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6 Things We Love That Bugs Hate

6 Things We Love That Bugs Hate

New York Times29-05-2025

In this edition of Clean Everything, we dish on how our experts keep bugs out of their homes. Plus: our new favorite mosquito repellent.
Nothing ruins an idyllic summer afternoon quite like an ant walking into the kitchen or a fly buzzing in the dining room. After years of testing — involving quite literally thousands of bugs — we're confident these are the best ways to banish summer's least welcome pests from your home and yard: mosquitoes, ants, flies, and the like.
The very best fly swatter (and the best swatting technique): This basic fly swatter is the longest one we've tested, and it has just the right amount of flex in the handle to create a satisfying whip. (If you're willing to splurge for an heirloom-quality swatter, we love this swanky leather one, too.) Two tips to swat effectively: Be as invisible and as fast as possible, and get your swatter as close to the fly as you can before making your move.
This basic fly swatter is the longest one we've tested, and it has just the right amount of flex in the handle to create a satisfying whip. (If you're willing to splurge for an heirloom-quality swatter, we love this swanky leather one, too.) Two tips to swat effectively: Be as invisible and as fast as possible, and get your swatter as close to the fly as you can before making your move. A tennis racket that kills big swarms of bugs: The Executioner looks like a tennis racket, but it has an electric current to zap any bugs that come in contact with it. It's not the most effective for hunting one single bug, but it shines when you're faced with a swarm: Just hold the button and take a swing, and you're sure to get at least one bug. And compared with a regular fly swatter, the mess is minimal: no blood, no guts, all the glory.
The Executioner looks like a tennis racket, but it has an electric current to zap any bugs that come in contact with it. It's not the most effective for hunting one single bug, but it shines when you're faced with a swarm: Just hold the button and take a swing, and you're sure to get at least one bug. And compared with a regular fly swatter, the mess is minimal: no blood, no guts, all the glory. Our solve for fruit flies and fungus gnats: Don't let pests swarm around your glorious summer produce. These sticky fly traps are designed to attract and capture insects that land or crawl onto the surface — catching dozens of pesky bugs at a time.
Don't let pests swarm around your glorious summer produce. These sticky fly traps are designed to attract and capture insects that land or crawl onto the surface — catching dozens of pesky bugs at a time. This is, by far, the best way to get rid of an ant problem in your house: These safe, easy-to-use bait traps lure ants with sweet, poisonous syrup. The ants then bring it back to the colony where it's shared, effectively eliminating the infestation at the source. Pro tip: Don't panic when you start seeing more ants for a bit. Word of the sweet syrup may travel … before it starts doing its job.
These safe, easy-to-use bait traps lure ants with sweet, poisonous syrup. The ants then bring it back to the colony where it's shared, effectively eliminating the infestation at the source. Pro tip: Don't panic when you start seeing more ants for a bit. Word of the sweet syrup may travel … before it starts doing its job. And a few things to avoid: Bug zappers kill bugs by the thousands. But they kill the wrong bugs. They are ineffective against mosquitoes and other biting flies, and their otherwise indiscriminate killing can disrupt pollination and generally throw the environment out of balance. Also, ditch your citronella candles. In general, we don't recommend essential oils as a form of bug control — even the best one we tested still pales in comparison to what you can expect from a truly effective repellent.

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4 Laundry Detergents That Come in Plastic-Free Packaging (And What We Think of Them)
4 Laundry Detergents That Come in Plastic-Free Packaging (And What We Think of Them)

New York Times

time4 days ago

  • New York Times

4 Laundry Detergents That Come in Plastic-Free Packaging (And What We Think of Them)

In this edition of Clean Everything, we're talking about laundry detergent that comes in plastic-free packaging — and why some options out there might not actually be a more sustainable choice. Let's talk detergent. Senior staff writer and laundry expert Andrea Barnes says that reducing plastic packaging is one area in which the laundry industry as a whole is taking steps to minimize waste. But it's complicated — just because a laundry detergent comes in plastic-free packaging doesn't mean it's automatically a more sustainable choice. Andrea anticipates that we're sure to see more and more somewhat experimental detergents enter the scene over the coming years. We'll continue to test them to find the best detergents that don't sacrifice convenience or cleaning power. And in the meantime, here are four laundry detergents that don't come in plastic we've tested so far — and what we think of them: A hyper-concentrated liquid detergent that comes in a metal bottle: In our testing, we've found that this liquid detergent is the best for the sustainability conscious. It's admittedly expensive, yes. But it's free of potentially irritating ingredients, comes in a recyclable aluminum bottle, and is highly effective at removing stains and odors. In our testing, we've found that this liquid detergent is the best for the sustainability conscious. It's admittedly expensive, yes. But it's free of potentially irritating ingredients, comes in a recyclable aluminum bottle, and is highly effective at removing stains and odors. Powder that comes in a cardboard box: This powerful powder detergent outperformed all the other powders we tested, removing some of the toughest stains and odors with ease. Plus, unlike other boxed detergents we've tested, it's easy to open and store long term. This powerful powder detergent outperformed all the other powders we tested, removing some of the toughest stains and odors with ease. Plus, unlike other boxed detergents we've tested, it's easy to open and store long term. Laundry detergent sheets: We're not a fan. Though they claim to cut down on excess packaging and weight, in our tests, we found that laundry detergent sheets are just, well, terrible at cleaning laundry. Says Andrea: 'Simply put: If you use laundry sheets, you're more likely to have to wash stained or smelly laundry multiple times and/or with hot water to get it even tolerably clean. That makes using laundry sheets inconvenient, and it likely negates any positive environmental impact.' We're not a fan. Though they claim to cut down on excess packaging and weight, in our tests, we found that laundry detergent sheets are just, well, terrible at cleaning laundry. Says Andrea: 'Simply put: If you use laundry sheets, you're more likely to have to wash stained or smelly laundry multiple times and/or with hot water to get it even tolerably clean. That makes using laundry sheets inconvenient, and it likely negates any positive environmental impact.' Solid laundry detergent tiles: These sponge-like laundry detergent tiles are easy to toss into the washing machine — and are far better cleaners than sheets. But they aren't perfect. They're not quite as effective on oily stains as traditional detergent is, and they're heavily fragranced (though Andrea is looking forward to testing the soon-to-be released fragrance-free version). The tiles show promise as a potential solid detergent of the future, but in order for them to gain popularity, the formula needs some tweaking. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter Recently, the Trump administration proposed several plans to roll back federal regulation of energy- and water-saving home appliances — including shutting down Energy Star, a popular certification program for high-efficiency products that save more energy and water. This might impact your choices the next time you're shopping for a laundry machine and many other appliances. Here's what to know. A little motivation: There's a thriving ecosystem of dust mites, dead skin cells, and sweat in bed with you. They're nearly unanimously recommended by homeowners and our bug experts. New pressure washers are getting smaller and quieter, with plenty of satisfying scouring power for outdoor surfaces. It tries (and mostly fails) to pick stuff up for you, from socks to dog toys. Dana Davis/NYT Wirecutter; source photos by Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter, AdobeStock Broadway dresser Michelina Evans comes to work equipped to fix just about any wardrobe malfunction: a stain, a rip, a snapped shoe strap, or a broken heel. One of her go-tos? To manage odors lingering on costumes backstage, she sprays some cheap vodka on them. Though the booze initially smells, it dries scent-free and leaves no discoloration on costumes.

These 65 Absolutely Mind-Blowing Photos Just Completely And Totally Shattered My Entire View Of The World Last Month
These 65 Absolutely Mind-Blowing Photos Just Completely And Totally Shattered My Entire View Of The World Last Month

Yahoo

time31-05-2025

  • Yahoo

These 65 Absolutely Mind-Blowing Photos Just Completely And Totally Shattered My Entire View Of The World Last Month

snapped the day before his death, is one of the last pictures ever taken of Pope Francis: here's what Pope Francis looked like as a young man: Popes: they were once young! Who'da thunk it. is what Niagara falls looks like from way, way above: Would ya look at that. my friends, is what a pregnant horse looks like: I am still searching for what a horse baby shower looks like. I imagine it's delightful. is what a human skeleton looks like next to a gorilla's skeleton: Feel free to pull this image up in your next "Yo Mama" debate on the playground. is Fernand Meyssonnier, France's last executioner, standing next to one of the guillotines he used on the job: Someone was executed by guillotine as recently as 1977 in France. The death penalty has since been abolished. here's a mask an executioner would typically wear: Not creepy at all. is what the USS Midway looks like compared to a person in a kayak: This makes me feel very relaxed. 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They're not even that heavy. scars don't sweat, so dirt doesn't stick to them: That's one way to stay clean. quarters can be very, very tiny: They were made by the Franklin Mint in the 1980s. Related: "I Know You Aren't Trying To Hurt Me." Doctors, Nurses, And First Responders Are Revealing The Most "Haunting" Last Words They've Heard From A Patient is what a World War II combat helmet looks like compared to a World War I combat helmet: Here's the other side of the helmets: I'm taking the World War II helmet for anything combat-related and the World War I helmet for anything heaping-bowl-of-soup-related. is what the first iPhone's camera looks like compared to a recent iPhone's camera: What is this... a camera for ants? is what a nuclear warhead looks like: Looks like the next water bottle TikTok is going to convince half the world to buy. 1924, a game of Human Chess was played in the Soviet Union: You know, if you weren't able to watch Babe Ruth hit 46 homeruns back then, you had to find some other way to entertain yourself. is what a four person see-saw looks like: That's a little busy. libraries let you know just how much money you save by going to them: Let's hear it for 'braries, folks. is what a golf course green that's been struck by lightning looks like: Or when my approach shot from 65 yards at hits the screen and bounces directly into the woods behind it. is what a Coke bottle from 48 years ago looked like: It was intentionally a throwback design for Coke's anniversary. original Pledge of Allegiance didn't include "under God": This was changed by Dwight Eisenhower during the Cold War, for, of course, Cold War reasons. year 2025 is the first year that's a square number since 1936: And you will almost certainly be long dead before the next one. 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6 Things We Love That Bugs Hate
6 Things We Love That Bugs Hate

New York Times

time29-05-2025

  • New York Times

6 Things We Love That Bugs Hate

In this edition of Clean Everything, we dish on how our experts keep bugs out of their homes. Plus: our new favorite mosquito repellent. Nothing ruins an idyllic summer afternoon quite like an ant walking into the kitchen or a fly buzzing in the dining room. After years of testing — involving quite literally thousands of bugs — we're confident these are the best ways to banish summer's least welcome pests from your home and yard: mosquitoes, ants, flies, and the like. The very best fly swatter (and the best swatting technique): This basic fly swatter is the longest one we've tested, and it has just the right amount of flex in the handle to create a satisfying whip. (If you're willing to splurge for an heirloom-quality swatter, we love this swanky leather one, too.) Two tips to swat effectively: Be as invisible and as fast as possible, and get your swatter as close to the fly as you can before making your move. This basic fly swatter is the longest one we've tested, and it has just the right amount of flex in the handle to create a satisfying whip. (If you're willing to splurge for an heirloom-quality swatter, we love this swanky leather one, too.) Two tips to swat effectively: Be as invisible and as fast as possible, and get your swatter as close to the fly as you can before making your move. A tennis racket that kills big swarms of bugs: The Executioner looks like a tennis racket, but it has an electric current to zap any bugs that come in contact with it. It's not the most effective for hunting one single bug, but it shines when you're faced with a swarm: Just hold the button and take a swing, and you're sure to get at least one bug. And compared with a regular fly swatter, the mess is minimal: no blood, no guts, all the glory. The Executioner looks like a tennis racket, but it has an electric current to zap any bugs that come in contact with it. It's not the most effective for hunting one single bug, but it shines when you're faced with a swarm: Just hold the button and take a swing, and you're sure to get at least one bug. And compared with a regular fly swatter, the mess is minimal: no blood, no guts, all the glory. Our solve for fruit flies and fungus gnats: Don't let pests swarm around your glorious summer produce. These sticky fly traps are designed to attract and capture insects that land or crawl onto the surface — catching dozens of pesky bugs at a time. Don't let pests swarm around your glorious summer produce. These sticky fly traps are designed to attract and capture insects that land or crawl onto the surface — catching dozens of pesky bugs at a time. This is, by far, the best way to get rid of an ant problem in your house: These safe, easy-to-use bait traps lure ants with sweet, poisonous syrup. The ants then bring it back to the colony where it's shared, effectively eliminating the infestation at the source. Pro tip: Don't panic when you start seeing more ants for a bit. Word of the sweet syrup may travel … before it starts doing its job. These safe, easy-to-use bait traps lure ants with sweet, poisonous syrup. The ants then bring it back to the colony where it's shared, effectively eliminating the infestation at the source. Pro tip: Don't panic when you start seeing more ants for a bit. Word of the sweet syrup may travel … before it starts doing its job. And a few things to avoid: Bug zappers kill bugs by the thousands. But they kill the wrong bugs. They are ineffective against mosquitoes and other biting flies, and their otherwise indiscriminate killing can disrupt pollination and generally throw the environment out of balance. Also, ditch your citronella candles. In general, we don't recommend essential oils as a form of bug control — even the best one we tested still pales in comparison to what you can expect from a truly effective repellent.

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