The Wirecutter Show

If you need fresh gift ideas for Mother’s Day this year, this is your episode. This week, Wirecutter gifting expert Samantha Schoech brings a range of ideas that go far beyond a bouquet of flowers and brunch. 

 

Instead of generic ideas, we’re approaching gifts by personality type—from the exhausted new mom to the outdoorsy adventurer. Samantha also shares her core gifting philosophy (including what not to give), plus thoughtful, sometimes surprising picks that actually make people feel seen.

 

This episode covers: 

Why you shouldn’t add to someone’s to-do list. One of Samantha's strongest rules is to avoid gifts that create work. That means no high-maintenance plants, complicated projects, or aspirational hobbies the person didn’t ask for.

Why the best gifts are things they wouldn’t buy themselves. If someone needs socks, they can buy socks. A good gift is something slightly indulgent or unnecessary—like elevated basics or small luxuries—that feels special precisely because they wouldn’t justify spending money on it.

Why “giving mom a break” is often the most meaningful gift. Instead of another object, Samantha emphasizes the value of rest—like helping them carve out uninterrupted time alone or booking them a night in a hotel. It’s a way to acknowledge the workload of motherhood, not just gesture at it.

Why your time and attention still matter most. Across every category, Samantha comes back to this: a gift lands best when it’s paired with genuine effort—whether that’s a handwritten card, quality time together, or simply showing that you’ve paid attention to what they actually like.

 

Products we recommend:

For the new mom:

Chic, lightweight harem sweatpants: Le Bon Shoppe Balloon Pants (women’s)

Well-priced, super-soft fleece sweatpants: Gap High Rise VintageSoft Relaxed Joggers (women’s)

A scrubby bar for smoother body skin: Soft Services Buffing Bar

Actually, it’s a lip balm: Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream

 

For the first-time grandma:

Handwritten necklace: Gldn Handwriting Necklace

The best digital photo frame: Aura Carver

The Grandmothers by Doris Lessing

 

For the empty nester:

A luscious, affordable paint set: Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors 48-Color Set

For audiobook lovers: Libro.fm Credit Bundle

A delightful way to discover new titles:  Books Are Magic Book Club

A hat that understands: Inside Joke Don't Ask Me What's For Dinner Hat

 

For the outdoorsy mom: 

Best picnic blanket for roving picnickers: Rumpl Everywhere Mat

Beanie baby: Mira Blackman Hand Dyed Chunky Beanie

 

For the mom who loves sparkles:

Party-trick socks: Maria La Rosa One Ribbed Laminated (women’s)

Classic hoops: Quince 14K Gold Pave Diamond Mini Huggies

 

For the crafty mom: 

Needlepoint kits that will make you want to needlepoint: Unwind Studios

Unique and gorgeous embroidery kits: Artist Kate Wyatt

Simple and straightforward block printing kits: Joyn

 

For the foodie mom:

A fruit-and-anything-else bowl for counter clutter: Emile Henry French Ceramic Fruit Storage Bowl

A basket for a tinned fish lover with a cute bandana: Fishwife mother’s day gift basket

 

For the “don’t get me anything” mom: 

Full-body glow-up: Senteurs d’Orient Fleurs d’Oasis The Oil

Stylish and reliable flower deliveries: UrbanStems

 

Samantha loves: 

Cotton undies: Evry studio underwear

 

Additional reading:

The 42 Best Mother’s Day Gifts

All that Glitters: The Best Places to Buy Jewelry Online

21 Great Gifts for Book Lovers of 2026 

20 Best Gifts for People Who Love to Sleep in 2026

The Best Online Flower Delivery Service of 2026

13 Best Boxed Chocolates of 2026

 

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

Wirecutter Social and Website
Instagram: /wirecutter
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Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/
Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/

The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.
Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

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Looking for a new pair of headphones? We want to help! 

Struggling to find something comfortable and in budget? Trying to decide between in-ear and over-ear options? Need to hear traffic sounds on your run, along with workout jams? Looking for something safe for kids? Email your headphone questions, needs, and desires to: [email protected]

 

You might get a personalized recommendation on the podcast from Wirecutter’s expert headphones writer, Lauren Dragan, in a future episode!

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

Wirecutter Social and Website
Instagram: /wirecutter
Threads: /@wirecutter
Twitter: /wirecutter
Facebook: /thewirecutter
TikTok: /wirecutter
LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter
Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/
Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/

The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.
Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nintendo Switch 2 was released in June 2025. In just four months, it sold over 10 million units, making it the fastest selling console of all time in the U.S. But at $450, is it really worth the hype? 

 

Arthur Gies, supervising editor on the tech team at Wirecutter, has spent nearly a year testing the system, playing the new games, and weighing the pros and cons. In this episode, he gives us his verdict. He also talks about why if you’ve been thinking about buying one, now might be the best time.

 

This episode covers: 

Why the Switch 2 is worth the splurge: Arthur says the new console is like getting the latest phone compared to having one that’s six or seven years old. It comes with impressive software updates and exclusive games that make for an incredible upgrade if you have the budget.

Why you should consider buying sooner rather than later: With Nintendo’s fiscal year ending, AI data centers raising memory card prices, and shipping and oil prices increasing, Arthur suspects that the Switch 2 will get more expensive very soon.

 

Products we recommend: 

A more powerful Switch experience: Nintendo Switch 2

 

Additional reading:

The Nintendo Switch 2 Is the Best Nintendo Switch

The Death of the Cheap Laptop Is Coming

 

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

Wirecutter Social and Website
Instagram: /wirecutter
Threads: /@wirecutter
Twitter: /wirecutter
Facebook: /thewirecutter
TikTok: /wirecutter
LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter
Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/
Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/

The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.
Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dish soap might be the most underrated cleaner in your home. It's cheap, it's safe to use with bare hands, and it’s the star of many Wirecutter cleaning tutorials — from how to clean wood floors to stainless steel appliances to laundry stains. It also makes a great alternative to “green” cleaners—cleaners that are marketed as less toxic, allergenic, or supposedly better for the environment. 

 

In this episode, we chat with senior staff writer Andrea Barnes about why dish soap is such a powerhouse cleaner, which brands actually work best, and the surprising places you can use it around your home (and when to reach for something else).

 

This episode covers:

Why "green" cleaners often underperform: Many eco-marketed cleaners aren’t good multitaskers, so you end up buying more products to compensate. A concept called the “Sinner’s Circle” explains why: cleaning requires some combination of time, heat, chemicals, and friction — reduce one, and you have to add more of another.

How to make an all-purpose cleaner for pennies: Just two to three drops of dish soap in a large spray bottle of water works as an effective surface cleaner for kitchen backsplashes, counters, yoga mats, stainless steel, and more — for under 25 cents a bottle.

Surprising uses for dish soap: It works on makeup stains, shoes, jewelry, mouth guards, retainers, outdoor security cameras, and even shower tile. If you've been exposed to poison ivy, washing the affected area with dish soap within 20 minutes may help break down the irritating oil.

What to never clean with dish soap: Don't use it on your pets' fur, your own face, or — crucially — in your dishwasher, where it will cause a sudsy overflow.

The truth about laundry pods and microplastics: Despite how they look and feel, pods do not shed microplastics. The film dissolves completely and is biodegradable. Experts are actually more concerned about the plastic containers detergent comes in.

 

Products we recommend:

The best dish soap: Palmolive Ultra Pure + Clear Dish Liquid

Best dish soap for household cleaning projects: Dawn Platinum Dishwashing Liquid

Best dish soap for (nearly) plastic-free packaging: Cleancult Dish Soap Lemon Verbena

Biobased dishwasher detergent pods: Dropps UltraWash Plus

Wirecutter’s best drugstore lipstick (and Andrea's new favorite): Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick

 

Additional reading:

The Secret to Better Laundry 

The 3 Best Dish Soaps of 2026

The $5 Cleaning Workhorse You Already Have at Home

How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances

Of All the “Sustainable” Dishwasher Pods We Tested, These Really Work

The 6 Best Lipsticks of 2026

 

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

Wirecutter Social and Website
Instagram: /wirecutter
Threads: /@wirecutter
Twitter: /wirecutter
Facebook: /thewirecutter
TikTok: /wirecutter
LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter
Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/
Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/

The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.
Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s not your imagination. Climate change is making seasonal allergy season longer and more intense. 

 

New York Times health reporter Nina Agrawal joins us to discuss what to do when the pollen count is high, how to improve your indoor air quality this spring and summer, and the differences between allergy medications. 

 

Check out Nina’s reporting on how to tell if you have allergies and what actually works for combatting seasonal allergies

 

Products we recommend:

A really good air purifier: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty

Our favorite upright vacuum: SEBO Felix Premium

Our favorite canister vacuum: SEBO Airbelt K3 Premium

 

Additional reading:

How to Clean the Air You Breathe

The 8 Best Air Purifiers of 2025

The 15 Best Vacuum Cleaners of 2025

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

Wirecutter Social and Website
Instagram: /wirecutter
Threads: /@wirecutter
Twitter: /wirecutter
Facebook: /thewirecutter
TikTok: /wirecutter
LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter
Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/
Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/

The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.
Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.