The Worst Day to Buy a Car— And When You Should Shop Instead

Everyone wants to make sure they’re getting a good deal on a new car. After scouring listings at nearby dealerships, you probably have a shortlist of potential vehicles that fit you or your family’s needs, fall within your budget, and seem like a reasonable price based on online estimates.

One variable that deserves just as much attention? Timing.

The day and month you shop can influence how much flexibility a dealership has when negotiating. While a few days’ difference won’t guarantee that you’re getting a bargain, shopping at the right time can improve the odds of scoring a deal.

Learn the best times to buy a car, what days to avoid, and other strategies to make sure you’re getting the best price possible.

The Best Day of the Week to Buy a Car

If you work traditional business hours, weekends are probably most convenient to visit multiple dealerships. However, as that’s the case for most people, that’s when dealerships are their busiest.

Busy showrooms and dealer lots mean shoppers may feel more pressure to make a quick decision. Ray Shefska, co-founder of CarEdge, recommends aiming for the middle of the week instead.

“Wednesday is best, particularly in the afternoon when staff is more focused and dealerships are less crowded,” says Shefska.

This is the same for new or used car shopping.

“The same timing rules apply, at least when shopping at used car dealerships,” he says. “If you’re buying from private sellers, timing is less important. However, be sure to get a pre-purchase inspection to protect your wallet, and see the original window sticker.”

Other Strategies to Save Money While Car Shopping

Days of the week are the only timing considerations. Shopping at the end of the month gives buyers stronger negotiating leverage because dealerships may be trying to meet sales goals or clear out inventory.

According to Shefska, that means they’re more motivated to cut deals. However, sometimes there are exceptions to this rule.

“The exception is when holiday car sales fall early in the month, like Independence Day for example,” says Shefska.

If you’re not in urgent need of a new vehicle, wait until the end of the year as dealerships often discount current model year vehicles before new inventory arrives, creating additional opportunities for savings.

Sources

Interviewed Source

Ray Shefska, co-founder of CarEdge; email interview, July 2026.

Other Primary Sources

Federal Trade Commission (FTC), “Buying a Used Car From a Dealer”

RELATED:

• Do You Know What That Little Button on Your Seat Belt Is For?
• What Those Lines on Your Backup Camera Really Tell You
• Here’s What The Small Panel On Your Car’s Front Bumper Is For

The post The Worst Day to Buy a Car— And When You Should Shop Instead appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: The Worst Day to Buy a Car— And When You Should Shop Instead

If You See an Orange Electrical Outlet, This Is What It Means

Outlets are one of those everyday household features we don’t usually give a second thought to. Sometimes you’ll see a modern one with a USB or USB-C or built-in GFCI protection. You might notice older ones that don’t even have a ground hole. But what about an orange outlet?

You might see these outlets in offices, hospitals, data centers, and other commercial buildings because they usually serve a specific purpose, not just provide a different appearance.

Learn what an orange electrical outlet means, where they’re commonly used, and why electricians install them in the first place.

Why Are Some Electrical Outlets Orange?

No, it’s not some fun Halloween design. An orange electrical outlet typically indicates an isolated ground receptacle. These are installed to help reduce electrical interference that can disrupt the operation of sensitive electronic equipment.

Unlike standard receptacles, isolated ground receptacles use a dedicated equipment grounding conductor designed to limit electrical noise. That’s a complicated way to say they reduce electrical noise that could interfere with sensitive equipment.

The reason you’re more likely to see these types in commercial spaces, rather than homes, is because they are typically only needed for specialized electronic equipment that benefits from reduced electrical noise. However, homeowners might come across them in home theaters, workshops, recording studios, or home offices with sensitive computer or audio equipment.

Many isolated ground receptacles are entirely orange. However, they can also be identified by an orange triangle on the device’s face. Some manufacturers produce receptacles in other colors while still using the orange triangle to identify the isolated ground design.

How Is an Isolated Ground Outlet Different?

Unlike a standard receptacle, which connects its grounding terminal to the metal outlet box and the rest of the building’s grounding system, an isolated ground receptacle separates that grounding connection from the mounting hardware while still maintaining the required equipment grounding path for electrical safety.

You won’t find these outlets in most residential living spaces because they’re not needed for typical household appliances. For instance, a lamp, vacuum, television, coffee maker, or phone charger will operate the same way on either type of receptacle.

Do Orange Outlets Always Mean the Same Thing?

So, if you see an orange outlet, does it automatically mean it’s an isolated ground receptacle? No, not necessarily.

Some facilities use colored outlets to identify dedicated circuits, emergency power systems, or other building-specific electrical configurations. Older installations may also follow different identification practices than newer ones. An identifying marker like the orange triangle is a better indicator of the outlet’s intended purpose.

Homeowners who plan to replace an unusual outlet should first determine why it was installed. Replacing a specialized receptacle with a standard one could eliminate a feature the electrical system was designed to provide.

Sources

National Fire Protection Association, “National Fire Protection Association Report”
Leviton Captain Code, “Use of Isolated Ground Receptacles”
EC&M, “The Basics of Isolated Grounding Receptacles”

The post If You See an Orange Electrical Outlet, This Is What It Means appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: If You See an Orange Electrical Outlet, This Is What It Means

I Tested Every Type of Portable Air Conditioner—These Are Worth Buying (and These Aren’t)

Floor Roll-Around AC Units

This is the most common type of portable AC, probably because it can be used nearly anywhere. Just wheel it into the room, run the exhaust hose out the window and plug it in.

“They’re super easy and definitely worth getting if you’re trying to cool down a bedroom, office or small apartment,” says HVAC expert Patrick Gambel. “But if you’re trying to cool down your whole house, it won’t be able to do that.”

Prices on roll-around ACs range from $300 to $800, and the more expensive ones — those featuring inverter compressors and dual hoses — get the job done better. Gambel’s recommendations: Whynter, LG, Midea and Frigidaire brands.

“One mistake I see all the time is people buying the least expensive portable AC,” says Gambel. “If you can, spend a little more and get a dual-hose model because they usually work so much better.”

The downside: they’re not as effective as window units.

“A portable AC gives you roughly two-thirds the cooling at the same rated BTU, because the unit itself sits inside the room generating heat,” says home services provider Mohammad Barzegar.

Pro-tips:

• Make the exhaust hose as short and straight as possible. The more hose inside, the more radiant heat it will give off.
• Insulate the part of the hose that’s inside, to keep its heat from entering the room. An easy DIY is just to wrap a towel around it, then secured it with tape.

Window Air Conditioners

If your room has a sliding window, a window AC is a great DIY option. Compared with roll-around units, they are more energy efficient, run quieter and cool more effectively because the exhaust and mechanical components remain on the outside of the house.

“Personally, I’d rather install a window unit than have a portable AC,” says Gambel. “They’re one of the simplest and most effective ways to cool down a room.”

Prices range from $200 to $700. Gambel’s recommendations: LG, Midea, Frigidaire and GE brands. Be sure to opt for one with an EnergyStar certification.

Mini-Splits

These aren’t portable, but some models are DIY-able, and they’re worth a mention because they run quieter, cool better and use less energy than both window and roll-around units. They’re especially good for hard-to-cool spaces like garages and workshops, plus work well in ADUs and home additions that lack ductwork.

“Pre-charged DIY mini-splits are genuinely cheap to run long-term,” says Barzegar. “Their SEER [efficiency] ratings double anything on wheels. The trade-off is a weekend of work and a hole in your wall.”

They range between $1,500 to $3,500. The only mini-splits that are DIY-able are those that come pre-charged with coolant. Many also double as heat pumps to warm the room in the winter, too.

Gambel’s recommendations: MrCool, Mitsubishi, Daikin and Fujitsu brands.

Evaporative Cooler

If you live in a dry climate, evaporative coolers — aka swamp coolers — are an affordable and simple option. They don’t require outside venting, they cost only $150 to $400 and the ensuing electric bill is just pennies per hour.

The downside is that they don’t work in humid areas. That’s because evaporative coolers use water to cool the air, unlike ACs, which rely on compressors and refrigerant. So instead of reducing moisture in the room, evaporative coolers actually add it.

“In dry homes it can solve two problems: high indoor temperatures and low humidity,” says HVAC service provider Jordan Low. “But they can be very detrimental to homes with indoor humidity above 50%.”

Micro ACs

These are smaller than regular portable ACs and are generally marketed for tent/RV camping or day trips to the beach. Some run off of AC compressors, while others are as simple as a beverage cooler with a fan, which delivers a cool breeze by blowing air over your ice cubes.

Some run on batteries, while others require plug-in power. Prices vary widely, from about $200 to well over $1,000. Some perform poorly, so be sure to read plenty of reviews before buying one.

This summer, we’ve been testing BougeRV’s 3,500-BTU micro AC, and it has gotten us through some sticky nights in our little camper. It won’t cool the whole space, but we partition off the sleeping area with a blanket, and that does the trick.

Personal Cooling Devices

These aren’t air conditioners, but rather small fans, which are often handheld. They’re ideal for people on the move who are looking to make a hot day more tolerable. We’ve recently been testing one of Aecooly’s portable cooling devices, which includes a misting feature.

At first, I was skeptical of whether I’d actually bother to use it, but I have to say, it’s been pretty handy. Even on scorcher summer days, it gives us enough comfort to sit on the back deck and watch the birds. Just don’t expect it to cool down a room, just your face.

Portable AC Features To Look For

• Inverter technology: Rolling and window models touting “inverter compressor” technology are more energy efficient, run more quietly and don’t make a jarring clunk when they cycle on and off.
• Noise: Choose models with lower decibel ratings, ideally under 52 dBA, says Barzegar. “If the box doesn’t state a decibel rating, assume it’s 60-plus,” he says.
• Efficiency rating: Instead of using BTUs to compare units, use SACC (Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity) or CEER (Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratings, which are more accurate.

How to Size an AC for Your Space

Match the unit’s SACC or BTU square footage to your room size, and then add 10% for sunny rooms, kitchens or high ceilings, says Barzegar. “Undersize and it runs flat-out forever without hitting temperature,” he says. “Oversize and it short-cycles, meaning the room gets cold but stays clammy, because it shuts off before dehumidifying.”

Also, remember that even the best units have their limits. “The biggest misconception I see is people expecting a portable AC to cool their entire house,” says Gambel. “That’s not what they’re designed to do. They’re designed to cool down just one room.”

How to Maintain a Portable AC

• Clean the filter every two weeks.
• Dust the condenser coils periodically.
• Regularly check the vent hose for kinks and blockages.
• Regularly drain the condensate tank (or check the drain hose, depending on the type of unit).
• Vacuum the condenser coils each spring.
• During the off-season, store it upright, with the tank empty.

About the Experts

• Patrick Gambel, has more than 25 years of experience working in the HVAC industry and is owner of General Heating & Air Conditioning, a family-owned HVAC company in New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Mohammad Barzegar is director of TQN Group, a Sydney-based multi-trade home services network, whose crews deal with cooling, ventilation and handyman installs across hundreds of homes a year.
• Jordan Low is the general manager of Comfort Heating, Cooling, Electrical & Plumbing in Post Falls, Idaho, where he oversees whole-home services.

Sources

• Michael Rogers is HVAC Manager at Del-Air Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical in South Orlando, Florida.

The post I Tested Every Type of Portable Air Conditioner—These Are Worth Buying (and These Aren’t) appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: I Tested Every Type of Portable Air Conditioner—These Are Worth Buying (and These Aren’t)

Why Building Materials from Thousands of Years Ago Still Hold Up Today

When visiting historic cities, you’re likely to see historic landmarks and only think about the events that happened there and not the structures themselves. The houses, temples, roads, aqueducts, and harbors built thousands of years ago have withstood centuries of rain, wind, earthquakes, changing climates, and daily wear. For homeowners tackling renovations and looking at the makeup of their house, it’s an interesting reminder about the importance of the materials behind a project, in addition to the craftsmanship.

According to the Smithsonian, researchers studying an undisturbed section of Roman concrete at Hadrian’s Villa in Italy uncovered another clue behind the remarkable durability of ancient architecture, why some materials have lasted so long and what today’s builders can learn from them.

Learn why some ancient building materials continue to outperform many modern ones, what researchers recently discovered, and how those findings could influence future construction.

Roman Concrete Didn’t Stay the Same After It Was Poured

According to the Smithsonian, researchers examined an “undisturbed” section of nearly 1,900-year-old concrete. It allowed the scientists a rare opportunity to study how the material naturally changed over centuries.

Their findings suggest that Roman concrete grew stronger with age because of chemical reactions that continued inside the material over time.

“This study shows how exploring ancient engineering techniques can lead to important revelations,” Paulo J. M. Monteiro, a study co-author and civil engineer at the University of California, Berkeley, was quoted as saying in the Smithsonian. “We hope that by unlocking Roman secrets for enhancing concrete durability, we can someday attain sustainable modern infrastructure development.”

But what does this mean for modern construction?

Why Modern Materials Don’t Always Last as Long

Understandably, modern concrete is designed and manufactured to serve a different purpose than ancient Roman concrete was.

Modern buildings face challenges that ancient builders didn’t encounter, such as unique climates, heavy traffic, constant structural stress and corrosion from embedded steel reinforcement. Ancient Roman builders relied on materials that triggered chemical reactions over extremely long periods, which research now suggests contributed to its ability to stand for centuries.

That’s why today’s mixes prioritize predictable strength, faster construction, lower costs, consistent performance, and compatibility with other construction materials, such as steel reinforcement. By examining ancient Roman building techniques, researchers can determine whether similar processes could improve modern concrete.

If scientists can develop concrete that naturally seals small cracks or lasts longer before requiring repairs, it could reduce maintenance and extend the life of roads, bridges, seawalls, and buildings. The recent Smithsonian report highlights how a structure built nearly two millennia ago continues to provide answers that engineers can still apply today.

Sources

• Smithsonian Magazine, “How Has Roman Concrete Lasted for Millennia? A 1,900-Year-Old Latrine Offers New Clues About the Material’s Impressive Durability“
• Smithsonian Magazine, “The Secrets of Ancient Rome’s Buildings“

The post Why Building Materials from Thousands of Years Ago Still Hold Up Today appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: Why Building Materials from Thousands of Years Ago Still Hold Up Today

I Replaced My Lawn With a Wildflower Meadow— Here’s What Happened

A few years ago, the view from my window was a bleak, dusty expanse. Now, there are fledgling sparrows romping in a wildflower meadow, where impossibly purple flax sways in the breeze alongside native grasses and splashes of orange poppies.

And every year brings a surprising highlight. Once it was a blanket of delicate white baby’s breath. The next, tall evening primroses took over, with goldfinches resting in their towering spires of yellow flowers. The intricacies are also amazing: native bees flit from flower to flower, tiny spiders build elaborate webs and beetles lumber through the undergrowth.

Here’s more about what happened when I turned my front yard into a wild oasis — from battling invasive weeds, to welcoming wildlife, plus the neighbors’ reactions.

Inspiration in A Tough Climate

A few years ago, my partner and I began renovating a century-old house in rural Colorado. It had been abandoned for 12 years, and we had to gut the inside to the studs. The yard wasn’t any better. It was mostly dirt, dotted with a few tumbleweeds and layers upon layers of garbage. Every time the wind blew, it excavated bits of old blankets, broken glass and smashed up plastic.

But, it’s no wonder little was growing there. The winters in this high-altitude valley often reach subzero, and a mere seven inches of rain fall each year. Because it’s drought-prone, planting a lawn of ornamental turf grass would have been irresponsible. So, I was considering making a Southwest-style gravel xeriscape.

But then I happened to interview Mary Phillips, Head of Native Plant Habitat Strategy at the National Wildlife Federation, for a gardening story. She inspired me to plant a yard of native grasses and wildflowers. Those offer superior habitat for wildlife, including birds, pollinators and the underlying web of invertebrates on which they all depend. Plus, native plants are far more likely to survive harsh conditions without supplemental water and chemical treatments

“Even a small planting of native species can create ripple effects throughout the food web, providing essential food, shelter and nesting habitat,” Phillips emphasized.

I was convinced. Time to see if it would actually work.

The Hurdles I Knew Awaited

Luckily, I could jump right in since we have no HOA or town regulations requiring approval for a wildflower meadow. I also didn’t anticipate much pushback from the neighbors, as most of their yards were as bleak as mine. So, my biggest obstacle became my lack of experience in understanding what could grow and ultimately become self-sustainable in this climate.

I’d already struggled with this while planting a range of native and non-native bushes the year before. Even though they all fit solidly into my USDA climate zone (Zone 5a), about half of them hadn’t survived the winter. Even hardy species, like junipers and Russian sage couldn’t hack it. What did survive revolved mainly around native currants, chamisa (rabbitbush) and sages, all of which I have particularly grown to adore.

Year One Hurdles I Didn’t Know About

In early May, I planted a mix of wildflower and native grass seeds, specially tailored to my geographical location by a patient woman at the Great Basin Seed Company. She explained that while the plants should be able to survive without supplemental water once established, it was crucial to keep them moist before they sprouted, plus well-watered throughout the first summer.

So, I obediently watered the dirt twice a day, eagerly awaiting them to sprout. To my delight, the first green shoots poked up after just a couple of weeks. To my dismay, those were not wildflowers, but rather fresh little tumbleweeds and other invasive species.

I decided to till it all over and start again — and much to my surprise, that mostly worked. It gave the grasses and wildflowers time to sprout and grow large enough to crowd out some of the invasive species before they could grow back.

Still, for the first year, a lot of undesirable species were ever-present, and it required a good deal of weeding to keep them at bay.

The First-Season Transformation

As the grass grew bushier and the wildflowers began to bloom, the rewards outweighed the hassles.

Until this time, the only mammals we’d ever seen in the yard were mice and feral cats. Birds were limited to house finches, sparrows, starlings and the occasional robin or crow. I’d rarely even see invertebrates, besides black widows, wolf spiders and ants, which built massive mounts around the yard.

Soon after the flowers began blooming, I spotted several species of native bees, including one handsome bumbler. Ladybugs, garden spiders and a range of tiny insects also showed up. Then came the hummingbirds and two bunnies. At one point, we even had a couple of chipmunks and a striped ground squirrel.

By mid-summer, the 45-foot by 25-foot patch of dirt had transformed into a bonafide oasis. And it brought us a lot of joy. We had been regretting moving to this part of the state, but the wildflower meadow and its inhabitants helped keep our mental funk at bay.

The townsfolk, who had been distrustful of us “outsiders” moving in, even let down their guard a bit, commenting on how much they enjoyed watching the yard come to life. (As a side note, not everyone is so lucky. I’ve heard tales of people being harassed over their “messy-looking” yard.)

Nature’s Resilience

Where all of this newfound biodiversity came from still baffles me. Our town lies in the middle of a valley the size of New Jersey, where little grows other than potato and alfalfa crops, tumbleweeds and drab saltbrush.

For a century, it has been overgrazed and over-tilled, and most of the historic wetlands have dried up due to agricultural irrigation. All of that has created a widespread loss of native ecosystems and the diversity of life they once harbored. Yet still, here were all of these creatures, who somehow found their way into our yard.

Year Two: A High Point

I didn’t do a thing to prepare the yard for winter. It looked pretty messy, but the birds liked it, and once spring came along, the dormant grasses prevented most of the tumbleweeds from sprouting. I sprinkled more wildflower seeds, and decided to keep watering regularly, though not nearly as much as year one.

Within a month, the yard was bushier, greener and more colorful than ever. The amount of life also continued to grow, with a more robust population of native bees and all sorts of interesting bugs. Word of the oasis had also spread in the bird world, and now visitors included bluebirds, swallows, nighthawks, a range of finches and resident robin and dove families.

Year Three: Temporary Demise

This year has been the true test for the yard’s self-sufficiency, since we’ve been away for most of the spring and summer. When we landed there for couple of weeks in May, I decided to clean up some of last year’s overgrowth, so it wouldn’t inhibit new growth. It was a bit of a cumbersome task, and I was a little depressed that not much of the grass had turned green yet (though the ever-resilient flax flowers were already blooming).

I watered the lawn heavily for a couple of weeks, and it started to become vibrant again. I had hoped that would be enough to keep it going for the summer, but it wasn’t. A friend just sent us some photos. While the bushes are still in good shape, the yard is brown and dormant. I’m wondering if it was a mistake to clear out the overgrowth, which was probably protecting everything underneath, not hampering it.

My heart feels heavy, as I re-learn the lesson from the bushes: even though the label says they should survive without our intervention, where we live is just too harsh for most plants. On the upside, I believe most of it will spring back next year, provided I’m around to deliver a mild dose of regular watering.

Tips For Growing A Wildflower Meadow Yard

Prepare the Space

For me, getting the yard ready to plant seeds required hand-tilling compacted soil. It was a bit laborious, but probably not as difficult as having to remove existing turf grass. I was also worried that the birds would eat the seed, so I scattered extra, which probably helped.

Pro-tip: An excellent resource for finding wildflowers and other native plants based on your specific area is the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder.

Understand Costs and Time

Wildflower meadows are pretty affordable. The seed for my space was only about $50, and besides daily watering and some semi-intensive weeding in the first year, it doesn’t require other maintenance like mowing or buying fertilizers or pesticides.

The downside was the amount of water it took to get it established. And while mine in particular still clearly requires some water, after the first year was minimal compared to a traditional lawn.

Say No to Fertilizers and Pesticides

When you’re creating habitat, it’s vital to ditch the chemicals. Native plants shouldn’t require them anyway, since they’ve evolved to grow precisely in your soil and climate. Plus, not only do native plants resist pests better once you start to balance out your mini ecosystem with plant, animal and invertebrate biodiversity, that naturally keeps pests and blights at bay. Pesticides, on the other hand, disrupt this natural process by killing beneficial, ecosystem-balancing bugs.

Pro-tip: Instead of using fertilizers, which are environmentally problematic, especially for waterways, use compost, mulch, leaves and grass clippings to boost soil nutrients.

Work with Neighbors and HOAs

Some neighbors may not immediately understand a natural-looking landscape. To help mitigate this, Phillips recommends adding design elements like defined borders and pathways. It also helps to get your patch of meadow certified as a wildlife habitat, and bundle in a display sign, which helps neighbors realize the landscape is intentional and managed, not neglected.

Although my yard contains all of the elements to qualify, I haven’t certified it yet, but I plan to, and I did go through the process with my mom’s yard. A lot of other people have been certifying theirs as well. This year, the NWF is on track for a record-breaking number of certifications, and in 2025, 15% of gardening households converted some part of their lawn into a natural or wildflower landscape.

“It is encouraging to see a broader shift in perspectives, where gardeners are considering how many species their landscapes support,” says Phillips. “What gives me hope is that every wildlife habitat inspires more, by sparking curiosity and conversations framing habitat gardening as something anyone can do.”

Start Small

No need to get too ambitious, too quickly. “An entire lawn can’t be replaced overnight,” says Phillips. “Converting one garden bed, a grouping of containers or a sunny corner to native plantings can still create a meaningful habitat.”

Pro-tip: If you live in a dry or otherwise harsh climate, I definitely recommend starting small until you have a better idea of what plants will actually thrive in your particular micro-climate.

Check for Local Incentives

Many cities, counties and water utilities offer rebates or incentives for transitioning to a waterwise or native landscape, particularly in drought-prone regions. Check with your local water utility, county extension office, state conservation agency or municipality to see what’s available. Local nonprofits, watershed organizations and conversion groups sometimes also provide grants or reimbursement programs to help replace turfgrass with native plants.

Would I Do It Again?

Without a doubt. Even though I’m saddened by this year’s waterless debacle, the experience has changed me in a few ways. On the most superficial level, it has been uplifting for me, and the neighborhood just to see so many blooms. On a deeper level, I’ve learned how my actions can truly make a difference.

In these times, I know I’m not alone with my existential feelings of despair and helplessness, as I watch the widespread destruction of nature. But creating a yard filled with habitats, that is an empowering, tangible action that I can accomplish.

I’ve found true satisfaction and personal healing from stewarding this small patch of land, which I am fortunate enough to call home — and transforming it back into a refuge for all of the other creatures, who have called it home for thousands of years before I moved to town.

RELATED:

• 7 Reasons Why Your Houseplants Might Stink
• 8 Must-Know Tips to Drought-Proof Your Lawn
• Tired of Raking Leaves? Plant These Trees Instead

The post I Replaced My Lawn With a Wildflower Meadow— Here’s What Happened appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: I Replaced My Lawn With a Wildflower Meadow— Here’s What Happened

Too Hot? This Company Built a Refrigerator You Can Literally Sit In

If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of a heatwave with no air conditioning, you’ll have to think quickly about how best to cool yourself off. I grew up in a home that didn’t have AC at all, so on the hottest summer days, we’d go to the mall or the movie theater — anywhere where we could be in cool air without having to spend a fortune to be there. But as technology advances and climate change gets worse, things like air conditioning are rapidly becoming a necessity rather than a luxury.

One company in Japan is innovating with that in mind. According to GadgetReview, the fridge and vending machine manufacturer SDRS recently came out with human-sized refrigerators, known as Do Hiemon Boxes. People on social media have had mixed responses to the initial news, with many joking that you can achieve the same effect by standing in the beer cave of your local liquor store. But these fridges have a very important use-case: preventing heat-related illnesses.

What Is The Do Hiemon Box?

CNN reports that Japan has coined a term for days that are over 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit: Cruelly Hot Days. In an effort to protect workers who must be outdoors in the heat, efficient cooling methods are increasingly necessary. Gadget Review explains that in the Do Hiemon Boxes “the interior ambient temperature sits at 15°C from the moment you step in, with targeted 5°C airflow directed at the head, neck, shoulders, and back — the body’s fastest heat-shedding zones.”

The human-sized refrigerators will automatically shut off after 20 minutes. This way, it ensures the users’ temperatures don’t swing too far in the other direction too fast. But they’re billed as a quick way to protect those who are in danger of succumbing to the heat.

Can Individuals Buy Human-Sized Refrigerators?

Right now, the Do Hiemon Boxes are primarily for commercial use. Per Gadget Review, they’re geared for places like “construction sites, factories, warehouses, [and] outdoor festivals.” They’re also a pricey investment for the average consumer running nearly $10,000 US per device. So unless you’ve got some serious cash you’re unlikely to be able to buy one for your home just yet. But the technology serves as a reminder that summers are likely only going to get hotter from here on out. And as those temperatures climb, we need to have surefire ways to cool down quickly.

Sources

• Japan Built a Human Refrigerator – And It Looks Exactly Like a Vending Machine, Gadget Review, 2026.
• A Human-Sized Fridge to Beat the Heat in Japan, CNN, 2026.

The post Too Hot? This Company Built a Refrigerator You Can Literally Sit In appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: Too Hot? This Company Built a Refrigerator You Can Literally Sit In

What That Little Hole at the End of Nail Clippers Is Actually For

Many of our most used items rarely get a second look, and nail clippers are no exception. The humble nail clippers are far from a single-use tool. While most people focus on the primary sections of nail clippers, like the cutting blades, the folding lever, or the built-in nail file, there’s another function that often goes unnoticed.

Learn what the hole at the end is for and how you can use it to make your nail clippers more functional.

What Is the Hole at the End of Nail Clippers For?

Whether it’s in drawers, toiletry bags, backpacks, glove compartments, or luggage, nail clippers are easy to lose track of. Manufacturers created a fix to this problem.

The hole isn’t decorative, and despite some people assuming that it’s supposed to be used as another cutting mechanism, its primary purpose is storage and/or portability. The hole can also be used as a makeshift cleaning or storage aid as well, but that’s not its intended purpose. The addition of a hole allows it to be attached to something.

Whether it’s a key ring, lanyard, travel pouch, a storage hook, or other organizer, the hole is there to help you keep track of where it’s stored and therefore make it less likely to be misplaced. You can also thread a small cord through the hole to hang them inside a medicine cabinet, grooming kit, tackle box, toolbox or workshop organizer.

Why Do Some Nail Clippers Have Larger Holes?

Not all designs are identical. For instance, some nail clipper manufacturers incorporate a larger hole for thicker key rings, carabiners, split rings, or travel accessories. The hole can also be positioned in different spots, including farther from the lever arm to make attachments easier to install.

However, the overall function is the same: to be used for storage or transporting and not cutting or grooming.

Other Nail Clipper Features People Overlook

Nail clippers are versatile tools. Some include a folding metal nail file, or textured surfaces to improve grip. Some might also include curved cutting edges for fingernails, or straighter edges designed for toenails.

Details like these often go unnoticed, even though manufacturers intentionally include them to make the tool more practical. But the next time you see a hole at the end of one, you’ll know its intended purpose.

Sources

• Google Patents, “Hole Exposed on the Key Ring Nail Clipper“
• New York Post, “Internet Stunned After Learning Purpose of Tiny Hole in Nail Clippers“

The post What That Little Hole at the End of Nail Clippers Is Actually For appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: What That Little Hole at the End of Nail Clippers Is Actually For