We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links. The LA Times editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more

Featured
A new component is quickly emerging as a must-have addition for blenders — the travel jar. Travel jars offer the convenience of blending and enjoying your favorite drinks on the go. With their compact size and secure lids, these portable containers make it easier than ever to maintain a healthy lifestyle while keeping up with your busy schedule.
April 01, 2024
Bestcovery has tested several blenders over the past few weeks to help you find the best one for your home. If you still don't know which one to get, we’ve got another comparison for you! Below is my honest review and comparison of the Blendtec GO Travel Bottle and Base and the Beastmode blender by Beast. Whether you’re looking for convenience, versatility, or durability, we’ll break down the features of both options to help you make the right choice.
March 22, 2024
When it comes to finding the right blender for your needs, there are many options to choose from. From small compact blenders to high-powered, professional-grade models, every blender has its own features and capabilities. To help you find the perfect blender, Bestcovery put popular ones to the test! Below is my honest review of the Beast Blender, including what I liked, what could be improved, and whether or not I’d recommend it.
March 12, 2024
Most Popular
  • Are you on the hunt for a new blender but having a hard time making a decision? Feeling overwhelmed with choices? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Vitamix and Blendtec stand as major contenders in the blender market, so Bestcovery put them to the test. Check out my honest review and comparison below to determine which one truly reigns supreme in this ultimate blender showdown.
    February 23, 2024
  • In today's fast-paced world full of busy schedules, even essential tasks like oral hygiene can sometimes get rushed or overlooked. The Y-Brush Electric Toothbrush offers a promising solution to this common problem. Unlike traditional toothbrushes that recommend a full two-minute brushing session, the Y-Brush only takes 20 seconds to do the job.
    December 01, 2023
  • There's nothing quite like the feeling of a new pair of leggings, especially when you find one that fits just right. Athleta and Lululemon, two major companies in the athletic apparel industry, claim to have the best leggings. They're both popular brands with thousands of good reviews, but which one is better? We decided to settle the debate ourselves! We tested a pair of leggings from both brands to help you decide which one is worth investing in.
    October 13, 2023
  • The world of adhesive is vast and sprawling, but the king of the hill has to be epoxy. There is a special kind of epoxy for every application from simple, wooden joinery to plugging leaks in boat hulls. Choose the right one and the end result will be a joint or repair that is both strong and astoundingly long lived.We've narrowed down our selections to the most commonly-encountered types of epoxy, though this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of every type of epoxy that exists. Our recommendations take into consideration the overall effectiveness of each best epoxy in 2022, value for money, availability both off- and online, user reviews, and personal experiences with each.The following categories are represented below:Best All-Purpose EpoxyBest Wood EpoxyBest Metal EpoxyBest Plastic EpoxyBest Putty EpoxyBest Waterproof EpoxyWhere applicable, we've included multiple recommendations for your convenience. All of the epoxies selected here are great products, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference.
    February 03, 2016
Home
  • Electric stove heaters are made to resemble old fashioned wood burning stoves, but seek to better them by lessening the pollution and amount of work it takes to maintain them. Plugged into a wall output, they are much like any heater, but display images of flickering flames to create a glowing ambiance. A quality electric stove heater should be able to emit enough heat to effectively warm a small space while remaining cool to the touch.Although most of these units can be surprisingly heavy on your utility bill if used constantly, they should ideally be efficient enough to regularly provide supplemental heat to a space. Electric stove heaters are generally quite sparse when it comes to features, with simple controls to change the temperature and flame size. However, some include a remote control and the Dimplex TDS8515TB even includes built-in filtration to improve air quality. How realistic the flames look is subjective, but the best electric stove heaters in 2022 should be able to effectively provide supplemental heat to a room, while having simple controls and an attractive design.
    September 02, 2014
  • An electric fireplace can provide you with the warmth of a traditional fireplace, but without the hassle of lighting it, cleaning it, or even the expense of having one installed. These fireplaces come in many different designs, from the most simplistic to very elegant and traditional. Many offer you the versatility of operating the fireplace with or without heat, allowing you to enjoy your fireplace year-round. These units will require a bit of assembly, but the process is usually simple; they plug in to a standard wall outlet. Most of the following electric fireplaces are mantel designs, which can allow for putting a television or decorations on top. A wall mounted fireplace uses up less space, and is usually better for rooms where space is at a premium. The best electric fireplaces in 2022 offers not only an attractive design and easy assembly, but also the ability to add heat and ambiance to the room, thanks to their built-in heaters and flame effect.
    September 02, 2014
  • Good paint brushes will provide excellent service for years, that is, if they’re properly taken care of. Proper cleaning and wrapping of a brush is an essential part of making sure that it will be usable for the next several years; but not everyone cleans their brushes properly. Granted, having to stop basking in the joy of just having finished an interior decorating project, to clean your brushes isn't exactly something to bring joy to the heart. Many people put off cleaning their brushes but unfortunately, the longer you put it off, the harder those brushes are to clean. Leave them sitting long enough and they hard as a rock. Modern acrylic/latex paints are much easier to clean out of paint brushes than oil-based paints are. All that's required most of the time is some warm water and a little bit of dish soap. But if the brush has been dipped too far into the paint, allowed to sit with paint in it or used in a hot environment  where paint hardens quickly, they can be extremely hard to clean. In those cases, a brush cleaner may be needed. The problem isn't usually the paint that's on the ends of the bristles or even the paint which hardens on the outside of them. Rather, it's the paint that works its way up into the center of the bristles, close to the ferrule that holds the bristles and handle together. When this paint hardens, it eliminates the bristles' flexibility making it very easy for them to break. Even brushes with paint hardened up close to the ferrule can be salvaged, if one has the patience to work with them. Brush cleaners will soften that paint, allowing it to be cleaned out. Since the bristles are packed so close together, cleaning out that softened paint takes time, working them with a brush comb. As the brush comb pulls out the softened paint, the bristles will become more pliable. Once all the paint is pulled out (which takes quite a bit of work) the bristles can be cleaned with soap and warm water to remove the chemical cleaner. Not all chemical cleaners are created equal. Some clearly work better than others and some are limited in the types of paint they will work with. It's important to know what type of paint the brush has in it, before selecting a cleaner. Professional painters use different types of brushes for different types of paint, so this identification is easy for them. Most homeowners attempt to use the same type of brush for everything, so you'll have to look at the paint can labels to find out what type of paint you used. After cleaning any paint brush, it should be wrapped in the original wrapper, so that it can maintain a good shape. High quality brushes come with wrappers which are designed to be reusable for this very reason. If you don't have the original wrapper, you can wrap them instead in newspapers, being careful to shape the bristles correctly to form a nice wedge.For more information on what to look at in selecting the best brush cleaner in 2022, We have listed below the brush cleaner available for you to help you decide what product is best to buy.
    August 28, 2014
  • The process of soldering differs from welding in that it connects two pieces of metal together by melting a third piece of metal, one with a lower melting point. Welding, on the other hand, actually requires melting the metal that is being connected together. While additional metal might be added to the weld joint, it is of the same type that is being connected together. Soldering can actually be used for a variety of purposes, such as "sweating" copper plumbing pipe together and making jewelry. However, when we’re talking about using a soldering iron, we aren't talking about those types of soldering. To solder plumbing pipe or jewelry, a torch is used. Although large soldering irons were used in the past by a tinsmith, in our modern era, the only thing a soldering iron is used for is making electrical connections. The main reason why a soldering iron is used for electrical soldering rather than a torch is to localize the heat, controlling it so that it can't damage the components. While you could probably solder wires together with a torch, if you were to try and solder a printed circuit card with one, you would destroy it. As electronic technology has improved over the years, there has been a need to improve the quality of soldering irons used for working on its components. The copper traces on modern circuit boards are much smaller than those found on electrical equipment manufactured 30 years ago. This means that the soldering irons must have better temperature control, as well as a smaller tip. A large tip or too hot a soldering iron could burn the board, detaching the copper traces. Professional soldering irons used in industry are fairly expensive devices, often costing several hundred dollars. The main advantage of these tool is that they provide very accurate and adjustable temperature control. This allows the user to set the ideal temperature for the work they’re doing and be assured it will maintain that temperature within a very small tolerance. For consumers, these soldering irons are a bit too much. I have one, which I've had for over 25 years, and it works remarkably well. But most of the soldering I do doesn't require that good a soldering iron, even when I'm repairing electronic equipment. On the other end of the spectrum, there are inexpensive pencil type soldering irons with no temperature control whatsoever. The only control there is comes from the rating of the heating element. A higher wattage heating element will put out more heat than a lower wattage one. These inexpensive soldering irons aren't good enough for working on printed circuit boards but if all you are going to do is to solder wires together, they’re adequate for the task. When selecting a soldering iron, you must select one appropriate to the purpose for which you’re going to use it. Always buy one adequate for your most critical task because that way it will work for less critical tasks as well. In this list, we are going to concentrate on soldering irons suitable for work on printed circuit boards, as selecting one for this application is harder than selecting an inexpensive one for simply soldering wires together. There are three basic power sources for soldering irons; plugging them into the wall, batteries, or butane. While plugging in a soldering iron is less convenient, these soldering irons are the best for working on sensitive electronics, as they are the ones which provide ideal temperature control. Battery operated soldering irons don't work well as they go through batteries quickly and as the battery is used, the iron temperature drops. Butane models are good for emergency repairs in places where there is no electrical power, but one must be careful about damaging electronics with them. We've compiled the best soldering irons in 2022.
    August 28, 2014
  • The best time to shop for a gas furnace is before cold weather hits so that you’re not forced to make a quick decision. While those who live in mild climates may have the luxury of shopping around— even in the winter— people in the colder areas will want their furnace in place well before any cold spell. Gas furnaces are a considerable monetary investment and must also be installed correctly, so it’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the furnace models you are considering.The following gas furnaces are not central units and instead are suited for more localized heating. We've selected furnaces that are relatively simple to install, although local codes and regulations may create their own challenges and not everyone will be comfortable doing the installation themselves. These furnaces range in price to suit every budget and nearly all of the following gas furnaces can be converted to use either natural gas or propane, expanding your options. Check out our list of the best gas furnaces in 2022 below.
    August 27, 2014
Health & Beauty
  • If your mattress no longer feels as soft or supportive as it once did, you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars replacing it — look into a mattress topper instead. Mattress toppers provide sleepers with greater comfort and support to improve sleep duration and quality throughout the night. But with dozens to hundreds of options out there at all times, how do you find the best mattress topper? We can help! We did the research and compiled a list of the five best-rated mattress toppers of 2023. Whether you need better support or just some additional softness, we’ve got you covered.Price Legend:$: 200-300$$: 301-400$$$: 401+To create our list of top mattress toppers, we considered factors such as material, softness, comfort level, and durability. Check out our list below for the best mattress pad for your bed!
    August 16, 2023
  • Your hair dryer is a vital tool in your hair-styling arsenal that helps you avoid vulnerability to wet hair damage and turns limp, lifeless locks into voluminous curls. With the best quality hair dryer, you can achieve a wide range of looks thanks to various attachments, like concentrators and diffusers. Choose the wrong one, and you could end up with singed ends, frizz, tangles, noisy operation, and more. There are hundreds of options on the market, so what’s the best hair dryer, and how do you know?Bestcovery has done the research for you so that, in 2023, you understand what makes the best hair dryer on the market and can make the best decision for your hair type. Let’s dive into the best hair dryers of 2023.Price legend$: 0 - 100$$: 101 - 200$$$: 201+
    June 23, 2023
  • If you shave your face, then you know that finding the right electric shaver can be easier said than done. Each model has its own capabilities and drawbacks, but it can be hard to decipher which models deliver on their promises, let alone which one is best for your face. With so many options on the market, we took a look at five of the best facial shavers on the market in 2023, so you decide for yourself which one is the perfect fit for you!
    April 16, 2023
  • An accurate bathroom scale is necessary for anyone who values maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Regularly weighing yourself can help you monitor progress toward your weight loss or fitness goals and can also serve as a warning sign if you start to gain or lose weight unexpectedly; sudden weight gain or loss can indicate a health condition, such as thyroid problems, diabetes, or heart disease. In this article, we share our top picks for the best bathroom scales of 2023 based on a range of factors, including smart features like Bluetooth connectivity, mobile app integration, and fitness tracking capabilities. We have also looked at more traditional scales, focusing on accuracy and ease of use. Here are our recommended bathroom scales for 2023.Price Legend:$: 0 - 75$$: 75 - 150$$$: 150+
    April 12, 2023
  • If you struggle with stress, restlessness, or anxiety like so many others, high-quality, restful sleep may be difficult to come by. Fortunately, when weighted blankets entered the market, they provided a solution to those long, frustrating nights of insomnia. Could a weighted blanket be your key to better sleep?Weighted blankets are designed to weigh down your body and imitate the feeling of being hugged, which has a calming effect on the nervous system — but not all weighted blankets are created equal. There are many options available today that come in different materials and styles, each with its own features and benefits. With the market for weighted blankets expanding rapidly, knowing which one to choose can be challenging.That's why we've conducted extensive research and testing to bring you a comprehensive guide to the best weighted blankets on the market in 2023. We'll break down the key features to look for, offer insight into the materials, and provide recommendations based on our testing and analysis. Whether you're a hot sleeper, have specific weight preferences, or are looking for a certain design or fabric, we have you covered. Read on to find the perfect blanket to help you get a better night's sleep.[Price legend]$ 0 - 75$$ 75 - 150$$$ 150+Below, we’ve listed our top choices for the best weighted blankets based on their comfort, durability, weight, size, and overall effectiveness in promoting better sleep, to name a few. You’ll find options ranging from budget-friendly to luxuriously high-end.
    March 03, 2023