Plant expert Darryl Cheng, of the popular Instagram account @houseplantjournal, teaches us how to keep those pothos and monsteras alive. He also reveals a few tips from his most recent book, The New Plant Collector, for helping various plants thrive.

Then senior staff writer and plant collector Rose Maura Lorre shares her insider secrets for scoring cheap or totally free houseplants.

Things We Recommend:

• Rose likes: Who Gives a Crap 100% Recycled Toilet Paper
• How to use your phone as a light meter

More from Darryl Cheng:

• His first book The New Plant Parent (2019)
• His latest book The New Plant Collector (2024)
• His website: houseplantjournal.com

Additional Reading

• Fill Your Home with Houseplants for Practically No Money
• The 2 Best Places to Buy Plants Online of 2025
• 25 Best Gifts for Plant Lovers of 2025
• The 7 Best Fake Plastic Trees and Artificial Houseplants of 2025

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Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Concerned about tariffs spiking prices? Wirecutter’s senior tech editor, Caitlin McGarry, explains how new trade policies might affect the cost of Wirecutter-recommended products—at least for now.

Additional Reading:

• Wirecutter's Expert Advice on How to Navigate the New Tariffs

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Follow us on instagram @wirecutter

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Skin care doesn’t have to cost a fortune to be effective. We cover the basics anyone might need in their skin-care regimen, and our favorite drugstore brands that we’ve tested.

Guests: Dr. Nikhil Dhingra, board-certified dermatologist at Spring Street Dermatology, and Rory Evans, Wirecutter’s senior beauty writer.

Products we recommend:

Facial Moisturizers:

• Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer
• CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
• Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream

Retinols:

• SkinMedica Retinol Complex 1.0
• Trader Joe’s Retinol Night Serum

Vitamin C Serums:

• SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
• Timeless Skin Care 20% C + E Ferulic Acid Serum
• Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum
• La Roche-Posay’s 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum

Dr. Dhingra likes these facial cleansers:

• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
• CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser

Rory likes:

• East Fork Everyday Bowl

Additional Reading:

• The 7 Best Moisturizers of 2025
• The 6 Best Vitamin C Serums of 2025
• The 5 Best Retinol Products of 2025
• So You’re Ready to Start Using Retinol. Here’s What You Should Know First.
• The 12 Best Sunscreens for Your Face of 2025

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Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Our staff experts reveal time-tested methods for cleaning the most neglected (and grimy) areas of your home–from greasy ovens to stained patio furniture.

Guests: special projects director Christine Cyr Clisset, editorial director Marguerite Preston, senior writer Doug Mahoney, senior writer Rachel Wharton, staff writer Thom Dunn and senior editor Harry Sawyers

Products We Recommend:

• Dish soap for all kinds of cleaning tasks: Seventh Generation Dish Soap
• An abrasive cleaner that comes in handy for lots of tasks: Bar Keepers Friend All-Purpose Cleaner and Polish
• A good descaling product for coffee machines: Urnex Descaling Powder Solution

Additional Reading:

• Clean Everything Newsletter
• How to Clean Your Coffee Maker
• How to Clean Your Oven
• How to Clean a Toaster Oven
• How to Clean a Humidifier
• How to Clean Patio Furniture Cushions
• Extremely Satisfying Pressure Washer Projects
• How to Clean Your Dishwasher
• How to Clean Your Front-Loading Washing Machine
• How to Clean Your Shower Curtain

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Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

23andMe, maker of popular DNA test kits, has filed for bankruptcy and is looking for a buyer. Here’s why customers should delete their info before it’s sold.

Guest: Wirecutter staff writer Max Eddy

To delete your 23andMe data:

1. Log in to your account and select Settings.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select 23andMe data, then View. (Download a copy of your genetic information).
3. Select Delete Data and then Permanently Delete Data.
4. In Settings, you can also opt to have your genetic material destroyed.
5. Navigate to the Research and Product Consents section and revoke permission to allow your genetic material to be used in research projects. (Doing so revokes that permission only for future research).

23andMe notes that you have to provide additional verification before your data-deletion request can be processed, and that you must follow instructions detailed in a 23andMe confirmation email for your request to be processed. The company recommends emailing customercare@23andme.com if you have issues submitting the data-deletion request.

Additional Reading:

• 23andMe Just Filed for Bankruptcy. You Should Delete Your Data Now.
• The 2 Best DNA Testing Kits of 2025

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Follow us on instagram @wirecutter

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

In the final part of our stain series, we tackle trickier listener questions–from eliminating fishy odors to whether you can truly remove paint stains.

Guest: Senior writer Andrea Barnes

Products we recommend:

• A good stain remover for ink or sugary stains: Amodex Ink & Stain Remover
• A good stain remover for cat odors: Nature's Miracle
• A good way to remove odors from clothes: Downy Rinse & Refresh
• For acrylic paint stains, you might try: Dawn Powerwash
• For oil paint stains, you can try mineral spirits
• A good stain remover for old blood stains: Clorox 2 Stain Remover & Color Brightener
• The best liquid laundry detergent & a great product for pre-treating stains: Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent
• The best powdered laundry detergent (with oxygen bleach) for dirt and clay: Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent

Additional reading:

• The Wirecutter Show Episode 32: The Art of Stain Removal Part 1
• So You Stained Your Shirt. Now What?
• The 6 Best Stain Removers of 2025
• Skip the Stain Removers. This Detergent Is All You Need.
• The 5 Best Laundry Detergents of 2025
• The Wirecutter Show Episode 1: The Secret to Better Laundry
• The Best Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

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Follow us on instagram @wirecutter

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

In part one of our stain series, we tackle your toughest questions–from reviving dingy whites to rescuing clothes from stubborn oils and baked-on gummy bears.

Guest: Wirecutter senior writer Andrea Barnes

Products we recommend:

• The best liquid laundry detergent & a great product for pre-treating stains: Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent
• The best powdered laundry detergent (with oxygen bleach) :Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent
• Another great laundry detergent: ​​Persil Original Liquid Detergent Everyday Clean
• If you want an “eco-friendly” detergent or to support a smaller brand, we like: Dirty Labs Free & Clear Bio Laundry Detergent
• A good stain remover for most starch or protein food stains: Zout
• A good stain remover for ink or sugary stains: Amodex Ink & Stain Remover

Additional reading:

• So You Stained Your Shirt. Now What?
• The 6 Best Stain Removers of 2025
• Skip the Stain Removers. This Detergent Is All You Need.
• The 5 Best Laundry Detergents of 2025
• The Wirecutter Show Episode 1: The Secret to Better Laundry

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

Follow us on instagram @wirecutter

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast