We may earn a commission from links on this page.If youve got a sliding door in your home, or even a regular window, youre probably familiar with the dirt and grime that has a tendency to gunk up the track. Cleaning that track might not be a regular priority, but when it starts slowing down the door (or causing it to stick altogether), its time to tackle the job. Luckily, its a fairly easy taskheres what youll need to do.What you need to clean a sliding door track You dont need special tools or expensive cleaners to get in between the metal tracks of your sliding door. Instead, just use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to lift the dirt and clean the track without any scrubbing. The items you need are: Hydrogen peroxideBaking sodaA microfiber cloth or paper towelsA vacuum cleanerSteps to cleaning the sliding door track Vacuum the track firstFirst, grab your handheld vacuum (or a vacuum with a hose attachment) and vacuum out any loose, visible dirt. Larger vacuum attachments aren't great for this, especially if you have a really small track or one with a bunch of levels and components inside. If that's the case, grab a cardboard tube, the kind you're left with when you run out of toilet paper. You just stick it to the end of your vacuum hose or stick like you would any other attachment, as shown in this Instagram Reel from A Clean Bee. Bend the unattached edge of the roll to make a slit and shove it into the small space. It works really well for pulling dirt out of crevices and, since you can manipulate the cardboard easily, you have control over how precise you can be.Pull up dirt that is stuck deeper down in the trackOnce you've gotten the large bits of dirt out of the way with the vacuum, you need to take on any crusty, caked-on, or smaller debris deeper in the sliding door track. Take your baking soda and sprinkle a fine layer of powder to thoroughly cover the track. Next, grab your hydrogen peroxide and pour it onto the metal track, over the powder, and let it sit for five to 10 minutes. The baking soda and hydrogen peroxide combination will create a reaction that pushes all dirt, seen and unseen, right to the top. Clear everything out to fully clean the sliding door trackAfter the dirt has lifted, you'll see it; the mixture you created will look pretty funky. Take a cleaning cloth or paper towel and wipe down the track, taking care to fold it small enough that you can really stuff it in the grooves. You can use a little water to rinse and remove any leftover residue, if needed. Finish off by using a dry paper towel or rag to dry the track out, since the last thing you want is to create new layers of residue and gunk on what you just cleaned.

The start of the new year is a perfect time to resolve to max out contributions to your retirement accounts before April. You should work IRA contributionstraditional or Rothinto your budget all year long. In 2025, if you're under age 50, you can contribute up to $7,000 across one or more IRAs. If you're age 50 or older, the limit is $8,000. And the sooner you can invest your IRA money, the more time it has to potentially grow through compounding. So while you should grow your nest egg consistently throughout the year, there is a best time of year to put money into your IRA, and it's right now. Why you should contribute to your traditional or Roth IRA right nowYou can make an IRA contribution for a given year anytime between Jan. 1 and the tax-filing deadline of the following year (usually April 15). So, technically, you can keep making 2024 IRA contributions until April 15, 2025but I don't recommend it. Not when you can instead start making 2025 IRA contributions for an April 15, 2026 deadline. By making your IRA contribution in January or February, that money can be invested and start accumulating potential returns right away. The extra months compounding could make a big difference. Consistency is keyeven small, regular contributions add up over decades.Remember, you can make contributions any time throughout the year. Some other good times to consider adding money to your retirement account include:After a bonus or tax refund. Got an influx of cash from a work bonus or tax refund? Consider putting some or all of it into your IRA to give your retirement savings a healthy boost. The first few months of the year is often when people receive lump sums that can be put straight into retirement accounts.When you get a raise. If your salary goes up, consider putting all or part of that raise toward increasing your retirement contributions. This can be a relatively painless way to boost your IRA contributions over time without noticeably impacting your take-home pay.By the tax deadline. You technically have until your tax filing deadline (usually April 15) to make IRA contributions for the previous year. Try to make contributions by this date.If nothing else, right now is a fresh start for savings goals. A new year brings a clean slate for reaching your financial targets. By front-loading your IRA contribution for the year, you take advantage of momentum and enthusiasm for saving money in 2024. And motivation hacks asidemathematically, contributing early in the year gives your investment more time to potentially grow.The bottom lineTry to make IRA contributions early in the calendar year if you can. The sooner you get your money into the account, the sooner it can start growing tax-deferred. Making your contribution in January, February or March maximizes the amount of time your money is invested.When it comes to retirement, the key is to start saving early (compound interest rules!) and use a mix of accounts to build your retirement funds. Here are our guides to opening an IRA and opening a 401(k).

It turns out that Roborock isnt the only company that brought a robot vacuum with a mechanical arm to CES 2025. Rival company Dreame, which unveiled its stair-climbing robot vacuum earlier in the week, is also working on a robot vacuum with an arm for picking up objects.The device is still a prototype, according to the company, but the as yet unnamed robo vac was on full display at Dreames CES booth. Considering its still a prototype, the actual arm looked far more substantial compared to the one on Roborocks Saros Z70. It was much thicker and had a bigger claw that looked like it might be able to pick up slightly heavier objects. (Roborock says its vac can pick up object that weigh up to 300 grams.)Plot Twist: Dreame also brought a robo vac with an retractable arm to CES pic.twitter.com/dLPGC135k5 Karissa Bell (@karissabe) January 8, 2025 Unfortunately, Dreame wasnt showing it actually grab anything, but I was able to watch the arm extend and retract several times. It appeared to be on a similar device as the X50 as the prototype vacuum also rocked up onto legs, much like Dreame's stair-stepping X50.A Dreame rep at the booth told me that the company has been working on the prototype for a while, but decided to accelerate its plans for the vacuum at CES. After a quick glance up, I knew exactly what he was referring to: Dreames booth is positioned directly across from Roborock, which was displaying a massive replica of its arm-wielding Saros Z70 on top of its booth.Maybe next year we'll see the two robot vacuum arm wrestle.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/more-than-one-company-brought-a-robot-vacuum-with-a-mechanical-arm-to-ces-2025-014056459.html?src=rss

We may no longer be at the height of the tiny home craze, but the idea of a resource-light, efficiently built home that can be plonked down just about anywhere still appeals. Today at CES, I got to tour the 2025 model of the microhaus Pro from California-based Haus. It was shiny, swankily appointed and, honestly, not as expensive as I thought it'd be. The interior of the 120-square foot unit is all wood tones, glass and soft neutrals. It's like you took a shipping container and replaced the hard lines and corrugated steel with rounded corners and floor-to-ceiling windows. The surfaces glint and every part of the space is maximized with an Ikea-like small-space efficiency, like the queen-sized Murphy bed that folds up to reveal a table and two bench seats. The kitchen has a small fridge, microwave and included in the price is a full suite of Villeroy & Boch dishware and there's a full-sized shower in the bathroom. The units truly can go just about anywhere with no site preparation required if the ground is flat, it'll work. The microhaus Pro is also climate agnostic, with the ability to set up in snowy forests, hot deserts and temperate beaches (though hot and cold climate packages are about $10,00 extra each). It's also seismic California fire code and CAT-5 hurricane compliant. Amy Skorheim / Engadget Installation takes usually under an hour and doesn't require any special hook ups a garden hose and an extension cord is all it needs. And thanks to its size, it falls below the size threshold that would require a permit. The included 3.6 kWh battery can run everything in the home for four days and there's an optional atmospheric water generation and a battery life of four days. Drinking water is reverse osmosis filtered and the waste disposal system "melts" everything into liquid, which can be run out an extendable pipe you can connect to septic or a holding tank. The Pro model also features high-end perks like voice control via the Apple HomePod mounted to the wall. During my tour, Max Gerbut, Haus's CEO asked Siri to lower the shades, and it complied. You also get the full package, dishes, towels et cetera I even saw a drawer full of M&Ms in the kitchen and was assured you get those too. The Pro model is a more deluxe and robust edition meant for Airbnb and rental use and goes for $89,99. If you don't need the smart home features, the battery backup and the included dishes, you can grab the microhaus Lite for $59,990. There's also a $35,000 shell version that includes just the HVAC system, lights, wiring, bathroom fixtures and plumbing. One thing none of the microhaus models include is solar generation. For that, you'll need to switch up to the 400 and 800 square-foot units. Those have the same put-it-anywhere convenience but are fully autonomous and go for $199,000 and $299,000, respectively. Note that none of the prices include delivery. It's true none of these prices are small numbers. But I've helped build yurts, tiny homes and sheds. I've lived in more than one hand-built home and have looked into many other modular, pre-fab options. Comparatively, these prices aren't terribly high, especially when you consider there's nearly no site prep, no installation and no contractor required. The microhaus Pro is available to order now from the Haus website. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/at-ces-2025-i-toured-the-haus-microhaus-pro-a-self-contained-living-pod-you-can-put-just-about-anywhere-011604860.html?src=rss

Pebble unveiled the Pebble Flow all-electric RV trailer at last year's CES. At this year's show, they've finalized both design and price for the Pebble Flow. Pebble announced that the RV trailer will be go into production at the start of 2025, with deliveries of expected to begin in the spring of the year.The final design of the trailer includes some new additions to what Pebble introduced in Las Vegas in 2024. The interior has been revised for improved access to cabinets, additional side and rear windows, a bigger door, and larger storage space. The Pebble Flow has also gotten some tweaks to the exterior and the drivetrain system has been re-engineered.The Pebble Flow is equipped with a 45 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery and a 1.1 kW solar array. According to the company, this can support up to seven days on the road from solar recharging and regenerative braking.The base model will cost $109,500. The Magic Pack upgrade option adds a dual-motor drivetrain that enables advanced automation features; this model costs $135,500. The Founders Edition model, with a limited-edition color and the complete set of available upgrades, will cost $175,000.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/pebble-flow-all-electric-rv-trailer-will-begin-deliveries-this-spring-003024921.html?src=rss

Panasonic's three new TVs include an upgraded flagship OLED, a mini-LED with richer contrast and an entry-level LED model.

Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.

Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.

In a lawsuit filed in Missouri, Sam Altman's sister has accused the OpenAI CEO of years of sexual abuse. Altman denied the claims.

Lyft and Delta are ending their points-earning loyalty partnership in April and the airline will start a new program with rideshare competitor Uber.Uber announced the multi-year strategic partnership on Tuesday evening at the CES tech conference in Las Vegas.Delta is thrilled to come together with Uber to create a connected travel experience from start to finish, Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a prepared statement. This partnership creates more choice for customers to get to their destination in a way that works best for them.Delta SkyMiles Members who link their accounts to Uber will earn points on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders. Uber said people will earn one mile per dollar spent on restaurant and grocery orders worth $40 and up; one mile per dollar spent on UberX rides to and from airports; two miles per dollar spent on premium rides, such as Uber Comfort and Uber Black; and three miles per dollar spent on Uber Reserve trips. An Uber spokesperson says customers will also get access to benefits like improved Uber pickup and drop off experiences at Delta hubs.Gig companies and airlines have for years been teaming up with other companies in an attempt to snag repeat customers through loyalty programs. A customer may feel more inclined to book a ride through a specific platform if it means theyre also earning tangible rewards for somewhere else. Uber has loyalty programs with Marriott, Aeroplan, and Qantas. Delta also has a loyalty program with Starbucks where customers can earn points when buying drinks.Lyfts program with Delta meant riders would earn 1 mile for every $1 spent in the U.S. and 2 miles per $1 spent on all airport rides.Years ago we teamed up with our first airline to unlock more ways to uplevel and innovate around travel experiences, thereby turning those customers into Lyft loyalists, a Lyft spokesperson tells Fast Company when asked for comment. Were continuing to expand our horizons by joining forces with major brands who truly share our customer obsession, like Alaska Airlines, Bilt, Chase, Disney, DoorDash, Hilton, and Mastercard.Its unclear why Lyft and Delta are ending the program that earns riders flight miles. A Delta spokesperson says that Lyft users can continue earning miles through April 7. Customers with linked accounts should expect to hear more in the coming days, the person adds.We are appreciative of the partnership weve had with Lyft benefiting loyal customers who have collectively earned billions of miles, the Delta spokesperson says.