Until I started reviewing kitchen gear five years ago, I rarely read product manuals or user guides. I’m sure that’s due in large part to my ADHD , as my brain tends to move more quickly than step-by-step instructions allow. Plus, I like to figure things out on my own, thank you very much!

But my rogue, DIY, quick-start method hasn’t always worked out in my favor. I inadvertently killed my first Dyson stick vacuum (that I saved for months to buy) because I failed to educate myself on proper filter maintenance. And I’ve owned my car for a decade and still have no clue what a couple of the buttons actually do.

While user error can make for a funny punchline, it can also get expensive.…