Bookmarks (11626)

You’ve probably heard that you should replace your running shoes when the cushioning wears down, which tends to be after 300 to 500 miles according to most manufacturers. But it turns out there’s another problem with old shoes, even if you haven’t been running in them.Read more...

When your house is a disaster, the last thing you are thinking about is cleaning your plants. But houseplants get dirty and dusty just like anything else in your home, even if cleaning them requires some specialized knowhow. Many cleaning products (and even gentle soaps) can damage a plant’s leaves and roots, so it’s…Read more...

I’m a huge fan of challenging myself in the fitness realm. I did a triathlon once, even though I knew halfway through training that I never wanted to do one again. I’ve begged my coach to give me weightlifting workouts that are notoriously difficult. Heck, I started the Lifehacker Fitness Challenge, our monthly…Read more...

Battery health is important, right? After all, our portable devices depend on them. These days, though, it’s actually not worth stressing about their health as much as you might think. Read more...

Getting a college education isn’t supposed to be easy, but between the student loan crisis, skyrocketing tuition and fees, the whole “unending global pandemic” thing, and truly bleak job prospects, it’s currently way harder than it needs to be. These hacks won’t pay off your student loans or write your final term…Read more...

Your cat is a confusing creature. It’s possible—likely even—that most of the things your cat does, aside from maybe napping and eating, perplexes you. But your feline companion needn’t be a mystery. All those head butts? There’s a reason for them. The kneading of soft surfaces? It makes sense in context. The…Read more...

With airports jammed with travelers, you might be thinking about signing up for the airport security fast-track program TSA PreCheck. But what about Clear, a privately-run line-skipping service? It’s more expensive and works a bit differently, but it will also get you through lines faster. In fact, signing up for both…Read more...

Haptic feedback—and vibration as a whole—has become an essential feature of modern-day consoles. Your controller will vibrate at certain opportune times during a game, such as when your character lands hard after a jump, or when you go off-roading in your favorite racing game. While this feature can be great to have,…Read more...

If someone on WhatsApp continuously fails to respond to you, they may be ignoring you—or they may have blocked you from contacting them altogether. Read more...

Measuring your ingredients by mass is far more accurate and reproducible than measuring your ingredients by volume. This is especially helpful during baking, which leans a little more heavily on chemical reactions than mere cooking. Read more...

The vaccine was supposed to mean the U.S. had left the worst depths of the COVID-19 pandemic behind, but for many of us, it hardly feels like we’re out of the woods.Read more...

Google Assistant is always there when you need it. But you don’t always need it. That’s why it can be frustrating when the digital helper just pops up out of seemingly nowhere. You don’t remember saying, “Okay Google,” or squeezing your phone, but Google Assistant is ready to go, nonetheless. As it turns out, it might…Read more...

As our kids prepare to go back to school, our impulse will probably be to make up for the lost time, whether it’s the academics, intramural sports, student clubs, or any of the other milestones our children missed out on during the pandemic. Read more...

To gaslight someone is to deny their sense of reality. It’s a common term, and it usually describes a very specific brand of emotional torment. People who gaslight their significant others typically do it verbally, creating whole spheres of false reality for their victims, who they seek to manipulate. But gaslighting…Read more...

When it comes to starting a lawn, there are two ways you can begin: You can prep the ground and sow the seeds, or you can start with a blanket of already grown grass, known as sod, and maintain it so the roots grow deep. Of course, both take different elements of care (and finances), so when should you use one versus…Read more...

We’re all in a battle against robocalls. Chances are you’ve tried out various apps, settings, and carrier services to stop—or at least mitigate—the endless train of scams and spam, and some of them even work pretty well, at least for a while. Unfortunately, new spam techniques crop up all the time, and it’s likely a…Read more...

The first time a parent catches their child in a lie, it’s enough to make their heart sink. It doesn’t matter if it’s about a broken plate on the floor or the candy they’ve so clearly just snuck and ate; most mothers and fathers want to raise children with integrity. And when kids are dishonest, it’s easy to feel like…Read more...

I am usually a whipped cream purist. Heavy cream doesn’t need to be flavored, as it already has a flavor—the flavor of cream. I rarely sweeten heavy cream before whipping, especially if it’s destined for something that is sweet. (Just let the cream be rich and fatty and creamy!) But a friend recently mentioned that…Read more...

Sometimes you need a day off. Sometimes you don’t need a day off, but you take one anyway. If you have any anxieties about what exercise means to you, you may spiral into worry or guilt: Am I a slacker? Am I losing all my gains?Read more...

Having your own lemon tree at home is often a luxury we assume is reserved for people who live in citrus-friendly locales, like sunny California or humid Florida. However, that doesn’t mean those in the northeast, midwest, or other regions of the country can’t enjoy the simple pleasure of their own fresh-squeezed…Read more...

Work your hands or feet enough and getting calluses is inevitable. Now that I’m a weightlifter, I have calluses all over my palms and fingers; when I played roller derby, I used to have them on specific parts of my feet. The standard advice—to gently abrade your calluses with a pumice stone or a scrubby cloth—is…Read more...

Last summer, Taco Bell suddenly discontinued longtime standbys like the quesarito, Fiesta potatoes, and the 7-layer burrito. Two of these weren’t banished forever—the quesarito lives on as an in-app exclusive and potatoes seem to be back for good—but the classic 7-layer burrito has simply disappeared into the ether. Read more...

A grilled cheese sandwich is a good quick lunch, but a little tomato soup on the side (for dipping and sipping) makes it feel like a proper meal. There is nothing wrong with heating up a can of Amy’s, but I am far more likely to have a few cans of tomato paste—rather than full-fledged soup—stocked in my pantry at any…Read more...

Sony recently disclosed the requirements for upgrading the PlayStation 5’s internal storage with an M.2 Solid State Drive (SSD), and it’s woefully confusing. While there are several SSDs that meet Sony’s requirements on paper, only a few drives currently work on PS5—and those that do are quite expensive. In some…Read more...

Sticky spills are, as far as I can tell, never welcome, and they are particularly unwelcome in my pantry, which is known for being spick-and-span (this is not true). But certain bottles of thick, viscous substances and condiments are best stored upside down, which increases the likelihood of spillage, so it’s best to…Read more...

Giant asteroids don’t collide with our planet very often, but they do hurtle by within a relatively close distance at times, only to disappear into the cosmic void. Case in point: Another asteroid is primed to careen within what scientists call a “potentially hazardous” distance of the planet later this month, and the…Read more...

If you get a letter from the audience ratings company Nielsen, don’t throw it away—there’s money inside. While it might look like junk mail (addressed to “Area Household”), the envelope likely contains two crisp dollar bills, with the promise of $5 more if you fill out a survey about your TV and radio habits.Read more...

The first day (week, month) of school can be hard on some kids, particularly those entering preschool or kindergarten for the first time. They want to stay with you; they’re scared you won’t come back; they don’t know this grown-up or these other kids—the whole thing can be scary. But this year—this year—many kids are…Read more...

Did you know your PS5 controller has a microphone that’s enabled by default every time you turn on your console? The mic is very useful if you play online multiplayer games, allowing you to talk to your friends even if you don’t have a headset with a microphone. However, if you’re conscious about your privacy and wary…Read more...

For some people, it’s easy to over-apologize—or borderline grovel—over any perceived inconvenience. If you’re late to meet a friend at a movie, you might offer a breathless, “I’m so sorry,” as if saving you the perfect seat was desperately important to begin with. Read more...

All bath towels are not created equal. In fact, some are so large and offer so much coverage that they’re actually called bath sheets. If you’ve never owned a bath sheet but know yourself to be the type who enjoys being wrapped up in a cocoon of large, comfy covers, it might be time to give a bath sheet a try. On the…Read more...

The Delta Variant is spreading, Congress is investigating a coup attempt, and the west coast is on fire. But screw it, it’s summer! So let’s talk about gymnasts’ mental health, baby ducks, and what happens if you eat ten pounds of bananas.Read more...

Shower curtain liners are one of those things that may appear to be pointless, but actually serve an important function: In this case, it’s the interior piece of material that stays in the tub while you shower and helps prevent water from escaping and turning your bathroom into a soggy mess. If your bathroom is not…Read more...

If you’re getting ready to start a painting project, there’s probably a trip to the hardware store in your future. In addition to the brushes, rollers, and paint itself, you’ll likely need some tape to help keep the paint from getting on any molding, door frames, or other woodwork in the room. But what kind of tape?Read more...

It’s easy to start your own podcast. They’re as ubiquitous now as personal blogs were in the early 2000s. But they present their hosts with the same issue bloggers had back then: You can overshare or create (what you think is) brilliant content—but is anybody listening? Read more...

Terra cotta pots are a popular choice for both indoor and outdoor plants, thanks to their classic, natural look and durability. If you have some of your own, you may have seen advice floating around about the need to pre-soak the pots before planting anything in them. Read more...

Whether you live in an older home, or just appreciate them (and can lose hours scrolling through the Cheap Old Houses Instagram account), you may have looked at a house and wondered about its history: How old it is, who lived and died there, and what other events took place there over the years. Read more...

Whether you’re content with keeping your side hustle on the side or want to turn it into your full-time job, you need customers and a strategy. And you know where the customers are: Scrolling Instagram and sending TikToks to their friends TikToks. But how do you get their attention on social media?Read more...

Everyone has their reasons for wearing (or not wearing) deodorant or antiperspirant—whether it’s to avoid sweating, smelling, or giving in to societal norms. But if you’re someone who opts to glide or spray on one of those products, do you know the difference between them?Read more...

If you’re looking for a new job, there’s a chance you’re feeling unfulfilled in your current position and you’re so over your boss that instead of bringing this up to them and hoping for a change, you’re ready to jump ship entirely.Read more...

As proponents of composting (or at least using kitchen scraps as plant food) we’re always on the lookout for tips and tricks that could improve the process, or (better yet) make it easier. This includes knowing what should—and, just as importantly, what shouldn’t—end up in the compost pile or bin.Read more...

When we last left the Lifehacker Fitness Challenge, I was donning a VR headset and clearing out a space to play. I’ve now tried a bunch of different fitness apps and I have opinions. Here are my picks for some of the best ways to get your sweat on in virtual reality.Read more...

Depending on where you live—and your mentality about yard appearance—lawns can be hard work. If you don’t want to go the artificial route (which has its own environmental and physical challenges), there are other ways to make lighter work of lawn care. There are lots of little steps you can take to keep your lawn lush…Read more...

Google Drive is finally rolling out its long-awaited “block user” option. While it was previously possible to remove users from a shared document or prevent them from downloading and sharing files they collaborate on, you can now block all interactions directly in Drive.Read more...

Did you know the summer Olympics include competitions in canoeing, BMX racing, handball, trampoline, and judo? Maybe you didn’t, but fans of those sports definitely do, and you might encounter those big brains and need to play along.Read more...

Peaches are a great source of consternation for me. I am convinced that the last good peach I ate was consumed during my childhood, in 2001 or 2002, somewhere in the neighborhood of Kisela Voda in Skopje, Macedonia. Most likely, it was one I had picked from a neighbor’s tree on my way from one grandmother’s house to…Read more...

Welp, parents, it looks like you’ll need to leave even more room in your budget for school supplies this year: According to the National Retail Federation, families will spend an average of $849 on supplies in 2021, $59 more than last year, due to pandemic-related supply chain issues. Here’s a look at what you can…Read more...

To observe a dog is to bear witness to a great many animal mysteries, such as why do dogs sniff other dogs’ butts, and why does my dog pee multiple times during the same walk?Read more...

Earlier this summer, we wrote about the 15 U.S. islands you should visit. Now, we’re turning our attention to the magnificent waterfalls our country has to offer—and that you should experience at least once in your life. There are actually tens of thousands of waterfalls across the United States—some are large wonders…Read more...

Delta is more contagious than the original COVID-19 virus, and it’s even more contagious than the other variants of concern. That’s why the CDC has recently recommended masking up in some situations even if you’re vaccinated—as many public health experts have been urging ever since Delta started spreading.Read more...