30 Walmart Products You'll Be Proud You Bought
Price: $8.97
A smart pill organizer, a splurge-worthy option for anyone whose routine includes taking a large amount of medication or anyone who has trouble remembering that they have medication to take (me, too 🙋🏽♀️). This automatically dispenses the right pills at the right time *and* you can set up to six alarms to remind you throughout the day. You can set this up on the app or directly on the dispenser. If your life has added a new wave of supplements, this will help you stay on track.
Promising review: "Works exactly as advertised. Mother has Alzheimer's and was missing doses about half the time. Now she doesn't miss any. Loading information needs to be clearer, but machine is great so far." —JonathanPrice: $149.88
A pack of Stasher reusable silicone snack bags for a stylish and eco-friendly way to store your snacks. You can use them for your lunch or put them in the fridge to separate your favorite fruits or cheeses. You can also use them to store your toiletries for travel.
Promising review: "These are a wonderful alternative to plastic bags. I cut up vegetables and place them in the freezer to use in soups." —NancyPrice: $26.99 (available in other quantities)
A Ninja Crispi — my personal kitchen helper that's helped me cook at home more and more. How can you not cook at home when this nifty and compact device makes it so easy? It has four settings that allow you to make small or family-sized meals. It comes with a handy booklet with recipes and guides on settings for your favorite meals (it even has one for frozen hashbrowns, my personal fave). And when you're done cooking, the glass cooking dish is also your storage container *with* a lid.
Promising review: "I love this little machine. It replaces my big Ninja air fryer, and does so much more. It fries, but also cooks, keeping foods moist and juicy. I have cooked several things in it, and will continue to add more. Small, quiet, and fast; that's a great combination!" —SherryPrice: $149 (available in three colors)
A 12-month budget planner to help you manage your finances. This planner does come with a calendar, but it also comes with so much more. Through money-focused sheets, this planner helps you track your expenses, savings, bills, and set financial goals. It comes with 176 stickers to make budgeting fun!
The planner includes a handy pen holder and an inner pocket for storing important receipts or documents.Promising review: "Love this budget planner. I have to put myself on a budget, and this is helping. Only had it for a few days, and I'm learning how to save, and I'm so glad I bought this." —AshleyPrice: $15.99+ (available in three colors)
A spray bottle of E.l.f. Skin Suntouchable because you need to reapply your SPF every two hours, and this helps you do just that *without* ruining your makeup. It's kinda boss. Also, it acts as a setting spray, so each spritz not only protects you from the sun's rays, but it also protects your makeup from the sun's heat, so it doesn't melt off.
Promising review: "I participate in an outdoor sport later in the afternoon, and I was concerned that the sunscreen I'd applied in the morning wasn't providing me any protection later in the day when I most needed it. Cue the E.l.f. sunscreen spray! I just give myself a few spritzes before heading out to my sport, and my face is more protected from the late-day rays. This definitely does not take the place of cream sunscreen, but it's a great option for renewed protection when you already have a full face of makeup." —AnnePrice: $14 (originally $16.99)
A flying insect trap that'll lure and trap flies, fruit flies, moths, mosquitoes, and gnats. Plus, it does double duty as a nice night-light, too. In a matter of hours, you'll see those flying pests get trapped one after the other.
Promising review: "I wasn't sure I would like this thing, but I just LOVE IT! I plan on getting a second one for the other side of this house, but this one does a great job of trapping big or small flying insects that come near it. It is hard to pull the clear covering off of the sticky portion, but I'm very old with weak hands and it took several tries to get it off, BUT it is FULLY WORTH the effort!!!" —GeraldinePrice: $14.48 (also available in a four-pack)
A pack of pimple patches because these on-the-go pimple fighters can work on your pimples while you break through the rest of your busy day (or even better, while you sleep). When you see that pimple come to a head, place this patch on top for a *no pop* solution.
Promising review: "I HIGHLY recommend these, you can barely see them on the skin and they actually do work. I use them at night, and the next morning, they basically make any blemish either disappear or way less red/noticeable! I also have extremely sensitive skin (rosacea and psoriasis), and it does not irritate my face at all! 10/10" —DestinyPrice: $10.98 for 27 patches
Billie Women's Moonbeam Razor Kit, my go-to razor for the last three years. When you feel like getting silky smooth, this is the razor you want. It has five ultra-sharp blades that glide over the skin thanks to the built-in aloe shave bar. You'll get a smooth, irritation-free glide each time. Plus, it comes with a magnetic holder that keeps it dry and rust-free. The glow-in-the-dark handle? Just a little extra razzle-dazzle.
Promising review: "Absolutely love this razor!! It glides smoothly and definitely gives a good close shave. I have nerve damage in one of my legs, and this glides easily over the leg without causing discomfort because I don't have to press down so hard. *Bonus is the magnetic shower hanger — two seconds to stick to the shower wall, and you're good to go. Haven't had an issue with it falling, it's a strong little bugger. Definitely recommend!!" —AmyPrice: $10.47
A power spin scrubber with an adjustable extension handle and a variety of heads that'll work hard to wipe the dirt out of every crevice in your home. It puts in the work with minimal strain on your back and neck.
Promising review: "This turned out to be an amazing item. I have been using it to scrub old, greasy kitchen cabinets, bathroom walls, etc. I sprayed the walls with a foamer, then scrubbed them with the large round bristle brush. It saves so much time and energy, and it also really gets the grime off. I was a bit skeptical at first, thinking it might not be powerful enough, but it does a great job. The battery lasted about an hour, stop and go, while scrubbing bathroom walls. It charged up quickly enough, too. This was definitely a worthwhile buy." —skye63Price: $49.98
A Keurig coffee maker because you work from home and deserve to have a *break room* with all the fuel you need to get through another productive day. While you'd love to patron your local coffee shop, on the days you can't or prefer to stay home, you'll still be able to whip up a tasty cup of coffee.
Promising review: "Easy, peazy, lemon squeezy. This coffee maker is great. The amount of effort to get a cup of coffee is basically just adding water to the reservoir. You choose the pod of coffee you want, put it in the bin, choose how much coffee you want, and voila, you have a steaming hot cup of coffee." —MarshaPrice: $39.97 (available in four colors)
A variety pack of Eggo waffle coffee pods if you're tired of your usual flavor of coffee and want to go full nostalgia. Reviewers say the coffee actually tastes like waffles *and* the variety pack features waffle flavors that include maple, blueberry, vanilla, chocolate chip, and cinnamon toast.
Promising review: "I was so excited to try these Eggo waffle–flavored coffee pods, and they did not disappoint! Each flavor has a warm, buttery waffle taste with just the right amount of sweetness. The variety pack is a fun way to switch things up, and every cup smells amazing — like fresh waffles in the morning! The coffee itself is smooth and not too overpowering, making it perfect for breakfast or a cozy treat." —jenniferPrice: $23.99+ (available in six flavors)
A mold and mildew remover for a simple no-scrub way to get rid of the mold and mildew that seems to have moved in with you, refusing to leave. All you have to do is shake, apply, and wait for the magic to dissolve the stains. 🧳
Promising review: "I was skeptical, but I had to try something because the mold was getting worse in my apartment. And it's been growing for years. I could get some off, but not all of it. I just got this spray about 30 minutes ago, and I went and sprayed around the apartment. Instantly gone, even the areas I have tried to scrub. I'm amazed, and not much amazes me. I need this in stock. Most definitely worth the money." —LatashaPrice: $14.67 (originally $19.99)
A Dreo pedestal fan just begging to ease your heat-stricken pain when the temp starts to rise in your room. This fan has three modes and nine speeds to change the vibes from a cool breeze to full-on arctic chill. It has 120-degree oscillation vertically *and* horizontally. If you're battling it out without the help of AC this summer, you'll be happy you have this.
Promising review: "This thing is a beast! Super quiet, tiny footprint, but POWERFUL! It's like a pixie with Herculean strength! Took me five minutes to unbox and put this item together! It looks sleek, too. It has more speeds than any fan I've ever owned. I wouldn't be surprised to wake up to it making me breakfast in bed, it's that good! I freaking love this fan. 100% worth every penny, no, it's worth more! 🥰" —TorriePrice: $93.97
A hypoallergenic face and body wash with oat extract from Aveeno, perfect to get your outdoor-loving kiddo squeaky clean from head to toe without irritating or drying out their skin. Parents who used Aveeno Baby were happy to have a skin-safe body wash they could use for their big kid.
Promising review: "We have always loved Aveeno. My daughter has always struggled with sensitive skin, so we have always used the Aveeno baby wash. We have been using the baby wash for the last 10 years (wellllll past the 'baby stage'), but anytime I would switch to a 'big kids' soap, she would have irritated skin. When I saw Aveeno came out with a 'kids' version, I knew we had to try it! And it has been amazing!" —JessicaPrice: $10.98
A ~fizzy~ drain cleaner so you can experience the sweet smell of lemons when you go to use the restroom, as opposed to an odor that makes you wonder if there really is a swamp person loitering under the sink. This tablet uses its fizzy power to freshen and clean your drain.
Promising review: "These are a MUST. I use them in my kitchen and bathroom just to freshen up the sinks. It has a pleasant smell, but it doesn't linger too long, and it doesn't bring out any gross smells that might be hiding in the drain. I noticed that after starting to use these regularly, I didn't smell any fishy or gross smells coming from my sink anymore. I recommend these to all my friends and buy them every time I see them. I love the ones made for the washer and dishwasher, too! Plink is a favorite in my household!" —MinaPrice: $4.98
An Ergo hand gardening tool perfect for digging small holes and turning soil. The shape of the tool is ergonomically designed to reduce fatigue.
Promising review: "This is a great trowel for gardening. I do try to put my tools away when not in use, and even though it gets left out sometimes, it's still in great shape! Low-cost and functional tool that helps keep the garden planted." —RebekahPrice: $8.94
A pretty gorgeous stand mixer here to rekindle your love of baking or finally working up the nerve to attempt that viral recipe for spicy queso dip. Small but mighty, this handy tool can mix up to five dozen cookies at one time. It has 12 speeds and a tilt head, which makes it easy to add ingredients between mixing.
Promising review: "I love this mixer! I did a lot of research and wanted something that wouldn't break the bank but works just as well as a KitchenAid. This mixer is amazing. It's lightweight with suction to stick to the counter. It's small enough to live on my small counter and not be bulky. The color is amazing as well. I've mixed Shea butter with oils on speed eight, and it took no time to mix up properly." —AliPrice: $59 (available in seven colors)
A soak-and-strain colander with a rotating colander to make washing your veggies and fruits that much easier. Now, when you tip it over, you won't lose any precious berries to the sink drain. An ideal find for draining pasta, too.
Price: $9.97
A boucle storage ottoman in case you're looking for a fun and cozy option that looks like a cloud landed in the middle of your living room. It's a surprise piece of furniture. One moment, you've got your feet kicked up watching the latest episode of Severance. The next, *surprise* you're pulling out a little blanket to throw over your feet when it gets chilly. It's also great for use as a mini toy chest that'll still blend with your house vibes.
Promising review: 'Such a cute, trendy ottoman! Perfect for additional seating in my small college apartment! It also works great for storage for our blankets! I will definitely be buying another color.' —SusiePrice: $49 (available in three colors)
A slab of "the world's best" pumice stone that'll remove the hard callused surface skin on your feet just in time for a warm-weather vacay. 🏖️
Promising review: "This thing is magic and gave me really soft feet. My feet were so soft, I almost slipped in the shower. Would definitely buy again." —SsmithPrice: $5.72
A detangling brush you can use on both wet and dry hair — to help you actually look forward to ~wash day~. The brush has an ergonomic grip, so you can maintain your mane without your hand cramping up. It also has two-tiered teeth, which are good for getting through straight or curly hair and reducing frizz with ease.
Promising review: "I struggle with dreadlocks if I do not keep up on brushing and conditioning my hair. Recently, I was sick and my hair got really tangled, this was the only thing that restored my locks to shiny untangled-ness. Highly recommend. Works great on dogs, horses, and goats, too!" —BrendaPrice: $12.97 (available in two colors)
A monochrome wireless portable label maker ready to keep organization at your fingertips. Whether you're at work or reorganizing the pantry at home, this mini label printer will go where you go and stay ready for action. It's inkless, too, so no worries about running out of ink.
Just a heads up that this is single-color only and uses special sticky-backed rolls.Promising review: "My tween daughter and I both love this! We haven't run out of uses for it. She is a budding artist who also likes putting labels on everything in the fridge, and I use it for inventory for my small business. It came with paper and a charging cable. It was easy to set up and took less than five minutes to use from our iPhone. Would recommend to anyone for many uses." —SayraePrice: $24.64 (originally $28.30; available in five colors)
A magnetic key holder in the shape of an adorable cloud that'll ensure you never have to wonder where your keys are. Losing things really has a way of raining on your parade.
Promising review: "Just as described and very sturdy magnets. Very cute cloud design, too." —MiddleburgMommaMPrice: $10 (available in two colors)
A beauty spatula to get every 👏🏽 single 👏🏽 ounce 👏🏽 of makeup out of your jar. Get the most out of your makeup budget and waste no drops.
Promising review: "I have been looking for a product to help me get the last bits of my liquid makeup out, and this tool has done the job. Because of the Spatty, I've gotten over a month of extra makeup out of the jar. Already saving me money. Definitely recommend to others!" —AleeleePrice: $8.87
An eyeliner stamp that'll easily shave a good 45 minutes off your makeup routine by — brace yourself — stamping your eyeliner so that it's picture-perfect every time. No more spending all that time wiping off the mistake and trying again.
Promising review: "This is the only stamp eyeliner I will ever buy. The stuff works, it stays on, and it gives the perfect wing stamp. I give it five stars, it is that good, and I've tried other ones in the past, and they do not work. I highly recommend buying this one." —DianaPrice: $5.98
A tea tree oil body wash because it's an all-natural solution that claims to help with itching, athlete's foot, yeast infections, and other skin irritations.
Read more about tea tree oil: how it can help with athlete's foot from Mayo Clinic.Promising review: "This body wash does not have an overpowering fragrance; it is light and refreshing. Afterwards, I feel clean and fresh, unlike some other brands that can feel like there is a coating on my skin and would have an overwhelming fragrance cloud. I will definitely be buying this product again." —NitramkPrice: $15.27 (originally $17.47)
A StopShroom from the makers of the viral TubShroom that shoppers say is equally as effective for bath lovers. Just place it over your drain and the StopShroom will *stop* the flow of water. It's great for taking baths, washing dishes, or any other activity when you don't want the water to flow down the drain. And if you already have the TubShroom, you don't have to remove it to use this device.
Promising reviews: "Moved into an apartment and the shower doesn't work, and the drain won't stop. Bought this and it worked beautifully for baths! Fits over any drain like a weighted dome! Love it." —Victoria"We use the TubShroom on our tub drain when showering to make sure hair and gunk don't create a clog. The best solution we've found so far. Works great! I also like to take baths, and this goes right over the TubShroom perfectly and seals the drain easily and without any water leaks. I love that my TubShroom filter stays in and still keeps clogs away when my bath drains. I also love that it seals 100% for my bath and easily sticks into place and pulls off easily when the bath is done." —AmyPrice: $5 (originally $9.97)
A pair of bed suspenders so you can get a good night's rest without having to spend precious sleepy time minutes readjusting your fitted sheet for the umpteenth time.
Promising review: "A little tough to attach, in my opinion it's a two-person job, but it has held up for months! My sheet used to come up over the edge every night, and since these have been put on, I haven't had the hassle of fixing the sheet every morning, and it's WONDERFUL!" —BlakePrice: $3.97 for a pack of four
A disposable Clorox toilet cleaning kit that'll make cleaning the commode simple and easy. Just take the wand, stick it on a cleaning pod, scrub scrub scrub, and then eject the pod into the trash.
The kit comes with a toilet wand, a storage caddy, six disposable refills, and 10 rainforest-scented refills. Promising review: "THANK YOU, CLOROX. I was using regular toilet brushes for many years, and then I saw this disposable one. I gave it a try and NOW I AM HOOKED. I also use it on my bathtub and the tile in my shower. The old style scrubbers just were not getting things cleaned enough for me...the new Clorox scrubbers do get things cleaned enough for me. I am now seeing some staining begin to disappear." —HelenPrice: $11.98
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Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
How do you know when it's the right time to say goodbye to a beloved dog?
Mazie was my sweet girl, a jaunty caramel-colored spaniel with bulgy brown eyes that radiated love, even in her final days when she fell almost every time she tried to stand. At least, that's the version I want to believe. But since Mazie died on April 29, I've talked to veterinarians who say our dog and cat companions don't show pain the way humans do. So was it really love in her eyes at the end, or was it desperation? We never knew Mazie's origin story. My sister, a former animal control officer, spotted her running in heavy traffic in 2012 and managed to coax her into her car. We spent a couple months searching for her owner — she was such a beautiful dog we figured somebody must be missing her — but Mazie wasn't chipped and no one claimed her, so she joined our family, first in my sister's home and finally mine, where she became a doting companion to my late husband, who had Alzheimer's. She was definitely a looker, prancing like a show dog after she was groomed, and was always cheerful and loving — except with lizards, whom she hunted and devoured with relish. In her glory years, she'd dart out of open doors or find the tiniest opening in a fence, and run down the street, looking back at her pursuers with laughing eyes. We couldn't stop her on foot, but she wasn't hard to catch. The chase ended with someone driving by her side. She'd jump in the car happily, give her captor a toothy grin and then curl into a contented nap, probably dreaming of her next escape. We guessed her age at about 15 when her decline began. Over the next year and a half, she slowly deteriorated from a nimble, mischievous little mutt who adored our daily jaunts to a deaf and shrunken trooper who staggered with a drunken lilt but still insisted on 'walkies' even though her pace was glacial and she couldn't manage more than a couple blocks. I agonized about what to do but never made concrete plans. Instead, I fretted — how do you know when it's time to say goodbye? I'd always told myself, 'When she stops eating, that's when I'll know,' but Mazie ate heartily up until her last few days. She slept more and more, but anytime I changed rooms she would slowly rouse herself and follow on unsteady, spindly legs. Our kind veterinarian shook her head at Mazie's tenacity and said, 'She'll let you know when she's ready to go,' but my sweet girl seemed stubbornly intent on staying alive and I had neither the heart nor the will to intervene. Instead I did what apparently many people do. I froze in my grief and my guilt, and watched her waste away. I didn't want her to die in a sterile exam room. And when I called a mobile vet, just randomly chosen from online, I recoiled when they quoted a fee of $750. So I stalled. I think I was hoping for some kind of Hollywood death, where she would give me one last affectionate lick, then close her eyes and quietly die. And that's kind of what happened until her final hours when her breathing became so labored she was writhing and wrenching herself upright trying to get air. That memory haunts me. I sat beside her that whole day, the way I attended the deaths of five people I loved, but they had hospice drugs to ease their passing. Why couldn't I do better for my little dog? 'These are not easy decisions; who wants to play God?' said veterinarian Lorraine Watson of DR 4 PETS, a home euthanasia service for dogs and cats. 'But you have to set some guidelines, and think about their quality of life. Our animals don't complain, they just live in the moment, and if you provide them with the basic necessities to keep going they can keep going for a long time, but are they happy? Because that's just as important as whether they're still eating.' There isn't really a magic formula for knowing when it's time, said veterinarian Robin Holmes, who worked in general practice for 20 years until 2013, when she founded Gifts of Peace, an in-home pet euthanasia service serving the San Gabriel Valley. Even with all her experience, Holmes said she struggled with the decision about when to euthanize her ailing elderly dog Gemios 'a 20-pound fluff ball' who had been in her family for years. 'You would think with all my knowledge I would just look at things medically, but every time I'd think, 'Oh it's time,' he'd have a couple of good days.' Ultimately, it was her ex-husband who helped her decide. He kept Gemios for a weekend when she had to travel and when she returned, he said, ''You do know it's time to make this decision?' And yes, I knew it in my heart, but it was still hard for me to make that decision. And three months later, I'm still grieving.' Oftentimes, Holmes said, veterinarians will just tell people, ''She'll let you know' and 'As long as she's still eating, she's fine,' but I'd like that last phrase to get lost because our patients will eat because their body says they need to eat; it's not an indication of good quality of life. I always tell people to just trust your instincts because you know them best.' All things considered, I was lucky that Mazie's death was relatively peaceful until the end, Watson said, but if she'd had cancer or muscular/skeletal problems like painful arthritis, her suffering could have been much worse,' and that crosses the line. That's why you need to be in tune with your pet to see the signs of pain.' For example, Watson said, a big dog might pace or circle for a while to lie down because it hurts so much to get down. They might stumble or fall often or get trapped behind furniture because their legs aren't working well. They might be panting or breathing rapidly even at rest because they're hurting, and their facial expressions will change. 'Their ears aren't up or their eyes aren't fully open or bright or you get a grimace expression on a cat, or they're withdrawing and hiding under the bed. Withdrawing is what wild animals do in nature. They get left behind by the pack or they'll hide under a bush because they know something's not right. And it's the same with our pets, they'll withdraw and oftentimes not interact as much with their people because they don't feel well.' Pain can also lead to appetite suppression, she said, so the animals start losing weight along with muscle mass, making them weaker and more skeletal. In the wild, weak animals don't last long, Watson said. In our homes, we can nurse them along with medications and carry them outside to pee, but at a certain point we have to consider their quality of life. She recommends using a calendar to note whether your pet had a good day or bad day and soon a picture will emerge. 'Is your dog happy being alive?' she said. 'Is it able to do at least some of the things that made it happy in the past? If they're just getting up to poop and eat during the day and then go back to bed, who wants to live like that?' Ultimately, it helps to reframe the way people think about pet euthanasia, said veterinarian Shea Cox co-founder of Honor Pet, a new 'end-of-life-care' facility in downtown L.A. that provides comfort rooms where families can be with their pets during euthanasia in an unrushed, home-like setting. 'In cases of terminal illness or natural decline, death isn't something we're initiating — it's already in motion,' Cox wrote in an email. 'The decision isn't between life and death but between a longer or shorter journey to the inevitable.' There's a lot of gray area in making these decisions, but all three say it's vital for pet owners to start investigating their options well before they're in the throes of grief. 'Lots of times people say, 'This must be such a hard job for you,' but it's not really,' Holmes said. 'I find the person losing their pet is doing the hardest work, having to make very emotional decisions sometimes in the dark and sometimes without a lot of information. Really, nothing in life prepares us for making these decisions [about euthanasia] because inevitably when you start to consider it, and think maybe it's time, suddenly they perk up and then you feel guilty — 'How can I be thinking this?'' So while there are no magic answers, preparation can help. Our pets' lifespans are so short, you don't need to wait until they're sick to start investigating your options, and what you're able to spend. For instance, if I'd made more calls when I was less emotional, I would have discovered there are many in-home euthanasia services in the Greater Los Angeles area but most ask people to call for pricing. Only a few, like DR 4 PETS, list their prices online, starting as low as $450 for euthanasia for dogs 20 pounds and under, and as high as $850 for euthanasia and individual cremation for dogs between 51 and 78 pounds. Be sure to ask what the pricing includes because the fees often include the cost of cremation; so when I called in anguish and got my $750 quote over the phone, if I'd known to ask, I might have also discovered that the fee was less if I only wanted euthanasia. I have a large yard, and Mazie was a relatively small dog, so after she died, I dug a deep hole, wrapped her in a cotton shawl and buried her, but that's not an easy option for people who don't have yards or have very large dogs. Most, Watson said, opt for some kind of cremation. Most veterinary clinics and in-home euthanasia services offer a choice of communal cremation, where the animal's remains are scattered in the ocean or a private reserve, or the more expensive option of individual cremation, where their ashes are returned in a special container. Cox's business, Honor Pet, provides water cremation, a.k.a aquamation, on-site so if people use their facility to euthanize their pet, they can have aquamation done in the same facility. The process uses hot water mixed with an alkaline lye solution, so it's more environmentally friendly than standard cremation, and usually more expensive. Honor Pet offers four large 'comfort rooms' with rugs, couches and homey decor, where families can spend all the time they need to say goodbye. Price is the big advantage here, Cox said, since euthanasia at Honor Pet is $275, well below the cost of most in-home visits. It's also designed to be more comfortable and welcoming than typical veterinary clinic exam rooms, with extras such as making bouquets and creating cards for your pet. But if cost is an issue, euthanasia will likely be the least expensive in veterinary clinics and Watson said some clinics offer special euthanasia spaces to give their patients and their people more time and privacy, so it's worth inquiring what kind of accommodations your vet may have. Another consideration is the size of your pet, especially if they are suffering from mobility issues, a common problem for large dogs. Can you carry your dog from home to a clinic without adding to their pain? If home euthanasia is more than you can afford, ask your veterinarian about sedatives you can give your dog to ease their suffering when you transport them to the clinic. But leaving home can be a real hardship for many ailing pets, no matter their size. Some dogs and cats panic in a clinic setting, or any new situation, so letting them die at home is a real kindness. This is where calling around ahead of time can help you know what to expect in terms of prices, procedures and availability when it comes time to make the call. Note that many of these in-home vets work alone, so you may have to wait a day or two for an appointment. Most will sedate your pet before administering the euthanasia drug to minimize their discomfort, but it's a good idea to call and ask questions beforehand, or at least browse their websites which usually have extensive blog posts covering all kinds of issues, from preparing children for a pet's death to helping your other animals cope with the loss of a companion. Some, like Honor Pet, and the national chain Lap of Love, also offer grief counseling and support groups. And you don't have to make these decisions alone. Mobile vets do offer home consults, usually for a fee, and your regular veterinarian can help you discover if there are treatments that can restore your pet's quality of life. Holmes warns that these home consults can sometimes be misleading — a dog who hasn't moved much may perk up momentarily with a new visitor who has interesting smells, she said, but that doesn't change the reality of his day-to-day life. Still, there are treatments that can turn things around, Watson said. Small dogs, like her 17-year-old shih tzu, Miss Coco Chanel, tend to live longer than large breeds but they're also more susceptible to suffer dementia. Coco developed sundowner's syndrome, she said, panting and digging in the carpet 'like clockwork when the sun went down. We could not comfort her,' Watson said, and she was so arthritic that she could barely walk. But Watson tried a prescription diet for brain health that lifted the sundowner's effect. 'She's happy now and doesn't need her antianxiety meds. She loves to go on her little walks — yes, I'm one of the those crazy parents who have a stroller for their dog — and I let her walk as long as she wants to and when she gets tired I push her along until she gets a chance to sniff at all her favorite spots. And she looks forward to her food. We put it in different places around the house every day so she has to hunt for it, and she absolutely loves it,' Watson said. 'We try to keep her mentally fit, and I'm lucky because she responded, but we have to keep reminding ourselves: When those things change, when she's not happy to see us every day or doesn't want to go for her little walk, then we'll know it's time to say goodbye.'
CNET
18-07-2025
- CNET
No More Greasy Stovetops: Here's the Best Way to Make a Crispy Grilled Cheese
I can't seem to go a week without discovering an air fryer recipe that's better, faster and healthier than my existing method. This week's candidate is the classic comfort food: a grilled cheese. I used to swear by making the simple sandwiches in a skillet, and there's still a place for that technique -- especially if you're craving a little grease. But the air fryer delivers a crusty, crunchy exterior without drowning the bread in butter or oil. As a bonus, it'll keep your kitchen cooler during summer months since air fryers barely raise the ambient temperature the way using your oven or stovetop can. If you don't own an air fryer, I recommend Ninja's new glass-bowl model. It's the best we've tested and makes a mean grilled cheese. Making an air fryer grilled cheese is fast and easy and leaves almost no mess. Here's why your next grilled cheese should start and end in the air fryer. Why an air fryer grilled cheese works so well As you can plainly see, the air fryer grilled cheese leaves little mess to contend with after preparing. Pamela Vachon/CNET An air fryer is basically a small convection oven with nonstick surfaces, circulating hot air around whatever you put in its basket. Unlike your saute pan or skillet, it cooks from all directions at once and typically in less time. Unlike your oven, it is compact and efficient, heats up quickly and may not even require preheating. Your toaster oven could never do this. While toasted cheese is a possibility (and reheated toaster oven pizza is a revelation), grilled cheese is not. Your toaster oven is not designed to support fat on the underside of whatever you're cooking and you'll end up with a mess too complicated to clean. For your grilled cheese, the air fryer is working on both of the bread surfaces and the cheese all at once, resulting in a quicker melt, which adheres the cheese to the bread slices together making for a much easier flip. (Flipping is still recommended but with far less drama.) The air circulation provides deep crunchiness, not only to the surfaces that received the butter or mayo treatment but to the entire crust. Any inclusions beyond cheese in the interior of the sandwich are also transforming because of the ambient heat. Simply placing a lid on your saute pan or skillet can't achieve the same results, as the components will become steamed and potentially soggy. How I make a grilled cheese in the air fryer Humble ingredients are transformed into something great inside an air fryer. Pamela Vachon/CNET Assemble a grilled cheese as you would otherwise Sliced bread Sliced or shredded cheese (I like American cheese for a basic grilled cheese and a combo of gruyere and cheddar for an upgrade.) Butter or mayonnaise for the outside of the bread slices (dealer's choice) For a basic grilled cheese, you can assemble the sandwich in the basket of your air fryer: bread with buttered side down, followed by sliced or shredded cheese, then topped with the final slice with buttered side up. Be it a simple sandwich or a fancier combination of cheese, bread and fixings, the air fryer makes a crispy, gooey grilled cheese in minutes. Pamela Vachon/CNET Set the heat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 3 to 6 minutes on each side, flipping halfway through. The already melted cheese will keep your sandwich nicely together during the flip. You can get a lightly golden grilled cheese in less time but I recommend hanging on for 5 to 6 minutes for a deeply crunchy sandwich. Another perk of the air fryer is that you can more easily peek to see where you are without adversely affecting the outcome. The air fryer is even better for a stacked grilled cheese Add a fruit element and cured meats for a fancier air fryer sammy. Pamela Vachon/CNET This is where the air fryer really shines in the grilled cheese realm. Every element of an upgraded grilled cheese adds a degree of difficulty when trying to cook in a skillet, much of which is mitigated in the safe confines of an air fryer. Thicker bread. Thicker cheese, like hunks of camembert or brie. And think of all the great grilled cheese ingredients that can be slippery: apple slices, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, pickles, etc. Any grilled cheese with more than two components can be challenging to flip gracefully in a skillet, even for trained cooks. Bag a loaf of good bread and stuff your sandwich with upmarket cheese. Pamela Vachon/CNET To prove a point, I assembled a fancy grilled cheese with camembert, prosciutto and apple slices. (Plus mayonnaise on the exterior, because I was being fancy, and mayo gives your sandwich a little extra tang.) Because of its height, I assembled it fully outside of the air fryer and then carefully placed it in the drawer. Et voila! Pamela Vachon/CNET After 6 minutes of air fryer cooking, the flip was seamless and the sophisticated outcome belies the fact that you spent all of one minute assembling the masterpiece. The exterior of the ham even got a little bonus crisping. So the air fryer invites you to go to town with whatever you can dream up for your grilled cheese: cured or cooked ground meats, grilled veggies, various sauces and relishes -- you name it. An epic grilled cheese variation is limited only by the confines of your imagination. Do I need to preheat an air fryer for grilled cheese? A grilled cheese is a quick-cooking sandwich no matter how you do it so you don't want to add on minutes of additional time for something that only takes minutes to accomplish. That said, while preheating your air fryer may be a waste of time for certain preparations, I think putting it on for just a minute to heat up the nonstick surface that the sandwich sits on is worthwhile to get that golden crust working right away. Are there drawbacks to making air fryer grilled cheese? Depending on your model and size of air fryer, and the shape of bread you choose, it can be tricky to make more than two sandwiches at once, so it might not be the most family-friendly method for making grilled cheese. But for a solo meal or date night, your air fryer is the grilled cheese hack you didn't know you needed.
CNET
08-07-2025
- CNET
This One Thing Elevated My Grilled Cheese Cooking Experience
When it comes to making delicious side dishes and game-day snacks, the trusty air fryer excels, but there's one more comfort food it makes perfectly: Grilled cheese that's crispier and somehow even better than the frying pan version. I used to swear by cooking grilled cheese in a skillet, but once I tried making the classic dish in the air fryer, there was no turning back. It delivers a golden, crunchy exterior without drowning your bread in butter and it keeps your kitchen cooler, which is perfect for hot summer days when firing up the stove sounds like a nightmare. If you haven't made this switch yet, here's why your next grilled cheese should start in the air fryer. If you're a purist, I salute you, too. The old school method for making grilled cheese is just fine but it's not without flaws. Pan-fried grilled cheeses also tend to fall apart or stick to the pan if they're not cooked and flipped properly and if you don't have the heat up high enough, you'll never get that coveted crunch. If you don't own an air fryer, I recommend Ninja's new glass-bowl model. It's the best we've tested and makes a mean grilled cheese. Below you'll find tips for making the best air fryer grilled cheese of your life. Why the air fryer is a perfect appliance to make grilled cheese As you can plainly see, the air fryer grilled cheese leaves little mess to contend with after preparing. Pamela Vachon/CNET An air fryer is basically a small convection oven with nonstick surfaces, circulating hot air around whatever you put in its basket. Unlike your saute pan or skillet, it cooks from all directions at once and typically in less time. Unlike your oven, it is compact and efficient, heats up quickly and may not even require preheating. Your toaster oven could never do this. While toasted cheese is a possibility (and reheated toaster oven pizza is a revelation), grilled cheese is not. Your toaster oven is not designed to support fat on the underside of whatever you're cooking and you'll end up with a mess too complicated to clean. For your grilled cheese, the air fryer is working on both of the bread surfaces and the cheese all at once, resulting in a quicker melt, which adheres the cheese to the bread slices together making for a much easier flip. (Flipping is still recommended but with far less drama.) The air circulation provides deep crunchiness, not only to the surfaces that received the butter or mayo treatment but to the entire crust. Any inclusions beyond cheese in the interior of the sandwich are also transforming because of the ambient heat. Simply placing a lid on your saute pan or skillet can't achieve the same results, as the components will become steamed and potentially soggy. Here's how I make air fryer grilled cheese Humble ingredients are transformed into something great inside an air fryer. Pamela Vachon/CNET Assemble a grilled cheese as you would otherwise Sliced bread Sliced or shredded cheese (I like American cheese for a basic grilled cheese and a combo of gruyere and cheddar for an upgrade.) Butter or mayonnaise for the outside of the bread slices (dealer's choice) For a basic grilled cheese, you can assemble the sandwich in the basket of your air fryer: bread with buttered side down, followed by sliced or shredded cheese, then topped with the final slice with buttered side up. Be it a simple sandwich or a fancier combination of cheese, bread and fixings, the air fryer makes a crispy, gooey grilled cheese in minutes. Pamela Vachon/CNET Set the heat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 3 to 6 minutes on each side, flipping halfway through. The already melted cheese will keep your sandwich nicely together during the flip. You can get a lightly golden grilled cheese in less time but I recommend hanging on for 5 to 6 minutes for a deeply crunchy sandwich. Another perk of the air fryer is that you can more easily peek to see where you are without adversely affecting the outcome. The air fryer is best for making fancy grilled cheese Add a fruit element and cured meats for a fancier air fryer sammy. Pamela Vachon/CNET This is where the air fryer really shines in the grilled cheese realm. Every element of an upgraded grilled cheese adds a degree of difficulty when trying to cook in a skillet, much of which is mitigated in the safe confines of an air fryer. Thicker bread. Thicker cheese, like hunks of camembert or brie. And think of all the great grilled cheese ingredients that can be slippery: apple slices, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, pickles, etc. Any grilled cheese with more than two components can be challenging to flip gracefully in a skillet, even for trained cooks. Bag a loaf of good bread and stuff your sandwich with upmarket cheese. Pamela Vachon/CNET To prove a point, I assembled a fancy grilled cheese with camembert, prosciutto and apple slices. (Plus mayonnaise on the exterior, because I was being fancy, and mayo gives your sandwich a little extra tang.) Because of its height, I assembled it fully outside of the air fryer and then carefully placed it in the drawer. Et voila! Pamela Vachon/CNET After 6 minutes of air fryer cooking, the flip was seamless and the sophisticated outcome belies the fact that you spent all of one minute assembling the masterpiece. The exterior of the ham even got a little bonus crisping. So the air fryer invites you to go to town with whatever you can dream up for your grilled cheese: cured or cooked ground meats, grilled veggies, various sauces and relishes -- you name it. An epic grilled cheese variation is limited only by the confines of your imagination. Do I need to preheat an air fryer for grilled cheese? A grilled cheese is a quick-cooking sandwich no matter how you do it so you don't want to add on minutes of additional time for something that only takes minutes to accomplish. That said, while preheating your air fryer may be a waste of time for certain preparations, I think putting it on for just a minute to heat up the nonstick surface that the sandwich sits on is worthwhile to get that golden crust working right away. Are there drawbacks to making air fryer grilled cheese? Depending on your model and size of air fryer, and the shape of bread you choose, it can be tricky to make more than two sandwiches at once, so it might not be the most family-friendly method for making grilled cheese. But for a solo meal or date night, your air fryer is the grilled cheese hack you didn't know you needed.
