away. Also, a quick wipe-down before restocking prevents sticky residue from building up — saving you from a major deep clean later.

4. Simplify your cooktop

Some kitchen changes aren’t easy, and unless you’re doing a full renovation, swapping out major appliances can cause a lot of upheaval. But I knew I wanted to trade my gas cooktop for induction, and I don’t regret it for a second.

Saying goodbye to all those awkward grates and burners was worth every bit of effort. Now, cleaning is as simple as wiping down a flat surface, and because the cooktop doesn’t heat up, I just have to wait a moment for any spills to cool. I even went with a Hisense induction cooktop with a matte finish, so annoying smudges and sticky fingerprints aren’t an issue.

Making smart, practical choices during a kitchen edit can dramatically cut down your cleanup time — which is why I stayed away from high-gloss cabinets!

5. Evening reset

Get into the habit of spending five minutes before bedtime resetting your kitchen. I put away any food left out on the countertop, clear away clean dishes and set the dishwasher to run overnight. I also give the sink a quick clean, wipe down the surfaces and take out the trash.

It’s my evening ritual, and it leaves me with a tidy kitchen, knowing that when I make my first cup of coffee the next morning, I’ll face a calm kitchen to start the day.

Over to you:
I'd love to know how you keep on top of a clean kitchen without having to go to lots of effort, or even the hardest struggles you have keeping your kitchen clean. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Prevent countertop chaos: 11 ways to store your small kitchen appliances
• 11 products organized people keep in their kitchen
• My friend’s ‘set the stage’ decluttering rule has saved my kitchen

As outdoor temperatures drop, indoor humidity levels naturally creep up. Condensation occurs whenever warm, moisture-rich indoor air makes contact with cold surfaces like window glass, uninsulated external walls, or window frames.

While even the best dehumidifier can help pull excess water from the air, running one constantly without addressing the root cause is a costly battle. Most household damp is driven by everyday habits we're all guilty of .

Here are three subtle daily habits that trap moisture indoors — and the simple fixes that keep mold away.

The 48-hour moisture rule

Mold spores are always floating around harmlessly in the air, but they only become a problem when they find a damp landing pad. Once liquid water settles on a cold surface, those microscopic spores can germinate and start taking root in as little as 24 to 48 hours.

Wiping down foggy glass or painting over a dark patch might hide the problem for a day or two, but it won't stop it. If your everyday routines are constantly trapping fresh humidity inside, mold will keep finding a way back.

3 habits trapping moisture in your home

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• How to clean mold from bathroom caulk permanently — without using household bleach
• The common radiator mistake that is actually making your house colder, according to experts
• I spotted fuzzy white mold on my houseplant soil — here's how I fixed it with a cupboard staple

It’s in everything. It was in your baby bottles, the sneakers you took your first steps in, your elementary school lunchbox, the pens you chewed during high school exams. One study even reports there’s as much as 5g in our cerebral organs.

The average kitchen contains a lot more than 5g of the stuff. Take a look at your kitchen appliances: which are constructed entirely from plastic, and which are metal or glass? Refrigerators, air fryers, blenders, coffee machines — they’re all plastic.

Slowly but surely, though, the attitude towards plastics is changing. According to Google Trends, 2026 alone has seen a 5,000% increase in searches for “plastic-free coffee maker”. To put this into perspective, let’s compare: an increase of 5,000 is the size difference between a mouse (7cm long) and the Eiffel Tower (33,000cm tall).

So what’s causing this shift, and why? I spoke to Moccamaster, a leading coffee maker brand, and Beth Gardiner, author of Plastic Inc., to find out.

What is plastic?

Beth Gardiner describes plastic as an “incredibly complicated petrochemical, meaning it's a chemical that comes from petroleum products.”

“The raw ingredients of plastic are basically derivatives and byproducts of oil and gas. We use the word plastic as a singular, but there are many different kinds of plastics.”

“What you end up with is a petrochemical.”

Essentially, plastic is fossil fuels that have been heated, pressurized, had molecules reconfigured via a series of highly complex chemical processes, and been added to.

Despite this, plastic isn’t inherently evil. In some cases, it’s the only plausible material — single-use medical equipment, for example.

What’s a microplastic?

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic. Anything from 5mm to 1 nanometer counts as microplastic. Most microplastics are invisible to the naked eye — 1 nanometer is 10 million times smaller than a centimeter (25.4 million times smaller than an inch).

Contrary to popular belief, microplastics can shed from any type of plastic. Even proudly BPA-free or PFAS-free plastics can degrade, eventually becoming microscopic microplastics. And when you introduce hot water or heating elements into the equation? BPA-free, virgin plastics might not leach carcinogenic compounds into the water, but they will degrade over time.

While researching for this article, I discovered my trusty tea bags leach billions of nanoplastics and microplastics, according to a 2019 study at McGill University. Honestly, I’m still reeling. How many microplastics are floating around inside me thanks to my English Breakfast tea addiction?

I’ll have my coffee with creamer, sugar, and… plastic?

How many cups of coffee have you consumed today? Four? Five? Do you know how many microplastics were in each one? No, of course not. But that doesn't mean plastic coffee makers are inherently wrong.

Take Moccamaster, for example. If Moccamaster were to make a glass brewer, I’m guessing shipping costs from production in the Netherlands would be astronomical. Plastic is light, durable, and cheap. Glass is heavy, delicate, and expensive. Would the average person be able to afford it?

Even so, other brands are offering low-plastic machines. Simply Good Coffee, Aarke, and Ratio are brands already whetting the appetite of the anti-plastic brigade, and I don’t blame them.

As evidenced, the general hunger for “plastic-free coffee maker” is experiencing the highest spike.

Even though consumers seemingly want plastic-free products, the onus shouldn’t be on consumers to reduce plastic usage. We’re not asking for plastic in all our appliances — we’re served it. “Plastic is being pushed into markets,” says Beth Gardiner, author of Plastic Inc. “If you go to the supermarket to buy some bananas, they're wrapped in a plastic bag, and you buy them.

Economically speaking, you did not demand a plastic bag. Your economic demand was for bananas.”

Of course, consumers can find completely plastic-free bananas, but this produce is often double, triple, or quadruple the price and much less convenient.

“The reason why plastic is in such wide use, particularly in terms of packaging and cheap products, like toys and appliances, is that it is super, super cheap.”

Moccamaster isn’t shying away from using plastic, though. Will Etherington, Director of Sales at Moccamaster, says that the “plastic components in the coffee and water-brew path comply with European food-contact requirements, including EU Regulation 10/2011.”

This means that all the virgin plastics used in Moccamaster’s line — including my favorite drip brewer, the KBGV Select — are “evaluated for chemical and material migration under repeated boiling-water-use conditions, using standardized tests designed to represent, and, where applicable, exceed, the time and temperature encountered during daily brewing."

So what are we supposed to do?

Unfortunately, as consumers, there’s very little we can do. If we want a coffee maker, we go and buy one. More often than not, we’re restricted by how much we can spend on said coffee maker.

“Moccamaster does not introduce products simply to follow trends,” says Will Etherington. This comes in light of the huge uptick in plastic-free brewers released recently — the aforementioned Ratio Four (Series 2, 2025), Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer (2026), and the low-plastic Aarke Coffee Maker (released in 2024). However, none of these brewers are accredited by the SCA, while the Moccamaster is.

“The current narrative can sometimes suggest that any product containing plastic is inherently harmful, unsafe, or poorly made, but that is simply not the case," says Etherington.

"What matters is how the material is selected, where it is used, whether it complies with applicable food-safety standards, and how it contributes to the product’s performance, durability, and longevity.”

Gardiner corroborates this, stating that the fundamental problem is disposability. “Disposability in the broad sense, not just throwaway cups and packages, but also the sort of approach to consumerism where goods are so short-lived and so incredibly abundant.”

“If you're substituting wooden forks instead of plastic forks, pretty quickly you're chopping down forests to make more wooden forks.”

“Why not use a metal fork and wash it and use it a thousand times?”

Simply put, why not buy something once and use it over and over?

I believe that plastic coffee machines aren’t any worse than all the plastic most of us ingest every day. Take Moccamaster, for example: The plastic brew basket is replaceable. On top of that, the Moccamaster is produced in the EU, which has extremely tight health regulations.

My takeaway

First things first, I’m going to look into my teabags. That statistic has made me feel nauseous. Am I inviting billions of microplastics into my precious body just by drinking tea?

I’ve already replaced most of my food storage boxes with glass. I bought a 10-pack of glass containers in July and now shudder whenever I remember my old predilection for heating soup in plastic bowls.

The bottom line is this: to be as safe as possible, you should buy plastic-free products, especially if those products involve heating. However, plastic isn’t inherently evil. It’s how it’s used and maintained.

I put petrol-derived Aquaphor on my lips every single day. There’s no such thing as a plastic-free world anymore. At this point, everything we do is merely harm reduction. And investing in a well-made, durable product is the best thing you can do for yourself. Whether that’s the lifetime-repair-warranty Moccamaster or the plastic-free Ratio Four is up to you.

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I don’t think much about my microwave. I mainly use it to defrost bread, soften butter and heat up hot drinks that have gone cold. But since I’ve been testing Ninja’s Crispi Microwave, which combines reheating with air fry technology, I’ve changed my mind.

All I need to do is convince my husband it’s worth the real estate on my kitchen countertop, and the $449 price tag.

I’m currently testing Ninja’s first-ever microwave with an air frying function, and I’m impressed so far. The No. 1 selling point is the FusionCrisp feature. It lets you heat food in microwave mode, then switch to air fry so your meal doesn't turn out soggy.

You’ll have to wait a little longer for my full review, where I’ll get hands-on with cooking a whole chicken and other dishes. But for now, here are my first impressions of Ninja’s Crispi Microwave.

Make some room...

My current microwave sits quite innocently on my countertop and measures 17 (W) x 12.5 (D) x 10 (H). However, the Ninja is over three inches wider, five inches deeper and four inches taller. You can’t help but notice it.

If you lack countertop space in your kitchen, I recommend checking your measurements before investing. You also need to think about clearance space. SharkNinja recommends six inches on the sides and 12 inches on the top.

The appliance I’m testing is currently sitting below a wall cabinet, with only five inches of clearance. I think I can get away with it, since I'm not using the appliance long-term, but do make sure you've got enough surrounding space for safe operation.

The controls look complicated, but they're not

At first, I was a bit concerned that the appliance seemed complicated to use. You can choose FusionCrisp — a combo of microwaving and air frying — or use the microwave and air fryer separately.

You’ll need to sit down for a few minutes with the instructions, or watch the setup guide that you can find by scanning the QR code on the appliance.

It walks you through reheating pizza, cooking baked potatoes and using the controls.

After using the appliance just once, I felt confident and have only referred to the Quick Start Guide to check timings. That can be an issue when using FusionCrisp. Unless I followed a recipe, I wasn’t sure how long to microwave and then air-fry the food. I expect this will get easier with time.

Cooking a fruit crumble using FusionCrisp

For me, the main attraction of Ninja’s Crispi Microwave is the FusionCrisp function. It lets you heat food in microwave mode, then switch to air fry to get a crisp texture.

The appliance comes with a fairly comprehensive Quick Start Guide, including recipes. I was instantly drawn to the classic apple berry crumble recipe — one of my favorite cozy-season puddings.

I used the recipe in the guide, swapped the apples and berries for plums, and made my first crumble in the appliance.

Using the glass basket

You need to use the accompanying glass basket with the FusionCrisp function, and place it on either the bottom or top shelf of the appliance. If you’re cooking something of height, such as a whole chicken, place the basket in the base, but since my crumble had a low profile, it was fine to put it on the top shelf.

I did find that the glass basket was really heavy; you’ll need two hands to hold it. What’s more, it’s also substantial. If you’re using it to make a recipe for one or two, you’ll end up with a huge portion. My family is still eating its way through the crumble!

And there lies another problem. If you’ve got leftovers and don’t want to transfer them out of the glass basket (some meals are messy), you’ll need a spare if you want to cook again before you finish everything.

It ditches the turntable

You’ll notice when you look inside the appliance that it ditches the turntable. This gives you even more space for cooking. Ninja claims it offers 40% more space than a standard microwave, and that it will fit an 8lb chicken. That’s ½ lb larger than the maximum size chicken that you can fit in the Ninja Crispi Pro air fryer, with a 6-quart container.

I already regularly cook whole chicken in my Corsori TurboBlaze air fryer, and will try it out in the Ninja Crispi Microwave over the coming days.

It can microwave and air fry too

Besides using the FusionCrisp function, don’t forget this appliance still offers a separate microwave and air fry function.

I tested it out by using the microwave to heat chicken soup. It has a handy preset function that ran for 2 ⅕ minutes. The soup came out piping hot, and I didn’t even pause and stir it halfway through.

I then used the air fry function to make a grilled cheese sandwich. I placed the crisper plate in the glass dish and positioned it on the top shelf. To save guessing the time and temperature I had a look online, before choosing the Max Crisp setting, at 240°C for 8 minutes. I paused the appliance and turned the sandwich over halfway through.

I was pretty pleased with the result, well my son was, and the bread was crispy, and the cheese was beautifully melted.

I’ve since played around with more grilled cheese toasties and have used the Air Grill Air Fryer setting, which needed a little less time.

My verdict so far

I’m enjoying using the Ninja Crispi Microwave and discovering what it can do. I’m still not sure whether it’s worth ditching your current microwave and air fryer for one appliance, so I’d love to know your thoughts if you’ve already made the investment (you can leave your comments below).

It is a large appliance, so if you are looking to save space, don’t underestimate the real estate it will take up.

For now, I'm going to get back to testing, and hopefully convince my family that it's one to keep.

Discover what I really think of the Ninja Crispi Microwave in my full review.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested the Ninja Crispi for a week and it made me rethink everything I knew about air fryers
• The Ninja Creami makes it so easy to make ice cream, it’s dangerous
• Best microwaves in 2026

Alongside keeping my living spaces clean, I also love a fresh-smelling home.

Whether using fragrance diffusers, scented candles, or essential oils, I am constantly seeking new ways to give every room a lasting aroma.

However, while these are common ways to refresh your spaces, I discovered a few bizarre tricks that will leave your home smelling heavenly, without spending a fortune.

According to an expert, these will take zero effort and can be done while you’re cleaning or decluttering at the same time — win-win!

Here’s what happened when I tried these three cleaning hacks to freshen my home — and do they actually work?

Scent your vacuum

Though it sounds odd, your vacuum cleaner can actually spread a lovely aroma throughout the entire home while you clean.

Simply add several drops of essential oil onto cotton balls, then place them directly inside your vacuum filter or dust container.

Once you turn it on to clean, the warm air rushes through the canister, which essentially helps the scents evaporate into the air.

“Just add a couple of drops of essential oil to your vacuum filter before you start cleaning,” says Yousof Fazelpoor, fragrance expert from Royal Oud Leicester.

“As you vacuum, the scent gets carried around the room, so you’re basically freshening the air while you clean.”

I decided to opt for peppermint oil for its fresh scent, but lavender is also a great choice. Since the scents are quite strong, be mindful not to soak or oversaturate the cotton.

Next, simply throw the scented cotton balls into your dust canister and start vacuuming around your house. As I did so, I could immediately smell the peppermint fragrance in the room.

Afterwards, I emptied out the canister, along with the cotton balls, to return to a fresh-smelling room. A quick and impressive way to clean your floor and freshen the air at the same time!

Put a bar of soap in your closet

Closets are prone to trapping unwanted odors, particularly when storing footwear. But this simple tip can banish lingering smells and keep it fresh all year round.

If you have travel-sized soaps or spare gift bars lying around, don’t throw them out! In fact, when tucked inside wardrobes, they instantly make great natural fresheners.

“One of my favorite little tricks is putting a scented bar of soap in your closet,” explains Fazelpoor. “Just keep it wrapped or pop it in a little fabric bag and tuck it in with your clothes or bedding.

"It’s a really easy way to keep everything smelling fresh when you open the cupboard.”

To test this out in my closet, it literally took seconds to hang the tiny pouch on the rail. And after a day or two, my closet had a pleasant aroma each time I opened the doors — smelling more like a bathroom than a bedroom.

Perhaps the only downside is that the smell starts to lessen after a week, but this could all depend on the fragrance itself. I’d probably opt for lavender next time as it offers a far stronger aroma than a typical soap bar.

Infuse your toilet paper roll

If you want a fresh-smelling bathroom, this bizarre hack does the trick.

“This is a bit of an odd one, but it actually works,” adds Fazelpoor. “Just put a couple of drops of essential oil on the cardboard tube inside your toilet roll, rather than the paper itself. It gives the bathroom a subtle hit of fragrance every time you use it.”

The idea is that each time the toilet paper is used, the spinning of the roll will help to release that hidden fragrance into the air.

“You don't need to go overboard with fragrance to make your home smell nice. Of course, you want to deal with the source of any bad smells first. Keeping things clean and well ventilated is the most important thing, but once that's sorted, these little tricks can give your home that extra bit of freshness.”

To my surprise, this easy trick kept my bathroom smelling fresh all week long — outlasting any store-bought air freshener. And when the scent began to fade, I reapplied a few drops. Best of all, a lovely fragrance greeted me the moment I opened the door.

Just bear in mind to take caution when using it around pets and kids to prevent any accidental ingestion or adverse reactions.

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As I head into the holiday season, I’ll be hosting, cooking and needing everything to be as fast and as easy as possible. I want — nay, need — the Ninja CrushBOSS by my side. It’s the best blender I’ve ever used, and you’ll have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands.

I’m impressed by the level of control you get with this blender, which has become my go-to for everything from meal prep to daily breakfast smoothies. It has exceptional blending performance that takes on the toughest ingredients. It’s very stable when blending at full speed, has a large capacity and is easy to clean.

What more do you want? You can find out more by reading my full Ninja CrushBOSS review.

Ninja CrushBOSS review: Specs

Ninja CrushBOSS review: Price & availability

The Ninja CrushBOSS is available to purchase from Amazon U.S. for $169 and from Amazon U.K. for £154. The blender comes in a variety of colors, including Midnight Blue & Gunmetal, Onyx, Emerald Green & Champagne, Stone & Gold, Mocha & Gold.

You can also buy the blender as part of a three-in-one bundle with a tumbler and food processor, as well as the large pitcher. This version of the blender will cost you $279 from Amazon U.S. and £239 from Amazon U.K. The additional blend cups are a good option for anyone who will be dealing with small quantities or using the blender for meal prep.

The Ninja Detect Power Pro is also around the same price at $179 and is incredibly powerful too. This blender comes with smaller blend cups and has similar controls, with a dial at the front and the same preset modes, but the CrushBOSS is just a little more powerful and costs less. Why would you spend more?

I recently tested the Nutribullet Power Core, which is priced at $99, and for $70 more, I can’t believe the step up in performance you can get with the CrushBOSS. If you can’t tell, I’m in awe of this blender.

For something with more control, such as the 10 variable speeds that come with the CrushBOSS, I would usually recommend something like the Vitamix Ascent X2. However, that will cost you $549, and you can’t justify paying that when the CrushBOSS is ripping through ice and creating the smoothest hummus I’ve ever seen with complete ease.

Ninja CrushBOSS review: Design

The Ninja CrushBOSS looks futuristic, but so are its capabilities. The blender is pretty tall, measuring 17.87 x 10.16 x 8.98 inches. I found it easy to move around since it only weighs four and a half pounds. The blade in the pitcher is tall, kind of like a tree with six blades.

The pitcher has handy measurements on the side so you can see how much liquid you’re adding to your smoothies and mixtures. The lid has a release button, and a handle pops up, making it easy to remove. The corner of the lid also lifts up to reveal a pour spout.

The motor base has suction cups on the bottom to keep the machine glued to the countertop, and trust me, this thing is not moving an inch. I even struggled to remove it when I was done, but that’s much better than having a blender that jumps around on your countertop.

Controls

The controls of the Ninja CrushBOSS are very easy to get to grips with. The blender has two small buttons for power and pulse at the top of the motor base and a large dial with an LED screen, which you twist to select the mode you want from the smart menu.

You can select prepIQ, which has presets for all sorts of meal prep, including mince, small chop and large chop. I liked having these settings because they gave me a lot of control, and more than I’d get from the pulse button. Smooth Sense uses smart sensing to determine how long the pitcher's contents need to be blended to become smooth, which I found most useful for frozen ingredients. You can also choose from 10 variable speeds if you want to be in control of the blending.

Ninja CrushBOSS review: Blending performance

To test out the blending performance of the Ninja CrushBOSS, I carried out my usual blender tests of smoothies, sorbet and hummus. This time I also added a quick chop side salad to test out the preset modes.

I was blown away by the blender. It’s so fast, and those blades are so sharp I’m convinced it could obliterate anything you throw at it. It made light work of completely frozen fruit and more tricky ingredients such as dates.

Smoothie

Firstly, I made a batch of tropical smoothie which consisted of frozen mango, peaches, pineapple and passionfruit, and I added two bananas and four dates with a splash of oat milk. I used the Smooth Sense setting, and this only took 90 seconds to fully blend and displayed a handy countdown on the screen.

As you can imagine, it tasted amazing, but I’m worried about how it felt. All of the fruit was completely broken down. Not a seed or pip in sight, and the dates were blended so small that they could easily move through a straw. It’s difficult to blend dates because of their sticky texture that gets stuck in the blades, but that wasn’t an issue for the CrushBOSS.

Sorbet

Next, I made sorbet using the Smooth Sense setting to see how well the blender copes with completely frozen ingredients and no liquid. It absolutely obliterated the mango. It was very impressive, and I’ve never seen a blender work so quickly before.

Even though I knew it wouldn’t hurt me since the lid was off, after what it did to the frozen mango, I was wary each time I reached my hand into the blender. In under two minutes, I had a smooth sorbet with no lumps or clumps.

Chop salad

To test out the chopping presets, I made a quick chopped salad to go on the side of meals. This included cucumber, red onion and tomato. I used the Small Chop setting, and the blender made light work of the ingredients.

It took less than 10 seconds to blend. It was pulsing, and in just 1, 2, 3, it was all done. An incredibly fast meal prep that I’ve been able to use to top my meals and add to wraps with minimal cleanup.

Hummus

Finally, I made a quick hummus. This included two tins of chickpeas, olive oil, paprika, salt and pepper. I decided to use the Custom Speed settings here, as making hummus requires more control, and went with speed 4.

This is the smoothest hummus I have ever made. I’m talking grocery-store-smooth. It was seriously impressive to watch, and since the blades climb the pitcher, no chickpeas were missed.

Ninja CrushBOSS review: Storage & maintenance

I found the Ninja CrushBOSS surprisingly easy to clean despite its large size. Everything except for the motor base is top rack dishwasher safe. This means that once you're done, you can throw it in the dishwasher and forget about it, making the cleanup process feel non-existent.

I opted to clean the pitcher by hand since it’s so big, and this was very easy to do. My only advice is that if you decide to clean the blades by hand too, you should be careful with your hands, as the blades are very, very sharp.

Ninja CrushBOSS review: Verdict

After some thorough testing and serious thinking, I don’t have a bad word to say about the Ninja CrushBOSS. In fact, I can’t think of anything negative about it at all.

It has an exceptional blending performance, making light work of tough ingredients like sticky dates and frozen fruit. The controls are also versatile, with variable speeds that give you the final say over your blends and presets that make prepping for cooking faster than ever. The suction on the bottom of the motor base makes it incredibly stable while blending, and the cleanup process is easy. It also helps to have a large 72-ounce capacity so I can make large quantities, but performance isn’t hindered even if you make small batches.

The CrushBOSS does everything a blender should do, does it exceptionally well, and won’t break the bank.

When it comes to toasters, I firmly believe in the old adage of ‘buy cheap, buy twice’, except for me it’s been a case of ‘buy cheap, buy six times’. I’ve had my fair share of cheap toasters, and they’ve mostly been utter crap. So I was pretty excited when KitchenAid offered me its Pro Line (or Artisan, here in the U.K.) toaster.

The KitchenAid Pro Line offers some impressive features to back up its enormous price tag. It boasts a premium design, promises even toasting, and packs a range of features like hands-free lowering/rising and an automatic keep warm mode.

Alas, it isn’t perfect. While it’s a good toaster, I wouldn’t say it toasts bread any better than a toaster half the price. And the included toasted sandwich cage kinda sucks.

Still, if you value ease of use and have some cash to spare, this has to be one of the best toasters out there.

KitchenAid Pro Line Toaster review: Price & availability

There’s no getting around it, the KitchenAid Pro Line is extremely pricey, at $299 for the two-slot toaster — the only model available in the States. Here in the U.K., the Pro Line is called the Artisan, with the two-slot model costing £269 and a four-slot model (unavailable in the U.S.), costing £399.

While pricey, the Pro Line is more or less on par with other premium toasters, namely the Dualit two-slice Classic, which costs $299. The KitchenAid Pro Line offers way more features than the Dualit Classic, so is the better option if you want reheating, auto up/down, and a bagel mode. In my experience, though, the Dualit Classic tends to toast more evenly, and unlike KitchenAid, Dualit offers the four-slice model Stateside — if those are priorities, it’s Dualit all the way.

The Pro Line is available in various colors: white, black, red and silver (which is essentially gray). In the U.K., the Artisan is available in a whopping 10 colors, including a rather fetching pistachio green. There’s also an “empire” red, ‘cos y’know… we are the British after all. Somewhat tone deaf naming there, KitchenAid.

KitchenAid Pro Line Toaster review: Design

The Pro Line is, in my opinion, absolutely beautiful, sporting a timeless art-deco design. It’s simultaneously stately yet understated, adding a touch of class to your counter but never drawing too much attention. Every time I notice it, I think “huh, now that is a pretty toaster.”

Size wise, the Pro Line is an absolute unit. The four-slice measures 12 x 13 x 9 inches and weighs 18.7lbs — it’s definitely one to be avoided if you’re short on space. The two-slice measures a slightly more manageable 7x 13 x 9 x inches and 12lbs, but it’s still large for a two-slice toaster. As you can see, neither is a featherweight either, and I genuinely had difficulty getting both out of their styrofoam packaging.

The upside to all this is that the Pro Line is built like a tank. There’s barely a hint of plastic in sight. Everything is essentially either enamel-clad steel or shiny chrome. I’m not sure I could break it even if I wanted to. This is a toaster to pass down to your grandkids.

KitchenAid Pro Line Toaster review: Performance

My favorite thing about the Pro Line is its array of automatic features and useful cooking modes. It has an automatic up/down mechanism that senses when food is in a slot and lowers/raises it accordingly, with a satisfying ping to let you know your toast has begun and ended. There’s not much use to this, although it’s a very smooth, steady mechanism, so avoids the classic ‘toast popping out and landing on the floor’ scenario.

Much more useful is the ‘keep warm’ setting. If the sensor detects that toast hasn’t been removed after cooking, the Pro Line will automatically lower it back down on a gentle heat to keep it warm. So no more spreading butter over cold toast if you happen to be busy or away from the toaster when it pops up. This will cook the toast ever so slightly, but I haven’t yet had burnt toast from a previously unburnt piece on account of keeping warm.

There’s a bagel mode, which is handy, only toasting one side of each bagel half, while only warming the top. You need to ensure you’ve got your bagel the correct way round, though, lest you cook the top and just warm the bread side. Thankfully there's a diagram on top of the toaster showing you which way to insert the bagel.

Naturally, there’s a defrost mode for heating frozen bread. And there’s a fourth mode which, confusingly, KitchenAid’s marketing images don’t show. On the promo shots, the toaster has a mode called “A little longer” to toast for a short time. On my two- and four-slice units, however, there’s a toasted sandwich setting instead. I guess the model online is an older version.

Anyway, the toasted sandwich setting is sucks, even using the sandwich cage — in all my tests, it simply burnt the outside of the bread while leaving innards cold and cheese unmelted.

I really like that the Pro Line’s slots are deliberately capacious, though, allowing you to toast lots of different bread styles and thicknesses. Often I struggle getting extra thick slices of bread into my parents’ Dualit Classic, but with the Pro Line I had no issues with super thick granary bread. I still had to cut flatter, longer sourdough slices in half, but that’s to be expected.

Finally, I love the toast setting slider. It's smooth, with no hard stops on each setting, so you can dial in your exact cooking time. And it features LED cooking lights, which count down to zero so you can see how long is left before your toast pops up — handy for time management when doing other stuff in the kitchen.

Toasting tests

Alas, the Pro Line’s core toasting performance was a little disappointing. Not awful, but for this much money, I want perfectly cooked toast. I ran my tests on the four-slice unit, at the middle setting of '4'.

With thinner slices of bread, the Pro Line cooked pretty evenly on both sides, with each slice of bread in each slot looking similarly toasted. As you can see, though, the toaster left the upper half and top corners less cooked. I'd expect to see less cooking at the top, as it's cooler near the opening. But there's quite a big discrepancy here with the upper section being undercooked cor my liking. These weren't tall slices of bread, either — the crusts were well and truly submerged into the toaster.

To see if this was just an issue with the elements not having time to heat up properly, solvable by longer cooks, I left two slices in the toaster until they burned — as a sort of stress test. As you can see below, the top elements will start to cook the upper areas of bread, but a corner still gets left undercooked in comparison.

With thicker slices of bread, I found the Pro Line always heated the sides unevenly, resulting in toast being perfect on one side and either under- of overcooked on the other, depending on the slots used. Slots 1-2 tended to undercook a side while slots 3-4 tended to burn a side. As you can see below, there was always a discrepancy between sides. Now, you want this for a bagel, but for normal toasted bread I wish the Pro Line cooked more evenly. The Dualit Classic is much better in this regard.

Time-wise, the Pro Line takes just over 2 mins to cook at the middle setting of 4. At the lowest setting of 1, it took just under 30 seconds and at the highest of 7 it took just under 2-minutes 45 seconds.

I wouldn’t say this is particularly quick, but it isn’t slow like those awful conveyor belt toasters you find at European hotels. The combined cooking and buttering time was about right for brewing and steeping a cup of tea to wash down my toast.

KitchenAid Pro Line Toaster review: Storage & maintenance

The Pro Line is very easy to keep clean externally. The sturdy, premium design and enamel finish don’t hold onto fingerprints and grime, and are easy to wipe down. I have the toaster positioned next to my stovetop, meaning it’s constantly getting sprayed with food and oil. My old toaster held onto this and its body needed degreasing regularly. The Pro Line’s enamel looks as good as new with a quick wipe.

Unfortunately, the crumb tray is a little laughable. It’s tiny and super shallow, meaning it gets full up very quickly and can be fiddly to remove if there are big crumbs in it. It’s also easy to spill crumbs when moving the tray from toaster to food waste.

KitchenAid Pro Line Toaster review: Verdict

The KitchenAid Pro Line (or Artisan in the U.K.) is a decent enough toaster. It’s styled and built beautifully, easy to clean and packs tons of useful features — the keep warm setting is a total gamechanger for those who perennially forget about their toast.

Holding the Pro Line back from our top scores are some major annoyances, though. It’s pricey, and for this money I’d expect evenly cooked toast on both sides. The crumb tray is also inexplicably small for a toaster this bulky. But if you value convenience and features over pure toasting performance, the Pro Line is still definitely one to shortlist.

“A toothbrush made out of corn? Really?” was my reaction when I reviewed the very first Suri toothbrush way back in early 2025. But although the Suri brush is intended to be the last one you buy, $135+ for an electric toothbrush is kind of pricey. So Suri released a budget version in August 2026 — so how does it stack up?

Named the “Suri Core 1.0”, this toothbrush is a great cheaper offering. Even so, at $75, I’d like to see Suri drop the price even more for successive versions. When Philips sells an electric brush for under $50, the Suri being ¾ of the way to $100 is a little off-putting.

Still, is the Suri Core 1.0 enough to be one of the best electric toothbrushes? If you value recyclable brush heads but don’t want to spend a fortune, most definitely. Again, though — I’d like to see a plastic-free version in the future. But I’m getting ahead of myself; let’s dig into this Suri Core 1.0 review.

Suri Core 1.0 review: Specs

Suri Core 1.0 review: Price & availability

The Suri Core 1.0 is $75 from Amazon U.S. and £65 from Boots in the U.K. Considering this is Suri’s “budget” brush, I’d like to see that price under $50. I was surprised to see the “budget” option still three-quarters of the way to $100 — especially seeing as this model is mostly plastic. Bio-circular, recycled plastic, but plastic nonetheless.

Speaking of sub-$50 brushes, the $48 Philips Sonicare 4100 has a pressure sensor but no travel case, so could be a better option for those on a serious budget. Although the Core 1.0 has a travel head cover rather than a full travel case (unlike the Pro 1.0 and Pro 2.0), $30 for a plant-based cover is a pretty severe difference.

Philips also offers the Sonicare 4200, $79 on Amazon. This model has three speed modes, a 31,000 motor (as opposed to the Core 1.0’s 28,000), and a pressure sensor.

However, Suri uses recyclable brush heads, and, even though the Core 1.0 is mostly plastic, it’s considerably less plastic than the Philips versions.

Suri Core 1.0 review: Design & features

As touched upon above, the Suri 1.0 isn’t totally plastic-free like the Suri Pro 1.0 and Suri Pro 2.0. The Pro 1.0 and 2.0 both utilize recyclable corn brush heads and an aluminium body, making it a completely circular product. However, the Core 1.0 is, unfortunately, mostly plastic. While this plastic is “bio-circular”, meaning it’s recycled and recyclable, Suri’s commercials start with something similar to: Why start your day with a gross piece of plastic in your mouth?

Of course, costs would have needed to be reduced for a budget brush, which I presume is what happened here. Even so, a girl can dream. In the future, I’d like to see Suri investigate other plastic-free-but-still-cheap materials.

In terms of features, you’ve got the aforementioned 28,000 vibrations per minute motor speed, pressure sensor, and two speeds. While the motor is a little slower than the Pro line (33,000), I didn’t notice a huge difference while testing. I will say the pressure sensor only went off a couple of times, which either means I’m already excellent at brushing my teeth or it’s not sensitive enough. As per my dentist’s feedback, I’m inclined to go with the former.

Indeed, the heads are recyclable if you’re in the U.K. or the U.S., and are $13 every six months for a subscription (two heads, so one every three months), or $19 for a one-time pack of three on Amazon. I have the subscription for my Pro 2.0 brush, and it’s always on time.

Just like the Pro 1.0 and 2.0, the Core bristles are soft, meaning my gums never felt irritated or pushed back. This is definitely the toothbrush I’d recommend if you’re moving from a manual brush into the electric toothbrush sphere — it doesn’t oscillate aggressively, unlike the Laifen Wave, or confuse you with app analysis like the Oclean Super X. The Core 1.0 is simple, straightforward, and gentle.

Suri Core 1.0 review: Battery

The Suri Core 1.0 lasts for up to four weeks, which is a little less than the Suri Pro 2.0’s 40 days. Four weeks is an accurate estimate — in my testing, the Core 1.0 lasted for exactly four weeks and one day.

While this is less than the Suri Pro 2.0’s 40 days and similar to the $79 Laifen Wave’s 30 days, four weeks for a budget brush is still impressive. The Philips 4200 lasts for just 14 days, as does the Philips 4100. Charging is easy with the provided charging mount. I let mine charge overnight, which is enough time for a full charge, even using a lower-wattage USB adapter.

Unfortunately, as the bodies are different sizes, you cannot use the Suri Pro chargers with the Core. I was disappointed by this, as surely it’s more sustainable to make one charger. This, again, is something I’d like to see Suri adopt in the future.

Suri Core 1.0 review: Cleaning performance

I know you’ve all been waiting for this: how does the Suri Core 1.0 actually clean? In short: I didn’t notice a difference between my everyday toothbrush, the Pro 2.0, and the Core 1.0. Sure, the 1.0 has 5,000 fewer vibrations per minute, but I seriously couldn’t tell.

The main difference between the Pro line and the Core line is materials — if you want a matchy-matchy, all-metal/corn toothbrush, plus a UV travel case, grab the Pro. If you don’t mind mismatching heads and don’t mind a bit of plastic, the Core might be more up your alley.

As always, here’s a before and after of my teeth. I used those kids’ disclosing purple tablets to illuminate my plaque.

As you can see, my teeth aren’t that discolored in the first place. This is definitely because I use the Core 1.0 anyway, and it’s pretty great at eradicating plaque! Even so, in the second photo, my teeth are markedly cleaner.

The final thing to note is that the Suri Core 1.0, like the Pro 1.0 and Pro 2.0, does not feel like a “regular” electric toothbrush. The head doesn’t oscillate, unlike Philips and Oral-B lines, so you have to manually move it around and physically “brush” your teeth — like a manual. I personally like this as it gives me more control. However, my boyfriend doesn’t like this design. I’d recommend figuring out which side you fall on before buying.

Suri Core 1.0 review: Verdict

The Suri Core 1.0 is a great toothbrush. Is it budget? Not really. Does it appeal to the environmentally conscious as much as the plastic-free “Pro” line? I’m not overtly convinced. But is it a solid, unique product I’d be happy to use for the foreseeable future? Yes, 100%.

I recommend this toothbrush wholeheartedly, despite the $75 price tag and the bio-circular plastic body. I would like to see the price fall or an alternative material in future versions, but for now, this is a reliable toothbrush worthy of a place in your bathroom.

If you value (semi) affordability and reducing your plastic consumption without spending $135 on the Pro 2.0 model, the Core 1.0 will not disappoint.

Chemical drain unblockers promise a quick fix, but plumbers frequently warn against them. Caustic chemicals like sodium hydroxide can warp plastic PVC pipes, corrode metal plumbing, and melt rubber seals. Worse, if they fail to clear the blockage, you’re left with a basin of hazardous, standing acid.

As someone with long hair, my bathtub drain regularly succumbs to a stubborn mix of hair, soap scum, and limescale. I used to reach for a heavy-duty cleaner from the supermarket, but after learning how those chemicals harm both household pipes and local waterways, I looked for a safer alternative.

To my surprise, I already had everything I needed in my kitchen: plain white vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, a pot of hot water, and a wire coat hanger.

How to safely clear a drain clog

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While mature trees easily weather winter storms, young trees with undeveloped root systems are incredibly vulnerable to freezing temperatures and drying winds. Failing to prepare them before the ground freezes can lead to severe frost damage, root desiccation, or bark girdling that permanently kills the tree.

Proactive winterization doesn't require complex landscaping — just three deliberate fall steps focused on hydration, insulation, and physical defense before the first cold snap hits.

How to winterize young trees

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There are more than 120 species of coffee plant, but only two dominate the market: arabica and robusta. Spend a few minutes perusing the coffee aisle in your local store, however, and you’ll observe that only one is worn as a badge of pride.

Many brands proudly proclaim their 100% arabica origin. By contrast, robusta is conspicuous by its absence; a term relegated to shadowy small print, if at all.

Let's dive into the differences and explain a little bit about this ongoing debate across the coffee community.

Is arabica inherently better than robusta?

Traditionally, the two were deemed to be yin and yang. Arabica became shorthand for fancy coffee. Robusta for the cheap stuff. Historically, that stuck — of the two species, arabica has always been considered to be the more refined option of the two.

But as the two names became a differentiator of quality, a vicious circle emerged: producers simply put less effort into the cultivation of robusta and so its tastier talents were never truly appreciated. It was mass-produced, quality control was low and the end product was relegated to jars of instant coffee — or blended with arabica beans to cut costs.

And it does taste different: whereas arabica can produce a wide spectrum of wonderfully sweet, floral and complex fruit flavours, robusta tends towards more intense flavours. Think huge, thick, smoky, dark chocolate nuttiness. But with the right soil, careful farming and judicious roasting, be in no doubt: it can be every bit as satisfying as a top-class arabica.

The reality is that growing great quality coffee takes time, care and effort – skimp on any of these factors, and any species of coffee will fail to reach its potential. And both species can taste terrible: work your way through that supermarket shelf and you’ll find bags of both arabica and robusta beans which, if the tasting notes were honest, would feature descriptors such as “bottom of the ashtray” or “soggy bonfire”.

Why is robusta becoming popular again?

Its name provides a clue. Discovered in the 1800s, it earned its name because of its resilience to both climate and pests. It’s a plant that also thrives at lower altitudes; a complete contrast to the mountain-loving arabica varieties. In today’s shifting climate, that explains why producers in some parts of the world are beginning to shift their crops to hardier robusta plants. They can grow in lower altitude fields that are easier to access, and the crops are less liable to fail when the weather goes bad — or when pests and fungus attack.

Naturally, the bulk of that crop still goes towards mass-produced blends and instant coffee. However, the steady increase in production means that an increasing number of artisanal coffee roasters are beginning to rehabilitate its reputation by producing coffees from the increased supply of high-quality robusta beans. You can identify these by looking for the terms Fine Robusta or Super Fine Robusta. These are the beans that have been selected for professional grading by the producers.

The process is rigorous. A certified grader from the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) inspects the green, unroasted beans for defects such as mould, stones or sour fruit — if it passes that stage, the beans are lightly roasted, brewed and taste-tested to a specific range of scored criteria. Depending on the final tally, the highest scoring beans will be designated as "Fine Robusta" — and the exceptional as "Super Fine Robusta". In short, if you see those terms on a bag, or featured in a roaster’s marketing spiel, you know you’re looking at the good stuff.

How do I find the best quality robusta coffee?

Ultimately, the key to buying good coffee is far less about species and much more about where you buy your coffee. In the main, that means abandoning your chain stores entirely. Seek out your local coffee roasters, or take your search online, and find the roasteries that take time and care to select great quality beans and roast them to perfection.

There’s a simple test: if a bag of coffee is inscribed with a roasting date, then it’s probably good coffee — and it means that the roaster cares enough about coffee to tell you exactly how fresh it is. If a packet has nothing more than a best before, then you best beware — as it means the producer doesn’t want to admit how stale it is. In all likelihood, it could be months old and well past its prime.

So don’t make that mistake: start every cup with coffee that’s been grown, graded and roasted with care, and you’re already on the path to a better-tasting cup. And if you like the idea of a big, creamy, chocolatey espresso-style kick, then add a good-quality robusta in your next order — you might be pleasantly surprised.

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There are certainly worse ways to test new bakeware than standing in a kitchen next to Nancy Silverton making her “life-changing” peanut butter cookies.

Yet that’s exactly how I got my first look at HexClad’s new Hybrid Bakeware collection. The $399 6-piece set, available as of October 1, is the brand’s first attempt at transferring the same stainless steel-meets-nonstick technology from its very recognizable frying pans to the oven.

The new 6-piece Hybrid Bakeware Set includes a 10 x 15-inch medium baking sheet, a 9 x 13-inch rectangular pan, an 8 x 8-inch square pan, two 9-inch round cake pans and a stainless steel cooling rack.

Look, this is not casual bakeware. And I am, at best, a casual baker. So I wanted to know whether HexClad’s hybrid construction actually makes a noticeable difference in the oven — and, more importantly, whether it feels worth the premium.

What makes HexClad bakeware different?

HexClad Bakeware uses the same general hybrid concept popularized by the brand’s high-heat pans, featuring stainless steel peaks sitting above nonstick valleys. (Although the bakeware has a medium-gray finish rather than the distinct darker surface used on HexClad’s cookware.)

As with the cookware, you can use metal baking tools directly on the surface without worrying about scratching the pan, but HexClad says they also lift food ever so slightly off the surface. The idea is that this creates a tiny amount of airflow underneath whatever you’re baking, helping heat circulate more evenly and reducing the chance of scorched bottoms.

The tri-ply construction also gives the pans a nice heft, while the curved handles are designed to be gripped more comfortably while wearing oven mitts. In other words, these do not feel like the flimsy sheet pans you accidentally bend and warp while pulling them out of a jam-packed kitchen cabinet.

And these pans can take some heat. They’re oven-safe up to 900°F, which is obviously far beyond anything you’d need for cookies, but does make them useful for everything from cakes to high-heat roasting and focaccia.

Putting HexClad Bakeware to the test with Nancy Silverton

A lot of the use-case suggestions came from Nancy Silverton during our demo session. The chef, baker, restaurateur and frequent Top Chef guest judge (which I only mention as it is my all-time favorite reality TV show) released her cookbook The Cookie That Changed My Life in 2023 inspired by the very peanut butter cookie we baked on HexClad's sheet pan.

The cookies came out evenly golden across the batch, including on the bottoms, with nicely baked edges and soft centers.

Although the taste is, quite arguably, life-changing, what impressed me even more was how easily they came off the pan. Cleanup was equally painless.

HexClad specifically said not to use PAM or other aerosol cooking sprays on its bakeware. Those sprays can build up a residue and compromise the nonstick performance. If you do need to grease the pan, HexClad said to use a stick with butter or a neutral oil instead.

Is HexClad bakeware worth $399?

There's no doubt that this is expensive bakeware. So if you bake twice a year and your current sheet pan is doing just fine, I don’t think you suddenly upgrade your gear.

But I can see the appeal for someone who bakes or entertains often and is tired of buying pans that warp, scratch or lose their nonstick coating with regular use. Furthermore, if I were making any kind of gift registry, I'd add this immediately.

The whole collection feels substantial and extremely well made, and the combination of easy release, metal-utensil compatibility and HexClad’s lifetime warranty gives it a much stronger longevity argument than your average nonstick baking set. After actually baking with it, I understand the appeal more than I expected to.

HexClad says it plans to expand the collection, too. There’s no Bundt pan on the roadmap right now, but personally, I think that needs to change.

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When will the obsession with hot bean juice end? Well, I hope it doesn't end. There's little I love more than making coffee — my years as a professional barista can attest to that. If there were an extra day in the week, I would, without a doubt, want to spend it behind the bar in an independent cafe.

But now I'm Tom's Guide's in-house coffee expert, meaning I've tested over 50 coffee makers, tried all the weird "hacks", and consumed enough cups of coffee to give even an elephant the caffeine shakes. Of course, I'm going to share all that knowledge with you, our readers and members, on International Coffee Day.

Ever wondered if the famed Moccamaster is worth the investment? What the difference between a light roast and a dark roast bean really is? If the best coffee grinder truly is the most important part of your coffee setup? How to get delicious, thick crema like all those TikToks? I'll answer all of that — and anything and everything else you might want to know — right here, right now.

I'll be here today (Oct 1) answering questions live until 12 pm ET, and I'll be back tomorrow (Oct 2) to answer everything else. You can submit questions any time until midnight on Oct 1 (ET).

You can ask anything you want: which espresso machines are actually worth it, the best camping coffee setup, what coffee jargon actually means, or even how to choose the right beans!

As a reminder, please keep all questions appropriate and on-topic. We want this to be a space where everyone feels safe and respected, regardless of whether you're a coffee expert or a total beginner.

If you've never commented on Tom's Guide before, then you may need to sign up to ask questions. Signing up is free and will unlock a multitude of Tom's Club member benefits, like rewards and savings, the ability to earn badges and enter giveaways, participate in popular conversations and all Live Q&As, and reveal hints for our quizzes and puzzles.

I can't wait to hear your questions.

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Out of all household chores, removing mold remains a persistent challenge at the best of times. And as temperatures plunge and it gets wetter, this offers the prime conditions for fall mold (yes, there’s such a thing).

But while many assume damp issues come from outdoors, much of the humidity is actually generated inside our homes. According to an expert, our common cleaning habits could be the culprit, worsening our damp and condensation problems. In addition, cranking up the heat in our rooms doesn’t help either.

Luckily, there are some quick and easy adjustments to our cleaning routine that can help prevent unwanted dampness while maintaining clean, crisp air throughout the home this season.

“When it comes to cleaning routines, small adjustments can make a noticeable difference to how a home feels once the heating goes on properly,” states Laura Bradbury, indoor living specialist at Vonhaus.

So if you want a mold-free home, don’t make these common cleaning mistakes.

Don’t mop floors with too much water

If there is one thing that bothers me, it’s dirty or marked flooring — particularly if your home features mostly hard surfaces. Typically, when mopping, many people tend to saturate the floor to banish those stubborn stains.

However, all the excess water needs to evaporate somewhere — which directly adds to the humidity already in the room.

"Wringing the mop out properly before it touches the floor makes a bigger difference than people expect," says Bradbury. "A floor that dries within a few minutes releases far less moisture than one left glistening for an hour."

“Opening a door or window for the short time a floor takes to dry gives that moisture somewhere to go.”