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The Best Refrigerators

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Fridges have come far in just a century. Once literally big boxes filled with ice , refrigerators are now available with flat screens, Wi-Fi connectivity, wine drawers, and water pitchers that automatically refill themselves. (And, yes, they keep your food from spoiling, too.) No matter what kind of refrigerator you’re shopping for, freestanding models today come in myriad sizes, multiple styles, and a blizzard of budget options. To help you find the right fridge for you and your kitchen, we’ve assembled the best — from feature-laden French-door fridges to sleek side-by-side models and counter-depth options  to budget-friendly top-freezer and bottom-freezer models. We offer some buying advice , too. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/vmsbBfq via IFTTT

The Best Gas Stoves and Ranges

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Gas ranges (or stoves) appeal to our inner caveman — or to anyone who thrills to the idea of cooking over a live flame. Of the 30-inch, freestanding gas ranges I considered, the GE GGF600AV is my top pick. It has a basic convection oven and an excellent cooktop for the price (occasionally under $1,000), and it comes in multiple finishes. I also recommend two upgrade picks with higher-end designs and specs, a good-looking budget model , a pared-down range designed for longevity and repairability, and a model with a double oven . from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/DjK1IJb via IFTTT

The Best Sleep Headphones

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When Goodnight Moon author Margaret Wise Brown wrote “goodnight stars, goodnight air, goodnight noises everywhere,” it’s unlikely the noises she imagined were jackhammers, sirens, or a snoring partner. If you, like me, are a light sleeper in a busy world, an uninterrupted night of rest can feel like a fairy tale. Sleep headphones can help. They’re designed for people who want to block out sounds, fall asleep to music, or mask issues such as tinnitus. After years of testing many sleep headphones that proved to be a nightmare, I’ve found two pairs that help me sleep like a baby: the Soundcore Sleep A20 and AcousticSheep SleepPhones Wireless . from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/12nMyhp via IFTTT

The Best Cat Beds

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If you want your cat to have a comfy spot to snooze, or you’re simply trying to get them to stop sleeping on your head, a dedicated cat bed (or three) might help. Or it might not. But you probably already know that. Because cats are notoriously picky and wonderfully mysterious, there’s no one “best” cat bed. But, after testing 21 options and sending 13 of them to be judged by a panel of 25 cats, I landed on this list of 10 great beds that can at least serve as a well-vetted starter menu. These models are cozy and easy to clean, and they can stand up to regular cat use (and attacks). Ultimately, your cat is the one who will decide, so surrender to the process — and hang onto your receipts. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/XG7j4EA via IFTTT

Worried About Your Gas Stove? Here’s What to Do.

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Worried that using your gas stove is negatively affecting your health? Though experts and pundits continue to debate the fine points, gas stoves have long been shown to release potentially harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide , a respiratory irritant . New studies have also linked gas stoves to increased rates of childhood asthma and have shown that using a gas stove can produce elevated levels of benzene on a par with those from secondhand tobacco smoke, or more tiny toxic particles than the exhaust of a diesel-powered vehicle. The good news is, you can mitigate risks right now — even if your household includes kids with asthma — by getting more fresh air into your kitchen while you cook. Here are some tips. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/yTXVp1n via IFTTT

Want to Age Well at Home? Take Our Room-by-Room Tour.

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Aging in place — growing old in your own home rather than a nursing home — offers a lot of benefits. You’re in the comfort of familiar surroundings, and you retain independence. And depending on your health and level of home care, it can be less expensive. But it also involves risks. As people age, dexterity and balance typically decrease, social isolation can become a problem, and simple chores and home upkeep may prove more difficult. You can reduce or eliminate many of those risks by reevaluating the things in your home and how you use them. We spoke with a wide range of occupational therapists and other aging specialists — all of whom have conducted aging-in-place home assessments — and got their advice on how to transition your living space so that it’s safe, secure, and ready to foster your independence as you age. The experts we spoke with stressed that adapting your home for aging is a process that you must customize to your own needs — and that it’s best to take a proacti...

A Beginner’s Guide to Buying Better Coffee Beans

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Listen and follow The Wirecutter Show Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio For the perfect cup of coffee, you need good beans. In this bonus episode, we talk with Sum Ngai, co-founder of Coffee Project New York and certified Q-grader (it’s like a sommelier, but for coffee!), to demystify the art of choosing a bean you’ll love. Sum breaks down everything a novice needs to know to shop with confidence, from decoding mysterious tasting notes, to understanding why you should avoid brewing coffee that was roasted too recently. Plus, learn what to expect from coffee grown in different regions and why buying whole beans is the move for a better morning cup. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/pAkB2Wn via IFTTT