Tag: underscored-home

The essentials list: ‘Real Housewives’ star Kyle Richards shares her Halloween must-haves | CNN Underscored

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Nevermind all those heightened emotions on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” When the calendar turns to October, Kyle Richards is immune to even the most dramatic of scares. “I love the spooky aspect of Halloween,” she says. “We celebrate it big every year because the holiday has followed me my whole life.”

The Bravo star and actress has the receipts. As a small child, she appeared on the TV series “Little House on the Prairie” and recalls that patriarch Michael Landon had an October 31 birthday. Her oldest daughter, Farrah, was born on the same day in 1989, prompting a slew of decadent themed parties. (Surely “RHOBH” fans remember the bash in which Lisa Rinna dressed up as costar Erika Jayne.)

And, of course, Richards has deep ties to the “Halloween” movie franchise. Not only did she play young Lindsey Wallace in the original 1978 horror classic — Jamie Lee Curtis’ babysitting Laurie Strode successfully protected her against masked killer Michael Meyers — she reprises the role in the purported final installment, “Halloween Ends” (in theaters Friday, Oct. 14). “It’s incredible to me that I’ve been here since the very beginning and playing this character,” Richards says. “I love that the fans are still invested!”

So, where is Lindsey now? Still residing in doomed Haddonfield, Illinois, where she’s friends with Laurie and her granddaughter (Andi Matichak). “It’s a small part, so this movie is really about me supporting Jamie,” she explains.

Richards isn’t yet sure about her plans for the 2022 version of her favorite holiday. Until then, she spoke with CNN Underscored about the decor, costumes and pet accessories that keep her in good Halloween spirits.

Richards starts decorating her Beverly Hills mansion on Oct. 1. “I love to set the vibe and the tone right away,” she says. That means draping fuzzy cobwebs on the front door — along with a “trick or treat” sign — and decking the halls with purple and orange lights. (She enlists her daughters for help on the latter.) “If you walk through my home,” she says, “it’s all lit up inside.”

Pity the pumpkins that used to be displayed on Richards’ porch. “I’d go out to a pumpkin patch and buy these pumpkins — then the dogs and squirrels would eat them,” she says. “I couldn’t deal!” Now she opts for water-resistant pre-lit lanterns that one of her daughters found on Amazon. Perhaps the change is for the best: “My kids are not at an age where they want to carve a pumpkin with me anymore, which is depressing. They can’t be bothered!’

Depending on her agenda for the night, “I’ll either do the mom costume of a black cat with ears or I do sexy,” she says. “Halloween is the one time of year I can actually get away with it!” (See: her Playboy bunny costume in the 2019 “RHOBH” Halloween episode.) Richards makes her picks in-person at L.A.’s famous Trashy Lingerie, which has been selling apparel and accessories since 1974; non-Angelinos can shop from its online selection.

Richards is aware of the consensus on candy corns . . . and doesn’t care! “I know there is hate,” she says. “I love them and will eat them until I have a migraine. I only buy candy that I like!” But because her house is gated, she doesn’t pass out anything to the neighborhood kids. Instead, she heads over to chez Paris Hilton. “My niece has a great area for trick-or-treating, so we’ve gone up there the past few years.”

The (black) cat’s out of the bag! Back in the day, Richards and her husband would pour alcohol in red Solo cups and then whisk the drinks into the night. “We’d go trick-or-treating with the girls and just bring along the cups — it was really obvious,” she says. After all, “We’ve got to have treats too!”

River, Bambi, Storm, Luna, Romeo and Smokey, the family’s rescue dogs, are all in costume on the big night. “I’ve done the lion thing where they have a little mane around their heads,” she says. However, she advises fellow dog owners to choose wisely, as the pets don’t necessarily love the experience quite as much. In fact, she admits that dressing her dog as a fairy princess with a flowing cone hat probably wasn’t the smartest idea.

“Thriller” isn’t the only excellent piece of Halloween music. Every season, Richards likes to change the ringtone on her phone to the creepy “Halloween” theme that plays over the opening credits of the movies. (Fun fact: Halloween director John Carpenter composed it.) “It’s so iconic that whenever it goes off, people freak out!” she says. “I kind of like that.”

OK, so Richards exactly doesn’t watch The Movie That Started It All on the actual night. But she does catch it on TV “by chance,” and people constantly tag her on Instagram when they watch it as well. She also notes that her daughters have never had the pleasure. “It’s not even the scariness,” she says. “There’s nudity! That always used to stress me out as a mom.”

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October 16, 2022
The best robot mops in 2022 | CNN Underscored

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A robot mop — much like a robot vacuum, but armed with a water tank and microfiber cloths or mop pads that wipe your floor in place of or in addition to a dust bin — can be incredibly useful as part of your regular cleaning.

We tested eleven models — three dedicated mops and eight mop-vacuum hybrids — to find the most effective and efficient automated assistants to help you keep your floors clean.

Best robot mop overall

The compact, inexpensive iRobot Braava Jet 240 is simply the best robot mop for the money. While it doesn’t have the smarts of more expensive models and can’t do double duty as a vacuum, its efficient design and simple pattern-based navigation deliver impressive cleaning.

Best robot vacuum and mop combo

The Bissell SpinWave 2-in-1 Robotic Mop and Vacuum is an attractive and capable robot mop-vacuum with good performance, Wi-Fi connectivity and superior mopping ability to the other hybrid models we tested.

Best luxury robot vacuum and mop combo

The Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni offers the best hands-off cleaning experience and fast and accurate mapping, and won’t mop your carpeting. The cleaning station empties the robot’s dustbin, cleans its mop and refills the water tank.

For the price, the iRobot Braava Jet 240 is the best robot mop we tested. For keeping your hard floors neat and tidy without you having to manually mop every day, the iRobot Braava Jet 240 is a handy, affordable tool to have in your cleaning closet.

The iRobot Braava Jet 240 won our hearts with its compact design before we even started mopping. It’s small, lightweight (3 pounds) and has a handle so you can easily carry it from room to room. Its low 3.3-inch profile allows it to get under furniture and into hard-to-reach places, while the squared-off edges mean it can get into corners and along baseboards in a way that round robots just can’t. It even did a good job maneuvering around a toilet base. It also uses a removable rechargeable battery so there’s no need to take up valuable floor space with a charging dock.

Despite its small size, the Braava Jet 240 delivered a big clean. With a vibrating cleaning head (like our favorite affordable hybrid, the Bissell SpinWave) and the ability to use cleaning solution (iRobot’s solution only) in the water tank, the Braava Jet 240 actually mops the floor rather than simply using a cloth to wipe it down with water. The robot uses proprietary cleaning pads (available in both disposable and washable varieties) that, when attached to the bottom of the robot, tell it which cleaning mode to begin. There are three cleaning modes to choose from: dry sweeping, damp sweeping and wet mopping.

Even though the robot isn’t Wi-Fi-connected and lacks smart features (you can, if you like, control the robot via Bluetooth from the iRobot Home app), it uses an efficient cleaning pattern that covers the whole kitchen floor, especially along the baseboards. The Jet 240 impressively maneuvered around a hallway carpet, cleaning the open floor alongside it while avoiding ever going onto the carpet. This is something many of the more expensive, advanced hybrid robot mops could not do. If you need to, you can create a virtual “wall” to confine the Braava Jet 240 to a single space just by pushing two buttons on the robot itself — very convenient indeed.

It did great on tile and hardwood floors, leaving no streaks as it cleaned up cat-litter-dusted paw prints, though on a tile floor we noticed some water accumulation on some of the grout, as the cleaning pads don’t apply enough pressure to reach into crevices. It dried quickly but it’s not clear the grout is getting as clean as the floor is. And while it couldn’t handle dried dirt and tougher stains as well, none of the robot mops excelled in that area.

The Bissell SpinWave 2-in-1 Robotic Mop and Vacuum is the only robot mop we tested in this category that uses dual spinning pads, which were far more effective in our testing than the standard flat mop pads employed on the other models. The SpinWave did a great job getting up dirt and splatter spots from my tile kitchen floor and didn’t leave streaks on the hardwood floors. It was the only model that didn’t make me feel like my kitchen had just been lightly Swiffered with a damp cloth.

While all the other robots we tested call for using only plain water in the water tank, the SpinWave can use cleaning products, and Bissell includes a trial size bottle of multi-surface floor cleaner in the box (you can buy other floor- and task-specific formulations through the Bissell app or online, like pet multi-surface with Febreze, wood floor cleaner and one for tough messes and odors).

The SpinWave has sensors to help it automatically detect and avoid carpeting when it’s mopping. This wasn’t perfect — it did end up mopping onto the edge of a dining room carpet — so if you’re using it in an open-floor-plan home with a mix of hardwood or tile surfaces and carpeting, we recommend keeping an eye on it if you’re running it through the whole house (we carried it from kitchen to bathroom for mopping sessions).

You’ll need to swap tanks (the robot comes with a dry tank for vacuuming and a wet tank for mopping) to use the SpinWave as a vacuum and a mop. You can’t do both at the same time as you can with some of the more expensive models (though it does pick up some solid debris while mopping). The circular mop pads attach to the bottom of the water tank and are easily removed for washing.

In vacuum mode, the SpinWave uses a rotating brush roll and dual spinning edge brushes on the bottom to help pick up debris and pet hair in vacuum mode. I found it did a pretty good job on low-pile carpet and hardwood floors. Three suction power levels — low, mid and max — are available.

While the SpinWave may lack the more advanced features found on pricier models, like mapping and the ability to set virtual keep-out zones, The Bissell app gives you access to some connected features like remote controls, a selection of cleaning modes and power levels and scheduled cleaning. You can also set the SpinWave to mop in auto mode, and the robot will run straight rows, or you can use spot mode for concentrated messes and spills.

If mopping the floors is something you do regularly, and you’re looking for a hybrid model that doesn’t cost a fortune, the Bissell SpinWave 2-in-1 Robotic Mop and Vacuum is the right robot for you, delivering one of the best mopping experiences — and certainly the best experience for the money — we found in a robot mop-vac.

Truthfully, no one really needs a $1,500 robot house cleaner, and it’s reasonable to ask if you should spend so much on a robot that isn’t able to wash your dishes or bring you a drink. But the Deebot X1 Omni is the best we’ve seen of a new generation of robots. Its advanced AI object detection and laser mapping really work, and it offers the most hands-off user experience I’ve ever had. Combine that with powerful vacuuming and mopping capabilities and an auto-empty docking station that cleans the mop pads and refills the water tank, and you may find yourself coming up with ways to justify spending the money.

Choosing between the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni and its close competitor, the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, is difficult because they both performed so well in navigating and mapping as well as in our cleaning tests. Both pair their respective companies’ top-end robot with an advanced dock that auto-empties and auto-fills the robot, theoretically giving you a totally hands-off cleaning experience (at least on a daily basis; at longer intervals you’ll have to empty and refill the dock itself).

Based on our testing, the Deebot X1 robot wins out over the Roborock S7 MaxV with a sleeker look, a smaller footprint and — significantly, since this is a major downside of cheaper robot mops — an unerring ability to detect and avoid carpets. In our testing, it got to the very edge of the carpeting and turned around each time. We wanted to give it a cat treat and say, “good robot!”

First and foremost, the Deebot X1 does a great job mopping and vacuuming. Dual spinning mop pads provide better scrubbing capability than the flat cloth style used on other robots so that it cleans much more than surface dirt. It picked up coffee, dried ketchup and other stains better than the other robots I tested.

The Deebot’s mix of detection systems, mapping software and effective automation and remote control really made it stand out. Mapping was a huge pain point on the other robots we tested, often taking two or three attempts to get the house mapped and even then sometimes failing or losing the map entirely. The Deebot X1 Omni, on the other hand, mapped our testing house near-perfectly in 12 minutes. This made it super easy to use the app to set rooms and to create dividers and no-go zones (though it sometimes took a few tries to rename zones and rooms within the Deebot’s app).

Using both a Lidar scanner and an AI-backed camera system, the Deebot excelled in our testing at object avoidance. It never bumped into furniture, even in a dark room, and it made its way around obstacles like pet toys. You can also view the camera’s output as a live feed if you want to check in when you’re not home, and you can even use two-way audio if you might want to communicate with someone remotely. The floor-level perspective is great for recording video of pets (you can steer the robot remotely to get an optimal point of view). You can record 15-second clips on your phone using the app, though there’s no cloud storage (for privacy reasons) and the robot always announces when the camera has been turned on or off.

The Deebot has its own proprietary voice assistant, Yiko (pronounced ee-Koh), which lets you give the robot more specific commands than those available through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant (which it also supports). You can say “OK Yiko” to stop and start a mopping or vacuuming session, send it to a specific room or ask it to clean a certain area. Yiko worked well in our testing, though it occasionally responded to unrelated conversations, asking me what we wanted it to clean.

The Deebot X1 Omni auto-empty docking station has tanks for both dirty and clean water, as well as one for dust and debris, making for a relatively massive unit, 5 inches taller than the corresponding Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra dock, though the Omni dock’s bags and tanks are larger in capacity, meaning you’ll have to deal with filling and emptying less often. Also, despite its taller profile, the Deebot Omni base station is not as deep as the Roborock Ultra, and the robot docks farther inside the base, taking up less space in the room. Clear tanks make it easy to see how much dirty water has been collected and when it’s time to top off the clean water container. There’s also a hidden container for extra bags and cleaning tools.

The robot always returned to the docking station when mopping was finished, and automatically washed the mopping pads and re-filled the water tank. It also air dries the mop pads, so they don’t smell mildewy. You can set how long you’d like the drier to run but it does make a little humming noise while it’s drying.

The Deebot X1 Omni isn’t perfect. It lacks a dedicated spot-cleaning or edge-cleaning mode (though you can use app or voice controls to have it clean a specific area, which takes a few extra steps). It only used plain water to clean; you can’t use any sort of soap or floor-cleaning solution. And, of course, it’s very expensive. But if you want near-flawless navigation and a virtually hands-off wet and dry cleaning experience, the Deebot X1 Omni delivers.

If you’re looking to save the effort of regular manual mopping and you have a lot of hard floors, a robot mop can help you keep things clean much in the way a robot vacuum can. Like a robot vacuum, a mopping robot is best thought of as a way to make weekly or monthly cleanings easier rather than as a full-on floor care solution. Like their single-purpose vacuuming cousins, even the most high-tech robot can’t reach every corner of your home and will not replace your full-size canister vacuum or upright vacuum.

And no mopping robot is going to get your floors as clean as a handheld mop or sponge and a little elbow grease. There’s not a whole lot of scrubbing taking place, for one thing (think Swiffer more than mop), and the majority won’t pick up sticky, greasy messes since they are only using water to clean. They do help, but you have to be realistic about your expectations.

Hybrid robot mop-vacuums are worth it if you lack the space for both devices. All of these will work as typical robot vacuum cleaners, picking up pet hair from the floors and low pile carpeting, even under furniture, and will mop your hard floors as well, keeping the house tidy. All of the models we tested except for the most expensive occasionally mopped our carpets (if we wanted to wet-clean those, we’d rather have a carpet cleaner), so they require supervision if this is a concern, and you might want to plan on carrying them to locations where they are needed.

Now that the next generation of home cleaning robots has entered the field, we wouldn’t recommend spending more unless you can really afford one of the next-generation models, with more complete base stations and more elaborate automation, mapping and location features.

Mapping technology is a pain point for many of the last-generation high-end robots (like the Ecovacs Deebot T8+ and Roborock S7+) and you can’t use the high-end features you’re paying for until the mapping is done. The good news is that the next-gen robots are superb at mapping, so if you want all those features and obstacle avoidance as well as the ability to avoid carpeting while mopping, splurge on the newer Ecovacs Deebot Omni X1 or Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra. Otherwise, stick with the far less expensive iRobot Braava Jet 240, or if you want something that also vacuums, get the Bissell SpinWave.

These more-advanced hybrid mop vacuums, like the Ecovacs Deebot X1 and Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, really do perform as advertised, offering hands-off autonomous house cleaning once you set them up (though as with the cheaper models, you’ll still have to take care of periodic deep cleaning the old-fashioned way). But if more hands-off cleaning is what you’re looking for, these might be worth the splurge. You just need to figure out which of their features are more important to you.

If you’re interested in the most effective robot mop — say you have more hard floors than carpets and don’t mind attaching the mopping pads when you want to mop — the Ecovacs Deebot Omni X1 has more useful features, like the ability to self-dry the mopping pads and an on-board voice assistant for robot control.

If you have lots of low-pile carpeting and want a robot that’s a good vacuum and can take care of a smaller amount of mopping on a single pass through your house without having to swap out tools, get the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, which can lift its mop while it goes over the carpets.

We looked at 11 models with a wide variety of features and price points and at two more full-featured next-generation units, which claim to do it all: mop, vacuum, empty the dust bin, refill the water tank and wash the mop for you.

With each robot, we looked at how well it mopped and vacuumed, and how easily it transitioned between the two. Wi-Fi-connected robots were also judged on the effectiveness and ease of use of their apps, how well they did at mapping the house and how easy it was to define and use virtual boundaries.

Each model was given multiple runs across mostly low-pile carpeting and hardwood floors in an approximately 1,500-square-foot home with two furry cats. We looked at how well they mopped the floor and whether they were able to detect and avoid carpeting.

iRobot’s more advanced Braava Jet m6 adds Wi-Fi and a lot of smart features that might make sense if you also have an advanced Roomba vacuum, but from a mopping perspective it performs identically to the cheaper Braava Jet 240.

The Braava Jet m6 has a larger water tank so you don’t have to fill it as often and the see-through tank means you always know when it needs to be refilled, but we recommend saving some money and buying the cheaper Braava Jet 240 unless you already have (or plan to buy) an I-series, S-series or 900-series Roomba and plan to use the Imprint Link feature to coordinate vacuuming and mopping between the two devices.

More advanced smarts let the m6 map your house, understand keep-out zones, respond to voice commands and navigate obstacles and stairs. It will dry sweep or wet mop floors, like the 240, and you can adjust how much water or cleaning solution it sprays as it goes. It cleans the room in efficient, neat rows and covers every inch of the floor, including edges without ever going on carpeting. It can also target specific areas within a room and head back to the dock to recharge when necessary.

The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra (which combines the Roborock S7 MaxV robot vacuum and the Ultra self-cleaning docking station) is a next-generation home cleaning system that competes directly with (and cleans just as well as) the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni. Like that system, once you set up the S7 MaxV Ultra, you shouldn’t have to deal with it until you need to fill or change out tanks in the docking station, meaning you can let it work on its own for weeks at a time. The Ultra dock is currently out of stock, but should be available in May; if you can’t wait, the S7 MaxV Plus (including Auto-Empty Dock) is available at Amazon and Roborock for $1,159.99.

The Roborock has many of the same features as the Deebot X1, such as advanced, AI-based object and obstacle detection using a combination of Lidar and optical cameras; a livestreaming camera that lets the robot do double duty as a mobile security camera and fast and accurate home mapping. It is a big jump in technology and features from the Roborock S7+.

While on the Deebot X1 you need to swap out tools when you want to mop, you can leave the mopping pads on the S7 MaxV and it can transition from vacuuming mode to mop mode automatically during a single run, so long as your carpet isn’t too deep. This feature (called “VibraRise”) was introduced on the last-generation high-end Roborock units like the S7+ and it lifts the mop brushes by 5mm when it senses low-pile carpeting so it doesn’t mop the carpet as it vacuums. If the carpet is taller than that and the mop heads are still attached, the S7 MaxV simply avoids it, much as the Deebot X1 would during a mopping run. The mop pad is also lifted off the floor as the robot charges so it air dries (the Ultra dock doesn’t have a forced-air dry function like the Deebot X1’s Omni dock).

In practice, the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra system was reasonably effective, though neither the Roborock or the Ecovacs can really clean every floor surface in your whole house in a single pass unless you have the specific mix of low-pile carpet and hard floors that the Roborock is designed for. The S7 MaxV Ultra did a really nice job on hardwood floors, mopping the whole width of the pad and leaving no streaks, something the less-expensive robots had difficulty with.

The Ultra Empty Wash Fill Dock is very large and bulky, made of black plastic, and leaves the three tanks exposed rather than hidden away as on the Deebot Omni dock, and it’s just not as pleasing a design aesthetically. The water tanks are not see-through either, so to check the water levels, you need to pull them out and open them up to see in. The power cord in the back is very thick and long and there’s not enough space behind the dock to coil it, making it difficult to push it up against a wall. You’ll need a lot of clearance for this massive cleaning system, even given that it has less capacity than the Ecovacs system.

For now, despite the very useful VibraRise system, for most households we’d give the edge in next-generation robot mop-vacuuming hybrid technology to the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni

The Roborock S7+, the company’s previous top-of-the-line unit, doesn’t have the advanced AI object-avoidance capabilities or security camera functions of the new S7Max Ultra, but it’s about as good as previous-generation models get.

The S7+ vacuums well, with increased suction as it detects carpeting. The robot uses “Sonic Mopping,” a function that vibrates the mopping pad very quickly (the company claims 3,000 vibrations per minute) to break up dirt. In our testing this wasn’t able to handle dried dirt or greasy spills, but it does have a useful “high intensity mopping” mode for better spot cleaning.

As the S7+ passed over carpeting the indicator light on the robot changed from blue, for mopping mode, to white, for vacuum mode, though our carpets did get ever-so-slightly damp. This wasn’t out of line with our expectations since the function is only meant to work with very low-pile carpets. The auto-empty dock adds simplicity and convenience to using the robot. It automatically empties the robot’s dust bin when it returns to the charging station.

Though it uses Lidar navigation to efficiently map the house, it had trouble getting started. Initially, it wanted to go through the same room a few times while never making it to the bedroom, and if it needed to go back to recharge, it started the mapping process over. It did finally complete a map, and we were able to use the app to set no-mop zones and cleaning schedules, as well as adjust suction power of the vacuum and the amount of water flow when mopping. Like with other robots, you can create invisible walls and see the route the robot is taking.

The S7+ is available with a slightly simpler auto-empty dock, which the company claims you shouldn’t have to manually empty for up to 8 weeks (depending, of course. on how dirty your house gets, how many pets you have and how much they shed, and so forth).

The Roborock S7+ is a really good, well-designed hybrid robot with unique features but the $949 price tag is too high compared to the equally capable Ecovacs Deebot T8+ which sells for $200 less. You can buy just the S7 robot for $649 if you can live without the self-emptying feature.

Like the Roborock S7+, the Ecovacs Deebot T8+ is a capable hybrid robot mop-vac with an auto-empty station. It can vacuum and mop at the same time using separate dry and wet tanks. You can run it with or without the mop attachment on.

Ecovacs says the T8 can automatically detect and avoid carpeting when the mopping pad is on, but it didn’t always detect them in my testing. Since it can’t raise its mop like the Roborock can, it wound up mopping parts of the carpets before we pulled it away.

It automatically boosts the suction power when it’s vacuuming carpeting and does a good job picking up pet hair. It’s quiet and handles door sills better than other models and does a good job maneuvering around furniture.

The Auto-Empty Station is smaller than the Roborock’s, though it will still hold about 8 weeks worth of debris, depending on usage. It worked well, but we did have one instance of cat hair getting stuck in the suction tube and we had to clean it out by hand.

Like with other connected robots, once you map your home, you can set scheduled cleanings, create boundaries and virtual walls and control the water flow in each room while mopping. And just like other connected robots, mapping was an exercise in frustration. It took multiple tries, going over the same rooms and recharging over and over until it finally completed.

The iLife A11 does only an average job cleaning. It did well picking up cat hair but left some cat litter on the bathroom floor. It also left some hair on low-pile carpeting. This won’t replace your standalone vacuum, but for a scheduled quick run through the house in between deeper cleanings, this will get the job done.

As with most last-generation robots, the A11 can map your home, and be controlled via an app or by a hardware remote. Also as is usual, the mapping process can be frustrating but once you complete it, it will store up to three maps in memory. You can set zones, so the robot mops in one zone and only vacuums in another. The A11 also has Lidar-based smart navigation to avoid objects in its path.

Its two-in-one dustbin holds both water and debris so it can vacuum and mop in a single pass. The two-in-one dustbin can be replaced with a larger, dedicated dust bin if you just want to use the A11 as a vacuum.

The app lets you adjust power and mode while vacuuming and mopping. You can increase the suction of the vacuum from eco to standard to turbo and adjust the amount of water that is dispensed in mopping mode. You can do the same on the remote control, along with switching between edge mode and spot clean.

One warning: it doesn’t come with a protective base to keep things dry under the robot while docked, so you’ll want to take off the mopping cloth after each use if your charging base is on a wood floor.

The iLife Shinebot W450 does a good job mopping floors, but it didn’t perform as well as the similar iRobot Braava Jet m6 or cheaper and simpler Braava Jet 240. It’s a mopping robot with smart navigation and an app that lets you adjust cleaning modes and target the area you want cleaned, but at 11 inches round and 4.7 inches high, it’s not going to get under furniture, near baseboards, under cabinets and around toilets.

In addition, for a robot that’s supposed to simplify your life, it requires way too much work to use it. You’ll have to open the robot to access and fill the tank, and it’s difficult to put back together (we managed to spill a tank of water on the floor). Once charged, in order to start a cleaning run, you need to manually lift it off its charging base and place it on the floor you want cleaned. It has a handle to carry and move it, but it can’t start itself or return to the dock to recharge on its own.

It’s really too bad, as once the W450 gets to cleaning it does a good job. It has two tanks, one to collect dirty water and one for clean water so it’s not just pushing dirt around. First it sprays (water and cleaning fluid, if you’re using it) then it scrubs with a roller brush, sucks away the dirty water and wipes off any residue water, so your floors dry really quickly. Of course, then you have to empty and wash the dirty water tank when it’s done.

The V8s is an older model in the iLife product line, and has dropped in price to where it no longer feels overpriced for what it can and can’t do. That said, while it is a capable mop, as a hybrid it has trouble navigating around carpet, and you are better served confining it to your kitchen or other hard-floored rooms, or sticking with a dedicated mop robot. As a vacuum, it’s actually a good hard-floor pet hair option because of its suction tube design, but the lack of roller brushes means it can’t handle low-pile carpet, cutting into its potential versatility.

In our open-plan test home, the V8s did a good job mopping the kitchen floor, but unfortunately, as it went from kitchen to dining room to living room (transitioning from hardwood floors to low-pile carpeting), it couldn’t detect the low-pile carpeting and went right over it, squirting water along the way.

This iLife robot uses a suction tube, much like a traditional vacuum cleaner, rather than the roller or bristle brushes used on other robots. This lets it do a better job than some of the other models we tested at cleaning up pet hair, as the debris is sucked up right into the bin without getting tangled up in a roller brush. It does great on hardwood and tile floors, but the downside of having no roller brush is that it doesn’t do a very thorough job on low pile carpeting.

It can’t vacuum and mop in a single pass, so you have to swap out the dustbin and water tank each time you change modes. It also doesn’t come with a floor mat so if you leave it on the charging base with the water tank attached you might end up with water stains on your floor. We recommend putting in the dust tank and letting the water tank empty and dry between uses.

The Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid is a Wi-Fi-connected robot mop-vacuum hybrid with high-end features like smart navigation and in-app mapping and scheduling, but it only does an average job vacuuming and mopping. To make space for the water tank, the dust bin is slightly smaller than in the standalone X8 vacuum we reviewed in our test of the best robot vacuums, and the mop functionality is lacking. There are no mop-specific controls so you can’t adjust how much water is put down for a specific task.

Mapping was frustrating and inconsistent. While you can create no-go zones to keep the mop off your carpeting, these didn’t persist in memory during our testing, and were ignored as the robot ran.

In its favor, the Eufy X8 Hybrid lets you mop and vacuum in a single pass, which certainly makes it more efficient. Some of the other units require you to swap out the dust bin and water tank each time you change from vacuum to mop, and it includes a translucent mat to protect your floor if you keep the mop cloth on while charging the device.

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October 15, 2022
The cult-favorite GE Opal Nugget Ice Maker is on sale right now | CNN Underscored

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Drive-in ice — you know, the nugget-shaped ice you can get at certain fast-food spots — is one of summer’s greatest pleasures, and now you can re-create it yourself at home, thanks to the cult-favorite GE Opal Nugget Ice Maker, on sale now at Amazon.

This cult-favorite, pellet ice-producing product is down to the lowest price we’ve seen at Amazon right now. You’ll at least score some savings if you’re after that chewable, crunchy ice flake texture.

Originally up to $529 (undoubtedly a hefty price tag for a machine that produces frozen water), the ice maker is now marked down to the lowest price we’ve seen. Though it’s still quite expensive, you’ll at least score some savings if you’re after that chewable, crunchy ice flake texture.

If you tend to take on hosting duties, it’ll be your best friend: The machine can turn out 24 pounds of ice each day in batches of 3 pounds at a time. Plus, it all comes in a compact and portable (!) package that can be easily left out on your countertop or transferred outside for your next barbecue. Just fill up the reservoir with water and get icing.

Be sure to shop soon if you intend to add nugget ice to your kitchen offerings; the machine is likely to sell out fast.

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October 12, 2022
46 little things you can buy on Amazon that make a big difference | CNN Underscored

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Editors’ Picks

Sometimes, everyday products our editors use don’t make it into our in-depth, long-form comparative pieces in which we vigorously test similar products head-to-head. That’s where our Editors’ Picks come in — where we highlight everyday products we personally stand by and use on a daily basis, and think you should too.

Amazon can often feel a little like the Wild West — with a seemingly endless array of options and sometimes inconsistent reviews, it can often all be one big guessing game.

So that’s why we’ve pulled together some of our staff’s favorite useful things on Amazon, many of which are small but have provided us with big results in various ways. Bonus: They’re all under $50 (and start at just $5).

Picked by: Kai Burkhardt, associate editor

The second I used this exfoliating shower towel, I knew I’d never go back to a loofah ever again. The specific material and thread pattern allow it to lather up soap like a loofah, but still give you a thorough, exfoliating clean. At first it feels a bit rough, but in the best way possible. The Goshi has really changed the way I’ve showered and I don’t plan on giving it up any time soon.

Read our review

Picked by: Stephanie Griffin, social media strategist

This insect trap that I found on Amazon was a game changer over the summer, when my apartment was suddenly infested with fruit flies. (Gross, I know.) But I needed a way to safely yet efficiently get rid of them ASAP and this was my under-$50 solution! All I needed to do was plug it in and let the device go to work for me; the UV light attracts the bug to the trap, and the fan — which makes zero noise — sucks it in and traps it on the sticky pad…for good. Thankfully, I haven’t had to use my Katchy since, but I feel confident I’m armed and prepared for the next (and very unfortunate) time pesky fruit flies decide to attack.

Picked by: Chelsea Stone, senior commerce editor

Do you find yourself scouring the bottom of your junk drawer for loose batteries when your electronics are running low on juice? Just me? Either way, you need a battery organizer. This one holds batteries of all different sizes and prevents them from rolling around and getting jumbled up.

Picked by: Chelsea Stone, senior commerce editor

The rubbery version of the TubShroom is famous, but I actually recommend springing for the stainless steel TubShroom Ultra Edition. Like its more ubiquitous counterpart, this TubShroom works wonders at catching hair and preventing clogs, but in my opinion, it’s far superior when it comes to cleanup. The regular TubShroom is a bit of a challenge to sanitize; lint, hair and sometimes mildew tend to get caught in the holes, so you really have to scrub. Not so with the Ultra Edition. I’ve found that debris really doesn’t stick to it, making it even easier (and less gross) to rinse off for a dollar or two more.

Picked by: Emmy Favilla, deputy editor

As much as we make an effort to use reusable bags for everyday errands, most households still wind up with their fair share of plastic bags. If you’re looking to store your stash in a more organized and elegant way than simply placing them into another plastic bag under your kitchen sink — or stuffing a drawer with them — you need this dispenser. I hang it just above my cats’ litter boxes, so it’s easy to grab one when I need to clean them out. The design is minimalist and chic, and it fits up to 30 grocery-sized bags.

Picked by: Daniel Toy, copy editor

Since buying this simple, handy little tool, I haven’t opened a package with anything else. It has a tiny little blade that precisely and easily cuts through boxes and packaging tape but is safe to the touch, so no more scissor or knife accidents. It also has a built-in magnet, making it easy to find and grab from my fridge as I rush to open my latest 3 a.m. impulse buy, and it works great for crafting projects as a safer, budget X-Acto knife alternative.

Picked by: Dana Holmes, contributing writer

Keeping my family’s grocery shopping and meal planning organized while working from home with two young boys has been one of my biggest challenges — until I got this magnetic whiteboard. Now I plan the week’s menu over the weekend and write it on the board, including snacks, so that everyone knows what we’re having which day (including myself!). I use the bottom to jot down things we need to buy with the next batch of groceries as well. This has saved my sanity more than anything else I’ve bought during the pandemic.

Picked by: Kristin Magaldi, associate editor

When I read about this little kitchen gadget, I immediately snatched it up. Not only is it incredibly affordable, it makes draining pasta and washing vegetables a lot easier because the handles adjust to the size of your sink. No more having your colander touch the dirty bottom of your sink, and if you’re feeling lazy, you don’t have to wash the dishes in your sink to use it. Best part is that when you’re all done with it, it collapses, making it space efficient.

Picked by: Daniel Toy, copy editor

This backpack hamper is an absolute game changer for anyone who has to cart their dirty laundry up or down stairs or to a laundromat. Its built-in backpack straps free your hands so you can easily open doors, and its drawstring closure ensures that nothing will fall out while you walk with it. My favorite feature (aside from the fact that it makes lugging my clothes around so much easier) is the front pocket that’s perfect for holding detergent, bleach, dryer sheets, quarters or basically anything else you’ll need to do your laundry. This thing has definitely made my least favorite chore a little more bearable.

Picked by: Natasha Hatendi, photo editor

I noticed an immediate difference in water quality; it was much softer, and the chemical/chlorine smell that I get from city water was no longer present. Most importantly, my irritated skin didn’t itch or feel dry after showering. The shower filter also comes with replacement filters and vitamin C blocks so you can rest assured that you have enough for a minimum of four months. (I, of course, bought extra because I don’t think I can live without this product anymore.) It has restored the joy in my daily self-care rituals!

Picked by: Chelsea Stone, senior commerce editor

I love cherry tomatoes probably a weird amount — a salad just isn’t complete without them! But what I do not love is slicing them all individually so they’re easier to stab with your fork. Now, thanks to this handy kitchen gadget, I’m saving tons of time and energy previously spent slicing. Simply sandwich your tomatoes (or grapes, or olives, or other small round food) between the two pieces, and run your knife through the space to batch-slice in a flash.

Picked by: Hayley Saltzman, head of social media

In order to take proper care of your candles (avoid tunneling, black smoke around the rim, etc.) you should be using both a wick dipper and a trimmer. This set will help you keep your candles in perfect shape, and you’ll never have to deal with that annoying black smoke ever again.

Picked by: Michael Andronico, senior tech writer

I’ve been collecting a lot of art over the past year or so, and have ordered a bunch of these cheap picture frame sets so that I can proudly display my geeky prints on my wall. They feel very sturdy for the price, and I especially love the rotating paddles in the back that make it easy to remove the back panel and swap new art in.

Picked by: Emily McNutt, travel editor

Ahead of the holiday greeting card season, this was a fantastic solution for the age-old hassle of licking envelopes. Say goodbye to that gross tase — and who wants to do that in a post-Covid world anyway? This envelope moistener was just what I was looking for.

Picked by: Scott Simone, deputy editor

When trying to recreate your favorite frothy latte at home, you can certainly opt for an ultra-expensive espresso machine. But for the budget-conscious, the Aerolatte Milk Frother creates creamy, dream-worthy lattes. No steam, no learning curve. Just heat up some milk, pop this bad boy in the cup for a few seconds, add a shot of espresso and you’ve got yourself a caffeine jolt you’d swear you overpaid for at your local coffee shop.

Picked by: Kai Burkhardt, associate editor

When I started trying to cut back on single-use plastic waste, one of the first things I bought was this wooden dish brush. Sponges release microplastics into the water, and I’ve always just thought they’re generally gross, so this brush was a no-brainer. The firm bristles do a great job cleaning tough messes and the long handle allows you to keep at least one of your hands clean and out of the dirty sink. Plus, the brush heads are replaceable, and all of the components can be either recycled or composted at the end of its life.

Picked by: Stephanie Griffin, social media strategist

My small kitchen only comes with one overhead light and isn’t near any of the natural light in my apartment so as you can probably imagine, it’s super dark during all hours of the day. But ever since I purchased these LED strip lights for $24.99 on Amazon, the space has completely transformed. My kitchen is so much brighter, and they even make cooking and cleaning up much easier since I can actually see what I’m doing and what spots I’ve missed. I can’t believe I ever lived without these!

Picked by: Stephanie Griffin, social media strategist

I’ve always lived in small city apartments with very limited storage space, so finding a utensil holder that fit perfectly inside my narrow drawers was a struggle — until I found this product on Amazon. Not only does it fit plenty of silverware, it’s made with very durable, high-quality materials and is also super affordable. Plus, there are rubber stickers on the bottom to help it keep from sliding.

Picked by: Emmy Favilla, deputy editor

This stuff is, in a word, miraculous. Ever moved into a new place only to find that the previous residents loved placing stickers on various surfaces (like, for instance, on the mirror of a bathroom that was the designated toddlers’ bathroom, in my case)? Goo Gone to the rescue! This product is incredible at quickly removing all types of residue left behind by not only stickers and tape but also chewing gum, wax and more without damaging surfaces. You won’t regret having this on hand for various uses around the home.

Picked by: Dana Holmes, contributing writer

I love loose-leaf tea, and I have an extensive collection of cute tea infusers because of it — but this infuser is the only one that really, really works! It doesn’t let leaves fall out and into my tea. It isn’t so small that the water can’t circulate through the leaves naturally while steeping, and it’s easy to dump out into the garbage can and then toss into the dishwasher.

Picked by: Hayley Saltzman, head of social media

Grossy Pelosi is one of my favorite food bloggers — his upbeat energy and beautiful food photos make him one of my favorite Instagram follows. I was heavily influenced to buy these smiley spoons after following him for a few months, and they’re one of the best purchases! They make me so happy, plus, they’re just really useful quality wooden cooking spoons. I love a practical item with a slightly fun/positive twist. Can’t go wrong.

Picked by: Kai Burkhardt, associate editor

My phone is seemingly always at less than 20% and on low power mode, so having a portable charger from Anker is a blessing. I use it all the time whether I’m in the car, camping, or just too lazy to get up from the couch when there’s no convenient outlet.

Picked by: Michael Andronico, senior tech writer

As a guitarist, I can’t believe I’ve gone so long without one of these. Snark’s clip-on tuner snaps right to the head of your guitar, bass or violin and uses vibrations to help you tune up, which is a far quicker and simpler solution than the plug-in tuner I had been using for years. Now that I find myself performing and recording music more often, this little gadget has been absolutely crucial when it comes to keeping me in tune with minimal hassle. My specific model is unfortunately hard to find at the moment, but this popular SN-8 Super Tight variation is currently available for super cheap.

Picked by: Michael Andronico, senior tech writer

The Blink Mini camera was an impulse buy for me this past Prime Day, and I still use it constantly. This tiny security camera makes it really easy to keep tabs on my dog from afar, which is especially handy now that I’m out and about more. It’s pretty cheap to begin with at $34.99, and goes on sale often.

Read our review

Picked by: Jacob Krol, tech and electronics editor

I love nightstand mode on the Apple Watch, and even with sleep tracking coming this fall, I still love a good stand for it. This Elago W3 stand looks like the original Macintosh computer, and the Apple Watch makes for a perfect screen. It’s a durable rubber material and weighted quite nicely, and the Apple Watch fits in snugly.

Read our review

Picked by: Emily McNutt, travel editor

I change my phone’s SIM card a lot. And, after misplacing one on more than one occasion, I decided to get a case. This was the perfect solution. It includes many slots for holding SIM cards, as well as a space to store phone eject pin. It’s the perfect solution for travelers who have more than one SIM.

Beauty and wellness

Picked by: Rosanne Salvatore, deputy editor

Wet brushes are always my go-to after a shower for my long hair. But the round Wet brush has been a real game changer for me. This brush glides through wet hair, detangling like a pro while also helping you style your blow out. For under $12, you can pick up a round Wet brush that’ll give you a smooth, salon-quality blow out at home, seriously.

Picked by: Emmy Favilla, deputy editor

It turns out the hype is real. This stuff WORKS, and you only need a small amount to moisturize sufficiently. I use it all year long, and I especially won’t leave home without it once the temperatures dip. It’s also available in a tube if that’s more your jam, plus I’ve heard great things about the foot cream as well.

Picked by: Hayley Saltzman, head of social

I’ve been using Weleda Skin Food ever since a coworker recommended it for dry winter skin about three years ago. I love pretty much everything about it — the scent is light and refreshing, and the cream itself feels luxurious and expensive without actually costing a ton of money. I use it as hand cream before bed each night, and I even use it on my face in the winter.

Picked by: Rachel Lubitz, senior lifestyle editor

I’ve taken this time of chaos to make sure I spoil myself as much as humanly (and financially) possible. That has meant upgrading my bed, where I honestly spend more time than ever before, in a very serious way. I’ve wanted silk-like pillowcases for a while, and these extremely cheap ones are everything I’ve been looking for. They feel like pure luxury, and yet a set of two is less than $10. Can’t get much better than that.

Picked by: Hayley Saltzman, head of social

This 32-ounce leakproof water bottle has been a game changer in terms of keeping me hydrated throughout the workday. With this giant bottle on my desk, I drink significantly more water than when I was just filling a cup each morning and becoming too lazy halfway through the day to refill it. It also has a pop-up straw with a cover, which feels more hygienic than some of the other water bottles I’ve tried.

Picked by: Emmy Favilla, deputy editor

Perhaps you’ve heard all the buzz about this ice roller that Amazon customers can’t get enough of. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s worth every penny. I keep this little guy in my freezer and pop it out when I have a headache or when I’m feeling tired and need a quick energy boost. You can also use it for minor aches on your body or for applying a face mask. Bonus: It’s great to have on hand when you’re nursing a hangover and want some help depuffing your skin.

Picked by: Stephanie Griffin, social media strategist

I legitimately cannot believe I ever used to use my bare hands to apply my self-tanner. (Big yikes!) But alas, I discovered this $7.50, Prime-eligible mitt when I bought my first bottle of St. Tropez Self-Tanning Mousse on Amazon. Not only does this super-soft mitt — which comes in the brand’s signature shade of blue — help to blend the formula into my skin and ensure a flawless finish, but it prevents my hands from becoming super streaky and orange! (*Insert praise emoji*)

Picked by: Stephanie Griffin, social media strategist

I love staying hydrated on the go, but my holy grail water bottle — the 40-ounce Hydro Flask — is just far too big and bulky to fit in any of my “errand” bags. Also, my 2021 resolution was (and is!) to stop buying single-use water bottles, so the Stojo water bottle, which is made from recyclable materials, is the perfect alternative. It’s a super-sleek design and it’s leak-proof, so I never have to worry about accidental spills. The bottle is also collapsable, so when I’m done chugging my H20, I can easily collapse it and stow it away, or even attach the little handle to my bag strap to create more space.

Picked by: Simone Nili, product director of commerce

I personally love my fidget cube — I have a lot of fidgety energy and have found this to be my favorite way to get it out under my desk when I’m in meetings, especially since working remotely.

Picked by: Hayley Kinne, associate manager of business development

I truly don’t know how I endured my regular shoulder stress spasms before this magical, massaging miracle device entered my life. The results from a few minutes of use are far more impressive than its basic design may lead you to believe. While I primarily make use of it for ongoing discomfort in the back of my shoulder, its ergonomic shape and pressure-point design make it useful for any difficult-to-reach knot or area of discomfort around your body. I’ve already gifted five of these to family and friends, and I’m not about to stop any time soon!

Picked by: Kai Burkhardt, associate editor

My partner and I both work from home, but we still feel bad for our dog who gets bored when we’re working for hours on end. That’s why we’ve been buying a lot of enrichment toys for her, and her favorite by far is this puzzle treat toy from West Paw. We stuff random treats or a bully stick inside and within minutes she’s throwing it around trying to get the snacks out. And the good thing is that it’s actually hard to get the treats out so she ends up entertaining herself for hours on end.

Picked by: Stephanie Griffin, social media strategist

My 10-month-old dog Teddy got neutered a couple months ago, and I admittedly could not have survived the two-week recovery process without this inflatable collar, which I purchased on Amazon for just under $15. The soft material was MUCH more comfortable than the sharp-edged cone given to us by his vet, and also allowed him to move much more freely while still not being able to reach his wound. The collar also came with small holes to make putting on Teddy’s collar easy and accessible. And in the case that I need to use this thing again in the future, I love that I can easily deflate it and store it flat for safekeeping without taking up too much space.

Picked by: Rachel Lubitz, senior lifestyle editor

My recent “treat yourself” attitude has also extended to my cat, who I am with now more than anyone else. This window bed has become her favorite thing, and I feel like it brings joy to anyone who passes by my window too.

Picked by: Stephanie Griffin, social media strategist

I found Amazon’s Fresh Patch when I was looking for alternatives to the pee pad; I live in an apartment with access to a private patio, so going to the bathroom indoors was not an option for my puppy. Plus, I truthfully didn’t want to deal with lingering smells or ongoing accidents. This small patch of grass truly made training our three-month old dog a breeze. He now knows where to go to the bathroom and the sod pad soaks up liquids and odors so even our outdoor space stays clean and smelling nice. It’s easily disposable and my partner and I signed up for a subscription, so each month we receive a new, fresh patch, too. All pet parents NEED this!

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October 10, 2022
How to actually clean your enameled cookware, according to experts | CNN Underscored
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Enameled cast-iron cookware is equal parts functional and beautiful, holding a special place in the hearts of many home chefs. But enameled cast-iron pieces like pans and Dutch ovens from Le Creuset and Staub can be expensive, and you’ll want to care for them properly so that they last many, many years.

Enameled cast-iron cookware has a porcelain enamel coating that is smoother and easier to clean than uncoated cast-iron cookware. Enameled cast-iron cookware is not the same as uncoated cast-iron, and it needs to be cared for differently from how uncoated cast-iron cookware is handled (check out our guide to cleaning and caring for uncoated cast-iron).

To understand the proper way to use, clean and store enameled cast-iron cookware, we tapped experts Nate Collier, the director of marketing communications for Le Creuset, and Adam Blank, a senior vice president of merchandising at Sur La Table, who explained the dos and don’ts of caring for enameled cast-iron pots and pans.

Enameled cast-iron cookware is less temperamental than uncoated cast-iron, but it still should be handled with care. These cooking, cleaning and storage products are the right ones to use with enameled cast-iron cookware.

$7.64 at Amazon

Both Blank and Collier recommend washing enameled cast-iron cookware by hand, rather than in the dishwasher — even if the piece is dishwasher safe. “The enameling makes it safe to use common mild dishwashing liquids,” Blank says, but “you want to avoid abrasive cleaners.”

$5.79 at Amazon

When washing nonstick cookware, Blank says, be sure to use a sponge that won’t scratch the enamel exterior. “I recommend using soft natural or nylon brushes or sponges. Avoid using anything abrasive like a scouring pad or metal sponge because these may damage the enameling.”

$9.01 at Amazon

Dobie Pads are non-scratch scrub sponges that are gentle enough to use on enamel surfaces but that are excellent at scouring away stuck-on food.

$17.99 at Amazon

If you dislike sponges, try our favorite Swedish dishcloth instead. This option is ultra absorbent and comes in a pack of fun colors so you can designate certain cloths for certain jobs. Read more in our review here.

$8.99 at Amazon

“A brush can be useful for removing small food deposits,” Collier says, “or for cleaning between the ribs on grills.”

$7.24 at Amazon

Baking soda can help to gently scour stubborn buildup and staining from the interior and the exterior of enameled cast-iron cookware. “A paste of baking soda and water,” Collier says, “comes in handy for cleaning tough stains, oil residue and marks.” Baking soda also comes in handy for other rooms and appliances in your house too, like when you need to tackle cleaning your oven.

$8.36 at Amazon

Deep staining on the interior of enameled cast-iron cookware can be removed by boiling OxiClean and water. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, allow the solution to cool completely before dumping it out and washing the pot as usual.

$16.99 at Amazon

After washing enameled cast-iron, dry it thoroughly using a lint-free dish towel before storing. Flour sack dish towels can also be used to protect pieces while being stored; simply place the towel in the pot or pan before stacking another piece inside.

$15.95 at Sur La Table

“Quality enameled cast-iron is chip resistant,” Blank says, “but to be extra careful I recommend using pan protectors if you stack your cookware for storage.” Blank recommends this set of highly-rated pan protectors, which come in three sizes to accommodate smaller and larger pieces.

$34.99 at Amazon

A pot rack organizer can also help to protect enamel from scratching or chipping while the pieces are being stored.

“First let your cookware cool down for at least 15 minutes,” before washing, Blank says. “While many brands are dishwasher safe, I recommend always washing by hand to preserve the patina inside the pan, which helps with food release, and keeps the color on the outside of the pan vibrant.”

Blank and Collier recommend washing enameled cast-iron following these steps:

Step 1: Allow the piece to cool to room temperature before washing.

Step 2: If there is significant residue in the pot or pan, soak in warm water and dish detergent for 15 to 20 minutes before going in with a sponge. If not, simply wash the pot or pan with a sponge and hot, soapy water.

Step 3: Wipe the piece clean with a sponge or dishcloth.

Step 4: Rinse with warm water.

Step 5: Dry with a soft towel.

“My favorite tip,” Blank says, “is to fill your cookware with water, add baking soda and boil for about 10 minutes. This should eliminate any stuck food particles or stains.” The same method can be used with OxiClean or any other oxygen bleach for an even deeper clean.

There are some dos and don’ts when it comes to using, cleaning and storing enameled cast-iron pieces to ensure they last a long time. These cooking, cleaning and storage tips will help you to keep these pieces in good working condition for many years.
Use silicone tools, wooden or heat-resistant plastic cooking tools.

When absolutely necessary, metal cooking tools, such as spoons or balloon whisks may be used, but do so with care, as they should not be scraped over the enamel surface.

Do not knock cooking tools on the rim of the pan.

Hand-held electric or battery-operated beaters should not be used, as their blades can damage the enamel.

Knives or utensils with sharp edges should not be used to cut foods inside an enameled cast-iron pan.
Never place a hot pan in cold water or fill a hot pot with cold water, as it can cause the enamel to crack due to thermal shock.

Do not use scouring agents or other abrasive cleaners on the cooking surface.

Do not use metallic pads or harsh abrasive cleaning scouring tools.
Store pans in a dry cupboard or airy space away from steam.

Never store enameled cast-iron cookware while wet or damp.

Use pot and pan protectors to safely stack enameled cast-iron cookware.

Maintain the tightness of all handles and knobs by checking and retightening them regularly.
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October 10, 2022
We found the 23 best deals in Wayfair’s 5 Days of Deals | CNN Underscored

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We’ve been waiting for Wayfair’s 5 Days of Deals to begin, and it’s officially here. You can shop the massive home goods site for deals on furniture, home organization, small appliances, bedding and way more — plus, we’ve even got some lofted kids beds and cozy goose down comforters for winter in this sale edition.

Can’t get enough deals? On the heels of Wayfair’s event comes a slew of incoming early holiday deals: Amazon’s Prime Early Access Sale kicks off on Oct. 11. Plus, Target Deal Days are already live.

Read on for 23 of our favorite picks from Wayfair’s 5 Days of Deals.

Furniture, storage and decor deals

~~$414.99~~ $129.95 at Wayfair

Perfect for everything from entryways to holding small TVs or serving as an end table, this accent cabinet is both on-trend and timelessly useful.

~~$289.99~~ $239.99 at Wayfair

This sleek, modern bookcase is great in apartments where there’s not a lot of physical or visual space, thanks to its wall-mounted design and minimalist shelving design.

$~~221.99~~ $197.99 at Wayfair

This high-backed office chair is both stylish and comfortable for long WFH days — and trust us, it’s way better than sitting all hunched over on your sofa.

~~$169.99~~ $68.86 at Wayfair

If you’re swapping out the clothes in your closet for winter gear, your summer and spring apparel might need a place to go. Enter these Sterilite containers, which are perfect for tacking a few closets or splitting between roommates.

~~$259.99~~ $214.99 at Wayfair

With a label for each shelf, this highly organized unit is great for separating kids’ schoolwork, grouping crafts supplies, organizing books by genre and more.

~~$84.99~~ $65.67 at Wayfair

With simple lines and a thoroughly modern touch, this three-part pendant is perfect for kitchen islands, bar counters and more.

~~$922.29~~ From $442.49 at Wayfair

Dramatic lighting is a really fun way to add a little oomph to your room, and this beaded chandelier is here for a little extra mood. Choose from black, whitewashed and blue finishes all hovering around $740, or a mint green model for $442.

~~$689~~ $409.99 at Wayfair

The midcentury lines of this dresser are made a little more modern with handless-less fronts, but the walnut and caramel shades are 100% retro. (White’s also available for those doing the minimalist thing.)

~~$315~~ $169.99 at Wayfair

This super-versatile geometric rug has a higher weave than the picture might display for a little plush under your feet — and the black-and-white pattern adds interest to your room without overwhelming the space.

Bed, mattress and bedding deals

~~$439~~ $227.99 at Wayfair

This bed is great for freeing up space in smaller bedrooms — and creating a cool area underneath for forts, reading nooks, play areas and more.

~~$299.99~~ $209.99 at Wayfair

Get cozy for winter’s chilly nights with this 30%-off goose down comforter, made for year-round use and kept together with a baffle box stitch.

~~$1,749~~ $799 at Wayfair

For those who like their sleep on the plush side, this Serta delivers that hotel-bed comfort with a minimal amount of motion transfer, ensuring a sound night’s sleep for everyone.

~~$224.01~~ $153.44 at Wayfair

This minimalist platform bed is all about welcoming modern lines, with a warm wood frame that cozies up the streamlined design.

~~$278.24~~ $449.99 at Wayfair

This four-poster bed is made modern in matte black metallic, adding a little drama to all-white or lushly textured bedrooms.

~~$1,300~~ $607.49 at Wayfair

Wood beds are super cute and all, but if you’re the type to sit up against some pillows and read at night, they’re not the most comfy. Enter this upholstered bed, which is currently 53% off and comes with stylishly padded cushioning at the headboard for one last chapter before you turn the light off.

~~$79.50~~ $49.90 at Wayfair

Lodge’s handy two-piece set includes both a Dutch oven and a skillet that doubles as a lid, meaning you get two top-quality, use-forever cast-iron pieces for less than $50. That’s a deal in our book.

~~$730~~ $259.95 at Wayfair

This full array of cooking pots and pans is sitting pretty at 64% off, and if you’re in need of new pots and pans, the stainless steel set is nonreactive, keeps its shine and is ready to get cooking.

~~$239.99~~ $129.99 at Wayfair

This frying pan can go from stovetop to oven no problem, and it’s made for cooking at high heat. A 10-inch diameter is great for a variety of kitchen projects too, whether it’s baking a fish or frying some morning eggs.

~~$380~~ $249.95 at Wayfair

Le Creuset’s deep oven enameled cast-iron cookware is perfect for fall soups, braising and way more. Score it now for about $130 off for a head start on holiday cooking.

~~$2,500~~ $1,499.99 at Wayfair

Viking cookware is an investment, but for professionals (or very serious home cooks), this Viking set will make your kitchen feel like your own gastronomic atelier.

~~$139.99~~ $77.86 at Wayfair

Keep your dog’s neck a little more aligned and a lot less strained with this elevated feeder, with one spot for food and one for water. A sliding top reveals a hollow compartment for food bag storage too.

~~$169.99~~ $85.99 at Wayfair

Wayfair

Sitting on elevated legs, this highly cushioned dog sofa is perfect for afternoon naps or a full-on snooze sesh after a long day chasing squirrels.

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October 9, 2022
Enter to win a $500 Amazon e-gift card in the October Underscored Faves Sweepstakes | CNN Underscored

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We get to test hundreds of products here at CNN Underscored, from coolers and air mattresses to electric bikes and perfumes. And now we want to share our favorite tried and tested products with you, our valued reader (or at least give you something to help shoulder the costs for your favorite Underscored recommendations).

Whether you’re refilling staples in your home, you’re looking for deals on the products you’ve been eyeing or you need to snag an item at the last minute with expedited Prime shipping, chances are you’re not a stranger to Amazon shopping. Ahead of Amazon’s impending 2022 Prime Early Access Sale, we’re giving away a $500 Amazon e-gift card to help you pack your cart full of products you love.

We know our readers return to Amazon time after time to find their favorite products. And while the Prime Early Access Sale is sure to have great deals, having some extra money to spend can help you save even more on a major splurge or give you a head start on your holiday gift prep.

If having an extra $500 to spend on Amazon sounds good to you, then enter for a chance to win by following the steps below before midnight on Oct. 9. Make sure to follow @CNNUnderscored on Instagram for more product reviews and recommendations, including your chance to win more of our favorite editor-approved products.

Starting at 12 p.m. EST on Oct. 5, follow these steps to enter before Oct. 9:

On Instagram:

The winner will be selected on or around Oct. 10, 2022. Check out the official rules here, and good luck!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY — VOID WHERE PROHIBITED — SEE OFFICIAL RULES https://cnn.it/3x8J1kI.

(This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Facebook. Open to US residents ages 18+. Sweepstakes will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Oct. 9, 2022. A winner will be selected on or around Oct. 10, 2022, and contacted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Oct. 15, 2022.)

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October 8, 2022
The all33 Axion office chair helped fix my work-from-home posture | CNN Underscored

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The all33 Axion may be a mouthful for an office chair, but if you’re looking to improve your posture and alleviate back pain, Axion has 33 reasons and the chiropractor is just one.

All33’s Axion touts a distinguished pedigree. Designed in collaboration by the celebrity chiropractor of the Los Angeles Clippers and a former BMW designer, it uses a curved cushion and proprietary Sit in Motion technology to help stack all 33 vertebrae of your spine into perfect position.

After spending nearly two uncomfortable, pandemic years hunched over my dining room table on a pretty leather chair, while my husband hogged our office, I was ready to try something designed explicitly for long days of working from home.

Thankfully, the atypical design of the all33 Axion held up to its VIP testimonials — adding up to a satisfying and frankly, enlightening experience for my back, neck and home office.

~~$999~~ $849 at All33

All33

If you’re willing to invest in an office chair specifically designed to improve your WFH posture and reduce pain, the $999 all33 Axion is well worth the money.

When I emerged from Covid lockdown, it was a huge bummer to find that I had developed a small hump (yes, a hump) on my neck — from spending all those hours staring down at my laptop screen. That landed me squarely in physical therapy, where I was told that this was becoming a common malady cutely dubbed ”Tech Neck.”

After six weeks of targeted exercises to bid farewell to that not-so-cute hump, I promised to never let my posture take a turn for the worse again. And the first thing on my list was finding the right ergonomic desk chair for my (now vacated by my husband) home office. I decided to try the all33 Axion, because in addition to helping to align my vertebrae, it is also designed to keep your body in subtle motion throughout the day.

Tobey Grumet

The all33 Axion’s box contains five pieces. But unlike some Ikea-type assembly I’ve dealt with in the past, the instructions were clear and it was a cinch to put together. All by myself. Without any swearing or name-calling. My chair is all black vegan leather, though it does come in both red and tan hues as well. You can also choose fabric in those same colors for the same price.

Once I pieced the chair together, I was admittedly a little bemused at the dual combo of curved cushion and swivel style bucket seat. It’s definitely not your mom’s office chair. But it felt sturdy and I was happy with its strong build and solid quality.

The wheels don’t have locks, but they also aren’t sliding around whenever you move, which I appreciated. If you want to move the chair, you’ll have to do it purposefully. The seat height goes from 19 to 23 inches and it swivels from side to side. The website says it can hold up to 275 pounds and suggests that anyone under 5’4” use a footrest.

Related: The best ergonomic mouse to keep your wrist safe

Tobey Grumet

Here’s where things get good. The entire design forces you into near perfect posture while simultaneously keeping you from remaining sedentary for hours at a time.

That Sit in Motion (yeah, its patented) seat might look odd, but that’s because it’s built to move up and down with your body. The idea, according to Dr. Colonello, is that yes, prolonged sitting is not good for anyone’s chiropractic health. But it’s the type of sitting we do in front of our computers all day that can lead to those nasty back and neck problems.

Put that mobility together with the elliptical-shaped, contoured cushion which fits directly into your lower back, and you’ll be compelled to sit with your back straight, chest up and shoulders back. I mean, you can listen to me, or you can believe Justin Bieber, one of Colonello’s celebrity clients who, in addition to pepping up his posture, also figured out how to shoot a basketball and do an ab workout while sitting in the all33 Axion.

That said, for normal schlubs like me, this chair is a revelation. Of course, you could cheat and move your butt to the front of the seat and still find a way to hunch over. But if you place your behind all the way in the back, you will have a hard time doing anything but sitting up straight with the prompt of that lumbar cushion. And it’s not like I had to think about it. It just happened. In fact, after about an hour, I could feel the difference in the muscles of my lower back and shoulders. It’s also almost impossible to lean all the way back, though if you do, you’re not encouraged to stay there for long.

During my initial physical therapy, I was told to stop a few times during the day, lace my fingers behind my head and push out my elbows, in the hopes to make sure I would keep my posture straight and not fall back into my old, hunchback ways. When I tried that exercise in the chair, I was pleased to see that my shoulders and head were exactly where they were supposed to be.

And don’t worry, the motion of the chair really is subtle. So no, I wasn’t doing ab crunches like Bieber, but when I moved my legs or swiveled around, the all33 Axion just moved right along with me.

“We’re doing much more static sitting which can cause immense harm to the body since it’s designed to move,” Dr. Colonello said, when I asked about the pandemic’s shift from the workforce to being mainly remote, via email. “The all33 chair is unique in the sense that you can sit all day, not feel tired, and not have that creeping, slouching feeling that makes you feel like you’re cutting off your breathing and hurting your neck.”

In addition to adjusting the height, you can also stiffen the chair’s tilt tension and even lock it completely if you so choose. For me, both those things added to the all33’s movement experience so I didn’t bother modifying.

Tobey Grumet

The all33 Axion is an investment. You can grab it for $999 on the all33 website, marked down from the original $1,399. And it’s not even real leather. So, although celebs like Chelsea Handler and Dee Snider are also quoted as being fans, the rest of us may not be ready to throw nearly $1,000 at an office chair.

My one big complaint with the all33 Axion chair is its lack of adjustable armrests. Yes, you can flip them up and down, but if your desk doesn’t match their height, you’re out of luck. Unfortunately, this was the case with my set-up so I had to buy myself a wrist rest for my mouse and an ergonomic keyboard. Definitely not a deal breaker but frustrating for the price.

Our current favorite office chair is the Steelcase Series 1, and it kept our reviewer comfy and sitting up straight for a more affordable $486 (it’s currently even less on Amazon right now). The Steelcase also comes in a wider range of colors, if you want something that’s not black, red or beige. Neither one is made of real leather, but the Steelcase Series 1 is more flexible, letting you adjust not only the arm height, but also the lumbar and arm caps.

But, if you don’t mind spending the cash on an office chair which can also double as a gorgeous piece of furniture, you may want to consider the Herman Miller Aeron Chair (starting at $1,645), which also has an adjustable lumbar and happens to be one of the most stylish and comfortable chairs we tested.

The all33 Axion is a stunner of an office chair for anyone who, like me, needs a serious ergonomics boost. A compelling design, crafted by a well-known chiropractor and an industrial designer, makes for an almost foolproof way to keep you honest when it comes to better posture in your home office.

The constant movement of the seat combined with a fixed lumbar cushion also helps to make it a one-of-a-kind, and almost impossible to slouch when sitting. But unlike the comparably priced Herman Miller Aeron, it’s not nearly as beautiful to look at.

As Justin Bieber so patently puts it, “it’s the chair that moves like I do.” And quite frankly, when it comes to sitting up properly, you really will go love yourself. Now you just have to decide if that’s worth $999.

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October 6, 2022
20 Amazon products our readers couldn’t stop buying in September | CNN Underscored

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Curious about what your fellow CNN Underscored readers are buying? Every month we’ll round up our readers’ favorite products — those products readers like you scooped up the most over the past 30 days.

The official start of fall saw readers shopping for products to sleep better, waste less and make travel more comfortable. From phone mounts to reusable baking mats, check out the 20 products Underscored readers loved most in September.

$39.99 at Amazon

Thermacell’s E55 promises to create a 20-foot safe space from pests without DEET or citronella. Our reviewer loved that it’s silent, scent-free and, most importantly, legitimately effective at keeping mosquitoes away.

$19.99 at Amazon

We love using biodegradable Swedish dishcloths for everything from scrubbing dishes to wiping up spills. Grab them whenever you’d reach for a paper towel and then simply run them through the wash when you’re done.

~~$11.99~~ $7.99 at Amazon

Keep your car or desk crumb-free with this reusable gel, designed to collect debris from cup holders, keyboards, TV remotes and any other cranny-filled space.

$239.99 at Amazon

Apple finally refreshed the AirPods Pro, which now offer better active noise cancellation and an extra small ear tip option. (We’ve got a full breakdown of the differences between the original AirPods Pro and the AirPods Pro 2 here.)

~~$47.99~~ $32.19 at Amazon

T-fal’s pan gets its slick surface from anodized aluminum, which means that there’s no chance of peeling or chipping. The tall sides also make it great for stews, stir-fries or heaping piles of veggies. Our reviewer simply couldn’t imagine a better nonstick pan.

From $29.08 at Amazon

These soft, moisture-wicking sheets are made from an ultrafine microfiber blend that’s ideal for hot sleepers.

~~$54.99~~ $22.99 at Amazon

Stay on top of cold and flu season with iHealth’s digital thermometer, which proved simple to use and provided consistent temperature readings in our in-house testing.

$21.99 at Amazon

Anker makes some of the best portable chargers around. The 313 (aka PowerCore Slim 10,000) is supremely lightweight yet packs a punch, with enough power to charge most iPhones twice.

$39.99 at Amazon

Our favorite travel pillow balances squishy comfort with firm support and promises to make your next red-eye much more bearable.

$12.97 at Amazon

This adjustable mount attaches directly to your tray table, allowing you to watch all your downloads without having to hold your phone for hours. You can also clamp it to car seats or shopping carts to keep the kids entertained while out and about. See more of our favorite in-flight products here.

$9.95 at Amazon

Hydroxyapatite is a dentist-approved fluoride alternative that helps remineralize teeth and strengthen enamel. It’s the star ingredient of Davids toothpaste, which also comes with a convenient metal tube key to help you squeeze out every drop of product.

~~$10~~ $8.85 at Amazon

Dryer balls create better airflow to cut down on drying time, reduce static cling and keep wrinkles at bay. These from Whitmor also feature soft spikes to gently fluff and soften fabric. (Check out more must-have laundry products under $20 here.)

$6.64 at Amazon

Chapped lips don’t stand a chance against Weleda’s lip butter, which dermatologist Dr. Shereen Idriss highly recommends for its calendula and panthenol-packed formula.

$29.99 at Amazon

Philips recommends replacing the brush heads on your electric toothbrush every three months. These soft-bristled brush heads are compatible with any click-on Sonicare model, including the aforementioned 4100.

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October 5, 2022
The essentials list: Eva Longoria shares her favorite Latinx-owned brands | CNN Underscored

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Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 marks Hispanic Heritage Month, and no one knows the importance of supporting the Latin American community quite like actress Eva Longoria. After rising to fame on 2004’s “Desperate Housewives,” she felt so disheartened by how few roles there were in Hollywood for other Latina women that she took matters into her own hands. Longoria founded UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, which produces TV shows, films and documentaries with a focus on not just telling Latinx stories but also hiring Latinx directors and producers. In 2012, she launched the Eva Longoria Foundation, which develops educational and entrepreneurial programs to improve the lives of Latin Americans.

Last September she also turned entrepreneur, co-founding the tequila brand Casa Del Sol, which is 100% Mexican female owned and operated. “We wanted to deliver a brand that was set apart from the rest,” she explains of why she wanted to have a fully Latina-owned brand.

This month — and every month — instead of just sharing Hispanic heritage stories, Longoria is also encouraging shoppers to support the community by buying from other Hispanic-owned brands. Here, she shares some of her favorites.

A morning mug

“My Echale Ganas mug from Hija De Tu Madre gives me the motivation I need while having cafecito in the morning,” Longoria says of the brand founded by entrepreneur Patty Delgado, which caters to the young and hip Latinx market. Longoria adds, “I love how easy this is to clean and the cute and simple design. It says something we as Latinas have heard from our parents or elders, always telling us ‘Echale Ganas.’” (“Give it your all.”)

Starter kitchen set

“The Risa Cookware Set is a great starter package for someone who just moved into a new space, for wedding registries or for someone looking to revamp their kitchenware,” Longoria says. “The products are versatile and affordable, making them the perfect set for anyone looking to up their kitchen game. Plus, they are nontoxic and nonstick!”

• Related: The best nonstick pans we’ve tested

Daily to-do list

“If you’re a badass Chicana like me, you write everything down,” says Longoria. “I got this notebook from Shop JZD and I love the design and reminder: ‘Un Dia a la Vez.’” (“One day at a time.”) She continues, “I write in it everything I have to do for that day, and it truly helps me take life ‘Un Dia a la Vez.’” Longoria also adores Shop JZD’s clothing. “You will love this badass brand,” she says. “They have so many cool clothes with amazing mantras on it to remind us of the Chingonas that we are.”

A classic hat

“I love a classic hat and this one from Badass Bonita is perfect!” Longoria says of the brand, which was created by Kim Guerra. (The website explains, “This includes revolutionary love letters, artwork, poems and books that explore the complexities of being a Latinx, mujer, PoC, survivor and guerrera.”) Longoria says, “This is one of my new favorite brands and I love the message the creator puts out of self-love and love for our community. It’s important for me to support Latinx entrepreneurs. Plus, I love a cute hat for sunny days!”

Tasty tequila

Longoria loves the taste of her own tequila as much as she loves its backstory. “From the liquid to the legacy, we took the time to develop an ultra-premium tequila focusing on authenticity and a distinct flavor profile,” she says of the brand, which is crafted by female Tequileras Mariana Padilla and Alejandra Pelyao in Jalisco, Mexico. While you can throw it into a margarita, Longoria says its products are actually sipping tequilas. “The Reposado is rested for four months in both Oak and XO Cognac barrels,” she says, noting it partnered with the French brand Laurent Martell to use its famed French Limousin Oak barrels. Longoria adds, “The oak evokes soft vanilla with hints of raisin, wild honey and butterscotch.”

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October 5, 2022
Re-create your best vacation sleep at home with these 13 hotel pillows | CNN Underscored

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From building up generous hotel loyalty programs to offering a consistent experience for guests around the world, major hotel brands do a lot of things right. And, in some cases, that also includes the bedding. Think of arriving at a new hotel and diving into a perfectly plush bed with the plumpest, softest pillow for resting your head.

We all know that sleep is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. And while there are plenty of terrific non-hotel-branded pillows out there (we love the Coop Home Goods The Eden Pillow, in particular), if you’re interested in replicating your best-ever night’s sleep from your favorite hotel at home, it is possible.

Check out our rating of the best pillows for 2022.

But, which hotel pillows can you get to furnish your own home? And where can you buy them? From the fluffy hotel pillows found at Westin to Aria’s famous feather pillows, here are some of the most amazing options you can purchase for your own home.

From $89 at Westin Store

Westin properties truly span the globe. From the Westin Excelsior in Florence, Italy, to the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort (an excellent option for booking your honeymoon using travel rewards!), you can likely find a Westin property at your next vacation destination. And if you’ve stayed at a Westin property before, you’re likely well aware of the brand’s famous bedding. While the Westin Heavenly Bed tends to take the spotlight, the brand’s pillows are equally as dreamy. The Westin feather and down pillows are a great option for all types of sleepers with their plush and soft nature. And not only can you purchase standard hotel pillow sizes via the Westin Store, but you can choose from a selection of decorative pillows as well as body pillows.

$129 at Amazon

Fairmont fans can duplicate their favorite hotel bedding at home with the chain’s collection of pillows. The Fairmont Luxury Feather & Down pillow is composed of 80% down material and 20% feather, enclosed by a 240-thread-count soft cotton cover. This pillow is best suited for king beds and is on the firmer side, which matches the standard offering in Fairmont hotel rooms. Fairmont also offers synthetic gel fiber pillows in king or queen sizes. With the synthetic gel, you can decide whether you want your pillow to have a medium or firm fill.

From $89 at Ritz-Carlton Shops

The famous Ritz-Carlton Pillow is a classic for a reason. The pillow is composed of an allergen-free blend of down, feathers and Lyocell fibers. The end result? A perfectly plush pillow that offers support for all types of sleepers. Because the Ritz-Carlton chain is part of the Marriott Bonvoy program, you can instead use your points to cover the cost of a pillow. Instead of spending your cash, redeem your Bonvoy points — from just 23,000 points for a pillow. While you won’t be getting the best value from your points, it’s a nice option to have.

From $105 at Shop Edition

The Edition brand, which is also part of Marriott, is known for offering modern luxury in individualized hotels — it currently has 15 properties in New York, West Hollywood, Dubai, Barcelona, London and beyond. The brand sells its own feather and down pillow so you can re-create your favorite hotel stay at home. The pillow is known for its perfect combination of softness and support, offering a medium level of firmness. The down outer chamber and feather core inner chamber, combined with the 100% cotton cover, ensure that you’ll sleep comfortably at home — and during your next Edition hotel stay.

From $79 at W Hotels The Store

Geared toward a younger, hip clientele, W Hotels are chic. And, if you’ve had a great stay — whether at the W New York – Union Square, W Koh Samui or W Costa Rica — you’ll know that the bedding is luxurious. Through the W Hotels Store, you can select from several pillow options, including the brand’s famous feather and down pillow. The pillow is fluffy and plush, offering both firm support and cushiony softness for supreme comfort. Available in king, queen and standard sizes, this pillow could make a great addition to any bed in your house.

~~$89~~ From $71.20 at Hilton to Home

If you’ve stayed at a Hilton-branded hotel and wished you could bring its feather and down pillow home with you, you’re in luck. An inner chamber of feathers and an outer layer of down provide sleepers with a great combination of support and fluffiness. We like this option because it comes in two varieties: firm and soft. Select which fill best suits your sleeping position — loftier is generally best for back sleepers and less loft is best for stomach sleepers — and bring the comfort from Hilton hotels home. Also available for an extra cost are pillow protectors, which can help keep your luxuriously comfortable pillow clean and dry.

From $85 at Shop Marriott

Marriott properties have long been celebrated for their comfortable bedding options, and you can have it all at home too. While the Shop Marriott store offers options from decor pillows to body pillows, for those who want the all-purpose Marriott staple, the feather and down pillow is the best option. The filling means that your head and neck will be supported, and it’s also allergen-free. You can add an optional protector for an additional $14 to elongate the life of your pillow.

From $84 at Shop Sonesta

Sonesta Hotels also offers its feather and down pillow for sale through its Shop Sonesta online store. This pillow is made of half feathers and half down, and its cover is made of 100% cotton. This is a great option for the average sleeper who is looking for support and cushion with a soft exterior cover. Size options include king, queen and standard, and pillow protectors and classic pillowcases are offered for an additional charge.

From $89 at Waldorf Astoria Boutique

Waldorf Astoria also makes it easy to outfit your home with one of its pillows — and if you’ve ever stayed at a Waldorf Astoria property, you know that’s a great thing. While you can choose from down pillows and down alternative options, we like the brand’s classic feather and down pillow. King and queen sizes are available, as are pillow protectors for added peace of mind. Plus, we like this option because you can choose firm support or a softer option to best suit your sleeping style.

From $119 at Shop Four Seasons

The Four Seasons brand exudes luxury. If you’ve stayed at a Four Seasons property, you’ll know just how that translates to the bedding too. The duvets are soft and airy, while the pillows offer supreme comfort and plushness — complete with the iconic Four Seasons logo subtly stitched on the exterior. The down alternative pillow is crafted from 100% hypoallergenic polyester fiber and is antibacterial and anti-microbial. You can choose from a king, queen or standard size to ensure you sleep like you’re on vacation every night.

From $85 at Shop Aria

If you’re a Las Vegas fanatic and love staying at the Aria Resort & Casino, look no further than bringing a piece of your favorite Sin City resort to your home. The Aria feather and down pillows available online are the same that are used in the resort and are available in three sizes: king, queen and standard. Topped with a 100% cotton cover for next-level softness and a pillow protector available as an added purchase, these pillows filled with duck feathers and down will give you a great night’s sleep.

~~$105~~ From $89.25 at St. Regis Boutique

Bring the luxury of your favorite St. Regis hotel home through the brand’s own boutique. While you can choose from a wide selection of St. Regis mattresses and box springs, linens, bath and body products, slippers, pajamas and more, the pillows are a great option. A softer composition of 75% white feathers and 25% down, your head and neck will feel supported while your face will stay cool and comfortable. The St. Regis feather and down pillows are available in king or queen sizes with a pillow protector available for an extra cost.

From $85 at Sheraton Store

The plush Sheraton feather and down pillow is composed of a 50/50 blend of feathers and down. So, you’ll get a medium combination of both firm support and plush cushion. Available in two sizes — king and queen — the pillows are machine-washable. Pillow protectors are available to elongate the life of your new pillow for an extra $14.

How to actually wash your pillows, according to experts.

Looking for a travel credit card? Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as our best travel credit cards of 2022.

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October 4, 2022
Editors’ picks: The 42 best products we tried and loved in September | CNN Underscored

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EDITORS’ PICKS

Sometimes, everyday products our editors use don’t make it into our in-depth, long-form comparative pieces in which we vigorously test similar products head-to-head. That’s where our Editors’ Picks come in — where we highlight everyday products we personally stand by and use on a daily basis, and think you should too.

In September, we were introduced to a plethora of products, from stain-resistant rugs to pet Halloween costumes. Some were forgettable, while others left a lasting impression. Because we’re committed to spotlighting the best products out there, we’ve decided to curate roundups of our favorite products we try each month.

Keep reading to check out the products we tested and couldn’t get enough of in September, or look back at our August favorites.

$239.99 at Amazon or $249 at Apple

I didn’t think any pair of earbuds could dethrone my trusty Beats Fit Pro, but after testing out the new AirPods Pro, there’s no going back. The noise cancellation on Apple’s latest high-end buds really is that much better, reducing the constant (and very loud) construction noise I walk by every day to a blissful hum that lets me focus on my favorite music. Factor in the improved sound quality and incredibly useful new volume controls, and I don’t see the AirPods Pro 2 leaving my ears any time soon. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

$100 at Allbirds

Allbirds actually just came out with this sneaker style, and it’s now in regular rotation on my feet alongside my Nike Air Force 1s and Reebok Club Cs. The shoes are lightweight and comfy, like the brand’s other shoes, and this natural white hue truly goes with any outfit. — Chelsea Stone, senior editor

~~$114~~ $98 at Wild One

After welcoming Teddy into my family nearly two years ago, I have slowly but surely built up my collection of Wild One harnesses. They are long-lasting, extremely easy to clean and fashion-forward. Let’s be real, if your pup is an aspiring style icon like mine, they’re going to need multiple colorways for different seasons and occasions, and luckily, Wild One offers one in pretty much every color of the rainbow. Nevertheless, Limeade is my favorite launch yet. It’s a vibrant lime-green shade and comes in the same signature harness style the pet brand is known for, but features a reimagined airy mesh fabric. I can tell it’s much more breathable than the other’s we’ve put on Teddy before, and it really makes a statement wherever we go. — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

From $21.99 for 40 bags at HoldOn Bags

I’m game for anything that reduces plastic waste, which is why I’m super excited about these compostable trash bags. Yes, it and its contents are still going to a landfill, but this bag will decompose much faster than its plastic alternatives. And if you think about all the trash bags you use in a year, that’s a lot of plastic waste saved. They’re nearly as sturdy as your typical trash bag, so you’re not sacrificing much in terms of performance. It’s really such an easy switch that everyone should make! — Kai Burkhardt, associate editor

$144.99 at Polaroid or $146.95 at Amazon

This Polaroid Now i-Type Instant Camera is an amazing tool for the avid photographer or for someone who just wants a new way to create memories with friends. I ordered the camera for my wedding, and not only did our guests love it as a way to capture amazing moments on the night of, but it’s also become a fun addition to my camera collection. It’s durable (it held up through a full night of wedding festivities without a scratch!) and produces high-quality photos in seconds. It’s got the iconic Polaroid look, too, which in itself is a nice bookshelf decoration. Opt for the starter set bundle, which comes with the required film in both color and black and white. — Emily McNutt, senior travel editor

~~$69~~ $58.65 at Buffy

I’m no stranger to Buffy’s products — I’m loyal to the brand’s Breeze Comforter and sheets — so when I was looking for something cute and versatile for my bed, I went straight to the site. I wanted to read in bed without messing up my posture, as well as something plush to nap with anytime. The Wiggle Pillow fits the bill. It’s firm enough to offer support, but not so overfilled that you can’t tie it in a knot or bend it any which way. And it’s big. I noted the pillow’s dimensions before I clicked purchase, but nevertheless I was in for a very pleasant surprise when I opened the package. — Caroline Curran, associate editor

$46 at Charlotte Tilbury

I’ve tried countless makeup brands over the years, but nothing — I repeat, NOTHING — compares to the magic that is Charlotte Tilbury. The Hollywood Flawless Filter features an easy-to-use, doe-foot sponge applicator and a lightweight liquid formula that acts as a primer or can be layered over your usual makeup as a highlighter. It blends seamlessly into my skin and leaves me with a natural, dewy glow that’s never been achievable with ANY other makeup I’ve tried in the past. The real cherry on top, though, is that as the product’s name states, it’s legitimately a real-life Instagram filter. The formula features ultra-fine powders that seriously makes me look airbrushed, and diminishes any pore or line in sight. If you aren’t already convinced, this product comes in 12 shades and is currently back in stock. — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

$749.99 at Dyson

I’ve been a Dyson devotee for quite some time, but the V15 Detect is a complete game changer thanks to its Laser Slim Fluffy head, which uses laser technology to make even the smallest dust particles visible on your floor while you clean, ensuring you won’t miss anything. I’m now obsessed with scanning my entire floor with this laser — it’s both astoundingly disgusting and satisfying. Not to mention, this model automatically adapts power based on how dirty your floor is, another pretty incredible innovation from these vacuum geniuses. — Chelsea Stone, senior editor

~~$27.86~~ $19.59 at Amazon

I recently picked up my second Leuchtturm1917 notebook and I’m so excited to crack it open. I had used my previous one as a bullet journal and to-do list catchall. They are such high-quality notebooks, come in fun colors and I love the flexibility of having dotted pages rather than lines or grids (even though the brand does make those versions, if that’s your jam). While it’s available on Amazon, getting an embossed one directly through Leuchtturm1917 also makes a lovely gift. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

$98 at Spanx

I’ve been a diehard Spanx fan ever since I had the opportunity to test several items from the brand’s vast shapewear collection for our TikTok channel — maybe this video will convince you that they’re the best on the market — but it wasn’t until recently that I tried the viral faux leather leggings. Available in sizes XS to 3X, this sleek style features a smoothing faux leather fabric that legitimately look as real as other genuine leather in my wardrobe, a contoured Power Waistband that comfortably compresses and shapes your waist, and a center-free seam that make camel toes a thing of the past. According to the 5,000+ 5-star reviews, I’m not the only one who loves them and I can’t wait to dress these up and down all fall and winter long. — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

$36.99 at Amazon

These are amazing for freezing and reheating food in any portion size. I hate when I freeze sauce and have to heat up the entire thing even if I only want to use a little bit. They have tons of different sizes and it’s perfect for leftovers or to meal prep. — Hannah Lauson, digital content strategist

$20.53 at Amazon

As a first-time dog mom, it is very important to me to feed Teddy dog treats that are made with no-nonsense ingredients. After testing out a ton of different popular pet food brands over the last few years, Bocce Bakery has become the one I reach for over and over again — and probably the one he would reach for too … if he could! These all-natural, b-shaped treats are extra crunchy and are baked with a mix of *real* ingredients like oat flour, peanut butter, apples and honey, and pumpkin, cream cheese, cinnamon and coconut oil. The brand also offers endless flavors and seasonal options like this Halloween-inspired bundle. It’s not even October, but as someone who looks forward to fall all-year-long, I just simply couldn’t wait to tear them open. Teddy’s pretty much gone through both bags, so after I finish writing this, I will absolutely be ordering more. — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

~~$219~~ $197 at Ruggable

As a clumsy person who loves hot sauce, red wine and greasy food, all of the furniture in my house needs to be basically stain-resistant — my rug included. An Underscored favorite, Ruggable rugs can be thrown right into the washing machine, and I’ve found them to be incredibly easy to spot treat for smaller stains too. Most importantly of all though, they’re available in so many gorgeous patterns that it’s hard to pick just one. — Rachel Lubitz, senior lifestyle editor

$50 at Beekman 1802

My favorite candle this month is this Beekman 1802 beauty that pays homage to one of my favorite Netflix series, “Bridgerton.” The quote, “I burn for you” not only plays as a nice pun for a burning candle but is also an iconic quote said from the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset. This candle is layered with a variety of scents, including notes of lemon and vanilla. Every time I light the candle, my apartment is filled with a different inviting aroma. I’ve burnt this candle for hours this month and the wax is still almost to the top. If you are a candle lover like me or maybe a fan of “Bridgerton,” I highly recommend adding this candle to your space. — Sarai Thompson, social coordinator

$59.99 at Amazon

I got this compact, lightweight special effects projector for my teen son, but so far, it’s been moved around to all different rooms in our apartment. We love the 360-degree galaxy effect for relaxing and entertaining, and it’s always on during the boys’ video game sessions. Not only can you customize colors and lighting effects on the BlissHome app, but you can also put it on a timer and use voice control with Google Home and Amazon Alexa. And at $59.99, it’s also great for gifting. — Tobey Grumet, contributing editor

$150 at Dermstore

I’ve been practicing gua sha every day for a couple weeks now and have been using this serum to help the tool glide on my face and neck easier. It has the consistency of a face oil, but sinks in a bit quicker. It’s made with sunflower seed oil, shea butter, rosehip seed extract, sea buckthorn extract and a bunch of other nourishing ingredients. Since I have combination skin and don’t want to look too oily, I’ll blot away the excess serum after doing gua sha and it keeps my skin soft and hydrated all day. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

$150 at Courant

My worst habit is forgetting to charge my phone while I’m at my desk working all day, so this charger has basically changed my everyday life. With two charging pads so I can charge my phone and AirPods simultaneously, it’s not only actually kind of beautiful, but charges super quickly. I love that it can sit on my desk so if I get a call I can answer it right away and not have to run to wherever my other charging cord is too. — Rachel Lubitz, senior lifestyle editor

$75 at Material Kitchen

I’ve never known anything about “proper” chef knives until I had the opportunity to try the 8″ Knife from Material Kitchen this past month — and now I get it. The blade is incredibly sharp (which is great for chopping things but bad for you if you’re clumsy so be careful) and features Japanese stainless steel and a comfortable, easy-to-hold grip. The weight is evenly proportioned and the sage green color is gorgeous and perfect for fall. Truthfully, I haven’t ordered Doordash since I got this knife because I have been so eager to get in the kitchen! — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

~~$14.99~~ $7.99 at Amazon

This is one of the most practical purchases of the month for me, and I absolutely love it. I was getting sick of staring at my sponge on the counter and wanted a solution that kept my sponge dry, clean and out of sight. These do the trick. They come with a sticky pad that you just place right on the back and affix onto the sink. Despite plenty of wear and tear already, it hasn’t budged. — Rachel Lubitz, senior lifestyle editor

$52 at Charlotte Tilbury

As one does these days, I first discovered this product on TikTok — and it’s everything I could have dreamed of and more. I’m someone who frequently touches up their lips (the girls that get it, get it) and this lipstick and liner duo helps to maintain a naturally plump, full pout in between my treatments. My favorite shade is the iconic pink-nuede Pillow Talk and the *actually* waterproof, ultra-hydrating formula applies flawlessly to lips. After being on Accutane for a year, my lips have become incredibly chapped and I can confidently say this lipstick never wears off (it lasts up to 10 hours) or dries up. This is TRULY the holy grail of lipsticks and liners, and it’s currently available as a bundle online. Don’t walk, RUN! — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

~~$24.99~~ $20.99 at Amazon

I love that I can finally charge my Apple Watch on the go because I use it so frequently and often run out of power. I leave this on my keychain and throw it in my purse or backpack so it’s always with me. It’s also so easy to charge the charger because it plugs right into an iPhone charging block! — Hannah Lauson, digital content strategist

From $999 at Apple

I bought the iPhone 14 Pro due to my previous iPhone being on its last legs, and I’m so glad I did. The new Dynamic Island module makes the display look that much sleeker, and provides easy access to things like music playback and driving directions. And then there’s the stellar 48-megapixel camera with some especially great zoom, which I’ve already got tons of mileage out of at sporting events and concerts. The iPhone 14 Pro feels like a truly meaningful upgrade — especially if you’ve held off for the past few years — and I’m already looking forward to making it my main camera for a fall that’s packed with events. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

$11.99 at Target

Kristen Ess’ Leave-In Conditioner has *very* quickly become a staple in my low-maintenance hair care routine. I spritz the cruelty-free, color-safe and lightweight formula throughout the middle-ends of my blonde strands after showering and not only does the sandalwood-infused fragrance smell incredible, but it leaves my hair looking and feeling soft, smooth and shiny. Without this product, my hair usually dries tangled, stick straight and frizzy, but this do-it-all, under-$10 hair product has completely changed that. — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

$16 at Skin Gym

I am impressed at how effective these reusable makeup removing pads are and how simple it is to use them. You just have to get them wet, and then they’ll take off every bit of makeup, including longwearing mascara. Before, I would do a double cleanse and use an oil-based cleanser to wash away more stubborn makeup, but even then I’d find myself endlessly rubbing at my eyes, trying to get my mascara to wash off completely. With the Cleanie Puffs, I can remove the eye makeup easily and then continue with my double cleanse to make sure my skin is extra clean and prepped for my other skin care. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

$22 at Bask Suncare

I’m practically religious about applying sunscreen to my face, but I won’t lie — sometimes I neglect to protect the rest of my body from UV rays. Fortunately, I found a solution that makes me actually want to apply sunscreen: Bask’s SPF smells exactly like summer, rubs on invisible and dries quickly, meaning I don’t have to worry about getting my clothes oily or discolored. Plus, the cute bottle doesn’t hurt, either. — Caroline Curran, associate editor

$10 at Target

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: When I get to shamelessly dress my cat into something very embarrassing for her … for a mere couple of seconds. As you can see here, she’s been a bumblebee and a bat for previous Halloweens. This year she’s a skeleton. (Phoebe Bridgers who?) But really, while this outfit is now her nemesis, it is incredibly cute, relatively easy to slip on and for pictures like this, I can’t say I regret it at all. — Rachel Lubitz, senior lifestyle editor

$275 at MZ Wallace

If you’ve been a long time CNN Underscored reader, you’ve probably seen my MZ Wallace tote recs before. I’ve spent years building up my collection and my newest addition is the Madison Shopper. It comes in both small and large sizes — I took the small, which actually feels more like a medium — and features a black quilt pattern and leather detailing. This style is so timeless and the material itself is durable and extremely easy to clean. If you’re like me and store your whole life in your purse, you’ll also love that it comes with endless pockets — 6 interior and 3 exterior to be exact — as well as metal zippers and snap-closure for extra security. I could seriously go on and on about this bag, but ever since I snagged it this month, I haven’t used anything else. — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

$129 at Logitech

The Logitech Brio 500 is the company’s latest high-end webcam, packing neat features like auto framing and a Show Mode that lets you easily spotlight what’s happening on your desk for true hands-on presentations. It’s also made me appear crisp and clear on my daily video calls, thanks to sharp 1080p video capture and a wide 90-degree field of view. But my favorite thing about it is simply how it looks, with a cylindrical white design (you can also get it in pink and graphite) that’s a lot more fun to stare at than the more utilitarian C920 that usually sits atop my monitor. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

$28 at Twenty/Twenty & $42 at Twenty/Twenty

Two things that don’t always go well together are mascara and contacts. Luckily, Twenty/Twenty Beauty is changing that. The brand was developed by an ophthalmologist and the mascara has contact-wearers in mind. This has become my new favorite mascara and beyond not irritating my eyes, it makes my lashes look so long. I also am obsessed with the brand’s Calming Face Mist which is an amazing anti-inflammatory spray for face and eyes. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor

$27 at Yellow the Label

Yes, I caved and bought these socks off an Instagram ad. But I can tell you now, on the other side of that purchase, that it was a good decision. These socks are soft and snug, and they’re thick enough for maximum comfort but thin enough to wear with your favorite shoes. Plus, I like that they add a whimsical touch while staying in line with the neutral tones of my wardrobe. (The neutral pack is sold out right now, but you can grab the equally-cute pastel set instead.) — Caroline Curran, associate editor

$198 at Lunya & $198 at Lunya

With some fall travel plans already, I really wanted to get the perfect plane outfit. I wanted it to be cozy, cute and make me feel a little more like a human being than I usually do while going through security. This set has been a complete lifesaver already. I’ve lounged in it like 6 of the past 7 days (don’t judge me, I work from home) and it’s actually the most comfortable outfit I now own … by a lot. I cannot wait until the next time I fly and I get to feel like I’m walking around in some super-chic pajamas — because I actually will be. — Rachel Lubitz, senior lifestyle editor

$75 at Branch Basics

I’ve recently become obsessed with switching over my cleaning products to natural options and after a ton of research, I turned to Branch Basics. After giving the products a go this month, there’s nothing I don’t like. The starter kit comes with a multi-purpose concentrate and all you need to do is add some to each bottle, dilute it with a little water and that’s it. For just $55 a concentrate, you can legitimately replace five cleaning products. Overall, it’s less waste, as you only need to refill the concentrate when you run out and best of all, it *actually* works just as good as Windex or Meyers — without the harmful chemicals and ingredients. — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

$149 at Sola Wave

I will try any viral beauty trend at least once and I was so curious about the SolaWave wand. I’ve been using it almost every day for a month for about 5-10 minutes and I’ve seen incredible results. It makes my skin look so much softer and smoother and de-puffs as well. I also get fewer hormonal breakouts. It’s so relaxing to use and easy to incorporate into your routine. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor

$14.99 at Amazon

My boyfriend was kind enough to buy me an iPad for our anniversary, and almost immediately what I got most excited about was finding a cute and durable case. I’m already a huge fan of this one, which clicked right on and has already saved it from a few drops. It folds up to make a stand and I just can’t get over the color. Plus, it’s under $15! — Rachel Lubitz, senior lifestyle editor

$18.99 at Amazon

It’s a crime against humanity that Nando’s is only in four locations across the United States. Thankfully, the iconic restaurant now sells its Perinaise Original Tangy & Spicy Mayonnaise across US grocery stores. I will put this on just about everything and it completely elevates every boring sandwich and pairs perfectly with chips as a dip. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor

$185 at Eauso Vert

If you follow us on Instagram, you may have seen me test the trendy new fragrance brand Eauso Vert a few weeks ago. (Oh, and if you don’t follow us you must!) But since you’re here, you can probably guess that I loved the scent Sintra so much. It’s a genderless fragrance formulated with clean ingredients that looks just as good as it smells. It features notes of sandalwood, bergamot, Italian lemon (just to name a few) and stays on for HOURS. At $185, it’s definitely an investment that’s well worth it, and if you’re into the environment, you must also know that the bottle is 98% biodegradable. This has hands-down become my go-to fragrance this fall — and should be yours too. — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

$97 at Year of Ours & $65 at Year of Ours

There’s just nothing quite like a vibrant pistachio-colored set to get you in the mood to be active. Available in sizes XS to 2X — I took XS, as I’ve found the brand runs a bit large — the super-soft ribbed material is breathable, comfortable and flattering — in part thanks to the ultra-high waist and spandex-nylon blend, which really sucks everything in and instantly dries up any excess moisture. It also never rolls down, which is a huge plus. Whether I’m walking my pup, running errands or (begrudgingly) working out, you’ll find me wearing this set. — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

$50 at Short Story

As much as I love fashion, finding the right pieces to add to my closet can be challenge, especially as a petite woman. My jeans are almost always too long for my height and my shirt sleeves often go way past my hands. So I was overjoyed when introduced to Short Story. This styling service is all about pairing petite women with items that match their aesthetic and actually fit their body. First, I took their style quiz and then they sent a box full clothing. Everything fit me perfectly. This was one of the first times I could put on an item and not have to run to a tailor. However, if there is an item I didn’t like, I could send it back free of charge and only pay for the looks that I want to keep. Life just got 10x easier. — Sarai Thompson, social coordinator

$56 at Skinn

A versatile unisex fragrance, this citrus-forward scent is great for those who love bright, vibrant fragrances. I like to layer it with other refreshing perfumes, because once it settles into your skin, it has a warmth from notes of amber, oud and cedarwood that complement other light fragrances. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

~~$85~~ $68 at Prismatic Plants

The Prismatic Plants Melt Tension Serum absorbs super quickly and smells great. But most importantly, it actually works to ease tension. I get really bad temple headaches and instead of constantly reaching for Ibuprofen, I’ve been rubbing in a couple pumps of this, and it’s been a lifesaver as the effects are almost instant. I also love using it on the back of my neck. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor

$49 at Vibrant

Vibrant’s undergarments are buttery soft and made with fabric that is certified free from potentially harmful substances like pesticides, chlorine bleach and carcinogenic or allergy-causing dyes. The tank top so comfy to lounge around in and is also great for keeping cool overnight. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

$58 at Ryu

I know everyone is obsessed with their Lululemon Belt Bag, but may I introduce you to the RYU Waist Bag? While I own both bags, I tend to grab this one more often because it’s roomier and there are a variety of inner pockets. I also love that there is an open back panel pocket that easily fits my phone. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor

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October 2, 2022
26 indoor Halloween decorations you’ll actually want to live with | CNN Underscored

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CNN
—

Whether you’re in the balmy climes of Florida or crisp fall temps of New England, we all have one thing in common this time of year: Halloween!

And while parents around the world are fielding their kiddo’s costume ideas (and trying to avoid those last-minute stressors), we in the interior design community are channeling all of the haunted vibes straight into our homes. That’s right, it’s time to turn our normally stately abodes into the spooktacular haunts we know they can be.

Fear not: Halloween decor doesn’t have to be all witches, skeletons and screaming bats (though we’re not mad at those over-the-top decorations!). If you’re looking for something a bit more sedate this fall, we’ve found all the things that can satisfy your holiday decoration cravings, minus the chintz.

$99.50 at Grandin Road

Set a ghostly tone with this tattered cotton cheesecloth scarf that can be draped on your mantle, buffet, tabletop or even stair railings this Halloween.

Turn your fall dinner party into a spooky affair with this lace tablecloth that evokes a massive cobweb. It can be used solo or layered over another color to truly show every creepy detail. More to know: It comes in a runner too.

Avant-garde, creepy and beautiful all at once, this black feather wreath from Michaels is a sleek way to gussy up a doorway in your home this Halloween season.

It’s not really Halloween if you don’t have a few skulls involved, right? Right. We love this silly set of three, mimicking the old “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” adage, and think they’re perfect for mantels and coffee tables alike. Plus, they’re candle holders so you can really make them pop with your best flickering flames.

Keep the spook going with this web serving platter. In addition to having a festive vibe, this plate’s raised edges also help prevent any scary spills or stains from spoiling the fun.

Your bartender for the season? He’s not much of a talker. But he does keep the wine flowing! Trust us, this bottle holder is going to be one of your new favorite decorations.

If you’re looking for a subtle piece with a sky-high creepy factor, look no further than these spine-shaped candles. The set features three handmade candles that look like bones melting when lit. Say it with us: “Ew!”

Want to throw the most elegant Halloween soiree ever? This stunning punch bowl will ensure you’re successful. Made from mouth-blown glass, Williams Sonoma’s bowl — which is equally adept at house kid-friendly punches and adults-only cocktails — comes with six gold-rimmed glasses to boot.

$99.50 at Grandin Road

Halloween isn’t complete without a skeleton and we love this glam golden option from Grandin Road. Life-size at 5 feet tall, the skeleton is fully hinged from head to toe, meaning you can position him at the piano or on your front porch’s rocking chair, or pose him enjoying a cocktail at the dining room table.

A more modern take on the faux pumpkin, this decorative sculpture from Target can seamlessly blend into any decor design from your mantle to your kitchen table and anywhere in-between.

Start your morning off with a bright pumpkin pop thanks to this mug. This piece of functional decor can travel to any room of your home, instantly giving it a sprig of spooky charm.

How do you prove your Halloween prowess knows no bounds? With an utterly eerie succulent planter, that’s how. This one’s dark, creepy eyes will seemingly follow you wherever you go. The best part? The plant is faux and maintenance-free!

Don’t let darkness spoil the beauty of your wreath. This light-up wreath will give all your guests a wicked welcome.

Kiddos and adults alike await Halloween with much anticipation, which is why this “countdown to” block is a fun addition to your decor. Keep “The Nightmare Before Christmas”-themed piece up year-round as you count down the days till Halloween is finally here. Bonus: The block comes with a Christmas sign, which means you can count down to that other big holiday too.

If you’re an ‘80s baby, then it’s safe to say you’re still terrified of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” villain Freddy Kreuger — and you can channel that terror right into your home now, thanks to this Elm Street sign! Place it on a bookshelf, above a bathroom or really anywhere you want to scare the pants off yourself, your family or your guests.

Diptyque makes some of the most delicious-smelling candles in the biz, and we’re digging the moody vibes of the Baies/Berries fragrance that smells of roses and blackcurrant leaves. The 10- to 51-ounce sizes come in a matte black glass vessel that will perfectly accent the rest of your Halloween decor.

Sometimes you just need a few ghosts to get you in the Halloween spirit, and this simple white set will get the job done. Each includes an on/off button and requires three AA batteries to glow up — wherever you place these cuties, they’re going to spark some seasonal joy.

$39.50 at Grandin Road

Keep everyone on their toes this Halloween with this hilarious battery-operated crawling hand. The perfect mantle and bookshelf filler, the hand also makes for a great — and surprising — table centerpiece!

We love the pomp and circumstance of this official sign — let your guests know up front that they’re about to enter a haunted house!

$5 at Target

If you’re not into the ghoulish, darker decor, set your dinner party tone with these plaid placemats from Target — they’re subtle enough to keep on your table all season. If you want to up the festiveness of your place setting, add these cute jack-o’-lantern cloth napkins to your cart too.

This we know: Williams Sonoma’s soap and lotion sets are the absolute best, whether you have them in your kitchen, your powder room or your master bath! And we’re truly stoked that they come in a Halloween-friendly scent, smelling of fresh pumpkin, butter and brown sugar mixed with notes of creamy vanilla, toasted pecans and warm spices housed in a stainless steel countertop caddy. The set is something you’ll want to be using all year long.

Maybe this is technically outdoor decor, but either way let your guests know up front — nay, out front — that they’re about to enter a Halloween house with this totally gorgeous fall wreath. Weatherproof and comprised of thousands of faux pip berries, the brightly colored wreath comes in five sizes and is from ElegantWreath, a retailer with more than 38,000 sales and 6,800 positive reviews.

Got a blank wall that needs some filling? Let these bats do the work for you this Halloween season. Whether you’re looking to arch them over a window or flock them over a fireplace, the flying bats take on an artistic look when gathered en masse on your walls. That’s right, we said it — bats are beautiful!

Not all Halloween decor needs to be ghostly, which is exactly why we’re so into this felt ball garland. Reusable for years to come, the garland has a modern vibe that will add a festive tone to your mantel, shell or doorway!

$39.50 at Grandin Road

Got a bowl that needs filler? Look no further than this set of eight eyeball orbs from Grandin Road. Partly sophisticated, partly freaking ghoulish, the glossy eyeballs — FYI: Each ball has two eyes, one on the front and one on the back — are super artistic and will look totally gorgeous as a table centerpiece or a vase filler.

We just found your candy bowl for trick-or-treaters, and um, yes, you’re going to be using it year-round. Made in Mexico from black-hued terra-cotta, the 11-inch bowl is accented with mini skulls that will add just the right amount of spook to your Halloween.

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October 2, 2022
17 viral products our editors have tried and loved | CNN Underscored

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TikTok and Instagram can be great resources for discovering new products, but sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s worth it and what just looks good on your social feed. We’ve done some of the legwork for you, trying out popular viral products that have popped up on our own For You Pages. From kitchen favorites to trending fashion finds, we believe these 17 Internet-famous products pass the vibe check.

From $55 at Statement Home

This tray is so cute but also really practical! It comes with tons of different inserts that you just slide into the tray to make it work for any occasion or just use as a decoration in your home. They also have an insert to make charcuterie boards on. — Hannah Lauson, TikTok strategist

$165 & $145 at Our Place

Everyone has heard of the Our Place Always Pan by now and you’d be hard pressed not to see it all over social media. Once Selena Gomez announced her collab with the brand I knew I had to finally grab myself the Always Pan and Perfect Pot in Azul. They’re now my kitchen staples. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor

$18 at Clevr

As many of us learned during the Dalgona coffee craze, a milk frother is such a simple tool that can make your morning coffee so much more satisfying and tasty. I love how easy this one is to clean, store and charge. I usually go for a normal cup of joe topped with almond milk foam, and this little whisk whips it up into a beautiful fluffy froth every time. I’ve also tried using it with Clevr’s turmeric Golden SuperLatte, which is delicious and creamy. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

$9.99 at H&M

I kept seeing H&M home products, so while I was redecorating my apartment I picked up a few items like this little tray, some vases and curtains. This is one of my favorites because it’s so cute and small but fits all of my jewelry. Everything from H&M Home is also really affordable, so I highly recommend it! — Hannah Lauson, TikTok strategist

From $16 at Parade

Parade has become my go-to loungewear and lingerie brand. You’ve probably seen some cool kids on your Instagram wearing their pieces. The fabrics are so, so soft (and sustainable) and they have new colorways and drops to browse all the time. While their underwear is just as cute and comfy, it’s their loungewear that I really love. They have a bunch of mix and match options that are great for your base layer or just wearing at home. The Double Strap Micro Crop Cami and FreeFlex High Rise Brief are a couple of my latest and favorite Parade purchases. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

$150 at Hillhouse

Nap dresses have been all over my Instagram Explore page for years and I finally caved — then proceeded to yell at myself for not buying one sooner. I, of course, went with the OG of nap dresses and bought myself a Hill House Home Ellie Nap Dress and it was a summer staple. I’m also toying with the idea of throwing a turtleneck under it to wear into fall. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor

From ~~$120~~ $79.99 at Abercrombie & Fitch

Before this little black dress went viral on the stunning Gym Tan (who I’ve followed since her early days on TikTok), Olivia McDowell’s show-and-tell video showed up on my For You Page and it was all that was needed to convince me to immediately order it from my phone. It’s the perfect balance of dressy and casual, and the lightweight poplin still looks breezy even in black. I was thrilled that it’s available in petite sizes since finding a maxi dress as a 5-foot-2-inch person can be challenging. The Size Small/Petite goes all the way to my ankles so I’d like to get it hemmed a couple inches for a more cropped look, but I’m glad I can still wear it for now without it dragging on the ground. The first time I wore it out to an event for work, I got tons of compliments and yes, a couple people stopped to ask me if I was wearing “the Abercrombie dress.” While it’s often sold out, it comes in a few other colorways that I’m sure are just as cute. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

$48 at Terrelique

I’ve raved about Terrelique slippers before, and I’m still just as obsessed with them. The bright colors caught my eye on my Explore Page and since I have a “no shoes” policy at my apartment I was so happy to find cute slides to wear. They’re recycled and fully recyclable and are also ethically made. There are a lot of dupes out there, but the real thing is worth it. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor

$59 at Sheertex

Tights are a fall and winter staple, but every year I found myself having to buy multiple new pairs because of the inevitable rips and runs that would appear — until I tried Sheertex’s rip-resistant tights. The Instagram ads of the tights being pulled at and poked with scissors — and never tearing! — convinced me to give them a try. I have both the classic and the Shaping tights, and they both look and feel great. Two years later, and I’ve never had so much as a snag appear. They are a bit pricey, but they’ll last you (hopefully) forever. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

$40 at Charlotte Tilbury and Sephora

Six months, a 50,000-person waitlist (and probably a prayer or two) later, I finally got my hands on Madison Beer’s can’t-live-without beauty product — the Beauty Light Wand — and I can confirm it’s well worth the wait. This shimmering rosy pink highlighter-blush hybrid is incredibly easy to use, packed with pigment, blends perfectly into the skin and can be built up to make more of a statement, which is what myself, Madison and pretty all of TikTok does to really give you that lit-from-within glow. Mercury Retrograde must really be lifting because currently, the product is in stock and you can buy up to five at a time! Don’t walk, run!!! — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

$13.99 at Target

I could barely go a day without seeing the MegaBabe Rosy Pits deodorant in videos. After users swore by it and the incredible scent I caved and bought it. I was already a huge fan of the brand’s Thigh Rescue so it’s no surprise I ended up loving this too. The Rosy Pits candle is next on my list. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor

From $20 at Kov Essentials

Claw clips are such a cute trend, but it’s always been difficult for me to find ones that can actually keep my very long and thick hair up all day. I saw one of Kov’s videos on TikTok and was influenced to give it a try. Their large clip is literally the only claw clip I’ve tried that keeps my hair up, and they even have an XL for even thicker and more textured hair. Kov’s clips, which come in four sizes, are super durable and even have a six-month warranty in case your does break. I’ve had mine for a year now and it hasn’t let me (or my hair) down. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

$15.99 at Target

Let’s be honest — and our TikTok sunscreen tests prove it every time — not all sunscreens are made with people of color in mind. When I found out through an Instagram ad that Black Girl Sunscreen exists, I was super excited to try for myself! I’ve tested the Broad Spectrum on my body and the Make It Matte sunscreen for the face, and it’s so nice to know that I can protect my skin without looking like chalk. I use this sunscreen every day, whether I’m inside or outside my apartment, and I’ve even convinced my dad to give it a try. — Sarai Thompson, social coordinator

$30 at Amazon and Sephora

I’ve been seeing a ton of people on my FYP raving about clarifying shampoos to remove product build up from your hair, so I did a little research and found that many people loved this one. I use it once every two to three weeks and I’ve definitely noticed a difference in my hair since I started about three months ago! — Hannah Lauson, TikTok strategist

$435 at Sephora

Beloved by TikTokers and celebrities like Jimmy Fallon and Charlotte McKinney, I regret to inform you that this viral LED mask (which I was 100% influenced to try) is absolutely worth the hype. Aside from the steep price tag and petrifying my pup every time I use it, there is pretty much nothing I dislike about this product after owning it for over a year. It uses 162 LED lights over your entire face to target both wrinkles and breakouts, works in just three minutes, is FDA-cleared, comes with a detachable head strap and storage bag and, best of all, actually works. As someone who is acne-prone, I use it consistently every single night and have noticed a major improvement in my uneven complexion and acne scarring, and have even experienced less breakouts. This is your sign to treat yourself! — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

$30 at Amazon and Sephora

I’ve repurchased this bottle three to four times now and it’s my favorite hair care product. It’s the only thing that I’ve been able to find that tames my frizzy hair and keeps it hydrated all day. Plus, a little goes a long way so each bottle lasts me a couple of months. — Hannah Lauson, TikTok strategist

$58 at Amazon and Credo

I am a skin care enthusiast in pursuit of glazed donut skin so naturally, I turn to Hailey Bieber for pretty much everything product-related. Recently on her YouTube channel, she raved about the Mara Beauty cleansing oil in her nighttime routine (that has over 2 million views) and I added it to my cart faster than I’ve ever done anything in my life. After just one use, it truly blew me away; it’s a makeup-dissolving cleanser-meets-mask and is a velvety soft, gentle formula that includes a mix of algae extract, jojoba, chia, papaya, pineapple, grapefruit and pumpkin enzymes. It melts away makeup in seconds and after cleansing twice — because that’s what Hailey does! — my sensitive skin is left soft, supple and clear. The true testament, though, is how glowy and hydrated my skin looks and feels the next morning. — Stephanie Griffin, social lead

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September 28, 2022
Our Place just launched some gorgeous tableware — shop the sets before they’re gone | CNN Underscored

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Our Place’s Always Pan and Perfect Pot have already taken over our cupboards — they were recently joined by the mini counterparts — and now the DTC kitchen goods company is coming for our tables too. The brand just dropped a huge tableware collection just in time for fall entertaining, and it’s one of the brand’s coolest additions yet.

For those looking for just the essentials, this bundle offers two sets of plates (the Full and Midi) and one set of Demi Bowls.

This 17-piece set comes with not just the new plates and bowls but also drinking glasses and the famed Always Pan.

This bundle comes with all the dinnerware you might need for mealtime: four Full Plates, four Midi Places and four Demi Plates, plus four of both the Midi and Demi Bowls

Your entire guest list gets a place setting with this massive 36-piece bundle that includes the entire Tableware collection

While Our Place has offered plates and glasses in the past, this tableware collection is all about being part of an “ecosystem” you can weave pieces in and out of.

The collection features ceramics that come in one of four hand-glazed shades: white, charcoal, blush or an on-trend chestnut. You can pick up midi bowls (four for $60), dinner plates (four for $60), serving platters (two for $65) and more — and coordinate colors however you prefer.

Like with other parts of its catalog, Our Place gives you the option to buy the tableware as either sets by category (i.e., sets of just plates) or as bundles available in a single shade or a mix. Sets come in a 20-piece set ($225), a “Dinner for Four” set that includes glassware and an Always Pan ($295) or a starter set ($145) with 12 place settings.

It’s not just ceramics you can include in the “ecosystem”; you can also pick up some gorgeous glassware in complementary shades, including Night + Day glasses (four for $50), plus a carafe ($125), mini plates for oils or salts (four for $30) and quads of mugs ($55).

Shop the set online at Our Place’s site before the new collection all sells out — the brand’s launches historically go fast.

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September 27, 2022
The best solar generators in 2022 | CNN Underscored
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A solar generator pairs a large-capacity rechargeable power station — a big battery, at heart — with a set of portable solar panels, making for a versatile device that can provide backup power for your home during an emergency and do double duty for off-grid activities like camping, tailgating or even DIY projects around your yard. They’re safer to store and use and far simpler to maintain than gas generators, and with people more and more conscious of the threat of storms and wildfires, they make a lot of sense for emergency preparedness.

To choose the best solar generator, we tested 13 devices for an entire summer in the hot Florida sun to determine which device could reliably provide the most power with the least fuss. We considered factors such as portability, ease of setup, price, industrial design, technology and innovation when making our final selections.

The best small-capacity solar generator

Bluetti’s EB70S packs the latest LFP battery chemistry and plenty of capacity into a compact package that’s great for camping, on-the-go preparedness, a car emergency kit or taking any place you need reliable power.

The best medium-capacity solar generator

With updated features, an upgrade LiFePO4/LFP battery, a ton of ports and easy expansion, the new EcoFlow Delta 2 outperformed everything in its class in our testing. It hits the sweet spot for most people who need portable power and a dependable emergency backup.

The best high-capacity solar powered generator:

Easy to use, packed with the most up-to-date features and battery technology, and expandable enough to serve as a whole-house emergency generator, the EcoFlow Delta Pro beat impressive competitors in our testing, emerging as the best large solar generator.
Key specs

Battery Capacity: 716 Wh

Battery Chemistry: LFP/LiFePO4

Expansion Capacity: No

Maximum AC Inverter Capacity: 800W

Maximum Solar DC Input Capacity: 200W

Panel to Generator Charge Interface: MC4 to 8mm DC

Output Ports: (4) 110V AC (2 grounded), (2) 5V/3A USB-A, (2) 100W USB PD, (2) regulated 12V/10 DC, (1) 12V car, 15W wireless charge pad

App Managed: No

Weight: 21.4 pounds

Charge Time: 4 hours

Panel Tested: Jackery 200W

Warranty: 2 Years
The Bluettti EB70S offers a high-capacity battery (716 watt-hours) and an inverter capable of handling up to 800 watts worth of devices in a compact, portable package perfect for everything from camping to keeping your critical devices going in a blackout. It is packed with output ports, and the two USB PD 100Ws and wireless charging pad make it ideal if you want to charge mobile devices quickly. It is capable of handling most of your small-device power needs, whether it’s a laptop, tablet, smartphone, LED lighting unit (it has a built-in lantern as well in case you read at night), BBQ controller, mini refrigerator or small fan.

Functionality doesn’t need to mean ugly. The rectangular unit with rounded edges and an integrated folding carrying handle looks a bit like an old-school boombox and comes in four colors; our testing sample was a bright blueish-green. It’s small enough, along with a single panel, to keep in a car at all times.

The EB70S isn’t just pretty. Under the hood is one of the least expensive solar generators on the market using the latest lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP) battery chemistry, which charges faster, runs cooler and lasts longer. In theory, this unit will last a very long time, an estimated 2,500+ full charge cycles, according to the manufacturer, meaning it should be there when you need it

At 21.4 pounds, the Bluetti EB70S is light enough to move around easily. The power supply for AC charging is a separate unit, further lightening the load. The DC inverter port for the AC adapter input and the solar cable is an 8A barrel type, used by several manufacturers including Jackery, one of the most popular, so panels should be easy to find. For testing, as we didn’t have Bluetti’s 200W panel on hand, we used one of Jackery’s 200W SolarSaga units, which plugged right in without any intermediate adapter cables. It worked just fine, so MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking, the converter technology that manages solar panel to battery connections) compatibility on the unit is good.

The user interface is straightforward. One small button activates the four AC outlets, another activates the USB and other DC ports. Another button activates a front-panel light. A small LED color display indicates input and output watts, along with battery capacity, which is displayed as a pictograph of a battery with five fill bars rather than a percentage. The battery management system on this unit is very simplistic, perhaps overly so — it doesn’t indicate depletion or charge completion times. Additionally, if the battery is full or at a high level of charge and it is not discharging, it won’t show any wattage input. It’s information that would be nice to have, but given the overall solid performance, missing it is by no means a dealbreaker.

The unit was easily able to drive all of our variable test loads of 60W to 200W, and with a solar panel hooked up, our small 60W freezer never depleted the battery, even on days of mixed weather.

With a full 200W load using dual 70W fans overnight, we could drain it in about three and a half hours, but this is a heavy continuous load for a small generator designed primarily for camping and short-term usage.

With the speedy recharge rate, even at about 50% efficiency on the panel, we could go from day to night uninterrupted for two consecutive days running a 100-watt load without depleting the unit. The only time we ran into issues was after a day of rain with no sun at all.
Key specs

Battery Capacity: 1,024 Wh

Battery Chemistry: LFP/LiFePO4

Expansion Capacity: Yes, secondary 1,024 Wh battery

Maximum AC Inverter Capacity: 1,800-2,200Wx

Maximum Solar DC Input Capacity: 500Wx

Panel to Generator Charge Interface: MC4 to XT-60

Output Ports: (6) 110V AC (2 grounded), (4) 5V/2.4A USB-A (2 fast charge), (2) 100W USB PD, (2) DC 5521, (1) 12V car

App Managed: Yes

Weight: 27 pounds

Charge Time: 4 hours

Panels Tested: EcoFlow 400W, EcoFlow 160W

Warranty: 2 Years
The new LiFePO4/LFP-based 1024 Wh EcoFlow Delta 2 arrived towards the very end of our testing period, after we had already evaluated its predecessor, the original 1300 Wh Li-ion-NMC Delta. But after testing, the EcoFlow Delta 2 completely upset our decision matrix — it’s that good. With an expanded feature set and the latest technology and capabilities, it simply outperformed everything else in its class.

A slimmed-down version of EcoFlow’s Delta Pro, the new Delta 2 uses the same LiFePO4/LFP battery chemistry and has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth onboard to enable smart management with an excellent, extremely detailed app with many configurable settings. The rear of the generator has two grounded AC ports, four ungrounded, and three 12V ports, with one car and a dual 5521 (for devices such as routers with barrel connectors where you might want to avoid the use of a power brick). An internal AC power supply simplifies cabling, and the EcoFlow Delta 2 has a dedicated AC power cord.

Solar/12V charging uses an XT-60 modular connector and a PV4-to XT-60 adapter cable. It has a 500W DC solar input (allowing you to charge it using two of EcoFlow’s 160W panels, two 220W panels or a single 400W panel) or via an AC inverter (more on that later).

The compact 160W/220W panels are light and easy to carry; with multiples a single person can easily carry them out one at a time, unzip them from their fabric cases, and lie them down on a driveway or pool deck area (which is exactly what we did with these) You can also prop them up easily using the carrying case, which doubles as a stand, but it might be good to have one other person help you with that. The 400W panel is larger, but is of the same folding, four-segment “floppy” or flexible design. It’s more cumbersome because of its large size and weight, and while a single person could lay it out flat, it took two of us to position it when we set it up on the stand.

Connecting a single panel to the generator only requires using a single MC4 to XT-60 bridge cable that connects to the panel’s positive and negative wires (you can’t mix it up, it’s a “keyed” connection) and attaching the bridge cable to the rear of the panel. The generator does the rest and displays the incoming wattage on the display and in the app. If you need to connect more than one panel, they can be serialized by attaching the positive pole of the MC4 connection of the first panel to a negative pole of the other panel, and then connecting the bridge cable to the other positive and negative poles. This can be done for up to three 160W panels on the Delta 2, for a maximum power input of 480W. EcoFlow also has a “parallel” connector cable to simplify this if you need to, particularly in situations where you might use three or more panels, but we did not have one of these for testing.

Like its big sibling, the Delta 2 is expandable. While its onboard battery capacity is slightly smaller than the similarly priced units we tested, you can double the power of the EcoFlow Delta 2 to 2,048 Wh with an expansion battery unit. (The battery expansion port is on the side and uses a thick proprietary connector cord.) That gives you the flexibility of choosing portability over power, or should you realize you need more “oomph” after the fact. The 1,200W of AC input capacity (up to 1,500W with the additional battery pack connected) allows it to charge quickly.

That said, given the high AC draw, we recommend you use the app and limit the input to 800W or less unless you have nothing else plugged into the circuit when charging it. We managed to trip a breaker charging the unit from a shared circuit in our garage charging at the default maximum speed setting in the app. While it’s easy enough to reset a breaker, it is not something you want to deal with when it’s easily avoidable using the Delta 2’s well-thought-out management features.

The Delta 2 lets you charge from AC and solar simultaneously; we tried this setup and the unit prioritizes AC over solar most of the time (not a surprise given that the AC side of the unit supplies more current and solar is subject to variable weather conditions and solar exposure). It’s a useful option for faster charging or keeping the unit consistently charged without relying entirely on the grid.

While the main display is simple enough, most users will likely want to use the app for monitoring status and adjusting settings. It allows you to control multiple EcoFlow devices at once and get real-time information about the state of charge and power flow. You also can alter settings, such as turning ports on and off, adjusting input wattage and upgrading firmware.

We used the unit in both 1,024 Wh and 2,048 Wh configurations with the external battery. Given the 27-pound weight of the generator (and slightly less for the external battery) we found it fairly easy to drag around the house in two separate parts if we needed to move it away from its primary charging position on the patio. We had no issues running our maximum loads with the EcoFlow Delta 2, particularly when the second battery was connected and using a single 400W panel.

In our estimation, the Delta 2 with an extra battery for a total of 2,048 Wh of capacity and 400W of solar panels is probably the “sweet spot” for a small family looking for an emergency backup generator to cover essentials. 100W to 300W of variable output is a realistic load to plan for if you consider the typical appliances that might be connected in an emergency scenario, such as lower-wattage LED lights (typically in the 10W to 20W range), a small refrigerator, fans, personal electronics and higher-wattage small appliances for cooking for 10-20 minutes at a time. We found that with this setup we were able to go for at least three to five days using our 60W-200W variable test load under medium cloud conditions, with plenty of capacity left on hand.
Key specs

Battery Capacity: 3,600 Wh

Battery Chemistry: LFP/LiFePO4

Expansion Capacity: Yes, add up to two 3,600 Wh batteries for a total of 10,800 Wh

Home Electrical Panel Integration: Yes, with a proprietary transfer switch

Maximum AC Inverter Capacity: up to 4,500W

Maximum Solar DC Input Capacity: 1,600W

Panel to Generator Charge Interface: MC4 to XT-60

Output Ports: (4) 110V AC, (1) 30A 125V, (4) 5V/2.4A USB-A (2 fast charge), (2) 100W USB PD, (2) DC 5521, (1) 12V car, (1) 12.6V 30A Anderson Powerpole

App Managed: Yes

Weight: 99 lbs

Charge Time: 4 hours (1.7 hours with X-Stream Adapter and 40A L2 EV Charger)

Panel Tested: EcoFlow 400W

Warranty: 3 Years (with registration)
The EcoFlow Delta Pro, released in 2021, is similar to the Delta 2 in overall design and basic capabilities, with the latest LiFePO4/LFP battery chemistry, onboard Bluetooth and Wi-Fi that let you access the smart battery management system via a well-designed app, an integrated power supply, MC4 to XT-60 solar input connectivity and an identical informative display.

But the Delta Pro is a much bigger unit, and not just physically. The Delta Pro’s base battery capacity is 3,600 Wh, so if you are driving a 200W load, you can run it for 18 hours before depleting the battery, assuming there’s no recharge. And if that’s not enough, it can accommodate two additional 3,600 Wh batteries (connected with thick proprietary charging cables) for up to 10,800 Wh capacity, which begins to compete with gas generators. The inverter can drive up to 4,500W of load from its four 120V AC, six USB ports, three 12V, a 12V 30 Anderson connector, and a 30A 125V RV port.

For most people that should be enough to power even some larger appliances like a refrigerator or freezer. along with lighting and personal electronics through a power outage. Since it is a viable alternative to smaller gas or propane/natural gas generators, you can buy EcoFlow’s Smart Home Panel, a transfer switch with a subpanel that lets you directly connect two EcoFlow Pros (each with up to two additional batteries) to your home electrical system and power up to 10 circuits.

With all of that on tap, the Delta Pro is physically large. It weighs 99 pounds, though it has integrated wheels with a pull-out handle, so you can roll it (more like drag it) to wherever it needs to be.

The 400W panels weigh just over 35 pounds each. As we noted with the Delta 2, the 400W panels use MC4-type locking connectors and are built with a folding, four-segment “floppy” or flexible construction, which can be used flat or angled. They come in heavy fabric carrying bases which function as an angular stand and use carabiner clips to connect to the panel.

The 400W panels are more cumbersome than the 160W panels supplied with the smaller EcoFlow units, and you may need two people to position them when the stand is used. The panels are IP68 rated, meaning they can handle being rained on — and during the testing period, sitting out on our driveway for weeks at a time in the South Florida summer, they were rained on continuously. They continued to operate flawlessly despite the deluges.

You can charge from solar or AC. The solar input lets you connect up to four 400W panels at 1,600W. You can charge from a 120V outlet, of course, but to fill this monster at high speeds, EcoFlow sells an “X-Stream” adapter that allows you to use a J1772 connector (like a Level 2 240V 40A/50A EV charging circuit) to fill the 3,600 Wh battery at over 3,000W.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t overtax your home electrical circuit trying to AC charge it. We did encounter an issue where the power draw during 110V AC charging exceeded the capacity of the shared circuit (15A) to which the Delta Pro was connected; it caused the breaker to flip. To address this, we isolated the device to its own circuit and lowered the AC power draw in the app to a more modest 800W, which, as with the Delta 2, we suggest you do unless your circuit is sufficient to handle AC charging at the maximum draw.

There wasn’t a load we could throw at this unit it could not handle, including 1,800W espresso machines, induction cookers and hair dryers in addition to our lineup of personal electronics, fans and small appliances. To really stress out the Delta Pro we used dual True 2A rated 24-inch undercounter commercial refrigerators, which had a peak draw of about 480W when the compressors were running at full blast, both at the same time.

In a continual consumption scenario with no solar connection for recharging, according to the built-in display and the app (as we were monitoring it) the 3,600 Wh battery on the Delta Pro would deplete in seven and a half hours, and with a single external battery, in about 14 or 15 hours with a total of 7,200 Wh. Adding a second battery (we’re extrapolating, since we didn’t test with a second battery) would provide about 22 hours of continuous draw (and that’s without a solar panel hooked up).

In real-world use, with only periodic compressor bursts from the refrigerators and twin 400W panels giving us at least 550W of continual recharge at about 70% efficiency during the day, we didn’t tax the Delta Pro much at all. Similarly, using a 1,800W induction cooker, running a boiling pot of water, continuously, got us about two hours of total use from a fully charged single battery with no solar recharging, but that’s not a realistic application. Yu’d use an appliance like this for only about 15 to 20 minutes at a time to make meals, and we rarely ran it above 800W-1,000W for medium-heat cooking. Practically, it doesn’t make a dent.

So did we max out the capabilities of this monster setup? No, not by any means. And realistically, your typical family running emergency loads will not either. Suffice it to say, this bodes well for the Delta Pro’s usefulness in emergency situations, and at the very least it should be a good solution to avoid having to toss a fridge or freezer full of food after a long power outage.

EcoFlow even sells a setup meant to address a particularly challenging situation: the EV charging adapter lets you use the NEMA TT-30 30A 125V port with a grounding adapter to charge an electric car. Just be aware that EV batteries are really big, so you can’t expect to fill up that easily, at least not right out of the box. With the base 3.6 kWh in the Delta Pro, you only get about 5% charge on a 77 kWh battery or a 15% charge with 10.8 kWh if both external batteries are connected. With 1,600W of panels connected, you could fully charge your vehicle in a day or two (perhaps three) if solar conditions are optimal, but it’s a bit of a stretch and you wouldn’t be able to use it for anything else. But if you’re stuck in a snowy cabin with a pooped-out electric vehicle, you should be able to get enough charge to make it to a charging station.

First off, a solar generator isn’t really a “generator.” It’s a large rechargeable battery pack (not that different from the devices you might carry around to charge your phone while traveling), integrating an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) with surge protection and an inverter and line conditioner to power your AC devices.

These devices are known as “solar generators” because they’re designed to be charged using a solar panel, making them suitable for long-term use in emergencies or off the grid (they can also be charged from a wall outlet). A wide range of battery capacities are available, from large models that can keep critical appliances going and the lights on during an emergency, to lightweight models more suitable for camping or tailgating.

In order to supply power to a wide range of devices, solar generators offer a variety of AC outlets, 12V DC ports, a standard cigarette lighter port and 5521 barrel-type ports, in addition to Anderson power ports. The more sophisticated, higher-power generators may also have 125V 30A outlets for powering an RV. Some solar generators can directly integrate with home generator transfer panels to power AC circuits.

Solar generators also come with USB ports for charging phones and small devices. The number of USB ports varies from two to four on smaller units and can be as high as six to eight on larger units, with a mix of USB-A 2.4v and 5V ports and USB-C with power delivery (PD) ports from 18W to 100W capacities.

In addition to basic watt-hour and inverter capacities, solar generators have different types of ports for connecting various devices. The number of 120V AC ports is typically one or two on smaller units and three to six on medium and larger units. The inverters on the generators themselves, however, have a maximum wattage rating, so nothing stops you from plugging a power strip into a single AC port and using the maximum wattage of the generator.

The inverters on the generators we reviewed are “pure sinewave,” which is the cleanest power you can get from an AC generator. They create a steady, continuous wave of electricity providing a smooth, oscillating current, also known as power conditioning. Some electronics require pure sinewave electricity, such as medical equipment and other appliances with AC motors, pumps and compressors.

Some solar generators have integrated power supplies for fast charging and can be directly connected using cables to external 110V AC and 12V DC power sources. In contrast, others use transformer bricks similar to ones you see on other consumer appliances such as personal computers. A separate power supply typically generates less heat and somewhat lowers the generator’s weight, making the cabling more complicated. The larger units typically also include integrated fans to cool the battery compartment; the battery management system controls them and spins them up and down as needed.

LED and LCDs on these devices display basic data such as state of charge, current wattage output, input and estimated times until charge and depletion (some also have touchscreen user interfaces). Some generators also have wireless capabilities and are managed using a mobile application using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The benefit is remote visibility into real-time generator performance from the comfort of wherever you want to view it and alter any settings that may be needed, such as activating and deactivating inverter ports, changing inverter charge speed so as not to overtax a circuit and updating the firmware.

How to choose and use a solar generator

The performance of solar generators is measured in watt hours (Wh). For example, imagine you have a load of 100W (which may be typical of a large fan and a portable refrigerator), and your solar generator’s capacity is 1,000 Wh. Then you could keep the load (the fan and portable fridge) for approximately 10 hours before the battery power is depleted (assuming there is no interim recharge by your solar panels, as happens at night).

When operating a solar generator, shield it from the elements somewhere like behind your front door, on a covered porch/patio or inside a vehicle. Some solar panels are rated for continuous outdoor use and are weatherproofed. However, the generators should never be exposed to water, rain or extreme heat. For this reason, we also recommend purchasing extension cables for optimizing generator/panel placement. In our testing, we used 25-foot extensions, so we had a sufficient length between the panels and the generator.

The heart of any solar generator unit, the cell is where chemical energy is stored for use as electrical energy. Cells have used a variety of lithium-based chemical formulations; many batteries have used Lithium-Ion Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) though Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), also referred to by its chemical formula LiFePO4, has gained popularity in the industry lately since it allows for faster charging and discharging and many more charge cycles and it lasts longer.

NMC batteries are, however, more common, since they are lighter and more energy-dense (and smaller, which is why you see them in smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and portable batteries). However, they have relatively slow charge and discharge rates, which makes them less efficient in use (in the battery world, the measurement of charge speed and rate of depletion/discharge are known as the C rating, and higher is faster).

In addition to having a lower C rating than LFP batteries, Lithium Ion-NMC batteries only have a lifespan of about 500 full charge cycles. In contrast, LFP batteries can handle over 3,000 cycles. LFP batteries also don’t generate as much heat as NMC batteries, making them safer and ideal for use in solar generators and electric vehicles.

The BMS, a microprocessor-controlled device embedded in the solar generator, combined with software algorithms, ensures the battery’s safety and longevity by regulating the charging and discharging of the cells. It accomplishes this by monitoring the voltage and current of each cell in the battery pack and balancing them as needed. The BMS also shuts down the system if it detects an unsafe condition, such as over-voltage or over-temperature.

The inverter converts the direct current (DC) output from the batteries and the solar panels to the alternating current (AC) that your home uses (for lamps, appliances and most gadgets). The inverter on a solar generator is rated in output watts (W). A small generator typically has a rating of about 500W, a medium-sized about 1,200W, and a large unit 2,000W or higher.

In other words, the output wattage gives you an idea of how many devices can draw power from the generator simultaneously. A single electric fan might have a maximum draw of 70W, but a hairdryer or a portable induction burner running at maximum power may draw as much as 1,600W to 1,800W and overtax a medium-sized unit. Inverters also handle the combined input wattage from AC and DC power, so your maximum solar panel capacity is determined by the inverter’s capacity. If your inverter has a maximum input capacity of 400W, you cannot use more than two 200W panels or four 100W panels.

A solar panel comprises photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. In a home setup, the DC current is then sent to an inverter, which is converted into alternating current (AC), the type of electricity used in your home. In a solar generator, energy is stored in the battery cells for conversion to AC (or use as DC) later.

Solar panels integrate with solar generators using MPPT (maximum power point tracking) controllers. MPPT is a standard technology that manages the conversion from panel output. Generally speaking, any MPPT-compatible panel from any manufacturer can be used with any solar generator, providing the correct connector cables and adapters are also used (such as Anderson, MC4/PV4, XT-30/XT-60, and various barrel connectors) and that the maximum voltage and combined input wattage into your inverter is not exceeded. However, it is possible to run into cable incompatibilities and capacity mismatches, so we’d recommend you pair panels sold by your generator manufacturer with your generator for the highest compatibility and optimal performance.

A solar panel’s performance depends on atmospheric conditions and your panel efficiency; inverters are about 95% efficient. That is: Is the sun shining? Even if you have a panel rated at 100W, you may find that it doesn’t work as well in cloudy or hazy weather, or if the panels are not in direct sunlight, or depending on the sun’s orientation during the day. Your panels could operate at 50% or less efficiency, maybe 50W. We never saw any manufacturer’s panels performing higher than 80% efficiency during our testing in South Florida during the summer of 2022, where we had light to medium cloud cover. Therefore, when making recharge calculations against the watt-hour capacity of your generator, assume a panel efficiency of 50% or less, depending on your typical weather conditions.

Solar panels are rated by their power output in watts, and portable panel sizes can range from as small as 50 watts to as high as 400 watts. You’ll want to make sure you do not exceed the maximum input capacity of the generator from the panel array; most MPPT charge controllers do not allow you to hook up panels that exceed voltage requirements. Some vendors (such as Goal Zero) will enable you to “oversubscribe” your panel wattage (such as using 1,200W of total capacity when the inverter input capacity is only 600W) during less favorable conditions. However, once the conditions become favorable again, any excess energy is lost as heat.

Depending on its design, a solar generator may be able to accommodate multiple solar panels hooked up in parallel, connected by long cables that use a variety of different types of connectors, which vary by manufacturer. Some panels are of a rugged, heavier, foldable metal design (also referred to as “briefcase”), and others are of a flexible, floppy design. Although they are heavier, these panels are generally easier to set up due to their rigid structure, and a single person can easily set up multiple panels. Briefcase designs are typically outdoor-rated, designed for continuous use and can be rained on without damaging the components.

In contrast, the larger floppy designs can be more challenging to set up by a single person, are typically not rated by the manufacturer for continuous outdoor use and are recommended to be removed from the elements during bad weather. However, in most cases, this only applies to the cable connections, so if you seal those with duct tape, there’s no reason why you can’t leave such solar panels outside for days at a time; we certainly did for our testing, and we encountered no malfunctions.

All generators were tested from June through August 2022 in variable sun conditions and varying weather. Generators were placed on a covered patio away from the elements. Long extension cables were connected to the panels placed outside the patio on a large outdoor pool deck. Panels were left outside for a week at a time.

The test load included two 70W stand fans, a 60W AstroAI 15L refrigerator/freezer run at -4 degrees Fahrenheit for maximum load and 20W of LED lamps. Incidental loads included a 1,800W portable induction burner, a 1,800W espresso machine, a 1,600W hair dryer and dual 2A 240W commercial refrigerators. Various generators charged other generators to test maximum inverter loads. 15A and 20A circuits with GFCI were used for AC charging generators when solar conditions were unfavorable or to test dual-charging configurations.

We measured whether the units were able to handle the test loads in terms of total wattage draw on the inverter, and measured how long it took for the battery to run out under typical real-world loads with the solar panels attached.

We paid careful attention to ease of setup and use, simplicity of monitoring and industrial design and build quality issues, looking at how the design affected performance and use, potential issues with the durability of components, and the terms of the manufacturer’s warranty.

Founded in 2012, Jackery is one of the oldest companies in the portable power station industry, and was key in popularizing these types of products. Its 500 series power station has been on the market since 2019 and is one of the most popular small solar generators. With its friendly industrial design and bright orange-and-black utilitarian look with monochrome LCD, it has spawned many clones.

The Explorer 500’s battery chemistry also puts it behind the times. It uses a Lithium-Ion NMC battery, which runs hotter, charges more slowly and offers shorter lifespans with fewer charge cycles. That said, NMC batteries are lighter and more energy-dense, and the Explorer 500 is a solid, affordable performer, though it lacks up-to-date features like USB-C PD outputs for faster charging of modern portable electronics, still offering only USB-A ports. In addition to an external AC adapter that connects to its barrel-style DC power port, it uses a proprietary Jackery-to-barrel cable for its solar connection.

The Jackery 1000 Pro is the popular battery brand’s newest portable power station, but as with its smaller sibling, it’s a bit behind the competition at this point. It uses a Lithium-Ion NMC, and with its larger battery pack, it needs more cooling than similarly sized LFP-based devices. Jackery claims 1,000 charge cycles, however, perhaps enabled by the unit’s dual onboard fans. We’d expect these to run quite a bit at higher loads. That said, given that NMC batteries are lighter and more energy-dense, the 1000 Pro packs a solid amount of capacity into a lightweight case. It’s got more contemporary USB-C PD ports on board as well, making it more useful all around with today’s mobile devices and laptops.

For fast charging you can use a lot of panels. Large proprietary dongles connect to two Jackery panel cables, which attach to twin barrel-shaped solar connector jacks, letting you use up to four 200W panels on the 1000 Pro, which can get you a full charge in under two hours. The dongles aren’t used in simple two-panel or single-panel configurations.

While it’s nice to have the options, we felt the extra connectors made for overly complex cable runs, and worry about difficulties in diagnosing problems should something go haywire. Also, unlike cables using locking MC4, Anderson or XT60 connectors, these cables can be disconnected by a simple tug, so you’ll want to watch out for dogs, kids or simple clumsiness.

We had no issues running our test loads on 1000 Pro, and Jackery has one of the industry’s better warranties, providing up to five years of coverage if products are purchased directly from the company or an authorized reseller (Amazon works, if you fill out an application on Jackery’s site after purchasing). While we think for the long term purchasers would be better served going with a LiFePO4/LFP-based unit, Jackery’s warranty provides some peace of mind for those more comfortable with the older Lithium-Ion NMC-based technology.

The Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro, the bigger model in the popular company’s lineup, uses the same Lithium-ion NMC battery technology and floppy-style, 18.2-pound SolarSaga 200W panels as the 1000 Pro, connecting with the same dongles to support up to six panels on this model for fast charging and supplying 2,160 watt-hours of capacity.

Like its smaller siblings, the Explorer 2000 Pro proved an able performer in our testing and had no trouble pushing the loads we connected. Plus it is covered by Jackery’s long warranty if you buy direct. It just isn’t the most up-to-date solar generator, so especially at this capacity and price, we’d suggest looking at something more up to date.

With a design very much like Jackery’s but with LiFePO4/LFP cells under the hood, the Oupes 1800, which offers 1,488 watt-hours of battery capacity and an 1,800W AC inverter, sits between the Jackery 1000 and 2000. It may fit the bill, though it doesn’t offer as long a warranty, nor does the brand have as long a history in power stations.

We hooked the Oupes up to Jackery and Geneverse’s 200W panels and cabling (both of which appear to come from the same factory) and its own floppy four-segment 100W panels, which also appear quite similar to Jackery’s in design, and got good results all around. That said, we’d probably look to more established brands for this sort of product.

Previously known as Generark, and like Oupes and numerous others, Geneverse is also making LFP-based Jackery lookalikes, which includes selling panels that are spitting images of the SolarSaga 200W, except that they are grey. Otherwise the cabling and dongle setup is identical to what Jackery sells currently for its 1000 Pro and 2000 Pro line.

Their HomePower One Pro eschews the orange and black color palette of the Jackery 1000 Pro, opting for a dark plastic grey casing and a blue and black display with a data layout similar to its competitors. It has a 1,210 Wh battery, a 1,200W inverter and an 800W DC input, giving it a slight edge over the Jackery 1000 Pro in power output.

Geneverse’s other advantages over the Jackery 1000 Pro include Wi-Fi-based app management, but we thought the app wasn’t nearly sophisticated or as well-designed as what we saw from EcoFlow, Goal Zero or even Bluetti. Its functionality is pretty basic, and felt its connectivity was not particularly reliable.

Geneverse provides a five-year warranty if you buy directly from the company.

Goal Zero, founded in 2009, is one of the standard-setters for the portable solar power station industry. It’s known for making well-made, exceptionally engineered products for people who work and play outdoors. The devices are expandable, utilizing the company’s Yeti Link/Yeti Tank 1,200 Wh lead acid battery technology, and can also power up to four of your home circuits with their Home Integration Kit transfer switch and subpanel.

The Yeti 1500X is a powerful mid-size solar generator with a 1,516 Wh battery based on lithium-ion NMC chemistry. It can drive 2,000W of connected load with its inverter and can charge at up to 600W DC.

It boasts an excellent app with smart systems management and notifications with reliable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity (in our testing, the Goal Zero app and smart functionality stood out in particular, excelling compared to most products we looked at). Goal Zero is also one of the few manufacturers using a briefcase-style metal outdoor-rated panel design for its 100W and 200W panels, making it ideal for longer-term installations. The panels use Anderson-style parallel connections, which are more rugged than those used by most of the competition, and the cables are thicker. Despite their increased heft, we felt the Goal Zero panels were easier to set up than their “floppy” competitors due to their rigidity and stability.

When charging with AC, the Yeti uses an external power adapter connected to the single Anderson charge port to reduce excess heat. Unlike several other devices we looked at, you can’t “dual charge” the Yeti with both AC and solar connected simultaneously.

Despite employing less desirable battery chemistry than their competitors, the products performed exceptionally well with our test loads. Additionally, their rugged designs would be a good choice for many outdoor sporting/recreation and work scenarios. While we think overall LiFePO4-based designs are a better investment at this point, especially when you’re spending this much money, the Goal Zero Yeti models are solid, dependable and highly usable alternatives.

If you want something big and built for the outdoors, the Goal Zero Yeti 3000X is a larger version of the company’s 1500X power station. Like its smaller sibling, it has a 2,000W inverter and can charge at 600W DC. The primary difference between the two is that the 1500X has a 1,516 Wh battery and bigger, heavier 3000X (which can roll on wheels) has a 3,032 Wh battery.

If you need the additional capacity but want to stick with the tried and true, or need the Goal Zero’s bulletproof build and well-designed system of cables, panels, and accessories the Yeti 3000x maks a lot of sense.

Until the EcoFlow Delta 2 showed up, the Anker 757 was our category winner for a medium-sized solar generator. It is still a strong contender, with LiFePO4/LFP battery chemistry and a good combination of features and performance at its price point. A 1,200 Wh LFP battery and six AC ports on its 1,500W inverter, plus a wide variety of USB and other DC outputs (as you’d expect given Anker’s background in mobile device charging) make it a versatile and capable unit.

The Anker 757 does, however, lack the app management features of its competitors, it has no expansion capability and the unit is heavy for its size. Considering the inverter and battery size, we also felt the DC input capacity — only 300W — was anemic, making for slower charging than its competition. However, Anker boasts one of the best warranties in the industry, at five years, so it may still be a good choice for those who intend to use it heavily.

The Lion Energy Safari ME is a small solar generator meant to be used with a large expansion battery as part of a bigger setup. Like the Goal Zero units, it boasts a heavy-duty design and uses outdoor-rated “briefcase” style 100W folding metal panels connected with thick cables terminating in Anderson connections. The 922Wh base LiFePO4/LFP battery is on the small side for other generators at this price point, but the device is expandable to 2,970 Wh, and has a 2,000W inverter capacity.

We liked the ruggedized metal build of the unit. Still, we wished the 585W DC solar input was higher, and the panel capacity was 200W (or higher) like Goal Zero’s, as they aren’t very space-efficient for the amount of power they generate. We also discovered the unit employs an electromechanical switch (rather than digital) for locking onto AC versus DC solar inputs and isn’t designed to be plugged into both simultaneously. If you do, the generator clicks rapidly (and loudly) when there’s no solar input power at night — an issue the company is looking to resolve in the next hardware release.

With so many new expandable models on the market, the Lion Energy Safari ME isn’t that great a value proposition. It is very expensive for the capacity the base unit offers out of the box, and even pricier when expanded to near 3,000 Wh compared to its competitors. In addition to a lack of app management, we felt that the unit was also short on the number and capabilities of AC and USB ports compared to its competitors. Given the “industrial” design and price point, we feel it should have a more extended warranty than a single year.

As with EcoFlow and its Delta Pro, Bluetti is pushing the envelope on what a solar generator can do. With 2,048 Wh of LiFePO4/LFP battery capacity onboard, a full range of AC and DC outputs (including a 30A 125V NEMA TT-30 outlet for RV power and two 15W wireless charging pads) and the ability to add an additional 4,096 Wh capacity with dual 2,048 Wh B230 LFP batteries, for a total of 6,144 Wh, you can build a very large system around the AC200MAX. (If that’s not enough, Bluetti offers the 5,100 Wh EP500 and the 3,072 Wh AC500, which is expandable to 18,000 Wh of capacity for a whole-house emergency solution.)

As with EcoFlow and Goal Zero, Bluetti has a sophisticated app, though it only has Bluetooth connectivity, not Wi-Fi. We found that it lost connection more often than the competition, and we had to reestablish it manually. The generator has a touchscreen display that allows you to configure every option, however, so an app isn’t essential to get the most use out of the AC200MAX.

We had no issues with test loads on the device, and the company’s floppy 350W panels were easy to hook up and performed well. If you are looking for a generator with a lot of battery power and expansion capabilities at a reasonable price point, the AC200MAX would be a good choice, though EcoFlow’s Delta lineup is a bit easier to use and manage.
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September 27, 2022
Wayfair’s 72-Hour Clearout sale is almost over — here’s what you should snag now | CNN Underscored

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’Tis the season for spring cleaning, and home retailer Wayfair is doing its share with up to 60% off outdoor seating, storage, mattresses and more during its 72-Hour Clearout sale. The brand might be cleaning out its inventory, but it’s also a great opportunity to refresh your own place for the new season.

Shop 10 of our favorite picks from Wayfair’s 72-Hour Clearout below, then head to Wayfair to shop the rest while the sale’s still on. Don’t wait too long, though — the time is running out on that 72 hours, and the deals end today.

~~$224~~ $108 at Wayfair

This modern-rustic wood table is a great statement piece for your living room — and the solid wood construction is a nice bonus in this age of particle board (especially when it’s 52% off).

~~$627~~ $240 at Wayfair

With three drawers for storage and an unobtrusive silhouette, this midcentury modern-inspired desk blends in easily with existing decor and makes for a great alternative to working from the sofa.

~~$177~~ $88 at Wayfair

Get that messy garage or cluttered basement off your to-do list this spring with this half-off utility shelf (which also works great as a cheap storage option for teen bedrooms and dorms).

~~$2,171~~ $1,400 at Wayfair

Perfect for homes with kids, this slipcovered lounge chair is the perfect size for cuddling up during story time, and the down-filled cushions are extra plush.

~~$102~~ $78 at Wayfair

Those wool sweaters and silk dresses should not be going in the dryer — and conventional laundry racks take up a ton of space. This behind-the-door drying rack folds down when you need it, folds up when you don’t and takes up almost zero space between loads.

~~$330~~ $150 at Wayfair

This simple but elegant indoor-outdoor rug is a great piece no matter where you put it, making it a 55%-off, extremely versatile keeper for years to come.

Related: These colorful area rugs will help give your home a face-lift

~~$1,485~~ $1,030 at Wayfair

Whether you keep souvenirs from world travels, books or your collection of vintage dishware in this cabinet, the glass front and back lighting makes it all look great on display (and for practical use).

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April 12, 2021
Our Place just upgraded its internet-famous Always Pan | CNN Underscored

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Our Place’s Always Pan took over Instagram a few years ago with its good looks, fun colors and multipurpose build. You can use it to fry eggs, boil grains, simmer some pasta sauce and do pretty much anything else that can happen on a stovetop. But today, Our Place has dropped a brand-new, redesigned version — the Always Pan 2.0 — that has several significant improvements over the last pan.

The redesigned Always Pan 2.0 improves on its predecessor with new stovetop-to-oven capabilities, a longer-lasting nontoxic nonstick coating and a 100% recycled aluminum body and lid.

While the previous version of the Always Pan is brilliant to cook with and washes up easily, the biggest difference between the Always Pan 2.0 and the first version in terms of everyday use is that the sequel now has the ability to go from stovetop to the oven (up to temperatures of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit). Incredibly, it’s got enough capacity for a chicken, so you can use it as a roasting pan, too.

Other improvements: The 100% toxin-free nonstick ceramic coating on the pan lasts for 50% longer than before, and the pan’s core is constructed from 100% post-consumer recycled aluminum. One of the best parts of Our Place’s cookware is the colorways, and this one comes in Spice, Steam, Char, Sage, Lavender, Azul, Rosa and Blue Salt.

Shop the new version of the Always Pan over at Our Place while it’s still in stock — new releases from the brand tend to go fast.

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April 12, 2021
This ultra quiet Eufy Pet Water Fountain kept my cats hydrated with filtered water | CNN Underscored

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You can lead a cat to water, but nobody can make them drink. Yes, while cats are notoriously independent, Eufy has figured out how to, at the very least, give my pampered pets 24/7 access to clean drinking water. The simple, attractive Pet Water Fountain lets you toss that dirty water bowl and offers filtered H2O on demand for cats and small dogs that are looking for a cool, long drink.

The Eufy Pet Water Fountain uses a filtration system and a motor to continuously circulate up to 2 liters of water for cats to drink (or play with). And because it’s just slightly larger than a pop-up box of tissues, it won’t stand out in your kitchen, bathroom or anywhere you decide to place it.

It’s a win-win in my house because not only does it encourage my two cats to drink more, which is good for their health, but they also love the movement of the water. And, because it holds about a week’s worth of water, I don’t have to think about it for a few days or worry that one of them may have knocked over the dish while I’m out. And I definitely don’t miss washing out that slobbery bowl every day.

The Eufy Pet Water Fountain is a good-looking drinking fountain for cats and small dogs. Not only does it allow you to fill it up and forget about it, but you will enjoy peace of mind that your animals have constant access to clean, filtered water that can’t easily be knocked over when you’re out. The sleek design allows you to place it more prominently in your home and a built-in LED light will alert you if it’s getting low.

Since I keep it on my kitchen counter, I love how sleek looking this Eufy Pet Water Fountain is. Before this, I used the Catit pet water fountain, which, though cheaper at $20, looks like a kitschy green and white plastic flower and is not something I want to place prominently in my home. When I unboxed the Eufy fountain I was immediately drawn to the minimalist stainless steel and white design, and appreciated the clear water container that would allow me to check the water level at a glance. Easy-to-read maximum and minimum level marks let me know when/if I need to add water (I usually go about four to five days before refilling), and if I don’t get around to it quickly enough, a hard-to-ignore red LED light appears on the base.

At 7.48 by 7.48 by 6.22 inches tall, it’s also compact and can be placed almost anywhere you like, as long as it’s within 3 feet of an outlet to power the motor. While the container technically holds 3 liters of water, in actuality it can only circulate 2 liters, or about half a gallon, since the fountain won’t operate if it’s below the minimum water level.

New Jersey veterinarian Dr. Sue Tobias says drinking running water from a fountain is more natural for cats, as their instinct is to drink running water from a stream or a river. “Some cats like to drink water from an open faucet because they like the dripping water, and they like to put their paws in it and play. House cats need to be encouraged to drink more water and this is a great way to do that.”

Due to its smaller capacity, Eufy says the fountain is designed for cats as well as dogs up to 30 pounds — though dogs may not be quite as fascinated by the running water. Dr. Tobias uses a pet water fountain for her own two cats and points to the customization options it offers. For smaller pets that can’t (or don’t like to) bend their neck, they can drink from a higher point. And more importantly, the fountain’s movement tends to intrigue animals and encourages hydration.

One of the biggest drawbacks of the previous Catit fountain I used was the incessant humming noise the electric pump made. And that got even louder when the water level ran low. But the Eufy Pet Water Fountain was quiet on all fronts.

Eufy got smart and placed the motor in the base of the unit, instead of in the water tank. Not only does that keep it quiet, but it also keeps it from getting gunked up with all the slime and junk floating in the water tank. The pump itself can be easily removed and washed as part of the regular cleaning routine.

Forget rinsing out a water dish every day. With the Eufy Pet Water Fountain, you only need to perform a thorough cleaning and change out the filter (four-pack refills can be purchased online for $20) once a month to keep things clean. The carbon and resin filter traps any dirt, food or dust but I find the pet saliva on the food-grade stainless steel dish can get slimy pretty quickly.

Once a week I unplug it and take apart the fountain, emptying and cleaning the water tank, the dish, the spout and the pump. A simple wipe-down with warm water is all it takes and it’s easy to put back together. I don’t think any of the aforementioned gunk affects the taste of the water, since my cats never seem to notice, but I like knowing their drinking water is filtered and slime-free.

It’s difficult to find fault with a fountain that doesn’t make any noise or mess, but I do have small quibbles with pet water fountains overall.

First, at $20 for a four-pack, the cost of filters can add up. Each brand uses a different type of filter that should be replaced every month and if they’re not, then you’re basically serving your pet recycled dirty water instead of clean, filtered water. It’s important to change them regularly, so be aware of the cost of replacements ahead of time.

My biggest concern: What happens if the power goes out when you’re not home? Once the water level gets too low, or if it loses power, the pump stops working and the water becomes inaccessible. This would only be an issue when leaving your cats alone for a day or two, but for a lot of folks, it’s the reason they purchase a product like this. When I go away, I’ll leave out an extra bowl of water just in case and hope neither of the kitties knock it over so they can watch it trickle.

The Eufy Pet Water Fountain is a time-saving and entertaining way to encourage pets to drink more water, especially for cats who dislike drinking from a bowl. In fact, this $45 fountain has made a huge difference in my cats’ daily water intake. And because its sleek look makes it more attractive and it’s easy to clean and maintain, you’re more likely to keep up with regular maintenance.

Using it also means you won’t have to put out fresh water every day or wash the water dish each night, and the red light on the fountain alerts you when the water level is running low. If you have finicky cats or small dogs who could benefit from more hydration, this could lead them to cleaner water — just let them think it was their idea.

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April 12, 2021
Our favorite beginner-friendly espresso machine is $40 off right now | CNN Underscored

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One of the reasons many of us shell out the bucks for our daily latte isn’t because we’re bougie or reckless with money, but because we own an espresso machine. Make life a little easier (and cheaper) with this our pick for best espresso machines for beginners, the Gaggia Classic Pro, $50 off at Amazon right now.

The latest update to a 30-year-old design, the Gaggia Classic Pro doesn’t have as many automatic features as some more modern machines, but there’s no better machine for learning barista skills.

This delightfully compact machine is just $401 at the moment, a few dollars shy of the low we saw in February. Sure, the Gaggia Classic Pro lacks some bells and whistles — it doesn’t possess a plethora of automatic options for making your own brew, for example — but if you want to DIY your morning cup, this is a great little machine to do it with.

There’s a commercial steam wand for steaming and frothing milk (or, when you get really into it, creating latte art), plus all the components needed for a cup of coffee shop-worthy brew. Pick up the Gaggia Classic Pro for $50 off while it’s still on sale at Amazon.

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April 12, 2021