We researched the best beach toys for all ages, considering the portability, intended use, and size of each. Our favorite pick is the Click N’ Play Sand Toy Set—the set comes with 18 durable outdoor toys and a mesh backpack for easy storing and transporting—all at an affordable price. Here, the best beach toys for hours of sandy play. Included in this set are two different shovels, a watering can, two sifters, three rakes, castle molds, and more....

Our favorite is the Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Handheld Vacuum, which has excellent suction power and a large dust bin and is impressively nimble. At the end of our testing, this was the handheld vac we reached for to clean up our leftover messes. Here are the best dustbusters, backed by our testing. The Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner is our favorite dustbuster, because it is powerful, easy to use, and reliable....

When shopping for a heated mattress pad, safety is a must. Generally, you’ll want to look for marks from the Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL) or Underwriters Laboratories (UL), which fall under the Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL) label. “[Look out for] the NRTL mark on the product," recommends Brianne Deerwester, Communications Coordinator at the Electrical Safety Foundation International. “Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories test and certify electrical equipment and other products to ensure that they meet current safety standards and are safe with proper use....

The winner, the Brinly-Hardy PA-40BH Tow Behind Plug Aerator, has a durable steel design and a universal hitch, handles well on turns and uneven terrain, and can penetrate even compacted soil. Here are the best aeration tools. The 40-inch width and 24 3-inch plugs help cover large areas quickly. A weight tray holds up to 150 pounds of concrete blocks to ensure adequate ground penetration. An easy-to-use transport lever allows you to disengage the plugs quickly to avoid sidewalks or sprinkler components....

Our best overall pick is the Pottery Barn Indoor/Outdoor LED String Lights Strand, which stand out for their durability, energy efficiency, and range of lengths. Here are the best outdoor string lights. The strands are available in three lengths—12, 24, and 48 feet—and strung with LED bulbs, which use less electricity than standard bulbs and last a lifetime. They’re also impact-resistant, and UL listed for permanent outdoor installation, so there’s no need to take them down in the winter....

To find the best pool alarms, we evaluated products on their sensitivity, battery life, alarm level, ease of installation, and more. Our top pick is the Pool Patrol PA-30 Pool Alarm, which can be used in any style pool or spa and detects when any object over 15 pounds enters the water. Here are the best pool alarms on the market. This pool alarm is tested and approved to meet the requirements of ASTM Safety Specifications F2208-07 and F2208-08, and a single alarm works in pools up to 20 x 40 feet....

“A broom is imperative for use before a big clean if the floors are super dirty,” notes Robyn Pook, co-founder of Mint Cleaning in Ucluelet, British Columbia. After sweeping away the loose particles, you can then continue your cleaning with a mop, vacuum, or rag. Our favorite push broom is the Swopt Multi-Surface Push Broom. It’s backed by a lifetime warranty, and you have your choice of a 24-inch or 18-inch brush head....

We spent hours researching mechanic tool boxes from the top tool brands, evaluating them for storage capacity, durability, versatility, and overall value. Our favorite is the Husky 56-Inch 23-Drawer Combination Rolling Tool Chest, which is made of heavy-duty steel, has loads of storage options, holds up to 3,000 pounds of tools, and includes a work light and power strip. Here are the top mechanic tool boxes. This beast of a tool chest is for those who have large collections of tools, professional shops, or anyone who wants the utmost in storage space, quality, and design for their mechanic tool sets, plus whatever other tools they need to store....

Albert Fouerti, the CEO of Appliances Connection, points out that most manufacturers have started to include Wi-Fi features in their lineup, with the exception typically being entry-level models. When asked about the benefits of using a smart washer and dryer set, Fouerti sums it up this way: “The smart features on washers and dryers are mainly for monitoring purposes, sending alerts to your phone, remotely starting or stopping and in some cases maintenance and diagnosing problems....

The Advantages Using self-watering containers can be the best way to grow some plants, particularly vegetables. By providing a consistent level of moisture directly to the roots of plants, self-watering containers can increase plant health and yield. Probably the most common mistakes gardeners make—even highly experienced gardeners—is to over-water plants. With a well-designed self-watering container, the plants will get just the amount of water they need to thrive. Self-watering containers are also the perfect solution if you travel and can’t keep up with the watering needs of your plants....

It’s a very light and neutral gray without blue, green, or purple undertones. It has just enough color to make white millwork or cabinets pop, as it does in the dining room shown here, while being light and neutral enough to be a great background for displaying artwork. She says, “I love using Baby Seal Black for an accent wall that pops in a small room. Often there’s a small space serving many different purposes, and this contrasting accent wall not only creates a focal point but helps define a different area of the room....

So what plants work well in these difficult locations? Annuals vs. Perennial Plants Perennial plants are those that return every year. They can include many different flower species, as well as shrubs. Good tough perennial flowers or shrubs offer some benefits when planted around mailbox posts since they will never need to be replanted and often fill in to form dense masses that will block out weeds. Low maintenance is a good virtue for these locations, and many perennials fit the bill nicely....

A sponge mop is ideal for cleaning tile, linoleum, and wood floors (if you do not use much water). A quality mop should be able to clean edges, remove stubborn dirt, and leave your floor spotless. The Casabella Original Mop features a 10-inch mop head made of a reusable cellulose sponge. It has a manual wringer on the handle, allowing you to adjust the amount of water you use without needing to touch the sponge head....

Botanically speaking, annual plants complete their life cycle within one growing season (typically, from spring to fall): You place the seeds from last year’s flowers in the ground in spring. New annual plants sprout from the seeds. With proper care, during the summer, these produce flowers. Toward the end of the growing season (late summer or early fall), annual flowers yield seeds, signaling to the plants that their life cycle is complete....

Knowing about the various parts of the appliance can make it easier to maintain and repair your cooler. Here is a rundown of the anatomy of an evaporative cooler. Some parts may need to be replaced often, while others may last the full life of the appliance. Motor Evaporative cooler motors are relatively small in size, usually ranging from 1/3 to 1 horsepower. Most operate on 115/120 volts of power, which is the reason they use relatively little electricity when compared to 240-volt central air conditioning systems....

Why They’re Hard to Vacuum Soft carpets feel so soft for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the fibers used to make them are much finer than traditional carpet fibers. Finer strands have a softer feel than do thicker strands. Secondly, each carpet tuft is made up of an increased number of fiber strands compared to standard carpets. Some soft carpet brands, such as Mohawk SmartStrand Silk, contain up to three times more fibers than traditional carpet....

Identifying a Tandem Breaker A tandem circuit breaker has a single plastic body, sized the same as a normal 120-volt circuit breaker. But it also has two breaker levers on the face, which operate separate circuits. Internally, the device has separate mechanisms to control and protect separate circuits and should one of the circuits overload, only one of the handles will trip to the off position. Tandem circuit breakers are not always allowed in circuit breaker panels....

One of the best kept secrets about IKEA: there is an insane amount of products that you can buy that will up your plant game. And we’re not talking about the plants. We spoke to a few influencers who love the store as much as we do to find out their favorite plant products from IKEA. And the answers did not disappoint. A Drying Rack Transformed Into a Shelf We first stumbled upon Jenny Morris on TikTok....