Lifehacker

I still remember the time I was in a parking lot after work, absentmindedly shoving my hand into a fake blazer pocket, when I realized there was a hole in the stitching. Great, I thought, there’s still no place to put my phone and now I have a hole in my blazer. I fiddled with the loose thread and realized that’s not…Read more...

Though it feels like we’ve been Zooming and FaceTiming and using Google Hangouts for an eternity, most of us have still not figured out how to look good on a video call. Luckily, a new feature on iPad Pro called Center Stage has launched, and without much effort, it can make you look just a little bit better on camera.Read more...

Ximena Vengoechea has done a lot of listening. Keeping her ears and mind attuned to the needs of others is something of a calling for her not only in her work as a user researcher at some of the biggest names in the technology industry, but as a person navigating the constant stimuli of modern life. Her book Listen…Read more...

Getting a restful night’s sleep depends on several factors—and the pillow itself is a biggie. Pillows provide support for the alignment of your spine, and they are a necessary factor in one’s slumber comfort. The thickness and firmness of the pillow you need or prefer will very from person to person, but any pillow…Read more...

This is the time of summer when the heat can go from barely tolerable to unbearably hot, with no respite to be found. Although most of my regular food and drinks can be swapped out for lighter, more summer-appropriate options, my daily coffee presents a quandary.Read more...

Do you have a work bully? Don’t be embarrassed if you do. Unnecessarily mean and aggressive peers are typically associated with high school, but don’t fool yourself: There are cruel adults out there, too, and you could easily end up working with one.Read more...

There’s a bit of a Catch 22 when it comes to applying for a credit card limit increase: A higher limit can boost your credit score, but asking for an increase can also hurt your credit score, temporarily. And if the lender rejects your request? You just dinged your credit score for no reason—which can be literally the…Read more...

Most people are shy about mayonnaise, but not me. I’m loud, if not downright obnoxious about it. It’s no secret that I am very white (and sort of Southern), and my enthusiasm for the pale complected, emulsified condiment comes to me quite naturally. (We match!) I have many mayo hacks, but the first, original mayo hack…Read more...

If you’re new to electric vehicles—or are starting to research options for an upcoming purchase—you may not know that in addition to the high-voltage battery pack that supplies power to the motor, they also use the same 12-volt batteries that gas-powered vehicles do. And, yes, these 12-volt batteries can lose their…Read more...

When you’re finally on your long-awaited (and likely previously canceled) vacation, you may face a conundrum. On the one hand, you want to document your trip—both for yourself, and so your friends and family can see and enjoy your travels.Read more...

Is your best friend dating an asshole? At some point, your best friend is gonna date an asshole. These are the facts, unless you’re extremely lucky, and these facts suck. It hurts to see someone you care about dating someone who is terrible, especially if they don’t see that yet.

After spending so much time apart thanks to COVID travel restrictions, this summer’s family reunions have taken on new meaning. In some cases, families have decided to take these reunions on the road, and make it a multigenerational family vacation.Read more...

Everyone has taken a few minutes (or hours) of time during their workday to get some personal stuff done. But what if you had an entire week to spend doing whatever you want online—and got paid to do it? One company is hiring someone to do just that. Here’s what to know about the position, and how to apply.Read more...

When you see someone with facial injectables you don’t like, there’s something you need to remember (besides the fact that your opinion on someone else’s aesthetic enhancements isn’t relevant): For everyone with exaggerated filler or too-frozen Botox you spot in the wild, there are dozens more people walking around…Read more...

After years of sleeping on low-quality air mattresses, you finally decided to invest in a good one. Maybe it even has special features—like a built-in air pump, or being thicker.Read more...

The radio can really put you in a good mood. From upbeat songs to delightfully low-budget local ads, there’s always something to enjoy—so it’s understandable if you’ve ever wondered how you can be one of the people who make that enjoyable experience happen. So, if you want to break into the radio industry, we have a…Read more...

Not only does lavender look great on display in bouquets, it also has a clean, pleasant scent that many people enjoy and find calming. And if you’ve ever purchased fresh lavender, you know that it can be pretty pricey. So if you’d like to have an endless supply of the fragrant plant, you may want to grow lavender in…Read more...

Virtual reality headsets have come a long way since the first time I saw a VR “arcade” pop up in a mall in the 1990s. (I never played, although I was curious; five bucks a game was like a whole week’s allowance.) Now you can strap on a headset and walk around your living room, with options ranging from dancing games…Read more...

I’ve never been very good at cultivating hobbies (whereas my brother-in-law is into creating his own baking extracts, I am into refreshing Twitter), but I do like watching movies, and the internet has made it possible for sitting on my ass in front of HBO Max to feel like a genuine leisure time pursuit.

With a moratorium on foreclosures ending July 31, a new White House policy aims to stave off a wave of dispossessed homes by reducing monthly premiums by 25% for borrowers struggling to pay off their federally backed mortgages. Here’s what you need to know about getting that discount—whether you’re currently in…Read more...

The humble drawstring makes so many things possible—namely, cinching the hood of your sweatshirt, or keeping your swim trunks from falling off when you get out of the pool. But if that string gets yoinked out, it can be a major pain in the ass to get it back in. Unless, that is, you have a charging cable handy.Read more...

Plaster was the construction standard up until the 1940s, when drywall burst onto the market. Before then, it was a popular choice for wall construction given its pliability, fitting around corners and in small spaces where materials like brick couldn’t. Its malleability comes with a downside, though, as plaster can’t…Read more...

It’s easy to think of “personal boundaries” as a subjective set of preferences. But while that’s true in a limited sense, a more meaningful examination of our own boundaries help give us an idea of how to implement them more effectively in our lives—especially when they’re being compromised.

Hello, my little happy hour enjoyers. I wanted to let you know that after four years and over 200 cocktails, I’m going to be taking a little break from this column. The truth is that I’m just not drinking as much as I used to, and my enthusiasm for cocktails has dwindled. That’s not fair to y’all, so I’m turning…Read more...

Apple Music allows you to listen to some songs and albums in lossless audio quality, which—as the name suggests—are extremely high quality audio files. And because you don’t have to pay extra for the feature (it’s included with the $9.99 per month plan), if you have the right audio gear, trying it out is a bit of a…Read more...

Bathrooms are notorious for being one of the most expensive rooms in a home to renovate. Between tiling, plumbing, storage, and fixtures, the costs can add up faster than you’d probably like. However, if you want to enhance the look of your bathroom without spending big bucks on a full-scale renovation, a few minor…Read more...

This is year is my first year as a gardener. I think it’s going well, especially when you consider I have a history of killing every house plant I have ever attempted to keep alive (even air plants). Soon I will have nurtured into existence corn, tomatoes, and a truly absurd amount of tomatillos, and I am excited.Read more...

In the wake of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, AirPods Pro have joined the ranks of Apple devices getting beta updates. Apple will now release regular beta updates for AirPods Pro that can be installed by anyone using an Apple Developer account.

It’s no secret that professional athletes hit the weight room hard. If you search YouTube for your favorite (male) athlete’s name, plus “workout” or “gym,” you can probably find video evidence of them crushing a 495-pound deadlift or pressing huge kettlebells like they’re nothing. But that kind of training is overkill…Read more...

The “continue watching” section is the first thing you see when you open your favorite streaming service, and it often has a helpful list of series that you want to keep streaming...but it can also be filled with shows that you’ve given up on, or shows that you have completed but still show up because you didn’t…Read more...

Laundry stripping is a method of removing detergent buildup, as well as any fabric softeners, body oils, or hard-water minerals that have built up in your clothes over time. Although laundry stripping is a long-standing technique, it’s been in the spotlight again due to some viral social media videos. And although t…Read more...

The post-vax slutty summer is happening all around us, but some participants aren’t actually post-vax. The vaccine has been free and widely available for months now, but about half the population still isn’t vaccinated against COVID-19. A portion of those unvaccinated people is still interested in dating and if you’re…Read more...

The 2020 Olympics—which are taking place in 2021—have gotten off to a questionable start, beginning officially today against a backdrop of athletes testing positive for COVID-19 and a climate of unrest as many Japanese citizens have expressed that they don’t want the Games to continue.

There are multiple approaches one can take to remove the round, slippery pit from the creamy flesh of an avocado. You can squeeze everything—pit and all—out into a bowl, but that only works if you need mashed avocado. If you want pretty wedges or slices for aesthetic toast, though, you need to get that thing out…Read more...

The Smith machine is probably the most polarizing piece of gym equipment. Every cheap commercial gym has one, and it’s many folks’ introduction to squats and other barbell lifts. But it’s not a barbell, or anything close to one, and hardcore gym bros scoff at it.Read more...

The second season of Apple TV’s fan-favorite comedy, Ted Lasso, premieres tomorrow, July 23 on Apple TV+. Ted Lasso is one of those rare TV series beloved by fans and critics alike within its first season, one that everyone swears you “have to watch” even though it’s exclusive to a premium streaming service many…Read more...

Not all advice need be professional. Sometimes your problems merit a bit of unvarnished honesty from a dude equipped with nothing more than a computer and a conscience. Luckily for you, I’m that guy. Welcome back to Tough Love. (If you’d like to seek my advice, email me at sblum@lifehacker.com)

With aeration, watering, mowing, and weeding, it can be a lot of work to keep a pristine grass lawn. But there are alternatives to traditional grass, like desert-style landscaping that takes minimal attention and watering, or rain gardens that have plants and shrubs designed to collect rainwater and filter toxins.Read more...

With the federal student loan forbearance period expiring in October, most borrowers will have to start paying off their student loans for the first time since March 2020—if that deadline stands. But will the moratorium be extended again? Here’s a look at the latest on student loan forgiveness.Read more...

Back in February of this year, during a brief hotel stay, I made the mistake of granting my 4-year-old son unfettered access to the television. This meant that he spent the greater part of a day watching Nickelodeon, a network very invested in creating the next generation of PAW Patrol enthusiasts, as judged by the…Read more...

YouTube’s music collection is unparalleled—so many songs and albums missing from every other service are often available on YouTube. That’s why, if you find yourself in a situation where you want an offline copy of an obscure song that you can’t find anywhere else, downloading songs from YouTube might be your only…Read more...

Spoiler alert! This video will keep your food from going bad.Read more...

Apple’s magnetic MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12 costs $99. It charges the iPhone using the MagSafe magnets at the back of the iPhone. It’s a typical Apple accessory. It only comes in white, works out of the box, and charges using Lightning.

We say we hate reboots. We’ll happily go on and on about how we’d much rather have something newer, fresher, more original. And yet—remakes and re-dos remain reliably big business.

It’s notoriously difficult to gauge tone when you’re communicating in a written format. Because of that, people often use exclamation points to inject their prose with an air of levity, but it’s easy to get carried away: Use too many exclamation points and you’ll come off as overzealous, but if you fail to use any at…Read more...

Clamps are an important tool for temporarily securing wood together during carpentry, woodworking, furniture making, and other projects—and there are as many different types of clamps as there are uses. fusing pieces of wood together and making a strong bond. If you don’t have the right clamp for the job, though,…Read more...

A new security vulnerability has been discovered in the latest versions of Windows that hackers could use to remotely install programs, steal data and passwords, and even lock users out of their PCs. Microsoft says that all versions of Windows newer than Windows 10 version 1809 are affected—including the Windows 11…Read more...

Now that we’re halfway through 2021, it’s a perfect time to revise your budget and see if you’re on track with your financial goals. With all the pandemic-related tax credits, consumer price inflation, and looming expiration of the pause on student loan payments, it’s quite possible that your spending and expenses will…Read more...

Andrew Zimmern has eaten a lot of food, much of which most of us will never get a chance to try, but I sincerely believe he wishes we could taste it all. With a stated goal of “promoting cultural acceptance, tolerance, and understanding through food,” Andrew’s body of work has a common theme: getting people interested…Read more...

You might think to switch out light fixtures or upgrade your entryway when you’re planning home improvements, but another way to update your deck, railings, and floors is to add a new wood stain. Picking the right one is everything, though, as too dark can make a room look smaller, and too light might not match your…Read more...