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2 weeks ago | 
nytimes.com | Doug Mahoney
Permethrin is like the wall around the castle: It’s always there offering protection and doesn’t need much maintenance.
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2 weeks ago | 
nytimes.com | Christine Cyr Clisset |Caira Blackwell |Rosie Guerin |Abigail Keel |Doug Mahoney
Listen and follow The Wirecutter ShowApple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio | Other platforms Mosquito and tick bites aren’t just annoying–they spread dangerous diseases. In this episode, senior staff writer Doug Mahoney shares proven prevention tips and breaks down the differences between various effective repellents.
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3 weeks ago | 
nytimes.com | Doug Mahoney
Relying on an essential oil bug repellent is taking a risk without much reward. Because these repellents have little oversight and no standardized efficacy testing, you have to take a manufacturer’s word on how long any given option will last, what bugs it repels, or whether it even works at all. In a world with bug-borne diseases such as Lyme, Zika, dengue fever, and West Nile virus, and the risk of infection spreading to new regions, that’s simply not good enough.
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3 weeks ago | 
nytimes.com | Doug Mahoney
The only thing better than a day of sledding is how good the hot chocolate tastes when you’re done. But not all sleds are created equal. Not even close. We sent 12 kids and five adults sailing down multiple hillsides on 27 popular sleds and snow tubes—and by the end, every single tester said the L.L.Bean Sonic Snow Tube was the best. It flew the fastest, slid the farthest, and offered the smoothest ride.
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3 weeks ago | 
nytimes.com | Annemarie Conte |Doug Mahoney
The mere thought of ticks makes our skin crawl. And the diseases they spread are only getting more common. In fact, the number of tick-borne illnesses reported each year to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more than doubled over the past two decades (though during the pandemic there was a drop in reported cases and treatment sought).
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2 months ago | 
nytimes.com | Doug Mahoney
Our repellent recommendations are EPA approved, backed by experts, and tested by us.
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2 months ago | 
nytimes.com | Doug Mahoney
Dana Davis/NYT Wirecutter; source photos by AdobeStockBy Doug MahoneyDoug Mahoney is a writer covering home-improvement topics, outdoor power equipment, bug repellents, and (yes) bidets. Throughout my 10-year construction career and 20-plus years as an aggressive home renovator, I’ve spent a lot of time patching drywall holes. Some were dents from roughhousing kids, others were the result of a relocated outlet, and one or two happened while folks were moving furniture.
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2 months ago | 
nytimes.com | Doug Mahoney
Dana Davis/NYT Wirecutter; source photos by AdobeStockBy Doug MahoneyDoug Mahoney is a writer covering home-improvement topics, outdoor power equipment, bug repellents, and (yes) bidets. Does the phrase “plumbing project” bring to mind spraying water, puddles in the living room, and large stains on first-floor ceilings? If it does, we get it. But trust us: You can install a bidet toilet seat by yourself. It’s a straightforward process that requires just a few tools and about an hour of your time.
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2 months ago | 
nytimes.com | Doug Mahoney
Projects that change the look and feel of a room usually take a lot of time and cost a lot of money. But a few years ago, I completely transformed my kitchen simply by changing the color of the grout in my tile backsplash. It was pretty simple, cost less than $25, and took about 90 minutes. I performed this by magic using a grout colorant, specifically Custom Building Products Polyblend Grout Renew Colorant.
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2 months ago | 
nytimes.com | Christine Cyr Clisset |Caira Blackwell |Rosie Guerin |Abigail Keel |Marguerite Preston |Doug Mahoney | +3 more
Listen and follow The Wirecutter ShowApple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio | Other platformsOur staff experts reveal time-tested methods for cleaning the most neglected (and grimy) areas of your home–from greasy ovens to stained patio furniture.
