Home Safety
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The Best Emergency Preparedness Supplies
by Ellen Airhart
After hundreds of hours of research, we narrowed down the items that could prove indispensable in a natural disaster—and most are helpful in everyday life, too.
The Best Wildfire Preparedness Supplies and Strategies
by Ellen Airhart
How to plan and protect yourself in areas at risk of wildfires.
The Best Portable Power Station
by Sarah Witman
Our top pick for three years running, the Jackery Explorer 1000 is the best portable power station for going off the grid or prepping for an emergency.
The Best Smart Locks
by Jon Chase
A smart lock lets you go key-free and know whenever someone comes and goes. Our pick, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt, is sturdy, simple, and reliable.
The Best Home Security System
by Rachel Cericola
A good home security system should make it easy to find peace of mind. It can alert you to an open door or window, frighten away prowlers, and call for help.
The Best Security Cameras for Your Home
by Rachel Cericola
Wi-Fi security cameras can help protect your family and possessions. We’ve reviewed and picked the best models for every area of your home.
The Best Smart Doorbell Camera
by Rachel Cericola
A smart doorbell camera allows you to see who’s on the other side of your front door so you can screen visitors and package deliveries—even if you aren’t home.
The Best Outdoor Security Camera
by Rachel Cericola
An outdoor security camera can alert you to prowlers, package deliveries, and visitors, as well as animals in your trash and things that go bump in the night.
How a Dozen Smart Home Devices Allow One Savvy Septuagenarian to Age in Place
by Rachel Cericola
A reader shares how a small collection of smart devices make her days more convenient and secure, and have enabled her to live more independently.
How Can I Clear My Home of Wildfire Smoke?
by Tim Heffernan and Ellen Airhart
HEPA air purifiers, such as our picks from Coway and Airmega, are excellent at filtering wildfire smoke from your home’s air.
The Best Respirator Mask for Smoke and Dust
by Tim Heffernan
These masks work to block particulate inhalation in conditions ranging from wildfire smoke to dusty home projects.
The Best Smart Outdoor Lighting for Backyards, Pathways, and More
by Rachel Cericola
Outdoor lighting enhances home security. Smart lighting makes it versatile and attractive. Here are our picks for smart bulbs, path lights, and fixtures.
The Best Indoor Security Camera
by Rachel Cericola
Security cameras keep a watchful eye on all your prized possessions—not only your stuff, but family and pets, too—and send an alert when motion is detected.
The Best Electronic Keypad Door Lock
by Doug Mahoney
The best electronic keypad lock is the Yale YRD256 Assure Lock SL.
The Best Smart Home Devices to Help Aging in Place
by Rachel Cericola
Smart-home devices can make it easier, safer, and more comfortable to age at home. They’re also great tools for caregivers who want to stay in touch.
The Best Water Quality Test Kit for Your Home
by Tim Heffernan
SimpleLab’s Tap Score Advanced City Water Test offers comprehensive analysis of your drinking water with easy-to-read results.
The Best Lockboxes to Safely Store Medication and Cannabis
by Elissa Sanci
Whether you want to stash cannabis and THC edibles away from pets and kids or keep medicine under lock and key, these are the best lockboxes available.
The Best Home Air Quality Monitor
by Tim Heffernan
Get reliable, accurate air quality information with these apps and tools.
The Best Smart Security Devices to Make Your New Home Feel Safe
by Rachel Cericola
New homeowners quickly discover that they also have new worries. These smart security devices provide peace of mind whether you’re home or away.
This Device Saved My House From an Electrical Fire. And You Might Be Able to Get It for Free.
by Grant Clauser
Electrical problems can silently fester in your house before they turn into fires. Ting helps spot a problem before it’s too late.
The Best Emergency Weather Radio
by Thom Dunn
After 36 hours of research and tests of more than a dozen emergency weather radios, we’re confident the Midland ER310 is the best choice for most people.
The Best Power Outage Tools and Supplies
by Erica Ogg
When preparing for a blackout, here’s the best gear for backup power and lighting.
Why We’re Pausing Our Recommendation of Wyze Smart Home Devices
by Rachel Cericola and Jon Chase
Wyze doesn’t seem to understand its responsibility to customer security and privacy. We won’t review Wyze smart devices until it learns to do better.
The Best Smart Smoke Alarm
by Roy Furchgott
Smart smoke alarms are pricey, but unlike traditional ones, they can alert you to a problem even when you’re not home. The Google Nest Protect is our pick.
The Furnace and Air Conditioner Filters We Would Buy
by Tim Heffernan
We help you pick the right filter for your HVAC system and tell you what those MERV numbers mean. Our pick is Nordic Pure's MERV 12.
The Best Shower Mat
by Shannon Palus and Anna Wenner
These grippy, easy-to-clean mats can help prevent a fall in the bath or shower, offering peace of mind that anyone can use.
The Best LED Light Bulb
by Thom Dunn and Anna Perling
The best LED bulbs offer long life and efficiency, plus a look that matches that of a traditional incandescent.
The Best Smart Home Devices for Apple HomeKit and Siri
by Jon Chase
HomeKit is a straightforward smart-home system for anyone who uses Apple devices. Here’s how it works and our pick of the best compatible smart devices.
The Best Fireproof Document Safe
by Nick Guy
We tested seven new safes and found the models that offer the best combination of fireproofing, waterproofing, size, and price.
Essential Tools to Ride Out a Winter Storm
by Doug Mahoney
Winter storms are coming. Prepare with standout tools that’ll save your back—and your pipes. Then enjoy playing in the snow or cozying up inside.
Wirecutter’s 100 Most Popular Lifestyle Picks of 2023
by Wirecutter Staff
Here are some of the most popular home and lifestyle Wirecutter picks from 2023.
The Best Fire Extinguisher
by Doug Mahoney
The First Alert PRO5 is available, affordable, and UL-certified—and it’s one of many similar extinguishers that can also get the job done.
How to DIY an Air Purifier
by Tim Heffernan
If your air quality is bad and you don’t have an air purifier, an HVAC filter taped to a box fan is better than nothing.
The Cure for Stolen Packages Is Here, If Only Delivery People Would Use It
by Rachel Cericola
Smart delivery boxes keep packages safe and alert you when they arrive. But in our testing, we found that they’re useful only if the delivery person uses them.
The Best Fire Escape Ladder
by Doug Mahoney
The X-It 2-Story Emergency Escape Ladder is simpler to set up, easier to climb, and more convenient for storage and practice use than any other ladder we tested.