DIY (Page 6)

PopSci's curated collection of life skills, tech tips, and hands-on projects we think you'll love.

Latest in DIY

a plugged in smart phone on a table

You can (and should) stop charging your phone when it hits 80 percent

pile of denim jeans closeup

How to clean your denim without ruining it

By Debbie Wolfe

The 8 best portable solar panels for on-the-go charging, tested by experts

The 8 best portable solar panels for on-the-go charging, tested by experts

retro TV against plain blue wall in empty room

How long do TVs last? When and why you should replace your set.

By Nicholas Ware

pile of clothes

How to pick the best fabrics for sweaty season

By Debbie Wolfe

a lawnmower cuts grass

You’re probably mowing your lawn wrong

By Debbie Wolfe

Entertainment app on iphone 14 pro in smartphone screen close up view

How to request all the data Netflix, Spotify, and other apps have on you

a pile of books on a wooden table

Why you should buy physical copies of your favorite books

tv antenna on the roof of a house

How to connect an antenna to a TV: Watch movies, shows, and sports for free

By Nicholas Ware

photo of an iphone screen with imessage icon showing one new message

This iPhone feature will filter out spam and texts from people you don’t know

DeWalt drill driver kits on a plain background

This $129 DeWalt drill and driver kit is the best Prime Day tool deal we’ve seen so far

By Stan Horaczek

LEVOIT OasisMist 1000S in a room with two happy people.

Humidifiers vs. Dehumidifiers: How they work and what you need

By John Alexander

blue shield with G on it along with other security icons like a lock, cursor and gear

Google is making dark web reports free for everyone. Here’s how they work.

white tank top with yellow armpit stains on a plain, orange background

How to remove sweat stains from white shirts

By Debbie Wolfe

two photos of little libraries. one is shaped like a cactus, the other is a simple blue box with glass windows

How to set up a Little Free Library

How to make a walkie talkie for your dog

How to make a walkie talkie for your dog

By Bill Gourgey

a person's hands typing on a typewriter

The 5 best writing apps that help avoid distractions

a microphone in front of a laptop on a desk

How to transcribe text for free using AI

The Best Home Wind Turbines Of 2024 on a plain white background.

The best home wind turbines, according to experts

By John Alexander, Nick Hilden

Best air quality monitors sliced header

The best air quality monitors, according to experts

By John Alexander

a pot of venus fly trap plants on a table

How to care for a Venus fly trap

By Debbie Wolfe

a computer on a yellow background

How to use the new Gemini AI tools built into Chromebooks

Vase with flowers on table near color wall

Science tricks to keep your flower bouquets looking fresh

By Debbie Wolfe

a robot using a computer

How to spot an AI-generated video

audio book concept with stack of books and headphones

5 places to listen to free audiobooks

The Best Power Drills

The best power drills, tested and reviewed

banana peel, orange peel, eggshells, coffee grounds on a wood countertop

6 kitchen scraps to throw in your garden

By Debbie Wolfe

a lake and hills on a tv

How to customize screensavers on your TV

map from 1761 showing the regions of that era in the northern hemisphere

Love history? Explore this interactive collection of old maps.

Fraudulent call centers are well known for targeting older adults.

Older Americans are at more risk of fraud than ever

By Laurie Archbald-Pannone / The Conversation

a hand holding an iphone that is glowing

All the AI features coming to Siri on your iPhone

orange bucket filled with leaves. a hose rests on the edge of the bucket with water coming out

How to build a mosquito kill bucket

By Debbie Wolfe

coffee can camera obscura

How to make a coffee can camera—in 1961 and today

By Bill Gourgey

a hand holding iphone with apps open

How to hide apps on your iPhone

an ipad propped up on a table displaying a photo of a black and white cat

Turn your old iPad into a digital picture frame

a smartphone with a map open on the dashboard of a car

How to share your ETA in Google Maps or Apple Maps

A cheap set of LEDs is the best way to upgrade your fancy new TV

By Stan Horaczek

a hand holding a phone with disney plus open

How to save money by jumping between streaming services

a pink laptop on a pink, red, white background with coffee cup

Windows and macOS can free up storage space for you—here’s how

vacuum on blue carpet

How often should you vacuum? It depends.

By Debbie Wolfe

a sandwich cut into a y shape

Is the Y cut the best way to slice a sandwich?

the gmail icon on an iphone in someone's hand

7 essential tips for using Gmail on your phone

two women with one in the background highlighted for removal with cursor

How Adobe Lightroom’s new AI tools can transform your photos

white fluffy clouds on blue sky

NASA needs your help identifying clouds

By Alisha McDarris

Amsterdam, Netherlands - 10 April, 2021: a chair in front of a book shelf with many books on it and a lamp sitting next to the chair

How to protect your books long term

By Debbie Wolfe

oats, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, honey, and aloe vera on a kitchen counter top

11 home remedies for mosquito bites to battle the itch

By Debbie Wolfe

iphones on purple

How to make text bigger—and 7 other iPhone tricks you might not know

screenshot of google search for 'dinosaurs' with tabs used

How to group tabs in Google Chrome (and free yourself from browser chaos)

screenshot of an AI google search result with a goodbye hand above

How to avoid AI in your Google searches

The composition of the iPhone XR front screen display has been used with several color variations, arranged on the table.

Turn your old iPhone into a dumb phone

A studio shot of a heap of Nintendo games shot from above.

Why you should still buy physical copies of video games

Editing micorosoft office excel file on screen macro close up view

How to use Microsoft Word and Excel for free

Amazon storage totes arranged in a pattern on a plain background for the deal

Get storage bins and totes for ridiculously cheap prices during Amazon’s spring cleaning sale

By Stan Horaczek

A phone with Apple Pay ready

How to set up Apple Pay

By Abby Ferguson

A phone with water in the speaker

How to get water out of your phone speaker

By Abby Ferguson

iPhone showing different AI options

Battle of the AI bots: Copilot vs ChatGPT vs Gemini

screenshot of apple's icloud settings

How to share iCloud storage

An Aura Carver frame displayed on a mantle showing a picture of a family together.

This Aura digital picture frame is on sale, just in time for Mother’s Day

Illustration of smartphone with messages chat.

8 handy iPhone keyboard tricks you might not know

rainbow crayons of darth vader, han solo, and lego minifigs on a countertop

How to recycle crayons into fun-shaped rainbow crayons

By Annie Colbert

Closeup image of a hand writing down on a white blank notebook on wooden table

Why writing by hand is better for remembering things

Woman Sleeping In Bed With Voice Assistant On Bedside Table Next To Her

How to use your smart speaker for better sleep

Redhead girl sitting on green spring grass writing down her thoughts in notebook.

Why you should journal while soaking up nature

By Alisha McDarris

stack of blu ray discs on a reflective table

Why you shouldn’t throw out those DVDs and Blu-Rays