5 home innovations that improved our lives in 2025
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When you live with small inconveniences, frustration can build up over time. You can only catch your belt buckle on a drawer handle so many times before you reach your limit. Many of this year’s home innovations tackle these seemingly small obstacles that can make a big difference in your life at home. The monthly chore of replacing an air filter and the seemingly simple task of finding a place to store the lawn mower when not in use find smart solutions. Our grand prize winner adds an unprecedented level of accessibility to dishwashers without requiring an entirely new appliance. Living as usual in your home is a privilege and these innovations help ensure that is possible.
(Editor’s note: This is a section of Popular Science’s 38th annual Best of What’s New awards. Be sure to read the full list of the 50 biggest innovations of 2025.)
Grand Prize Winner, Home
Whirlpool Spin&Load Basket: A lower dishwasher rack that actually comes to you
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Whirlpool’s Spin&Load basket replaces the typical fixed bottom dishwasher rack with a platform that rotates 360 degrees, so every plate and pan remains accessible from any side. The accessory fits into standard 24-inch built-in dishwashers from all Whirlpool brands and spins on a central hub, meaning users no longer need to lean deep into the machine or move around the open door just to grab the pan from the back. The support was developed with the United Spinal Association as well as Whirlpool’s internal advocacy group. The final product was tested with wheelchair users, with the aim of making loading and unloading realistic for people with limited reach or balance, not just idealized demonstration kitchens. It’s also compatible with most of the brand’s standard dishwasher models manufactured after 2018, making it a much more affordable and eco-friendly alternative to replacing an entire appliance.
Stihl RMA 448 V lawn mower: A one-sided handle that simplifies bagging and storage
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The Stihl RMA 448 V battery mower uses a unique looking handle: instead of the usual two bars, it has a single offset post that leaves the rear of the deck completely open. This small change makes it easier to remove the 13.7-gallon grass bag, flip the built-in mulch flap, or adjust the cutting height without wrapping your arms around a metal tube. Most importantly, the handle folds flat to store the trimmer against a wall in tight storage spaces. Despite its foldable stature, it’s still a full-size 19-inch self-propelled mower with weather-resistant construction and an ECO mode to extend runtime. But the real benefit is its simplified ease of use, because accessories and features aren’t worth it if they’re too annoying to use.
Dyson HushJet Purifier Compact: Jet-like airflow without the jet engine noise
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The HushJet Purifier Compact shrinks Dyson’s bladeless air multiplier idea into a purifier small enough for a bedroom or home office, then reworks the nozzle to keep things extremely quiet. The uniquely shaped port draws in ambient air and pushes it through an electrostatic HEPA filter and activated carbon, capturing 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns and common gases. It’s a strong suction, but, in night mode, the noise drops to around 24 dBA. It’s about as loud as a typical whisper. It measures approximately 200 square feet, uses approximately 7 pounds of material, and uses a sealed filter rated for up to five years, reducing replacement waste and recurring costs. It’s quiet enough and so low maintenance that there’s no need to think about it and that’s how we like it.
Jackery solar tiles: curved crystalline panels that behave like a real roof
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Jackery’s solar roof replaces bolted panels with curved tiles that function as both a roof and a photovoltaic system. Each XBC tile uses a 0.13mm thick crystalline silicon cell bent into a 150 degree “smile” shape, providing over 25% efficiency and approximately 38 watts per tile, or approximately 170 watts per square meter, while matching the profile of clay or concrete tiles in black or terracotta. The system is designed to withstand hail, high winds, and temperatures ranging from –40°F to 185°F, with a 30-year warranty and integration into Jackery’s home storage equipment for whole-home backup. By treating solar as part of the building envelope instead of a separate rack, it aims to make the system palatable to homeowners’ associations and aesthetically conscious homeowners who would otherwise ignore rooftop solar – a significant hurdle if residential rooftops are to meaningfully contribute to grid decarbonization.
Filterte Refillable Air Filter Kit: A Reusable HVAC Frame with Collapsible Refills
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The Filterte Refillable Air Filter Kit replaces the usual one-piece furnace filter with a rigid frame designed to live in your HVAC system for up to 20 years and thin “refill” elements that slide in and out. Each MPR 1550 refill lasts up to 12 months, comes folded to take up 75% less space and captures significantly more fine particles than basic filters while generating approximately 20% less waste over the life of the frame. The kit comes in curbside recyclable packaging, and the Peinture Filterte app can help you when it’s time to swap out the media, which addresses the very human tendency to forget about filters until airflow drops. Given how many homes now rely on forced-air systems for heating and cooling, a design that reduces bulk waste and encourages longer, more consistent filtration is a modest but concrete improvement in how we manage indoor air and HVAC waste.
PopSci Outdoor Gift Guide 2025
