Amazon Archives

It’s time to replace your old router

Most folks don’t know their wireless router — that handy dandy device alongside the modem that connects your devices to the internet — has a shelf life. Once it hits the three-year mark, you’re due for an upgrade.

That’s tough to swallow, I know. Routers aren’t all that cheap (though I have affordable picks for you below), and it feels like you should be able to keep using yours until it breaks.

Unfortunately, hackers bank on that. Your old model likely stopped getting most updates long ago and can’t handle the latest security standards.

‘But Kim, I just bought one!’

Hey, good for you. Now, is that shiny new router a TP‑Link? Bad news: The federal government is considering a ban on Chinese-owned tech.

Depending on which numbers you trust, about 65% of American homes and businesses use a TP‑Link router, along with the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies. TP‑Link says this number is much lower, like 12% of U.S. homes. I doubt that.

The company has been tied to Chinese cyberattacks and reportedly lets security flaws slide, making them a big target. And they may be selling their routers for less than it costs to make them — a monopoly no‑no.

3 more reasons you need to upgrade

You’re living in the Stone Age: The latest security standard is WPA‑3, released in 2018. Any router that uses WPA‑2 encryption needs to be replaced. To check, go to your router’s admin menu (steps here). Under the Wireless or Security menu, look for the encryption status.
You’re stuck in the slow lane: If your router doesn’t support the latest and greatest Wi‑Fi standards, you can’t reap the speedy benefits. Wi‑Fi 6 uses the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, while Wi‑Fi 6e operates on the 6 GHz band. The more devices you have, the more this matters.
You have dead spots: Your home should have a consistent, speedy network. Rather than relying on one router, a mesh network adds satellite modules around your home, blanketing the entire area with coverage. I’ve used mesh for years.

Without further ado, our picks

Komando’s resident IT genius, John, happens to be a networking genius, too. He’s picked a few solid options:

⚡ Fast: The Linksys Hydra Pro ($158) is a great base pick that covers up to 2,700 square feet and over 55 devices. The Linksys app helps with setup, so the installation isn’t painful. Mesh systems are awesome for larger homes, and this is a good option if you’re just browsing the web, working and scrolling.

Continue reading →

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Before you get rid of your couch …

Try cleaning it first!

This portable carpet and upholstery cleaner ($115) saved my couch from that “wet pup” smell. (Abby loves the pool.)
Hitting stains immediately with a spot cleaner ($9) saves you a lot of scrubbing later.
Use a fabric shaver (41% off, $10) to get rid of any fabric pilling and snags. It’ll look brand-new again.
If you have a leather couch, use a leather conditioner (29% off, $20) to moisturize it and raise it from the dead.
This steam cleaner ($150) comes with 17 different attachments, so you can also use it on your floors, walls and even in your car.

💡 And remember: Amazon has daily coupons. I have the link bookmarked since they change every day.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Buzz off: Your Amazon Echo will store your voice recordings for analysis — unless you tell it not to. From the app on your phone, choose More > Settings > Alexa Privacy > Review Voice History.

How to become an Amazon Affiliate marketer

Open/download audio

If you’ve got a website, blog or even a social media page, you’re already set up for one of the easiest ways to make money online.

Amazon’s shutting down Prime Try Before You Buy: It’s all over at the end of this month. Now, they’re pushing AI features like Virtual Try-on AR, which lets you see 3D renders of shoes on your feet, for example, using just your smartphone camera.

6 pages

Length of Amazon memos. Keeping it short speeds up decisions. AI robotics startup Swiss-Mile followed suit when they pitched to Jeff Bezos in April. He gave them $22 million for testing delivery bots in Zurich. Less is more.

Deals, deals, deals

Warning: You’re going to want these.

This walking pad is 42% off right now. It’s great to help ya from feeling like a complete couch potato while binge-watching Netflix.
If you want something a little more affordable, a mini stair-stepper (52% off, $63) is another simple way to stay active.
Give your booty a good home for 40 hours a week with a gel seat cushion. Make sure to click the coupon box for 30% off.
This dry shampoo (25% off, $23) doesn’t leave your hair with that weird white tint or dry it out like the stuff in the can.
An oscillating tower space heater for under $55 is a steal.

🔗 Link to save: Same-day delivery on Amazon — for times you’re too sick, tired or lazy to leave the house.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

MVPs = Most Valuable Purchases

Jar openers ($10), because no one needs to know you’re standing in front of the fridge at 2 a.m. eating pickles.
Is there anything more rage-inducing than dropping your phone in between the car seats? Save your sanity with a car seat gap filler.
A smart coffee warmer (25% off), so cold coffee never ruins your morning again.
Let your nosy neighbors think you’re hosting a rave with smart light bulbs (under $15).
This bug bite relief tool sucks out all the stuff that makes bites so itchy. It’s under $10, too.

Save money: Check this page to see if anything you’ve bought on Amazon is on sale. I love a good stock-up.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Cleaning stuff that works under $10

Because you already spent enough money over the last two months.

Did you know when humidifiers start smelling funky, it’s because of a buildup of bacteria? This humidifier cleaner ($6) gets rid of all that gunk.
These garbage disposal cleaners smell so good. And they’re under $5.
The inventor of the Scrub Daddy ($9) should get a Nobel Peace Prize. And whoever invented this Scrub Daddy holder ($9) should get one, too.
Stamp a little dab of this toilet cleaning gel ($5) on the side of your toilet to banish rings.
I love these reusable dish scrubbers ($8). They’re cute and let you get a really good grip on dishes.

Don’t forget: Amazon Basics lets you stock up on essentials for uber cheap. It’s great for school supplies, like glue and pencil boxes.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Clean up your car

🚘🧽 A spotless car makes me wheel-y excited.

Ever get pulled over and have to dig through a messy glove box? Save yourself from future embarrassment with a glove box organizer ($12).
This car coin holder ($8) is genius. Plus, it’s 43% off right now.
I’ll admit it — I’ve absolutely tripped over a phone charging cord while getting out of my car. A retractable car charger ($20) probably would’ve prevented that.
Keep your leather seats clean and free of scratch marks with a backseat dog hammock.
A road trip isn’t a road trip until someone desperately needs a tissue. A sun visor tissue holder ($14) comes in handy for all snot-related emergencies.

Bonus find: This drink cover looks like a scrunchie you wear on your wrist but stretches to cover your glass so no one can spike it. Buying these for all the college kids in my life …

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Say you’re starting a new hobby: Buying a how-to book used to be a safe bet. Now, AI is flooding Amazon with crappy guides full of nonsense, misused terms and stolen designs. Apparently, lace-making books are popular enough right now to target. Before you buy, scan the reviews and check the authors.

Own a Kindle? Amazon’s Send to Kindle page rocks. Use it to upload a file from your computer to your e-reader, or use the tabs on the right for instructions to email or send just about any other way you can think of.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Fun kitchen gadgets

🍝 Because you guys and gals freakin’ loved the Fasta Pasta …

Transform your boring work sammy with a microwave panini maker (18% off). Did you know a microwave cake maker is a thing, too?
Get rid of the random jar of bacon grease. This grease strainer and collector ($17) is dishwasher-safe and won’t melt.
If you also hate throwing away half-full cans, soda can lids (25% off) to the rescue. I’m totally bringing these to the beach for my seltzers.
Slicing a banana is easy. What’d make it even easier? A banana slicer (39% off, $7). Good for kiddos!
I found this pancake batter dispenser because I’m not ready to say au revoir to crepes after a week in Paris. If anyone has a good recipe, let me know.

🏃💸 Don’t forget about Amazon’s Winter Sale! This sweet dashcam is 40% off, plus another $20 off if you click the coupon.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🤑 The art of the deal: Amazon just dropped $40 million for a behind-the-scenes documentary about Melania Trump that will debut in theaters, then stream on Prime Video. Her story is incredible. Now, this is the weird part: The film’s director is Brett Ratner, who’s been MIA since 2017, when he was hit with numerous sexual misconduct allegations that forced Warner Bros. to cancel his $450 million contract.

Up your phone photography game

🤳 Who has an actual camera anymore?

Spend $13 on a phone tripod (12% off) instead of leaning your phone on a pile of books every time you want to take a family photo. It comes with a remote, too.
Beach vacay planned and don’t want to buy a GoPro? A waterproof phone pouch saves you $200.
No amount of Photoshop will save that smudged Christmas dinner pic. (Blame the ham.) If only you’d had a microfiber cleaning cloth (30% off, $7) …
Facebook Marketplace hack: If you use a white backdrop, the stuff you’re selling looks a lot fancier. Only $10!
A clip-on selfie light is great for stuff like selfies, Zoom meetings and taking your own passport pictures (with the white backdrop!).

🤑 FYI: Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program can save you a bunch on the essentials you always use. I use it for vitamins and other things I never want to run out of.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Step change: Mark Zuckerberg is replacing fact-checking with “community notes” on Meta, just like on X (they didn’t even change the name) to “restore free expression.” He’s been cozying up to the incoming Trump admin, but he’s not alone; Amazon, Apple, Meta, OpenAI and others gave $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund. Zuck’s trying hard to clean up Meta’s reputation of censorship, especially after the 2016 election.

Household helpers

There’s enough annoying stuff in the day-to-day. Let’s knock out a few little troubles so you can focus on what matters.

You scrub and scrub surfaces, and they’re still dirty. This drill brush attachment pack for under $20 does the hard work for you.
When twisting the lid off the pickle jar is a real struggle, try this grip jar opener (17% off) to win the battle. It mounts under a cabinet, so it takes up no space.
Does your dog get nervous or too excited in the car? This seatbelt tether (around $10) keeps your pooch safe so you can focus on the road.
Every time you need brown sugar for Grandma’s cookie recipe, it’s rock hard. Never again! This $5 fired clay bear will help maintain its moisture.
This handy-dandy vegetable chopper (9% off) is a no-tear solution to make soup, stew or anything else a lot faster.

🤑 Good deal alert: A bunch of home essentials (think cleaning products, toilet paper and batteries) are part of Amazon’s buy $50, get $15 in Amazon credit promo — a no-brainer if it’s stuff you already buy!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Struggling to drift off?

🥱 These will help you sleep better. Dreamland misses you!

Nasal strips (19% off, $11) are a game changer for flu season. No more sleeping vertically when you have a stuffy nose!
Attention, hot sleepers! Before these get expensive for summer, grab a cooling mattress topper (25% off). Pair it with cooling pillowcases, and you’ll be a lot less sweaty.
A warm amber nightlight ($10) makes any room cozier … plus, less bedframe toe-stubbing. Win-win.
Seal yourself away from the world with a door draft stopper (23% off, $10). It blocks light, noise and cold air.
For heavy-duty sound blockage, try noise-canceling earplugs (10% off, $22). Fingers crossed they block out the neighbor’s Harley.

🤧 If sickness is messing with your shut-eye, Amazon’s Same-day Store has a health and wellness section. This white noise machine (42% off) arrives in a couple of hours and is under $20! Neat.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Stuck at a desk all day?

💻 Upgrade your workspace for a new year of getting stuff done.

A memory foam seat cushion ($45) helps with booty and back pain. You can use it in cars and airplanes, too. Click the coupon box for 30% off!
Pair the seat cushion with a foot stand ($39) for extra relief. Ahh.
If you use a laptop, this stand (15% off, $17) is your posture’s new BFF. Plus, it helps your computer’s ventilation so it lasts longer.
A room divider is nice for more privacy or hiding all your junk on video meetings.
Quick! Name something more annoying than a cord you need falling behind your desk. You can’t, huh? A magnetic cord holder (25% off) stops that from happening.

🤑 Amazon Outlet is like the sale aisle at Target. It’s where they list all the super-cheap overstock and clearance items. I like the under-$10 section.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Light on the wallet, big on value

💰 These picks will upgrade your life for under $20.

Bottle-emptying caps ($16) are reusable and get every drop of liquid out of plastic bottles. No more wasted dish soap!
Got a new pair of boots for Christmas? Use a shoe-stretch spray ($10) and say bye-bye to blisters and sore toes.
The only thing able to ruin a cute black dress? Deodorant stains. Use these sponges ($9) to scrub them away.
These coffee filter pods ($16) let you use your own coffee in a Keurig instead of buying K-Cup pods.
Washing machine descaler pods ($18 off, $19) break down gunk and grime buildup that make your clothes smell funky. Bonus: Dishwasher version!

🪇 Amazon has a name for products going viral: Movers and Shakers. Hit this page to see what folks are loving. Neat, an emergency weather radio is tops in electronics.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.