We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
I love a good T.J. Maxx find — especially if it’s something that looks way more expensive than it is. I was so excited when I came across these mDesign glass canisters the other day that are exactly that: They look expensive, and they are something I know I can use in my kitchen for years to come even when fall is over!
The glass canisters come in two different colors: a deep ruby reddish-brown and a rich forest green. The moody jewel tones are perfect for fall and would look great on any kitchen counter filled with essentials like flour or sugar, or as storage for things like baggies, coffee pods, or utensils. They come with airtight lids, and the colors aren’t too opaque, so you can still see whatever you decide to fill them with. They also come in a stunning rippled design!
These storage gems come in two different sizes: 1L and 08.L, at just $4.99 and $3.99, respectively. Such a steal! I was surprised by how light both sizes felt, which I think is due to how thin the glass is, which gives a delicate, elevated look while still being sturdy.
The trick for finding a good bargain at T.J. Maxx is to shop often. This might just sound like an excuse to shop, but it’s true. The retailer rotates its inventory often, and I find that if I go once every week or two, I can find completely new products every time. That’s the trick to finding all of the gems before the hoards of TikTokers get to them first!
Love These Canisters? Then You’ll Also Love…
In case you don’t live near a T.J. Maxx — or your local store is sold out — don’t worry. This canister set from Amazon is less than $6 and comes in five different adorable colors that are sure to match your home’s decor.
I also really love these green glass canisters with a floral design from Amazon that come in a few different rustic colors and work all over the home.
And if you’re lucky enough to have multiple T.J. Maxx stores in your area, then it never hurts to shop at a few different stores to see which ones have the best products and deals. Happy bargain-hunting. May the best storage vessels find you!
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
I’m not normally one to add things to my kitchen counters, but when they’re cute and functional, I’ll make an exception. First, bread boxes (for storing things other than bread) took social media feeds by storm, and now there’s another vintage storage solution finding its way into kitchens across the country. Say hello to the apothecary cabinet: a typically wooden chest featuring a bunch of tiny, individual drawers with handles. They’re adorable, and I, for one — along with all of TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram, it seems — am obsessed.
Apothecary cabinets have made such a major comeback that there’s no need to scour Facebook Marketplace or the flea market to find one anymore. Even Target has a $70 version you can have shipped straight to your home — and Amazon, of course, offers a ton of gorgeous apothecary cabinets, too.
What Is an Apothecary Cabinet, Anyway?
You might be asking: But what were apothecary cabinets used for back when they first gained popularity? And what are they good for now (besides being cute and idiosyncratic)? Let’s get into it.
Apothecary cabinets were originally used by apothecaries, who were essentially 17th-century traveling medicine men — what we might consider pharmacists today. They peddled the cures of the day, typically herbs and tinctures. Apothecaries traveled with compact cabinets with lots of drawers, which held these medicines. Eventually, as colonial America became more settled, doctors, barbers, and even blacksmiths used apothecary cabinets to store their own remedies and supplies. The cabinets evolved to become larger and more suited to stationary use. Over time, apothecary cabinets became pretty much obsolete, until designers and collectors began seeking them out.
How to Use an Apothecary Cabinet in Your Kitchen
Now, they’re back in fashion and have become far more accessible for a little vintage touch. While you could keep one anywhere in the house to store everything from craft supplies to hardware, they’re especially useful in the kitchen. Here are a few things to store in an apothecary cabinet in the busiest room of the house:
What do you think of this 17th-century trend making a comeback in kitchens? Let us know in the comments below!
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
It’s humbling to admit when you’re not inherently gifted at something — I spend so much time in my kitchen, and while I consider myself a proficient cook, the space in which I do so is an utter disaster. Spices topple over constantly, bags of dry goods barely held together by kitchen clips lean against one another, bowls and cups sit stacked just waiting for one wrong move to knock them all down. It was time to admit someone needed to intervene in the lack of organization in my life, I mean, kitchen.
I went straight to the pros. I contacted Julian Thomas, a home DIY expert, and sent over a few photos of my haphazard kitchen situation. I needed advice on how someone like myself can make my kitchen feel less cluttered (especially in my pantry), and his advice surprised me with how simple a few pieces can help anyone at any organizational skill level.
These are the three biggest tips Thomas shared with me that forever changed my kitchen storage, proving you don’t need the gift of organization to have a put-together kitchen.
Clear bins are the way to go!
I quite possibly have one of the most packed pantries on the planet. I have almost every spice, condiment, and vinegar you could think of. It’s fantastic for how much I cook, but less so for my not-so-organized mind. That’s where bringing in clear bins helps a ton to section off all the various bags and cylinders of pantry goods without getting overwhelmed on how exactly to place them, and helps to “create zones so things don’t blend into one big pile.”
Thomas recommended adding a few clear large Command caddies, and I used them to section my pantry off into snacks, bulk spices, bottled spices, baking goods, and miscellaneous items to “streamline the chaos and keep things accessible.” Just to make things extra accessible in my kitchen, I added another one above my stove to place some of my most used condiments and spices!
Where before I was constantly reaching into a sea of clutter, there are now manageable sections from which I can easily know where I should look to grab various pantry items. And even more helpful — doing this freed up almost an entire shelf in my pantry, which will play a key role in the next big tip.
Open shelving shouldn’t do the heavy lifting.
Before, I had so many heavy bowls sitting on my shelves. I figured they just needed to go somewhere accessible and they stacked there nicely. But not only was this rendering a ton of visual clutter, but it was weighing down the wire rack next to my stove.
“The open shelving is doing too much heavy lifting,” Thomas said. “I’d recommend relocating bulkier cookware (like bowls, appliances, or pantry backups) into the pantry closet so the metal shelf can be dedicated to daily-use items only. That frees up the kitchen to breathe.”
Luckily, as a result of my efforts from tip number one, there was an entire shelf where I could transfer not only all the salad bowls from my wire rack, but also all the bowls from the open shelf above my fridge! It’s still accessible, and so much space was cleared to allow me to just have my cutting boards and a bowl of rags, plus other items I use daily. How neat!
It’s simple, really: “Keep as many items as possible off the countertop.” At least, it seemed simple. One of the biggest offences I committed in my kitchen was keeping almost everything I could on every counter surface available (which was limited to begin with). This made daily cooking stressful as I was always at risk of knocking things over. On top of that, I overpacked my crock with all of my bigger cooking utensils, which not only meant it visually looked cluttered, but almost every time I took a spatula out, a ladle or pair of tongs came flying out with it. Annoying!
I took Thomas’ advice and shuffled some things around. I managed to move a bunch of my coffee supplies into my new bins, and hung my four most used ladles and spatulas on some general-purpose Command hooks to not only make it easier to access my most-needed tools, but to visually clear up my counter space. I also hung my paper towel holder above my sink as opposed to having it take up counter space, freeing up even more workspace for cooking.
Phew! Now, my kitchen is simply so much more breathable. Trust me, I totally get not having the picture-perfect organization gene — that’s why following a few simple rules can make the process of refreshing your kitchen much less overwhelming. And even if you don’t consider the looks of your kitchen, you’d be surprised how much easier it is to find and use everything when you know where it is. Who would’ve thought?
The Muni Metro’s Automatic Train Control System (ATCS) has required 5¼-inch floppy disks since 1998, when it was installed at San Francisco’s Market Street subway station. The system uses three floppy disks for loading DOS software that controls the system’s central servers. Michael Roccaforte, an SFMTA spokesperson, gave further details on how the light rail operates to Ars Technica in April, saying: “When a train enters the subway, its onboard computer connects to the train control system to run the train in automatic mode, where the trains drive themselves while the operators supervise. When they exit the subway, they disconnect from the ATCS and return to manual operation on the street.”
After starting initial planning in 2018, the SFMTA originally expected to move to a floppy-disk-free train control system by 2028. But with Covid-19 preventing work for 18 months, the estimated completion date was delayed.
On October 15, the SFMTA moved closer to ditching floppies when its board approved a contract with Hitachi Rail for implementing a new train control system that doesn’t use floppy disks, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Hitachi Rail tech is said to power train systems, including Japan’s bullet train, in more than 50 countries. The $212 million contract includes support services from Hitachi for “20 to 25 years,” the Chronicle said.
The new control system is supposed to be five generations ahead of what Muni is using now, Muni director Julie Kirschbaum said, per the Chronicle. Further illustrating the light rail’s dated tech, the current ATCS was designed to last 20 to 25 years, meaning its expected expiration date was in 2023. The system still works fine, but the risk of floppy disk data degradation and challenges in maintaining expertise in 1990s programming languages have further encouraged the SFMTA to seek upgrades.
Lots of Work to Do
Beyond the floppies, though, the Muni Metro needs many more upgrades. The SFMTA plans to spend $700 million (including the $212 million Hitachi contract) to overhaul the light rail’s control system. This includes replacing the loop cable system for sending data across the servers and trains. The cables are said to be a more pressing concern than the use of floppy disks. The aging cables are fragile, with “less bandwidth than an old AOL dialup modem,” Roccaforte previously told Ars. The SFMTA is reportedly planning for Hitachi to start replacing the loop cables with a new communication system that uses Wi-Fi and cellular signals for tracking trains by 2028. However, the SFMTA’s board of supervisors still needs to approve this, the Chronicle said.
In addition to old storage formats and the communication infrastructure, the Muni’s current ATCS includes onboard computers tied to propulsion and brake systems, as well as local and central servers, and more. The SFMTA’s website says that the current estimated completion date for the complete overhaul is “2033/2034.” According to the provided timeline, it looks like the subway technology replacement phase is expected to take place in “2027/2028,” after which there’s an on-street technology installation phase.
Like with other entities, the SFMTA’s slow move off floppy disks can be attributed to complacency, budget restrictions, and complications in overhauling critical technology systems. Various other organizations have also been slow to ditch the dated storage format, including in Japan, which only stopped using floppy disks in governmental systems in June, and the German navy, which is still trying to figure out a replacement for 8-inch floppies.
One of the things enterprise storage and destruction company Iron Mountain does is handle the archiving of the media industry’s vaults. What it has been seeing lately should be a wake-up call: Roughly one-fifth of the hard disk drives dating to the 1990s it was sent are entirely unreadable.
Music industry publication Mix spoke with the people in charge of backing up the entertainment industry. The resulting tale is part explainer on how music is so complicated to archive now, part warning about everyone’s data stored on spinning disks.
“In our line of work, if we discover an inherent problem with a format, it makes sense to let everybody know,” Robert Koszela, global director for studio growth and strategic initiatives at Iron Mountain, told Mix. “It may sound like a sales pitch, but it’s not; it’s a call for action.”
Hard drives gained popularity over spooled magnetic tape as digital audio workstations, mixing and editing software, and the perceived downsides of tape, including deterioration from substrate separation and fire. But hard drives present their own archival problems. Standard hard drives were also not designed for long-term archival use. You can almost never decouple the magnetic disks from the reading hardware inside, so if either fails, the whole drive dies.
There are also general computer storage issues, including the separation of samples and finished tracks, or proprietary file formats requiring archival versions of software. Still, Iron Mountain tells Mix that “if the disk platters spin and aren’t damaged,” it can access the content.
But “if it spins” is becoming a big question mark. Musicians and studios now digging into their archives to remaster tracks often find that drives, even when stored at industry-standard temperature and humidity, have failed in some way, with no partial recovery option available.
“It’s so sad to see a project come into the studio, a hard drive in a brand-new case with the wrapper and the tags from wherever they bought it still in there,” Koszela says. “Next to it is a case with the safety drive in it. Everything’s in order. And both of them are bricks.”
Entropy Wins
Mix’s passing along of Iron Mountain’s warning hit Hacker News earlier this week, which spurred other tales of faith in the wrong formats. The gist of it: You cannot trust any medium, so you copy important things over and over, into fresh storage. “Optical media rots, magnetic media rots and loses magnetic charge, bearings seize, flash storage loses charge, etc.,” writes user abracadaniel. “Entropy wins, sometimes much faster than you’d expect.”
There is discussion of how SSDs are not archival at all; how floppy disk quality varied greatly between the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s; how Linear Tape-Open, a format specifically designed for long-term tape storage, loses compatibility over successive generations; how the binder sleeves we put our CD-Rs and DVD-Rs in have allowed them to bend too much and stop being readable.
Knowing that hard drives will eventually fail is nothing new. Ars wrote about the five stages of hard drive death, including denial, back in 2005. Last year, backup company Backblaze shared failure data on specific drives, showing that drives that fail tend to fail within three years, that no drive was totally exempt, and that time does, generally, wear down all drives. Google’s server drive data showed in 2007 that HDD failure was mostly unpredictable, and that temperatures were not really the deciding factor.
So Iron Mountain’s admonition to music companies is yet another warning about something we’ve already heard. But it’s always good to get some new data about just how fragile a good archive really is.
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re shopping for USB flash drives, and we also have some tips for using them.
Capacity: To decide on the capacity you need, first check the size of the folders or files you want to copy. Each USB drive in our guide has a stated capacity, but the usable storage will be slightly less than that, because the device’s firmware requires space.
Speed: USB standards are advancing all the time, and we recommend USB 3.0 as a minimum, though higher is better. While USB standards have different theoretical maximum speeds, it’s crucial to check the manufacturer’s stated read and write speeds for each drive. If you’re primarily transferring data, you’ll want to look for a drive with high write speeds. If you’re planning on launching software on a computer through the drive (like a video game), then you’ll want a model with high read speeds. Manufacturers will state average speeds, but most drives are much faster at transferring large files and tend to be far slower at transferring small files.
Compatibility: Many flash drives will work with any device with the relevant port, but check compatibility to avoid disappointment. If you want to use a drive with an Android device or one of the latest iPhone 15 range, it will require USB on-the-go (OTG) support. Most Android devices do support USB OTG. You will get a notification when you insert a flash drive with options that should include File Transfer. You can try the USB OTG Checker app to confirm support if you’re unsure. Apple’s earlier iPhones and iPads don’t support USB OTG, but you can install a companion app for drives, like SanDisk’s iXpand series.
Connectors: Most flash drives have USB-A connectors, but you can also get drives with USB-C, MicroUSB, and Lightning connectors. If you plan on using a flash drive with your smartphone and computer, snag one with both of the required types of connectors. You can also buy USB hubs with multiple ports or adapters, but pay close attention to the supported standard or it may limit your data transfer speeds. This Anker USB-A to USB-C adapter, for example, is USB 3.0.
Security: Remember that USB drives can cause security issues, particularly for businesses, and you should never plug in random drives you find lying around. If you plan to keep sensitive data on your flash drive, then consider biometric or passcode protection, and look into the level of encryption it offers. There are software services that offer encryption and allow you to password-protect your files on any USB flash drive.
Quinn FishLifestyle Editor, The Kitchn & Staff Writer, Apartment Therapy
Quinn Fish is the Lifestyle Editor at The Kitchn and staff writer at Apartment Therapy and Cubby, helping homes sparkle everywhere. When she’s not working, you can find her crafting, doing yoga, reading or watching thrillers, playing with her (spoiled) cat, laughing at a comedy show, or trying out a new recipe. She holds degrees in Journalism and Ethnic Studies from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
With five children, Shifrah is learning a thing or two about how to keep a fairly organized and pretty clean house with a grateful heart in a way that leaves plenty of time for the people who matter most. Shifrah grew up in San Francisco, but has come to appreciate smaller town life in Tallahassee, Florida, which she now calls home. She’s been writing professionally for twenty years and she loves lifestyle photography, memory keeping, gardening, reading, and going to the beach with her husband and children.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
As I began to reorganize my kitchen cabinets as part of my yearly spring cleaning routine, I wondered if some experts might have some advice on what’s safe and convenient to keep in a cabinet, and what’s better off in other parts of my kitchen — and here’s what they had to say.
5 Things Not to Keep in Your Kitchen Cabinets
“They’re called staples for a reason — you probably use them every time you cook!” says Julian Thomas, DIY and lifestyle expert and Command partner. For this reason, it’s best to keep certain items such as herbs and spices, flour, sugar, and even coffee either in your pantry (if you have one), or on display in other parts of your kitchen — Thomas suggests repurposing a picture ledge for storing spices — where heat and humidity won’t affect their potency.
“Instead of storing aromatic coffee beans in cabinets, where light and temperature fluctuations can degrade their flavor, consider using vacuum-sealed containers stored in a cool, dark pantry or drawer,” says Melanie Summers, professional organizer and founder of I Speak Organized. “This not only preserves their freshness, but also maintains the aesthetic appeal of your kitchen.”
“Cleaning solutions, especially liquids, should not be stored in your kitchen cabinets,” says Thomas. “While under-the-sink organization for cleaning supplies is the norm for many households, this still runs a risk of cross-contamination and harmful exposure. For instance, I let the storage under my kitchen sink get so full that a bottle of liquid dish soap became crushed by overcrowding and began to leak, eventually seeping out of the cabinet onto my hardwood floor.”
According to Thomas, it’s best to label all your bottles clearly and opt for a layered pullout rack for maximizing space under your sink if this is the only spot you have for storing cleaning products. Other types of organization solutions, like my favorite under-sink turntable, can help keep your cleaning products and tools separated and easy to access.
3. Occasional Appliances and Excess Cookware
Overcrowded cabinets with rarely used cookware and appliances can create chaos in your kitchen. Summers suggests hanging pots and pans on a ceiling rack or wall-mounted rail to free up cabinet space and add a stylish, functional element to your kitchen decor.
“Whether it’s a Crock-Pot only used during the colder months of the year or an indoor electric grill when it’s BBQ season, it’s tempting to store these ‘occasional’ kitchen appliances up high in a cabinet out of the way,” says Thomas. “However, depending on your strength and coordination levels, that might not be the best idea. Even storing these items in bottom cabinets is risky, considering so many people experience lower back pain, and bending over to lift heavy equipment is not wise either.”
Thomas recommends carving out space in the garage, pantry, or even a utility closet to store kitchen appliances that you don’t use frequently. When it comes to the appliances collecting dust in your home, Dr. Dan Murauski, director of wellness optimization and longevity at Case Integrative Health, adds that it’s best to donate items that you haven’t used in about a year.
4. Certain Sauces and Condiments
Kitchen cabinets can provide excellent storage for sauces, condiments, and canned goods with long shelf lives. There are a few, however, that should be stored elsewhere to maintain their condition and give you more kitchen cabinet space.
“It’s important to read the labels on shelf-stable sauces to see which ones need to be refrigerated after opening,” says Murauski. “We all know ketchup and mayo need to go in the fridge. I was surprised to learn that soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce do as well!” Additionally, he suggests keeping olive oil and cooking oils in a light-proof container away from the stovetop.
5. Vitamins and Medications
It may be tempting to keep your daily vitamins and medications within reach in your kitchen, especially if you take them with your breakfast, but Summers advises against this.
“Rather than keeping these in kitchen cabinets, where temperature and humidity can fluctuate, opt for a dedicated storage area in a closet, bedroom drawer, or even a lockable medicine cabinet in a cool, dry bathroom,” she says. “This ensures their efficacy and keeps them out of reach of little ones.”
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
I open my workhorse of a refrigerator at least a dozen times a day (a good reason not to store dairy in the door, by the way), so I’m always looking for ways to make it better. In my latest round of organizational self-care, I called my all-time favorite pro organizer, Stephanie Treantos, founder of Lemonaid Solutions (@lemonaidsolutions), to get some tips and tricks on how to make my overstuffed refrigerator more efficient to use and easier on the eyes. I sent her a few photos of my fridge and I was blown away by what she suggested — and how satisfying the results were. Here are her best tips.
1. Leave one shelf empty for leftovers.
Everything fits in my refrigerator … until I need to squeeze in half a leftover pizza. Treantos recommends leaving “a small shelf open for [the leftovers] that will come and go throughout the week.” This simple rule makes kitchen closing duties far less maddening, and it’s my favorite change I made to my fridge.
2. Look for alternative storage options.
The fridge is high-value real estate with a clear limit. Prioritize items that must be refrigerated, and relocate less sensitive items to a “cool, dark pantry” or “secondary fridge.” I moved nuts and specialty flours to the pantry and my sourdough starter to a mini fridge in the garage, making space for my glorious new leftovers shelf.
3. Shop for the space you have.
I am clearly not going to go through the eight pints of cream in my fridge in seven days. I can dial back the scarcity mindset shopping and use that space for “priority items needed to get through the week.”
“Of course, we all wish we had a Sub-Zero and could shop on a whim for anything and everything we might need,” says Treantos. “But because that’s not the case for many of us, we have to be smart in the way we shop.”
4. Edit things you don’t like.
When Treantos told me I could remove condiments I “tried but didn’t like,” it was a revelation. I realized, if left unchecked, I was going to keep that yuzu hot sauce until it expired, and then throw it out. Instead, I offered it to a neighbor, reducing waste on two fronts — the food itself and the space it was taking up in my refrigerator.
5. Make everything easy to access.
I told Treantos that it was hard for me to reach items in the back of the fridge, and she suggested buying the rectangular lazy susan that has basically broken the Internet. The LAMU Turntable Organizer has all the benefits of a traditional lazy Susan, without sacrificing space on the corners. It’s incredible, and I can’t stop spinning it! The LAMU is a purchase you won’t regret, but be sure to measure your space first to make sure it fits.
6. Sometimes skipping containment is the right choice.
“Use containment when it makes sense,” says Treantos, but skip it when it makes life harder. For maximum flexibility, leave the leftover shelf completely clear to make space for various “sizes of dishes, platters, and tupperware.” When in doubt, “keep it simple,” says Treantos.
After I admitted that I was overbuying groceries, Treantos asked a fair question: “Do you really need that much produce to get through the week?”The honest answer, though, is yes. I ate maybe one vegetable in my childhood and I’m sure it was fried (french fries count, right?), so I’m making up for lost time. With my storage needs in mind, Treantos told me the following: “You don’t have to stick with the ‘norm’ of how a space is laid out. What’s stopping you from using the large drawer for produce so it’s stored together?”
Alas, my refrigerator is too “smart” to let me take advantage of this great idea (my meat drawer is colder than the rest of the refrigerator), but if your refrigerator is more flexible than mine, try it! I settled for an L-shaped veggie zone, including both drawers and a section in the bottom left for pre-prepped vegetables.
I probably get a B- on zones, both for my sprawling veggie section, and for storing butter in the door instead of with the rest of the dairy, but I’m happy with it for now. As Treantos says, “We can create our own rules that ultimately work best for us.” And with that, happy organizing!
In the unlikely event that 2 TB is not enough, you can increase your storage, but the option to upgrade to an even larger plan is available only for current subscribers and in select countries. Here are the plans (no annual discount on the 10-, 20-, or 30-TB plans):
5-TB Plan: For $25 per month or $250 per year (£20 or £200 in the UK), you get 5 TB with family sharing, the same perks as the original tier, 10 percent back on purchases from the Google Store, and a VPN for Android and iOS.
10-TB Plan: For $50 per month (no annual plan) (£40 in the UK), you get 10 TB with family sharing and the same perks as the 5-TB plan.
20-TB Plan: For $100 per month (no annual plan) (£80 in the UK), you get 20 TB with family sharing and the same perks as the 5-TB plan.
30-TB Plan: For $150 per month (no annual plan) (£120 in the UK), you get 30 TB with family sharing and the same perks as the 5-TB plan.
Google One Benefits
The main benefit of a Google One plan is the extra cloud storage you can share with up to five family members. While families can share the same space, personal photos and files are accessible only to each owner unless you specifically choose to share them. Everyone in the family can also share the additional benefits (provided you all live in the same country).
Let’s take a closer look at those benefits:
Access to Google Experts
You get instant access to Google experts for general questions or tech support for any Google product or service. You can contact support by phone, chat, or email through the Google One app 24/7. Response times for phone and chat are 2 to 3 minutes, while emails can expect a response within 24 hours.
Google via Simon Hill
Extra Editing Features in Google Photos
This adds features like Magic Eraser, enabling you to delete unwanted people or objects from the background of your photos, Portrait Light and Portrait Blur, enabling you to brighten faces and eliminate shadows or blur backgrounds for that bokeh effect, and HDR to enhance brightness and contrast. All features work with eligible shots in your Google Photos app. These features are available on Google Pixel phones, even if you don’t subscribe to Google One.
Cash Back on Purchases
The 200-GB plan nets you 3 percent back in Google Store credit for any Google Store purchases. The 2-TB plan and above nets you 10 percent back. If you’re thinking about buying multiple Google devices, this could prove useful. It can take up to one month to get the credit after your purchase, and it will have an expiry date attached.
VPN for Android and iOS
All plans now come with Google’s virtual private network service, VPN by Google One, for Android and iOS devices. It’s good for privacy and designed to prevent logging (so no one can see what you are doing on the internet), but it is a limited service compared to our favorite VPNs, chiefly because it works only with Android and iOS devices (no web support), and there’s no option to choose servers in specific countries.
Dark Web Monitoring
This is another security feature that scans the dark web and notifies you if any of your personal information (such as your email address or date of birth) is found there. If any of your data shows up, it will suggest next steps, such as setting up two-factor authentication. You can choose exactly what personal data it looks for and make changes at any time via the Google One app. You will also find some basic advice on things like how to avoid malware or create strong passwords.
Google Workspace Premium
Both the Premium plans include Google Workspace Premium, which gives you enhanced features in Google Meet and Google Calendar. For example, you can have longer meetings with background noise cancelation, or create a professional booking page to enable other folks to make appointments with you.
Nest Aware
Only included in the UK so far, a Nest Aware subscription that includes extended storage of video from home security cameras is now part of the 2TB Premium plan and above, starting from £8 per month or £80 per year. Considering Nest Aware costs £6 per month or £60 per year on its own, this seems like a great deal.
Fitbit Premium
Again, only included in the UK so far, Fitbit Premium is now included as part of the 2TB Premium plan and above, starting from £8 per month or £80 per year. Considering that Fitbit Premium currently costs £8 per month or £80 per year on its own in the UK, this deal is too good to pass up.
Gemini Advanced
Google’s AI chatbot (previously known as Bard) is “capable at reasoning, following instructions, coding, and creative collaboration,” according to Google. It can understand and generate high-quality code in various programming languages, and you can input text, images, or code. Google also plans to roll Gemini into Google apps, like Gmail, Docs, Slides, and Meet, but there’s no fixed release date for this yet.
Extra Benefits
A couple of things fall into this category:
Google Play Credits: You will occasionally get credits to redeem in the Play Store on books, movies, apps, or games. The amount and frequency vary.
Discounts, Trials, and Other Perks: You may get offers for discounted Google services or hardware, extended free trials of Google services, and other perks (for example, Google offered everyone upgrading to a 2-TB plan a free Nest Mini). These offers pop up and disappear seemingly at random.
How to Subscribe to Google One
If you want to sign up, it’s easy. Create or log in to a Google account, then visit the Google One website or install the Android or iOS app.
How many unread emails do you have right now? Sixty? Six thousand? Well, all of those messages and attachments take up space, whether they’re unread, old, or archived. And if you’re on Gmail and aren’t one of those weird inbox zero people who stays on top of things, you might be running out of space.
If Google’s got its Gmail hooks into you, there’s a good chance you’re also invested in the other parts of Google’s Cloud ecosystem—Drive and Photos. Google used to be a bastion of infinite storage space—once offering unlimited room for photos and emails. But now the company has been a lot more strict about counting the megabytes you use across its services. Soon, even WhatsApp backups may count against your storage allotment.
Google gives users 15 GB of digital storage for free. That includes everything in Gmail, Google Drive, and any uncompressed images stored in Google Photos. It’s a lot of free space, but if you get invested in the Google ecosystem—especially if your Android phone automatically backs up your data to Google’s cloud—you might find that you fill it up quickly. Once you hit the cap, you won’t be able to add anything to Google Drive, save new photos, or even send or receive emails. Google sends warnings when you’re running low, but those are easy to miss, and they often leave users scrambling to free up some space. Here’s how to avoid finding yourself in that position.
Before you start, see where you stand: Google’s Storage page will show you how much space you’ve taken up across Drive, Gmail, and Photos.
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The simplest way to free up Gmail space is to batch delete just about every damn thing in your inbox. Go to your Promotions tab and the Social tab at the top of your inbox, check the box in the top left corner to select all messages, then click Delete. (It’s the button that looks like a trash can, of course). The only problem with this method is that there are likely messages in there you want to keep. If you do much of your shopping online, for instance, it’s good to keep all your receipts. Luckily, there are a couple easy ways to sift through the mess and keep only what you need.
One method, suggested by WIRED senior writer Lily Hay Newman, is to curate your bulk deletions by email address. Even if they come from the same company, spam messages are often sent from a different email address than the actually useful info like receipts or order information. For example, PayPal sends receipts from service@paypal.com, while its marketing blasts (“Sign up for PayPal credit NOW!”) come from paypal@mail.paypal.com. Shipping info from Amazon comes via shipment-tracking@amazon.com. Spam comes from the likes of vfe-campaign-response@amazon.com and no-reply@business.amazon.com. As soon as you figure out which email addresses can be safely disregarded, you can delete them all without purging the stuff you want to keep. Just copy and paste the offending email address into the search bar and batch delete everything that pops up.
Another method (this one comes from former WIRED one Peter Rubin) is to sort your emails by file size. In the Gmail search bar, type “size:10mb” or “larger:10mb” (or whatever size you want) to bring up emails with attachments that exceed the size you define in the search. You’ll still have to go through and select what you want to delete, but at least it brings all the big emails together in one place. Your best bet would be to start big and work your way down.
Garbage Day
After deleting the thousands of emails you’ve filtered out, you may notice that your storage hasn’t budged. Though you may have thrown everything into the trash, you still have to empty the bin itself. Unlike your garbage IRL, if you just leave them sitting there in Gmail’s trash, your trashed emails will be deleted automatically after 30 days. But if your goal is to free up space, it’s best to take care of that purge manually. (Also, you have a chance to double-check to make sure nothing important got tossed into the trash by accident.)
Look for the trash can inside the left sidebar in Gmail and click on it. (If you don’t see it, click on More to expand the menu to show the trash icon.) Once inside your trash, you can just click Empty Trash Now near the top of the screen and everything will vanish into the digital underworld. Finally, you can revel in all your newfound space.
Drive Angry
Still don’t have enough room? Well, Gmail isn’t the only storage hog in the Google Suite. Google Drive and Google Photos can fill up quickly if you upload images or other files in their full quality. If you use Photos, go into your settings and make sure that your upload quality is set to Storage saver. (This used to be called High Quality but Google, as it is wont to do, changed the name.) Keep in mind this means the images will be compressed into Google’s own space-saving but still high-resolution format, while Original means they’ll stay in the (usually better) resolution you shot them in.
Every Google Drive account has a storage dashboard you can use to monitor your usage. The landing page shows all of your files in a list, and clicking on the arrow next to “Storage used” on the right side will sort the list by file size, showing the biggest files at the top. It might also help to take a look at your “Shared with me” folder to look for large files or folders. You never know when someone might have shared 4 GB of very important photos.
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The quest to keep things organized in the kitchen is never-ending. After all, there’s a nonstop flow of things in and out, and despite all the best intentions, it’s way too easy for things to get out of hand — and fast.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way. I’m late to the game in working with a professional organizer, but now that I know, I know. And ever since I began working with the experts, I’ve learned to trust the recommendations that come from a pro. They see our messiest, most challenging spaces, day in and day out, and have the skills and the experience to help turn things around. This can involve spending some extra money, but in my experience, at least, it’s been money well-spent to invest in things that keep everything in my space easy to find and access. After all, when you know you already have things at home, you’re less likely to buy duplicates and end up with waste.
I’m fascinated by how organizers’ brains work, and what their absolute go-tos are. Kim Jones of Lock & Key Home in Louisville, Kentucky, and author of The No-Nonsense Home Organization Plan, was kind enough to share her tried-and-true favorites when it comes to organizing kitchens. Here are the five she says every kitchen needs (all for around $20).
Sarah writes about all things shopping for Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, and Cubby helping you find the best deals and the best products for you and your home. A Brooklyn-born Jersey Girl, she loves a good playlist, a good bagel, and her family (but not necessarily in that order).
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It’s no secret that The Kitchn readers (and editors!) love German discount superstore Aldi — I mean, what’s not to love? From the phenomenal dinner finds and delicious snacks, to kitchen tools and home organizers, the budget grocer seems to have everything you didn’t know you needed and more. And with such a loyal fanbase, there are bound to be some beloved products that just can’t seem to stay in stock and disappear before you know it — but if you’re lucky, they eventually make their way back.
If you missed Huntington Home’s Rustic Carved Wood Candle when it went viral (and sold out instantly!) in the fall, it’s your lucky day. Today, Aldi is bringing back the candle in two cozy new scents: Salted Orchid & Driftwood, and Tobacco Leaf & Oak. Also known as dough bowl candles, each $19.99 candle has 10 wicks and comes in a long carved wooden bowl. The farmhouse style makes these suitable for any type of home design or decor — and not to mention, everything you can do with the sleek bowl after it’s spent.
While the candle itself is a statement piece on its own, once the wax is gone, there are numerous ways to upcycle the wooden vessel all over your home. Fill it with seashells, rocks, or marbles for a stunning centerpiece on your dining room or coffee table, or use it to store toiletries or office supplies for easy access to the gadgets you use most. Plus, there are endless ways to get creative and craft your own seasonal DIY decor with it!
You can grab them for a limited time at your local Aldi, but you may want to stock up while you can — if it’s anything like last time, these won’t last long.
Love This Wooden Candle? Then You’ll Also Love…
If you don’t have an Aldi close to you or these candles sell out before you get to the store, Amazon sells a similar five-wick version for a few dollars more that ships directly to your door. The Rustic Wooden Candle serves as a chic statement piece that adds a charming and minimalist boho element to any room. Crafted with soy wax, the candle will burn more slowly and is a more eco-friendly option than your standard wax candle. Let us know what you do with the bowl after the candle is finished in the comments below!
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Fact: Every kitchen needs a set of good glass jars or canisters to keep food fresh. Whether you’re storing baking staples (such as flour and sugar), stocking bulk grains (such as rice, quinoa, and oats), or packing up your meal prep for the week, you can’t argue with the versatility of a glass storage container. But, with so many shapes and sizes out there, it can be a bit overwhelming to choose from the vast selection. Which ones actually keep food fresh? Which ones make sense in a pantry? Which ones can you skip? If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry: We’re here to help. We’ve scoured the web for the best dry goods containers, containers for leftovers, and spice jars to create the most comprehensive list around — and then we narrowed down the list to our favorite 16 options. Let’s take a look!
Do you have a favorite glass container to add to this list? Tell us in the comments below!
