Lots of people apply sunscreen wrong. Here’s how to do it right.

Illustration of a large swirl of sunscreen on a person's left shoulder.

Illustration: Derek Abella

To be most effective, sunscreen needs to be applied (and reapplied) properly. But how much sunscreen do you need? How often do you need to apply it? And does the type of sunscreen you use matter?

We’ve tested nearly 90 sunscreens since 2015, so we know a few things about the stuff. We’ll walk you through expert-backed advice to help ensure the rest of your summer is a sunburn-free one.

Most people don’t use nearly enough→

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Plus: What you’re probably using too much of

A laundry detergent bottle cap, shown overflowing with blue laundry detergent.

Photo: Michael Hession

Much like when applying sunscreen, it’s easy to portion out household cleaning supplies almost mindlessly, rarely stopping to wonder if it’s the right amount. This isn’t always a big deal, but in some scenarios, using too much or too little of a product can yield lousy results.

Dish soap: You might be using too much dish soap if you continuously squeeze dollops of the cleaner onto your sponge while hand-washing your dishes. A more effective way to get the chore done is to fill the sink with soapy water—with sometimes only as little as a teaspoon of dish soap.

Toilet bowl cleaner: Measuring out a specific amount of this product can be a little difficult since most toilet bowl cleaners come in a funny-looking bottle designed to more easily apply the cleaner under the rim of the bowl. A good rule to follow to clean it best? Just one squeeze of the bottle all the way around the bowl is probably enough.

Laundry detergent: We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Stop using so much laundry detergent. Though almost every detergent bottle suggests using a capful of detergent, you usually only need at most two tablespoons per load to effectively clean your clothes.

Sometimes, a little goes a long way→

One more bit of advice? Don’t use these things past their prime.

A GIF showing different things Wirecutter recommends you replace every so often, including bike helmets, surge protectors, mascara, and toilet brushes.

Photos: Wirecutter Staff

And on the topic of using your stuff correctly: There are items around your home, no matter how well-made they are, that need to be swapped every so often to ensure you get the best use of them. Some of them trap germs and bacteria over time. Others lose efficacy as the years wear on.

We’ve put together a handy guide to when and why you should swap out some common household items you (probably) use every day, from mascara to surge protectors.

It’s probably time to replace these 17 essentials→

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