Sal Vaglica

New York

Writer and Editor at Freelance

Contributor at Buy Side WSJ

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Articles

5 Best Hedge Trimmers of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

5 days ago | hgtv.com | Sal Vaglica

A hedge trimmer is the fastest way to reinforce the straight lines of a formal shrub or to rein in one that’s been ignored for a few seasons. Like any form of pruning, part of the battle is understanding when you should cut what, but unlike more surgical hand pruners or traditional, manual hedge trimmers, powered versions make short work of bigger jobs. Batteries have essentially replaced the need for noisy and fussy gas engines, which makes these tools easier to use.
Build your own veggie garden, from the ground up

1 week ago | northforker.com | Sal Vaglica

So you want to start a vegetable garden. Sure, it might seem intimidating, and you might question the value of the hours you’ll spend tending a raised bed when the market down the road stocks red tomatoes all year long, but gardening is never just about the dollars you shell out to create a raised bed, some quality soil to fill it and a handful of starter plants. Gardeners garden for a connection, for the mental and physical health benefits of a hobby that forces you to get outside.
Bissell Little Green Mini Review

1 month ago | wsj.com | Sal Vaglica

My relationship with cleaning leans heavily into taking proactive measures, so a pound of prevention was on my mind when picking a dog. The low-maintenance and hypoallergenic benefits of a labradoodle were a big reason my wife and I found ourselves sitting with a breeder. How naive I was.
5 Luxury Bathroom Upgrades That Homeowners Tend to Regret

1 month ago | wsj.com | Sal Vaglica

Many have been seduced by these luxe trends—from rain-style shower heads to wall-mounted faucets. Here, designers share what’s not worth the cost or effort. Sexy bathroom features can seduce anyone vacationing in a hotel, or look tempting in an A-lister’s house tour. That doesn’t mean they’re livable. Hotel guests don’t pay for upkeep, and A-listers don’t clean their own shower drains and probably got those fancy fixtures gratis.
The Ultimate Buyers Guide to the Best Roofing Material

2 months ago | hgtv.com | Sal Vaglica

Adding a new roof can be an intimidating upgrade for most homeowners. Finding a roofing supplier with all the available materials on display is challenging. But with some good research, and the right contractor, picking a new roof doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Residential Home With Solar Shingles on the Roof Solar Shingle Tile Roof GAF Solar Shingle Tile Roof In This Article How Do You Know if You Need a New Roof?
The Best Way to See Yellowstone Is from a Snowmobile

2 months ago | insidehook.com | Sal Vaglica

I’m standing on my Ski-Doo snowmobile somewhere in the Venn diagram that entwines Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. As the engine idles between my calves, I realize I’m lost on the top of a mountain. My helmet’s face shield is flipped up, but the track I laid to get up here, perhaps a lifeline to the group I sped away from, is imperceptible in the snow. Except for the wind rattling around my helmet, it’s very quiet; I remove it, but still can’t hear the other snowmobiles rumbling in the distance.
Ninja FrostVault Cooler Review

2 months ago | wsj.com | Sal Vaglica

A cooler is inherently practical, but lately manufacturers are going beyond proving how they can make your tasks easier by promoting a cooler's ability to stymie a bear from eating your PB&J while camping. Other brands are throwing in bells and whistles like . Do some need a bear proof cooler? Maybe. But the rest of us simply want to keep food and drinks cold for an afternoon at a park picnic, the beach or in the backyard during a cookout. And we'd rather not overspend on performance we don't need.
The 10 Best Grills, According to Cooks and Barbecue Experts

2 months ago | wsj.com | Sal Vaglica

Grill shopping was once as simple as choosing between charcoal’s nostalgia and propane’s ease of use. Visit any hardware store today and you’ll notice a bewildering number of cookers lined up outside. That’s great, because there is a grill out there for any cooking style you’d want to try. To cut through the noise and hype we asked professional chefs, culinary instructors and barbecue experts for the best grills and equipment they use in their own yards.
This Lightweight, Cordless Drill Makes Any DIY Project Easier

2 months ago | wsj.com | Sal Vaglica

How did I find myself building an IKEA kitchen in my younger sister’s house? Well, I was the one who argued so convincingly that she should go with ready-to-assemble cabinets—there was a growing cottage industry of brands selling cabinet fronts for IKEA sets. As a journalist and homeowner, I’ve spent nearly 20 years deep in the world of tools and all things DIY, so I knew that this move would save her money since you build them yourself.
The 5 Best Doorbell Cameras for Keeping Eyes on Your Front Door

2 months ago | wsj.com | Sal Vaglica

From Amazon packages left near the welcome mat to kids returning from school, a lot can happen at your front door. You’re likely not home to see all of it, which is why a doorbell camera is handy. At its most basic level, a smart doorbell notifies your phone when someone rings and sends motion-based notifications if it detects someone approaching, whether you’re home or across town. How well, quickly and consistently it does all of those things varies.