There’s nothing more rewarding than growing your own fresh produce in the comfort of your own home. Be it succulent tomatoes from scratch to nurturing fragrant indoor herb gardens, you can enjoy the convenience of picking your fresh ingredients to go straight into your tasty meals.

Plus, it’s a great way to cut down on those expensive supermarket trips.

But with the peak of summer already here, the window for sowing many of my favorite greens and aromatic herbs has closed — especially if you’re unsure how to plant in a heatwave.

That was until I discovered this clever alternative of growing fresh herbs in my kitchen all year round. What’s more, the entire process was easy to start, and, amazingly, I grew my favorite aromatic greens in just over a week. Here's how.

What I used

Designed as a smart, self-contained grow box, the Auk Mini 2 is a smart method of growing plants fast, without the long wait.

Since it features a built-in grow light to power your plants, there’s no need for natural sunlight, making it the ideal solution for small apartment living or homes without a yard. More importantly, you can have homegrown produce all year round.

Thanks to its sleek and Scandinavian design, I easily tucked the unit onto a shelf by my kitchen sink, which also benefited from the natural window light.

One thing to bear in mind, however, is that you do need warmth for your plants to grow faster (around 68-77°F).

Fortunately, my kitchen is the coziest spot in the house, making it the prime location for growing herbs.

The one-week experiment

Days 1-3:

If I’m honest, I wasn’t expecting such fast growth, but I was pleased to spot green sprouts emerging almost right away. As I had hoped, it was my basil that started out the strongest.

Days 4-6:

Finally, the parsley began to peek through on the left, although it certainly took its time to join the party. My basil, on the other hand, was really thriving and filling my kitchen with an aromatic smell.

Additionally, the water dial/meter was almost at red — this is an indicator to top up the water until you see the white dot in the center again.

Days 7-9:

By the ninth day, I was truly amazed by the flourishing greenery from both herb varieties. And the nightly grow light cycle acted as a catalyst for this fast-tracked development. Just remember to adjust the light bar above as your herbs grow taller to avoid scorching the leaves.

Where I would probably have waited weeks for my seeds to sprout in a pot outdoors in my yard, this grow box took just over seven days. Impressive.

Best of all, I know that my crops are completely organic, and I now enjoy the convenience of picking my lush leaves whenever I need them, ready to go straight into my summer salads or tasty pasta dishes. You can’t get better than that.

So if you ever want to try your hand at planting an indoor herb garden, or simply don't have the patience to wait until next growing season, I'd recommend investing in a smart grow box.

If you have any top tips for growing herbs indoors, comment below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Try these 7 best vegetables to grow indoors
• Check out these 7 clever ways to store garden tools and save space
• Or 7 best plants to grow on a balcony

There’s no shortage of small, colorful accessories to give your desk setup a pop of personality — but when it comes to full-on, retro flair, I think I might have just found the fastest upgrade yet.

As someone who tests the best office chairs for a living, sometimes I feel like I’m lost in a sea of black and gray. That’s why whenever I get the chance to try out a more colorful chair, I’m all for it — especially when it’s a new take on one we’ve previously reviewed.

While Branch Furniture is no stranger to more colorful, ergonomic seats for work — like my personal favorite, the Branch Verve Chair — this time around, the company is doing something completely different by partnering with SEGA.

Instead of slapping a logo on a chair and calling it a day, Branch completely reimagined the look of its already excellent Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro, drawing designs from SEGA’s rich 66-year history. SEGA wouldn’t be SEGA without Sonic, so of course there’s a Sonic the Hedgehog Edition chair — but there are also two more designs centered around its most iconic consoles: the SEGA Genesis and SEGA Dreamcast.

Given I had a Super Nintendo at home and grew up playing Sonic on the Game Gear, I decided to check out Branch’s Ergonomic Chair Pro: Sonic the Hedgehog Edition ($569, Branch). Not only did it make my desk setup look as stylish as the Blue Blur himself, it also kept me as supported in my seat as Tails backing up Sonic during a face-off against Dr. Eggman.

Gotta build fast

The Ergonomic Chair Pro: Sonic the Hedgehog Edition chair Branch sent over arrived in a single large box. With everything unpacked, I was left with the chair’s backrest, headrest, armrests, seat, frame, casters, and everything else I needed to put it together.

The assembly process started with installing the casters into the frame — I just had to push down on them to pop them in. With those four red casters in the back and that Sonic-themed accent one front and center, Branch’s vision of SEGA’s iconic mascot — albeit in ergonomic office chair form — was already beginning to come together.

Next up was installing the seat mechanism and getting the rest of the chair ready to drop onto its base. With the included Allen wrench, tightening those four bolts and the two on either side for the armrests was a breeze.

With that done, it was time to put the two halves of this one-of-a-kind office chair together and take this new version of the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro for a spin.

Ergonomics with a splash of Sonic

Just like with Branch’s original Ergonomic Chair Pro, you get a full mesh backrest and headrest along with a comfy, high-density molded foam seat cushion. While I often sport an all-mesh office chair to beat the heat, I consider this pairing to be the sweet spot, giving you the ideal combination of airflow and lower-body support.

In addition to its Sonic-blue main colorway, Branch has worked in plenty of red, white, and gold throughout the frame to give you the full Green Hill Zone experience. For instance, the pads on the armrests aren’t just racing red — they feature a subtle checkerboard pattern that stands out in the best possible way.

Even though this is a themed edition of the Ergonomic Chair Pro, you still get all the same adjustments. There are 5D armrests you can position to your liking, you can adjust the seat depth to bring it closer or farther away from the backrest and you can even tilt the chair forward for those times when you’re really focused on the task at hand — whether that be back-to-back meetings or trying to make your way through Sonic 2’s notoriously frustrating Chemical Plant Zone.

That single caster emblazoned with the Sonic logo really pops on a hardwood floor, but there’s another great easter egg right above it: Branch printed a series of gold rings on the frame so you know where to install it. As I wheeled this special edition over to my desk, it almost looked like Sonic was speeding along collecting them.

All-day support meets gaming flair

Now I’ll admit, I haven’t tried the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro before, but I am familiar with its predecessor, the Branch Ergonomic Chair. Essentially, this is an upgraded version of that chair that’s more adjustable and comes with a more densely packed seat cushion.

I’ve been using the Sonic Edition of the Ergonomic Chair Pro for the past few weeks, both while working and, of course, while gaming. One thing I really appreciate about this version is that it comes with a headrest included, instead of being an optional add-on like with the standard model. As I expected, the chair’s seat cushion is even comfier, and I like how you can now adjust both the height and depth of its lumbar support mechanism.

Speaking of the lumbar support, it’s been given a nice, Sonic-themed redesign too. The checkerboard pattern brings back fond memories of playing Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing — which was the series’ first kart racer. To adjust the vertical position of the Ergonomic Chair Pro’s lumbar support, you pull up on those two yellow handles. For depth, you just push the checkered lumbar cushion in or pull it back.

Ordinarily, I would have preferred making these adjustments with a knob like on the LiberNovo Omni SE chair I just reviewed. Here though, interacting with the lumbar support manually reminds me that yes, I am sitting in the only official Sonic the Hedgehog-themed office chair.

Although I spent a lot of my time in this chair working my way through the various islands in Splatoon Raiders on the Nintendo Switch 2, of course I had to play some Sonic too. Even though I’ve been "this close" to finishing Sonic Frontiers for ages now, I decided to go back to the classics with a modern twist by playing through Sonic Mania for the umpteenth time.

Branch’s Ergonomic Chair Pro worked just as well while gaming as it did during my workday. During more action-packed games, I sat upright with excellent posture thanks to its lumbar support mechanism. Then during slower moments and cutscenes, it was nice leaning back since the chair features a synchronized recline mechanism. Basically, the backrest and seat move together so as you lean back, the seat gently tilts upward — keeping your feet planted firmly on the ground and both halves of your body in alignment.

As I mentioned before, you can also tilt the seat forward. This lets you get a bit closer to your display — like during a challenging boss fight in Sonic — without doing "The Gamer Lean." Think Tech Neck when looking at your smartphone, but with your monitor or laptop instead.

Overall, it’s been great trying out Branch’s new take on its Ergonomic Chair Pro. You get sound, solid ergonomics and comfort with just enough gaming flair to add a bit of nostalgia-filled fun to your workday.

Why should gaming chairs have all the fun?

Whether you’re a die-hard Overwatch, League of Legends or World of Warcraft player or even if you prefer single-player games like The Witcher 3 or Fallout, you can easily go out and pick up a themed-version of one of the best gaming chairs from companies like Secretlab, noblechairs or AndaSeat. However, the same can’t be said for those who prefer a more ergonomic office chair for all-day support.

This isn’t the first gaming-themed office chair I’ve tried out as that honor goes to Haworth’s Xbox chairs. Still, I really appreciate how the company took the Haworth Fern and Very Gaming Chair and gave them both Xbox and Halo-inspired redesigns. Now with its collaboration with SEGA, it’s Branch’s turn.

Branch has taken things a step further by incorporating elements of Sonic the Hedgehog as well as SEGA’s Genesis and Dreamcast consoles into every part of the design of these chairs. While Haworth still paid homage to Xbox and to the Master Chief excellently, Branch’s take on SEGA’s most iconic character and consoles is slightly more in your face while also being significantly cheaper.

Granted, the Sonic the Hedgehog Edition is the least expensive at $569 which is the same price you’d pay for that standard edition of the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro with a headrest. With their vegan leather backrests, headrests and seats, both the Genesis and Dreamcast editions of this chair are slightly more at $629. However, we’re still very much in mid-range office chair territory here.

I’ve always been very impressed with the more vibrant colorways Branch offers with its office chairs, especially as the company typically adds more after a new chair is released. With its SEGA edition chairs though, you now have even more options if you too don’t want to drown in a sea of black or gray every time you sit down at your desk while working from home or in this case, gaming with your posture in mind.

More from Tom's Guide

• I ditched my office chair for the Razer Iskur V2 NewGen and it finally sold me on gaming chairs
• 12 ergonomic home office upgrades: Here's my top picks for the best desk, chair, laptop and more for a strain-free workstation
• I tested a NASA-inspired office chair used by a former US President — and it’s the most comfortable chair I’ve tried yet

I love going to coffee shops, whether I'm just quickly grabbing my favorite vanilla oat milk latte, meeting up with a friend for coffee or getting some work done. However, every time I step foot inside a cafe, I'm spending at least $7 — and that's just for a coffee.

After calculating how much I was spending weekly and monthly, I was astonished. That's when I decided I needed to cut back a bit — and my Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee and espresso maker made that possible. Even better? It's currently 41% off on Amazon.

At nearly $100 off, the Nespresso Vertuo Next is practically a steal — and it can quickly pay for itself compared to buying coffee from a café every day. I typically buy Nespresso Vertuo capsules, which cost $42 for a pack of 30. That works out to about $1.40 per cup, making it a much more affordable daily coffee habit than my typical coffee shop run.

The best part is, my Nespresso machine actually makes delicious coffees, lattes and cappuccinos, so I don't feel disappointed making coffee at home rather than buying one. The included Aeroccino Milk Frother is really the icing on the cake. I add my favorite oat milk to the frother and in seconds, I have creamy, frothy milk to add to my coffee or latte.

The machine is super easy to use — all you have to do is add your capsule, make sure the water tank is full and press the brewing button. You'll have a delicious, barista-style coffee in just seconds. You can also choose from six cup sizes including 5, 8, 12, and 18-oz., as well as single and double espressos brewed hot or over ice. The machine truly does it all!

Of course, I'll never fully stop indulging in my local coffee shops — but at least I can save a little bit of money by making my coffee at home a few days a week. If you're hoping to do the same, I recommend grabbing the Nespresso Vertuo Next for just $134 on Amazon.

The De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic is an ambitious superautomatic coffee machine. It can make 38 drinks and is even app-compatible, so you can control it from your phone (in theory). Is this enough to make it one of the best espresso machines?

Yes and no. The PrimaDonna Aromatic is extremely pricey, at a whopping $2,500, and I’m… not really sure why. You can get 80% of the same performance with the $1,500 De’Longhi Rivelia and — checks notes — 99.9% of the same performance with the $2,000 De’Longhi Eletta Explore. I’m not saying don’t get the PrimaDonna Aromatic — I’m saying you might be able to save your money without sacrificing quality here.

But, I digress. The PrimaDonna Aromatic is a fun, consistent, and functional coffee machine. Want to find out more? Keep reading this De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review.

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Specs

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Price & availability

The De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic is objectively expensive. You’ll find it for $2,499 from De’Longhi U.S. and £1,549 from Currys in the U.K.

If you’re wincing, you’re not alone. $2,499 makes the PrimaDonna Aromatic the most expensive fully automatic coffee machine made by De’Longhi. Yes, the most expensive. As you might already be able to guess, this is markedly more expensive than the De’Longhi Rivelia ($1,499/£749), De’Longhi Magnifica Duo ($999).

However, it’s only (only, she types, while wincing) $499 more expensive than the KitchenAid KF8, which I reviewed a couple of years ago and loved.

If you’re familiar with the world of superautomatic coffee machines, you might’ve come across Jura — its fully automatic models can go up to $5,499. I’ve tested the $2,699 Jura E8, and let me tell you — the PrimaDonna Aromatic is much better.

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Design

Like other automatic De’Longhi machines, the PrimaDonna Aromatic is a somewhat narrow but incredibly deep machine. It stretches a whopping 18 inches deep, so you’ll need to check your kitchen countertops can fit this behemoth before purchasing.

Even so, the 10-inch width is pretty good, even with the water tank on the side. You shouldn’t need to clear too much space if your counters are deep already.

And the PrimaDonna Aromatic also looks like other De’Longhi superautomatics. If I didn’t read the name, I could believe it was the Magnifica Duo or the Dinamica or the Eletta. All these machines are effectively big shiny squares. They’re not massively gorgeous, but they’re functional, unobtrusive, and get the job done. It obviously works, because De’Longhi machines are everywhere.

There’s also a bright LCD screen on the machine. Here, you can select your desired beverage — 38 recipes, some of which I’d never heard of — and customize your intensity and volume. Two buttons on either side of the machine configure hot and cold, so you can view only cold or only hot drinks.

App

I like apps when they’re actually useful. I like the Fellow app. I like the Acaia Brewmaster app. I like the apps for all the earbuds I test. But I do not like the De’Longhi My Coffee Lounge app.

I was prompted to complete a “coffee taste profile”, which told me I should get fruity coffee with notes of citrus, forest berry, and florals. I already knew this, though. It’s why I buy the same Ethiopian beans every time.

I suppose this is helpful for complete newbies — but I wouldn’t recommend complete newbies spend $2,500 on a coffee machine.

The app was also riddled with connectivity issues: There’s a Spotify-Wrapped-esque “Statistics” setting. This never loaded for me. You’re also supposed to be able to make your own recipes, but, again, these never loaded for me. The app just said “Couldn’t load any drink”. Hm, maybe because you won’t let me make any recipes?

I like two parts of the My Coffee Lounge app: One, the “Health status” setting. Here you can see how many uses you have until you need to descale, how empty your water tank is, and how full your grounds drawer is. I love this. This is great for newbies. And “experts”. Everyone, actually.

And two: Suggested recipes. I got some super cool, super unique offerings here: Iced orange coffee, Iced raspberry tonic espresso, Iced espresso Mojito. Yes, please! I want more of this and fewer connectivity issues, thank you!

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Espresso

The De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic espresso tastes like an automatic coffee machine’s espresso. That’s neither a good nor a bad thing depending on your preference. If you know you dislike automatic coffee, this wouldn’t be for you. If you know you like it, then great!

Here’s a photo of a shot of double espresso.

As you can see, the coffee has a lovely bright caramelly color, and there’s a layer of fluffy crema. Did it taste like the most nuanced, complex, scintillating coffee in the world? No. It was a little weak, but it had enough of a coffee flavor to be devoured by straightforward coffee fans. I would not recommend this machine for coffee snobs or espresso lovers, but if you’re a general coffee drinker who prioritizes ease-of-use over messing around with doses and flow rates, this would get the job done.

I also made a cold brew, which was, in all honesty, pretty nasty. I wouldn’t recommend this for cold brew aficionados. The coffee was actually hot as it extracted, which means it’s also not “cold brew”. It’s more like an iced Americano.

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Milk

Milk performance is what (mostly) separates the PrimaDonna Aromatic from other De’Longhi models. The PrimaDonna Aromatic comes with both a hot and cold milk frother, so you can have hot microfoam or cold foam.

The De’Longhi Eletta Explore ($1,999) also has this capability, so it might be worth checking out that model if you want to save some $$$. However, the Eletta Explore has a smaller water tank capacity. Again, not sure that’s worth an extra $500, but some food for thought.

Here’s a photo of a drink.

As you can see, the milk is smooth and evenly textured. Hot foam tends to deflate quite rapidly, so I’d recommend not leaving your cappuccinos around before drinking. Get ‘em while they’re hot!

This milk texture is around the same quality as the De’Longhi Rivelia, but that model doesn’t come with cold and hot — you’d have to buy the cool version separately ($129).

I really like the milk function on the PrimaDonna Aromatic. It has great texture, it’s easy to clean, and it comes with all the necessary accessories (unlike Jura).

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Storage & maintenance

The PrimaDonna Aromatic is easy to clean. The app tells you exactly when to clean, and I would recommend cleaning out the drip tray every day at a minimum.

My only major qualm is that you have to empty the grounds drawer more often than you think. I emptied it after around 3-4 drinks each time, and the drawer was full of ground beans each time. I don’t think this machine is particularly economical in terms of coffee and water usage, but that’s true of almost all automatic machines.

In terms of longevity, you get a 2-year warranty as standard, which goes up to 3 years with registration. Comparatively, Breville offers a 2-year warranty, as does Ninja.

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Verdict

The PrimaDonna Aromatic prioritizes simplicity and speed over coffee snobbery. It’s perfect for automatic machine users who want coffee and want it now. Would I buy it? Probably not. Would I recommend it for people who love Starbucks and Dunkin’ coffee and want to make drinks easily at home? 100%.

However, I’m still not totally sure what separates it from De’Longhi’s $1,999 Eletta Explore — it has Bean Adapt, De’Longhi’s My Coffee Lounge app connectivity, and 50 recipes compared to the PrimaDonna Aromatic’s 38. I think I’d recommend saving your $500 and getting the Eletta Explore — or save $1,000 and get the De’Longhi Rivelia.

But if you have $2,500 to spend, by all means, go for it. The PrimaDonna Aromatic is a great machine capable of making consistent espresso over and over. It’s just very expensive.

If you haven't heard yet, Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale is officially underway and runs through August 9. While the event is best known for its incredible deals on clothing and footwear, I'm especially impressed by this year's discounts on home essentials and decor. There are plenty of standout finds worth adding to your cart — and they're surprisingly affordable.

In fact, I've been looking to add some new pieces to my home, but I don't want to shell out a ton of cash. That's why I set a spending limit of $100. It doesn't sound like much, but I've done some digging and unearthed some of the most affordable finds to refresh my space for less.

Below, I’ve handpicked my favorite home decor finds from Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale that will make any room feel cozy, comfortable and stylish — and they're all under $100. Mix and match these pieces to give your home a fresh look without spending a fortune.

The oil sizzled as I placed the scallops in the pan. On the counter next to me sat a tray of just-baked chocolate chip cookies, their aroma wafting through the air. In the oven, a tray of chicken thighs was slowly baking atop a mixture of Chinese vegetables, their juices infusing with the cabbage and boy choy beneath.

I was cooking it all on the Copper Charlie, an innovative induction stove that doesn’t require any special installation, thanks to a massive battery. And while it's an early adopter in the world of early adopters, it could represent the future of home appliances.

Renovation is the mother of necessity

I tested out the range in the Brooklyn apartment of Ted Booth, who switched from a traditional gas oven to the Copper about a year ago. At the time, his building was facing a million-dollar renovation bill to upgrade the ancient gas pipes leading into, and threading through, the entire 33-unit building.

Rather than forcing the entire building to front the cost of fixing each unit’s gas line, the condo board gave each owner an option to switch to an induction stove. However, most induction stoves require a 220-volt electric line — which would have meant an equally expensive bill.

But there was an alternative: the Copper induction stove. This range has a large battery in the bottom, where the warming tray would sit. Not only does this provide a steady source of energy, even when the power goes out, but it also allows the stove to use a regular 110-volt outlet, so you can plug it in almost anywhere.

“To me, it was an opportunity to get off gas,” Booth said. “And, you can call me a bit of an early adopter, so it appealed to me that way.”

Modern but retro

While the Charlie uses a very new type of technology, and has Wi-Fi and can be updated over the internet, it’s surprisingly low on connected features.

“I like how simple it is,” Booth said. “It's connected to the Wi-Fi, it has a battery, but it's the most analog experience I've had with a tech product. You have the little light indicator on the side, and the screen shows you what it's doing — it's 350 degrees. That's all you need to know. It's great. 
And then the two little switches for the light and convection.”

The cost of upgrading

The Copper Charlie isn’t cheap. The base model, with black plastic knobs, costs $6,000, while the model with black walnut knobs is $6,300. That’s more than twice as expensive as some popular models from LG and GE — though it should be noted the GE Cafe series can get up to $5,000.

The Charlie is not Energy Star-certified, so you can’t get any government rebates from that program, but there are several other local clean energy tax credits that can help ease the cost.

However, it did get the seal of approval from the New York City Housing Authority, which is installing 100 Copper Charlie stoves in apartments throughout the city as a pilot program for lower-income residents, as all city-owned apartment buildings get converted from gas to electric.

“There are so many families that haven't had the ability to cook for years because they had their utility to get the gas shut off,” said Lisa Pickney, a professional chef who created the Official Dessert of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, served on the Obama White House culinary team, and now works for Copper.

“And so they just gave them a hot plate and a rice cooker and a teapot.
And it's just not right. They can't make a Thanksgiving turkey. So that kind of broke my heart. And now they'll be able to have Thanksgiving and do proper cooking now.”

The Copper Charlie isn’t the only induction stove of its kind; a rival company, the Electra Induction Stove, works in much the same way. Rather than the lithium ion batteries you might find in your phone or electric scooter, these stoves use a lithium phosphate battery, which is more stable, and more suited for how it’s used with the stoves.

Now we're cooking

As I (well, mostly Lisa) were cooking, I was impressed with how fast the oven heated up. While I didn’t time it, the Copper Charlie seemed far shorter than my oven at home. Similarly, its cooktop element warmed up the pan in no time, and put a sear on the scallops as good as I’ve ever done on any range, gas or electric.

Booth said that his cooking game has improved since getting the Charlie. “I like to make a Spanish potato omelet,” he said. “I like it because you can get a really nice, low temperature, so it doesn't brown too quickly. With the gas, I could get a low flame, but then the heat doesn't distribute quite as well, and so it's like cooking more in one spot and less on the edges.”

Booth said he could no longer do the Mark Bittman trick of cooking a steak by placing a pan on the very bottom of the oven, but the Charlie proved its worth when the outlet behind the stove stopped working.

“At first, I was like, what are we gonna do?” he said. “It's gonna take a while to get an electrician to come, and then I was like, oh, no, wait, it's fine. We have an outlet behind that cluster of little appliances in the corner is a four-prong outlet with a GFCI. So I just plugged it into that.”

“That to me really proved to me how much power this draws, because we've got an Instapot, we've got a kettle, we've got an espresso machine. 
And we never had an issue, it never popped the GFCI.”

How it's working out

Ultimately, eleven owners in Booth’s building ended up getting a Copper Charlie. It proved to be more expensive than those who merely opted to replace their gas line, but Booth said it was worth the expense.

“We're gonna spend all this money for these pipes in the wall, and all I get is to get a blue flame?” he asks. ”I want something better than that.”

More from Tom's Guide

• I used an induction cooktop for the first time — here are 3 things I learned
• 5 mistakes I made when I switched to an induction cooktop
• We tested 3 portable induction cooktops from $50 to $1,500

Starbucks is expensive. There's no getting around that. Some drinks can cost as much as $10 in certain states these days, which is simply ridiculous. If I were to order a Grande Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at the Starbucks closest to Tom's Guide's Manhattan office, it would cost me $7.57. Yes, almost 8 bucks.

Fortunately, you can make it yourself, for far less.

I was a Starbucks barista for years, and learned how to make the delicious Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home. I've even done some coffee math down below to show you how much better this version is for your wallet (and your health, if you use homemade syrup).

You only need three ingredients (four if you count ice as an ingredient, and five if you include the optional cinnamon) to make a delicious iced espresso at home. And the best part? It takes about two minutes. Here's my step-by-step guide to making the Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home, using the Nespresso Vertuo Up, Oatly Barista oat milk, homemade brown sugar syrup, ice, and cinnamon.

The coffee math

I hate math, but I love coffee math. Let's see if making your own Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso actually is cheaper — and how many times you have to make it yourself to break even.

With a Nespresso machine

1. Nespresso Vertuo Pop+: $130 from Amazon
2. Oat milk: $3.32/52 fluid ounces from Walmart | 0.19 per drink
3. Brown sugar: $2.02/32 ounces from Walmart | 0.01 per drink
4. Coffee: Starbucks Blonde Nespresso Vertuo pods: $12.97 for 10 | 1.30 per pod

So that's $1.50 for the ingredients, $130 for the machine.

You’d need to drink 22 drinks to start making a profit. After that, it’s $6.07 in savings per drink.

With an espresso machine + grinder

1. Breville Bambino: $299 from Amazon
2. Baratza Encore ESP: $199 from Amazon
3. Starbucks Blonde whole bean coffee: $17.13/18 ounces | $0.57 per drink
4. Oat milk: $3.32/52 fluid ounces from Walmart | 0.19 per drink
5. Brown sugar: $2.02/32 ounces from Walmart | 0.01 per drink

This version has a higher initial cost but cheaper overall ingredients: $0.77 for the ingredients, $498 for the machines.

You'd need to drink 74 drinks to start making a profit. After that, it’s $6.80 of pure savings each time.

If you already have an espresso machine, you're saving almost 90% on every drink.

So, are you going to skip Starbucks and try making the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home? I only ever make it myself — I haven't been into a Starbucks in years.

Are there any other Starbucks drinks you'd like me to simplify? Perhaps the Pumpkin Spiced Latte in September? Or the Eggnog latte in December? Let me know in the comments!

I post new episodes of The Coffee Lab every Friday, so be sure to check back next week.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried the new Nespresso summer flavors — here's my favorite
• Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
• I tried Lelit's brand-new 'entry-level' espresso machine — and I wish I had $2,000 so I could buy it

Admittedly, I’m a total cleaning freak and a bit of a vacuuming perfectionist, which means my floors usually look pristine. The downside to that is the amount of time I have to devote to it. As a result, I’m constantly looking for clever ways to streamline my routine — and cut my chores in half.

Believe it or not, there is a ‘right’ way to vacuum your floor that doesn’t just involve moving the appliance back and forth across the surface.

And since I test the best cordless vacuum cleaners for a living, I've finally perfected a method that delivers a flawless finish in just five minutes.

What's more, this beats my previous 20-minute slog, while still keeping my floors looking showhouse-ready. Here’s how to vacuum a room (properly) in just five minutes.

1. Start at the far corner of the room

While it’s quite common for us to tackle high-traffic zones with a quick pass, this ‘quick’ approach won’t get your floors clean. I’ve learned that if you want those professional results, you should always start your cleaning path from the distant corner, moving toward the doorway or ‘exit’.

This ensures you’re not actually treading back over your freshly-cleaned carpets or shiny hard flooring.

2. Do straight-line passes

Similarly, many of us fall into the trap of frantically pushing the machine back and forth in tiny bursts — hoping to pick up every speck of dust or debris. In fact, I used to think this was the most efficient way to clean my hardwood floors and then wondered why I’d still see some debris left behind — which I’d then need to go over again.

The moment I switched to ‘lane’ vacuuming, this was a game-changer for my cleaning habits. Simply vacuum in long, straight lines from one side of the room to the other — keeping each line parallel (similar to mowing a lawn).

What’s more, I ensure each ‘lane’ overlaps slightly with the next, which effectively eliminates those annoying streaks of dust or grime that are often left between parallel rows.

3. Do a cross-hatch pattern

After completing my initial ‘lane’ passes, I go back and use a cross-hatch pattern at a 90-degree angle to make sure nothing is missed. This clever shift in direction helps agitate and lift stubborn, deep-seated debris from every angle, ensuring a much deeper clean than a single pass.

While this might feel like you’re taking twice the time, this clever technique actually streamlines the process, saving you from having to go over your entire floor later on.

4. Do edges and baseboards last

Finally, I tackle the edges/baseboards of the room and go around furniture legs using my crevice tool. Previously, I’d do this task as I went along the floor, which often added to my cleaning time.

By leaving this task to the end, you can target these specific areas without pausing to swap over attachments.

Overall, this took me around five minutes (for a medium-sized room) and saved me a lot of time having to go over missed spots.

So if you want to cut your cleaning time in half, follow these easy steps. Trust me, it makes all the difference.

More from Tom's Guide

• I found this vacuuming hack on TikTok — and my baseboards have never looked cleaner
• I tried this weird vacuum cleaning hack to keep my home smelling fresh
• Beware of these 9 vacuuming mistakes you’re probably making

As much as I consider myself a whiz in the kitchen, for me, there's nothing worse than having to think about what's for dinner every night. I'm frequently indecisive, can't commit to meal prep for fear of taste bud boredom, and I would much rather scroll through DoorDash than try to piece together a meal from ingredients in my pantry.

When the opportunity arose to try out HelloFresh Australia for a month, I was ecstatic. I'm no stranger to HelloFresh (and its subsidiaries, YouFoodz and EveryPlate), as it consistently ranks as one of the best meal kit delivery services globally. It takes the hassle out of dinnertime by menu planning and food shopping for you. The service handpicks ingredients, organises timely deliveries and offers you meals from an expansive catalogue of weekly recipes.

To put HelloFresh to the test, I whipped out my chef hat, dusted off my somewhat dormant cooking skills and selected a variety of recipes for my two-person household. Do note, though, HelloFresh expects that subscribers have some culinary staples and cooking experience in the kitchen to get the most out of it. That said, if you've cut a carrot or minced some garlic before, you've surely got enough skill for this beginner-friendly meal kit.

I'll stop with the waffling now — here's how I fared during my monthlong review of HelloFresh AU.

HelloFresh Australia review: price and availability

Much like other meal-kit providers, prices for HelloFresh will differ depending on how many meals per week you order and how many people you need to feed. The total per-serve cost typically goes down when you opt for more meals.

HelloFresh offers meal kit subscriptions for two to six people, with options of two to six recipes. I purchased six meals for two people to get the most out of HelloFresh's huge weekly menu. It cost AU$136.50 plus shipping per week, which worked out to AU$11.37 per person per serve.

You can add bonus meals to your plan for an additional out-of-pocket cost. For example, one week, I opted to include another meal on top of our six recipe plan. It worked out to AU$157.68 or AU$11.26 per person, per serve. It's not the biggest saving — 11 cents per serve — but if you had more mouths to feed, the cost per serving would be significantly less. As per HelloFresh, the cost per serve for a four-person, six-meal week is AU$9.29 (or AU$223 total) and the cost per serve for a six-person, six-meal week is AU$8.83 (or AU$318 total).

You can also add one-off desserts, sides, snacks and family-style catering meals to your plan for an additional fee. HelloFresh owns YouFoodz, a convenience-based meal subscription service, so there were a few ready meal options to choose from in the weekly menu as well.

When compared to the cost of groceries, HelloFresh costs slightly less than our usual AU$200 two-person weekly shop, and it is definitely cheaper per serve than getting our local Chinese takeaway, which is AU$35 for our order. We still had some change leftover to nab our weekly essentials, lunch and snacks.

That said, larger families might get more bang for their buck by heading to the supermarket, as there are more meals than dinner to consider. According to Finder, the average cost of groceries for a family of four is AU$274 per week, so the AU$223 HelloFresh box cost that only covers dinnertime meals might not provide the best value for money.

It is also worth noting that HelloFresh frequently provides discount codes and free delivery for new subscribers. These discounts usually knock off savings over the course of four deliveries, making prices more affordable to try out for a short period.

HelloFresh Australia review: Delivery and customer service

Delivery for HelloFresh is a rather seamless process. Deliveries can occur on any given day during the week, depending on your area, and are conducted via a third-party service. You also don't need to be home to accept the delivery, as the service will leave your box in a safe location. HelloFresh delivers to most metro, regional and rural suburbs around mainland Australia, but it doesn't currently offer delivery to Tasmania.

In my case, I could organise delivery for either Wednesday or Sunday, during two timeframes of either early morning (between 12am and 4am) or during the day (between 8am and 12pm). For greater context, my colleague in a neighbouring suburb could only select the early morning timeslot on a Sunday, so I’d highly recommend researching delivery days and times available in your area before you commit to HelloFresh. Additionally, I paid AU$11.99 on top of my boxes for delivery. The fee was initially waived for my first two boxes, as part of a free delivery promotion.

Subscribers can also adjust or skip weekly orders any time up until five days before the expected delivery date. This is particularly useful if you’re away from home for any period of time and simply want to hit pause on your HelloFresh subscription.

In the highly unlikely event that anything happens to your subscription box — such as it arrives with out-of-date ingredients or missing items — you can contact HelloFresh's customer support team. It is worth noting that you won't necessarily receive a replacement box or ingredient; however, the team will likely give you a credit or refund should anything go awry.

HelloFresh Australia review: Meals

HelloFresh Australia offers over 45 fresh recipes to choose from in its weekly menu and it varies week to week. Meals fall into different menu categories to cater to dietary needs and preferences. These include: Classic, Vegetarian, Family-friendly, Calorie Smart, Quick & Easy, Carb Smart, Flexitarian and Protein Rich. You can also opt for air-fryer-friendly options or dinners that will take 30 minutes or less to prepare for the ultimate convenience factor.

I selected meals from the Carb Smart and Calorie Smart menus, which feature a variety of cuisines and cater to those who want more balanced dinners with lower carbohydrates and calories. I also selected some heat-and-eat options (more on that below) for late nights when I craved a lazy, decision-free dinner.

Your menu each week is automatically populated with preselected meals that HelloFresh recommends according to your chosen menu and previous orders. However, you have free rein to chop and change meals as you see fit by unselecting them and choosing another option from the recipes on offer.

You shouldn’t expect an entirely fresh menu each week, as HelloFresh will reuse the same dishes week to week. For example, there were some repeat preselected meals in the final week of my subscription, but I simply opted not to include them. For the most part, there were few, if any, duplicate recipes each week, which was ideal for my foodie taste buds.

I gravitated towards Asian-inspired dishes, quick dinners and easy, but delicious protein-based recipes throughout my review. Out of the 26 recipes I made, my favourites included Chermoula Honey Roast Lamb, Salt'n'Pepper Salmon and Lemony Greens, Homestyle Chicken Schnitzel and Mustard Mayo and Singaporean Prawn and Noodle Stir Fry.

It’s also worth mentioning that HelloFresh does an excellent job with clearly listing allergen information for its recipes, with details on its website and app for each recipe.

On the subject of allergens, when you browse the menu on either the website or app, not only can you filter dishes by cuisine, but you can select ingredient types to not include. The only slight issue I found with this is that nuts, for example, is listed as a singular category. If you’re allergic to peanuts, say, but can eat cashews and almonds, you can’t filter to such a granular level.

You can also swap out the default protein in the meals for something else, if you'd prefer. For our chosen menu, our preselected options usually included chicken, so we opted to swap for pork or salmon a few times. You can also swap chicken thigh for chicken tenderloins or breast, for example, if you prefer white meat.

HelloFresh Australia review: Recipes and ingredients

Inside the box, HelloFresh ingredients are packaged in brown paper bags with a corresponding number for each recipe card. The cold ingredients — i.e. meat and dairy products — are stored separately in an insulated cold bag with ice packs. This bag isn’t sealed, which I found a little disappointing, because if you’re able to receive the box for some time and it’s left outside, it could be more susceptible to warming up. The box also includes some discount codes for friends and family, as well as discounts for other businesses supported by HelloFresh. All the ingredients I received came fresh with no issues and didn't go to waste.

Each bag provides most — but not all — ingredients for the recipe. You'll need to have some basic kitchen staples on hand, like butter, oil, salt and pepper. You'll also need utensils, like sharp knives, pots, pans and cooking utensils to make each dish. For most recipes, I had everything I needed, but I had to purchase white wine vinegar before making two meals. You can also check the recipes online to make sure you have any extra ingredients ready to go.

The recipe cards are pretty straightforward and easy to follow, with some even offering handy kitchen tips. There's a handy picture guide that walks you through step-by-step, and there's even a QR code so you can read the recipe online if you'd prefer. And, while it didn’t apply to my household, I appreciated HelloFresh offering tips aimed at children who may want to get involved with the cooking process.

Throughout my review, I found estimated prep times to be accurate, but you might need to budget more time if you're new to cooking or specific techniques. There was only one instance where I felt it was a bit off. For example, when roasting lamb for the Chermoula Honey Roast Lamb recipe, I was instructed to sear the lamb rump for 12 minutes in a pan before transferring it to the oven for an additional 25 minutes.

At the time, I had not roasted or seared lamb before, so I had little experience of what it should look like. It took me a while longer — around 16 minutes to full sear — pushing out the prep time to around 57 minutes, instead of the budgeted 40 minutes. Despite this minor hiccup, the meal turned out perfectly.

Another meal we particularly enjoyed was the Crumbed Mexi-Spiced Chicken & Corn Tacos, which came with a small bottle of Cholula hot sauce. This meal was made easy by using an air fryer to cook the chicken, and came with a can of sweet corn for ease. If you don't own an air fryer, the recipe also provides details on how to pan-fry the chicken.

The recipe gave me great advice on how to crumb the chicken without making too much of a mess — by separating the crumbs, spices and egg into separate bowls — and how to chargrill the corn with a pan without burning it. This recipe budgeted 25 minutes from start to finish, and it was pretty accurate.

Further, I did opt to include some ready meal pasta dishes to our weekly boxes and it was very interesting to say the least. As someone who had tried YouFoodz before, I was familiar with some of the recipes, and the options that HelloFresh had to offer were very much in line with the previous YouFoodz I've had. I did use these for a lazy dinner on a few evenings, and the instructions were as simple as expected — peel back the lid and pop it in the microwave for 3 minutes on high. Flavour-wise, the meals were pretty good and satisfied my hunger, but they definitely weren't Michelin-rated.

The only real gripe we had was flavour and portion sizes. We're self-proclaimed foodies, and love trying new dishes, so we were thrilled to have such a range of cuisines to choose from. However, we found we need to add more than just the provided spice mixes to enhance dishes. The flavour depth was slightly lacking, which might disappoint those who prefer bold, heavy seasoning.

The other niggle we had was portion sizes. As you can imagine, being foodies means we like to eat and some of our protein portions didn't quite sustain us. In some cases, we ended up making two meals and eating them family style to feel fulfilled. Now, HelloFresh suggests opting for a larger meal kit size if you're worried about this, but you can always upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time. There are some recipes that come with 'premium' protein ingredients for an additional fee, too, with larger meat/protein allocations, but we didn't feel the need to pay for these recipes.

HelloFresh Australia review: Verdict

HelloFresh does exactly what you expect — takes the stress out of figuring out weekly dinners and offers the convenience of handpicked ingredients. I still had plenty of choice in what meals we got in every week, but it took immense pressure off hitting the shops after a long workday. Plus, with constant coupons offering savings for new subscribers, you could spend less than you would on takeaway every week.

Aside from that, the delivery was pretty seamless and I had no issue with editing meals or my order at any time in the lead-up to my next box. That said, I did spend some extra time prepping than allocated in some recipe cards, and portion sizes felt small, but overall, HelloFresh's meal kits didn't disappoint. And now with a more expanded range that includes air fryer-friendly meals and heat-and-eat dinners, there's much more accessibility on offer with HelloFresh's service.

So if you're looking for a simple and easy alternative to indecisive dinners, HelloFresh is a subscription box to consider.

Doing my hair has always felt like such a chore. I used to dread wash days because I knew I'd be spending the next hour blow-drying and styling my hair. Thankfully, I finally found a solution that cuts down my styling time and takes the stress out of my haircare routine: the Shark FlexStyle.

I use the Shark FlexStyle almost every day, whether I'm blow-drying my hair, adding a few curls or getting ready for a special event. While its rival, the Dyson Airwrap, gets most of the attention, the FlexStyle offers many of the same styling capabilities at a fraction of the price. Better yet, the Shark FlexStyle is currently on sale for just $259 on Amazon — that's $90 off and includes four styling attachments.

I've been using the hair tool for a few months now, and I can honestly say my hair has never looked better. What used to take me an hour of blow-drying and styling now takes just 20 minutes — even with my sometimes stubborn hair. It may seem like a small change, but it’s made a huge difference in my daily routine.

One of my favorite things about it is it's versatility: It can straighten, curl and blow dry. I had to travel to a wedding recently and I simply threw the Shark FlexStyle in my bag and didn't have to worry about bringing a whole slew of tools. I was able to give myself a salon-quality blowout and bouncy curls in record-time.

At full price, the Shark FlexStyle is $349 with all attachments included. After calculating how much I would spend for a few trips to the salon, the tool basically pays for itself. It also competes directly with tools costing double like the Dyson Airwrap — not to mention it's currently $90 off.

The FlexStyle also uses circulated hot air rather than direct contact heat, which is how it styles without excessive damage. Hot air flows through the attachments while you work, smoothing or curling hair at lower temperatures than traditional tools require.

If you've been considering the Shark FlexStyle, now is the perfect time to buy at just $259.

I've been traveling a lot this summer, and instead of paying a fortune to check a bag, I've been fitting everything I need into a carry-on — even for weeklong trips. My secret? The Calpak Evry Carry-On paired with the Calpak Luka Expandable Tote. Together, they hold way more than you'd expect and I never have to wait at baggage claim.

Calpak's Evry Carry-On ($215 at Calpak) is lightweight, expandable and TSA-approved. It fits right in the overhead bin on the plane and it has dual spinner wheels that glide smoothly through the airport (and even on the streets once you reach your destination).

Calpak's Luka Expandable Tote ($138 at Calpak) fits seamlessly on the handle of the Evry Carry-On thanks to its luggage sleeve. So you essentially only need one hand to easily push all your belongings while traveling. And when you hop on the plane, it simply hides under your seat and is small enough to be considered your "personal item."

I've been using this luggage combo for years, and while purchasing both items comes out to $353 (which I admit is a bit pricey), it's well worth the price tag. Plus, it saves you money in the long run by not having to pay to check a bag.

The Evry Carry-On Luggage has enough room to pack for a 10-day trip. I can attest — I brought this along with me on my honeymoon in the Caribbean and for a trip to Europe. I used one side for all my clothing and the other for my shoes and accessories. Each side can be zippered so you can ensure your items will stay safe and organized. Even more, it features expandable packing space, which adds up to 2 inches of extra room when needed.

In the Luka Expandable Laptop Tote, I typically pack my laptop, any toiletry items and anything else I'll need while on the plane. It has tons of hidden pockets to fit and organize all your items. It also expands which adds an extra 4 inches. I'm still able to slide the bag right under the seat in front of me while flying with the expandable zipper opened.

So if you have some summer flights coming up and want to travel stress-free, I recommend grabbing this Calpak luggage duo that has gotten me through countless flights seamlessly. Grab yours now!

If you've been watching the news, you may have seen the Trump administration's recent robotic ban. In a move by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the ban targets any new foreign-made humanoid robot imports to the U.S. The thinking is that these products may cause "unacceptable risks" to U.S. security.

But humanoid robots aren't the only robots at risk. It turns out the ban spreads much further than you might think. Far enough to spell trouble for the kind of 'bots you may be using in your own home.

Delve a little deeper into the FCC's definition, and you're looking at a much larger coverage of robots that fall under the term "advanced robotic devices".

If they're "capable of locomotion, obstacle avoidance, navigation, or movement on the ground" then they're targeted under the new ban. Sounds a lot like robotic lawnmowers, the best robot vacuums or even your friendly neighborhood delivery robot, right? Exactly.

No more Roombas?

Now, it's worth delving into exactly what this means for home and delivery robots that fall under the FCC's definition.

Importantly, any existing robots previously authorised to be sold in the U.S. are safe. Equally, any robots that have already been imported from outside of the U.S., are currently being sold, or have been approved are also safe.

But any new "advanced robotic devices" being imported, which essentially means any robots being manufactured outside of the U.S., are banned.

This includes robots where "the combined weight of the device and, if applicable, ground station or docking station is over 4.4 lbs", as well as any with "software running either locally or remotely, including firmware and AI or machine-learning model weights" and "a sensor capable of perceiving its environment" or "a component that is capable of providing network connectivity (wired or wireless, including Bluetooth/Wi-Fi, cellular, or satellite)".

Why? Well, as the FCC has said, they consider these robots to pose a national security risk, stating: "foreign-produced advanced robotic devices could be weaponized to directly harm U.S. national security and U.S. persons".

But what's really interesting is what it's demanding companies do instead.

Safety concerns?

A lot of companies like Roomba, Ecovacs, Dreame, Roborock and more source manufacturing from China. Moving forward, they'll need to acquire waivers to continue to manufacture and sell these advanced robotic devices in the US. But, The Verge revealed the FCC doesn't want to ask any questions about actual security.

Instead, the site reports: "The FCC only wants to know where they're designed and made and assembled and tested and influenced, and get a specific commitment to start manufacturing them in the U.S. instead."

So, for now, existing robots in the U.S. are safe. You won't have to hand over your much-loved robot vacuum to security. But it's a huge deal for the companies making them. Any new models will need a waiver to be manufactured elsewhere, and if they can't get the waiver, then they won't be getting sold in the U.S.

If you were on the fence about picking up one of the best robot vacuums or a robotic lawnmower, you might want to act sooner rather than later.

CTA responds

The Consumer Technology Association, the organization behind CES, also issued a measured response on X in a series of posts.

"At CES 2026, robotics took center stage. Innovation in this space is accelerating fast, and the U.S. must lead the world in developing and deploying these technologies."

"CTA supports efforts to protect our national security and strengthen technology supply chains. But those policies should be targeted, transparent and focused on genuine security risks, not unnecessary costs or supply chain disruption."

"The global race in robotics is on. CTA looks forward to working with the Administration to ensure America leads the world in robotics and the next generation of emerging technologies."

"We encourage continued engagement between industry and government to ensure policies advance trusted supply chains while preserving innovation, competition and consumer access to new technologies."

Companies respond

We reached out to a number of companies following the FCC's announcement. Here's what they had to say.

Anker Innovations

"We are aware of the FCC’s recent update. Based on our current understanding, the new rule does not affect the continued availability, use or support of products we currently sell in the United States. Those products remain available and will continue to receive updates and customer support.

"Like others across the industry, we are seeking further clarity on how the rule will be applied to future products, and we will keep our customers informed. We remain committed to complying with all regulatory requirements in every market where we operate."

Dreame

"We are currently reviewing and assessing the details of the recent announcement," a spokesperson said. "Dreame has always been committed to strict compliance with all local laws and regulatory requirements in every market where we operate globally."

iRobot (makers of Roomba)

"We are aware of the FCC's recent action and are working with them to better understand its implementation and potential impact. We remain committed to serving our customers and will share updates as more information becomes available."

Segway Navimow

"We are aware of the FCC’s announcement regarding restrictions to advanced robotic devices. There is no immediate impact to existing Navimow customers, as all Navimow models currently sold in the US have already received FCC equipment authorization. The ban does not affect the sales, service, or continued use of existing products. We are closely monitoring policy developments and evaluating compliance pathways for future products, including the Department of Defense's "Conditional Approval" process."

What do you think of the ban? Let us know in the comments.

More from Tom's Guide

• Here’s the one robot vacuum I wish was coming to the US (and what to buy instead)
• The 4 best cheap robot vacuums you can buy in 2026
• I’m a robot vacuum expert, and after seeing this vacuum that can climb over obstacles, it’s the only feature I care about

Whether I'm planning a redesign or I've got a new room that needs fully furnishing, I always tend to shop in the same place – IKEA.

The blue and yellow allure and modular designs have continuously and cleverly been sold to me as the most budget-friendly option for an entire collection of furniture. But, is that actually the case?

Don't get me wrong, I know there's other options. In fact, the market has largely been dominated for decades by two juggernaut home retailers – Lowe's and Home Depot.

How do they hold up against IKEA though? I sometimes struggle to find clarity in which is the more affordable choice.

So, I thought I'd put it to the ultimate test. I mocked up a complete bedroom design and found similar items across IKEA, Lowes and Home Depot to compare the prices.

Spoiler alert: you might be shocked by the results.

Different stores, different lures

Pros and cons of IKEA

Pros:

• Competitively priced
• Unique, space-friendly designs
• Lots of stock
• Ease of collection

Cons:

• Build-it-yourself flat packs
• Potentially expensive shipping costs
• Less than 100 stores in the US

Pros and cons of Lowe's

Pros:

• Price match guarantee
• Stock diverse and exclusive range of brands
• Over 1700 stores across US

Cons:

• Less stock
• Strict discounts
• Less choice

Pros and cons of Home Depot

Pros:

• Extensive range of brands
• Lots of stock
• Over 2000 stores in the US

Cons:

• Concerns over delivery
• Not as affordable
• Warehouses overwhelmingly large

Cost comparison

To carry out this cost comparison, I set out to find items from each store that looked incredibly similar. Of course, if you're planning a different aesthetic, you can shop around and compare all three.

But to fully furnish a bedroom with a bed, wardrobe, dresser, and nightstand, here's what the costs had to say.

It's also important to note that there can be additional costs when purchasing online, especially with delivery (varies dependent on location), but also including some potential extra costs for fittings, removal and storage fees.

Verdict

So, it turns out while IKEA is still the most affordable during this price comparison, it's not by as far as I would have thought.

For Lowe's, it's less than a $40 difference. Home Depot is considered widely to be the more premium priced of the three, but still only came in around $60 more than Lowe's.

What was surprising about Home Depot though, was that three of the items chosen were the same product as Lowe's, yet more expensive.

I did also notice that some of Lowe's and Home Depot's prices changed a little during my comparison, whereas IKEA tends to stick to their prices (unless during a sales event).

Yes, IKEA is still the most affordable, but there are other things to consider, like delivery costs to you and accessibility to stores. It wasn't the total washout that I was expecting from IKEA, especially as far as Lowe's is concerned.

I know that when I make up a mood board for my next redesign, I'll be creating the look across all three retailers rather than assuming that I know the answer.

More from Tom's Guide

• IKEA's new collection is designed for frequent movers — I'm excited about how portable and affordable it is
• 5 ways to update your bedroom without a complete revamp
• How to create a show home aesthetic — 7 interior tips to try

The LiberNovo Omni was a surprise hit last year, combining ergonomics and comfort without compromising on either. Following its success, LiberNovo is back with a new version of the Omni that retains the original’s design and key features, but at a more affordable — yet still premium — price.

The LiberNovo Omni SE ditches its predecessor’s electronic adjustments and battery pack for a more manual approach. Instead of pressing buttons on the left armrest to adjust the lumbar support mechanism, you now use a knob behind the backrest. While you do lose access to the original’s spinal stretch functionality, there’s also no battery to charge and no electronic parts to worry about breaking in the long run.

I spent the better half of this year using the LiberNovo Omni as my daily driver long after my review before swapping it out for the Omni SE. Even though this is a mechanical take on the chair, it’s still just as comfortable and supportive as the original, albeit with slightly fewer extras.

My LiberNovo Omni SE review will help you decide if this is one of the best office chairs for your workspace, or if it’s worth spending a bit more on the original or going all out on the new Pro model.

LiberNovo Omni SE: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A dynamic, highly adjustable ergonomic chair that swaps the original LiberNovo Omni’s motorized lumbar controls for a manual knob.
• Who is it for? People who spend long hours working in their office chair who want top-tier ergonomics combined with excellent comfort and like the look of the Omni, but not its high price tag or electronic parts.
• What does it cost? The LiberNovo Omni SE costs $899 on its own or $1,097 bundled with a footrest. The chair can currently be picked up at a pre-sale price of $569 until July 31.
• What do we like? The chair’s highly engineered backrest, its very comfortable fabric-covered foam cushioning, the straightforward assembly process, and its manual adjustment controls.
• What don’t we like? The premium price for what was supposed to be a budget-friendly alternative, the awkward reach for the lumbar knob, and how the footrest is still an optional accessory.

LiberNovo Omni SE: Specs

LiberNovo Omni SE: The Ups

If you liked the look and features of the original, the LiberNovo Omni SE delivers a nearly identical experience for less. You’re still getting the same highly engineered backrest, very comfortable fabric-covered foam cushioning — and straightforward assembly process.

No electronic parts here

The LiberNovo Omni SE sent over for review arrived in one carefully packaged, large brown box. Once I took out everything, I was left with the chair’s base, seat, backrest, headrest, and all of the necessary parts to put it all together. Just like last time, I really appreciate how LiberNovo prints the chair’s instructions on a large, easy-to-read cardboard poster.

Putting the chair together began with inserting its casters into the base. Despite being a premium office chair (more on that later), the base is made from plastic, though the one on the original Omni has held up well over time. If you want a sturdier metal base, you’ll have to jump all the way up to the Pro model.

After dropping the chair’s frame onto the base, it was just a matter of tightening a few bolts to connect the lumbar support bar to its Bionic FlexFit backrest. Since the Omni SE is entirely manual, I also didn’t have to connect a USB-C cable from the frame to the base like I did with the Omni. Nor did I have to charge up a battery before making adjustments to its lumbar support mechanism.

With assembly out of the way, it was time to take the Omni SE for a spin to see how it compared to the original.

Space-age ergonomics for less

When viewed from the front, the Omni SE looks just like a standard office chair, but its fabric-wrapped seat, backrest, and headrest are immediately more inviting. The seat is made from high-density foam that’s organized in such a way that it’s firmly closer to the backrest and softer at the edge. This gives your glutes plenty of support without the edge of the Omni SE digging into your hamstrings or your calves if you’re using LiberNovo’s optional footrest.

With the Omni SE spun around, though, its Bionic FlexFit Backrest gives it a much more futuristic look. Made up of eight flexible panels held together by 14 connection points with 16 pivot points, the backrest is able to flex and respond to your body’s movements as you shift in your chair throughout the day. Its design is reminiscent of the Haworth Fern, but between the two, I’ve found LiberNovo’s approach to be more flexible overall.

The biggest differentiator between the Omni and the Omni SE is how you adjust its lumbar support mechanism. On this chair, there’s a knob behind the backrest on the right side that you turn clockwise to bring its lumbar support closer to the small of your back, or counterclockwise to move it away from you.

In practice, I found it slightly awkward to adjust while seated in the Omni SE. Reaching behind my back and turning the knob was a stretch for sure, so I got up while doing so instead. Fortunately, once you get the Omni SE’s lumbar support in the right position, you likely won't have to adjust it again.

Still cloud-like comfort

Compared to the other ergonomic chairs I’ve tested over the years, the original Omni remains the most comfortable — and this holds true for the Omni SE as well. I love how its stretchy elastic fabric wraps around my body when I sit down, and the soft yet firm seat cushion remains a highlight.

While headrests are often a point of contention with ergonomic chairs — which is why you won’t find one on the iconic Herman Miller Aeron — I like that LiberNovo includes one here right out of the box rather than making it an optional add-on. Just like the Omni SE’s backrest, the headrest flexes with you as you turn your head from side to side. It also pivots with your head as you recline to keep your neck fully supported.

The Omni SE is definitely the kind of office chair you can spend long hours working in. Beyond its cushioning and flexible backrest and headrest, a big part of this comfort comes down to how it reclines. Next to the lever used to adjust the chair’s height, there’s a second handle that controls the recline.

It’s clear a lot of thought went into this aspect of the Omni SE, as it features five distinct recline positions tailored to different tasks — ranging from an upright 105 degrees, all the way back to 160 degrees. By comparison, other chairs I’ve tested with built-in footrests, like the Hinomi X1 or the Hbada X7, only recline to 135 or 140 degrees respectively.

If you want to practice good posture while seated at your desk without feeling stiff, the Omni SE is certainly worth considering. However, like the original Omni, it remains a serious investment for your home office or gaming setup.

LiberNovo Omni SE: The Downs

The LiberNovo Omni SE is a comfortable and supportive ergonomic office chair, but it’s not without its downsides — which include its high finalized price and the fact that you’ll need to opt for the bundle to get its best accessory.

Still in premium territory

When I first heard the news that LiberNovo was going to launch a more affordable version of the Omni, I was ecstatic — especially considering you weren’t really losing anything except for the electronic adjustments and the rechargeable battery pack, all for $569. Then I read the fine print.

Like a lot of other companies do, LiberNovo launches its new products at a discounted rate before they eventually go up to their actual cost. With the Omni SE, that full sticker price is $899 — taking the chair from mid-range to premium instantly.

Things were similar but slightly different with the original Omni. That chair started on Kickstarter for $698 before having a pre-sale price of $849 on LiberNovo’s site. Given that the company wasn’t established at that time, this was quite a lot to invest in an unproven chair. Now though, with the Omni SE, LiberNovo has a solid track record and picking one up at a pre-sale discount makes a lot more sense.

Still, when I first heard "more affordable Omni," I really thought the Omni SE would be closer to $500. At $899, we’re very much in premium office chair territory — and unless you work from home or spend countless hours gaming at your desk, it's definitely an investment. You can’t put a price on your health, but I wish the chair was slightly less expensive. Then again, you are getting an almost identical design to the original with only two of its core features cut.

Locked behind a bundle

With both the original Omni and the Omni SE, LiberNovo was kind enough to send along its StepSync Footrest. As someone on the shorter side at 5’4”, using it alongside both chairs has definitely made a difference — placing far less strain on my legs by relieving pressure on the back of my thighs.

The footrest isn’t just about upright work, though. Its upper platform features the same fabric and padding as the Omni SE itself, which becomes essential when taking advantage of the chair's excellent recline. When you’re reclined all the way back at 160 degrees, you definitely want somewhere to kick your feet up.

While I appreciate the quick convenience of a pull-out footrest like the ones on the Hinomi X1 or Hbada X7, being able to manually position LiberNovo’s standalone unit let me fine-tune my setup — to the point where I built a rolling workstation just to use my laptop while lying almost completely flat.

Though frequently on sale, the StepSync Footrest costs just under $200 on its own. You can soften the blow by bundling it directly with the Omni SE, but doing so pushes the total price from $899 to $1,097 — turning an already premium home office upgrade into a significantly larger investment.

Given that the footrest shares the chair’s exact design language and the two are explicitly built to complement each other, I’d love to see LiberNovo ditch the bundle structure entirely and ship a footrest in the box with every chair.

LiberNovo Omni SE: Verdict

The LiberNovo Omni SE is an exceptionally comfortable and supportive office chair that — rather than cutting corners — simply strips away the excess of the original. You’re still getting the exact same ergonomic design and core functionality, but without the hassle of recharging a battery or the looming worry of electronic components failing down the line. It’s just as effortless to adjust and assemble as its predecessor, while remaining a genuine head-turner in any home office setup.

While a slightly lower price tag would have been welcome, the Omni SE never feels like a stripped-down compromise. Instead, you’re getting practically the exact same chair, albeit at a price that firmly remains in premium territory. Still, if you want an outstanding office chair built for long work sessions — and if the original Omni I still use daily is any indication — the Omni SE will comfortably serve you for years to come.

I enjoy cooking — but not every single night. That's why Sunday meal prep has become a must for setting myself up for the week ahead. I'm not always this organized, but when I am, it makes busy weekdays so much easier (and a lot more enjoyable). And of course, I couldn't do it without a few of my favorite kitchen tools.

From the best food storage containers and my favorite Cuisinart knives to functional vegetable dicers and the Ninja Flip air fryer that I love, I've rounded up my favorite kitchen tools and appliances that make Sunday meal prep a total breeze. Keep scrolling to check them out.

When it comes to vacuum cleaners, arguably two brands rule the roost. At one end you have Dyson, which has a well-deserved reputation for its high end cordless vacuum cleaners where you get the quality that you pay for. At the other, you have Shark which is known for great value models that are especially good at tackling things like pet hair.

Both brands have their strengths and we're not here today to say which is better or right for your needs. What we are here to do, however, is present you with nine great deals for products from both brands.

There are corded and cordless models here, stick vacuums and more traditional cleaners. All of them have money off right now, meaning you can save up to 33% off the retail price. But hurry, these deals won't last forever...

The Gozney Arc XL is all the pizza oven most people will ever need. As you might’ve guessed from the name, it’s the larger variant of the Gozney Arc, which we’ve also reviewed and loved.

The Arc XL sits below Gozney’s Dome / Dome XL (Gen 2), which are enormous and can fit multiple pizzas on their dual stones. The Arc XL is intended for those without the enormous amounts of space and cash it takes to get to a Dome. Nevertheless, the Arc XL should be plenty for most home pizzaioli, and even small-time commercial ventures.

Running on gas, it offers high heat and stable temperatures, plus it’s easy to use thanks to the digital display and simple controls. It’s beautifully styled and made, and will be a complement to any patio or pizza shelter.

It isn’t perfect. The elephant in the room is the Arc XL’s high price. Gozney also makes its stones quite tricky to remove versus Ooni, which is a problem if you get the front of the stone (which doesn’t get very hot) messy.

But could this be the best outdoor pizza oven for you? Probably! Read my full Gozney Arc XL review to find out more.

Gozney Arc XL review: Specs

Gozney Arc XL review: Price & availability

The Gozney Arc XL isn’t cheap, costing $999 / £799, which is a sizable $300 / £200 more than the 14-inch standard Arc. Other than the extra 2-inch capacity, the ovens are pretty much the same, so it’ll just depend on how much larger pizzas mean to you.

Personally, I love cooking larger pies. It’s trickier, so more of a challenge, but when you get it right you can feed more people easily, so the XL will be better if you plan on cooking for multiple guests regularly.

The Arc XL’s main rival is the Ooni Koda 16, which cooks 16-inch pizzas, runs on gas and undercuts the Gozney by a healthy margin, costing $599 / £499. The Koda is lighter, uses Ooni’s folding leg system for easier storage, and features an L-shaped burner for wider flame dispersion and less rotating required during cooking. We awarded the Koda 16 our full five stars, and you can probably now see why — for the money, it’s difficult to beat.

Gozney Arc XL review: Design

The Gozney Arc XL looks beautiful, employing Gozney’s typically slick, neo-retro aesthetic. It looks straight out of a trendy London pizzeria, which is the point. It’s beautifully made and finished, with a high level of attention to detail, and feels built to last.

I wouldn’t say it’s any better or worse than an Ooni in this respect, so which manufacturer you pick will depend on whether you want the more luxurious styling of Gozney, or the more futuristic look of Ooni. That is unless you’re a commercial user — if you’ve got a pizza van or small kitchen to kit out, I think the round shape and flat base of the Gozney is more versatile than the Ooni Karu 16, with its oblong shape and tall legs.

The Arc XL is a behemoth, though, measuring 20.9 x 24.8 x 13.5 inches and weighing nearly 60 pounds, so you’ll want a second person on hand to help you set up. My wife was on vacation so I had no choice but to set the Arc XL up on my own, and very nearly put my back out getting it unboxed and onto the stand.

Colossal weight aside, setting the Arc XL up is very easy — you just remove the packaging and padding; pull the stone forward a fraction of an inch; put the metal flame guard in place; and put batteries (supplied) in the thermometer and digital dial. There’s a helpful quick start guide included to cover all this.

I was ready for the burn-in after about 10 minutes — burning in is something you must do with most pizza ovens before you can make pizza — although it actually took me around 5 days because I couldn't find any fuel in my area (it was peak summer).

Fuel

The Arc XL runs on propane gas. You can theoretically use butane, too, although Gozney doesn’t recommend it, and butane is less likely to work in colder temperatures. My Arc XL was supplied with a clip-on regulator for the patio gas canisters we get here in the U.K.

Something I love about multi-fuel ovens is that, if you’re out of gas, you can simply use wood or charcoal. It’s worth considering a multi-fuel oven like the Gozney Dome or Ooni Karu 2 Pro if you’d rather have that extra flexibility.

The Arc XL is fairly fuel-efficient and Gozney says a 28lb / 13kg canister should last around 30 hours. You’ll need as much efficiency as you can get, as the only way to easily clean the Arc XL is by burning it for three hours, which sucks, as I’ll touch on later.

Gozney Arc XL review: Accessories

Something many don’t understand before they buy their first pizza oven is that you need accessories. You can’t make a pizza without at least a launching peel and a turning peel. I tested Gozney’s 16-inch Pro Placement peel ($109) and Balance Turning peel ($89) and would highly recommend them both. Although, if you’re just starting out or are on a tight budget, you can find cheaper alternatives at Amazon, which will work just fine.

I would also recommend you buy an infrared thermometer for measuring stone temperature (the temperature on the Arc XL only measures ambient temperature, which won’t tell you precisely when the stone is ready for cooking). The Gozney infrared thermometer gun costs $49, which is similar to Ooni’s pricing.

Gozney also sells a variety of other accessories that I found exceptionally useful. Firstly, there’s the $49 dough tray, which I absolutely love. This tray features a thermometer to show you which type of proof (cold, warm, etc) your ambient conditions will result in, allowing you to tailor proof times. It also shows you when conditions are too warm, and features a bulk fermenting tray and a silicone insert for six dough balls (for up to 14-inch pizzas).

I’m also a huge fan of the Arc XL mantel ($119), which gives you a couple of inches of surface outside the oven mouth — enough space to safely turn food or leave your pizza to rest for a moment without burning while you find a board for it. And Gozney's $39 heat resistant gloves, which can stand up to 950F / 500C heat.

I also tested the Gozney Pizza Cutter ($44). My wife hated pizza cutters and always refused to use our other ones (choosing a knife or scissors instead). The Gozney cutter has converted her — thanks to its weight and sharp blade, it's much more stable and effective than cheaper cutters.

Gozney Arc XL review: Performance

The Gozney Arc XL performs like a professional pizza oven. The stone heats up to 750F / 400C in around 15-20 minutes, which is hot enough for Neapolitan-style pizza. Alternatively, you can cook other styles of pizza before then — low’n’slow pizzas like NY-style.

The thermometer gauge on the front of the oven is very useful to give you an idea of ambient temperatures, which dictate how quickly the upper sections of your pizza will cook (although the cooking of your toppings will also be affected by the size and intensity of the gas flame).

Annoyingly, the temperature gauge turns itself off after a while — on a few occasions I turned back to the gauge while cooking to check temperatures, only to find it switched off. I get that this is to save battery, but it’s really annoying.

The Arc XL is very predictable thanks to running on gas, and you have a high level of control over the flame size by twisting the control knob on the front.

You’ll need to cook a few pizzas and get used to the temperature of the oven, and to get a feel for how to adjust your flame while cooking. Once you’ve got it down, though, you can cook a Neapolitan pizza in just a minute or two.

I cooked a variety of pizzas, from 12-inch through to 16-inch bases, in Neapolitan and NY styles. On several occasions, I cooked for groups of six. The Arc XL handled it all beautifully. Thanks to the large 16-inch stone, you can cook bigger pizzas to feed multiple people, so you don’t need to spend the entirety of a pizza party churning out 12-inch pies for each person.

It’s very easy to burn larger 16-inch pies, as they sit so close to the flame. This means that you’ll want to turn them early, which can cause rips in the dough and an awful mess. This happened on a few occasions for me — to avoid this, ensure the stone is at least 750F / 400C before launching, so pizza bases cook very quickly.

I also cooked large garlic flatbreads, as well as sides like charred broccoli spears and caramelized roasted carrots. The stone also gets hot enough to sear steaks and meat, so it’s a highly versatile oven.

Gozney Arc XL review: Storage & maintenance

My one major gripe with the Arc XL is how difficult the stone is to remove. Without buying a removal kit, you’ll need to tip the oven on its side and support the stone out — a two-person job, which also involves removing the oven from any stand or base you have it fastened to.

This is infuriating if you make a mess. Gonzey’s advice is to burn the oven for 3 hours to clean it (wasting gas), which works, but only on the middle and rear of the stone. The front never gets hot enough to self-clean, so if you make a mess there when launching or removing a failed launch, you can’t clean it properly without a lot of hassle. You can scrape most mess off when cool, but not everything. And besides, food still gets stuck between the stone and the oven lip.

I love that Ooni’s stones are much easier to remove, so you can take them out and properly clean them up. As I mentioned before, this also means you don’t need to waste hours of gas just to clean. Gozney should include a stone removal kit with every oven.

Gozney also recommends burning the oven for several hours to clean soot from the roof, which is just ridiculously wasteful. I just waited for it to cool and cleaned with a dry cloth. Maintenance is otherwise very simple — just wipe down the exterior parts when cool.

Storage is as you’d expect for such a huge cooker: you’ll need a fair bit of space. I’d recommend Gozney’s Arc + Arc XL stand ($299), which features fold-away ledges, storage hooks, and wheels to move the oven to and from position. It’s also important to cover the oven and keep it safe from the elements — Gozney sells covers for this (including a cover that goes over the whole stand).

Gozney Arc XL review: Verdict

The Gozney Arc XL is a fantastic pizza oven. With its large 16-inch stone, you can cook big pizzas for multiple people and simplify your pizza parties. It’s easy to use, beautiful to behold and built to last. And most importantly, it makes fantastic pizza.

There are a couple of things to consider. First, it’s pricey — you can get the rival Ooni Karu 16 for much less money, which is better than the Arc XL in almost every way. Secondly, the stone is tricky to remove, which makes the Arc XL trickier to clean than Ooni ovens.

If you’re willing to overlook those flaws, though, as I have, then I’ve no hesitation in recommending the Arc XL to small commercial and home pizzaioli.

I don't know about you but I've spotted this bag everywhere recently, whether it was slung over the shoulders of fellow beachgoers or constantly popping up in my TikTok feed. So naturally, I just had to see what all the hype was about and try it for myself.

The Bogg Bag is named one of the best haul-it-all beach bags on the market. And after testing it out over this past week at the beach, I have to agree. But I have even better news for you — it's currently on sale at REI!

Originally priced at $90, you can grab it right now for just $62. That's an amazing price for the large beach bag that will fit literally everything you need for upcoming beach and pool days.

Waterproof, flexible and basically indestructible, the Bogg Bag made lugging all my belongings to the beach a total breeze. It fit multiple beach towels, all of my SPF products, books and even a small cooler. It also features two waterproof interior pouches to keep your phone, keys and other small belongings safe.

One of my favorite things about it is that it's tip-proof, so it will stand right up in the sand. And speaking of sand, you don't have to worry about sand sticking to it since you can easily wipe or wash it clean after a day at the beach.

You can pair your bag with Bogg's full line of accompanying accessories like dividers, toppers, coolers, makeup bags and more to build your ultimate carryall kit.

This deal in on the large Bogg Bag for just $62, but you can also opt for the smaller size — the Baby Bogg — which is on sale in four different colors for just $48 at REI.

So don't wait! If you have any beach trips, pool days or other summer adventures on the horizon, I recommend grabbing the Bogg Bag while it's on sale at REI.

Very little comes close to the satisfaction I feel when I take my first sip of an expensive flat white from an equally expensive independent cafe. I love everything about frequenting coffeehouses: the adventure of actually going outside, deciding which of the plentiful bean varietals I fancy, then scrutinizing — ahem, watching — the barista as they make my oat milk flat white.

But patronizing cafes is costly, and I know I'm not the only one to say I don't have the money for it. But even if you want to make cafe-quality coffee at home, there's a catch. Many home espresso machines carry a staggering initial cost. Even the best-value stalwarts, like the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo ($699) and my personal machine, the Breville Bambino Plus ($499), are objectively expensive. And don't even get me started on grinders.

But could you get away with a cheaper espresso machine, and instead invest in a grinder and high-quality beans? To find out, I pitted two of my favorite espresso machines against one another in a blind taste test: the gorgeous prosumer Lelit Mara X3 ($1,999) and the cheap Breville Bambino ($299).

So which machine won — and which machine should you buy?

The competitors

The control

I used the same beans — Carter Coffee's Two Trees Geisha, £21 ($28) for 200g. With tasting notes of passion fruit, white peach, and an aromatic finish, I knew my espresso testers were in for a treat. When I first opened the bag, it made my brain light up like I was seeing my long-lost dog for the first time in thirty years.

I ground the beans using my Mazzer Philos ($1,500), the best grinder in the world. I'll acknowledge that this grinder is blindingly expensive, and not reasonable for most people at all. You do not need to buy this grinder to achieve similar results. I would recommend the Baratza Encore ESP ($199) or Comandante C40 MK4 (usually around $300) for most people.

A brief disclaimer: I use the Mazzer Philos in all my espresso experiments, so if any issues arise, I know it wasn't the grinder.

Admittedly, I ground the beans to slightly different sizes: click 22 for the Lelit, and click 25 for the Breville. This is because anything under click 25 resulted in an overextracted shot on the Breville, and anything over click 22 resulted in an underextracted shot on the Lelit. I dialed in my beans for each machine before commencing.

The test

I ran three blind taste tests: Black Americano, oat milk flat white, and pure espresso.

Black Americano

I made the black Americanos identically: 18g of coffee for 36g out between 25-28 seconds. Topped up with 8 ounces of thirty-seconds-off-the-boil water.

For now, we'll call them Coffee A and Coffee B.

My colleague Pete said Coffee A tasted "sour and bitter with less nuance, but still delicious." Lucy said A didn't have "much flavor," which was supported by James and Caspar, who said A tasted "a little thin" and "quite watery," respectively.

Josh was the only tester to prefer Coffee A: he reported it had a "richer aftertaste" and "more flavor in the afternotes" than Coffee B.

Lucy said Coffee B had a "more nuanced flavor than A," which was supported by James: "tastes a lot fuller and stronger," and Caspar, who enjoyed B's smoothness. Pete noticed the crema was thicker on Coffee B, which he thought meant it had a higher-quality group head. He preferred B overall due to the balanced bitter, caramel, and sour notes.

Josh was the only person to criticize B: he said it tasted "slightly more muted" and chose Coffee A as his favorite.

Can you guess which was which?

Oat milk flat white

The second test: oat milk flat white. I had a few fewer testers due to other responsibilities for this one.

Again, I made the coffees identically: 18g of coffee for 36g out within 25-28 seconds. I steamed milk using my usual barista-taught method (I am an ex-barista, after all).

Let's give them their names: Coffee A and Coffee B.

Pete preferred Coffee A, saying, "Milk is better textured on A. It's less aerated; smoother and silkier." He also preferred the coffee flavor on A. "Slight bit more flavor poking through. But very difficult to tell."

James said Coffee A was "really nice," but he liked the "darker, more intense flavor" on Coffee B more, so that was his favorite. Josh agreed with James, choosing Coffee B due to its "smoother" and "more coffee-like" flavor.

Espresso

Now for the most important test: straight espresso. There's nowhere to hide here.

I actually made a single espresso for this one, using 12g of coffee for 24g of espresso out. I don't have two espresso glasses, so apologies for the unconventional container in the photographs above.

Again, I'll introduce the players: Coffee A and Coffee B.

Pete said Coffee A had a better crema and smelled "more potently of chocolate." When he took a sip, he said, "Oh, that's good." Not really much else for me to say, is there? Overall, he said Coffee A had "a lot of body and a bit of acidity." Spoiler alert, but after drinking Coffee B, he said Coffee A was, and I quote, "So much nicer."

James and Caspar also preferred Coffee A; James said it had "a lot more going on, with more levels to the coffee flavor."

Josh mostly agreed — he said Coffee A had more fruit notes with a richer mouthfeel. I'll note here that Josh had the most sips out of anyone and mulled on his decision for much longer than anyone else, so his decision was almost too close to call.

Lucy was the only outlier, saying Coffee A had a "nice" espresso taste but not as rich as Coffee B, which had a more diverse flavor, with more dynamism in the sip. Interestingly, I also agreed — is this female vs male taste buds in action? (I'm joking — obviously there's no difference in female vs male taste buds).

What do you think? Ready for the results?

The results

And now I get to crown the $299 machine the winner! I didn't expect the Bambino to win — and neither did any of my testers. They were all shocked when I told them.

Of course, I tried all the drinks before I offered them to my taste-testers... and I preferred the Lelit Mara X3 every time. But is that because I knew it was the more expensive one, therefore I assumed it should have been tastier? Or because I personally prefer an acidic coffee, so this appealed to my unique taste buds?

I suppose I'll never know.

But taste isn't the only thing you should consider

Although I love the Breville Bambino — it's my favorite budget espresso machine, and there's literally zero competition — winning the taste test doesn't mean it's the best espresso machine in every situation.

The Mara X3 and Bambino are (mostly) intended for a different audience. You're not just paying $2,000 for coffee. You're paying $2,000 for a dual boiler, meaning you can steam milk and pull shots at the same time. You're paying $2,000 for the all-metal (+wood) construction, which might last longer than the Bambino's plastic. You're paying $2,000 for the steam, milk, and pressure configuration tools.

We're all thinking it, so I might as well say it: You're paying $2,000 for the Lelit branding and the Lelit design.

The Mara X3 is a work of art, and you should treat it like one.

If I had $2k, I know which machine I'd choose. The Lelit would already be in my kitchen.

Despite all of this, though, Lelit and Breville are part of the same company. Lelit is literally Breville's prosumer brand. The Baratza Encore ESP grinder I mentioned earlier? Also owned by Breville.

So, at the end of the day, your money's going to the same pocket.

If you want more coffee content, don't fret. I've got bucketloads (cuploads?). Every week, I release new episodes of The Coffee Lab, my series dedicated to forgetting coffee snobbery and figuring out what actually matters in your daily brew.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried the new Nespresso summer flavors — here's my favorite
• Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
• I tried Lelit's brand-new 'entry-level' espresso machine — and I wish I had $2,000 so I could buy it

At the start of the year, I upgraded our household blender from a regular non-brand contraption we picked up at the local Aldi to a Nutribullet Ultra 1200. The benefits were that it was easier to clean, looked a lot nicer, and blends your ingredients straight into the shaker you can drink from.

Over six months later, I decided to return to the pair of them (we haven't got rid of the old one; it's good to have a spare) to put a little bit more testing on the table.

Part of this, I admit, is due to selfishly wanting to mix up my smoothie game. I'm guilty of going back to the same old recipe time and time again and, with summer here, I'm feeling the need for a change.

Secondly, although I swapped to the Nutribullet without a second thought — was I giving my old blender its due? What if I fed both machines the exact same ingredients and measured them directly in a head-to-head? Which would really come out on top?

There are a ton of things the Nutribullet does better: it's objectively smaller, lighter, simpler to use and comes with a better warranty. But I was surprised at a couple of outcomes from this experiment if I'm being totally honest. I'll spoil the big one for you now: I couldn't tell the difference when it came to tasting the final product.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Read on to discover just what I found out from my budget vs. premium experiment.

The recipe

The wonderful thing about smoothies is they're uncomplicated. Pick stuff you like, throw it inside one of the best blenders, and chances are it'll come out alright. But this test had to be scientific, so here are the exact ingredients I used with both machines:

100g strawberries (~1 cup, yields a thick texture and rich color)

50g ripe banana (~1/2 medium banana, sliced)

100g strawberry flavored Greek yogurt (~½ cup)

180ml milk (~¾ cup)

1 tbsp of honey

Note that both of these machines are blenders and not bespoke juicers. Here's a complete rundown of the differences, but in a nutshell, juicers squeeze and extract the juice from fruits and vegetables. A juicer breaks down the fruit by separating the pulp, peel/skin, and seeds from the fruit, as the juice flows out through a sieve.

Blenders, on the other hand, pulverize all of the ingredients together. Think of them as a sledgehammer rather than a scalpel.

The blend

Forget just throwing the above ingredients into the pot without a care. This is the process I followed with both blenders — just to make sure I did what I could to make the experiment fair.

• Add liquids and soft ingredients first: Pour in the milk and spoon in the Greek yogurt. Placing liquid at the bottom helps the blender blades turn smoothly without getting stuck on the fruit.
• Layer in solids and the fruit: Next in went the banana slices, chopped strawberries, and finally I added the honey.
• Blend on high power for 30 seconds (I used my trusty Casio stopwatch to make sure they each got the same time)
• Pour out and enjoy

The result

I appreciate you can't taste the results of my experiment through the screen, but as I said at the outset. I didn't notice any difference in taste in the final product. If pressed, I would say the $129 result was a fractionally smoother than the cheaper alternative. Maybe my smoothie chops aren't what they used to be, but my takeaway is that if all you're interested in is the consistency and the taste of the final result, the cheap option will do you proud.

Also despite costing more and supposedly being quieter (Nutribullet says 87dB), the more expensive blender was louder than the budget one. It's more powerful 1,200W vs 600W and that showed when the noise level just crested 100dB for the Nutribullet compared to 99dB for the Blaupunkt. I know this is nitpicking, but I still wanted to mention it.

The Nutribullet uses a 6-point titanium-coated extractor blade rather than a 4-point one in the $30 Blaupunkt. But it's also got a lower capacity (32oz vs 52oz), so if you're mixing smoothies for a family or to batch, that may play a factor. Those two elements come in clutch because there were definitely some lumps left in the bottom of the jug on the cheaper blender when I poured out the drink.

Whereas I put the contents into a glass for the sake of this article, normally I would just cap off the Nutribullet shaker and be on my way. Similarly, I cranked the Blaupunkt all the way to five on its antiquated knob rather than the simple on/off capacitive touch of the Nutribullet.

And, last but by no means least, cleaning the Nutribullet was a simpler, quicker affair than my old budget blender.

So, both got the job done — one just did it with a little more style than the other.

Final thoughts

This little experiment has reinforced what I felt about leveling up blenders back at the start of the year. When it comes to the nuts and bolts of the taste of the final product, there's no difference — at least for someone with my unrefined palate.

Moreover, I can put up with a bit of noise for 30 seconds, so the fact my Nutribullet was louder than advertised is also something I can overlook.

But, all the other aspects of using a blender were far superior with the more expensive model. I like that: a) it takes up less countertop space, b) it doesn't take as long to clean, c) it comes with a dedicated shaker for less fuss c) it genuinely just looks cooler and d) if it breaks, I can claim on the warranty for longer.

Are those advantages worth $100 more? For my current lifestyle: yes. If you'd have asked me years ago when I was a student watching every dime I spent, then probably no.

The lesson I learned here was that despite our constant fixation on the end result, there's more to choosing a product than what it delivers. Less destination, more journey.

Of course, what works for me might not work for you. I happen to value how easy and quick the Nutribullet is to use so that makes the extra $100 worth it. Do you agree or not? Let me know in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Masticating vs centrifugal juicer: Which is best?
• This is the best blender in the world, and two trusty, cheaper alternatives
• Juicer vs Blender: What's the difference?

There's nothing worse than heat damage. It can cause breakage, impact your hair and scalp health, and leave ends severely dry. Thankfully, Shark Beauty has thought of everything to eliminate heat damage, with the launch of two new wet-to-dry stylers in Australia.

Designed with heat damage in mind, the new Shark SilkiPro Straight and Glossi maximise airflow and heat settings to ensure minimal hair damage. As a hair tool reviewer, I was beyond eager to get my hands on the first wet-to-dry stylers for the brand.

I did approach using the stylers with a degree of scepticism, however. Although I appreciate airstylers because they minimise hair damage, I typically have to rely heavily on hairspray to keep my styles intact. This is largely because airtools like the Dyson Airstrait do not use heated plates, effectively cutting down on the amount of direct heat applied to the hair, and therefore, don't clamp the hair into a pin-straight finish.

This was the case during my Dyson Airstrait review. Even though the Airstrait excelled at drying and styling my hair from wet to dry in a matter of minutes, it only achieved a naturally straight finish with its angled airflow. However, the SilkiPro has ceramic elements, meaning there's a heated plate at play alongside Shark's impressive heat and airflow tech. While my experience with the Dyson Airstrait was generally positive, I was curious to see if the SilkiPro’s ceramic plates could offer a more polished finish.

On the other hand, the Glossi also has ceramic elements, but it's a blowout brush with wet and dry modes. In my experience, blowout brushes can be used on damp hair, but not soaking wet, so my curiosity was piqued. Both tools can also be used on totally dry hair to achieve shiny, frizz-free styles.

I put both of Shark's wet-to-dry stylers to the test to see how they fare — and ultimately which one I'd recommend — below. If you're keen to check out Shark's other highly-rated hair tools, including the Shark Glam and the Shark FlexStyle, you can view them in the widget below.

Shark SilkiPro Straight

Using the HeatSense ceramic plates — which automatically monitors and adjusts temperature to minimise heat damage — and the airflow from the high-velocity air vents, the Silki acts as a comparable Dyson Airstrait dupe.

Retailing at AU$449.99, the Shark SilkiPro Straight really puts Dyson's inflated AU$749 price tag to shame. Not only is it AU$300 cheaper, the SilkiPro performs — dare I say — better, but there are a few caveats involved in that judgement.

Throughout my month of testing, I used both wet and dry modes of the SilkiPro Straight and used all three of the styling comb attachments. I also used each of the three temperature settings — low (100℃ wet / 160℃ dry), medium (110℃ wet / 190℃ dry) and high (120℃ wet / 220℃ dry) and the three airflow settings — again, low, medium and high — throughout my tests.

Much like when using the Dyson Airstrait, you need to rough dry your hair before using the SilkiPro on wet hair by clamping the styler together and locking it into place. The rough dry didn't take long during my first use, around 5 minutes or so, and I was ready to start straightening.

Shark recommends that your hair is at least 70% dry before straightening in wet mode. Shark also recommends sectioning your hair in smaller 2.5cm to 5cm sections to ensure you have minimal passes when straightening. I took this advice on and set the styler to the recommended heat and air settings for my hair type — which was medium heat and high airflow for my wavy hair.

Even though the presence of ceramic plates left me slightly confused as to why airflow would even be necessary for styling, it turned out to be vital. The angled design of the airflow significantly accelerated the overall wet-to-dry process.

Sure enough, after extensively sectioning and straightening, my hair was damn near perfectly straight, thanks to the plates and airflow combination. I could have stopped there, considering my hair was completely styled and dry, but the brand suggests using the dry mode on the device to help lock in the style and shine. I opted to use medium heat and airflow to minimise thermal damage and dry mode was pretty spot on at correcting any imperfections.

After using the SilkiPro a few more times throughout the month, I ultimately decided that high heat and airflow worked better for me in wet mode. If I needed to touch up any strands, I used dry mode on medium settings to straighten things out.

The styling combs are supposed to help straighten and lengthen hair, but they didn't do too much for my wavy, thick hair. I didn't love using the comb attachments on my hair when it was wet, but I found the experience much more pleasant when it was dry. Regardless, I am still not convinced that the combs are overly necessary to the SilkiPro experience and may work better for those with curly or coily hair.

Overall, I was highly satisfied with the SilkiPro and turned to it more than my Dyson Airstrait. This is largely due to the results, as my hair turned out much straighter, shiner and lasted longer using the Silki. However, I know that this is because of the Silki's ceramic plates, making it much more comparable to the results of a normal hair straightener. The Silki's plates use lower temperatures than other straighteners, so it still minimises heat damage, but you can't guarantee that your hair will be totally damage-free. And that's just part of the risks involved with hair stylers and hot tools in general, not just the SilkiPro Straight.

Shark Glossi

Out of all the hair tools I've tried, I always struggle styling my hair with a blowout brush. I've watched many hair tutorials on TikTok and Instagram, and even invested in the Revlon Volumiser 2.0, thinking I could do a 90s-style blowout with ease. But I was so wrong.

That said, the Shark Glossi has really surprised me as a one-pass-wonder (yes, I've coined that term) in a wet-to-dry styler. Priced at AU$199.99, the Glossi is a much more affordable option for most blowout lovers. It did take some time to get used to how to properly work the brush, but if you've managed to get a voluminous, bouncy blowout by using a roller brush and hair dryer before, then I could see it eliminating that strenuous process entirely.

Unlike other hot brushes, one side of the Glossi is dedicated to a standard bristle brush, and the other is a ceramic plate-coated comb. The ceramic side is supposed to support shine and lock in smoothing styles, whereas the bristle brush is for volume and bouncy waves. Personally, I prefer silky finishes with some volume by my roots, so I leant towards the ceramic side in most use cases, and finished my roots with the bristle.

Much like the SilkiPro, the Glossi has a wet and dry mode, and has three temperature and airflow settings. Unfortunately, much to my dismay, I couldn't use it on soaking wet hair, as per the brand's instructions, so I had to rough dry my hair before styling. This wasn't the biggest deal — I had suspected as such with most blowout brushes that it couldn't be used on sopping wet hair — but I was a touch disappointed that I couldn't reach for it immediately out of the shower.

Instead, wet mode is largely exclusive to 70% damp hair, like the SilkiPro. I followed Shark's instructions for wet mode by detangling my hair, sectioning it in smaller 5cm sections and placing the ceramic plates at my roots before turning the styler. In each turn, I allowed the bristles to grip my hair and help it comb through the ceramic in an anticlockwise motion to ensure sleek, yet bouncy waves.

Getting the perfect blowout for my hair was a bit tricky. I was a bit perplexed by the airflow and heat settings on the Glossi, as there were no strict brand recommendations for my hair type. The highest airflow was very powerful — to the point where my hair was flying all over the place — and the lowest heat setting did very little for my ends. After some trial and error, I landed on high heat and medium airflow, and that delivered great results every time. I also found myself reaching for the Glossi to fix my bangs and apply volume when I felt they were falling.

Again, the brand recommends using dry mode to smooth and correct any imperfections, and after doing so for the initial test, I didn't find myself needing to lock in the style with dry mode. Sure, I could have easily guaranteed a longer-lasting hairstyle by following through, but the Glossi wet mode results just speak for themselves. The Glossi's dry mode also has to heat up for 45 seconds before use — and if I'm being honest here, I didn't always feel like waiting… sue me.

Which one should I buy?

After a good month of washing my hair at least a dozen times for science, it's safe to say that Shark's newest wet-to-dry stylers did not disappoint me in the slightest. While the devices have very similar use cases — they do dry hair after all — both tools tick different styling boxes.

I am a fan of the Shark Glossi for its simplicity and price point. Although, practically, it felt like I was unlocking a whole new skillset to to get the best blowout out of it. However, I am very much impressed with the device and I'm beyond certain that it would garner a happy fanbase.

But tete-a-tete, I'm an even bigger fan of the Shark SilkiPro Straight for my everyday routine, especially as it's a dryer and straightener all-in-one. And dare I admit, it's coming for my Dyson Airstrait's crown as it can deliver pin-straight results without any touchups. Did I mention it's also AU$300 cheaper?

So if you're thinking of upgrading or stepping into the world of wet-to-dry hair stylers, Shark Beauty's range is one to consider.

More from Tom's Guide

• I cut my curly hair routine from 2 hours to 20 minutes. Here’s the 'lazy girl' method that'll help you do the same
• I used Google's Nano Banana to try a bunch of different hairstyles — and the results blew me away
• Shark's new wet-to-dry styler is cheaper than the Dyson Airstrait, and comes with this one unique feature
• I tested the Dyson Airwrap i.d. Curly + Coily on my hair — the hype is completely justified

Home décor has always held a special place in my heart — but the truth of the matter is, updating your home can quickly become expensive. Fortunately, one of my favorite past times is challenging myself by setting a modest budget for decor and furniture. And when it comes to affordable finds, Amazon is almost always my go-to.

Case in point: I've decorated my entire apartment with items that look expensive — but they're all under $50 on Amazon. It took some savvy shopping and a little research but luckily, deal-hunting is my specialty. That's why I've decided to share all my favorite affordable home decor pieces below, and I've even included pictures of how I styled the items in my home.

I'm starting to realize I might have overdone it with the sage green accents (my favorite color), but fortunately, most of these items come in tons of different colors as well. Keep scrolling to check out all the items in my apartment that look expensive but are actually insanely affordable.

Dining Area

Living Room

Kitchen

Bedroom

Bathroom

Suri toothbrushes are “designed for life.” That’s a big claim to make; can any one product really go the distance and last you an entire lifetime? I was intrigued by the brand’s promise and got my hands on the Suri 2.0 electric toothbrush. I’ve spent just two weeks with the brush so far and I’m here to discuss my experiences with it, positive and negative. (And complain about my old toothbrush in the process.)

In short, I think it’s great. I’m not the only person at Tom’s Guide who loves the Suri 2.0 — we gave it a 4.5-star rating in our Suri 2.0 review and we rank it as the best electric toothbrush you can buy right now.

Suri puts my old toothbrush to shame

Above is a picture of my old electric toothbrush. Gross, I know. And is this is after I'd spent several minutes cleaning it.

I am not a model for dental hygiene. I forget to floss, I snack between meals and I don’t rinse my mouth out every time I finish drinking my coffee. So my toothbrush has to do a lot of heavy lifting to keep my mouth clean.

I got scolded by my dentist around a year ago for not using an electric toothbrush. I didn’t want to buy a new one, so I dug around in a cabinet until I found this one — an old one no one had been using. I’ll hold my hands up and admit it, it wasn’t the best decision I could have made. But I stuck with it anyway.

The old toothbrush sucked. I’m actually angry that I put up with it for so long.

Here’s why I hated it so much:

• It was heavy, bulky, and loud
• Its battery life was terrible
• The level of charge affected its cleaning performance

Those problems were bad enough, but the thing I hated the most about it was that it was hard to keep clean. The hollow head got full of toothpaste every time I used it. Every time I left it to dry all the toothpaste would drip down and leave a ring behind, no matter how much I tried to rinse it out.

Could Suri come to the rescue? I needn’t have worried; it solved every problem with my old toothbrush and did more besides.

Your new favorite part of the day

The Suri 2.0 sets expectations high. “Your new favorite part of the day” is written on the side of the box it shipped to me in. Would I go that far? Not quite, but I definitely think the Suri 2.0 is an amazing product.

First of all, the Suri 2.0 deserves a ton of points for aesthetics. It’s the best-looking electric toothbrush I’ve ever seen, period. It’s sleek, modern, and even chic. In other words, you can put it in just about any bathroom and it’ll be the coolest thing in there. There are six different colors to choose from, and they all look great.

The form factor is also excellent. The base is small, lightweight, and comfortable to hold. The aluminium feels soft to the touch and is easy to wipe clean. The only thing I can hold against it visually is that I don’t love the large gap between the head and the base, but more aeration to make sure water drains away properly is a good thing.

I also love the Suri 2.0’s large brush heads. The bristles cover more surface area than my old, round-headed electric toothbrush. That means I need to move my hand around less to cover my whole mouth. Excellent for efficiency.

In terms of the clean, there’s no contest. The Suri 2.0 is miles better than my old electric toothbrush or any manual toothbrush I’ve ever used. I experienced no pain, no bleeding gums and it was easy to clean previously difficult spots in my mouth.

I’ve charged the toothbrush once and its battery has been going strong for over two weeks. Critically, the cleaning performance is exactly the same as it was when it came off the charging base — no slowdown here.

The toothbrush also has a two-minute timer, and it automatically shuts off once the two minutes are up. So if you want to brush for longer, you’ll need to switch it back on again. I like the automatic shutoff — sometimes I forget whether or not I’ve been brushing for long enough, even though my old toothbrush pulsed to indicate two minutes were up. With the auto shutoff, there’s no question.

Not everything is perfect

I had one weird issue during my testing of the Suri 2.0. I stuck the brush head into a near-empty tube of toothpaste that I’d cut open to avoid wasting any. Then, while I brushed my teeth, the brush started pulsing intermittently (beyond the usual 30-second pulses to indicate you should move to the next part of your mouth.) I theorize that the toothpaste was too crammed into the brush and was activating the pressure sensor, but it was strange. The next time I brushed, I applied toothpaste the usual way and the problem stopped.

I also have mixed feelings about the case. The case includes a UV cleaning light, which is awesome, and so far it has done a good job stopping my Suri brush from getting as dirty as my old electric toothbrush. The downside is that I prefer to pack light while traveling, and the case adds extra bulk and weight. But to be honest, I’d rather bring a manual toothbrush than an electric one that costs over $130 while traveling.

Plus, don’t get me wrong here, the recyclable heads are amazing. But I was disappointed when I found out the heads have to be sent back to the company to be recycled — it has a minor environmental impact considering the petrol it takes for delivery. I was daydreaming about throwing them on my compost heap, but that’s sadly not the reality we live in yet.

Buying new heads is also a potential headache. You can purchase a subscription and get two heads every six months for £8.95, or pick up a box of three heads for £14.99 as a one-time purchase. I’d rather just purchase a year’s worth of heads in one go, and not sign up for a subscription. (That would be between four and six heads a year, based on Suri’s recommendations.) But there’s no way to choose exactly how many heads you want to buy, only a two-pack subscription every six months or a one-time purchase containing three heads. For now, I can buy replacement heads in-person at Boots since I live in the U.K. — but that might not always be an option. I’ll probably buy a few boxes and make sure I’m stocked up for the years of use that will hopefully come.

Can you really use this thing for life?

Arguably, the most sustainable choice would have been for me to keep using my old electric toothbrush until I couldn’t any more. But Suri is the next best option. To make sure I keep my end of the bargain, I want to use it for as long as possible. But how long will it really last? Obviously, I can’t see into the future, but there are three big things I’m concerned about with this sustainable electric toothbrush.

For starters, the battery is great now, but it doesn’t appear to be replaceable. Eventually, it will wear down, and that will mean throwing out the whole toothbrush and not just the battery.

Secondly, Suri recycles used brush heads now. But if the company ever goes under, I’ll most likely be stuck with ‘em, even though they’re made of natural materials. Buying the heads could also be an issue — even if I stick with the same toothbrush base for life, I could run out of heads and have no way to get more.

Basically, the sustainability of this toothbrush depends somewhat on the company sticking around. That’s why I hope lots more people join the revolution and choose Suri over other brands that aren’t so focused on sustainability.

If you're lucky enough to have an outdoor space then you'll already know that it doesn't take long before it can get completely out of control. Maintaining a garden is a constant task, and you have to have the right tools for the job. That doesn't automatically mean spending a fortune, though.

For this article I've pulled together 12 versatile tools that are just the thing for looking after your yard — and the best bit is, all of these come in at under $100, with prices starting at less than $20.

There's basics like good gardening gloves, buckets and watering cans, as well as bigger items like a lawn mower. These will help you whip your space into shape in no time and keep it looking great all year long.

This summer has brought more heatwaves than we can count. And while the Northeast may be experiencing a brief break from the sweltering temperatures, there's no telling when the next heatwave will hit — which is why it's important to stay prepared.

It's tempting to crank the air conditioner all the way up when temperatures rise. But on the hottest days, blasting the AC often does little to cool you down faster — it just sends your electric bill soaring. That's why I've been testing a range of portable fans from Aecooly, and I have to admit I'm pretty impressed with the results.

I recently brought a few models along with me on my beach vacation and whether I was lounging on the beach, walking to the boardwalk or sleeping at night, there was an Aecooly device that truly helped to cool me down. I even shared them with my family members, and they were impressed by how much of a difference they made.

If you're looking for ways to beat the heat, don't wait any longer — pick up a few of these affordable Aecooly devices to help you stay cool, calm and collected during the next heatwave.

Quick Links

• shop all Aecooly deals on Amazon
• Aecooly Slim Portable Fan: from $8
• Aecooly Powerful USB C Phone Fan: was $14 now $12
• Aecooly Magnetic Clip On Fan: was $21 now $17
• Aecooly Ultra-Pocket Portable Handheld Turbo Fan: now $19
• Aecooly Portable Handheld Fan: was $29 now $24
• Aecooly Mini Portable Neck Fan Click Retro: now $24
• Aecooly Misting Portable Fan: was $39 now $35
• Aecooly Touch Control Desk Fan: now $39
• Aecooly Active Cold Air Portable Cooling System: now $79

Aecooly Portable Fans

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For the last three years, my Sunday nights weren't dedicated to winding down or reading a book. They were spent performing what felt like unpaid physical labor in my bathroom.

If you’ve ever fallen down the rabbit hole of TikTok wash day tutorials or 20-minute YouTube videos on the Curly Girl Method, you know the exact ritual I’m talking about.

It’s an agonizing, multi-step sensory nightmare: specialized styling tools, four layered leave-ins, and a temporary vow of silence while bent double, upside down in a steamy shower trying to master the praying hands technique.

Somewhere along the line, social media convinced us that having curls requires a degree in chemistry, a bank loan, and a strict regimen of mechanical micromanagement. Call it self-care if you want, but enough was enough.

Cost of the curly girl method

Between clarifying shampoos, co-washing, deep conditioning masks, and bottles of specialized serum, following a TikTok-approved routine can easily set you back hundreds of dollars before you've even turned the shower on.

To test just how much of my life this routine was swallowing, I timed the process from the moment I turned on the shower tap to my final diffuse. The stopwatch clocked in at two full hours. Two hours! For curls that didn't last the week, even with a cast set and bonnet worn.

So, I stripped the entire routine down to its bare mechanics. It turns out, 70% of the lauded routines contain so many unnecessary steps. I chopped my routine from 120 minutes to twenty, and my curls have never had more volume, bounce, or definition.

If you’re ready to reclaim your time and money, here is the exact steps to follow.

Pick one step from your routine to skip this week and see what happens. Drop a comment with the step you’re ditching, and come back to tell us if your hair survived!

More from Tom's Guide

• I used Google's Nano Banana to try a bunch of different hairstyles — and the results blew me away
• I tested the Dyson Airwrap i.d. Curly + Coily on my hair — the hype is completely justified
• I swapped my expensive cleanser for this $69 facial brush — and my skin hasn't looked this clear in years

Whenever I tell people my husband is a plumber, they usually say: "That must be so handy!" And I always agree, yes, it absolutely is.

Whenever there's a plumbing (or heating) problem in my house, he knows how to solve it, and we don't have to spend extra money doing it or calling an emergency plumber late at night.

But instead of gatekeeping his secrets, I thought I'd ask him to share three of his favorite expert-approved tips that he thinks will help anyone in their home, so you can avoid making common plumbing mistakes.

Trust me, I should know if they work, because I literally use all three of them whenever needed. Here's some expert advice (free of charge) that'll hopefully even save you money in the future.

Just be sure to stick around for all three; I've saved my favorite until last.

1. Don't pour hot oil down your sink

Excess oil that you've been cooking with seems like a pretty reasonable thing to pour down your sink when you've finished with it. After all, it's greasy, runny, and edible. But don't do it.

As my plumber husband explains: "While hot oil is liquid when it's been heated up, once it cools down it sets hard. If you have an incorrect fall on your waste pipe, this oil can sit stationary inside it, leading to blockages.

"The best solution is to pour your hot oil into a foil-lined bowl, leave it to set, and then throw the foil directly into the trash once it has [congealed]."

2. Don't put bleach tablets in toilet tanks

Bleach tablets are my go-to for tackling limescale and germs in my toilets at home, but my husband always tells me that I shouldn't use them regularly and I certainly shouldn't be putting them into the tank of the toilet.

The thought hadn't crossed my mind, but he says it's quite a common mistake that people tend to make: "A bleach tablet has high concentrations of chlorine. This can cause internal parts of the [tank] to fail, leading to leaks and damage to your toilet's components."

So, while you think you may be cleaning your toilet thoroughly, you could actually be doing more harm than good, which can become quite a costly mistake. Just stick to popping them into the bowl.

3. Draw a pencil line around damp spots

Now, this one's my favorite, and it's one of those hacks you wonder why you didn't think of it yourself.

Whenever you spot a damp patch or stain in your home, here's what my plumber husband recommends: "I advise customers that if they notice a mark on their ceiling (most commonly), they should trace the outline with a pencil."

Why? Well, he adds: "If you leave it for 12 hours and come back, you'll see if the leak has gone past the pencil line. If it has, then you know you have an active leak."

And since a pencil is harmless to your ceiling, you can leave it a little longer to be extra sure or rub it away when you're fully satisfied that the leak has stopped.

Do you have any tips for saving money when it comes to plumbing? Let us know in the comments.

More from Tom's Guide

• This TikTok hack claims vinegar will clean your shower head — I asked my plumber husband if it actually works
• You asked: Can dish soap fix your clogged drain? A plumber explains the facts
• Households urged not to pour boiling water down drains this winter — I asked a plumber what to do instead

I just spent the most glorious week at the Jersey Shore! The weather couldn't have been more beautiful, and even better, I stocked up on all my beach essentials beforehand — so I had everything I needed to relax and enjoy my vacation the right way.

It's no secret that lugging all your stuff to the beach or pool can be stressful. That's why having the right equipment and essentials is a necessity. If you've got a beach trip coming up, I highly recommend checking out all of the must-haves I used on my past trip to the shore.

From the sunscreen brand I'm currently addicted to and the beach reads I couldn't put down to roomy tote bags and comfy folding backpack chairs, these are the items that made my beach days so much easier and a lot more enjoyable.

Quick Links

• Amazon Bookstore: summer reads from $8
• COOLA SPF best-sellers: from $14
• Aecooly Portable Handheld Fan: was $29 now $24
• YETI Flip Chug Water Bottle (18 oz): now $32
• Brooklinen Beach Towel: was $69 now $59
• JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth Speaker: was $99 now $79
• Tommy Bahama Backpack Beach Chair: now $79
• Bogg Bag: now $90
• YETI Camino Zip Tote: now $150

Beach Essentials

Shop more deals

We're reaching the start of August and the college year is looming. If you're going to be moving into a dorm later this year then you're probably already planning how to personalize it and make it your space.

That's where we can help. For this article I've pulled together a list of 12 items – mostly tech, but not entirely – that will make a space your own. There's useful bits of kit, like a TV, hairdryer, and power bank, all the way up to the new MacBook Neo, the ideal laptop for studying.

That's the most expensive item on the list, but for the most part we've gone for more budget-friendly options, with prices starting as low as under $16, so there should be something for everyone here.

During this scorching heat, what’s a home baker to do? Having the oven switched on to satisfy a craving for sponge cake will have your air conditioning on overdrive, or your fan blowing around powdered sugar. But I won’t let the high temperatures stop me from baking, so I put aside my reservations and tried to make some cupcakes in an air fryer.

Could this countertop appliance that I rely on for crisping fries and grilling burgers bake a decent cake? The answer is a resounding yes, but you will have to make some changes.

Here’s exactly what happened when I baked a batch of lemon cupcakes in my air fryer, along with expert advice on mastering the countertop bake.

How I made lemon cupcakes in an air fryer

Lemon cupcakes are the ultimate refreshing summer treat and happen to be one of my family’s favorite go-to sweet treats.

I often search online for recipes, and I found an Easy lemon muffin recipe at BBC Good Food. What’s brilliant about this particular recipe is that all of the batter ingredients can be tipped into a single bowl and mixed in one go. You can do this by hand or with one of the best stand mixers; either way, as long as your butter is soft, you won’t break a sweat.

The recipe calls for a muffin tray, which is a non-starter for my compact Cuisinart Clearview Air Fryer. To improvise, I doubled up my paper cupcake liners for extra stability. Luckily, they held up well when I spooned in the batter.

After preheating the air fryer to 200°C (390°F) for four minutes, I then carefully placed the cupcake cases into the glass basket, but I could only bake five at a time.

Knowing that air fryers run hotter and faster than conventional ovens, I selected ‘Bake’ mode, at 160°C (320°F) for 15 minutes — 20°C lower and 15 minutes shorter than the original bake time.

I had a massive advantage during this bake thanks to my air fryer’s design. Because of its glass viewing window, I had a full view of the action. Unlike standard air fryer models, I didn’t have to pull the basket to see how the bake was progressing.

At the 11-minute mark, I noticed the tops had started to brown. By 15 minutes, I was satisfied they were perfectly cooked.

What I noticed when cooking cupcakes in an air fryer

Although you can cook cupcakes in an air fryer, I did notice a few differences between this method and using a traditional oven.

1. You have to reduce the cooking time and temperature.
2. Forget about making a big cake.
3. The final shape is a little different and may need disguising with icing.
4. The bake was just as moist.

I’d be happy to continue baking in an air fryer, although I won’t be taking on any elaborate challenges. But be warned, even though they didn’t look as appetizing as when baked in a traditional oven, they still tasted delicious.

What do the professionals think about air fryer baking?

I was able to prove that you can bake a cake in an air fryer, though many factors differ from using an oven. To help you navigate them and ensure a perfect bake every time, I reached out to some baking pros for their insider advice.

Can baking a cake in an air fryer deliver the same results as an oven?

You can definitely bake a cake in an air fryer, but experts say it’s not a straight swap.

“The result is not that air fryers bake worse; it is that they bake differently,” explains Andreas Hansen, founder at Fritaire. “Dense, moist batters like brownies, banana bread, pound cake, and lava cakes perform genuinely well. Tall, delicate sponges that depend on a slow, even rise are where a conventional oven still wins.”

Isaac Bernal Carbajo, executive chef, explains, “The moving air shoves loose batter around before it can set, which is why delicate sponges and anything chiffon-adjacent are a bad bet. What you do get is speed, no long preheat, and a lovely crust on sturdier bakes.”

Minoo Mahdavian, founder at MinooMakesStuff, says, “Many people treat an air fryer like a multipurpose ‘little oven’, when it’s actually closer to a wind tunnel with a heating element parked right above your cake.”

How an air fryer actually works

It helps to know how an air fryer works to understand why it produces different results from a conventional oven. Hansen explains the three main differences.

Proximity to heat: “The heating element sits much closer to the food, which is why tops brown fast.”

Aggressive airflow: “The fan moves air more aggressively in a smaller chamber, which can pull moisture from the batter surface before the crumb sets.”

Rapid heat recovery: “The small cavity means temperature recovers very quickly when you open it, which is actually an advantage: you lose less heat checking on a cake than you would in a full-size oven.”

Are there any differences that would make the bake better or worse?

Because air fryers work differently from conventional ovens, if you follow the same baking temperatures for standard recipes, you won’t necessarily get the same result.

“The fan sets and browns the top long before the middle catches up, so you pull out something that looks gorgeous, cracks hard down the center, and is still gummy in the bottom third,” says Mahdavian.

Carbajo suggests making a few changes: “I usually lower the temperature slightly compared to the oven recipe, about 15 - 20°F. Start checking on the cake a few minutes early. Every air fryer behaves a little differently, so I suggest practicing once or twice to get the feel of it."

Apart from size, are there any other limitations?

As soon as you start baking in an air fryer, you’ll realize that your conventional baking tins won’t fit. When I made the lemon cupcakes in my air fryer, I had to swap from my habit of making a larger loaf cake and opt for individual paper cases instead.

Apart from downsizing your bakeware, what else do you consider?

Pan clearance and airflow
“The cake pan needs space around it for air to circulate,” says Hansen. “A pan that fits snugly will bake unevenly because you have effectively blocked the convection that the appliance depends on.”

Carbajo adds, “Even if a pan technically fits, if it’s crowding the walls or sitting too close to the element, it won’t bake evenly. I use a 6-inch round, anything wider and I’m just making a burnt frisbee.”

No bottom heat (in most models)
The lack of heat at the bottom of the air fryer can also cause issues with some bakes. Hansen says, “Cakes that need a strong base set, like some cheesecakes and fruit-heavy batters, can end up with soft bottoms.”

Batter height
If you’re hoping to bake a nice tall fruit cake or deep sponge cake, think again. “Anything that rises tall gets close to the top element and browns or burns before the center cooks,” says Hansen, “Low, wide bakes beat tall, narrow ones in an air fryer every time.”

When using an air fryer makes sense
Baking in an air fryer undoubtedly limits the scope of what you can make. However, on hot summer days, when you don’t fancy turning your kitchen into a sauna, an air fryer makes a good swap.

It’s also an ideal solution if you’re only baking for one or two people and won’t eat your way through a whole cake.

Air frying baking tips

To successfully transition from oven baking to air fryer baking, the experts recommend these five key adjustments.

1. Lower the temperature
Drop the temperature about 35°F (20°C) below the conventional oven recipe. “The compact chamber and close element run effectively hotter,” says Hansen.

2. Tent with foil
As air fryers can dry out a cake, Carbajo suggests covering the top with foil once it starts to brown to prevent moisture from escaping.

3. Go low and wide
Hansen says to go low and wide, and adds, “Two shallow layers bake far better than one tall cake, and you can stack them afterward.”

4. Don’t overfill
Air fryer bakes need more headroom than oven bakes, for this reason Hansen recommends to fill pans halfway to two-thirds, and no more.

5. Let it rest
“Let the cake sit in the residual warmth for a few minutes after the cycle ends,” says Hansen. “The small chamber holds gentle heat that finishes the center without further browning.”

6. Experiment
Be prepared to experiment and find out what works with your air fryer. Mantiri says, “Just like how ovens can behave differently depending on the brand, how old it is, or even the altitude you’re at, a similar thing goes for air fryers.”

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• I’ve never given a product a 5-star rating — here’s why KitchenAid’s new stand mixer won me over
• Watch out KitchenAid! Ooni’s launching its second stand mixer, and at $599 its price matches the Artisan Pro

I must confess, I’ve been a bit late to the game when it comes to embracing robot lawnmowers for hands-free lawn maintenance. And given that I write about home and gardening trends for a living, this might come as a surprise.

But despite my loyalty to the power and reliability of my corded model, the constant hassle of untangling extension cords and getting to outdoor power points was starting to wear thin. Which is exactly what convinced me to finally let a robot lawn mower loose in my own yard.

Similar to robot vacuum cleaners, I thoroughly enjoyed the perks and convenience of just putting my feet up and letting a robot do all the work for me. Plus, it saved me the manual labor and the time-consuming nature of the chore.

However, there is a crucial detail I overlooked that I wished I had considered before using a robot mower. What’s more, this is a common issue that many people don’t factor in – and one of the top signs your yard may not be suitable for a robot lawn mower.

Here’s what happened when I first tried a robot lawnmower.

Check your robot mower is suitable for your lawn

One common assumption I had was that all robot lawnmowers would be ideal for every outdoor space. However, as it turns out, this is the one crucial detail I overlooked for my own uneven terrain.

Unlike standard flat yards, my lawn has a few bumps and features a noticeable dip toward the lower end.

I have to admit, I was very impressed with the precise trim and mapping performance given by my Terramow V1000 in my small-to-medium-sized yard.

In addition, the compact mower was easy to set up and connect via the app, with intuitive controls and settings.

Plus, for a novice in the world of robot mowers, these user-friendly features were a much-welcome bonus.

However, despite the razor-sharp trim, I noticed the robot lagged once it reached the more challenging slopes of my lawn and a paved path — in which case it would often get a little stuck (despite having rear-wheel drive).

While it wasn’t a dealbreaker helping it along past that point, it did make me realize that not all yards are suitable for standard domestic robot lawnmowers.

Typically, robot lawnmowers can work on all types of (mostly-flat) lawns; however, you’ll likely need a more powerful model to tackle uneven or steep inclines with ease.

“Robotic mowers can work on a wide range of lawns, but not every yard is a perfect fit,” said Kevin Caleca, NA Robotic Product Manager at Husqvarna.

“Complex layouts with disconnected sections, stairs, or very narrow passages can require more planning or specialized setups.”

In fact, my experience with the Terramow V1000 is a stark contrast to when I put the remote-operated Mowrator S1 4WD Lawnmower through its paces a couple of years ago. Although it’s not fully automated, I found it to be a mighty powerhouse for my yard. It handled my tricky hills and steep gradients effortlessly, delivering truly impressive results.

In any case, I still preferred the hands-free convenience of the Terramow any day. Plus, I liked how it was user-friendly, had smart features, and a compact size — making it easier to store away.

So, whether you’re looking to upgrade your mower or simply want your weekends to be stress-free, be sure to evaluate your lawn’s dimensions and terrain before choosing a mower with enough muscle to navigate your lawn’s challenges.

For more top tips, check out buying a robot lawnmower? 5 things to consider before you get one.

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• I went hands-on with Roborock’s new RockMow Z1 robot mower — these 3 features are game-changers
• The Sunseeker X3 Plus robot lawnmower has been trimming my yard all summer - 3 things I like and 1 I don't

I spend as much time outdoors as I can during the summer, but over the last few years, a shift happened on my local trails and even in my own backyard. Milder winters and booming wildlife numbers have sent tick populations surging to record highs.

Like most people, I used to rely entirely on standard bug spray and a quick visual check after getting home. But after finding a tiny nymph tick crawling up my leg after a walk around the neighborhood, I realized skin checks alone aren't enough.

Now, my single best line of defense isn't an expensive chemical spray or staying locked indoors, it's a cheap, sticky lint roller I leave right by the front door.

How ticks find you (and why you won't feel them)

Ticks don't jump or fly; they sit on the tips of tall grass and low brush, waiting for a person or pet to brush past so they can cling on.

Once they hitch a ride on your clothes, they rarely bite right away. Instead, they can spend anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours crawling upward, seeking warm, dark spots like the back of your knees.

During the summer, the vast majority of tick-borne infections are caused by nymphs, immature ticks that are roughly the size of a poppy seed. Because they are so small, crawling nymphs are nearly impossible to feel on fabric and easy to miss with the naked eye.

The 10-second front-door hack

Before I even take off my shoes or step further than the front mat, I keep a high-tack lint roller sitting right by the door. I take ten seconds to thoroughly roll it over my socks, trousers, sleeves, and jacket before heading inside.

The sticky adhesive grabs those tiny, unattached nymphs right off the fabric long before they can crawl onto my skin.

If you've had your dog out with you, give them the exact same treatment at the threshold. Running the roller along their legs, belly, and back lifts away any hitchhikers hiding in their topcoat before they can track them onto your furniture or rugs.

Ticks love moisture and shade. Keeping lawn grass short, clearing leaf litter, and creating a 3-foot woodchip or gravel barrier between your lawn and wooded areas drastically reduces tick numbers near your home.

More from Tom's Guide

• How to avoid tick bites this summer — top tips from a pest expert on how to stay safe
• This tiny pest causes the biggest damage to your plants — here's how to stop thrips
• 5 mistakes you're making that turn your yard into a mosquito breeding ground

I don’t mind mowing my backyard; it’s small, level, and is more or less a rectangle.

My front yard is another story. Despite it being half the size, it’s on a hill — about 20 degrees — and in order to get to it, I have to carry a lawnmower up several steps. So it’s been with great relish that I’ve been able to test robot lawnmowers for the past few years. It’s certainly saved me time and aggravation.

But it hasn’t all been easy. There have been plenty of issues I’ve encountered during the setup process and while using robot lawnmowers that had me wondering if I should just go back to mowing my yard myself.

Having tested several models over the past five years ranging from $1,000 to more than $2,500 (and edited reviews of several others), there’s a few pieces of advice I’ve picked up that should help you make a more informed decision when buying and using your first robot lawnmower.

Know your yard

There’s no point in getting a robot lawnmower that’s overbuilt for your yard, and in fact, may work to your detriment — and your wallet.

Find out the square footage of your yard, and then find a robot lawnmower that fits those dimensions. If you get a mega-sized lawnmower but have a postage stamp for a yard, the larger mower may actually have trouble mapping everything properly.

In fact, I was testing the $2,500 Segway Navimow X4 — which to be sure is really cool — but ironically, it couldn't effectively get to all of my small yard. Segway replaced it with the $1,399 Navimow i215 LiDAR, which may not look like something out of a science fiction movie, but costs half as much, and is actually able to mow my whole lawn. (Stay tuned for my full review.)

Yes, there are some truly impressive mega-robots, like the Yarbo, but there’s no sense spending upwards of $2,000 for a lawnmower when something half the price will do.

At the same time, you’ll also want to take into account if your yard has any steep dropoffs or angles, and look for a robot lawnmower that can handle those inclines. There’s been a couple of lawnmowers that worked perfectly well in my backyard, but struggled on the incline in the front, digging divots into the ground.

Boundary wires are so three years ago

When robot lawnmowers first arrived, you had to install a boundary wire around your yard; the lawnmower would then randomly bounce around inside the border until everything was mowed, not unlike the original robot vacuums. It was a real pain, especially when the mower would accidentally run over the wire and slice it in two.

The newest models do away with all that. Using a combination of GPS, Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) and cameras, robot lawnmowers can now accurately map your yard without that time-consuming step. Now, the bot can autonomously map your lawn, or you can just drive it around the edges.

So, look for a robot lawnmower that uses RTK; it’ll cost a little more than the older boundary wire models, but this is definitely worth the added convenience. Plus, the newer models also have more advanced features like obstacle avoidance.

They’re not set-and-forget

As smart as robot lawnmowers have become, they’re still not all that intelligent. Even if they manage to do a good job of autonomously mapping your yard, you’ll still most likely have to tweak the maps they create to ensure they’re mowing everything properly, and not running over your prized petunias.

Case in point: My front yard is bisected by a walkway with a few landings and stairs, as well as a few dropoffs on the sides. Despite me manually mapping the yard each time, almost every robot lawnmower I’ve tested will manage to take a tumble down a step or two, or manage to get itself stuck on a ledge. Fortunately, all of the robot lawnmowing apps I’ve used let you tweak the boundaries fairly easily.

You’re still going to have to do some work around the edges

Sorry to say, but a robot lawnmower isn’t going to magically eliminate all your yardwork. While they’re getting pretty good at edging, I still have to go and use my string trimmer to touch up areas around the borders, as well as the strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street.

And, unless you get the aforementioned Yarbo and all its attachments, you’ll still need to rake the leaves from your yard in the fall (or you could opt to leave them in place).

Your neighbors are going to stare

While robot lawnmowers are fairly common in Europe, they’re still a novelty in the U.S., so every time my mower is out doing its rounds, passers-by almost always stop to watch it mowing. It becomes a bit of a conversation piece if I happen to be outside at the time, so it’s a good way to chat with your neighbors and get to know them better.

Do you own a robot lawnmower? If so, how long have you had it, and what sort of things have you experienced? Let me know in the comments.

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Now that summer is in full force, I love nothing more than hosting gatherings in my backyard; firing up my grill for a cookout and relaxing outdoors with some friends.

But there’s nothing more unappealing than seeing a trail of ants literally invading my patio and dining area.

While I’ve tried various methods to banish ants — ranging from commercial powders and white vinegar to boiling water — they typically offer only a quick fix as the trail quickly appears elsewhere.

However, I discovered the real source of the problem was a hidden issue at the back of my yard all along. In fact, by overlooking this, I was unknowingly inviting other potential vermin (like mice) into my garden for their next feast.

Here’s the one thing I overlooked that was inviting ants into my yard — and you probably are too.

Not picking up fallen fruit from trees

If you have a fruit tree (or several), chances are you’ll get an abundance of fruit this summer. And since I have a large, overgrown apple tree at the back of my yard, I’d frequently find fallen apples rotting on the ground.

Trouble is, I’d often wait until there was a pile of apples before clearing them up, rather than taking immediate action. That was before I found out from an expert that this was a likely cause of my relentless ant problem in my yard.

“Fallen fruit can attract ants due to its natural sugar content,” states Jon Saeed, co-founder of LightingLegends.com.

“At this time of year, fruit begins to drop more frequently, so regularly removing any fruit from the ground will reduce potential food sources and help limit pest activity.”

After learning this, I started scanning for dropped fruit every day, making sure to clear away every apple and toss it into my compost heap.

And in two weeks, I began to notice a difference. Finally, the ant trails around my tree trunk and nearby greenery had completely vanished.

Top tips to naturally repel ants

Another top tip is to sprinkle food-grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE) along ant trails, or use a DIY solution of white vinegar and water to help repel and keep the critters at bay.

“Spraying vinegar onto areas where ants are likely to be can help deter activity and reduce the likelihood of nests becoming established, which can help protect lawns,” adds Saeed.

So if you ever wonder why you keep having an ant invasion, take a minute to scan for any dropped fruit on the ground — before you offer ants (and other pests) an open invitation to your outdoor space.

More from Tom's Guide

• How do I know what kind of ants I have in my home and why it matters? I ask the pest experts
• Pest experts warn you should never squash ants in your home — here’s why
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I love my Moccamaster. It's one of the best coffee makers in the world, by a mile. It brews consistently delicious coffee with zero bitterness, minimal silt, and looks darn cool while doing it.

However, not everyone gets on with Moccamaster as well as I do — and that's the nature of life. Some issues are integral, which means those people would likely be better off with an alternative. But some are super easy fixes — and two of these three issues are incredibly easy fixes.

Last week, I troubleshot three other Moccamaster problems: "too much plastic," "horrible water distribution," and the "hot plate burning the coffee." This week, I'm teaching you how to prevent the Moccamaster from "scaling easily," dealing with the Moccamaster's "high price," and my favorite question of all: Does the Moccamaster come in a single-serve model?

You said the Moccamaster "scales easily"

I loved receiving this question — because it's so easily fixed! The Moccamaster will scale up. Everything that touches water will scale up. Pretty much all water contains minerals, which create limescale.

However, this is super easy to deal with.

And there you have it! Super easy. Didn't I tell you?

You said the Moccamaster is "too expensive"

I wasn't surprised when I received this question. The Moccamaster is expensive. Personally, I think the Moccamaster is the perfect example of "buy it nice or buy it twice". I would rather spend $370 on the Moccamaster than buy a $100 coffee maker three times — but I know that's not realistic for some people.

Moccamaster also offers a 5-year warranty and lifetime repairs, which no other coffee machine brand has matched yet. Again, personally, I would invest in the Moccamaster due to this after-purchase benefit — but I know that's not realistic for some people.

Here are some coffee makers with a lower initial cost.

But Moccamaster also make a cheaper alternative...

You said the Moccamaster should make a "single-pot version"

This was my favorite question to receive because I have a definitive answer for this: Moccamaster makes the Cup-One, too! I reviewed the Cup-One last year and loved it. It's exactly the same as the standard Moccamaster KGBV Select — but smaller.

I recommend the Cup-One to anyone who wants the consistent, stress-free performance of the Moccamaster without being obligated to brew an entire carafe.

So that brings us to the end! I've answered all the questions you asked me. Any more? Leave them in the comments and I'll get back to you shortly.

Stay tuned for the next episode of The Coffee Lab. I release a video every Friday on our Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

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The Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus does the one thing I know most new home baristas struggle with: dialing in. Ever wondered why nothing is coming out of your espresso machine, or it’s coming out like water from a newly unblocked pipe? It’s because you haven’t dialed your coffee in yet.

But Ninja said ‘No more!’ No longer do you have to waste precious coffee on figuring out optimal grind size’ The Luxe Cafe Mini Plus has auto-grind-size calibration that tells you the precise “click” you should grind your beans at. This is genuinely so helpful for newbies.

So, is this enough to make the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus one of the best espresso machines? For beginners, totally. Say goodbye to coffee-related headaches (unless you’re slamming double espresso after double espresso, but that’s a completely different type of headache). Want to find out more? Why wouldn’t you? Keep reading this Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review.

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Specs

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Price & availability

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus is $499 from SharkNinja U.S. and £499 from Amazon U.K.. Although this looks like an objectively large amount of money, I can assure you this is actually reasonable for an espresso machine with a built-in grinder.

Ninja also makes the Luxe Cafe Mini ($459). The Mini doesn’t have automatic milk frothing. On the Luxe Cafe lineup is the Luxe Cafe Pro ($749), Luxe Cafe Premier ($599), and then you’ve got the eye-watering AutoBarista Pro ($949).

The cheapest setup I’d recommend is the Casabrews 3700 Essential ($129) and the Timemore C2s Chestnut ($60), which works out to $189. However, this is a hand grinder, so it might not be best for those who have no desire to spend ten minutes turning a crank (me included — I make my boyfriend grind my beans).

When you get into bean-to-cups, the price increases dramatically. You’ve got the Casabrews Marenza ($349), the cheapest bean-to-cup I’ve ever reviewed, but there’s a catch — the grinder hopper smashed after the second use, so I wouldn’t recommend it for longevity.

You’ve also got the Breville Barista Express ($699), one of the most iconic bean-to-cups ever made, and the De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo ($699), the best-value bean-to-cup I’ve reviewed. The Luxe Cafe Mini Plus undercuts both by some margin.

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Design

Just like the Ninja AutoBarista Pro I reviewed last month, the Luxe Cafe Mini is effectively a big plastic square. The machine gets the job done, but I don’t think it’s as pretty as the Breville Barista Express, De’Longhi Arte Evo, Lelit Mara X3, or the Fellow Espresso Series 1.

Of course, though, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and you may totally disagree. That’s fine! Ninja knows what works, obviously; it wouldn’t keep releasing espresso machines with the same functional aesthetic otherwise. It must work.

What separates the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus from the Luxe Cafe Pro or AutoBarista Pro is pretty obvious — its size. The Luxe Cafe Mini is 3 inches narrower, half an inch slimmer, and 1 inch lower than the Luxe Cafe Pro. I’d recommend it for small spaces any day.

There’s an LCD screen on the front of the machine: you can see your grind size and coffee settings here. It’s easy to change said settings: just twist the knob and press the buttons. They’re all labeled, and it’s practically impossible to go wrong here.

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Espresso

As this is a bean-to-cup, I’ll discuss grinder and espresso here. I’ll go through milk performance later. The grinder operates at 71 dB, which is around the same volume as a running shower or a flushing toilet. As it only grinds for a few seconds, I’d say this is pretty quiet, all things considered.

Grinder

Unfortunately, you can’t set the grinder to whatever step you please. As the machine recommends you a grind setting, you can’t just go rogue and do what you want. As a result, I was only able to do a portion of my “normal” grinder testing. Obviously, if you’re making “drip”, the machine will suggest a much coarser grind size.

You get a dosing collar that slots into the grinder mechanism to prevent mess, too.

Normally, I would go through every fineness: Turkish all the way to cold brew. Here, though, I was only able to test the espresso-fine 12-step.

Here’s my standard uniformity testing. I’m looking for big jumps here: I want 0% to 90%. This proves the grinder is uniform, as all the grounds are the same size.

I would have liked to do more testing — but as I said, the machine only lets you grind on its recommended size!

As you can see, the grinder isn’t overly uniform. However, dialing in is super easy, as the machine does everything for you. No weighing or dosing or adjusting the grind. The machine takes care of all that headache.

Espresso

The Ninja’s espresso tastes fine. It’s not delicious, but it’s not disgusting, either. If you’re the kind of person who puts syrups or flavoring in your coffee, you probably won’t notice the taste flavor at all — but isn’t that kind of the point? The espresso tastes like coffee. Not massively nuanced or bright coffee, but coffee. It tastes like Starbucks.

As you can see, the shot is a nice caramel color with a layer of crema. The crema isn’t as creamy as I’d like, but it still tasted good. There was no nuance or complexity to the shot: it tasted like chain coffee. However, this is still good enough for most people — and without the dialing-in headache. It brewed 34g of coffee in 26 seconds.

I will note that the portafilter is tiny — just 53 mm. This means you likely won’t be able to get much aftermarket stuff in terms of accessories, but, again, I’m not sure that’s who this machine is aimed at. You do, however, get a dosing collar and a spring-loaded tamper as standard.

As I mentioned earlier, while the grinder isn’t “technically” perfect in the same way you’d expect from a standalone grinder, it’s fine for casual coffee drinkers who prioritize ease of use over coffee snobbery.

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Milk

The Luxe Cafe Mini has two milk steaming modes: automatic and manual. You can choose from three levels of foam: low, medium, and high. Weirdly, the “medium” foam level is more like a cappuccino. It took 1 minute 49 seconds to heat a jug of milk to drinking temperature, which is longer than the Breville Bambino Plus’s auto milk frothing time.

Manual milk steaming works the same as any other espresso machine. I was surprised to see the Luxe Cafe Mini Plus has a super strong steam wand — much stronger than Casabrews alternatives I’ve tested. It’s around the same strength as a De’Longhi Arte Evo.

Here’s a photo of automatically frothed milk.

As you can see, the texture is okay. It’s not perfect, but it’s soft enough to achieve some latte art. There was a disconnect between the milk and froth, which resulted in a dodgy pour. I’d recommend serious home baristas foam their own milk, but newbies might find this super helpful.

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Storage & maintenance

As the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus is, well, mini, it’s a better option for smaller spaces. Although it’s not as small as a standalone espresso machine, it’s smaller than alternative bean-to-cups. Let’s get our comparison caps on! N.B.: the last model, Breville Bambino, is a standalone espresso machine. This is just for a baseline comparison as the Bambino is the small machine of choice for many. I’m aware they serve slightly different audiences.

As you can see, the Luxe Cafe Mini is considerably lighter than the other bean-to-cups. It’s also shorter and slimmer than all the others, but the De’Longhi Arte Evo is narrower.

I have no qualms about recommending the Luxe Cafe Mini to those who need a smaller espresso machine but don’t want to sacrifice a built-in grinder.

In terms of longevity, Ninja offers a 2-year warranty, which is the same as Breville and De’Longhi, so pretty standard. As the machine doesn’t come with cleaning products, you’d need to get backflush tablets and descaler yourself. These are $34 for a 4-month supply directly from Ninja. It does come with a water filter, though, which is nice!

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Verdict

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus is a fantastic first espresso machine. I won’t impress coffee snobs, but it will hit the spot if you value ease of use, simplicity, and consistency. The automatic dial-in process is perhaps the best thing for newbies. No stressing over why no coffee came out or why your coffee tastes like sour bean water. You do get a decent shot of espresso every time.

No, there’s no nuance of complexity in the shot. I use the same beans for all my testing, and they tasted like Starbucks rather than the snobby shop down the road. But is that a bad thing? Starbucks is popular for a reason. People love coffee that tastes like coffee. I personally wouldn’t get this machine, but I’m a coffee snob. Take what I say with a pinch of salt.

If you’re reading this and nodding along, you’re definitely the target audience for the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus. It helps you make consistent espresso and milk. Coffee lovers looking for a one-ticket route to consistently great coffee? Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus.

Enjoying the summer? If you're hosting guests at an upcoming cookout or pool party, you'll want to make sure your living space is in good shape. Luckily, Home Depot is offering up to 50% off just about everything you need for a luxurious home refresh.

You can currently get up to 30% off power tools, and these savings on ACs and fans are essentials to keep cool. Want a new furniture set to add a place to chat and eat? There's up to 50% off select patio furniture too.

Alternatively, if you need to decorate your college dorm, Home Depot has tons of stylish college dorm finds.

I'm sharing the best Home Depot deals this weekend, so keep scrolling to check them out. For more, see our Home Depot promo codes coverage.

Quick Links (The Home Depot)

• shop all Home Depot deals
• Bathroom upgrades: up to 40% off
• Smart home: up to 40% off
• Patio furniture: up to 50% off
• Outdoor grills: deals from $99

Quick Links (Other Retailers)

• YETI: deals from $17 @ Amazon
• Adidas: deals from $6 @ Amazon
• Amazon: up to 50% off Sony, Blink, Apple
• Skechers: deals from $16 @ Amazon
• REI: 50% off Arc'teryx, Patagonia, more @ REI
• Crate & Barrel: up to 60% off home decor
• Ninja: appliances from $69 @ Amazon
• Nectar mattresses: up to 50% off @ Nectar
• We Made Too Much: top picks from $9 @ Lululemon

Editor's Choice

Outdoor decor

Outdoor cooking

Fans and ACs

Dorm room

Summer is when jade plants either thrive or struggle. The intense heat, longer days, and seasonal changes stress plants differently than other times of year. If your jade is suddenly dropping leaves, the cause is likely tied to summer conditions.

Jade plants are resilient succulents that can live for decades, but they communicate distress through leaf drop. Once you identify what's wrong, the fix is usually simple.

Here's how to diagnose the problem and get your jade back to healthy growth before fall arrives.

More from Tom's Guide

• Yellow Monstera leaves signal stress — here’s how to save your plant and bring back the green
• My tomato plants were dropping flowers — then I tried this 2-second pollination hack

I've always found growing tomatoes tricky. Every year, I make a new attempt, but the results are inconsistent. One year, I'll get a few worthy of a salad, the next it'll be a total fail.

And as I sat out in my yard recently, I stared at this year's yield – tomato plants that had stopped growing entirely. So, I did what I love to do and headed online to social media to see if I could find an answer.

Fortunately, tomato growing hacks are never hard to find, from using this common kitchen scrap for zero-waste gardening to trying out an ingenious tomato-watering trick, but this time I was looking for something that would switch up my tomato growing game altogether.

Then, I found a TikTok that told me I've actually been doing it all wrong. It turns out we should all be planting our tomato plants horizontally. It might sound crazy, but it's actually a stroke of genius. Here's how it works.

How does it work?

I'm a sucker for TikTok creator, @creative_explained's videos and I'm not the only one. With over 7.5m followers, he's known for consistently sharing quick home and garden hacks with an enthusiasm that's infectious. I should know; I've been using his money-saving hack for giving my plants a boost this year, and I've been shocked by the results.

But it's this tomato planting hack that caught my attention this time. As he demonstrates, you take a tomato plant and strip all the leaves off the stalk, leaving just the top shoot with one leaf.

Then, you dig a trench in your garden bed. After exposing the roots of your tomato plant and breaking apart the soil at the base, lay the entire plant horizontally into the trench.

Bury the entire stalk with soil, leaving just the top shoot and leaf exposed. Raise just this part and hold it vertically with soil.

He explains: "What's going to happen now underneath the soil is that the tomato will grow roots all along its stem.

It'll start to grow new shoots. The stem pretty much transforms into an entire root system." Genius.

Here's what happened when I tried it

I fear I may have found this hack a little late for the tomato growing season, but with hot weather in my area, I figured I could still transplant outside with a totally new tomato plant to hand.

Planting it horizontally was simple enough, even if it did feel like a strange process. I've had success with @creative_explained's hacks before like using potato peel water in my soil, so I'm looking forward to seeing the results. In terms of process, it was easy to do, though I needed to find a space in my garden bed that was long enough to accommodate.

Fortunately, I recently dug up some old rhubarb that was suffering in the heat, so I had the space to try out this horizontal planting trick. Now, I just need to wait until fall to see the results, but it feels good to try out something entirely new for a change. Growing tomatoes is a tricky business, but this might well be the solution I've been desperately searching for.

More from Tom's Guide

• This cheap garden hack will help your roses grow — and all you need is a few old tea bags
• Stop wasting money on tomato feed — here’s how I made my own free fertilizer
• The 3 kitchen scraps I never throw away if I want sweet, ripe tomatoes

July is usually a great month for Alexa hardware deals. However, this year Amazon decided to move its Prime Day to June. As a result, there haven't been many deals on Amazon devices. Until now.

As part of its annual Black Friday in July sale, Best Buy has Amazon devices on sale from $19. The sale includes Fire TV Sticks, Ring security cameras, Echo speakers, and more. Below are some of my top deals, but act fast as this sale is bound to end soon.

Best Buy Amazon Deals

Amazon's Alexa voice assistant suffered an outage today. Starting around 11:30 a.m. Pacific, more than 2,000 reports suddenly hit the outage tracking site DownDetector.

We also saw reports on Reddit with users asking if Alexa is down. My colleagues found delays in Alexa reporting announcements with Ring systems and the Alexa speakers weren't connecting. Some users on Reddit reported that newer Alexa devices were working but that older speakers were the main ones affected.

Sudden spike on Down Detector

Starting around 11:30 am Pacific, a sudden spike of over 2,000 reports suddenly hit the outage tracking site on Down Detector.

Most users just reported it was down but a couple said that their Amazon speakers weren't working.

"No response to voice commands, lots of blue lights. affecting all 3 of my smart speakers," one person wrote.

Relay between Ring and Alexa is down

My colleague John Velasco confirmed that he is getting a delay on announcements from his Ring cameras to Alexa.

"My Alexa speakers don't announce people when my Ring cameras detect them," he said.

He had a minute delay he said.

Reports dive but Alexa.com is down

On DownDetector reports have taken a nose dive with people reporting things back up.

However, I've found that Alexa.com is currently inaccessible. Is it down for you?

Multiple reports on Alexa subreddit

On the Alexa subreddit, I've seen multiple reports from Alexa users saying that the platform is down.

"My Alexa platform is unresponsive and the app interface isn't working on either my iPhone or iPad. I have performed basic troubleshooting (cold boot device and iPhone) but still unresponsive. I can ask Alexa to turn on the lights and the device lights indicate that it hears me but does not perform the task. I can also ask about the weather. Same result. Light on device acknowledging being spoken to but nothing is done. is anyone," said one post.

I have seen some people saying that the outage is only affecting their older devices but not the newer ones.

A blip

Well, it appears the outage is over. Lasting just about an hour, it's not clear what caused the Alexa platform to glitch today.

However, reports on DownDetector are at nearly zero and the systems we have access to have started to receive normal announcements.

The Best Buy Black Friday in July sale is slated to run through this weekend. While there are plenty of great deals you can still get, surprisingly some of my favorite deals are on Amazon products.

For example, right now you can get the Ring Video Doorbell (Battery) with Indoor Cam for $74 at Best Buy. That's a whopping $75 off and one of the lowest prices I've seen for this bundle. It includes the latest Ring Video Doorbell, which we ranked as one of the best value options due to its expansive view and sharp 1080p HD video capture. You also get the wireless Ring Stick Up Cam Battery which you can place virtually anywhere inside your home.

The latest Ring Video Doorbell allows you to see, hear, and speak to anyone from the Ring app that you can simply download on your phone, computer, or tablet. It offers 2K resolution with wide-angle video and up to a 6x zoom when you need to close in on details. You'll receive notifications when anyone presses your doorbell or triggers your built-in motion sensors.

Meanwhile, the Stick Up Cam is a versatile camera that can go almost anywhere in your home. You can place it on a flat surface in your home or even mount it on your wall for a broader view. The device allows you to always be connected to your home and see what's going on or check up on pets, whether you're at work or on vacation.

With many people planning summer vacations, this Ring bundle will let you monitor your home while saving you a few bucks in the process.

Time is running out to grab your cut of Amazon’s massive $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

If you accidentally ended up paying for a Prime membership or struggled to cancel one, you could be owed up to $51, but the deadline to submit a claim is fast approaching on Monday, July 27.

The payout stems from an FTC lawsuit alleging Amazon used deceptive design tactics to trick customers into signing up for Prime subscriptions and intentionally made the cancellation process confusing.

While Amazon paid $1 billion in civil penalties, the remaining $1.5 billion was earmarked directly for affected consumers.

Automatic refunds were disbursed to the first wave of users late last year, but millions of additional shoppers are eligible for the second payout phase, provided they act before the deadline.

Who qualifies for a refund?

You don't need to currently hold an active Prime account to file a claim, but you must meet all four of the following criteria:

• You must be a U.S. consumer.
  
• You enrolled in Amazon Prime between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2025 through a challenged checkout page, OR attempted to cancel during that period and were unable to do so.
  
• You used fewer than 10 Prime benefits (such as streaming Prime Video, using free shipping, or Prime Reading) during any 12-month period of your enrollment.
  
• You did not already receive an automatic refund during Phase 1 (which was paid out in late 2025 to ultra-low usage customers who used 3 or fewer benefits).
  
• If you used between 4 and 9 Prime benefits, you were not eligible for the automatic Phase 1 payment — meaning you must manually file a claim before the July 27 deadline to receive your payout.

How to file your claim

Filing takes less than five minutes online through the official administrator at SubscriptionMembershipSettlement.com.

First, check your inbox for a message sent from subscriptionmembershipsettlement.com in January, which contains a unique Claim ID and PIN to expedite the process.

If you can't find that notice, simply select the option stating "I DO NOT have a Claim ID and PIN" on the homepage to manually enter your name, address, and Amazon account details.

You can choose to receive your payout via direct deposit, PayPal, Venmo, or check. Once the July 27 filing window closes, Amazon will review all submitted claims, with approved payouts expected to be disbursed in late 2026.

More from Tom's Guide

• Amazon's $1.5 billion Prime settlement explained — your most common questions answered
• Amazon has a hidden button that connects you with a real customer service agent — here's where to find it
• Apple is paying $250 million to iPhone customers over delayed AI features — here's how to get your share

If there is one gardening chore that always feels like a losing battle, it’s dealing with those pesky weeds.

Whether they’re taking over my lawn and paved patio or surfacing between the gravel in my front yard — they seem to be everywhere and completely ruin the look of my outdoor space.

And while I’ve tried everything from commercial weed killers to homemade natural hacks, experts all agree that nothing beats pulling the taproot up by hand or with the right weeding tool.

Although there are various specialty tools like Grampa’s Weeder to spare your back from the strain, you don’t always need to splash out on new gear. I’ve just stumbled across one clever alternative that handles the hard work for you, and it’s likely already sitting in your toolkit or among your leftover decorating supplies.

Here’s why your painter’s tool could be a game-changer in the backyard.

How to use a painters tool to remove weeds

It turns out that your painter’s scraper or 5-in-1 tool can do so much more than just remove wallpaper. Experts have suggested it as an effective tool for getting into awkward spots to tackle weeds, especially in the tiniest of cracks.

Simply use the pointed end of this tool to get into those tight spots. In fact, the sharp edges are perfect for reaching into tiny crevices in patio pavers or driveways to pull out those persistent garden intruders.

In addition, this versatile multi-tool is great for clearing away thick moss, digging out deep-seated roots, or even cutting through bags of compost and soil. So it’s a win-win.

Whenever you can, using a scraper is much more efficient than the back-breaking task of hand-pulling. But if you prefer the manual method, experts agree you must remove the entire taproot to ensure those persistent weeds don't resurface.

“If you are dealing with weeds with deep taproots, such as thistle or dandelion, you need to remove all of the taproot growth if you do not want them to come back,” states Angelika Zaber, lawn care specialist and gardening expert at Online Turf.

“This can be done by digging out the taproots using hand forks or trowels."

So before you head out to buy expensive weeding gear, you might want to take a look at your existing toolkit or leftover DIY stash for a clever weeding alternative.

More from Tom's Guide

• 7 tips to banish weeds from your lawn that won't harm the grass
• This aluminum foil hack keeps birds away from grass seed — and it actually works
• 5 easy tips to fix bare patches on your lawn this spring

Monsteras are usually the drama-free roommates of the houseplant world, until the morning you walk past yours and spot an undeniably yellow leaf.

Trust me, I know that sudden flash of panic. But after years of keeping these tropical giants happy, I’ve learned a yellow leaf isn't an instant death sentence. It’s just your plant’s version of a check-engine light.

Whether you're dealing with a simple watering mistake or a tricky lighting spot, I’ll help you translate what your Monstera is begging for and get it thriving again.

Frequently asked questions

Should I cut off yellow monstera leaves?

Yes, you should prune them. Once a Monstera leaf has turned fully yellow, it cannot regain its green color because the chlorophyll has broken down. Use sterilized shears to cut the yellow leaf stem near the base so the plant stops wasting valuable energy trying to sustain damaged tissue.

How long does it take for a monstera to recover?

Once you fix the underlying issue, such as adjusting your watering schedule or moving the pot to better lighting, you should expect to see fresh, healthy green growth within two to four weeks during the growing season.

More from Tom's Guide

• Monstera leaves curling? Here's what your plant is trying to tell you
• This tiny pest causes the biggest damage to your plants — here's how to stop thrips
• Houseplants taking over? Here's how to repot a monstera

With temperatures rising, your garden isn't just welcoming fresh blooms — it's also inviting a wave of seasonal pests.

From aphids and ants to pesky mosquitoes, such pests can also be destructive to our plants, lawn, or vegetable beds. Since I prefer not to use chemical-laden products, I’m constantly searching for natural alternatives to discourage infestations and use safely around the home.

In addition to using white vinegar or diatomaceous earth for ant control, I’ve recently discovered another common pantry staple that many gardeners are using in their yards this summer.

It turns out that flour can do much more than just tasty baked treats; it can actually be used as a natural form of pest control.

I asked the experts why this is effective, how to use flour safely in your yard — and what not to do that could inadvertently attract even more pests.

Why is flour good at repelling pests?

According to experts, flour can be used as a quick-fix solution to deter destructive pests like aphids, cabbage worms, and beetles.

Although it doesn’t give off a smell or chemical that insects hate, it actually works as an effective barrier. Once pests try to feed on it, the flour creates a sticky obstruction in their mouthparts and digestive systems — making it harder for them to continue.

“Flour isn't a repellent in the way people usually mean that word,” states Mark Abraham from Duguza Pest Control.

Similar to food-grade diatomaceous earth, the powdery texture of flour can affect soft-bodied pests.

“What it actually does is act as a mechanical barrier," Abraham says. "When you dust it onto leaves, soft-bodied pests like grasshoppers and caterpillars end up with it clogging their mouthparts or gut while they feed. On a sunny day, the dried flour can pull moisture out of smaller insects too.”

And if you’re wondering what type of flour is best, there isn’t any evidence that specialty flours give you better results (except for aphids). Essentially, the trick here is how you apply it in the garden — and using it the right way.

How to use flour in your yard

So what is the best way to use flour in your yard (without making an unsightly mess). One method is to lightly ‘dust’ the flour on the underside of leaves.

“Dust it on thin and even, straight onto the leaves that are getting hit,” adds Abraham.

“Early morning tends to work best, since a bit of dew helps the flour cling without turning gluey. After rain, you'll want to reapply, and don't let it sit for more than a day or two before rinsing it off.”

If you have an aphid infestation on your hands, experts suggest making up a spray solution ot tackle plants.

“Mix two cups of white flour with five liters of water and then put it in a spray bottle, advises Chrissie Handley, lawn care specialist at Online Turf.

“The mixture can then be used to spray the underside of leaves of plants affected by aphids; it dries and crusts on the bottom of the leaf, trapping the aphids.

"General-purpose white wheat flour is usually the better choice for tackling aphids, as the high amount of starch makes a better, stickier crust to trap the aphids with.”

In addition, flour can also be spread on any ant trails in your garden or home, disrupting their scent trails.

“You may even want to mix some chilli powder into it; if they try to walk through the flour, the chilli will stay on their bodies and deter them.”

And if you want to know exactly why pests hate this spice, check why gardeners are urged to sprinkle chilli powder in the yard this summer.

One thing to bear in mind

Although this quick-fix pest repellent is handy, be mindful not to over-use it. This is because frequent use risks inviting rodents like mice into your garden, so always ensure you are using it with caution.

Ultimately, if you encounter a significant infestation of insects or rodents, the most effective course of action is to consult with a certified pest control professional to safeguard your yard over the long term.

"While it (flour) may initially be an effective solution for a bit, oftentimes the critters get used to it eventually and continue to enter your garden anyway,” advises Jason Burkhart, Managing Director at Critter Control.

“Additionally, flour may actually attract other critters, like mice, who tend to enjoy eating flour, to your garden, which further exacerbates your critter issue.”

So bear this in mind before you start sprinkling flour all over your yard – and potentially cause another pest issue.

More from Tom's Guide

• How do I know what kind of ants I have in my home and why it matters? I ask the pest experts
• Pest experts warn you should never squash ants in your home — here’s why
• 5 steps to stop carpenter ants before they infest your home

Summer has arrived, and I’m already planning my favorite activities — from scenic park picnics and road trips to various outdoor excursions. And there’s no doubt that having one of the best coolers is ideal to keep all your beverages and snacks chilled and refreshing.

The trouble I find is that most of them are either bulky and cumbersome (read: boring-looking), or simply too expensive. Plus, I needed something compact that wasn't too heavy to carry around, only for a few essential items.

That’s why this new IKEA SOLUPPGÅNG Cooler basket instantly caught my attention. Made from a bamboo design, this basket is not only sleek and lightweight to carry but does a good job of disguising the fact that it’s actually a cooler.

What’s more, this limited-edition essential is a steal at just $40, and I’d say it’s a worthwhile investment for the summer.

So if you’re looking to spruce up your outings or need a budget-friendly way to chill your drinks, here’s why I’ll be grabbing this cooler basket today.

Why the new IKEA Cooler will be my summer go-to

Perhaps one of the key selling points for me is that this IKEA find resembles a chic picnic basket rather than a typical, clunky cooler. But unlike most baskets, this is lightweight to carry around, thanks to a sturdy, solid bamboo handle.

It also has a four-gallon capacity, which is adequate to keep a few large bottles and tasty snacks chilled for the afternoon. The cooler also features a dedicated insulating liner, while individual sections ensure that your snacks, drinks, and cooling elements are all separated.

Another feature I love is the detachable bamboo lid, which only adds to the basket’s overall chic aesthetic.

What’s more, it’s compact enough for car travel or storing in tight spots — plus its attractive design does a great job of disguising its true purpose. Not bad for just $40, which won’t break the bank.

Be it going on beach trips or park music festivals, I’ll certainly be making the most of this cooler this summer.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve just found 12 IKEA storage ideas that are perfect for my tiny entryway — all under $20
• I just found this clever IKEA hack that turns a classic storage staple into a stylish coffee bar
• 5 IKEA outdoor essentials for your yard this summer that are so underrated

Arlo has long been a major player in the world of smart security cameras and for good reason. Its cameras have always offered high-quality footage, sleek designs, and advanced features. But over the past few years, we’ve seen more and more low-cost models with similar advanced features — something that has led to the Arlo Essential line, including the Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera 2K.

The new model is part of the third generation of Arlo Essential cameras, and offers pan/tilt functionality, a 2K resolution, AI descriptions, and more, at a pretty reasonable price. Is Arlo successfully taking on the budget players, or should you stick with something else?

Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera 2K Review: Price and availability

The regular price for the Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor 2K camera is $49, but it's frequently on sale. For example, at the time of this writing, it was discounted to $34.99 at Arlo.com. The camera can be widely found at most online retailers.

Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera 2K Review: Design and installation

The Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera doesn’t break any boundaries when it comes to design, but it still looks nice enough. Like most of Arlo’s lineup, it has a white matte plastic body, with a black face. It’s not the most premium-looking camera, and it doesn’t feel as durable as Arlo’s higher-end models, but it still looks and feels perfectly fine.

Its design is kind of split into two parts. There’s a base, which can rotate around as needed for panning. Above that, there’s a bracket holding the camera itself in place – and on the bracket, the camera can tilt up or down. On the back of the base of the camera can be found a USB-C port, which is how the camera is powered. There’s no battery in the camera – you’ll have to keep it plugged in at all times.

The Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera is designed to be easy to set up. You can place it on a table or another surface, but it also comes with a bracket to mount the camera to a ceiling. I opted to simply place the camera on a flat surface.

Once you’ve positioned the camera how you want, all you have to do is plug it in and it should turn on. Then, download the app and sign in to your account or create a new one. When you go to add the camera, it should detect it automatically and allow you to connect it to your Wi-Fi network. The setup process took around five minutes, including installing a firmware update that was available.

Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera 2K Review: Image and audio performance

Generally speaking, footage captured by the camera looks quite good. For starters, it’s decently crisp and detailed. The 2K resolution genuinely helps. I have tested plenty of 1080p cameras and could notice the difference between this camera and those models.

The wide field-of-view, which sits in at 130 degrees, allows the camera to capture most of a room. Theoretically, it can capture most of a backyard when pointed out of a window, however it’s not really built for this purpose (the company makes the Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Outdoor camera for that), and the infrared lights will reflect on the glass in low-light environments, making for footage that doesn’t really show anything beyond the window itself.

The camera has subject-tracking, and it seemed to work well during testing. Decent subject-tracking is one of the biggest advantages to cameras with pan/tilt functionality, as it means that you’ll still be able to track suspicious activity even when a subject would otherwise be out of view.

One of the trade-offs you get by buying this camera over some of the others is the lack of HDR, which can have an impact depending on how you use the camera. For example, it struggled to capture both darker indoor environments and brighter scenes through the window on a bright day, at the same time.

Another trade-off is the lack of a spotlight. This means that you’re stuck with infrared-based night recording, rather than color night footage of any kind. I did find that night footage was reasonably crisp, but without a spotlight to illuminate a scene you will miss out on some details that could be important. That said, depending on the power of a spotlight, infrared is often better at capturing far-away details.

The camera supports two-way audio, and it worked pretty well. Arlo says that the camera has “noise-canceling 2-way audio,” which supposedly lets it detect and play audio more cleanly. In a two-way audio setup, I was able to hear someone in front of the camera, through my phone, quite well, and while I did have to ask them to speak up, the camera’s microphones and audio processing made for a sightly better audio experience than the Wyze Cam Pan v4 that I tested at the same time.

That said, the speaker built into the camera wasn’t as good, and made my voice sound tinier. That’s not a huge deal though – my voice was still easy to hear through the camera’s speaker.

Overall, the Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera 2K offers crisp and detailed video. Only one problem – the Wyze Cam Pan v4 exists, and it costs only $10 extra. I happened to be reviewing the two at the same time, and found that while there are areas in which Arlo does slightly better, like in picking up audio and having a wider lens, the Wyze Cam Pan v4 generally captured far better footage, both in resolution (it’s a 4K camera), and in color accuracy. That’s not to mention the fact that the Wyze camera has a spotlight for color night recording.

Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera 2K Review: App and smart home support

The Arlo app is generally well-designed and easy to use, and if you use multiple Arlo cameras, you’ll be able to manage them all easily. The app is split up into five different tabs. The main screen is the Dashboard tab, which shows thumbnails for all of your Arlo cameras and lets you arm and disarm your security system as a whole (or at least all the Arlo products in your system).

The other tabs include the Feed (which shows footage in chronological order), an Emergency tab (for getting in touch with emergency services and activating sirens), a Devices tab (to manage your devices), and a Routines tab (to set up automations).

From the Dashboard and Devices tabs, you can tap on a camera to access a live feed of what the camera sees and tweak its settings. This is where you can do things like enter two-way audio mode and control the pan/tilt settings of the camera.

Controlling the positioning of the camera is relatively easy, and you can set a “home” point, which is where the camera will return to after it either automatically tracks a subject, or you manually move its position. You can also set additional positions, which will allow you to set the camera’s position easily without having to manually move the camera.

AI features

Some of the smart features included in the subscription worked well too. You’ll get what are now common features, like person detection, animal detection, package detection, and so on. Obviously, you’re unlikely to use a camera like this for package detection, but the camera did a pretty good job at telling me that a person was detected instead of just that “motion” was detected.

The object-recognition tech goes a step further too – using generative AI to provide a short text summary of what was captured alongside events. I was pleasantly surprised with how well this worked. Here’s an example of the kinds of summaries it produced:

“A person is holding a camera and walking towards the camera. The person is wearing a blue shirt. The scene is a backyard with a wooden fence, a lawn, and some patio furniture. There are also some toys on a table in the foreground, including a pineapple-shaped container and a purple bottle.”

For reference, in the clip recorded I was carrying my camera in my backyard as I was taking photos of a speaker for a review. The other details were almost entirely correct – with the only incorrect detail being that the pineapple “container” (a small kids bubble machine) and purple bottle were actually on a Traeger smoker, instead of a table – but there was no way for the camera to possibly know this, as the smoker was directly in front of the window the camera was pointed out of, and only the top of it, with its cover on, was visible.

And, after all, objects were placed on top of it as if it were a table. When I moved the camera to the driveway instead of the backyard, the camera even identified my car make and model correctly in some descriptions.

The Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera 2K works with Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, and Samsung SmartThings. The main smart home ecosystem it doesn’t support is HomeKit – so if you’re looking for a HomeKit camera, you’ll need to keep looking.

Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera 2K Review: Video storage and subscriptions

The Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera 2K doesn’t have local recording, and unfortunately, it doesn’t work with any of Arlo’s base stations or hubs, so you can’t record locally at all. Instead, you’ll need to subscribe to one of Arlo’s cloud storage plans, called Arlo Secure.

Arlo Secure gets you a 60-day video history, but it also offers other features. Notably, you can’t access features like the person recognition, or the audio recognition features, without it. If you go for the highest-tier subscription, you’ll also get 24/7 emergency response and professional monitoring.

Here’s a rundown of pricing for Arlo Secure. Arlo Secure Plus costs $9.99 per month or $95.88 per year for one camera, or $19.99 per month or $215.88 per year for unlimited cameras. Arlo Secure Premium (which includes professional monitoring) costs $29.99 per month or $299.88 per year, and supports unlimited cameras. There’s no single-camera Arlo Secure Premium option.

Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera 2K Review: Verdict

The Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera 2K is an excellent pan/tilt camera, with a solid app, at a great price. It represents a continuation by Arlo to offer affordable alternatives to its higher-end models – and if you’re in the Arlo ecosystem already, then it’s easily worth considering for those who want an indoor pan/tilt camera. That’s especially true for those who have an Arlo Secure subscription.

But if you’re not already in the ecosystem, then another option might be better for your needs. The Wyze Cam Pan v4 in particular is a better option than the Arlo model, at least when it comes to the basics. It costs only $10 extra, has a 4K camera instead of a 2K one, has similar AI-powered object recognition and tracking features, and even has a microSD card slot for local recording.

The higher resolution genuinely makes a difference, and in general, you’ll get more detailed and accurate images from the Wyze model. The only thing to consider is the fact that while the Wyze model has AI-generated descriptions, they’re locked behind Wyze’s most expensive subscription, which costs $19.99 per month, while Arlo offers it in its Plus plan for $9.99 per month.

Similarly, the Eufy Cam S350 is another pan-and-tilt camera that delivers 4K video, local storage, and even better, gives you AI summaries for free.

Ultimately, if you already have Arlo cameras, then the Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Camera 2K is a good complement to your system. Otherwise, it's worth looking elsewhere.

Seeing vibrant yellow blossoms drop off your tomato plants without ever setting fruit is easily one of the most frustrating parts of gardening. You’re watering correctly, feeding them on schedule, and the plants look healthy, so why aren't you getting any actual tomatoes?

The issue usually isn't your soil or your fertilizer routine at all. It comes down to a simple, hidden bottleneck inside the flowers themselves that stops fruit from forming. Luckily, there’s a 2-second technique that fixes the problem almost instantly, and all it takes is a quick touch of your fingertips.

Why tomato tapping actually works

In nature, tomatoes rely on bumblebees for buzz pollination, a process where bees vibrate their wings to release heavy, trapped pollen locked inside the flower. When pollinators are scarce or plants are grown in sheltered spots like greenhouses, those flowers drop off unfertilized.

Tapping your plants simply mimics a bee's wing vibrations to break that pollen free and force the plant to set fruit. Timing is everything: tap your plants mid-morning, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when morning dew has dried and pollen is light and dusty.

The process takes seconds, whether you lightly flick the stem behind an open blossom with your index finger or give the plant's wooden stake or metal cage a firm tap to send vibrations down the vine. Repeat your chosen method every two to three days while plants are actively blooming.

What to expect (and how to prepare for a bumper crop)

Within two to three weeks of consistent tapping, instead of bare stems and fallen petals, you'll see full, symmetrical clusters of green fruit swelling all at once.

Because your vines will be carrying significantly more weight than usual, proactive crop management is crucial to keep the plant healthy. Be sure to upgrade your support early by securing main stems to stakes with soft garden twine before branches start to sag.

Heavy beefsteak or cherry clusters can easily snap under their own weight, so cradle large fruit trusses with extra ties fastened directly to the main support. And make sure your stakes or cages are driven deep into the soil so top-heavy plants don't tip over.

More from Tom's Guide

• When to fertilize tomatoes: the 3-step schedule for a bountiful harvest
• Why are my tomato plant leaves turning yellow? 5 steps to save your harvest
• Gardeners swear by this simple tomato plant trick — here's how to save split tomatoes fast

Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month? Well, it is — and what better way to celebrate than by making your own delicious frozen treats? Not only will you effectively have an infinite supply of ice cream, gelato and sorbet on tap, you'll save a fortune in money that would have been spent at the supermarket too.

For this article I've picked out a selection of nine of my favorite ice cream machines from top brands like Cuisinart, Chefman, Dash and more.

All of them are available to buy right now from Amazon, and some of them have money off, too, so you can make even more savings. National Ice Cream Month ends next week, but with your own machine you can enjoy frozen treats whenever the mood takes you.