Lifehacker

If you’ve been to a grocery store recently, you may have noticed: It’s March 2020 all over again. At least it looks that way, or perhaps worse. With severe winter weather, cumulative supply chain disruptions, and ongoing staffing shortages due to a steep rise in COVID cases, stock of certain items at grocery stores…Read more...

Companies love to bend the truth to make it seem like their product is better than it is—and one way they do this with certain medical products is by making it sound like the FDA had a major role in bringing it to market. But if a health-related gadget is “FDA cleared,” that doesn’t necessarily mean the FDA studied it…Read more...

Social media platforms from TikTok to Twitter charge you nothing to use their services, except for, well, everything there is to know about you. Part of the strategy in that data collection comes from algorithms, which decide what kind of content to show you based on your past usage. Don’t make their data harvesting…Read more...

We’re not even three weeks into 2022, but there’s already plenty to be angry about. In fact, that’s been the case for a long time now—especially during the last two years of living through a global pandemic.Read more...

Buying a home is always stressful. Whether it’s your first home and you spent the last decade eating wish sandwiches in order to cobble together the down payment or a dream retirement house, the process is a rollercoaster ride of surprise costs, stressful road bumps, and endless paperwork (somehow still involving the…Read more...

It’s cliche to say that letter-writing is a “lost art,” but try to think of the last time you sat down and wrote a personal letter. Nothing to do with business or networking—an actual letter to another person in your life for the purpose of communicating information, messages, and checking in. For most of us, it’s…Read more...

TikTok is getting a new feature that looks a bit like one we’re all familiar with. The “retweet” feature has been a staple of Twitter since the button was added in 2009. Now, TikTok is beta testing a new “repost” feature that many are calling the app’s retweet.

Virtual reality gaming is seeing a spike in popularity right now—but some experts and industry observers are concerned that frequent use of the technology may come with some health risks, including eyestrain, migraines, and falls. Here is what we know so far about the safety of VR, and the potential health…Read more...

I’m not sure if anyone made resolutions this year. The source of most people’s problems are not tied to anything they can change with enough resolve. One cannot resolve their way out of a pandemic, or resolve their child into a safe learning environment, especially when our governing body is more interested in…Read more...

One of the best parts about hiking (or even taking a walk in your neighborhood) is paying attention to your surroundings, and noticing new things each time. But with so much of the world to explore, you probably also want to see new parts of it—including in your own area.Read more...

The AeroPress is on the geekier side when it comes to manual coffee brewing. It doesn’t have the artisanal cred of pour-over, nor the gravitas of a Moka pot, nor the time-tested reliability of a French press. Yet this little, plastic, plunger-based coffee maker—originally developed as a way to make one cup of reliably…Read more...

Now that many people who’ve had the option of working remotely during the pandemic are being called back into the office, it’s becoming increasingly clear that not all employers are on-board with the arrangement. Initially instituted to help prevent employees from contracting COVID-19, work-from-home policies began…Read more...

Despite the classic excuse of not having a “green thumb,” keeping a houseplant alive has more to do with the ability to make and remember to stick to a schedule than being born without a pretend gene that makes you good at gardening. (And if you have a literal green thumb, you may want to have a medical profession…Read more...

Regular Lifehacker readers will know that we’re big fans of space, and frequently post about upcoming astronomical events, including full moons, meteor showers, and interest planet alignments.Read more...

After finally making it through the hot, sticky summer weather—when it can feel as though you’re permanently sweaty—the crisp, cool fall air feels refreshing. For a few glorious weeks, your skin looks and feels “normal.” Then winter starts, and overnight, your skin dries up.Read more...

Once considered a nonnegotiable household staple, the humble bar of soap has had a rough couple of decades. Now, it’s not a given that you’ll find bars of soap next to every sink and inside every tub in the house, as many people prefer the liquid varieties. (One reason for that, according to a 2016 survey, is that 48…Read more...

Homeowners with a driveway who live somewhere that gets a decent amount of snow each year have a call to make: Whether to shovel, use a snowblower, or hire someone for snow removal. Those who opt to purchase a snowblower typically do so because it’s quicker and easier than shoveling (it definitely is).Read more...

This week, YouTuber Logan Paul was scammed out of three and half million bucks, crypto-heads are planning to move away from us forever, and kids are eating NyQuil chicken—or none of that is happening at all, because everything is fake.

My idea of wisdom is knowing better than to judge how somebody orders their martini*. It’s a deeply personal thing. Among the most classic of classic stirred-up cocktails, the martini has perhaps the most forgiving dress code of any. So, it pains me when someone sheepishly admits that they like olives and a twist in…Read more...

Are you trying to stay anonymous on Reddit? If you’ve already tried creating burner accounts, you should consider periodically deleting your old Reddit accounts as well to make it harder for people to use your post history to find information about you. And if you need to go the nuclear route, you can permanently…Read more...

Many of us have no problem checking in on the status of our New Year’s resolutions to “walk more” or “sleep better,” and it’s all thanks to our trusty Fitbits, Apple Watches, and other wrist-sized fitness gadgets. At any moment of the day, you can look to your wrist and have access to your health data. And if you…Read more...

Canopy beds can make your bedroom feel romantic, calm, and peaceful. But canopy beds themselves are, well, expensive. You can get the canopy look, though, but without the cost. Just make your own.

The Messages app on your Mac has hidden keyboard shortcuts that make it a lot easier to text, once you learn them. One shortcut lets you open the contact card for the person you’re chatting with, another lets you send files faster, among so many more, so we’re going to dive into all the keyboard shortcuts you’ll ever…Read more...

There are two kinds of mistakes that make your car look bad: Things you do because you don’t care, and things you do because you care too much but in the wrong way. This list covers both.

Are you too good at Wordle? Of course you are. You know all the strategies: which words to guess first, which vowels to test right out of the gate. You’re probably sick of embarrassing everyone on Twitter with all your green squares. If Wordle feels too easy these days, you might want to try its twisted cousin, …Read more...

Last week, we asked you for your best advice to get someone else’s kids to like you instantly, and you provided us with some keen insight into winning them over. Sure, several people graciously pointed out the fact that kids are super into bribery. But when the snacks run out—heaven forbid—many of you had some helpful…Read more...

There’s a good chance that if you follow the news at all in the coming year, you’re going to hear the word “subpoena” pretty often. It also seems likely that we’re going to hear a lot about people ignoring subpoenas and refusing to comply with them, which leads to an obvious question: Can you get away with that?

Maintaining a balanced exercise routine without getting burnt out on your workouts can be tricky. Making progress requires challenging your body, but that can lead to overtraining if you aren’t careful. Having a predictable workout routine can help maintain consistency, but can also result in boredom and lack of…Read more...

Welcome to our Master Class on banana consumption, where we will discuss the right way to peel a banana. If you’re thinking, “There is no right way to peel a banana!” you may not be ready to hear that according to none other than Chiquita herself, there is a “proper” way—and it’s probably not how you’ve been doing it…Read more...

We talk a lot about what it’s like to start lifting weights, or to start exercising at all. But one day, you’ll come to the end of your beginner stage, and some things will have to change.

When Greek NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo tried dipping his Oreos in milk a few months ago for the first time, his mind was understandably blown. “From now on, that’s an every night snack for me,” he said during a press conference. (Watch the clip below. It is delightful.)

Since Apple introduced the Retina display to the Mac back in 2012, most of their lineup has shipped with one of the laser sharp, pleasingly crisp screens. Whether you have a small 12-inch laptop display or a large 27-inch desktop, your Mac likely looks great. So it can be frustrating when you plug it into an external…Read more...

There comes a time in every person’s life when we must ask: How the hell am I going to transport all this crap I have accumulated to a new home? Whether you’re leaving a 9-by-7 bedroom in a third floor New York City walkup or a four-bedroom suburban house with basement, sometimes the biggest challenge (besides…Read more...

Last year, Dropbox stirred up emotions by stating that they won’t be working on a Dropbox client optimized for Apple Silicon (M1) Macs until they see the demand for it—words that thankfully retreated fast, and a new Dropbox client was promised in the first half of 2022. As we roll off this year, the M1 app is…Read more...

“Gamification” is the practice of adding game-like elements to non-game contexts. It isn’t new, nor it is always a negative, but it is being aimed at consumers and employees more and more frequently, whether to keep you addicted to an app, motivated at work, or inclined to spend your money on something.

The days when you graduated college, started a career, and never looked back are long behind us. Lifelong learning isn’t just a catchy phrase—it’s an essential aspect of survival. Even a cursory glance at the last few decades reveals how fast things change, not just in terms of your actual job, but in the way we even…Read more...

You may not have realized that the full gamut of iMessage effects is available on the Mac too—even if Apple’s desktop Messages app doesn’t make it apparent. If you want to send an iMessage with a dose of fireworks, for example, you can do so on the Mac just as you can on an iPhone or iPad. Here’s how to use and send…Read more...

I’ve been working at the same desk for 12 years now, but a problem has arisen in the last year or two. You see, my desk faces away from my home office door because there is a window on the opposite wall, and window-gazing is a big part of my creative process. Recently, I added a pair of noise-canceling headphones to…Read more...

With iOS 15, your iPhone got a somewhat hidden tool that can boost your productivity and help you speed up repetitive tasks, such as copying and pasting multiple items. The tool is called drag-and-drop, and it lets you quickly drag multiple photos into a Word or Google Docs document, allows you to instantly copy links…Read more...

Even as an increasing number of Americans have come to accept the use of cannabis, one thing that hasn’t budged much is how accessible it is. Sure, more states are legalizing the stuff every year, but even where weed is legal, you can’t just walk into the corner store and buy it alongside some toilet paper and a…Read more...

I don’t tend to make product recommendation or write reviews. With the exception of wildly popular appliances like the air fryer and Instant Pot, I try to ensure my recipes don’t hinge on any one piece of equipment, and my own kitchen is stocked with things I inherited, or purchased at Goodwill or the restaurant…Read more...

While buying or selling a home can bring up a lot of personal feelings, it’s ultimately a business deal, and it’s best to keep your cards close to your chest. Expressing every thought you have or sharing every detail about your situation could backfire, making you less competitive, compromising your leverage, or…Read more...

Cats make every home better—this is an undeniable fact. But with every cat comes an unsightly litter box (or two), and the age-old conundrum of where to store it. Sure, you can buy a piece of furniture, like this “storage bench,” that is specifically meant to hide a litter box away and provide your favorite feline…Read more...

You may have noticed that we are firmly in the age of the QR code—every restaurant, state agency, and shop you interact with has a QR code prominently displayed. The technology is one of convenience, taking us to information we want quickly and directly, while hiding the actual destination until we have arrived. That…Read more...

To me, Siri is perhaps the most annoying feature of my iPhone. You can’t fix some of its problems—such as Siri’s inability to comprehend certain basic commands or to reliably return useful results—but there are several settings you can adjust Siri less grating and more useful. Let’s walk through them.

As cold, sleet, ice, and snow descend across many areas of the country, the threat of losing power looms large. While a power outage may pose only a minor inconvenience of eating leftovers by head lamp for a night, sometimes it can have much longer, more costly effects as the food in your refrigerator slowly spoils.…Read more...

Whether you’re trying to write a novel or send an email, it can be hard to get yourself to stick to a set work schedule. I certainly struggle to hold myself accountable; I mean, I know the person who set the terms here, and she’s pretty easy to undermine. That’s why I welcome any sort of productivity hack that will…Read more...

Given my state of origin (Mississippi), it’s not surprising that my favorite cooking fats are bacon grease and butter. They make food taste like home, but they aren’t the fats I reach for if I’m oil-poaching a salmon filet, whipping up a quick vinaigrette, or making a vegan marinara (which, incidentally, is even…Read more...

The secret to TikTok’s addictive nature is twofold. One, it uses an endless scrolling interface, meaning you can swipe through video after video for as long as you can hold out. Two, its algorithm is incredibly effective at figuring out your interests, so it mostly shows you videos you will want to see. If you’ve been…Read more...

Omicron continues to overwhelm hospitals and healthcare workers already worn out by Delta. At this stage of the pandemic, and with the healthcare system once again teetering on the edge, experts are urging people to ditch their cloth masks in favor of N95 or KN95 respirators. But these masks are more expensive than…Read more...