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January 13, 2025

Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter

Replacing a dribbly old showerhead with a new, high-performing model is one of the simplest, most satisfying upgrades you can make to your home—and your quality of life.

After taking hundreds of showers, we’ve found the very best showerhead: a built-to-last and practical one that offers a variety of water settings—from a drenching rain-shower-like spray to a tight, strong hair rinse setting that editor Katie Okamato says “feels fantastic on the scalp.” Another standout feature? It has a pause setting, which reduces the flow to all but a burble to help you save water when you’re shampooing or shaving.

Plus, it’s just handsome. Says Katie: “The showerhead itself is a simple disc shape, similar to a hockey puck, though more elegant in its functionality than that sounds—understated, sleek, and timeless.”

The best showerhead→

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Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter

While grab bars are most immediately helpful for people who are aging, who have physical disabilities, or who are caregivers, they can be useful for anyone. But it can be a challenge to find one that works for your space and doesn’t look like it’s straight out of a hospital.

After testing 11 models, we have several recommendations for sturdy, versatile, and affordable options—some of which are downright stylish.

The grab bars we recommend→

“The Swiss army knife” of fitness gear A kettlebell is a great tool for building strength and improving balance. Here’s the best one→

We’ve tested slippers for more than a decade These are the coziest, comfiest, and most durable pairs available→

Don’t hang your cashmere Plus, more tips to make even cheap cashmere look better and last longer→

Leilani Han/NYT Wirecutter

You’ve probably seen ads for Instagram-sleek showerheads that claim to make your hair and skin look and feel better by filtering out contaminants in water. But do they really work? The answer is, in short, maybe. But installing (and continuously replacing) showerhead filters can be extremely pricey in the long run.

Considering a filtered showerhead? Ask yourself these 6 questions first→

More from Unsexy Essentials Week: These poop baggies for babies (yes, really) are game-changers for parents on the go.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

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