Tips for the best Halloween

Plus: The best leaf blower, how to get rid of blood stains, and more [Halloween begins]( [Several gourds, a jack-o'-lantern with a tea light inside, and several potted plants.]( Taryn Mohrman Whether you’re [taking a little ghoul trick-or-treating]( or spending a quiet night playing [horror board games]( we have tips and tricks to make your home the spookiest envy of the neighborhood. We recommend using these [smart-home gadgets]( to put the “trick” in “trick-or-treat.” Automated lights and speakers make it easy to bathe your entryway in bloodcurdling lighting or haunt passersby with eerie noises. You also can’t go wrong with classic jack-o’-lanterns. Here are [the best pumpkin-carving kits]( as well as some [tips to keep yours looking fresh all week long](. (Unless, of course, you’re going for that [spooky, sunken look]( We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. [Learn more ›]( [Are you experiencing hearing loss?]( The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that hearing loss from all causes is [the third most common chronic physical condition]( in the US. If you suspect that you’re one of the [near-30 million US adults]( who could benefit from a hearing aid, good news: As of October 17, they are [available for purchase over the counter](. But your first step should be to self-identify signs of mild to moderate hearing loss. Here are just [a few common signs]( - You recognize when someone is speaking but can’t make out specific words they’re saying. - You have trouble following a one-on-one conversation amid a social or group setting. - It seems like people, especially children, mumble a lot. - You’ve maxed out the volume on your devices but still want to turn them up more. If any of these apply, we recommend that you get a hearing test to confirm. And if you believe that you’re a candidate for an OTC hearing aid, we can walk you through [how to shop for and adjust to our audiologist-approved top picks](. [More this week]( [Several jars full of fabrics stained with pig's blood.]( [We went full Carrie]( To figure out the key to ridding clothes of blood stains, we got our hands on a couple of tubs of pig blood, stained some common fabrics, and started cleaning. [Here’s what worked the best](. [Two budget projectors.]( [Set up the best movie night]( [These projectors]( are great for anyone who wants to enjoy a cinema-like movie experience at home but doesn’t want to spend more than $1,000. [Several leaf blowers set up outside.]( [Our favorite leaf blower is like an air bazooka]( After eight years of testing, we’re certain the powerful, lightweight, and low-maintenance Toro PowerJet is [the best leaf blower](. [Several umbrellas next to a pair of rain boots.]( [The best umbrella]( [Our top pick]( has nine ribs, whereas most others have eight or fewer. The extra rib makes this umbrella very durable, even in gusty winds. [This week’s best deals]( [Rhe Honey-Can-Do SRT-01235 Heavy-Duty Triple Laundry Sorter.]( [Honey-Can-Do SRT-01235 Heavy-Duty Triple Laundry Sorter]( [Deal price: $43]( | Street price: $50 Free shipping for Prime members If you have enough room and like to pre-sort your items, the Honey-Can-Do Laundry Sorter is [the pick for you](. The sturdy metal frame on wheels holds three removable cloth laundry bags on metal rods, and they can be lifted out with ease for loading straight into a washer. [Buy now from Woot]( [The Acer Swift 3 (SF314-511-51A3) 14' Ultrabook (8 GB RAM, 512 SSD).]( [Acer Swift 3 (SF314-511-51A3) 14" Ultrabook (8 GB RAM, 512 SSD)]( [Deal price: $400]( | Street price: $580 The Swift 3 Ultrabook is lightweight and compact, and its battery lasted about 10.5 hours [in our tests](. Unlike almost every other laptop in its price range, the Swift 3 meets our performance, battery life, and weight requirements and has no deal-breaking flaws. [Buy now from Walmart]( [The Lyric Therapeutic Massager.]( [Lyric Therapeutic Massager]( [Deal price: $100]( | Street price: $165 This handheld massager is more gentle than [some of our other massage-gun picks](. The sleek and simple 1-pound gadget comes with four soft, interchangeable attachments and a handle extender. [Buy now from Best Buy]( [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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