Clear answers to “what should I look for?”, checked against official safety and efficiency sources and written in plain English.
Screens, desks, Wi-Fi and the gear you use every day.
Home Office & Tech
A comfortable desk has less to do with the price of the screen than with where you put it. Here are the numbers that matter, and what to look for before you buy a monitor, arm or desk.
7 min read · 2 official sources
Home Office & Tech
Your router is the front door to every phone, laptop, camera and speaker in the house. What to look for in a new one, the settings to change on day one, and how to read the broadband label before you pick a plan.
6 min read · 5 official sources
Nursery and on-the-road gear, checked against federal safety rules.
Baby & Kids
Every new crib sold in the U.S. must meet federal standards, but fit, setup and what goes inside the crib are up to you. Here is what to check in the store and at home.
6 min read · 3 official sources
Baby & Kids
Rear-facing, forward-facing, booster, seat belt: the right seat depends on your child's size and the seat's limits. Here is how the stages work and what to do after you buy.
6 min read · 3 official sources
The small devices that protect the whole household.
Home Safety
Alarms are cheap; placement and upkeep are what make them work. A room-by-room plan, the sensor types explained, and the 10-year rule most homes miss.
6 min read · 4 official sources
Tools that make home cooking safer and easier.
Kitchen
Color and cooking time are unreliable. A thermometer tells you when food is done, and a second one tells you whether your fridge is actually cold. The target temperatures, and how to check your thermometer.
5 min read · 3 official sources
Cleaner air and lower bills, without the marketing fog.
Air & Energy
The number on the box that matters is CADR. How to size a portable air cleaner for your room, why ENERGY STAR is about the bill rather than the air, and the one type of machine to skip.
6 min read · 3 official sources
Air & Energy
Two TVs with the same screen size can cost very different amounts to run. The yellow EnergyGuide tag and the ENERGY STAR mark tell you which is which.
4 min read · 3 official sources
Pack smarter for hikes, campsites and days on the water.
Outdoor & Camping
Built around the National Park Service's Ten Essentials, with the weather, bug and water-safety advice that keeps a good day outside from turning into a long one.
7 min read · 4 official sources