8 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: Plastic-Free Food Storage and Stylish Sneakers

Writer Emma Wartzman recently polled Strategist staffers on perhaps the least glamorous, but most important, of things: the cleaning products they use to keep their wardrobes and homes spotless. Zout’s “laundry holy-grail” stain-removing spray usually gets lead editor Lauren Levy some strange looks when she recommends it. “The first time I told a friend about Zout, the stain-remover spray, they thought it was some knockoff of Shout. Nuh-uh,” she says. “Spray it on a stain and soak it in a little water and it’ll get rid of almost anything. Cherries! Mustard!”

In this month’s “Testing Report,” Wartzman wrote about Misen’s newest food-storage set. The stainless-steel containers are microwave safe, and their silicone lids are leakproof and see-through. “They can go in the microwave, freezer, oven, and dishwasher (though so far, I’ve only put them through the dishwasher). Like with deli containers, the three sizes stack, and the lids are universal,” she says. Aside from being a bit on the heavier side, they’re great. A heads-up: Current preorders ship out in November.

“Now that I’m 60 and my joints are riddled with arthritis, any sneakers I purchase need to fulfill two goals: They need to be stylish and make me seem a little cool,” says contributor Sari Botton. Thus began Botton’s search for the “lifestyle sneaker,” something she can painlessly walk around the city in for more than half an hour and pair with casual, chic clothing (and not sweats). Twelve pairs of Pumas, Golas, and Vivaias later, Reebok’s Ultra Los came out on top. The Field Green shade is her favorite color (and seamlessly coordinates with her green-heavy closet). She particularly likes the satin upper and writes that “despite their low-profile sole, these are wonderfully supportive, while also incredibly light.”

Linen skirts don’t belong just to the boho chic and coastal grandmas these days, according to writer Bella Druckman. Now, just about every brand has a 100 percent linen skirt, some with devoted “Linen Shops.” Druckman tested eight skirts in different cuts, colors, and styles, all under $150. Among her top picks was this one from Aritzia. While not entirely linen, that’s a good thing; the cotton lining is soft against her legs and well-suited to sensitive-skinned linen skeptics. The tiered style, one Druckman usually stays away from for risk of looking “zhlubby,” is actually flattering, fitted with the daintiest waistband she’s ever seen on a skirt (a neat one inch that keeps the skirt securely in place). And the gingham print conveniently camouflages any wrinkles she didn’t have time to steam.

In the name of a fresh start, writer, contributor, and teacher Maggie Yolen thinks it’s always fun to do a little shopping for a new school year. She surveyed several parents and educators on over a hundred of the gel pens, watches, notebooks, and more that they buy their kids before the start of the semester. The most popular among our readers — and six of the teachers Yolen spoke to — is this lunch box. Literacy specialist Katie Williams places it flat and folded in her freezer before she packs her kids’ lunches (no ice pack necessary.) “Sometimes when my kids come home after a full day, the leftovers I sent (that went uneaten) are still cold,” says Williams.

Writer Kitty Guo is still updating our weekly roundup of the best back-to-school deals across apparel, tech, accessories, and more. In her top picks this time around: these trendy girls’ flared leggings from Old Navy. Four colors are marked down 70 percent to $7, and seven more are $10. They’re high-rise and stretchy, made of a cotton blend, and fitted with a cute crossover waistband.

For the latest “Beauty Aisle,” writer Arielle Avila talked to By/RosieJane founder Rosie Jane about her go-to drugstore beauty products. Besides the Aquaphor she’s used head to toe for two decades and the L’Oréal mascara her oldest daughter converted her to is this texturizing spray. “I am a hair-product junkie. I wash my hair only about once a week max. And I tend to blow-dry it and apply some air-dry mousse and texturizing spray. The brand that I was using before was just so expensive, and I go through hair stuff fast. It’s not like I’m using just a little bit. The accessibility of Kristin Ess is great, and there was zero drop in quality.”