Ease your way into spring cleaning with these 11 low-lift tasks

Washing your laundry bag, dusting everything in a frame, and other quick and easy chores you can knock out in no time.

* This article was originally published here

The accidental hacker: how one man gained control of 7,000 robots

When Sammy Azdoufal found he had access to data from robot vacuum cleaners around the world, he told a tech publication. But the implications could be mind-boggling

Name: The accidental hacker.

Age: It doesn’t matter how old Sammy Azdoufal is. What he did is what’s important here, and what he did is very much of the age.

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* This article was originally published here

Are Polka Dots the Big Home and Garden Trend for 2026? I Think We’re About to See an Onslaught

Okay, I need to say this out loud because it’s been rattling around in my head for weeks.

We’re closing out 2025 and it is ALL about bold stripes.

Striped outdoor rugs.
Striped umbrellas.
Striped cushions.
Striped planter pots.

Everywhere I look — stripes. And don’t get me wrong, I love a good stripe. They’re neat. They’re confident. They make a space feel pulled together even if the rest of the backyard is still “a work in progress” (which mine always is).

But…

I don’t think stripes are where this ends.

I have this sneaky suspicion that 2026 is going to be the year of the polka dot.

And yes, I know that sounds slightly unhinged. Stay with me.

Why I Think We’re About to Get Dotted

Trends always swing, don’t they?

When everything gets very straight, very structured, very tidy — we start craving something softer. Something that feels less like it needs to be measured with a ruler.

Stripes are organised.
Polka dots are playful.

And right now? I think we’re ready for playful again.

Dots don’t behave. They don’t line up. They don’t tell you how wide your spacing should be. They just exist — happily, confidently, a little bit cheeky.

And after years of beige-on-beige minimalism followed by bold graphic lines… I think we’re due for something that feels lighter.

Not the Retro Polka Dots — The Grown-Up Ones

Before you picture a 1950s diner or novelty tea towels — that’s not what I mean.

The dots I’m seeing creeping in are:
• oversized
• tonal (think cream on cream)
• slightly uneven
• speckled rather than perfectly round
• almost hand-painted looking

They feel artisan. Handmade. A little imperfect in the best way.

I can absolutely see:
– dotted ceramic planters
– subtle spot cushions layered over stripes
– painted garden stools with matte dots
– outdoor rugs with soft, faded spotting

Nothing loud. Nothing tacky. Just personality.

I Don’t Think Stripes Are Going Anywhere (They’re Just Getting Company)

Here’s my real prediction.

Stripes will become the base.

Dots will be the fun layer.

Imagine:
Striped outdoor seating… with one dotted cushion.
Linear decking… broken up with round planters.
A tidy striped umbrella… with spotted tableware underneath.

Dots soften stripes. They stop things feeling too serious.

And honestly, I don’t know about you, but I’m a little tired of serious.

Why Home & Garden Will Embrace This First

Fashion might flirt with dots, but home and garden is where they’ll really land.

Dots:
• hide dirt better than stripes
• feel less dated over time
• work beautifully with handmade pieces
• blend well with natural textures

And when you think about it, gardens are already dotted. Seeds. Pebbles. Blooms. Gravel. Nature loves a circle.

Dots don’t feel forced outside — they feel like they belong.

I Think We’re Decorating for Joy Again

This might be the real reason.

People aren’t decorating to impress anymore. They’re decorating to feel good in their own space.

Polka dots feel happy.
They feel welcoming.
They feel lived-in.

They don’t scream “trend.”
They whisper “this is a home.”

And I think that’s where we’re headed in 2026.

So… Am I Completely Wrong?

Possibly.

But I can’t shake the feeling that by mid-2026 we’ll all be saying:

“When did everything get so spotty?”

Now I genuinely want to know what you think.

Are polka dots:
• timeless?
• overdue?
• absolutely not happening?
• or something you’d happily try on a cushion or planter?

Would you mix stripes and dots?
Or does that make your eye twitch?

Tell me in the comments. I need to know if I’m predicting a trend… or just about to accidentally redecorate my patio in spots.

Of course we already have polka dot articles from years gone by, here are a few to get you buzzing.

25 Amazing Polka Dot Walls

6 Polka Dot Background Cards [Card Making]

A pieced polka dot table runner [Quilting]

Clay Polka Dots [Polymer Clay]

* This article was originally published here

* This article was originally published here

* This article was originally published here

Are Polka Dots the Big Home and Garden Trend for 2026? I Think We’re About to See an Onslaught

Okay, I need to say this out loud because it’s been rattling around in my head for weeks.

We’re closing out 2025 and it is ALL about bold stripes.

Striped outdoor rugs.
Striped umbrellas.
Striped cushions.
Striped planter pots.

Everywhere I look — stripes. And don’t get me wrong, I love a good stripe. They’re neat. They’re confident. They make a space feel pulled together even if the rest of the backyard is still “a work in progress” (which mine always is).

But…

I don’t think stripes are where this ends.

I have this sneaky suspicion that 2026 is going to be the year of the polka dot.

And yes, I know that sounds slightly unhinged. Stay with me.

Why I Think We’re About to Get Dotted

Trends always swing, don’t they?

When everything gets very straight, very structured, very tidy — we start craving something softer. Something that feels less like it needs to be measured with a ruler.

Stripes are organised.
Polka dots are playful.

And right now? I think we’re ready for playful again.

Dots don’t behave. They don’t line up. They don’t tell you how wide your spacing should be. They just exist — happily, confidently, a little bit cheeky.

And after years of beige-on-beige minimalism followed by bold graphic lines… I think we’re due for something that feels lighter.

Not the Retro Polka Dots — The Grown-Up Ones

Before you picture a 1950s diner or novelty tea towels — that’s not what I mean.

The dots I’m seeing creeping in are:
• oversized
• tonal (think cream on cream)
• slightly uneven
• speckled rather than perfectly round
• almost hand-painted looking

They feel artisan. Handmade. A little imperfect in the best way.

I can absolutely see:
– dotted ceramic planters
– subtle spot cushions layered over stripes
– painted garden stools with matte dots
– outdoor rugs with soft, faded spotting

Nothing loud. Nothing tacky. Just personality.

I Don’t Think Stripes Are Going Anywhere (They’re Just Getting Company)

Here’s my real prediction.

Stripes will become the base.

Dots will be the fun layer.

Imagine:
Striped outdoor seating… with one dotted cushion.
Linear decking… broken up with round planters.
A tidy striped umbrella… with spotted tableware underneath.

Dots soften stripes. They stop things feeling too serious.

And honestly, I don’t know about you, but I’m a little tired of serious.

Why Home & Garden Will Embrace This First

Fashion might flirt with dots, but home and garden is where they’ll really land.

Dots:
• hide dirt better than stripes
• feel less dated over time
• work beautifully with handmade pieces
• blend well with natural textures

And when you think about it, gardens are already dotted. Seeds. Pebbles. Blooms. Gravel. Nature loves a circle.

Dots don’t feel forced outside — they feel like they belong.

I Think We’re Decorating for Joy Again

This might be the real reason.

People aren’t decorating to impress anymore. They’re decorating to feel good in their own space.

Polka dots feel happy.
They feel welcoming.
They feel lived-in.

They don’t scream “trend.”
They whisper “this is a home.”

And I think that’s where we’re headed in 2026.

So… Am I Completely Wrong?

Possibly.

But I can’t shake the feeling that by mid-2026 we’ll all be saying:

“When did everything get so spotty?”

Now I genuinely want to know what you think.

Are polka dots:
• timeless?
• overdue?
• absolutely not happening?
• or something you’d happily try on a cushion or planter?

Would you mix stripes and dots?
Or does that make your eye twitch?

Tell me in the comments. I need to know if I’m predicting a trend… or just about to accidentally redecorate my patio in spots.

Of course we already have polka dot articles from years gone by, here are a few to get you buzzing.

25 Amazing Polka Dot Walls

6 Polka Dot Background Cards [Card Making]

A pieced polka dot table runner [Quilting]

Clay Polka Dots [Polymer Clay]

* This article was originally published here

* This article was originally published here

Are Polka Dots the Big Home and Garden Trend for 2026? I Think We’re About to See an Onslaught

Okay, I need to say this out loud because it’s been rattling around in my head for weeks.

We’re closing out 2025 and it is ALL about bold stripes.

Striped outdoor rugs.
Striped umbrellas.
Striped cushions.
Striped planter pots.

Everywhere I look — stripes. And don’t get me wrong, I love a good stripe. They’re neat. They’re confident. They make a space feel pulled together even if the rest of the backyard is still “a work in progress” (which mine always is).

But…

I don’t think stripes are where this ends.

I have this sneaky suspicion that 2026 is going to be the year of the polka dot.

And yes, I know that sounds slightly unhinged. Stay with me.

Why I Think We’re About to Get Dotted

Trends always swing, don’t they?

When everything gets very straight, very structured, very tidy — we start craving something softer. Something that feels less like it needs to be measured with a ruler.

Stripes are organised.
Polka dots are playful.

And right now? I think we’re ready for playful again.

Dots don’t behave. They don’t line up. They don’t tell you how wide your spacing should be. They just exist — happily, confidently, a little bit cheeky.

And after years of beige-on-beige minimalism followed by bold graphic lines… I think we’re due for something that feels lighter.

Not the Retro Polka Dots — The Grown-Up Ones

Before you picture a 1950s diner or novelty tea towels — that’s not what I mean.

The dots I’m seeing creeping in are:
• oversized
• tonal (think cream on cream)
• slightly uneven
• speckled rather than perfectly round
• almost hand-painted looking

They feel artisan. Handmade. A little imperfect in the best way.

I can absolutely see:
– dotted ceramic planters
– subtle spot cushions layered over stripes
– painted garden stools with matte dots
– outdoor rugs with soft, faded spotting

Nothing loud. Nothing tacky. Just personality.

I Don’t Think Stripes Are Going Anywhere (They’re Just Getting Company)

Here’s my real prediction.

Stripes will become the base.

Dots will be the fun layer.

Imagine:
Striped outdoor seating… with one dotted cushion.
Linear decking… broken up with round planters.
A tidy striped umbrella… with spotted tableware underneath.

Dots soften stripes. They stop things feeling too serious.

And honestly, I don’t know about you, but I’m a little tired of serious.

Why Home & Garden Will Embrace This First

Fashion might flirt with dots, but home and garden is where they’ll really land.

Dots:
• hide dirt better than stripes
• feel less dated over time
• work beautifully with handmade pieces
• blend well with natural textures

And when you think about it, gardens are already dotted. Seeds. Pebbles. Blooms. Gravel. Nature loves a circle.

Dots don’t feel forced outside — they feel like they belong.

I Think We’re Decorating for Joy Again

This might be the real reason.

People aren’t decorating to impress anymore. They’re decorating to feel good in their own space.

Polka dots feel happy.
They feel welcoming.
They feel lived-in.

They don’t scream “trend.”
They whisper “this is a home.”

And I think that’s where we’re headed in 2026.

So… Am I Completely Wrong?

Possibly.

But I can’t shake the feeling that by mid-2026 we’ll all be saying:

“When did everything get so spotty?”

Now I genuinely want to know what you think.

Are polka dots:
• timeless?
• overdue?
• absolutely not happening?
• or something you’d happily try on a cushion or planter?

Would you mix stripes and dots?
Or does that make your eye twitch?

Tell me in the comments. I need to know if I’m predicting a trend… or just about to accidentally redecorate my patio in spots.

Of course we already have polka dot articles from years gone by, here are a few to get you buzzing.

25 Amazing Polka Dot Walls

6 Polka Dot Background Cards [Card Making]

A pieced polka dot table runner [Quilting]

Clay Polka Dots [Polymer Clay]

* This article was originally published here

Are ‘flushable’ wipes really flushable?

After flushed wipes caused a sewage spill in the Potomac River, local authorities are reiterating their call to ignore the “flushable” label.

* This article was originally published here

Houseplant hacks: are light meters handy or hopeless?

They are hardly essential, but can act as useful teachers

The problem
Lots of houseplants fail because they aren’t getting enough light. But what does “bright, indirect light” really mean in practice? Light meters and apps promise to turn guesswork into numbers, but are they useful, or just kit for professionals and plant nerds?

The hack
Light meters measure the amount of light hitting a spot. Some are dedicated devices; others are phone apps that use the camera sensor. Instead of guessing whether a corner is bright enough, you measure it and then find the right plant for that spot with more confidence.

Continue reading...

* This article was originally published here

* This article was originally published here

* This article was originally published here