December highlights on Prime Video include the second seasons of two original series and an original Christmas movie. First up is Candy Cane Lane (December 1), a comedy film starring Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross as a couple seeking to win their neighborhood’s holiday home decorating contest by making a deal with an evil elf.

Those of us with allergies have already endured a particularly brutal spring, followed by a few months of relentless hay fever symptoms. But now that the temperatures are finally dropping, we’ll be in the clear for the rest of the year, right? Well, not exactly.

Outdoor seasonal allergies may be over for people living in most parts of the country, but winter is typically the worst time of the year for indoor allergens like dust, pet dander, and mold. Our first instinct may be to write off any sniffling, sneezing, or coughing as a winter cold, but that’s not always the case. It’s time to take winter allergies seriously: Here’s where to start.

What are winter allergies?

The term “winter allergies” actually refers to indoor allergies, which exist year-round. That said, indoor allergies tend to be more problematic and noticeable during the winter. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), there are a few reasons for that:

• We spend more time at home, and indoors in general

• The colder weather means we’re more likely to keep our doors and windows shut: This keeps the cold out, but also seals allergens inside with us

• Forced air heating recirculates the indoor air and any allergens it contains

• Forced air heating may also kick up dust that had accumulated on the walls, woodwork, the tops of cabinets, and other hard and soft surfaces that aren’t cleaned regularly

Plus, as a resource from the Allergy & Asthma Network (AAN) points out, forced air heating—as opposed to the steam heating often seen in older houses and apartments—decreases the humidity level of indoor air, which can then heighten allergy symptoms. On top of that, the air can dry out our nasal membranes, leaving them cracked, sore, and more susceptible to a secondary infection.

If all that wasn’t enough, the more we’re exposed to indoor allergens, the worse our symptoms will likely get, according to the AAN. When we spend more time inside breathing in dry, recirculated, allergen-filled air, our body identifies allergens like dust and dander as invaders, then prompts our immune system to launch an attack against them. This kind of exaggerated response to an invader may involve increased mucus production, for example.

Some of the most common indoor allergens include:

• Dust

• Dust mites (the microscopic arachnids that feed on and live in dust; technically, we’re allergic to a combination of their waste particles and dead body fragments)

• Mold

• Pet dander

• Cockroaches (technically, a combination of their feces and the shells of the deceased)

• Dander, droppings, urine, and parasites brought inside by rodents seeking shelter from cold weather 

What are the symptoms of winter allergies?

Winter allergies can bring on the same symptoms as outdoor seasonal allergies and can present in various combinations that differ from person-to-person. Those symptoms include:

• Sneezing

• Watery, itchy eyes

• Runny nose

• Nasal congestion

• Coughing

• Postnasal drip 

• Sore or itchy throat

• Rashes or dry, itchy skin

• Headaches

• Disrupted sleep

• Wheezing and shortness of breath (for those with allergic asthma)

How do you get rid of winter allergies?

While you can’t simply stop being allergic to something, there are a few ways you can manage your winter allergies. These include:

• Stay on top of cleaning: Don’t wait until spring. Start with a deep clean to get rid of accumulations of dust, dander, mold, and other allergens, then clean, dust, and vacuum regularly.

• Use an air purifier: In this post, Lifehacker’s Senior Health Editor Beth Skwarecki explains what to look for when purchasing an air purifier to help ease allergy symptoms

• Change your HVAC filter regularly: Replace with filters with a MERV rating of 13 or higher

• Minimize your pet’s dander: Whether you have cats, dogs, or another furry pet, do what you can to reduce the spread of their dander, based on what’s best for your breed. This might mean bathing them more often, bathing them less often, and/or brushing them outside.

If you’ve done what you can in your home, contact your doctor if your winter allergy symptoms are still problematic—especially if you also have asthma, or suspect your symptoms have progressed into sinusitis or another secondary infection.

Source: LifeHacker – It’s Time to Take Your Winter Allergies More Seriously

Finishing a basement is one of the most popular home renovation projects for some very good reasons. First and foremost, it’s one of the best ways to spend your money, with a return on investment (ROI) over 85%. Second, it’s one of the most effective ways to add living space—and thus equity—to your home.

When planning to finish a basement, a lot of folks decide to put a bathroom down there, and then discover that this can be a very complicated add-on. That’s due to two reasons: One, you might have to break a concrete slab to run plumbing under the floor, and two, your basement floor is probably below the sewer lines that service the house. Most toilets rely on gravity assisted by water pressure to get your waste into the sewer, and that just won’t work if the waste has to go uphill.

Don’t despair, though—you still have options.

Toiletry

If a toilet is going to sit below the sewer line, you have two basic options to consider: A toilet assisted by some sort of pump, or a composting toilet. Composting toilets collect the waste in a storage system, which then has to be emptied on a regular basis. These toilets are environmentally friendly and often don’t require any electricity or plumbing hookups at all, but keeping track of how, uh, full they are and emptying out the compost can be a pain.

A more convenient option is a pump-assisted toilet. Ejector pump toilets use a pump similar to a sump pump to push waste into the sewer line, but these usually require breaking the slab and installing the pump system under the basement floor, which adds to the expense and difficulty of the renovation. A better option is what’s known as an “upflush” toilet, which has a pump attached that moves the waste to the sewer line. It’s a project that you can even do yourself if you’re moderately comfortable with some basic plumbing work.

Benefits of upflush toilets

There are several reasons why an upflush toilet is often the best option for a basement renovation:

• Easier installation. You won’t need to break up your basement floor or dig down, and you won’t need to run any plumbing. All that needs to be done is the installation of the drain line into the sewer pipe, and the installation of a vent pipe.

• Operation. Even if a gravity toilet is an option in your basement, being so low often means more frequent backups and drainage problems. Any time the sewer lines get clogged up after storms, for example, you might have a problem flushing your toilet. An upflush toilet’s pump can overcome many of those problems.

• Cost. Upflush toilets are more expensive than gravity toilets because of the extra apparatus involved, but since they sit entirely above ground, they often cost less to install overall.

• Familiarity. Unlike a composting toilet, from a user perspective, an upflush toilet operates exactly the same as a traditional toilet. If you encase the pump system behind a wall, your guests might not even notice a difference.

Some upflush toilets include a “macerating” feature that grinds up the waste before pumping it out, reducing the chances of clogs and making the pumping action more efficient.

Considerations

Upflush toilets solve a very specific problem in locations where a traditional gravity toilet won’t work well. But there are a few things to consider:

• Higher per-unit cost. While upflush toilets may be cheaper overall when you consider the plumbing work you didn’t have to do, they are usually more expensive than traditional toilets.

• Electricity. You’ll need a GFCI plug for your upflush toilet. If there isn’t one located in the area where you want to install the toilet, you’ll need to have one wired up. Most upflush toilets don’t need a dedicated circuit, however. This also means that during power outages your upflush toilet won’t work, while gravity toilets will.

• Maintenance. Upflush toilet pumps need to be maintained like any other motorized piece of equipment. Their tanks also need to be de-scaled every now and then to remove mineral build-up that can compromise performance and cause bad odors.

If you want to enjoy the convenience of a bathroom in your finished basement—or any area of your house that sits below the sewer lines—an upflush toilet is your best option.

Source: LifeHacker – Why You Should Consider an Upflush Toilet

So, you bought an item on your wishlist. Maybe you even got it on sale. But shortly thereafter, the exact same product at the exact same retailer is cheaper than when you bought it. If only you had known.

Luckily, that pain you feel in your wallet doesn’t have to be the end of the road. With a little research (and some cleverness, when necessary) you can probably get that money back.

Check the store’s price protection policies

A handful of retailers offer price adjustment—also referred to as price protection or a price guarantee—which will refund you the difference between what you paid at the time of purchase and the sale price. This policy will apply only within a limited timeframe after a purchase, typically anywhere from 14 to 30 days.

Keep in mind that price adjustment is different from price matching. The latter refers to a policy in which a retailer will match a lower price offered by a competitor on an identical item. This is usually only available before you make a purchase, though you can still use this to your advantage to shop around for the best deal.

Note that the list of retailers that offer these benefits is short and does not include Amazon. Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, and Costco are a few of the major retailers that have some kind of pricing policy.

However, price protection and price matching are likely to come with significant restrictions and exclusions. For example, price matching may be limited to a few select competitors, and some retailers may not offer it at all during major sale seasons like Black Friday, Cyber Week, and Memorial Day. As Wirecutter notes, even finding the fine print can be difficult, much less taking advantage of it.

While credit card issuers used to offer price protection—allowing you to submit a claim for a partial refund without going through the retailer—that benefit is practically extinct unless you hold one of a few select cards.

Bargain with customer service

If a retailer doesn’t have a published price protection policy (or if they do, and it doesn’t seem to apply to you), it doesn’t hurt to reach out to customer service and ask if they can help. Consumer Reports found that even Amazon may budge when contacted directly. But this may work with smaller retailers in addition to big-box stores as long as you’re within the return window. Note that you may have to settle for store credit, which only makes sense if you plan to shop with the retailer in the future.

Return and repurchase

If none of the above gets you the savings you want, consider returning the item for a refund and buying it again at a lower price (again, this is probably the best option for Amazon purchases).

A few things to consider to maximize your refund:

• Are you within the return window?

• Do you still have the receipt or confirmation?

• Does the item meet return criteria for being unworn, unused, unwashed, in its original packaging, etc.?

• Does the retailer offer refunds to the original payment method or store credit only?

• Does the retailer offer free returns, or will you pay for shipping?

• Is there a nearby brick-and-mortar location where you can bring the returns?

Obviously, you must be within the return window to get a refund (unless you used a credit card that has extended return benefits that apply even if the retailer’s window has passed). Some retailers will accept returns for longer during the holiday season, and it’s good practice to check return policies before you buy anyway.

If you have your receipt and can get back every dollar you paid (ideally without having to pay anything for return shipping or restocking), then it may make sense to return your original item and buy it again on sale. But if there are limitations, such as getting store credit, being refunded at the current sale price, or paying a premium to send the item back, consider whether you’ll really save anything in the end.

Source: LifeHacker – How to Get a Sale Price on an Item You’ve Already Bought

The kitchen sets the tone for your entire home. If you have tired old builder-grade cabinets, the kitchen is going to look cheap and uninspiring—but fixing the issue isn’t easy. If you own your home, you can always tear out the kitchen and replace it, assuming you have bags of cash just lying around the place—if not, you can always paint the cabinetry. If you’re renting your home, however, you have fewer options; your landlord likely won’t renovate for you, and you’ll want to avoid permanent changes like paint unless you get specific approval.

There’s a surprising solution to this problem, however: Vinyl wrap. Yes, the same stuff that gets put on cars to give them a whole new glossy look can be applied to your kitchen cabinets. The results can be very dramatic, the vinyl wears surprisingly well, it’s extremely cheap (especially if you DIY it), and best of all it’s relatively easy to remove and leaves no residue, so your security deposit is safe. Here’s everything you need to know about vinyl wrapping your kitchen.

Vinyl FTW

For this project, you can use vehicle vinyl wrap or vinyl wrap marketed specifically for furniture and cabinets, like this one, which costs around $50 for a 3-meter roll (a little under 10 feet), or these wraps from 3M that cost about $30 for a 5-foot roll.

One of the great things about vinyl wrapping your kitchen is the selection of colors and finishes. Vinyl wraps come in a very wide range of both: you can get faux wood, high-gloss, patterned, textured, and even metallic and glitter finishes. This gives you a lot of design flexibility. And vinyl wrap, if properly applied, can be surprisingly durable; after all, it’s used on vehicles that are subjected to outdoor conditions. With proper care it will hold up for years; the 3M wraps mentioned above are rated for at least 7 years of use.

DIY or pro?

The process of DIY wrapping your kitchen cabinets is pretty straightforward, and doesn’t require a lot of money or many tools. It does, however, require patience and a bit of skill—you’ll need to be very careful how you measure, cut, and apply the wrap.

You don’t need many tools to get this done:

• Enough wrap to cover your cabinets

• Squeegee to smooth out the wrap

• Pin to discretely pop air bubbles

• Utility blade or razor blade to cut the vinyl

• Heat gun or hair dryer

On TikTok, Paige Sechrist wrapped her kitchen and showed the process she followed, and you can see the process in a bit more detail here. The results depend a lot on how careful you are measuring everything out and how diligent you are ensuring that air bubbles are dealt with. According to Sechrist, the whole cost of DIY wrapping her kitchen was about $100, and it took her less than two days to do the job. She updated the project a year later, showing that the vinyl had worn well, and removed very easily.

If you’re someone like me who wraps gifts like a wild animal and hasn’t cut a straight line once in their entire life, this might seem like a disaster waiting to happen. The good news is that there are professional companies who will perform this service for you. The cost will vary with the size and complexity of your kitchen, but will generally be a few thousand bucks (for example, this company usually charges $5,000 for wrapping a “standard” kitchen). While that’s a lot more than the DIY cost, it’s also a lot less than a full renovation.

Cons of wrapping

Vinyl wrapping your kitchen cabinets can be a cheap, low-risk way to transform a kitchen you don’t own or can’t afford to renovate. But there are some potential downsides to consider:

• Only unpainted. If your cabinets are painted or veneered (meaning they have a thin layer of laminate or wood over a cheaper material), the paint or veneer might come off when you try to remove the vinyl wrap. If you’re not sure what you’re dealing with, test on a small, inconspicuous area first.

• Affected by heat. Part of the installation process for vinyl wrap is to use a heat gun or hair dryer to adhere the wrap to the cabinets, because vinyl wrap reacts to heat. That’s not always ideal in kitchens. Wrapped cabinets near ovens or dishwashers might not wear as well due to heat exposure over time.

• Complexity is an issue. Vinyl wrapping works best on flat cabinet doors. The more paneling and design on your cabinets, the harder it’s going to be to apply a wrap smoothly. Some pro installers won’t even go near cabinets with raised panels or beading for this reason.

• Peeling. If your installation skills aren’t great, if the wrap is consistently exposed to heat, or if it rubs in places as you open doors and pull drawers, you may experience peeling. This will be difficult to repair without re-doing the entire door or drawer.

Still, if you have an ugly kitchen that is killing your soul but you lack the funds or ownership for a permanent change, vinyl wrapping your kitchen might be the perfect solution. For a relatively small amount of money and/or some sweat equity, you can have a new-seeming kitchen in just a day that can be 100% reverted to its original state when it’s time to move.

Source: LifeHacker – Refresh Your Kitchen for Cheap with Vinyl Wrapping

Microsoft is now allowing Windows 10 users to try out Copilot, the company’s newest AI assistant. The service was previously only slated to be released as part of Windows 11, but is now part of Windows 10’s final big update. If you’re interested in trying the Copilot feature for yourself but don’t feel like upgrading to Windows 11 just yet, then you can use these instructions to download and try the latest version of Windows 10 today.

How to try Windows 10 Copilot

To start using Copilot in Windows 10, you need to join the Windows Insiders program, which allows you to see new features before they’re delivered to the mainstream channels. Currently, Copilot is only available as part of the Windows 10 Release Preview Channel, though it’s likely only a matter of days or weeks before it’s pushed to Windows 10 users in the general public.

If you don’t feel like waiting, though, you can pull up the Start menu, search for “Insider” in the bar, and then click “Advanced Windows Update options.” Click the option that says “Get Insider builds,” which will allow you to check out Copilot early in Windows 10. You’ll need to apply the updates by restarting your PC. 

When choosing your preview channel, you’ll have the option of choosing between a few different options. To get access to Copilot in Windows 10 right now, simply select the Review Preview channel, which will give you what is essentially a beta of the update. This means that it’ll have less bugs than the developer channel, allowing you to keep using your machine without as many hiccups.

How is Copilot different on Windows 10?

Ultimately, Copilot in Windows 10 will be fundamentally the same as the system found in Windows 11, but there are some differences to be aware of. You’ll still be able to do the brunt of the work that Copilot in Windows 11 offers while using it in Windows 10, though there will be some slight differences in features since some just don’t exist in Windows 10—and never will, as this isn’t going to change Microsoft’s planned retirement date for the operating system.

Still, being able to test out Copilot in Windows 10 is nice because you don’t have to upgrade to the latest operating system to take advantage of what might be one of the company’s coolest features. Copilot builds off of Microsoft’s previous work with OpenAI’s GPT system, allowing you to generate text, answer queries, and more, all without leaving your desktop’s side bar.

Source: LifeHacker – How to Try Copilot, Microsoft’s New AI Assistant, In Windows 10

With 2024 fast approaching, it’s about that time to set some New Year’s resolutions, which you’ll then spend the next 12 months trying to stick to. Writing down your goals is a key part of achieving them, so start there, but the “writing” part is a little broader than you might think. A pen and paper are great, but so is an app—as long as it works well for you and can function for the long-term goal setting a new year demands. Choosing the right app can be a little tricky, since there are so many out there for setting and tracking goals, so here are some of the best ones and what they do. 

If you use SMART goals: Strides 

SMART (or rather, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals are popular for individual workers and students, as well as groups and teams of collaborators because they make goals and results easy to describe. Strides is an app that makes them just as easy to track. It tracks your progress on SMART goals while using streaks to motivate you and reminders to help you build habits. The plain version is free, but if you want unlimited trackers and the ability to see progress reports, you’ll pay $4.99 per month. 

If you need to break down complex goals: Todoist

Arguably one of the most famous apps on the list, Todoist is popular for a reason: It helps you break down complex projects into smaller ones, collaborate with teammates, and track progress easily, whether you’re working collaboratively or on your own. There’s a Kanban board built in so you can track your goals from the early stages through completion, too. For free, you can load in five personal projects and view one week of activity history, but if you want more long-term tracking and up to 300 projects, you’ll need to pay $4 per month. 

If you’re extra busy: TickTick

TickTick is designed for people who have a lot going on. You can set “annoying alerts” to remind you of urgent or high-priority responsibilities multiple times a day and can use a voice-to-text feature to dictate your to-do lists, because who has time to type all that out? You can also set pop-up reminders that are location-based, so when you go to work, anything you need to do there will come up. When you complete your tasks, you earn points toward an achievement score—and when you don’t, your score goes down. Your score helps you level up (or, again, down) which gamifies it a little, helping you keep track of progress. It’s free, but there is a premium version for $35.99 per year that allows you to set tasks as high, medium, or low priority and import your third-party calendars. The premium offering also allows you to track progress more, giving you access to historical statistics that allow you to see how far you’ve come in completing your goals.

If you’re serious about keeping a schedule: Clockify

Clockify, which offers almost all of its best individual features for free, is best known as a timesheet app. But it’s also stellar for goal tracking, since it’s so schedule-based. You can track exactly how much time you spend on all of your tasks, which is helpful if you’re trying to figure out how much to allocate to certain responsibilities when timeboxing or using another productivity scheduling method. Your dashboard will show you your personal stats and trends as they relate to your working time and goals, so you can start organizing your day around what takes the most time and when you’re most productive. You can view reports on your progress—at varying levels of granularity—and it even has a built-in Pomodoro timer. The best core features are free; you’ll only be charged $3.99 if you need to be the administrator of someone else’s work.

If you want to gamify your goals: Habitica

Habitica encourages you to “gamify your life” in your quest to achieve your goals. You get a little avatar that grows and is rewarded when you complete your real-life tasks, but is punished when you don’t, so you can track progress just by looking at how well your little avatar is thriving. You’ll earn in-game currency that you can redeem for rewards and there’s even a social component through which your avatar can join forces with others’ to play games. 

If you crave simplicity: Joe’s Goals

Joe’s Goals is arrestingly easy to use—and that’s because it’s really old and looks really old. It’s a vestige of a bygone internet era, but that simplicity is almost comforting. Where other apps have a seemingly endless stream of widgets and notifications, this webpage simply encourages you to enter your goals in, track them, and monitor your daily “score.” Your goals appear on a grid along with the seven days of the week and when you complete one on a given day, you just put a little checkmark in the box. If visual tracking and simplicity appeal to you, this is the one. 

Source: LifeHacker – The Best Apps to Track Progress on Your New Year’s Goals

Having laundry in your house is one of the great small luxuries of the modern age. Being able to just toss soiled clothing and linens into two magic cubes and get clean, dry stuff back a short time later is amazing and easy to take for granted. It’s so magical that most of us take our hard-working laundry machines for granted—as long as they’re doing the job, we don’t think about them too much.

But your washer and dryer require maintenance, especially if you notice anything odd. Dryers might seem pretty innocuous—all they do is dry your clothes using heat and air circulation. You might think that as long as you clean your dryer vent now and then to stay on top of the lint buildup, you’re good. But dryers are supposed to be self-contained systems that extract moisture from your clothes and vent it outside the house. If you notice that your house fills with the smell of dryer sheets every time you dry a load of wash, you should immediately inspect your vent hose or duct—because a dryer with an air leak can cause you a lot of problems.

Signs of an air leak

The signs of an air leak are simultaneously subtle and very obvious once you notice them:

• Smell. As mentioned, if you can tell someone is drying their clothes by the smell in the air, you’ve likely got an air leak.

• Lint and dust. If the area around your dryer is coated in a thick pelt of lint, it’s probably leaking out with the air from your vent duct or hose.

• Air movement. If the air leak is particularly bad, you might even feel a warm breeze when you get near the dryer.

If you detect an air leak, you might be tempted to assume it’s no big deal. The dryer is still working, your clothes are still drying, so what’s the problem?

Potential problems

Your dryer might seem like a perfectly safe device, but an air leak can cause you and your home some serious trouble:

• Water damage. The air vented out of your dryer is very humid because it’s extracting moisture from your wet laundry. If it’s not venting outside, then all that moisture is venting inside your house—either directly into the laundry room or area, or even into your walls or attic space if that’s where the air leak is located. Over time, constant exposure to high humidity can lead to mold and moisture damage.

• Fire hazard. If you’ve got a layer of dust and lint all over your laundry area thanks to an air leak from your dryer, congratulations, the chances that your house burns down just went up. Dryer lint is a terrific fuel source for a fire, and dryer fires can be devastating.

• Health. Aside from the potential health issues created by mold growing due to the increased humidity, the air that’s leaking from your dryer isn’t exactly healthy to breathe. In fact, it’s absolutely packed with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that could lead to respiratory problems ranging from chronic cough to much, much worse.

Easy fix

Luckily, if you detect an air leak from your dryer vent ducts or hose, the fix is very simple:

• Locate the leak. Run the dryer. You can use some of the same techniques used to find any air leak in the house, including lighting an incense stick and holding it near the dry vent hose or duct to see how the smoke blows, shining a light inside a duct or hose with the lights off to observe small gaps, and visually inspect the venting to see if there are obvious gaps or portions being moved by escaping airflow.

• Repair or replace. If the leak is relatively small and your ductwork or plastic hose is otherwise in good condition, pick up some foil duct tape at your local hardware store and tape (or re-tape) the connections and any holes or gaps you’ve discovered. If the duct has deteriorated too much, replace it with a similar duct. If you hire a professional to do this, it’ll run you a few hundred bucks.

Once you’ve repaired your air leak, conduct your tests again to ensure you’ve sealed up all the leaks. Then clean up any lint and dust that have accumulated as a result, and breathe easy.

Source: LifeHacker – How to Fix a Leaking Dryer Vent (and Why You Absolutely Should)

After spending the spring, summer, and part of the fall tending to your garden and yard, you may be tempted to turn your attention towards the houseplants lining your windowsill. The colder winter months may seem like the ideal time to focus on your ferns, and fertilize your fiddle-leaf fig, but doing so may end up hurting your houseplants—not helping them. Here’s why you should hold off on fertilizing your indoor plants during the winter, and allow them to hibernate instead.

Why you shouldn’t fertilize your houseplants during the winter

Most of the species we keep as houseplants are tropical natives, which is why they wouldn’t survive if you left them outside in a cold climate. But the change of seasons also affects their life indoors, according to Amy Simone, a master gardener at the University of Vermont Extension.

In climates with traditionally hot summers and cold, snowy winters, tropical houseplants feel more or less at home during the spring and summer months. But that changes once the colder weather of fall and winter hits, and the plants enter “a period of rest,” Simone explains. 

The drop in temperature, coupled with decreased daylight hours this time of year result in reduced plant growth, according to a resource from the University of Maryland Extension. Because they’re neither expanding their roots nor sprouting new shoots, houseplants don’t need fertilizer during the winter.

But surely a little fertilizer can’t hurt, right? Actually, it can, says Simone. Unnecessary or excessive fertilizer can lead to a buildup of salts in the soil, which can end up harming the plant. 

If you’ve already fertilized your houseplant during the winter and now notice white, chalky salt deposits on the surface of the soil or the outside of the pot—or that your plant is yellowing, wilting, or browning at the tips—that’s probably a sign of high soluble salt levels, according to another resource from the University of Maryland Extension. 

The good news is that you can fix this pretty easily by flushing the soil with clean water, allowing it to run out the bottom of the pot, and repeating the process until you’ve flushed it with at least as much water as the pot holds (e.g. two gallons of water for a two-gallon pot).

When to start fertilizing houseplants again

It may seem like a long time, but Simone recommends going the entire winter without your fertilizing tropical houseplants. You’ll know it’s time to start fertilizing again when you spot signs of new growth, which, she says, typically happens around March.

Source: LifeHacker – Why You Shouldn’t Fertilize Your Houseplants During the Winter

Been hesitant to pull the trigger on an air fryer? Today’s the day to make those dreams a reality. Black Friday’s ushering in a number of great deals for the chef in the house, including knives, KitchenAid mixers, and other kitchen essentials.

Wayfair

I was blown away by the deals on knives at Wayfair. These are from major brands at the top of the industry, including Zwilling and Henckels. At these prices, they’re going to make an impressive gift for the home cook in your life. If those aren’t enough to pique your interest, there are plenty of opportunities for niche kitchen tools and appliances, too. The iDesign clear fridge storage totes are on sale, as is the Joseph Joseph cutlery organizer, both of which I’ve bought in the last year. 

• Cuisinart 12 Speed 5.5 Qt. Stand Mixer  now $157.70, was $249.99

• KitchenAid® Artisan® Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer from $349.99, was $449.99

• Zwilling 8-piece Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set w/Presentation Case now $52.05, was $180.00

• KitchenAid Albany Kitchen Towel 4-Pack Set (Set of 4)  from $18.00, was $29.99

• KitchenAid 2-Pieces Oven Mitt (Set of 2) from$13.04($6.52per item)$25.99

• Henckels Graphite 14-piece Self-Sharpening Block Set from $139.95, was $657.00

• Zwilling Porterhouse Stainless Steel 8-piece Steak Knife Set with Black Presentation Case  $59.94, was $180.00

• Henckels Modernist 4-piece Steak Knife Set, $35.57, was $134.00

• DrawerStore Bamboo Compact Cutlery Organizer by Joseph Joseph now $16.99, was $26.39

• Henckels Classic 8-inch Chef’s Knife now $49.57, was $116.00

• Henckels Classic 4-inch Paring/Utility Knife now $33.14, was $67.00

• Henckels Classic 5.5-inch Boning Knife $54.95, was $100.00

• Henckels Modernist 13-Piece Knife Block Set $129.85, previously $541.50

• 5”H x 8″W x 16″D Drawer Organizer by iDesign now $12.39, was $32.99

• Henckels Definition 20-piece Self-Sharpening Block Set, now $149.98, was $505.00

• Henckels Dynamic 12-piece Knife Block Set, now $75.05, was $226.00

• 48L Electric Cigar Humidor with Cooler(300 Cigar Capacity) now $184.56, was $399.99

Bed, Bath & Beyond

If you’ve ever wanted a KitchenAid, then Bed, Bath & Beyond has your number. Every color, every style, every size seems to be on sale. Not only that, but there are really unbelievable deals on small kitchen appliances: air fryers, food processors, smart ovens, and coffee machines. 

• Keurig® K-Café Barista Bar Single Serve Coffee Maker and Frother was $139.99, now $99.99

• GE Profile™ Automatic Espresso Machine + Frother was $629, now $399

• KitchenAid Professional 7 Quart Bowl Lift Stand Mixer was $724.99, now $499.99

• KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Back Head Stand Mixer in Matte Dried Rose, now $501.99, was $349.99

• KitchenAid Professional 7 Quart Bowl Lift Stand Mixer was $724.99, now $499.99

• GE Profile™ Smart Oven with No Preheat was $449, now $299

• KitchenAid 7 Cup Food Processor was $103.16. now $79.99

• GE Digital Air Fry 8-in-1 Toaster Oven was $219, now $149

• Café™ BELLISSIMO Semi Automatic Espresso Machine + Frother was $579, now $379

• GE 12-Cup Food Processor with Accessories was $159, now $99

• GE Profile™ Semi Automatic Espresso Machine + Frother was $579, now $399

• GE Profile™ Opal™ 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker was $599, now $449

• Ninja Air Fryer Max XL was $169.99, now $89

• Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor was 120.45, now $79

• Ninja AF101 3.8L Air Fryer was $129.99, now $79

• Café™ Couture™ Oven with Air Fry was $449, now $299

Amazon

Amazon didn’t have the same major discounts on small appliances, but it was full of smaller kitchen tools I’d buy because of the price cut—particularly stocking stuffers for culinary minded friends. 

• Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Maker $139, down from $199

• Yomelo Electric Hand Mixer, $29 with coupon, down from $50

• Chefman Digital Air Fryer, $81, down from $150

• Cuisinart Stand Mixer, $160, down from $250

• T-fal Easy Fry XXL Air Fryer, $122, down from $150

• KitchenAid Variable Speed Blender, $210, down from $300

• Combler Mini Ice Cube Trays, $10, down from $18)

• Fungyand Sushi Making Kit, $15, down from $30

• Conwang 2-In-1 Paring Knife and Peeler, $5, down from $10

• Meriachy Food Storage Containers, Set of 16, $20, down from $40

• Dash Sous Vide-Style Egg Bite Maker $37.99, down from $49.99

• Fullstar Vegetable Chopper $24, down from $39.99

• Sangcon Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder Mill Set $18, down from $29.99

Source: LifeHacker – The Best Black Friday Deals on Kitchen Tools

If you want to double-check the garage is closed, get an alert when packages are left at your door, or even see what local wildlife is visiting your backyard, you’re going to need a security camera. We’ve rounded up the best deals from across the internet for Black Friday so you can rest assured you’re getting the best deal, no matter what brand you invest in. 

Amazon 

It’s no surprise that Blink dominates the deals at Amazon today. Their native line of security cameras got a great review from us for their new Outdoor 4 series. Whether you’re grabbing indoor or outdoor cameras, don’t miss the savings when you pick up a bundle. 

• Blink Mini – Compact indoor plug-in smart security camera, 1080p HD video, night vision, motion detection, two-way audio, easy set up, Works with Alexa  $19.99, down from $34.99.

• Blink Wired Floodlight Camera – Smart security camera, 2600 lumens, HD live view, enhanced motion detection, built-in siren, Works with Alexa $49.99, down from $99.99.

• WYZE Cam OG 1080p HD Wi-Fi Security Camera – Indoor/Outdoor, Color Night Vision, Spotlight, 2-Way Audio, Cloud & Local storage- Ideal for Home Security $16.98, down from $29.98.

• All-new Blink Outdoor 4 (4th Gen) – Wire-free smart security camera, two-year battery life, two-way audio, HD live view, enhanced motion detection $134.99, down from $269.99.

• Blink Indoor (3rd Gen) – wireless, HD security camera with two-year battery life, motion detection, and two-way audio – 3 camera system $75.99, down from $189.99.

• Blink Wired Floodlight Camera – Smart security camera, 2600 lumens, HD live view, enhanced motion detection, built-in siren, Works with Alexa – 1 camera $49.99, down from $99.99.

• eufy Security eufyCam S330 (eufyCam 3) 4-Cam Kit, Security Camera Outdoor Wireless, 4K with Integrated Solar Panel, Face Recognition AI, Expandable Local Storage $559.99, down from $799.99.

• Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) | latest generation, 2023 release | 1080p HD Video & Color Night Vision, Two-Way Talk, and Manual Audio & Video Privacy Cover $29.99, down from $59.99.

• eufy Security eufyCam S330 (eufyCam 3) 2-Cam Kit, Security Camera Outdoor Wireless, 4K Camera with Solar Panel, Forever Power, Face Recognition AI $379.99, down from $549.99.

Target

If you’re rocking Android or Google Home, then investing in Nest makes total sense. Their wired and battery-operated cameras look good while integrating seamlessly into your home automation. 

• Ring 1080p Wireless Stick Up Security Camera $59.99, regularly $99.99.

• Ring 1080p Wired Video Doorbell Pro $99.99, regularly $169.99.

• Google Nest Cam (Indoor, Wired) $69.99, regularly $99.99.

• Ring 1080p Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) Security Camera $29.99, regularly $59.99.

• Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus Security Camera $119.99, regularly $199.99.

• Google Nest Indoor/Outdoor Cam (Battery) $119.99, regularly $179.99.

• Ring 1080p Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) Security Camera 2pk $59.98, regularly $119.99.

• Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) $119.99, regularly $179.99.

• myQ Smart Garage Video Keypad $59.99, regularly $99.99.

Walmart

This was the widest range of brands on sale today, with a lot of deals on eufy. While eufy weathered a security issue last year, they’re still one of my favorites for their unmatched video quality. I am particularly fond of the Floodlight camera, which has two different lenses: a micro and a macro, so you can really zero in on what you’re looking at. 

• Roku Smart Home Indoor Camera SE Wi-Fi – Wired Security Camera; Motion & Sound Detection  $18.00, was $26.88.

• Anker eufy Security Wireless Outdoor Camera, Solar Security Camera, Battery Camera, Spotlight Camera, 2K camera, 2-Cam Kit $199.98, was $399.98.

• eufy Security Floodlight Camera E340, Wired Camera, 3K+2K Dual Camera, 360° Pan and Tilt, Dual-Band Wi-Fi, HomeBase 3 Compatible, Local Storage, No Monthly Fee $169.99, was $219.99.

• Anker eufy Security Cam, 2C Pro 2-Cam Kit, Wireless Home Security System with 2K Resolution, 180-Day Battery Life, HomeKit Compatibility, IP67, Night Vision $179.99, was $319.99.

Home Depot

Home Depot is all in on Ring cameras, the granddaddy of connected doorbells. They now have an entire ecosystem of cameras and security products that all tie into the same subscription for your doorbell. If you’ve already got a Ring cam for your door, there’s a great argument to stick with the brand. 

• Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus – Smart Security Video Camera with 2 LED Lights, 2-Way Talk, Color Night Vision, White $119.99, down from $199.99.

• Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus – Smart Security Video Camera with 2 LED Lights, 2-Way Talk, Color Night Vision, Black $119.99, down from $199.99.

• Google Nest Cam with Floodlight – Wired Outdoor Smart Home Security Camera $189.99, down from $279.99.

• Ring Stick Up Cam Battery – Indoor/Outdoor Smart Security Wifi Video Camera with 2-Way Talk, Night Vision, White $59.99, down from $99.99.

• Wyze Cam OG, Wired Indoor/Outdoor 1080p HD Smart Home Security Camera with Built-In Spotlight $16.98, down from $29.98.

• Wyze Battery Cam Pro 2-Pack, Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Home Security Camera, 2k HD Color Night Vision and Built-In Spotlight $149.98, down from $179.98.

• Wyze Battery Cam Pro 2-Pack, Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Home Security Camera, 2k HD Color Night Vision and Built-In Spotlight $149.98, down from $179.98.

• Wyze Wired Outdoor Wi-Fi Floodlight Home Security Camera $49.98, down from $99.98.

Lowe’s

Arlo is a lesser known but well-reviewed brand in the smart camera space, and their models tend to be more affordable. Even so, there are a few deals worth looking at here. If you’ve been hesitant to spend the money on a smart security system, Arlo is a good choice to dip your toes in the water. 

• Blink Wired Floodlight Camera – Smart Security Camera – 2600 Lumens, HD Live View $49.99, was $99.99.

• Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus – Smart Security Video Camera with 2 Motion-Activated LED Floodlights, 2-Way Talk $119.99, was $199.99.

• Arlo Essential Outdoor Camera (2nd Generation) Indoor/Outdoor 1-Channel 1-Camera 2K Battery-operated Spotlight Security Camera System $69.99, was $99.99.

• Ring Stick Up Cam Battery – Indoor/Outdoor Smart Security Wifi Video Camera with 2-Way Talk, Night Vision $59.99, was $99.99.

• Arlo Essential Outdoor Camera (2nd Generation) Indoor/Outdoor 1-Channel 2-Camera 2K Battery-operated Spotlight Security Camera System  $129.99, was $189.99.

• Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) – Plug-In Smart Security Wifi Video Camera, with Included Privacy Cover, Night Vision, White $29.99, was $59.99.

• Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus – Smart Security Video Camera with 2 Motion-Activated LED Floodlights, 2-Way Talk, Color Night Vision, Black $119.99, was $199.99.

• Google Nest Cam with Floodlight – Outdoor Wired Smart Security Camera $189.99, was $279.99.

Best Buy

Best Buy has great deals on eufy, Ring, and Arlo, but don’t miss out on a little gem in the Chamberlain video keypad for your garage door. 

• Arlo – Pro 4 Spotlight Camera Security Bundle – 3 Wire-Free Cameras Indoor/Outdoor 2K with Color Night Vision (12 pieces) – White $279.99, was $599.99.

• Google – Nest Cam 2 Pack Indoor/Outdoor Wire Free Security Cameras $239.990, was $329.99.

• Ring – Floodlight Cam Plus Outdoor Wired 1080p Surveillance Camera – White $119.99, was $199.99.

• Ring – Stick Up Indoor/Outdoor Wire Free 1080p Security Camera$59.99, was $99.99.

• eufy Security – SoloCam Outdoor Wireless 2K Solar Spotlight Camera – Black/White $99.99, was $199.99.

• eufy Security – eufyCam 3 Pro 3-Camera Indoor/Outdoor Wireless 4K Security System – White $559.99, was $679.99.

• Chamberlain – MyQ Smart Garage Video Keypad – Battery Operated – White $59.99, was $99.99.

• eufy Security – eufyCam 2 Pro 2-Camera Indoor/Outdoor Wireless 2K 16G Home Security System $239.99, was $369.99.

Source: LifeHacker – The Best Black Friday Deals on Home Security Cameras

Home temperature control is one of the few home categories where smart technology can actually make a big, measurable difference. Once you set up thermostat automation in various zones of the home and put your air conditioning on a schedule so that the house is nice and cool when you get home from work, you won’t be able to go back. Though there aren’t many players in the smart heating and cooling space yet, there are a couple great deals to look out for this Black Friday.

Black Friday deals on Smart Envi heaters

My favorite new smart heater, the Smart Envi, is a wall-mounted, out-of-the-way bombshell of efficiency, using only 500 watts to heat up to 150 feet. Today, it’s 30%. My hot tip: Their larger 1000 watt heater, the Smart Envi Max, will ship in early 2024 and is available on pre-order, also for 30% off. Use code BF23 at checkout for savings. 

• Smart Envi 120v Plug-in Electric Panel Wall Heater – 500 Watts $249.95, down to $199.96 with code BF23.

• Smart EnviMAX 120v Plug-in Electric Panel Wall Heater – 1000 Watts $319.95, down to $223.96 with code BF23.

Black Friday deals on Govee heaters

I don’t love everything about the Govee experience, but I recently reviewed two of their new heaters and enjoyed them well enough. They heat really well, all while being controlled from your phone. In particular, I love the Smart Space Heater Lite for its ability to heat a decently sized space without taking up a ton of space itself.

• GoveeLife Smart Space Heater Pro $99.99, down from $139.99.

• Govee Smart Portable Electric Space Heater $45.99, down from $69.99.

• GoveeLife Smart Electric Space Heater $79.99, down from $129.99.

• Govee Smart Space Heater $69.99, down from $99.99.

Black Friday deals on Boldr heaters

There aren’t many companies in the smart heating space, but Boldr has made a name as the prettiest of the bunch. I haven’t tested this brand yet, but reviews have been positive.

• FARA compact electric heater normally $150, now $115.

• KELVIN Standard Room Heater normally $399, now $299.

• KELVIN Large Room Heater normally $550, now $415.

Black Friday deals on Dyson fans and heaters

Few products impressed me this year as much as the Dyson Hot+Cool Purifier. In my review, I noted how the heater function never dried out the space and felt instead like a warm breeze; and I loved the 350 degree oscillation. 

• Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool™ HP07 (White/Silver) $549.99, down from $749.99.

• Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Link™ HP02 purifying heater + fan $440.99, down from $629.99.

Black Friday deals on Midea A/Cs

Each year, I’ve purchased another of the top rated A/C units from Midea, the U shaped A/C that comes in a few sizes. It allows you to keep your window functional, comes with its own installation kit that remains year-round, and can utilize all kinds of schedules, automations, and functions through its own app. It also supports Google and Alexa, if you prefer. 

• Midea 10,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner at Amazon, $356, down from $449.

Black Friday deals on Whynter A/Cs

Whynter’s lineup of portable A/Cs has added wifi connectivity in the last few years, and a number of their models are on sale for Black Friday at Best Buy and Home Depot. If you lack the windows for a pass-through A/C, these are an excellent alternative. 

• 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner Cools 600 Sq. Ft. with Heater and Smart Wi-Fi in White $565.99, down from $883.50

• Whynter – ARC-1230WNH 600 Sq.Ft Smart NEX Inverter Portable Air Conditioner 12000 BTU Heater – White $565.99, down from $685.99.

Black Friday deals on GE A/Cs

Most appliances by GE are now supported by smart functionality, including smart window A/Cs. These units look and act a lot like your standard window A/C, with added support from the SmartHQ app. 

GE Appliances 8000 BTU Energy Star Wi-Fi Connected Window Air Conditioner $291.51, down from $365.

Source: LifeHacker – The Best Black Friday Deals on Smart Heaters and Air Conditioners

If there’s anything more convenient than online shopping, I haven’t heard of it. With companies making it easier to send back clothes that don’t fit, you can shop for your wardrobe constantly from the comfort of your bed—and on Black Friday, you can do it on the cheap. Here are some great Black Friday deals on all the basic clothes you need. 

The best Black Friday sales on clothing basics

Basics—your undershirts, leggings, and plain tees—are staples, but it never feels like you have enough. Here are some solid basics to keep your wardrobe stocked. 

• Old Navy has 50% off everything for Black Friday, meaning you can scoop up cardigans, sweatpants, and leggings for major steals. A women’s rib-knit turtleneck is $11.49 and a men’s long-sleeved t-shirt is $9.99, for starters. 

• A men’s Under Armour Tech 2.0 short-sleeved shirt is just $9.20 on Amazon for the holiday. 

• Amazon also has a four-pack of plain black leggings for $23.37 right now for a lazy, cozy winter. 

• Everlane’s seamless tee is discounted 50% down to $20, so get on that one ASAP. 

The best Black Friday sales on jeans

Quality jeans are expensive, which often leaves us with lower-quality ones that are uncomfortable and poorly made. 

• Levi’s is running Black Friday sales on all kinds of jeans, from trendy straight leg ones ($58.80) to classic boot cuts ($64.80).

• Target also has solid sales on jeans, like these Universal Thread high-rise wide legs for $25.20.

• Men’s jeans are majorly on sale at Macy’s, where Calvin Klein straight-fit stretch jeans are between $53.70 and $59.99 and Polo Ralph Lauren relaxed straight jeans are $79.99. 

The best Black Friday sales on athletic wear

You envision yourself wearing sportswear to the gym (and good for you if you do!), but it’s also very comfy for sitting on the couch, which is where it’s employed more often than we want to admit. It’s cheaper today, whatever you want to do with it. 

• Lululemon is having a Black Friday sale. The Align legging is going for $39 to $79, which is really all you need to know to realize what a major sale this is.

• Alo, fast becoming the trendiest name in gymwear, is running 30% off sitewide and some styles are up to 70% off. The men’s Co-Op Pant is between $55 and $96 and the Airlife Line Up Bra is just $54.

• You can get up to 70% off at Adidas, too, which means track tops for $24 and plus-sized tank dresses for just $18. 

The best Black Friday sales on underwear

The most basic staple of all is the humble underpants, and they’re on sale, too:

• Skims is having its bi-annual sale (which just so happens to coincide with Black Friday), so a cotton jersey t-shirt bra is just $18 and the famous sculpting Mid Thigh Bodysuit is $44.

• Victoria’s Secret has 40% off everything, so enjoy some $3.99 thongs. 

• Calvin Klein, king of underwear, has boxer briefs for $15.68 and trunks for $16.80.

Source: LifeHacker – The Best Black Friday Sales on Clothing Essentials

If you’re vacuuming regularly and still getting those mysterious little crunchies stuck to the bottom of your feet, it may be time for an upgrade. A good vacuum isn’t the sexiest purchase, but it’s certainly one that will make a big difference in your everyday life—especially if you can get one for a nice discount on Black Friday. Below, we’ve rounded up the best deals from major retailers so you can find a good sale on a vacuum that definitely won’t suck.

Walmart

Dyson, the gold standard of vacuums, takes the limelight at Walmart for Black Friday, with great deals to be scored on a number of models. If you’re looking for something more economical, Walmart stocks the full line of Shark vacuums, an established brand with a great reputation. 

• Dyson V8 Origin+ Cordless Vacuum $225, was $420

• Dyson Outsize Plus Cordless Vacuum $450, was $600

• Dyson V15 Detect Absolute Cordless Vacuum $550, was $750

• Shark® Rotator® Lift-Away® Upright Vacuum with DuoClean® PowerFins® $148.00, was $379.00

• Shark Pet Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner $144.00, was $329.00

• Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty® XL Vacuum with Self-Empty Base, Home Mapping $249.00, was $599.99

• Black + Decker 3-in-1 Lightweight Corded Upright and Handheld Multi-Surface Vacuum $18.00, was $39.96

Amazon

Deals on Shark vacuums continue at Amazon, but the deal I wouldn’t sleep on is the Roomba 694, which is over $100 off today. If you’re looking for a corded model, I’ve had the Navigator Lift Away listed below for years and have been impressed with the variety of the tools it comes with, as well as the ability to replace so many of the parts on your own. 

• iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Personalized Cleaning Recommendations $159, was $274.99

• Shark IX141 Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum with XL Dust Cup, LED Headlights, Removable Handheld, Crevice Tool & Pet Multi-Tool $149, was $259.99

• Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum, Hepa Filter, Anti-Allergen Technology, Swivel Steering, Ideal for Carpet, Stairs $99, was $174.59

• Shark S7001 Mop, Scrub & Sanitize at The Same Time, Designed for Hard Floors, with 4 Dirt Grip Soft Scrub Washable Pads $99, was $179.99

• Shark AI Ultra Voice Control Robot Vacuum with Matrix Clean Navigation, Home Mapping, 60-Day Capacity, Self-Empty Base $299, was $599.00

Target

The unofficial deal of the day award definitely goes to the Roborock Q7, which I’m testing right now on my floors. So far, I have been really impressed with its ability to vacuum and wash my floors without much intervention. The Dyson V8, a well-rated model, is also a steal today at almost $200 off. 

• Dyson V8 Origin Cordless Stick Vacuum $249.99, was $429.99

• Dyson V11 Cordless Stick Vacuum $399.99, was $569.99

• BISSELL Little Green ProHeat Portable Deep $89.99, was $133.99

• Shark Navigator Powered Lift-Away Upright Vacuum $169.99, was $399.99

• Roborock Q7 Max+ Robot Vacuum and Mop $499.99, was $869.99

• Shark Cordless Pet Pro Stick Vacuum $179.99, was $329.99

• Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum $99.99, was $199.99

• Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum with Anti-Allergen $149.99, was $259.99

• Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum $99.99, was $199.99

• Shark Professional Steam Pocket Mop $59.99, was $109.99

Best Buy

Eufy is the only brand featured at Best Buy today, and these two models are good deals to be had. 

• eufy – X8 Pro Robotic Vacuum with Self-Empty Station – Black $449.99, was $649.99

• eufy – MACH V1 All-in-One Cordless Upright Vacuum with Always-Clean Mop $399.99, was $579.99

Dyson

This might be the best deal on the V8 Absolute you’re going to see. It’s only good for today, so if it’s one you want, get moving.

• Dyson V8 Absolute $279.99, was $519.99

• Dyson V11 Extra $349.99, was $599.99

Home Depot

The deal you should not overlook at Home Depot is the Ridgid shop vac. 16 gallons isn’t huge, so this is easy to stow, roll around, and you’d be shocked how utilitarian it is once you have it. 

• HOOVER TurboScrub Upright Carpet Cleaner Machine $119, was $179.00

• Shark Navigator Lift-Away DLX Bagless Corded HEPA filter Upright Vacuum for Multi-Surface and Pet Hair in Black $99.00, was 199.00

• RIDGID 16 Gallon 5.0 Peak HP NXT Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum with Filter, Locking Hose and Accessories $59.88, was $119.00 

• iRobot Roomba e6 (6198) Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Ideal for Pet Hair, Carpets, Self-Charging in Sand Dust $199.99, was $449.99

Lowe’s

If you’re looking for style, the Samsung stick vac in rose gold is beautiful, and a steal at $130 off today. 

• Dyson V11 25.2 Volt Cordless Pet Stick Vacuum (Convertible To Handheld) $349.99, was $569.99

• Samsung Jet 60 Rose Gold 21.6 Volt Cordless Pet Stick Vacuum (Convertible To Handheld) $199.99, was  $329.99

Source: LifeHacker – The Best Black Friday Deals on Vacuums

Shelling out a ton of money for a gaming laptop is always going to be a tricky decision, especially when there are other so-called essentials on the shopping list like “food” and “a refrigerator that actually works.” Luckily, Black Friday sales help make those hefty price tags a bit more palatable.

Best budget gaming laptop deals for Black Friday under $500

If you’re just dipping your toes into the gaming PC world and you don’t have a lot of money to shell out, you can get a perfectly good gaming laptop for under $500. Sure, they won’t have fancy high-refresh rate screens and the top specs, but they’ll get the job done.

• HP Victus 15.6-inch (AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS – 8GB Memory – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 – 512GB SSD): $449.99, down from $799.99.

• MSI GF63 15″ Gaming Laptop (144Hz FHD, Intel i5-11400H, NVIDIA RTX 3050, 16GB DDR4, 512GB SSD): $585 at Walmart, down from $699.

• Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 15.6 (FHD 120Hz Gaming Laptop AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS 8GB RAM 512GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 4GB): $489.99 at Walmart, down from $569.99.

Best gaming laptop deals for Black Friday under $1,000

During a sale like Black Friday, the $800 to $1,000 range is the sweet spot for Windows gaming machines in this price range, you’ll find gaming laptops that work for almost everyone. You’ll generally get high-refresh rate screens, RTX-4000 series graphics, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD standard, with many models going way beyond that.

• Acer Predator Helios 16-inch (WUXGA 165Hz IPS Gaming Laptop – Intel i5-13500HX – GeForce RTX 4050 with 16GB DDR5– 512GB SSD): $799.99 at Best Buy, down from $1,199.99

• HP Victus Gaming Laptop (15.6″ FHD 144Hz Display, AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS Processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB PCIE SSD): $603 on Amazon, down from $699.99.

• Acer Nitro 5 15.6” (144 Hz IPS – Intel Core i5 12th Gen 12500H (2.50GHz) – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU – 16 GB DDR5 – 512 GB PCIe SSD): $749 at Walmart, down from $999.99.

• Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS / 3.2 GHz – Win 11 Home – GeForce RTX 4050 – 16 GB RAM – 512 GB SSD NVMe – 15.6″ IPS 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) @ 120 Hz): $749.99 at Walmart, down from $1049.99.

• GIGABYTE – 15.6″ 144Hz Gaming Laptop FHD (Intel i7-12650H with 16GB RAM – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 – 512GB SSD): $799.99 on Best Buy, down from $1099.99.

• Acer Nitro 17 (AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS Octa-Core CPU, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, 17.3″ FHD 165Hz IPS Display, 16GB DDR5, 1TB Gen 4 SSD): $899.99 on Amazon, down from $1199.99.

Best high-end gaming laptop deals for Black Friday, $1,000 and up

If you want to splurge on the best gaming laptop money can buy, this is the right time to nab some hefty discounts.

• HP OMEN – 16.1″ (144Hz Full HD Gaming Laptop – Intel Core i7 – 16GB Memory – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 – 1TB SSD): $999.99 at Best Buy, down from $1399.99.

• MSI GE Series Raider (17.3″ 144 Hz IPS – Intel Core i7 12th Gen 12700H (2.30GHz) – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU – 16 GB DDR5 – 1 TB NVMe SSD): $999.99 at Walmart, down from $1,599.

• ASUS TUF Gaming F17 (2023) Gaming Laptop (17.3” FHD 144Hz Display, GeForce RTX 4050, AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD): $1,049.99 on Amazon, down from $1249.99.

• Dell G15 5530 Gaming Laptop (5.6-inch FHD (1920×1080) Display, Intel Core i7-13650HX, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6): $1159.99 on Amazon, down from $1449.99.

• MSI GP Series – 16.0″ (144 Hz IPS – Intel Core i9 12th Gen 12900H (2.50GHz) – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU – 16 GB DDR5 – 1 TB PCIe SSD): $1,599 at Walmart, down from $1,899.

• ASUS ROG Strix G17 (2023) Gaming Laptop (17.3” QHD 240Hz, GeForce RTX 4070, AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe SSD): $1,599.99 on Amazon, down from $2,199.99.

• Razer Blade 14 (14″ Gaming Laptop- QHD 165Hz- AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080Ti- 16GB RAM- 1TB SSD): $1799 on Best Buy, down from $3,499.99.

• Razer Blade 15: (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti – 12th Gen Intel 14-Core i9 CPU – 15.6” QHD OLED 240Hz – 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD): $1,799.99 on Amazon, down from $3,299.99.

• Razer Blade 17 (17.3″ Gaming Laptop – QHD 240Hz – Intel Core i7 – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti – 16GB RAM – 1TB SSD): $1999.99 at Best Buy, down from $3,199.99.

Source: LifeHacker – The Best Black Friday Deals on Gaming Laptops

Black Friday has some great sales on handheld gaming consoles. Here are my favorite ones.

This Nintendo Switch OLED bundle is on sale

The Nintendo Switch is arguably the most popular handheld gaming console in the world right now, with franchises like Super Mario, Super Smash Bros., Zelda, Pokémon, and other exclusive titles. For Black Friday, my favorite Nintendo Switch deal is a bundle: You can get the Nintendo Switch OLED version (the best version of the Switch at the time of writing) along with a download code for Super Smash Bros. 2 and three months of Nintendo Switch Online for $350. You’re saving about $68 with this deal given that the digital purchases would cost you that much. 

The original Nintendo Switch is also on sale

If you want the original Nintendo Switch, you can still get a great bundle: At $300, you can get the Switch and a download code for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe along with a three-month subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. You save about $67 with this combo too. 

The Nintendo Switch Lite bundle is also on sale

You can also get the Nintendo Switch Lite as part of a Black Friday sale. Note that the Switch Lite is handheld only, which means it can’t be used with a bigger display, like your TV and monitor. You can’t detach its Joy-Con controllers either, which makes it a lot less flexible than other Switch models. But this console costs a lot less: You can get the Isabelle’s Aloha edition of the Nintendo Switch Lite at $200, and it includes a download code for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You’ll be saving $60 with this bundle.

And the Asus ROG Ally is on sale, too

For those who want to play PC games on a handheld device, the Asus ROG Ally is a great option. It ships with Windows 11, has a 7-inch 1080p display, 512GB storage, and 16GB RAM, so you can play a lot of powerful games on it. Best Buy has a Black Friday deal on the ROG Ally, and it’s priced at $620, down from the usual $700 price tag.

Source: LifeHacker – The Best Black Friday Sales on Handheld Gaming Consoles

Black Friday is a great opportunity to buy an Android smartwatch to pair with your smartphone—and there are some great ones that do so much more than just fitness tracking. Here are some of my favorite smartwatches that run Google’s Wear OS or their own Android-compatible software.

The best Black Friday sales for Android smartwatches

The best part about the Android smartwatch ecosystem is the variety. You can get something cheap-yet-reliable, like the Amazfit GTS 2, for less than $200. Or if you’re wiling to spend around $200, you can buy a well-rounded smartwatch like the Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, or even a nice-looking Fossil.

• Amazfit – GTS 2 Mini: $39.99 on Best Buy (from $79.99)

• Garmin Forerunner 45s GPS smartwatch: $139.99 on Amazon (from $169.99)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch4: $139.99 on Best Buy (from $199.99)

• Fitbit Sense 2 (Sleep, ECG App, SpO2, 24/7 Heart Rate and GPS): $199 on Amazon (from $299)

• Amazfit GTR 4 (Dual-Band GPS, Alexa Built-in, Bluetooth Calls, 150+ Sports Modes, 14-Day Battery Life, Heart Rate Blood Oxygen Monitor, 1.43”AMOLED Display): $169.99 on Amazon (from $199)

• Gen 6 Wellness Edition: $159.99 on Fossil (from $299)

• Google Pixel Watch: $199 on Amazon (from $349.99)

• SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 6: $228.99 on Amazon (from $299)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (45mm LTE Smartwatch w/ Body, Health, Fitness and Sleep Tracker, Improved Battery, Sapphire Crystal Glass, GPS Route Tracking, Titanium Frame): $407.98 on Amazon (from $499)

• Garmin epix Pro: $808 on Amazon (from $1,004)

Source: LifeHacker – The Best Black Friday Sales on Android Smartwatches