Projects that change the look and feel of a room usually take a lot of time and cost a lot of money. But a few years ago, I completely transformed my kitchen simply by changing the color of the grout in my tile backsplash. It was pretty simple, cost less than $25, and took about…
No matter how good your blackout curtains are at blocking light, they’ll be hopeless if they don’t cover your window properly. And in fact, you may need bigger curtains than you think. Step one to success is to measure your windows. Even though I tend towards impatience, I’ve come to accept that measuring properly the…
Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Top pick This label maker trades a built-in screen and keyboard for an easy-to-use smartphone app. It’s compact and portable, prints quickly, and automatically cuts labels. And Brother’s design software offers plenty of customization options. Of all the label makers we tested, the Brother P-touch Cube Plus was the machine we reached…
Most how-to guides—and many showerhead manufacturers—recommend wrapping the clean threads on your shower arm with plumber’s tape, also often called Teflon tape or PTFE tape. Two clockwise turns around the threads should be plenty. The tape, in theory, serves two purposes: First, it prevents leaks by filling any gaps in the threads where the arm…
Photo: Marki Williams Though some may not mind the pressure of a weighted blanket in the summer (or simply put away their comforter to solely use the weighted blanket), many find it too hot to use all year-round. Even though all of our favorite weighted blankets are machine washable, you may be nervous to put…
Shopping for your first higher-end, dedicated turntable can be a confusing experience, especially if all your prior music-playing experience comes from an app. On more than one occasion, I’ve seen a friend spend good money on a brand-new turntable and excitedly bring it home to spin their vinyl—only to discover they don’t know how to…
As a sleep expert, I have tried nearly 100 mattresses. None of them have come close to the cushion and support of the Hästens. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter I know from years of mattress testing that comfort is subjective, and no single mattress will work for everyone. That being said, sleeping on the 2000T feels like…
Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter; food styling by Rachel Michael Top pick We loved this ramen’s balance of sweet shallots and a meaty sauce coating thick, bouncy noodles. It was a near-unanimous fave of our testers. Every one of our tasters loved A-Sha’s saucy (soup-free) Meteor Noodles With Danzai Sauce. Many commented on how well the sweetness…
This is the ideal multipurpose tape to use for most moves. When possible—especially if you’re packing up several rooms’ worth of boxes—buy the best-quality tape you can: You’ll need approximately one roll of tape for every 15 to 20 boxes. For most moves, the standard Scotch Tough Grip Moving Packaging Tape is great. You can…
This approach involves sealing the gaps around your window frame (or, more technically, the jamb and casing) with caulk, and then using weatherstripping to cover any gaps around the window itself (if you need to). “The typical window assembly in an American home isn’t completely airtight,” Hatherly said. Air can leak through the gaps between…