Today: The little piece of hardware our emergency-preparedness expert swears by. Plus …
“This five-minute home installation gave me immediate peace of mind” |
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| Jen Gushue/NYT Wirecutter |
We have something to confess: Before this week, none of your newsletters editors knew what a strike plate was. Then, we were enlightened by our emergency-preparedness expert.
A strike plate is the oft-overlooked metal frame that lives inside the door jamb and encases the locked deadbolt. And it’s actually a very important little piece of home security: Without one, a strong kick could force the deadbolt against the wooden frame, causing the wood to splinter and the door to fly open. Adding metal to the equation makes it less likely to give way.
Why you should consider installing your own→
In the store: The very best spot cleaner |
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| Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter |
I’ve tested more than 50 spot cleaners in four years. This one stands out for its powerful, clear spray-on formula that swiftly eradicates a variety of tough stains on clothing and textiles. While many spot cleaners work best on specific categories of stains, I appreciate how it works just as well on blood as it does on coffee or grease.
As a reader of The Recommendation, get 10% off here→
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Plus: The biggest mistake you may be making on laundry day |
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| NYT Wirecutter |
On this week’s episode of Wirecutter Recommends, Andrea answers your burning laundry questions — including how to keep whites bright, whether so-called sustainable detergent sheets work, and how much detergent you should be using. (Spoiler: less than you might think.)
And the right way to use detergent pods→
One last thing: 2,000 miles |
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| Rozette Rago/NYT Wirecutter |
In our quest to find the best hiking boots, we’ve recently hit a big milestone: Our experts have officially hiked more than 2,000 miles — testing boots in Iceland, New Zealand, and beyond. They braved loose gravel, splashed in water, and scampered up steep inclines.
The best boots we’ve found after all that→
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