Lifehacker

Back in 2020, many car rental companies got rid of large parts of their rental fleets. Now, with surging demand and less supply, car rental prices are often astronomical (not to mention what you’ll spend on gas to fill up the tank). When you travel to Europe, though, you have another option: auto rental buy-back…Read more...

Snakes often get a bad rap and sometimes with good reason—there are plenty of venomous snakes that are dangerous to pets and people in North America, including diamondback rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads. In spite of their reputation, though, there are many species of snakes that aren’t dangerous at all,…Read more...

My fellow Americans, please: In the name of all that is good and holy, stop acting dumb when you visit other people’s countries. I know all American tourists don’t act like oafs overseas, but enough do to make the stereotype of the “ugly American” common and lasting.

Leeches. Parasites. Maybe even bed bugs? Landlords get called a lot of things—none of them favorable. This couple running a “15-Airbnb empire” went viral on Twitter last week, highlighting an increasingly common consensus online: Everyone hates landlords.Read more...

Google Password Manager is an all-encompassing password management service for your Google Account, but actually managing your manager can be a little tricky. It doesn’t have a specific app or extension (like password managers like 1Password or Bitwarden typically do), but is deeply woven throughout Google’s products.

With the exception of your bathroom, you probably have multiple appliances, devices, lighting, and electronics is most rooms in your home—all of which need to be plugged in. Plus, there are things like vacuums, fans, and other items that may not get their own dedicated outlet, but need one on occasion.Read more...

If you’re fortunate enough to live in a home with some outdoor space, you probably should use it. Whether you have acres of land, a compact backyard, or an apartment balcony, it’s entirely possible to create a dedicated, hospitable area where you can sit and enjoy being outside—even if you don’t have the budget, time,…Read more...

June is coming to an end, which means it’s almost time for fireworks and hot dogs. But after your third cookout, you may be looking for something to eat that isn’t a tube of meat. Fortunately, there are plenty of food deals and freebies this 4th of July weekend. Here are a few to consider.Read more...

In addition to providing companionship, (some) dogs are also hard workers. For example, some breeds are excellent at herding sheep or cattle, while others use their heightened sense of smell to sniff out drugs or diseases.Read more...

After decades of the assumption that a proper lawn must be made up of a single type of uniformly green—and freshly mown—grass, people are realizing that there are other (far less time-consuming and more environmentally friendly) options out there. One of these is a tapestry lawn.Read more...

For many people, window fans are essential tools for keeping cool—especially if they don’t have (or are cutting back on) air conditioning. Even with access to AC, window fans can provide an otherwise-stuffy room with some much-needed ventilation.Read more...

June 24 happens to be National Bring Your Dog to Work Day, but lots of people take their pooches into the office or other professional space a lot more often than once a year—usually to the delight of their colleagues. It’s great for the dogs, who don’t have to stay at home anxiously awaiting their beloved person’s…Read more...

As the cost of flights continue to go up, consumers are looking for ways to rein in the total cost of their airfare. One fee you can avoid if you play it right is paying for the honor of bringing your luggage onto their plane. Each airline has its own set of rules and definitions for baggage. What’s technically a…Read more...

Earlier this week, we covered Chrome 103, and all the new features Google added to the latest version of its desktop web browser. As it turns out, the company also updated its iOS Chrome app to version 103. However, this isn’t a copy-paste scenario: Chrome 103 for iPhone introduces some unique new features to the…Read more...

Chrome is the default browser for a huge number of Android smartphones, and mostly, that’s a good thing—it’s a solid, dependable mobile browser that might even seem a bit too simplistic on its face. But don’t let the looks deceive you: While Chrome is indeed a simple browser, it comes packed with a ton of features and…Read more...

Marshmallows have two seasons: Rice Krispies treat season, which is around the holidays, and s’mores season, which is now. Unless you’re a true ‘mallow head, you probably don’t go through that many bags of the fluffy white confection each year. In fact, you could have a half-consumed bag of marshmallows hanging out in…Read more...

No free service remains free forever. For some apps, such as Instagram, advertising pays the price of your admission—and you’ll likely see more ads the longer the service has been around. Others eventually try to get their users to pay a subscription fee. Telegram, the popular messaging app that competes with…Read more...

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COVID vaccines have finally been authorized and recommended for kids as young as 6 months old, and little kids across the country are finally able to get the shots. But where, exactly? This round of vaccines is a bit harder to schedule than what you may have done for yourself or your older kids.Read more...

Did you hear? Lady Gaga is (probably) going to play Harley Quinn in a musical sequel to Joker. While that’s certainly interesting casting, she’ll have a hard time displacing from my heart my current favorite iteration of the character, from HBO Max’s foul-mouthed, violently funny, just plain violent Harley Quinn…Read more...

The ubiquity of activity trackers means access to health data we previously never thought about, such as the number of steps we take, the hours we sleep, and our real-time heart rate. When it comes to heart rate, you might be wondering what, if anything, your resting heart rate says about your health. Resting heart…Read more...

With inflation doing its thing right now, it’s not a bad time to be a little more careful with your wallet in all aspects of your spending—including which pharmacies, grocery stores, and other places you shop at. Some stores offer impressive perks for customers who sign up for their free loyalty programs; the access…Read more...

This week’s roadtrip through the collective unconscious of people who are much younger than me takes us to some strange tourist traps. There’s a dancing baby-man named “Horace,” makeup recommendations that get extremely personal, and a couple of stories that illustrate Generation Z’s conflicted feelings about smiley …Read more...

Keeping your yard in good shape during the summer and fall can be enough of a battle against weather and weeds—you don’t also need problems with your lawnmower on top of it. But some lawnmower issues can be avoided entirely—and the life of your lawn mower can be extended—if you carry out a basic maintenance checklist…Read more...

You did everything right to properly clean and properly load your dishwasher. So why is there a pool of standing water at the bottom of the machine? What can you do when your trusty dishwasher refuses to drain? If the last thing you want is to shell out for a repair person—or worse, a whole new machine—you might be in…Read more...

When I recently asked Lifehacker readers for their unbreakable rules of driving etiquette, a sub-category of hot takes emerged. In addition to the rules of the road, it looks like the rules of the parking lot deserve their own space (pun intended).

Humans don’t deserve dogs. They’re beautiful, they’re loyal, and they’re fun to have around. Life with a dog is great—which makes it all the more terrifying when something goes wrong. We hope your dog is healthy and happy for the duration of their life, but in the event of a medical emergency, you should be prepared.…Read more...

In news certain to cast a pall over high school bathrooms across the nation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today ordered all Juul e-cigarette products currently marketed to be removed from store shelves, effective immediately. “The company must stop selling and distributing these products. In addition, those…Read more...

With staffing shortages paired with the highest volume of travelers the country has seen since before the pandemic, experts are expecting air travel this summer to be nothing short of “chaotic.” With long security wait times on the horizon, the Transportation Security Administration is already warning air travelers…Read more...

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Apple’s Focus feature, introduced with iOS 15, helps to make your iPhone a less distracting experience. Customizable “Do Not Disturb” profiles ensure notifications are blocked when you can’t respond to them: iOS even tells your contacts you have notifications silenced, so they know not to bother you. However, these…Read more...

Once again, Planet Fitness is offering free summer gym memberships to teens. Great news for the teens, not necessarily great for the other gym-goers. Teenagers have a reputation for hogging gym equipment and ignoring gym etiquette. But that’s not going to be the case for your teen, who will be a perfect gym citizen,…Read more...

Last week I went to the much anticipated opening of Jeffrey Morgenthaler and Benjamin Amberg’s new bar, Pacific Standard. (If you read this site regularly, you may be familiar with a few of Jeff’s hacks and recipes.) The space was beautiful, the drinks good, and the food menu packed with Jeff-isms: American cheese on…Read more...

Whether it’s rising fuel prices, or a desire for adventure that has you peering at that bike that’s been in the back of your garage for far too long, knowing the basics of regular maintenance can save you time and hassle. Keeping your bike in good working order will save you money on repairs and make your ride more…Read more...

Bodily functions are messy, and no matter how carefully you plan, your body will betray you at some point, forcing you to eliminate in public places you’d rather not eliminate in. In such a desperate situation, we may experience tunnel vision, not realizing the horror of an empty toilet paper dispenser until it is too…Read more...

When it comes to marketing, the multi-bajillion dollar budgets of nearly every tentpole theatrical release of the past decade or so have left little room for experimentation, or often any fun. There are still great, thrilling trailers made for Hollywood movies, but there’s also a sameyness that creeps in, with coming…Read more...

G Suite (formerly Google Workspace) has shut down its free plans—you can no longer pay for a domain name and use Google’s business email for free. This move isn’t really going to bother big organizations much, as they’re all on paid tiers already, but small business owners or individuals using G Suite will be forced…Read more...

Now is definitely not a good time to be looking for a new place to live. It hasn’t been a good time in, well, a long time, as it seems like demand is consistently and drastically outweighing supply, whether you’re looking to rent or buy. But it may be a little bit easier in some states than in others to find a vacant…Read more...

Final Fantasy is one of the most-influential video game franchises of all time, and while every game in the series has its fans, Final Fantasy VII is by far the most popular—even 25 years after its initial release on PlayStation 1. The story of Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, and their companions on a quest to save their planet…Read more...

One of the toughest parts about being a parent is parenting while sick. Unlike work, where, at least in theory, you can take a day off to rest and recover, parenting is a round-the-clock job, where you are the back-up option, illnesses be damned. Add in the gazillion illnesses your kids bring home to you from daycare,…Read more...

My goal in life is to have a squad of six ducklings following me around at all times, because I think this will make girls like me. I’ve tried walking around with a parrot on my shoulder, wearing spats, and being super into iguanas, and none of them worked out, but I have a solid shot with the ducklings. They’re…Read more...

There are many ways to date and many ways to love. Traditional monogamy might be one, but it’s not the only one. Many people have questions about how to open up their own relationships with a primary partner; but the third party involved—a person on the outside of the existing relationship—can have just as many…Read more...

I’m all about “it’s not TMI, it’s transparency,” which is why TikTok is the best social network—a place where people have no problem getting nakedly confessional in 15 seconds or less. It’s also a wonderful place to explore the more...unconventional side of wellness and mental health trends. My phone and/or TikTok…Read more...

Rubs and rubbing rubs on meat are an important part of barbecuing. The mix of seasonings and spices is meant to stick to the meat’s surface, where it will hopefully dissolve a bit and help form the much-desired bark (a mix of spices, meat protein, and smoke from your smoker). Unlike salt, which should be applied…Read more...

As inflation and interest rates rise in tandem, the price of homes in certain United States cities begun to fall—or at least level off. According to Redfin Real Estate News, an increasing number of home sellers began lowering their asking prices this month, signaling a cooling in the recently red-hot housing market.…Read more...

Can a big summer blockbuster successfully translate to streaming services, or is the hope dead on arrival? The loyal theater-goer in me says that an epic car chase will never feel the same on a laptop screen, but if there’s a movie that will put my skepticism to the test, it looks like it’ll be The Gray Man.Read more...

While plenty of beginners can pick up a program and figure out the gym machines as they go, it’s also totally normal to feel intimidated by the whole process. Especially if programs and videos seem to expect a fitness level a notch or two above where you are right now, it can be tough to figure out where to start.Read more...

If there’s nothing good on Disney+ in July, it might be because their corporate parent, the Walt Disney Co., decided to put everything good on Hulu. It’s an especially strong month for the streamer, which will premiere a handful of star-packed films and benefit from the return of cult favorite TV series, including new…Read more...

The rental market is out of control. Viral tweets are making their rounds, showing hopeful renters lining up outside of vacant apartments in New York City, and you probably know someone who has posted pleas for affordable open rooms and sublets. If you’re among those who are desperately searching for a rental right…Read more...

Group travel can be a dream come true—you’ll never forget the memories made strolling along the beach or exploring a new city with your family, friends, or partner. But before you can get to that dreamy vacation spot or start planning in your ultimate travel spreadsheet, you need to get through the headache of…Read more...