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Tag: household

  • Your Bedding Might Need to Be Replaced Sooner Than You Think

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    As foreboding as it sounds, nothing lasts forever—not even your mattress, sheets, and pillows. It’s essential to know how often to replace your mattress and bedding, not just for hygiene reasons, but for ensuring you’re getting optimal support and comfort to aid in sleep. I have seen some severe cases of people using wildly outdated or damaged mattresses (think 20 years or more, or covered in duct tape), and pillows so shredded into tatters that it makes you wonder how they even resembled pillows in the first place.

    Please don’t do this. I beg of you! Not only because I’m a professional mattress tester and certified sleep science coach, but also because I can tell you confidently that this is not helping your sleep.

    Let’s break down the lifespan of key items in your bedroom, so that when they break down, you’re expecting it. In terms of replacements, not to worry, as we have got you covered there too. From pillows and cooling sheets to the best mattresses, we’ve tested it all.

    Table of Contents

    When to Replace Your Mattress

    • Photograph: Julia Forbes

    • Photograph: Julia Forbes

    • Photograph: Julia Forbes

    • Photograph: Julia Forbes

    Tiami

    Luxury Hybrid Mattress

    You’ve probably heard this statistic before: You spend a third of your life asleep on your bed. That alone justifies the cost of a quality bed built to support you and your needs. But with nightly use inevitably comes the breakdown of materials. Think of car mileage stacking up with every drive—sleeping on a mattress isn’t too far off. The rate of deterioration will depend on factors like how many sleepers are using the bed, their respective body types, the mattress materials themselves, the surrounding bedroom temperature, and the bed frame you’re using.

    Your mattress has to hold up sleepers with consistent support, and the frame needs to hold up the mattress so it can do its job. Over time, sagging can happen along the edges of the mattress or even in the middle of the bed if there’s not enough support.

    This is also where the type of mattress you have comes into play. All-foam mattresses will deteriorate a lot faster than hybrid mattresses, as the interior coils of a hybrid maintain structural integrity. So when you see reinforced coils for edge support, it’s not just about keeping you supported while you sit and lie at the edge; it’s also a means of preventing edges from sagging over time.

    You can expect that a new mattress will last you anywhere from eight to 10 years. If you see any premature sagging, cracking, or issues with materials before then, that is a sign of a defective product, and it would be a good idea to check your warranty.

    What About Mattress Toppers?

    Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper, a white pad strapped to the corner of a mattress sitting on a thin metal frame

    Photograph: Kat Merck

    Saatva

    Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper

    Mattress toppers are great because they give your mattress some extra support and can extend its life. They’re not infallible, though—if you’re using a topper to beef up an already past-its-prime mattress and the topper starts to lose steam, the jig is up. Since toppers are usually just a slab of foam (sometimes, microcoils), they’re going to compress rather quickly. Again, depending on your build and usage of the topper, you’re looking at anywhere from three to five years—maybe a smidge more depending on the thickness and density of the foam used. And, depending on the setting you were using your topper in (like, in a college dorm), you may want to consider retiring it immediately afterward.

    When to Replace Your Pillows

    Image may contain: Cushion, Home Decor, and Pillow

    Photograph: Nena Farrell

    Coop Sleep Goods

    Original Adjustable Cutout Pillow

    Finding a comfy pillow is tricky business—one could argue even more so than a mattress. Unfortunately, they have a much shorter lifespan than mattresses. Depending once again on a pillow’s fill, two years is usually the max. Some pillow life spans may even be shorter than that, so you’ll just have to keep an eye on its appearance when you regularly wash it (that wasn’t a suggestion by the way, more like an order). Your pillow soaks up body fluids like drool and sweat, which can easily turn into yellow stains (not to mention smells) without proper cleaning and maintenance. The fill can also easily bunch up over time, especially with fillings like shredded latex and foam. The easiest telltale sign that it’s time for your pillow to go, though, is neck pain. As soon as you sense your pillow is becoming your cervical alignment’s downfall, it’s time for it to go.

    When to Replace Your Sheets

    • Courtesy of Cozy Earth

    • Photograph: Nena Farrell

    Cozy Earth

    Bamboo Sheet Set

    Sheets can be a little more slippery (and not just because of the material) when it comes to gauging how long they’ll last. And by sheets, I mean a fitted sheet, top sheet, and pillowcases—your standard sheet set. If you have a go-to set that you use and wash weekly, two to three years of use is a reasonable estimate based on how well the material holds up. The life of your sheet set can be even longer with certain weaves and materials, and by following washing and care instructions precisely as directed.

    For example, my bamboo sateen Cozy Earth sheets have held up well past the three-year mark. I credit the strength of the bamboo viscose and sateen weave, and following the washing instructions with care, for this long-lasting result. Plus, if you’re spending a mint on some nice sheets, I strongly encourage you to treat them like they’re made of butterfly wings and unicorn hair anyway.

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    Julia Forbes

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  • Modular Sofas Are the Best. You Can’t Change My Mind

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    A sofa is one of the biggest investments you can make in home decor, and the last thing you want is to make the wrong choice. A good couch will be with you for a decade, and it should not only be comfortable and look great, it should also have the versatility to adapt to your needs in new spaces and seasons of your life.

    You should consider a modular sofa. That’s the kind that comes in individual pieces you can pull apart, put back together, and rearrange to suit whatever you fancy. Usually, you can change the color of the cover without buying a whole new couch. And when moving day comes, you won’t need a team of three or four well-built movers to get it out the old door and into the new one.

    I’ve been leading our coverage of the Best Couches for years, and many of us on the WIRED Reviews team have tested more than our fair share of different variations on the living-room seat. Modular couches are the way to go.

    Switch Things Up …

    Courtesy of Castlery

    Castlery

    Auburn Performance Fabric Chaise Sectional Sofa

    If you move or travel frequently, a modular sofa is easy to take apart. No more playing Tetris in the U-Haul, trying to figure out how you’re going to bring your old couch to your new place. And it’s also easy to reconfigure. Say you’re working from home and you get a new desk, and you need the chaise portion of your sofa to face a different direction. You don’t need a new sofa, and you don’t need to entirely rearrange your living room—you can just reconfigure your existing modular couch. Or maybe you get a new coffee table and you don’t like how long your couch is in comparison. Remove a seat. It’s that easy.

    That’s what recently happened to WIRED Reviews team director Martin Cizmar, who bought a new house and found that his new living room is functionally narrower than expected because of a large air register on the floor. Because he had the modular sofa from Koala, he simply removed one of the seats to turn it into an L-shape and put the extra section up in his attic for possible future use.

    Courtesy of Koala

    Koala

    Corner Sectional Sofa

    While there are a lot of standard, rectangular, boxy options, you can also play around with different fabrics and silhouettes. One example is the Castlery Auburn Performance Fabric Chaise Sectional, a modular couch with a fluffy, spill-resistant bouclé fabric and a bubbly, modern silhouette.

    Modular couches can also come in handy if you have unconventional living arrangements. Do you live in a seventh-floor walk-up? A modular sofa comes in many boxes rather than as one gigantic package—you might have more steps to deal with, but you won’t have to fork over extra cash for white-glove delivery, nor will you have to convince your friends to maneuver a sofa up several flights of stairs, cursing at the banister and scraping their knuckles on narrow hallways. No ruined friendships because you said “To your left” and they tilted the whole sofa in the wrong direction. No thrown-out backs or removing doors from hinges. I’ve gotten a few modular sofas delivered to apartments with stairs, and I was able to get them into my apartment by myself. (And, if your stairs be many, you’ll only need to persuade one friend to help you out—not a bunch of them plus a truck.)

    …Again and Again

    Grey sectional couch in L-shape on white background

    Photograph: Lovesac

    Modular sofas offer additional flexibility when it comes to configurations. You can make them an L-shaped sectional, a U-shaped sectional, or a traditional straight line. You can choose deep seats or shallower ones, and there are a ton of different upholstery finishes ranging from durable pet-friendly performance fabric to chenille. You could get a sleeper sofa or one designed for small spaces. Most of them come with removable, machine-washable covers, and some even have extra bells and whistles—like built-in storage or a way to charge your phone. The Lovesac Sactional is fully modular—we’re in the process of giving it a dedicated review—and you can add StealthTech to it, which gives it speakers, a wireless charging pad, and a subwoofer. A home theater in your reconfigurable couch, complete with reclining seats? It’s more likely than you think.

    Modular couches do tend to be more expensive than standard options, but the convenience often outweighs the initial investment cost. For a modular sectional sofa, I find that it’s better to go with, at the bare minimum, a standard three-seater sofa and an extra piece such as a chaise lounge. That way you can move things around, but you won’t be stuck with too many additional seats, and you should still have room for an ottoman or a coffee table. Of course, if you want to go with an oversized eight-seater, you can do that too. There are some truly gargantuan modular options available, like the Cozey Ciello XL. You can even opt for an outdoor sofa, like Outer’s Teak Outdoor Loveseat, which comes with a built-in cover to protect your patio furniture from the elements.

    • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    Outer

    Teak Outdoor Loveseat With Armchairs

    And while they do tend to be expensive, there are still some relatively affordable modular sofa options if you’re on a tighter budget. The Albany Park Kova has been an honorable mention in our buying guide for a couple of years, and it costs the same—or less than—similar couches that aren’t as customizable.

    The long and the short of it is that a modular couch is largely similar to your standard, stuck-in-one-shape couch. You’ll still get a solid warranty. You’ll still get high-quality, high-density memory foam cushions, plush backrests, and comfortable back cushions. You still have the options for solid wood frames and stain-resistant fabric. But at the end of the day, if needed, you can change things up—something that’s only easy to do if you have a modular sofa.

    If you’re in the market for a new couch, we’ve got plenty of recommendations in all shapes, sizes, and styles. You might also be able to visit a local showroom—or simply pester your comfy-couched friends about the brand they chose. (Let me know what it is in the comments!) And if you want the best of the bunch that’ll stand the test of time, you’ll consider a modular sofa.

    Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.

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    Louryn Strampe

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  • We Tried 29 Popular Energy Drinks. Here’s How They Rank

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    15. Bawls Guarana

    Photograph: Amazon

    Bawls Guarana

    Original Flavor (12-Pack)

    Regarded as the first “energy soda” explicitly marketed to gamers, Bawls is a fun throwback to the heady days of StarCraft and LAN parties in the late ’90s. The profile of the unnamed flavor in the iconic blue bottle, which still lines the checkout labyrinth at Micro Center to this day, sits halfway between Sprite and cream soda. A blind taste test would not convince the consumer they’re drinking an energy drink, which may be a good thing if they’re burned out on the more extreme offerings in the gamer fuel space.

    Notes: Guarana is the OG herbal coffee alternative of the modern age. It doesn’t hit quite the same as a shot of espresso, but the sugary kick offered by Bawls is a nice halfway point between a can of Coca-Cola and the cartoonish chemical bombs you’ll find at your local gas station.

    16. Prime

    Neon green aluminum can with bold white letters on the label beside a 12-pack of those same cans

    Photograph: Amazon

    Prime Energy Drink

    Lemon Lime Flavor (24-Pack)

    Pretty close to Red Bull, but with no sugar. Excellent carbonation. Much better than sugar-free Red Bull. Very strong lingering sweetener flavor, like getting a Jolly Rancher stuck in your teeth. The aftertaste was underwhelming, but not a deal-breaker.

    Notes: Very mild energy boost that didn’t hit until about 90 minutes later, at which point I was tapping my foot and rapidly clicking a pen while on a Zoom call. I crashed a couple hours later and found myself zombified by 2 pm.

    17. Wooooo!

    3 pink and yellow aluminum cans

    Photograph: Wooooo Energy

    Wooooo!

    Strawberry Banana (12-Pack)

    Ex-WWE star Ric Flair’s signature “dietary supplement” tastes exactly like it looks: bright and obnoxious, but in an uncommitted way. I can deal with a few calories if they’re put to good use, which is thankfully the case here. The can alleges an “herbal mushroom blend” and 1,500 milligrams of “Cognitive Cap Complex” do the heavy lifting. Like wrestling, that’s probably not real, but it’s still kinda fun and silly.

    Notes: Flair’s snake oil never got me jacked up enough to engage in “Woo Girl” behavior, but I did get a nice little jolt of energy that mellowed out after an hour with no crash to speak of.

    18. Accelerator

    White and pink aluminum can with a peach as part of the label design beside a 12-pack of those same cans

    Photograph: Amazon

    Accelerator

    Peach Paradise (12-Pack)

    Accelerator is an inoffensive and unassuming option for folks who don’t like brand names or flashy cans. The carbonation is adequate, and the peach flavor is juicy but not over the top. It should appeal to the three people left on the planet who still prefer generic gas station peach rings over the vastly superior Haribo option that’s hanging from the next rack.

    Notes: The energy level offered by Accelerator is a tad underwhelming, but it didn’t hurt my brain or put me in a sugar coma, so I’ll chalk that up as a minor win.

    19. Bang

    Blue and white aluminum can beside a 12-pack of those same cans

    Photograph: Amazon

    The crack of the can shocks the senses with a strong whiff of vape juice and gaming. Pop Rocks up front, with a mild hint of Tums on the finish. Blue raspberry is an unholy flavor you’ll never find in nature, but this manages to mask the insane caffeine content with just enough flavor while barely plunging into the netherworld of fake sweeteners replicating flavors that aren’t even real.

    Notes: The buzz provided by Bang is an aggressive wallop of caffeine that’s best microdosed unless you want your body to be on the verge of a heart attack one minute then slumped over in your gaming chair like a heap of dirty laundry the next.

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    Pete Cottell

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  • Get Our Favorite Smart Lock for Just $164 Right Now

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    Is your current smart lock frustrating you endlessly, like mine is? The Yale Approach Smart Lock (8/10, WIRED Review) is currently marked down to just $164 on Amazon, a healthy 32% discount on our editors’ top pick for smart locks. This sale comes at a perfect time, because I was just complaining about the fingerprint reader on mine no longer working.

    • Photograph: Nena Farrell

    • Courtesy of Yale

    The Yale Approach uses part of your existing deadbolt, which is great news for renters who don’t want to make major changes. You’ll also get to use your existing keys to unlock the deadbolt, which can save you a trip to the locksmith. There’s also a wi-fi bridge that needs a nearby plug to provide other services, but that’s not uncommon for smart locks. Our reviewer, Nena Farrell, even said it “works perfectly,” which is great news, because I have to unplug mine and plug it back in at least once a week.

    Approach isn’t just a name, as this smart deadbolt’s standout feature is auto-unlock. By setting up your location in the Yale Access App, you can set the bolt to unlock as your get close to home, which our reviewer said “worked smoothly”, as long as she got far enough away from home for it to recognize her return. There’s an auto-lock, too, using timers from 10 seconds to 30 minutes.

    This version of the Yale Approach includes the touchscreen keypad, which needs its own flat space to either stick or screw to. In exchange, it lets you set codes for yourself or friends, with options for time and access limits if you need to manage entry to your home more carefully. It also gives you an easy button to press to lock the deadbolt as you leave the house, and a biometric fingerprint scanner.

    No matter what smart lock you buy, there’s going to be a little bit of hassle, that just comes with the territory, unfortunately. The Yale smooths out a lot of the worst parts by adapting to your existing hardware, and mostly stays out of the way afterwards. The auto-unlock feature isn’t totally unique to the Approach, but it is currently our favorite implementation. The price is normally a bit on the high side, so the discount here makes this a very appealing pickup for anyone ready to relegate their old front door lock to the garage door, like I’m about to.

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    Brad Bourque

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  • Here’s Everything Dyson Announced for Its 2026 Lineup

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    Dyson has big changes coming. The company just announced its biggest batch of new products yet during IFA Berlin, with new appliances coming to both its floor cleaner and air treatment lines. From the already-announced PencilVac to an AI-powered robot vacuum and reimagined V8 Cyclone stick vacuum, the Dyson family of household appliances is about to get a lot bigger. There’s also a brand-new air purifier to come, plus updates to Dyson’s existing fan and space heater models.

    While all of these items were announced today, only the new air purifier—the HushJet Purifier Compact HJ10, which will retail for $350—will be available in 2025, by the end of this month. Everything else will arrive sometime in 2026, with pricing still a mystery until closer to each product’s release. Here are the details of everything Dyson’s got in store.

    New Classics

    COURTESY OF DYSON

    A lot of new floor care is arriving in 2026 from Dyson. The PencilVac was announced back in May, and there are three more related gadgets coming, plus a revamp of an old favorite. Pricing is still to come, as are the exact dates of when each of these will be available.

    To start with the old, the popular V8 cordless vacuum from 2016 is getting new life 10 years later as the Dyson V8 Cyclone. Dyson says the updated stick vacuum will have 30 percent more suction power with 150 air watts and twice the run time—an hour over the original V8’s 30 minutes. It’ll have a triggerless power button and a self-emptying docking station, which is a feature I love on cordless vacuums. It’s a nice update to a popular vacuum that brings it up to speed with the technology and features we like to see in current stick vacuums.

    The Dyson V16 Piston Animal is a new cordless stick vacuum with Dyson’s latest motor, a cleaner head that can sense the floor type, and a wet roller head. It promises 315 air watts of power and a 70-minute run time. The All Floor Cones Sense cleaner head will detect what type of floor it’s on and adjust the suction and brush bar speed for optimal performance, and it has LED illumination to help spot dust. You’ll also be able to attach the wet roller head, which is an updated version of the Submarine head—named the Submarine 2.0—that works with the Dyson V15 Detect. But I especially like the wipe-clean mechanism that helps get stubborn dust and long hairs out of the vacuum’s bin. There will also be a compatible self-emptying docking station that can be purchased separately (disappointing that it’s not included, and it sounds like the docking station might come after the vacuum’s initial release).

    Cleaning Expanded

    Meet Dysons BrandNew Lineup V8 Cyclone V16 Piston Animal HushJet Purifier Compact

    COURTESY OF DYSON

    Dyson didn’t just announce stick vacuums. There are also a few other interesting related appliances coming to the lineup, but like the rest of the vacuums, pricing and availability timing aren’t available.

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    Nena Farrell

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  • The Best Labor Day Mattress Sales on Our Favorite Models

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    Buffy

    Peeking at some percale sheet sales? WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell really liked the long-staple Supima cotton sheets from Buffy, which are a good contender if you’re looking to stay cool at night. I also love my Buffy Breeze comforter, which is perfect for when the nights start to get a bit cooler and the fall temperatures roll around. The Lyocell material doesn’t make me feel like I’m roasting, yet it maintains a weightier feel than your average blanket. As part of Buffy’s Labor Day sales, you can take 20 percent off the entire site and 30 percent off of bedding sets, no code needed.

    Coop Sleep Goods

    I just kicked off testing pillows from Cool Sleep Goods, but early read: I really, really like them. If you’d like to test together and share your thoughts hypothetically, Labor Day’s a good time to stock up on some serious pillow inventory. Consider this a book club, but we only discuss sleep products—that would actually be my dream. Coop is offering 20 percent off its entire site, PLUS a free silk (!) pillowcase for orders over $150 and 40 percent off clearance (you still get the pillowcase if you spend over $150 here too!).

    • Crescent pillow, not moon: Coop Crescent Pillow for $79 (20 percent off)—No Code Needed

    Slumber Cloud

    If you’re a hot sleeper, I can’t recommend these sheets enough, and they’re on sale right now. They feel like silky bamboo since they’re made with Tencel lyocell, but are added together with a proprietary blend of viscose designed to keep you cool. That blend includes phase change material, or PCM, to absorb heat. It’s added to the sheets as a gel, but even after dozens of uses and washes (as two hot sleepers, my husband and I always grab these sheets when I’m not testing something new!), it’s still holding up great and keeping us cool. Slumber Cloud also makes a cooling pillow that feels like a down alternative if you need more cooling in your bedroom. Both have a discount right now ahead of Labor Day. —Nena Farrell

    The Company Store

    I know it’s still very warm outside for many of us, especially as we hold onto these final dregs of summer. On the other hand, this is the time to plan ahead, which is why The Company Store’s sheet sale is perfect timing for Labor Day. WIRED’s sheets reviewer, Nena Farrell, is a big fan of this brand’s flannel sheets, so if you’re looking forward to cozy autumnal days, now’s the time to grab a set so you’re prepared. If you need some organizational help, the brand’s storage bags can also keep sheets tidy.

    Bedsure

    I’ve sung Bedsure’s cooling sheets‘ praises many times. And now I’m going to do it again: The brand’s temperature-regulating bamboo creates a cool, silky-feeling sleep space, and for how much I use them, they’ve held up very well. The brand’s GentleSoft sheets are already very affordable, but it’s always fun to find an even better deal for them.

    Cozy Earth

    Big, big fan of all things Cozy Earth. From sheets, pajamas, to even the bamboo body pillow, I’m collecting all the products they offer like Pokémon in my free time. The bamboo sheets are my coveted sheet set because they swaddle me in a feeling of cool, glorious silkiness. Sales are not as frequent with Cozy Earth, so it’s go time! Use our code WIRED to get 35 percent off the entire site.

    Keeping it cozy: Cozy Earth bamboo sheet set for $208 (35 Percent Off)–No Code Needed

    Brooklinen

    Even though summer’s coming to a close, depending on where you live, the hot days aren’t over yet. Cooling sheets are a must for many to use year-round, and Brooklinen’s Classic Percale had a nice, crispy feel to them, according to WIRED Reviewer Nena Farrell. And right now, you can get 25 percent off the entire site.

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    Julia Forbes

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  • Keep a Handheld Fan In Your Pocket to Stay Cool Wherever You Go

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    This fan was a great companion during a late summer parade, providing some airflow without much noise. I appreciate that the fan blades are soft, and they stop automatically if they hit something—it’s the type of fan you could hand off to a kid without much worry. It can also stand up on a table, and when folded, easily fits in a small purse or clutch. It comes in pretty pastel colors and has tiny, pointed ears, with a button that looks like some kind of cute creature, though I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be an owl or a cat.

    At only four ounces and with a small lanyard, you could definitely attach this fan to your phone or keychain to always have it at the ready. It has 10 to 17 hours of battery life, depending on which of the two speeds you use. I wish the higher speed was stronger—it helped provide some relief during a parade, but it didn’t totally prevent sweating, like the PlayHot Portable Handheld Turbo Fan. Still, for the price, size, and low noise level, it’s a decent cooling option. The Aecooly fan ($10) is also a small, slim, pocket- or purse-sized option.

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    Kristin Canning

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  • Wipe That Sneeze: How to Clean a TV Screen or Computer Monitor

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    We’ve all been there: You moved your TV or computer monitor with bare hands and got it all greasy, or you splashed a bit of liquid on it in sports- or video-game-fueled excitement. How do you clean your screen? Read our guide below for pro tips.

    Interested in other screen-related information? Be sure to check out our list of the Best TVs, Best OLEDS, Best Cheap TVs, and How To Buy a TV. Interested in computer monitors? We have a guide to the Best Computer Monitors too. As usual, all our latest coverage is on our Televisions page.

    Tools of the Trade

    While older, glass-fronted TVs were easy to clean with any anti-static rag and cleaner, you need to be more careful with modern screens, which aren’t protected.

    Photograph: Parker Hall

    The best method for cleaning off the small amount of dirt, grease, dust, or other muck that has accumulated on your TV? Ditch the solvent and just use a soft, dry microfiber cloth ($26 for 80) to clean the display. Wipe in a circular motion, much like you would when brushing your teeth or cleaning your counters.

    If things are too gunky for a clean rag to pick up, reach for some distilled and deionized water ($17 per gallon), which won’t leave spots or have impurities that can damage your screen. Put a little on the cloth and wipe, following up with a fresh dry rag.

    In a worst-case scenario, you can add a tiny amount of Dawn dish soap ($15 for 112 ounces) to the water (read: add a drop to an entire spray bottle [$8 for 2]) and use that. If you do this, you’ll want to wipe a second time with distilled water, then again with a dry rag to ensure no residue is left behind. Remember: screens aren’t waterproof at the edges, so be sure to go lightly with water if you’re using it.

    It is typically easier to see how dirty your screen is when it is off, so I recommend turning it off or unplugging it when doing a cleaning. Be careful not to press too hard when rubbing, as you can damage your screen.

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    Parker Hall

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  • Quell the Heat With Our Favorite Window Air Conditioners at All Price Points

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    Others We Tested

    EcoFlow Wave 2 for $1,299: Lisa Wood Shapiro tested the newest model for this update. The EcoFlow Wave 1 has cooled down my wife’s office for more than a year just fine—we can’t use a window AC there because it would block the fire escape. Lo and behold, there’s a new version that’s slightly cheaper (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It’s a little lighter than its predecessor at 32 pounds, yet has a higher 5,100 BTU rating (up from 4,000). New here is a heating mode rated at 6,100 BTU, so you can keep using it in the winter to warm up a room. The company says it’s best for rooms up to 107 square feet. You do need to place it near a window to have one of the included ducts connected to the vent to take hot exhaust from the back of the unit out of the room. What makes this unit versatile is how you can power it. You can use a standard AC outlet, but you can buy the version with a battery to keep it working when you don’t have access to power, or you can hook it up to solar panels. —Julian Chokkattu

    Dreo Smart Air Conditioner for $460: The Dreo Smart Air Conditioner not only cools a large bedroom effectively and quickly, it also can be controlled by the app in my iPhone. Along with the Dreo’s easy-to-use app, it can be paired with Amazon Alexa or Google Home. It has an easy-to-read LED display and control panel, along with a magnetized place for the remote, and louvers that open and close, adding to its robotlike aesthetic. The setup was easy, and I didn’t drill in a single screw, as I was able to close the window on the expanders. It’s not entirely clear how I was supposed to snap the hose into the window hole, but I shoved it in and it seems to fit in there. It’s not super airtight, which is fine. One of the issues with portable air conditioners is the single hose. It can create a vacuum in an airtight space; think pressure in your ears like an airplane. And it can create enough negative pressure that the room can potentially suck in hot air from the outside. So, leave the window open a crack. However, we now only recommend dual-hose portables, as they don’t create a vacuum and are more efficient. —Lisa Wood Shapiro

    Zero Breeze Mark II for $999: With its 2,300 BTU, you won’t be able to get the same cooling power as with the EcoFlow Wave, but the Zero Breeze (7/10, WIRED Review) is much lighter at 17 pounds. This bundle includes a battery that will make the whole thing weigh about 30 pounds, but you’ll get four hours of use without needing to be near a wall outlet. Like the EcoFlow, you get a few vent pipes to direct exhaust away and direct cool air to a specific area, but unlike the EcoFlow, you can’t charge the battery and use the AC at the same time. —Julian Chokkattu

    Zero Breeze Mark III for $1,399: As WIRED contributor Chris Null notes (7/10, WIRED Review), the Mark III is both larger than the Mark II and quite a bit heavier, now 22 pounds. Add on the 1,022-Wh battery pack and you’ll pack on another 14 pounds, though that frees you from having to be near a power outlet. New for the Mark III is the fact that batteries can now be stacked and charged in sequence, each daisy-chained to the next (though at $600+ per battery, this can get pricey fast). Each Mark III battery also has extra outputs that can be used for other devices—one USB-C port, one USB-A port, and a 12-volt DC socket. However, the Mark II battery has all of the above plus a second USB-A port. No word on why this was removed. However, it’s a bigger, punchier unit by most standards and a worthwhile buy for outdoors enthusiasts.

    BTU stands for British thermal units. In the case of air conditioners, BTU is a way to measure how much heat the compressor can remove from a room. It’s a quick and easy way to figure out whether an AC unit is powerful enough to cool your space. First, you’ll want to find the square footage of your room by multiplying the length and width. Then, use the US Department of Energy’s guidance on the BTU capacity you need. For example, a 150- to 250-square-foot room needs a 6,000 BTU AC unit or higher for adequate cooling.

    Check the combined energy-efficiency ratio (CEER) rating. The specs on any air conditioner you buy should list a CEER rating, which is one of the best ways of checking the energy efficiency of a unit. You’ll usually see a number between 9 and 15. The higher the number, the less you’ll pay when the electricity bill comes around. A cheap window AC unit might save you money at first, but you may end up shelling out more in the long run. The US Energy Star program has a website that lets you browse AC units based on their CEER ratings.

    Check local laws. Some cities, like New York, require installing brackets to support your window AC. A simple one like this model should do the trick, though we haven’t tried it out. You may also need to head to a hardware store for some plywood to make sure your window sill sits flat, but this depends on the type of windows you have and the AC model you buy. When installing, you should get a friend to help you out. These units can be heavy and difficult to hold, and the last thing you want is to drop one out the window.

    Measure your window. Before you buy, read up on the supported window types and sizes for the AC unit you’re looking at, and measure your window to be safe. Make sure to seal any gaps as best you can with the included foam. (You can always buy more if you need it.)

    Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that’s too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe today.

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    Julian Chokkattu, Lisa Wood Shapiro

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  • Read This Before Buying a Window Air Conditioner

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    As is the case for many people, my home cannot be retrofitted with central air. My 100-plus-year-old Brooklyn apartment, which features prominently in my seven years of air quality reporting for WIRED, relies on window air conditioning units to keep cool on our warming planet. While there is the obvious paradox that air conditioners are players in climate change, AC units are evolving with more environmentally safe refrigerants, eco modes, smart apps, modern design, and energy-efficient consumption.

    That is to say, while I prefer to keep my AC units turned off, on hot days, my top-floor apartment’s temperature will climb to the upper 90s without the support of air conditioning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 700 people die every year in the United States due to extreme heat. The elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with existing medical conditions are especially vulnerable.

    The number one recommendation from the CDC during extreme heat events is to stay inside an air-conditioned location. The World Health Organization warns that while electric fans can move air onto the body to create a sort of wind-chill effect, when it’s 104 degrees Fahrenheit or above, they can actually increase your body temperature. The ideal combination is using air conditioning in concert with fans to move cool air around a space.

    Courtesy of Kat Merck

    Lasko

    20-inch Classic Box Fan

    The inability to cool down one’s body temperature is what can lead to heat stroke and other heat-related health events. Air conditioning saves lives.

    I’ve been writing about air quality for WIRED since 2018, and as climate change wreaks havoc on our environment, I continue to test and review the latest window air conditioning units on the market. There are two types of window units we review: the recognizable metal box units that hang out of a window, and the increasingly popular “portable” units that use hoses—preferably two—that attach to the window. Both types of AC units offer relief from the heat and protect against heat-related illness. If you’re unsure whether you should turn on your air conditioner, you can check the CDC’s HeatRisk Tracker Map.

    Professional Installation Is Worth the Money

    Image may contain: Device, Appliance, Electrical Device, and Air Conditioner

    Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro

    LG

    12,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner

    Your city or town may not have fines and requirements for window unit installation. New York City requires support brackets, especially for those units above sidewalks. I recently hired a professional AC company to securely install LG’s 12,000 BTU model, above. At over 80 pounds, it was too heavy for me to lift. I’ve yet to test a window unit AC where the manufacturer didn’t recommend two people for lifting and installing the unit, usually with a pictogram on the box of two people holding the same box.

    Window units are designed to fit in single- or double-hung windows, usually at a minimum height opening of 13 inches. A window unit’s metal support brackets are designed to counteract the downward force of gravity. And there shouldn’t be any books, bricks, or blocks of wood used to level the unit once in the window. There are exceptions—window designs like U-Shaped ACs, like our pick below (an updated model from the one that was recalled this summer), distribute weight equally between the inside and outside of the window sash and may not require brackets.

    Midea U-Shaped Air Conditioner

    Courtesy of Midea

    Midea

    U-Shaped Air Conditioner

    Smart AC Units Save Money

    More and more AC units connect to an app, and while some apps are easier to use than others, smart units have the added feature of turning them on and off remotely or through the use of in-app timers. Smart units have Eco Mode that run at a lower setting, as well as a variety of other features, including temperature settings. Smart ACs give the user so much more agency in knowing when to turn on or off their units.

    Environmentally Friendly Refrigerant

    Air conditioner in a window with a curtain toward the right

    Photograph: Lisa Shapiro

    Windmill

    8,000 BTU with WhisperTech

    In my hometown of New York City, residents need to make an online appointment with the Department of Sanitation when placing an old air conditioner on the sidewalk for trash collection. The city removes the CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) gas, or Freon, and affixes a sticker, clearing the unit to be picked for removal. There are now more environmentally friendly refrigerants on the market, such as R600a or R32. Windmill uses R32 in its line of ACs, like our pick above, and while refrigerants like R32 have fewer ozone-depleting properties than old Freon, it is flammable. It’s that flammability that keeps municipal waste management from collecting it for disposal. Companies like Windmill have a trade-in and recycling program for their customers. If your new AC has a yellow triangle with a black flame, your refrigerant is flammable.

    Sound

    The rattle from a window unit can vibrate throughout a window frame—another reason why professional installation is so important. If an AC isn’t properly leveled, there’s going to be noise. Beyond the rattle of an unleveled AC, would-be AC customers can log on to a manufacturer’s website or online store to see the decibel rating for each unit. Knowing that a refrigerator’s hum is around 40 to 50 decibels and that conversation is around 60 decibels can help you choose the right sound level for you. Knowing the decibel rating is especially important for bedroom units. Will your AC keep you up on hot nights?

    Directional Airflow and Filters

    Image may contain: Device, Appliance, Electrical Device, and Air Conditioner

    Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro

    GE

    Window Air Conditioner Unit, 5,000 BTU

    I recently tested GE’s most affordable AC unit, above, and it was only when it was placed next to my bed that I noticed the limited choices I had in choosing the direction of airflow. It had a small grip to slide the airflow to the right, center, or left. They all felt very similar, and it was apparent that having the directional airflow option for straight-up or close to straight-up airflow is a must-have. There is little choice in where to place a window AC in a one-window room. Look for louvers that can move both up and down as well as side to side. WIRED has tested ACs with HEPA filters and with regular slide-out filters. It’s important to keep your AC’s filters clean for your unit to run properly. A clean-the-filter indicator light is an especially helpful feature.

    Portable ACs for Unusual Windows

    • Courtesy of EcoFlow

    • Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro

    Ecoflow

    Wave 3 Portable Air Conditioner

    Portable air conditioners are often the only choice for those with either unique or sliding windows, or for those who can’t or aren’t allowed to install a unit in their window. It wasn’t that long ago that most units on the market had a single hose that fit into a window panel with a hole that matched the circumference of the duct. A single hose has the potential of lowering the air pressure and creating a vacuum. A two-duct system like Ecoflow’s, above, is more efficient with both air intake and exhaust, and more and more smart models are app-enabled. The downside of these AC units is their large presence in the room. Many look like rectangular robots. They’re heavy, but most have wheels to make moving them easier, along with the option to have the airflow go straight up. While the design of many of the units we’ve tested has gotten more compact and sleek, the ducts are still a lot. The wide tubing isn’t easy to hide. Still, if you need an AC and cannot use a window unit, portable air conditioners are a godsend.

    What Are BTUs?

    British thermal unit or BTU is the measurement of the energy required to remove heat within an hour. According to the US Department of Energy, you’ll need 20 BTUs for each square foot of living space. A 300-square-foot room will require an AC with 6,000 BTUs. It’s important to know your room’s square footage. A high BTU in a small room will result in improper dehumidification, and if the BTU is too weak, it will take longer for the unit to cool the room efficiently.

    Looks

    Image may contain: Appliance, Device, Electrical Device, Microwave, Oven, and Window

    Courtesy of July

    In the past, window units have been necessary eyesores. They were functional, but for years little had been done to make them aesthetically pleasing. That is no longer the case, with startups like July, which makes our pick above, reimagining what a window AC looks like. There are wood-panel fronts and sleek, modern designs that blend in with the room, and that trend isn’t letting up any time soon.

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    Lisa Wood Shapiro

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  • The Best Early Labor Day Mattress Sales on Our Favorite Models

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    The best Labor Day mattress sales are here, and if you’ve been looking for a sign from the universe to upgrade your bed, consider this it. I’ve been a professional mattress tester for five years, so I’m plugged in to what’s going on in the mattress world (we’re constantly scoping out new additions to our best mattresses list) and can keep track of the sales that really are the ones to watch … and which ones you can skip until Cyber Monday.

    While white pants are about to be out of season (if you follow that tradition), crisp white sheets are all-season, baby. We’ll have updates on those sales as well in the weeks ahead, so you can get the best bedsheets to go with your new mattress.

    Updated August 25, 2025: As we get closer to Labor Day weekend, we’ve added increased discounts from Nolah and Bear, as well as sheets sales from The Company Store and Bedsure.

    WIRED Featured Deals

    The Best Labor Day Mattress Sales

    We’re still a few days out from the holiday weekend, but the early Labor Day mattress sales just come sooner and sooner each year. Not that we’re complaining, and I don’t think you are either! We track prices to see where the actual deals are, not just tweaked sales lingo.

    Helix

    It’s always a good sign when you start your Labor Day mattress deals list off strong. Not only because the deal itself is good, but also because this particular mattress is the best one we’ve tested so far. The Helix Midnight Luxe is a side sleeper’s dream, mainly because it was made especially for that purpose. That’s the whole premise of Helix, where every sleeping position and body type can find a mattress that serves it. For Labor Day, there’s an especially good deal going. Promotions usually are 20 percent off, but surprise! Use our code WIRED27 for 27 percent off this holiday weekend.

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    Julia Forbes

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  • Sound Machines Can Be a Game-Changer For Light Sleepers—Here Are Our Tested Picks

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    Compare Our Top Picks

    More Sound Machines We Like

    Baby Brezza Sleep and Soother for $30: This is super light, can run on batteries or be plugged in, and has 18 sleep sounds and three timer options (or it plays continuously). There’s also a night light with three brightness levels.

    Yogasleep Hushh 2 Portable Sound Machine for $30: The Hushh 2 is another great portable sound machine that you should consider. It has six sounds, three timer options, and a nice night light for softly illuminating your bedside table or guiding your way to the bathroom. The brand says this model is its most durable sound machine. I didn’t fling it down the stairs, but it has held up to falling off my nightstand.

    Lectrofan Evo for $60: Another solid option from the brand that makes our top pick. The Evo has a few more sound choices (like ocean noises) and looks nicer, but we prefer the buttons on the Classic. They’re better for fiddling with in the dark. This one also jumped in price recently.

    Dreamegg D1 for $36: This one plays a lot of the same sounds as the D11 portable machine, with a handful more fans and a spectrum of noises. The control panel is matte and soft to the touch, and you can set it to play continuously or for 30, 60, or 90 minutes. I tried the white version, but you can get a few other nice colors on the Dreamegg site. The rim also lights up.

    Encalife Sound Machine for $86: This little sound machine has a blue light that you can match your breathing to in order to relax. You’ll also likely find it on sale often, which is good because I wouldn’t spend $86 on it. A very similar model is available under numerous brand names for far less money. Encalife says these are ripoffs, rather than from the same manufacturer. We can’t confirm that, but either way there are better options on this list for less.

    Avoid

    Allway Aqua10 for $119: I love that this looks like a cute Marshall amp and works as a decent-sounding Bluetooth speaker for sleep sounds and anything else you want to listen to the rest of the day. You need the Allway app to access the sounds, which include crackling fires, busy cafes, a spectrum of colored noises, and a wide selection of instrumentals. They’ll play for anywhere from five to 120 minutes. The Aqua10 also has a humidifier function, which looks extremely cool paired with lights that illuminate the vapor like a fire. But I found it to be fussy and leaky, and it seemed to stop even though the reservoir was full. It’s no longer available on Amazon, which might say something about its longevity.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can You Keep A White Noise Machine All Night?

    If you plan on keeping your white noise machine playing sound on loop all night, make sure first that it has the capacity to do so. Some machines run on 30-, 60-, or 90-minute timers that auto-shut off, while others are continuous.

    Does A Fan Make A Good White Noise Machine?

    In a pinch, you can use a bedside or box fan in place of a white noise machine. It will create consistent noise (as well as temperature control for hot sleepers) to help you fall asleep. However, if you aren’t wanting to keep the room a bit cooler, or want more varied noise options, a sound machine’s the stronger choice.

    How Did WIRED Select Models to Be Reviewed?

    WIRED works with many brands on a partnership basis, where samples are provided to us for free to test and we give our honest feedback. In these partnerships, we also earn commission if they end up making the cut on whatever topic we are researching—in this case, sound machines. That doesn’t automatically mean they get premier placement on an article nor is it not the only way we select models. There are plenty that we find and purchase ourselves during research.

    What Does WIRED Do With the Sound Machines After Testing Them?

    Just like all products we test, including mattresses, pillows, sheets, and more, everything is donated to our local communities when testing is finished.

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    Medea Giordano, Julia Forbes

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  • The Best Soda Makers for Sparkling Water

    The Best Soda Makers for Sparkling Water

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    The carbonation renaissance is upon us. Whether it’s the obsession with hard seltzers like White Claw and its endless copycats or “better-for-you” sodas like Poppi and Olipop, people are craving that crisp, bubbly feeling in every corner of their palates. I’m one of them—simply addicted to bubbles. I try to keep it as healthy as possible by minimizing sugary sodas. I mainly just like simple seltzers or sparkling water.

    But “healthy,” for me at least, is more than just watching sugar in my drinks. Lots of these sparkling beverages contain “forever” chemicals known as PFAS. As seen in a Consumer Reports study from 2020, the amount of carbonated water products with high amounts of PFAS is much greater than still water products. Some of these are very popular brands with an ingredients list displaying nothing but carbonated water—so you’d never know unless you were otherwise aware of PFAS. Making bubbles in your own home is a good way to remedy this.

    Is It Cheaper to Make Your Own Soda?

    Bubbling up your own water is obviously the more sustainable route than buying countless bottles of the stuff, even if it’s in glass—it still creates avoidable waste. The primary drawback with carbonators is that you need to continue to replenish your CO2 canisters. Generally, they run about $17 to $30 each (depending on brand) for a 60-liter canister, which adds up, so you’re not necessarily saving money. Some brands also have recycling programs where you send in your empty canister and get it replaced with a full one so that you don’t just toss out the metal canisters. These recycling programs were included in my testing.

    Carbonators are a relatively simple technology. Generally, the gadgets just need a CO2 source and a means of pumping the gas into some water. I tested these first by using filtered water through a Zero Water filter. I was mainly looking for simplicity and something easy to use that makes a crispy, bubbly product. For the most part, all of these gave me a nice fizzy water. But some of them were a bit more complicated to use than others, mainly in terms of inserting the canister of CO2 as well as inputting the bottle. Others were as simple and smooth as could possibly be.

    Check out some of our other beverage-related guides, including Best Nonalcoholic Wines, Best Energy Drinks, Best Juicers, and Best Nut Milk Makers.

    Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that’s too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.

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    Andrew Watman

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  • KitchenAid’s Evergreen Stand Mixer Deserves to Be Seen and Used

    KitchenAid’s Evergreen Stand Mixer Deserves to Be Seen and Used

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    The ubiquitous KitchenAid stand mixer—domestic icon, home cook must-have, subject of tattoos and even master’s theses—has rarely been controversial. Content to sleep tucked away within cabinets waiting to make cookies or birthday cakes, this century-old staple has garnered little public criticism for anything other than its price. (The standard 5-quart tilt-head Artisan costs $350; stand mixers from other brands run around $100.)

    That all changed with this year’s Design Series release: the Evergreen. Unveiled in September, this zhuzhed-up tilt-head Artisan model is an appealing matte army green with a brass attachment insert cover, 5-quart pure walnut bowl (sustainably certified by the European Union Timber Regulation), and three steel accessories: paddle, dough hook, and whip.

    It also costs $700—twice the price of a “standard” Artisan. Still, it’s hard to argue when KitchenAid has succeeded in making what might be the most attractive stand mixer of all time. And perhaps its most popular—KitchenAid says it sold out of its first run within a week.

    Photograph: Kat Merck

    Regardless, the negative headlines popped up faster than a batch of buttermilk biscuits. The Atlantic christened the Evergreen “the $700 kitchen tool that’s meant to be seen, not used.” Food & Wine said the wood bowl had divided their staff, and The Washington Post said bakers find the walnut bowl “perplexing at best, a gesture at aesthetics that renders the product useless.”

    The accompanying promotional video, featuring hikers and more than one instance of performative fern fondling, does little to dispel the opinion that this might be for people who don’t actually bake.

    It was not immediately clear, though, whether many of the critics had actually used the mixer. As a longtime home cook and baker who has helped line-edit and recipe-test for several bread-related cookbooks, including a James Beard award winner, I know my way around a KitchenAid mixer (and have used an Artisan model multiple times a week for more than 15 years). I also use unlined wooden bannetons regularly for proofing bread, as well as wooden spoons and wooden cutting boards on a daily basis, so the idea of a wooden mixing bowl isn’t exactly farfetched to me.

    For four weeks, I used the Evergreen as I would any other mixer, on a range of recipes—from meringues and cookies to bread and whipped cream—to see once and for all if the offending bowl is actually usable or if the Evergreen is, as other reviews have insinuated, simply a kitchen cosplay prop for the well-off.

    Hey Good Lookin’

    It didn’t take me long to find one problem: Unlike on the Artisan’s traditional stainless steel mixing bowl, the Evergreen’s wood bowl has no handle. However, in practice, this didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would, as I realized I’m really only ever using the handle to wrench the bowl off its base or to steady it when an especially difficult bread dough threatens to unseat it.

    Second, the bowl’s increased maintenance needs cannot go unmentioned. The mixer comes with a card that says to wash and dry the bowl immediately after use—in other words, no soaking off cookie dough in the sink overnight—and to regularly season the bowl with food-safe mineral oil, wood polish, or walnut oil.

    This raises another problem: Many baking recipes, like meringues and soufflés, require whipping egg whites to what’s called stiff peak stage, where a whisk dipped into the concoction and lifted leaves peaks that stand tall and do not flop over. This strength lends needed structure and body to baked goods, but stabilizing whipped egg whites is a notoriously finicky process, and any kind of fat, including oil, can prevent them from reaching this stage. (In fact, KitchenAid’s Evergreen FAQ explicitly says not to attempt “whipped egg creations” in the wood bowl.) Would the oiled walnut bowl really preclude Evergreen owners from making soufflés in their $700 mixer?

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    Kat Merck

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  • The Best Bed Frames

    The Best Bed Frames

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    This adjustable base is from the makers of one of our favorite mattresses you can buy online and one of our favorite mattresses for side sleepers. It runs on electricity to move the hydraulic-like motors below, which raise both the head and foot area of the bed. It comes with a wireless Bluetooth-enabled remote with buttons to adjust the head and foot portion of the bed up and down, a built-in flashlight, and a button to bring the frame down to a flat level.

    The Legget & Platt app (available for iOS only) can act as a remote as well—a huge sigh of relief for a generally scatterbrained person like myself who’s prone to losing things. In the app, you name your bed, make the same adjustments, and save your favorite positions so you can easily go back to them. The bed frame is sleek—not bulky at all—and is around 13 inches off the ground, making extra storage space underneath that I didn’t have before. The legs are virtually invisible, although the zero-clearance design allows the base to be used without the legs if using platform bases.

    The adjustable frame rises in half-inch increments from 13 to 18 inches from the original base, and the motor is fairly quiet. The base works with mattresses designed to flex, without shifting inside materials or weakening the structure, and is compatible with nearly all Saatva mattresses. For non-Saatva mattresses, check with the manufacturer to ensure it’s compatible with an adjustable base.

    Saatva provides a 10-year warranty as well as free in-room delivery and setup, and the men were done in less than 15 minutes, even putting my old mattress back on for me. I often work in my bed and use pillows to prop me up, and this took away the need to be surrounded by a dozen or so of my favorite body pillows. This customizable frame would work great for those with mobility issues or health issues like acid reflux, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, or sciatica (among other things). This bougie bed base isn’t completely necessary for me, but it’s a fun luxury to have. —Molly Higgins

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    Louryn Strampe, Gear Team

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  • You Need a Shark Stick Vacuum With a Self-Emptying Bin

    You Need a Shark Stick Vacuum With a Self-Emptying Bin

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    When my husband first saw me vacuuming with the Shark stick vacuum, he asked me dubiously, “Is that a Dyson?” The British company has become so synonymous with cordless stick vacuums that it just didn’t seem possible that we wouldn’t have one. It’s like buying the generic brand Q-Tips. Who does that? Even the Shark’s color scheme deliberately echoes Dyson’s.

    I’ve been testing Shark’s latest cordless stick vacuum for a month in order to answer my husband’s, and also your, question: No, the Shark isn’t a Dyson. Overall, the engineering and attention to detail that makes the Dyson the best premium vacuum isn’t quite there. The display isn’t as nice. The build quality isn’t as solid. I do have to regularly unclog one section of the vacuum tube with a chopstick.

    But does it keep my house sparkling clean? Does it have a bunch of things that most Dyson vacuums don’t? And does it have all the functionality that you need, and more, for a quarter of the price? Also yes. This vacuum is absolutely worth it—”it” being not very many dollars.

    A Place to Land

    As you can see, the Shark vacuum is comparable in dimensions to the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine, which is the Dyson I currently have. The Shark is just a few inches shorter, but overall it takes up more space because it comes with a freestanding cleaning station. I loved this cleaning station. While every Dyson does come with a mount that you can easily screw into a wall, I’ve had a hard time finding just the right place in my house that’s also near a working electrical outlet.

    If you’re not inclined to rewire your laundry room, a freestanding docking station makes it much easier to plug and go. It’s also a convenient place to store the extra vacuum accessories, like the different cleaning heads—the Shark comes with a crevice tool and a small pet multi-tool head for getting into hard-to-reach places.

    I also particularly like that it has a 2-liter self-emptying bin in the base. One of the most inconvenient parts of the Dyson design is how you have to unlatch the tube to empty the bagless bin from the bottom. You have to stick your beautiful, premium vacuum in your filthy, possibly damp garbage bin and knock it around, getting it dirty and knocking dust and dog hair everywhere.

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    Adrienne So

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  • Kwikset’s Newest Lock Has the Best Door Sensor I’ve Ever Seen

    Kwikset’s Newest Lock Has the Best Door Sensor I’ve Ever Seen

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    Now, the whole point of Matter is that you shouldn’t need separate apps to manage all of your devices. Kwikset still requires you to start with its app for the initial setup, but then you’ll head into the Lock Settings and tap on the section labeled Matter, where you can easily switch over control to your smart-home ecosystem of choice. The app will prompt you to choose Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home, or Samsung SmartThings when you switch over to Matter, and then will hand over the keys to your choice of ecosystem.

    Photograph: Kwikset

    After testing a few Matter devices, I don’t mind starting with a brand’s app, and I think it especially makes sense when installing a smart lock as opposed to, say, setting up a smart plug or smart light bulb. There are several more steps involved when you install a smart lock, and getting it wrong can mean no working lock whatsoever on your door.

    The Kwikset app will also make it easy to switch back control to Kwikset and Wi-Fi if you decide Matter isn’t for you. There are more features available if you choose the Kwikset-controlled path, like guest codes and using the included door-status sensor, but the lock does promise better battery life when using Matter.

    Slim Sensing

    Closeup of the Kwikset Halo Select door sensor and a mobile phone with an app notification that the door is open

    Photograph: Kwikset

    The most exciting addition to Kwikset’s newest lock is the included door-status sensor. It works like any other door sensor—the sensors line up to tell you whether the door is closed—but it’s a super-slim, discreet style compared to other options on the market.

    Kwikset hasn’t had door sensors before, but other smart-lock brands like Yale (which now owns August locks) have offered these for a while in conjunction with their locks, and plenty of other smart-home gadget makers have offered stand-alone door and window sensors for a similar experience. In both cases, it’s a two-part sensor that sits on your doorframe or window frame and door or window, and usually requires a few sticky cushions to perfectly line the two parts up so that the sensor can correctly identify when the door is opened or closed.

    Kwikset won’t use that system. Instead, the brand designed a super-slim magnet-style sensor that you’ll place into the doorjamb where it can connect with the lock. It looks incredibly sleek and seems like it would be much easier to place than trying to perfectly line up two separate sensors on a door and frame. Only testing will tell if this is indeed the case, and it’s top of my testing list once it becomes available.

    The Kwikset Halo doesn’t have a specific launch date but is expected to be available at retailers like Lowe’s and Amazon by mid-November and will retail for $279.

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    Nena Farrell

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  • The Best Blackout Curtains to Turn Day Into Night

    The Best Blackout Curtains to Turn Day Into Night

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    Blackout curtains are useful for a range of reasons—most obviously, blocking out sunlight, but also for reducing outside noises, temperature control (whether that be insulating for winter months or blocking out light to keep the room cooler in the summer), and ensuring privacy.

    I wanted to try a myriad of curtain options that promised total blackout in a variety of different fabrics like polyester and velvet and with various hanging options, including pockets, grommet holes, clips, loops, and even suction cups. Many of these curtains had additional lining to further insulate against temperature and aid in noise reduction, so I also measured outside sound and temperature regulation.

    I also took into account the ease of setup and hanging, and if there were multiple options for hanging, including using a double bar, attaching clips, or using pockets versus loops to see which way blocked sunshine the best.

    I tested these on two windows, one that faces southeast and one that faces east—both get a huge amount of morning sun and, as a result, the room can get quite toasty during the summer months. I tested each curtain for a week, measuring how well it worked at all hours, including early mornings with the harsh sun, afternoons, nighttime, and when my door was closed and light was turned off. Although I live on a relatively quiet suburban street, I also monitored noise levels with the various curtains, since several on this list claim to be noise-reducing.

    Check out some of our other sleep-related guides, including Our Favorite Sheets, Best Mattresses You Can Buy Online, Our Favorite Pillows, Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks, and Best Natural Sleep Aids.

    Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that’s too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.

    Nearly all of our picks come in various sizes, most often with differing lengths. One panel will cover a standard-size window, but you may want to buy two for coverage and a more polished look. It’s a good idea to measure your window’s dimensions, especially from the curtain rod height to the floor, to ensure the curtain isn’t billowing on the ground or hanging up too high off the floor.

    The curtains we tested all come in various forms, with grommet holes, pockets, clips, loops, and even suction cups for hanging options. Many have multiple hanging options—it’s all dependent on personal taste. I tested each way, but usually ultimately used the pocket to hang the curtain on a rod because it helped keep the curtain more flush to the window and wall. This allowed more coverage and less of a gap where sunlight could leak through.

    Once you’ve installed your curtain rod above the window (a relatively simple task if you have the tools), you’ll want to take out the curtain from packaging and read the directions on care to see how to best take out the wrinkles (or not). If the curtain has multiple hanging options, you’ll choose which you’d like, but even the most complicated hangs with hooks or clips shouldn’t take more than five minutes. (Except the Amazon travel panel with suction cups; that one took about 15 minutes and was a pain.)

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    Molly Higgins

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  • The Predator-Proof Chicken Coop That Makes Backyard Farming a Cinch

    The Predator-Proof Chicken Coop That Makes Backyard Farming a Cinch

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    And the wheels, attached to a piece that acts as a lever and tilts the coop at an angle, allow for chicken tenders like me to ask my husband to easily reposition the henhouse at any time—which is likely welcome news for those who free-range their flock on grass and regularly need fresh pasture for the girls to scratch. The wheels make moving the coop easy in comparison to coops without wheels; I just couldn’t muscle it myself.

    At the time we introduced our flock to the Eglu Pro, the Phoenix area was experiencing what seemed like unending heat, setting a new record of 117 degrees Fahrenheit in late September. In that kind of heat, any type of coop is going to be toasty, so we’re well-practiced at making sure the girls have water to splash in and shade to tuck under.

    While the Eglu Pro coop incorporates twin-wall insulation, utilizes UV-stabilized polyethylene, and was designed to allow for cross-flow ventilation, we wanted to further mitigate heat-related discomfort. What I loved about the coop’s design is it gave us the option to remove a back panel from the roosting area to allow for additional airflow to keep the girls as cool as possible.

    A hot breeze was better than no breeze, we figured.

    In a more rural setting, with more active predators, this might be frowned upon. We do live in a state that is home to coyotes, after all. But our coop is positioned inside a fenced garden area, kept securely separated from our pack of three blue heelers and a single border collie. It’s clear, though, that the Eglu Pro was designed with protection in mind.

    If you’re the type to close up your coop at night, a single swinging panel acts as a door at the top of the ladder. And the door to access the nesting box has a push-and-turn application to its knob, offering extra security. A fogged panel allows daylight to enter come morning, and an app-based, smart-door feature allows you to control security and set a wake-up call. These smart features are an upgrade to the basic set we received.

    Taking It Easy

    Backyard chickens, like any bird, make a mess. But we found that cleaning that mess is insanely easy with the Eglu Pro’s design. Sliding panels beneath the nesting boxes and the roost are super easy to remove, spray off, and slide right back in. It takes minutes.

    Cleaning our previous coop, made with wood and metal, was a chore no one wanted to do. And using a hose was out of the question. Also, our current boss chicken likes to hang out on the coop’s roof at night, so we love that we’re able to easily spray away any evidence of her moonlit escapades.

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    Lisa Abelar

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  • Fellow’s Aiden Precision Coffee Maker Is Feature-Rich but Not Overengineered

    Fellow’s Aiden Precision Coffee Maker Is Feature-Rich but Not Overengineered

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    Coffee requires only two ingredients to be made at home, yet the industry surrounding the world’s favorite beverage has been hell-bent on making things as complicated as possible for decades. An endless barrage of sexy gadgets promises to optimize every step of the process, and yet to many consumers, the finished product ends up tasting remarkably similar.

    No shade to the people who maximize their morning ritual with aesthetically pleasing trinkets like a $2,650 coffee grinder or a $208 electric kettle, but the fact that McDonald’s sells 8 million cups of coffee a day speaks to an unavoidable truth: Most people just want to get the coffee in their body with as little fuss as possible.

    Given the tension between a quality cup and the time and effort spent brewing it, a coffee machine’s ability to brew delicious coffee with as little friction as possible should be the primary yardstick of greatness. The Fellow Aiden drip coffee machine has plenty of esoteric bells and whistles to tickle the fancy of design-minded coffee geeks, but it also makes really good coffee with minimal hassle. You could replace your dad’s grimy old Mr. Coffee with this handsome 9 x 9 x 12-inch black cube and he probably wouldn’t complain for more than five minutes, which says a lot about its user-friendly interface and ease of use.

    Photograph: Pete Cottell

    Keeping It Simple

    Fellow offers an app to accompany the Aiden, but you don’t need it to start brewing. Smart devices have been elbowing their way into kitchens for a decade now, to wildly varied results. Preheating your oven from the grocery store parking lot is pretty cool and useful, but do you really need a smart blender? And how much time is really saved in the end when countless hours are lost to troubleshooting smart home connections, thumbing through settings, and downloading clunky apps—many of which ask to track your location and force you to check a box on a terms-of-use page that includes questionable arbitration clauses? Is all this really necessary for a batch of muffins or a cup of coffee?

    One could easily get lost in the weeds dialing in settings like roast type, elevation, or presets for beans from iconic roasters like Onyx and Verve, but it’s just as easy to skip all that and start brewing. To test this theory, I attempted to brew a cup of coffee without reading the manual or connecting to the proprietary app. This took me about eight minutes, which is a remarkable feat considering how the Aiden’s “smartness” was a focal point of its prerelease press.

    After rinsing the pot and the water reservoir, I turned the single black knob to “wake up” the machine and scan its menu on the vibrant LED screen. I selected “Guided Brew,” dialed in how many ounces of coffee I wanted, popped in the corresponding color-coded brew basket, set the water dial above to match, added the recommended dose of grounds, hit Start, and that was that. Eight ounces of 200-degree-Fahrenheit perfection in about three minutes.

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    Pete Cottell

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