Lifehacker

If you find an unexpected letter in your mailbox this week, purportedly from the IRS and offering you thousands of dollars in cash for a child tax credit, don’t panic—it’s not a scam. In fact, you’ll want to hold onto these letters as receipts for the very-real refundable tax credit that passed as part of President…Read more...

Animals and insects are drawn to places that are warm and will keep them hidden. Unfortunately, your car ticks both of those boxes, which means at some point you may face the unwelcome discovery that some critters have taken up residence in your ride.

Stability issues are uncommon on the Nintendo Switch, but the recent 12.0.3 firmware is one of the rare instances where an update is causing a widespread bug on the console. Many users report getting error code 2123-1502 when they attempt to download or update games from the eShop, preventing them from downloading any…Read more...

The first time I stood on a skateboard, I was in high school. I was transferred from an all-Black school in Detroit to a predominately White one, and learning to navigate a new cultural landscape—hacky sack, field hockey, acoustic guitars—led me to Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 and, later, a group of kids playing…Read more...

You may already have started celebrating Pride month as a family, whether by talking to your kids about what it means to identify as LGBTQ, seeking out local events, or leaning in on the rainbow crafts and baked goods. But if your child identifies as LGBTQ, you may be wondering what else you can or should be doing to…Read more...

If you’re like me, you relentlessly charge your devices even if doing so might be hurting the battery over the long-term. “This is the way,” I think to myself as I look over at the AirPods Pro charging case that I’ve left plugged in for the last three weeks.

Concerns about germs have shaped the last year and a half of our lives thanks to one germ in particular: the virus that causes COVID-19. But the billions of other bacteria, viruses, and microbes that surround us haven’t exactly ceased to exist. What do we really need to be afraid of? And how can we protect ourselves…Read more...

The 2016 episode of Adam Ruins Everything, “Adam Ruins Hollywood,” makes a bold but accurate claim: “Movie ratings are totally pointless.”

Sometimes, when an emotionally manipulative person seeks to cause drama, you might want to offer a response commensurate with their behavior. Except, you should really consider doing the opposite: Namely, acting like there’s nothing you can offer in terms of engagement, and remain as placid as a lake on a wind-free…Read more...

For some, the lawn is like a living welcome mat, inviting people into their home. They may be ill-suited to the climate in many areas (and an ecological disaster), but there’s no denying lawns have a certain visual appeal—and grass is pretty fun to roll around in.

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Prix Fixed, Lifehacker’s menu-planning advice column.Read more...

Amtrak has been rolling out some good deals all year, but this might be the best one yet: The railroad service is bringing back the USA Rail Pass for $299, which is 40% off their usual price—making it a cheaper alternative to travel by plane or car. Here’s what you need to know.Read more...

One of 2019’s best video games, Control, is free for PC on the Epic Game Store launcher this week—and it’s not the only one.

In the age of misinformation and disinformation, we’re (hopefully) all getting a little better about fact-checking—or at least, about not automatically believing every last thing we read or hear on the internet. But there are some fundamental truths we were taught as kids that, it turns out, were never true. Or they…Read more...

I run most mornings, usually making the same boring loop of the neighborhood each time. But today, I found myself at a nearby park, scrutinizing a map, strategizing the best way to capture the most tiles for my team. I was playing a game called Stride, and I could see it becoming addictive.Read more...

There’s a notion being sold and perpetuated, as our jobs have become increasingly entangled with our personal identities: The idea is that work isn’t so much a means to an end (of paying bills, putting food on the table, and financing our lives), but rather a way to live out our passions and realize our dreams for…Read more...

Apple TV users should update the HBOMax app right now to fix some—but not all—of the bugs introduced in last week’s version update.

Window air conditioners are typically used in apartment buildings and older homes without central air. Most people install it in their window, plug it in, and forget it, but at some point that “filter reset” button comes on and you find yourself scratching your head on how to replace it.Read more...

Let me introduce you to your good friend, sweat. Ignore the gross feel and the potential for B.O. for the moment, and think about what it does for you: When your body gets too hot, threatening to raise your core temperature over what’s healthy, little glands in your skin squeeze drops of moisture onto its surface. As…Read more...

I don’t know how up-to-date you are on the latest and greatest popsicle news, but Outshine is now making mango frozen fruit bars that are seasoned with Tajin. That is correct: The best mass-produced grocery store popsicle just got even better, because it now comes dipped in a delightful mixture of chili powder, salt,…Read more...

We want to bring life into our homes, but many of us without green thumbs have found our plants quickly turning brown. So Lucrecer Braxton (aka @soulsistaplants) is here to share her five favorite plants, and how to take care of them.Read more...

Whether you’re in what’s known as an ethically non-monogamous (ENM) relationship or just going on a bunch of Tinder dates without nailing anything down, there are a few ways to make sure you’re being as safe as possible, without being an asshole.Read more...

You love your dog, and your dog loves you, but your dog also loves filth, possibly as much as they love you. Your canine friend probably has a penchant for burying their snout in fresh turds, or maybe they find heaps of garbage an inviting place to roll around.

We don’t want to believe that our adolescent children will abuse any addictive substances, but we also know that it’s increasingly likely they will as they get older. By 12th grade, about two-thirds of students will have tried alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; nearly half of all…Read more...

You know that putting money aside is a good idea, but counterintuitive though it might seem, putting it all in the same place can make your budgeting more complicated than it needs to be. To keep things straight, why not sign up for multiple savings accounts and divide your savings for specific purposes?

Not only are sunflowers beautiful summer plants, they’re also resilient ones that love direct sun and hot days. Plus, their large heads produce seeds that are healthy and snackable, making sunflowers a decorative and edible plant for your seasonal garden. Here’s how to grow happy and healthy sunflowers, and how to…Read more...

A couple of evenings ago, I went berry picking on Sauvie Island with a few friends. After tasting several of the many varieties available, I settled on Hoods, because the season is short and I am only human. (Once you have experienced the candy-sweet flesh of a Hood strawberry, it’s hard to go back to huge, watery…Read more...

When I wrote about what it means to be immunocompromised in early March of this year, I was itching to get vaccinated. People are immunocompromised for a variety of reasons—genetics, age, metabolic diseases like diabetes, and immune-suppressing medications taken for conditions including autoimmune diseases, organ…Read more...

While it’s easy to say “don’t spend too much” after the pandemic, the truth is that just under half of all Americans are going to treat themselves with travel or shopping, even if that means going into debt to do it, according to a recent creditcards.com report. With that in mind, here are some tips on how to contain…Read more...

Whether it’s from too many items of sentimental value or you just haven’t thrown things out in a while, decluttering can be hard. When a kitchen gets cluttered, though, it can be even worse than a crowded closet or garage because it starts to affect the functionality of a space you use multiple times a day.Read more...

Old-school bagged vacuum cleaners are pretty rare these days. This makes some amount of sense: If you can order a brand-new, lightweight canister vacuum off Amazon for less than $200, why bother with a heavier, noisier relic of a machine that requires replacement bags?Read more...

Knowing how to defend yourself is a nice feeling. If, god forbid, someone with bad intentions were to cross your path, you could, theoretically, handle the situation better than if you hadn’t taken those classes. But the concept of “self-defense” is a broad church that encompasses many schools of thought—some of which…Read more...

Deadlifts are one of the biggest lifts you’re likely to ever do in the gym, because your butt and back and legs contain some of the strongest muscles in the human body. With their powers combined, you can move a lot of iron. But there’s a weak link, for many of us: Our grip.Read more...

Cheese is perishable, but most people are far too precious with it. Yes, it contains dairy—or rather, it is dairy—and is prone to bacterial growth and spoilage if left out of the refrigerator for too long. But, depending on the cheese, that window is wide big enough to allow a little cheese-fueled jaunt, trek, or hike…Read more...

The internet can be a toxic pit of despair, featuring people behaving at their worst just because they can. But every now and then, you manage to stumble into a little corner that warms your heart with its genuine kindness—and that’s what the “Need a Dad for a minute?” subreddit feels like.Read more...

A roly-poly pup can be an adorable little chonker, but if your pet is big enough that the vet says it’s time to lose weight, it can be hard to figure out exactly how to put them on a diet. Here are some tips to follow through on your plan, without ruining their diet every night when they start making puppy-dog eyes at…Read more...

In a perfect world, it’d be easy to untangle our mistakes from our personal identities, but in reality, it’s rarely a simple task. Everyone’s life is riddled with errors of judgement, but it’s crucial that you don’t let mistakes define your life or erode your self-confidence. Every misstep can become a teachable…Read more...

While expecting a baby can be an exciting time, if you’ve already got a toddler at home you’re probably wondering how to handle the addition of a new family member without making your older kid feel displaced. There are ways to prepare, though, throughout the pregnancy and in those early days, weeks, and months to…Read more...

When I was a kid, using the word “hemp” was just a sophisticated-sounding way to talk about weed, but while marijuana and hemp are related they have some pretty different uses. Hemp is a fast-growing plant that makes for a sustainable option for everyday items like paper and clothing, and it doesn’t get you high,…Read more...

With Amazon Prime Day coming up June 21-22, the company has a spend $10, get $10 promotion if you make a purchases from a list of small business owners that includes minorities and military veterans. Of course, Amazon benefits from this too, as you will need a Prime membership to claim the $10.Read more...

Cantaloupe is not my favorite melon, but it is the melon I’ve eaten the most of. My grandmother served it at the end of every summertime meal (with salt and pepper) and, once I realized it was socially acceptable to wrap slices of meat around the sweet, orange chunks, I developed quite the prosciutto con melone habit…Read more...

We love a good DIY project around here, but even the most seasoned DIY-ers still need to call a professional from time to time. When that happens, you’ll want to hire someone who’ll get the work done without too much hassle.Read more...

Whatever your goals, there will be some exercises that are perfect for you (as part of a well-designed, appropriately loaded exercise program) and others that might not be a great fit. But there are no exercises that you should “never” do.

Google is rolling out its latest Pixel Drop as part of the June 2021 Android security update. For those who don’t know, Pixel Drops are released throughout the year and add Pixel-specific features alongside the usual security patches all Android phones receive.

The IRS has made it official: Advance payments for the enhanced child tax credit—worth a total of $3,600 per child—will be sent out to families on the 15th of each month until the end of the year. Almost all families qualify for at least some cash, if not the full amount, although you’ll need to file a 2020 or 2019…Read more...

Aloe vera is a succulent plant commonly used in gels, creams, ointments, and hand sanitizer, and while it’s been used for thousands of years, today it’s used to calm the symptoms of sunburn or treat cuts and scratches. You might think it’s difficult to grow or care for, but aloe vera is a common house plant that’s…Read more...

Pride Month is more than a colorful parade or a series of parties (though those are great, too)—it’s the commemoration of the people who came before us that made these celebratory events possible.Read more...

Meeting people on dating apps can be fun, but the last thing most people want to see while swiping is a face from their past. Luckily, avoiding your ex—or anyone else you don’t want to see on Tinder—is easy thanks to the app’s new blocked contacts list.

Sometimes, no matter how one pours their heart out, if you flub your grammar, that’s all someone is going to remember. This was the case when I wrote this post about how to decide when you’re done having children, in which I shared my own experiences as a mother of one child, a former foster parent, and a woman who…Read more...

Remember when 2021 was the year things were supposed to get better? Well, sorry, people who live in a handful of eastern states—the cicadas are here. If you’ve spotted their discarded carapaces littering the ground or seen live bugs hanging out on trees (or if one has landed on your head), then you already know that…Read more...