Our 2021 year in review

We share 2021’s top guides, most popular picks, new coverage areas, and more. [Wirecutter’s year in review]( [A graphic collage of all of the different months in 2021.]( Dana Davis This year we celebrated our 10th anniversary as a company (and our fifth as part of The New York Times). Because of the pandemic, however, we did it virtually. We’ve come a long way since Brian Lam created Wirecutter, in 2011. Our catalog of recommendations has grown exponentially since then, and our staff has tripled in size since 2016, when we joined the Times. What else is new? Here are some of the many highlights of 2021: We reviewed [smokeless fire pits]( savaged [artificial grass]( and offered a beginner’s guide to the fascinating world of [metal detecting](. We upped our cozy-home vibes with our favorite [scented candles]( functional [bath trays and accessories]( real (and [artificial]( [houseplants]( and colorful [removable wallpapers](. We branched out into the areas of style and apparel, with recommendations for [the best and most comfortable bras]( men’s [white T-shirts]( and [jeans]( [little black dresses]( and [white sneakers](. And we investigated trendy items like [sleep headphones]( (which let us down) and [pizza ovens]( (which didn’t). We published brand-new guides on [non-alcoholic drinks]( [canned cocktails]( [London Dry gins]( [boxed and canned wines]( [teas]( [wine clubs]( [mugs]( and [mug warmers](. (2021: The Year of Beverages?) We also shared our staff’s favorite kitchen staples, including [condiments and spreads]( [ice cream sandwiches]( and [Halloween candy](. Yes, we’re hungry and thirsty now too. We tested trash-can pest control with [a bag of dead rats]( (not hungry anymore). We mucked up [chicken coops](. We helped you stop [spam calls]( and [scam texts]( start [composting]( shop for a [hot tub]( and a pair of [roller skates]( and [set up a turntable]( to sound its best. And we delivered some tough news: You need to stop using [so much dish soap]( and [laundry detergent]( your wallet could be [the source of your back pain]( [citronella candles]( don’t effectively repel mosquitoes; we don’t really own the [digital movies]( we buy; and you [should probably replace your toilet brush]( (along with a bunch of other household essentials) more often. We also swallowed some hard truths of our own: After four years, [we finally recommend air fryers]( and we have a new [favorite humidifier]( (more on that below). Along the way, we kept as many of our other [1,500 reviews]( as up to date as possible, to ensure you had support whether you were seeking a better pair of [headphones]( or a new refrigerator. ([The Best Refrigerators]( guide was updated this year following a survey of more than 5,000 Wirecutter readers and an AI-assisted analysis of 28,000 customer reviews.) Is there another topic you’d like us to cover? Leave us a comment, tweet @wirecutter, or [write to us](mailto:notes@wirecutter.com)! And read on for more reflections on the past year at Wirecutter. Our top 5 guides These were the most-read Wirecutter reviews in 2021: - [The Best Air Purifier]( - [The Best Office Chair]( - [The Best Robot Vacuums]( - [The Best Cordless Stick Vacuum]( - [The Best Washing Machines (and Their Matching Dryers)]( Our top 5 picks [Several air urifiers.]( Sarah Kobos These were the picks most purchased by readers in 2021: The best air purifier: [Coway AP-1512HH Mighty]( The Mighty is perfect for almost any room in your living space. It's one of the best-performing, most durable, and most economical purifiers we’ve tested. Read more in our guide to [the best air purifiers](. A humidifier we love: [Honeywell HCM-350 Germ Free Cool Moisture Humidifier]( The Honeywell was our top pick from 2015–21, largely because of its simplicity. The base is dishwasher-safe, and there are no bright lights or beeping sounds to keep you up at night. Read more in our guide to [the best humidifiers](. Recommended N95 mask: [Kimberly-Clark N95 Pouch Respirator]( This odd-looking, oddly comfortable N95 is a NIOSH-approved respirator meant for nonmedical use. Its headbands are soft, yet they help form a tight seal, and its long nose-bridge wire reduces fogging of glasses. Read more in [Where to Buy N95s, KN95s, and Surgical-Style Masks in 2021](. The best electric toothbrush: [Oral-B Pro 1000]( The Oral-B Pro 1000 has the most important features for the lowest price: a two-minute timer, an easy brushing process, and compatibility with the largest range of brush heads. Read more in our guide to [the best electric toothbrush](. Recommended KN95 mask: [Powecom KN95 Respirator Mask (ear loops)]( This easy-on, easy-off KN95 respirator mask has ear loops that stretch well for a wider fit and knot easily for a snugger one. Read more in [Where to Buy N95s, KN95s, and Surgical-Style Masks in 2021](. Diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work We remain deeply committed to improving the role representation and race play in our coverage, and to ensuring that our work is as accessible and helpful to as many people as possible. Alongside The New York Times, we’re committed to hiring and retaining a diverse staff and remaining transparent with our readers about our efforts. We are now publicly sharing [demographic information]( about our staff on a yearly basis, and we strive to be honest about where we have room for improvement. At work, we’ve hosted speakers and discussions related to our coverage and work culture, including on topics like exclusive product design and work styles. And we’ve bolstered our recruitment efforts through various journalism associations and career fairs. Spurred by readers and staff, we’ve been scrutinizing how we deal with gender in our coverage—and specifically related to products that are explicitly marketed as being “for” men or women. These are complicated issues, but we remain committed to the truth that anything can potentially be “for” anyone. We’ve also expanded our reporting on accessibility, from senior staff writer Rachel Cericola’s extensive review of [smart-home devices that can enhance independence for people with disabilities and mobility needs]( to these pieces by guest writers about experiences that are often overlooked: - [How I Use My Apple Watch as an Autism Aid]( by Megan Rhiannon - [These First Toys for Kids With Disabilities Have Universal Appeal]( by Julie Kim - [H]( This Phone Mount Finally Allowed Me to Use a Smartphone From My Wheelchair]( by Claire Perlman - [A One-Handed Writer’s Search for the Perfect Mechanical Keyboard]( by Britt H. Young We’re always looking for new contributors. Learn more about how to work with us by reading [How to Pitch Stories to Wirecutter](. We’re also expanding our groups of test panelists and models for photography. We revamped several core segments of our editorial process, including staff focus groups and the scout reports we use to start a new assignment. And we’re always [open to feedback]( on how we can improve. Sustainability [An illustration of a person being hugged by animals and holding a cardboard box.] Yann Bastard One of the topics that many readers request we cover is [how to shop online more sustainably](. We aim to help you invest in long-lasting, well-made items that won’t require a trade-off between quality and sustainability. So whether we’re exploring [how a small startup is tackling Apple’s AirPods replacement problem]( or explaining what you can do about [your laundry shedding harmful microfibers]( we’re eager to dig in further. This year, we’ve ramped up these considerations in our reviews across Wirecutter. We asked the manufacturers of all our [smart thermostat picks]( to answer questions about the materials they use, the life cycle of their products, and related issues that affect their overall sustainability. We dug into [the most sustainable wallpaper]( [what you can do with old running shoes]( [sustainability and photo cards]( [watering can materials]( [kids water-bottle replacement parts]( and the [environmental impact of video-conferencing]( among dozens more. And we’re just getting started. 2021 by the numbers Here are just a few of the tallies from our rigorous testing process: - 17 variations of ocean wave sounds evaluated for [white noise machines]( - 20 times we copied the lyrics to Les Miserables’s “One Day More” to test [pens]( - 31 styles of [Santa hats]( tested - 32 [scented candles]( tested (and zero [house fires]( started) - 550 stairs climbed at home while testing [baby monitors]( - 2,400 individual [Christmas light bulbs]( tested [View email in browser]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for Wirecutter’s Newsletter. Getting too many emails from us? To stop receiving these, [unsubscribe here](. 
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