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All the Reasons Why the Mug Warmer Is My Wintertime Best Friend

There are a few ways to keep your drinks warm: the insulated cup, smart mug, and the flat platform variety of mug warmer. Smart mugs and even insulated cups can be rather fancy but they can also fetch a high price. You’ll definitely seem them advertised this gifting season, but I say, resist! The unassuming platform mug warmer may not be a looker, but it is one million times more useful due to its versatile shape.

While I’ve always heard that the Ember smart mug is truly a joy, it’s still a cup, and a cup that must be paired with its particular base. You’re limited by both parts of the design—only things that can fit in the cup get warm, and you can’t interchange what that cup is. Ditto for insulated mugs; though they don’t need a base they don’t actively warm, they just hold the original temperature the best they can.

I suggest warmers with a completely flat design so you can warm containers of any shape.

COSORI Coffee Warmer & Mug Set Beverage Cup Warmer for Desk, 17oz.


$39.99
at Amazon

House Gem Mug Warmer – 36W Coffee Mug Warmer for Desk with Temperature Display, 2-12Hrs Auto Shut Off, Smart Candle Warmer – Ideal Coffee Gifts Accessories Keep Beverages Coffee Warmer (Wood) (Wood)


$25.99
at Amazon

Coffee Mug Warmer – Fastest Heating & Highest Temperature, Coffee Cup Warmer for Desk Auto Shut Off, 4 Temp Settings & 1-12H Timer, Smart Electric Beverage Warmer for Coffee, Tea, Water, Milk and Coco


$23.99
at Amazon

I admit, I viewed a mug warmer as a one-job wonder once, and as a slow sipper, I needed that single job to be done well. While it delivers at maintaining my coffee’s not-too-hot temperature, these days that’s low on the list of why it’s my cold weather best friend. A simple platform mug warmer is a low-key hot plate, so it’ll heat up whatever you throw on it (within reason). As long as the base of the container is heat-safe and fits on the platform, you’re warmin,’ folks. 

You can proof bread on a mug warmer

It should be called an all-purpose warmer because it’s great for food too. I first realized this when I was making bread on a cold day last March and the dough was barely rising during the proof time. My apartment was too chilly and the windows are North-facing, so not even sunlight could help. I decided to try my mug warmer. I put a ceramic dish on the warming plate and fabric pot holder on that. Then I placed the metal bowl of dough on top. I used an instant read thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature, since yeast doesn’t like to get too hot. The lowest setting and my semi-conductive barriers kept the dough at a toasty 85°F, and it rose like a puffy carb cloud. (You can read the full experience about proofing bread on a mug warmer here.) 

Use your mug warmer for soups and dips

Keeping coffee hot and proofing bread is already deserving of a round of applause, but I use my warmer for even more. I keep bowls of soup warm for lunch, bring butter to a spreadable consistency, and I address the age-old challenge of keeping cheesy dips warm. You don’t have to keep tossing the spinach artichoke dip in the microwave or silently bearing a cold, congealed buffalo chicken cheese dip. Plug in the electric mug warmer and place the bowl of dip right on top. Your cheese-based dip may not be steaming hot for the whole night, but it’ll be a friendly 135°F or so. This is helpful when you’re eating dip solo, but especially clutch for parties. 

Tips for mug warmer optimization 

You can’t put anything on a mug warmer, so check the packaging to see what materials are recommended. Mine can be used with tempered glass (like a coffee carafe), ceramic dishware, and metal. My everyday bowls are ceramic, so that’s what I use for dips and soups. 


Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

Maximize the heating power of your mug warmer by giving the bottom of the mug or bowl more contact points. If your dishware is completely flat underneath, you’re good, but most ceramics have a circular lip and central indentation called a “foot” on the bottom. That air pocket in the center isn’t too deep, but it’s enough space to make heating less effective. I usually put a quarter in the center of the mug warmer and put the mug on top of it. Then the quarter can conduct energy up to the center of the mug too giving you faster, more thorough results.

Why You Should Think Twice Before Using ‘Apple Pay Later’

Last year Apple introduced its own take on “buy now, pay later” (BNPL), Apple Pay Later. The name is a play on Apple’s existing mobile payment service, combined with the “pay later” appeal of BNPL financing. Using Apple Pay Later is essentially taking out a loan, like any BNPL service.

So how exactly does Apple Pay Later work, and what sets it apart from other BNPL programs—for better or for worse?

What is “buy now, pay later?”

A “buy now, pay later” service is exactly what it sounds like: You can make a purchase immediately, and then pay for it through a series of installments over time. Although BNPL has some perks for breaking up a major expense, there are risks involved. Even if these loans have little-to-no interest, you are still taking on debt. That’s why Lifehacker has previously advised against making a habit of using these services. They’re helpful if you really need to finance something big, but whenever possible, it’s best to avoid taking on debt for everyday expenses.

How does Apple Pay Later compare to other BNPL services?

Apple Pay Later works like most other BNPL services, like Klarna, Afterpay, Zip and ‘Pay in 4’ with PayPal. Apple Pay Later divides your purchase into four equal installments, each due two weeks apart, with the first payment due immediately. All of these services only offer one loan option of four interest-free payments. The interest-free aspect is key, and perhaps the biggest appeal of any BNPL program.

The perks: As Apple explains on their site, there’s no impact to your credit when you apply for an Apple Pay Later loan, and you’ll know if you’re approved in seconds. Plus, “to help prevent users from taking on more debt to pay back loans,” Apple doesn’t allow credit cards. That means you’ll need to link a debit card to the service. Plus, if you’re already an avid Apple Pay user, there’s the convenience of everything you do being all in one place.

There are limitations: Apple Pay Later is only for purchases between $50 and $1,000 made on iPhone and iPad devices that support Apple Pay. So, if you wanted to make a $500 purchase, your first payment would only be $125. Then you’d pay $125 three more times every two weeks.

The biggest difference between Apple Pay Later and competing BNPL services is that Apple doesn’t charge any fees. Klarna and Afterpay both charge fees for late payments, and Zip charges both late fees and fees on each installment.

What are the risks of Apple Pay Later?

As I mentioned above, Apple users may be drawn to the convenience of Apple Pay Later. However, that convenience might just be the biggest risk—both of Apple Pay Later, and perhaps BNPL services in general. They can make it all too easy to spend more than you can actually afford. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a report that shows BNPL users were more likely to have higher credit card debt, delinquencies on other credit products, and lower credit scores than nonusers.

In addition to the risks of BNPL as a financial practice, Apple Pay Later is, quite simply, ominous. Let’s say you don’t even fear the growing omnipotence of Apple as a company. For you, as a consumer: Do you really want the company that makes your phone and your laptop and your watch and your TV to also be…your bank? Your lender? Even if Apple Pay Later is not uniquely nefarious, it makes sense to think twice before giving one company so much power.

Tips for using Apple Pay Later

If you are going to use Apple Pay Later (or any BNPL service) keep these tips in mind:

  • Think about your current and future budget. When a bigger payment gets broken down into smaller installments, you might find yourself overspending in the long run because it “feels” like you can afford it. Stay on top of how much you’re actually spending, and how it will impact your overall budget going forward.

  • Stick to the essentials. BNPL should really only be used on completely necessary purchases that you can’t afford upfront, but can afford in six weeks.

  • Keep an eye on your account balance. Apple Pay Later is not a credit card. Even if Apple doesn’t charge fees for missed payments, your bank will still charge you overdraft fees. Plus, if you default on a BNPL loan, you’re at risk of damaging your credit score.

The most important thing is financial mindfulness: Before you use Apple Pay Later, be thoughtful about why you’re taking on this debt in the first place.

My Favorite Products for Cleaning the Bathroom

There is a surprising number of products marketed to help you clean your bathroom. You don’t need to spend a small fortune on the latest and greatest, but some products out there are still better than others—and as someone who writes about cleaning for a living, you can imagine I’ve tested a good many of them. Here are the ones I have found to be the best over the years.

The two best products for cleaning most of the bathroom

First up, do not worry about how you’re going to clean your tub, sink, toilet, and fixtures anymore. You really only need two products, and they both work fabulously. For porcelain and tile, pick up some Soft Scrub. I was first introduced to this product two summers ago, when my boyfriend very suddenly decided to get a boat. Every night when we docked, we were tasked with scrubbing away the salty water that covered the surfaces and quickly found Soft Scrub, with its mix of a little abrasion and a lot of suds, to be the most effective and least harmful product. From there, I got some for around the house. I think of it like a mild exfoliator for my stuff: It ever so slightly buffs and resurfaces, never scratches, and foams up to provide a good clean. For the bathroom, try a formulation with bleach.

Soft Scrub Liquid Cleanser With Bleach White 24 Oz

Soft Scrub Liquid Cleanser With Bleach White 24 Oz


$7.85
at Amazon
$9.99
Save $2.14

For your fixtures, like faucets or even the toilet flusher, I recommend the same thing I recommend for kitchen metals: Brasso. The seven-in-one polish is inexpensive—just under $5—and makes copper, steel, chrome, and more shine with ease.

For those tougher spots

In the past, I’ve recommended using electronic scrubbing brushes, which are great for helping ease the burden of having to really scrub at tiles, grout, and crevices. Since I started using the more-abrasive Soft Scrub, though, I find these a little unnecessary. For anything I do have to scrub a little extra at, I again recommend something I also suggest for the kitchen: My trusty Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Foamy. You get five of them for under $10 and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I buy one pack and use them all around my home. Like traditional melamine sponges, they make quick work of sticky messes and scuffs, but with little foaming pods of cleaner inside, they also suds up for extra grime-busting power.

That said, if you have a bunch of tiny crevices, one of those electronic brushes may still be in the cards for you. There is really no good reason to overwork your elbows when something like this exists and is only around $20.

Rubbermaid Reveal Multi-Purpose Scrub Brush

Rubbermaid Reveal Multi-Purpose Scrub Brush


$19.98
at Amazon

Other bathroom-cleaning essentials

I also keep a miniature squeegee in the tub and, when I finish my shower, use it to clean the glass. This has significantly reduced how often and how hard I need to clean the panes in general, as it prevents moisture buildup and stops water stains and streaks before they start. Here is the one I have, which is less than $10.

All-Purpose Stainless Steel Shower Squeegee for Shower Glass Door with 2 Adhesive Hooks, Bathroom Cleaner Tool Household Window Mirror Squeegee , Cleaning Tile Wall, Car, 10 Inch Silver

All-Purpose Stainless Steel Shower Squeegee for Shower Glass Door with 2 Adhesive Hooks, Bathroom Cleaner Tool Household Window Mirror Squeegee , Cleaning Tile Wall, Car, 10 Inch Silver


$9.49
at Amazon

$14.98
Save $5.49

For drain cleaning, I never use liquid cleaners or decloggers. I’ve never found them all that effective, at least not when compared with a drain weasel. It’s long, has a rotating handle, and easily yanks gunk and hair right out of the pipes, so routine use means you won’t end up in a situation where you have a bunch of clogs.

Finally, here’s something I don’t yet have but very much want, so I’m mentioning it as a means of putting out into the universe that I need one: the cordless window vacuum from Sharper Image, which you fill with water, stick to the glass, and let do the work for you. After spraying your glass, it even removes the water, then sorts it into a separate reservoir so the clean and dirty water never mix. It’s $68 and, admittedly, a little unnecessary if you only have a small mirror (which I do) and a bottle of Windex (which I also do), but it’s very cool, and that counts for something.

How to Speak With a Real Person at Amazon Customer Service

Amazon is one of the biggest retailers in the world, and that can make it quite challenging to shove past the FAQs, user forums, and Reddit threads to actually talk to a human over the phone. As you probably already know from trying to contact someone on Amazon’s “Contact Us” page, there is no direct number to call. That’s by design.

Luckily, there are other quicker ways to get a hold of someone who can listen to your specific issues, which may be helpful to keep in mind as its Black Friday deals roll in.

Get a super fast callback from Amazon

Amazon doesn’t like you calling directly, but that won’t stop us. The quickest way is to use this link to enter your number and have them call you right away, but if that doesn’t work, try these steps to get Amazon to call you fast:

  • Visit Amazon’s Contact Us page

  • Select Something Else

  • Select I need more help

  • Say “Request a phone call” from the customer service chat

  • Respond “Yes“

  • Select “Connect with a Customer Service Associate“

  • Say “Request a phone call”

  • Choose “Ok, I’ll enter my phone number” and click on the text to proceed to enter your number

Screenshot of chatting with Amazon chat box.

Credit: Daniel Oropeza

A new Amazon window will open up, its “Use our Call Me service.” Your number should autofill, but if not, make sure to type the correct one and click “Call me now.” I was called in less than three seconds and was talking to a human in less than 10 seconds.

As you can see from the screenshot, it takes a couple of tries on the chat to get the machine to give you the option of getting a callback, but that’s nothing a little persistence can’t fix. Keep in mind Amazon slightly tweaks this process every once in a while and your experience might vary because of many different factors, but the solution is likely to be very similar.

USDA Announces Approval of D-SNAP for Virginia Disaster Areas

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that people recovering from Tropical Storm Helene may be eligible for food assistance through USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Approximately 22,858 households in nine counties are estimated to be eligible for this relief to help with grocery expenses.

At the White House Tribal Youth Forum, USDA Announces New Investments in Tribal Students and Higher Education

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced Tribal higher education opportunities and investments to train the next generation of agricultural professionals. During his remarks, Secretary Vilsack announced $5 million in grants to support Tribal students at land-grant colleges and universities through the New Beginning for Tribal Students (NBTS) Program. These programs reflect USDA’s commitment to advance equity and remove barriers to service for Tribal Nations and encourage Tribal workforce development.