charging Archives

👍 Finds you’ll use time and time again

12-pack of streak-free cleaning cloths ($7): No home ever has too many microfiber cloths, just sayin’.
Cable organizer bag (over 50% off): Tangled charging cables are the worst! A compact organizer keeps everything tidy.
LED desk lamp with USB port ($16): Brighten up your workspace with a stylish lamp. This one has adjustable brightness levels and a USB port for charging. Sweet.
Herb scissors with 5 blades ($10): Perfect for snipping parsley, basil, cilantro, mint — you name it.
Self-adhesive cable clips ($8): Another easy way to keep your cord mess in check.

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“Do I have to charge you again?” Apple Watches have notoriously short battery life, but this can make a big difference. Open Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On. Disable the setting so your screen isn’t hogging your battery life all day long.

Your DNA could soon be up for sale

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You spit in a tube, and now 23andMe is thinking of selling your data after a massive hack tanked their value. So much for learning your ancestry. Meanwhile, Gen Z is going #desperate on LinkedIn, and Mazda’s charging $10 just to use remote start.

🤠 A Texa-llent idea: Remember the winter storm that left millions of Texans without power? The state is now requiring all crypto miners, big or small, to register. Any unregistered mining outfit that consumes over 75 megawatts (that would be like charging 1,500 Teslas at once) is looking at fines ranging up to $25,000 per day. That’s one big mine!

$10 for remote start

That’s what Mazda is charging for its connected features. They used to be free, and there was even an open-source (free) workaround. Yep, Mazda had that taken down. They’re not the only car company charging for previously free stuff.

Keychains that double as ...

I love it when things are functional. For this list, I put together a few keychain goodies I’ve bought that fall into this category!

A universal charging cable, complete with USB, USB-C, micro-USB and Apple Lightning adapters.
An emergency Advil stash for under $9.
A seatbelt slicer and safety hammer for escaping a wrecked car.
An eyeglass repair kit (51% off).
An Apple AirTag holder (26% off). Ta-da! Now you won’t lose ‘em.

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

Urgent fire risk recall: For Belkin BoostCharge Pro fast wireless chargers. The iPhone and Apple Watch power pack launched in May 2023. Look for model number BPD005 on the back of your charging pad, and if you have one, stop using it immediately and fill out the refund form.

🛡️ Microsoft offers built-in ransomware protection for Windows PCs: The catch? You must use OneDrive to back up your data. Keep in mind it’s not 100% foolproof, either. If you want to try it, open the Windows Security app > Virus & threat protection > Manage ransomware protection, and turn on Controlled folder access. It’s free for now, but I’ll bet they’ll start charging for this soon.

⚡ Power play: Ford is partnering with utility company Southern California Edison to pay EV owners for sending power back to the grid. Drivers can earn $1 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Sweet deal, considering fast-charging costs about $0.50 per kWh. The catch: You’ll need V2G (vehicle-to-grid) tech that costs anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000.

The future is hybrid

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Volvo just dropped its all-electric plan, joining other carmakers moving away from EVs. With limited charging stations and a focus on hybrids, the push for electric cars is losing steam.

✏️ Whiteout: Those white Apple charging cords get so dirty. Here’s a secret for removing the black streaks: Use a pencil eraser. Yep, it’ll buff them right off. Oh, and I finally hung up all my pencil drawings, but I’m afraid it makes my house look kinda sketchy.

3 ways to charge your phone faster

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Did you forget to power up your phone overnight? Here are some quick tips to help speed up your charging time so you can get back to full battery.

Stop mining my business: An Airbnb host got a nasty shock when guests used her house to mine $100,000 in crypto, sticking her with a $1,500 electricity bill. External security cameras caught them hauling out 10 computers and charging their EV. She got them to pay up, but now she’s got a strict “no crypto mining” rule. It’s a new world.

🤦🏼‍♀️ Can’t make this up: A Tesla Model S caught fire after a tourist plugged it directly into an illegal power line in Mexico. There are plenty of EV charging stations around Tijuana, but they wanted to save some cash. This dope ended up burning down someone’s house, too.

🔋 More battery in a hurry: You must leave in 15 minutes and your phone battery is hovering around 3%. Plug it in, switch it into Airplane mode and give it as much time as possible. Shutting off extra processes means your phone can focus on charging.

Water + electricity = Bad: Tesla is warning about a “charging hack” going around on social media. Folks are wrapping damp towels around Supercharger handles, claiming it increases the charging rate. It doesn’t. You’ll just interfere with the system’s temperature monitors.

Affordable tech upgrades

⚗️ It’s the little things that can make a big difference.

It’s a keychain, bottle opener and charging cable in one. Neat! It’s only $8 right now.
So sweet: A retractable car charger that can power two phones at once.
Following a special diet? This is a measuring cup and food scale in one. Super cool and, yep, on sale.
Calling all nerds! This USB fan plugs into your computer and looks retro in a fun, techy way.
This adorable bird tap light is great next to the bed or anywhere you want a cordless option. Click the coupon for 15% off!

Btw, this emoji — ⚗️ — is an alembic. I had to look it up. Merriam-Webster says an alembic is “something that refines or transmutes as if by distillation. Examples: In the alembic of the child’s mind, the ratty old blanket became a magnificent cape.”

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I need a better way to …

Clean the blinds. Use this microfiber tool made for the job and only $7.
Charge all my stuff. Grab a handy charging station with five USB slots.
Track my weight for the doc. Smart scales do it for you.
Get organized. Love this huge pack of different-shaped sticky notes for 55% off!
Stay hydrated. This 90-serving container of electrolytes is cheaper than the single-serve packets and they taste great.

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

Cleanup time: Look around. Do you see USB or other charging cables starting to fray? Toss them. You’re just asking for trouble — specifically, a fire. The Apple Lightning cable and Amazon Basics USB-C cable are both solid options.

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

39% of car buyers

In the U.S. want a traditional gas vehicle. Hybrids came in second, with 34%, and only 21% of shoppers want an EV, according to a new poll. On the West Coast, demand for hybrids jumps to 43%. Talk to me when there are more charging spots.