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My Whole Family Fights Over This Electric Fly Swatter

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For most of my life, I didn’t believe in any kind of self-defense against the onslaught of summertime insects. Sure, some methods might work in your backyard, but they’re no match for the Ontario wilderness, where I worked as a canoe trip guide for eight years, or the woods of Quebec, where my family decamps each summer. I’ve seen things you wouldn’t believe. In the depths of the Canadian woods, I could take a bath in pure DEET and still be swarmed by ravenous black flies, no-see-ums, and mosquitoes. Just about every bug repellent we tried — repellent coils, spatial diffusers, hypersonic machines, special wristbands — was easily overwhelmed by the sheer number of bugs flying about. Mostly, I gritted my teeth and surrendered to the fact that I was in the dominion of the bugs, and I was going to get bit. A few summers ago, my wife and I steeled ourselves for peak bug-biting season. But to my surprise, my family had figured out the bug problem with the most inelegant,...
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Better Than Store-Bought: The Best Gear for Homemade Popsicles, Slushies, and Ice Cream

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Listen and follow The Wirecutter Show Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio It’s officially summer, and prime time for ice cream, ice pops, slushies, and more. Making frozen treats at home lets you customize flavors and accommodate dietary restrictions, and having the right tools on hand can help make the process more fun. Wirecutter senior kitchen editor Marilyn Ong walks us through the most reliable gear for every type of frozen treat, from $10 ice pop molds to an $800 gelato maker. Plus, she reveals Wirecutter’s take on popular gadgets like the Ninja Creami, Ninja Slushi, and KitchenAid shaved ice attachment. We also hear from Wirecutter experts Lesley Stockton, Ciara Murray Jordan, and Kathleen Squires, who share their favorite treat recipes and tips for making great frozen treats. This episode covers: Why DIY treats are worth making: You won’t necessarily save money on ingredients, but you will have total control over those ingre...
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5 Cheap(ish) Things to Keep Your Bedroom Cool

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The first summer I lived in New York City was a sweltering reality check. Coming from the Northwest, I had never had an air conditioner, and I didn’t think I could afford one (or the higher electric bills). I spent that first summer tossing and turning in the muggy heat. By the following summer, I had wised up and invested in an A.C., but even then the window unit didn’t effectively cool my space. An air conditioner is the obvious best fix for a hot bedroom. But if you don’t have one, there are some relatively simple and affordable steps you can take to keep your bedroom cool. And if you do have one, you can maximize all that conditioned air by keeping heat from entering your bedroom — or the cool air from escaping. Switching up your bedding can also go a long way to making you more comfortable. With that in mind, here are five cheap(ish) things to help keep your bedroom cool even on the hottest nights of summer. (And if you’re looking to invest in an A.C., Wirecut...
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