cleaning Archives

AppWizard

January 19, 2026

One of my most anticipated games for 2026 is a little sandbox puzzle game that plays like the lovechild of Unpacking and PowerWash Simulator

Hozy is a new simulation game that allows players to clean and decorate various rooms in a whimsical sandbox environment. During playtests, players explored a spacious living room and a compact studio apartment, cleaning by gathering clutter into floating orbs and disposing of them in a whimsical wheelie bin. After cleaning, players can freely arrange furniture from moving boxes to create a customized aesthetic. The game encourages thoughtful placement of larger items and offers a relaxing gameplay experience, enhanced by ambient sounds. Some players experienced minor glitches, such as floating fairy lights. Hozy is noted for its engaging experience, particularly for those who enjoy order and organization, but it currently lacks a release date, with fans hoping for more content by 2026.

AppWizard

January 4, 2026

30 hidden gems from 2025 to grab before the Steam Winter Sale ends

The PC gaming landscape in 2025 features a diverse array of new titles, many receiving critical acclaim. A selection of 15 standout games has been curated based on specific criteria: they were released or re-released in 2025, received little to no prior coverage, have around 95% positive user ratings, offer offbeat yet accessible gameplay, are discounted by a minimum of 30%, and include one game per genre. 1. Project Silverfish - Price: £17.50 (30% off); Developer: Siris Pendrake; A non-linear shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world with lizard-people and multi-faction battles. 2. Contract Rush DX - Price: £11.72 (30% off); Developer: Figburn & Melon; A platformer blending elements of Mega Man and Contra with vector animation and humor, allowing players to tackle levels in any order. 3. Godpoke - Price: £10.05 (40% off); Developer: LimboLane; An adventure where players mend quarrelsome gods using a dialogue-stealing mechanic to solve puzzles. 4. Missile Command Delta - Price: £11.72 (30% off); Developer: 13AM Games, Mighty Yell; A tactical hex-based strategy game with a teen drama narrative and point-and-click puzzles. 5. Shooty Shooty Robot Invasion - Price: £5.10 (40% off); Developer: Bubby Darkstar; A humorous FPS where players navigate a beach while dealing with quirky robot foes. 6. Maliki: Poison Of The Past - Price: £15 (40% off); Developer: Blue Banshee; A JRPG-inspired title featuring time travel and turn-based combat based on a webcomic. 7. Desecrators - Price: £7 (30% off); Developer: Woodhound; A roguelike shooter with procedurally generated levels and online co-op support. 8. Wyrmhall - Price: £2.55 (70% off); Developer: Leafy Games; A game where players manage an artifact-cleaning stall in an interdimensional nexus. 9. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo - Price: £11.72 (30% off); Developer: Pocket Trap; An adventure game featuring dungeon-crawling and puzzle-solving mechanics inspired by classic Zelda games. 10. Lingo 2 - Price: £5.95 (30% off); Developer: Brenton Wildes; A word puzzle adventure set in a minimalist block labyrinth. 11. Skogdal - Price: £8.37 (50% off); Developer: Erlend Kirkeboe, Kay Arne Kirkeboe; A deck-building game set in a quirky, 90s Norway with humor and strategic gameplay. 12. Schism - Price: £6.50 (35% off); Developer: Fami; A low-fi action roguelike with a punk aesthetic and intense combat. 13. My Little Puppy - Price: £14.69 (30% off); Developer: Dreamotion Inc.; An emotional adventure following a corgi's journey through the afterlife. 14. Decade - Price: £5.95 (30% off); Developer: Last Piscean; A narrative-driven game exploring time travel consequences in a post-apocalyptic world. 15. Kiloton - Price: £2.14 (50% off); Developer: Jack Morehart; A minimalist strategy game simulating geopolitical tensions with quick decision-making.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

Essential Apps to Install First on Your New Android Phone

Google's Find My Device app is essential for Android phone users, providing security features such as locating a misplaced phone, playing a sound, and remotely locking or erasing data. The app's integration with Android has improved tracking accuracy and introduced features like offline finding and compatibility with Bluetooth trackers. Other recommended apps for a well-rounded Android setup include Bitwarden for password management, Solid Explorer for file management, Google Keep for note-taking, and Signal for secure messaging. Productivity apps like Microsoft’s SwiftKey keyboard and Todoist for task management are also highlighted. Customization options include Nova Launcher, while performance optimization can be achieved with Greenify. Privacy-focused tools include DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser and Authy for two-factor authentication. Emerging trends suggest increased AI integration in apps and innovations for foldable devices. Regular maintenance apps like CCleaner and update managers are recommended for long-term device health.

Tech Optimizer

December 29, 2025

Best antivirus software of 2025: security, speed, pricing

In 2025, the best antivirus software includes: - MacKeeper: Best for Mac users, cryptocurrency holders, and identity protection. Key features include real-time protection against malware, ID Theft Guard, adware cleaning, built-in VPN, and system performance tools. Pricing starts around €9.86/month. - Norton 360: Best for families and multi-device protection. It offers advanced malware protection, a VPN, cloud backup, Dark Web monitoring, and parental controls. Pricing is approximately .50–/month. - Bitdefender: Best for aggressive ransomware protection with minimal CPU load. It features ransomware recovery, advanced threat detection, multi-layer malware defense, and a secure password manager. Pricing starts from .99–.99/year. - McAfee: Best for identity theft monitoring and financial protection. It includes effective malware detection, credit checks, and privacy tools. Pricing ranges from .99–.99/year. - Surfshark One: Best for lightweight antivirus combined with privacy tools. Key features include real-time antivirus and a VPN. Pricing starts from €1.69-€4.19/month. - Avast: Best for free antivirus features. It offers free real-time protection and a Ransomware Shield. The free version is available, with premium starting around .99/year. - AVG: Best for beginners needing a simple, effective free antivirus. It provides real-time threat protection and ransomware defense. The free version is available, or .68/year for advanced features. - Malwarebytes: Best for removing active malware and adware. It excels in malware cleanup and fast scans. Pricing starts from .49/year. - TotalAV: Best for strong first-year pricing and antivirus + privacy bundle. It protects against malware and includes a VPN. Pricing is approximately .00 for the first year, renewing at .99/year. Pricing information is based on rates available in December 2025.

AppWizard

December 20, 2025

My top 12 handheld games I played in 2025 — Indies and AAA titles I recommend for Steam Deck, Xbox Ally X, Legion Go 2, and more

- Little Kitty, Big City: A whimsical game where players navigate city streets as a cat, runs well on handhelds and is Steam Deck verified. - Amber Isle: A cozy game allowing players to create a dinosaur character and craft, marked as Playable for Steam Deck, though some text is small. - Kingdom of Night: An engaging game with 80s-inspired pixel art and combat, set in Miami, Arizona, Steam Deck verified. - PowerWash Simulator: An addictive game about cleaning surfaces, Steam Deck verified. - The Plucky Squire: A game where players leap from book pages into the real world, runs beautifully on Steam Deck and is Steam Deck verified. - My Little Puppy: A heartfelt game about a dog searching for its owner in the afterlife, Steam Deck verified. - Blue Prince: A roguelike puzzle game set in a mansion, marked as Playable for Steam Deck, though some text can be hard to read. - Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo: An adventure puzzle game featuring a snake assisting souls, Steam Deck verified. - Baldur's Gate 3: Acclaimed as 2023's Game of the Year, runs beautifully on handheld devices and is Steam Deck verified. - Dave the Diver: A game combining underwater exploration with sushi restaurant management, Steam Deck verified. - Minecraft: Runs well on handhelds with adjustments, but is not Steam Deck verified. - Immortals Fenyx Rising: An open-world RPG inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, marked as Playable on Steam Deck. - Horizon Zero Dawn: A favorite game with a captivating story, Steam Deck verified. - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: An award-winning game with improved performance after an update, Steam Deck verified. - Xbox Game Pass: Offers a vast library of titles perfect for handhelds.

AppWizard

December 10, 2025

Repair shop simulator ReStory will finally let me live out my dream of being an electronic tinkerer without having to destroy my own belongings first

ReStory is a simulation game set in early 2000s Tokyo where players act as a repair shop owner, mending various electronic devices. The gameplay involves disassembling gadgets, cleaning them, diagnosing issues, and restoring them. Players will encounter a range of devices to repair, including Atari consoles, Tamagotchis, and vintage mobile phones. The game features a narrative aspect where players interact with customers, revealing emotional connections to their devices. ReStory is set to be released in 2026.

Tech Optimizer

December 7, 2025

9 Apps You Should Never Install On Windows 11

John McAfee's antivirus software struggles with poor performance and questionable business practices, relying on financial arrangements with manufacturers for its prevalence. Users often face persistent pop-ups for additional services, leading to high subscription costs without significant value. Norton, another antivirus solution, is criticized for slowing down system performance and not providing better protection than Windows Defender. ExpressVPN has shifted focus from privacy to marketing after its acquisition, raising concerns about user data security. Honey, a shopping extension, tracks personal data and may mislead users with affiliate links. CCleaner has become bloated since its acquisition by Avast and is no longer effective on Windows 11. WiFi speed booster software often fails to improve performance and may collect user data. Crypto mining software poses risks as many applications are malware. Razer Synapse often causes performance issues for gamers, while NVIDIA's application can negatively impact system performance and is not as beneficial as alternatives.

Winsage

December 3, 2025

5 Windows maintenance tasks I finally stopped doing

- Third-party registry cleaners are no longer effective and can cause more problems than they solve. - Windows 10's Storage Sense automatically manages temporary and unnecessary files, making manual Disk Cleanup unnecessary. - Disk defragmentation is not needed for solid-state drives (SSDs) as Windows 11 automatically optimizes them. - Relying on third-party driver updaters can be risky; it's better to use the built-in updater from the PC manufacturer or trusted sources like Nvidia or AMD. - Using a program like BCUninstaller allows users to uninstall multiple applications simultaneously, making the process more efficient.

AppWizard

November 29, 2025

Side-scrolling action adventure game Avemary Rocket: Captain Patchwork announced for PC

Publisher room6 and developer Stesan Games are set to release the side-scrolling action-adventure game Avemary Rocket: Captain Patchwork on PC via Steam in 2026. The game features a spaceship named The Patchwork, where players must navigate and maintain the vessel while uncovering its secrets. Key features include intuitive side-scrolling gameplay, 2D pixel art, maintenance tasks during a journey to Earth, real-time gameplay with time constraints, and multiple endings. The development team includes Shuhei Miyazawa, Pixel, and Masashi Kimura. An announcement trailer is available.

AppWizard

November 29, 2025

25 gifts around $25 for the PC gamers in your life

The text provides a curated list of gift ideas for PC gamers, focusing on practical yet delightful options that are budget-friendly. The suggested gifts include: - Stardew Valley Mug - Doom Shotgun Shell Shot-Glasses - Elden Ring Living Pot Lamp - House Gem Mugwarmer - OXO Electronics Cleaning Brush - LED Light Bars - LEGO Botanicals Lucky Bamboo - Dungeon Crawler Carl Books - Monitor-top Shelves - RGB Headset & Controller Stand - Magnetic-closure Cord Organizers - Odistar Desktop Vacuum - GameSir Nova Lite Controller - Magnetic Rechargeable Hand Warmers - Miniature Retro PC - Recycled Circuit Board Keycaps - Gamertag LED Light - FF14 Neon Job Sign - Memory Gel Wrist Rests - Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1 - Ecarke Macro Keypad - Powered USB Hub - Stream Deck Under-Desk Mount