Raise your hand if you knew how to make your own lip gloss before the coronavirus pandemic arrived. Or measure your own ring size. With businesses shut down nationwide and social distancing guidelines in place, Americans have been embracing DIY culture — learning to do without hairdressers, tailors, jewelers, handymen, and dozens of other services in ways they likely never would have considered otherwise. The top “how to” Google queries in each state for the past 30 days offer a glimpse into how life has changed, what people are finding out how to do for themselves, and how they’re passing the time. Spoiler alert: There’s intense interest in the Michael Jordan docuseries “The Last Dance” and Elon Musk’s new baby, named X Æ A-12. There is also widespread confusion about the name of the TV show “How to Get Away With Murder,” which had its series finale May 14 on ABC.
Related: What Americans Are Really Shopping for During the Pandemic
Alabama
How to get rid of carpenter bees — up 3,950% How to make a live wallpaper (a moving background image for a smartphone) — up 2,050% How to get rid of hiccups — up 1,950% How to deactivate my Facebook — up 1,850% How to check on my stimulus check — up 90%
Alaska
How to make hand sanitizer — up more than 5,000% How long to boil eggs — up more than 5,000% How to make buttermilk — up more than 5,000% How to make a face mask with fabric — up 3,650% How to write a check — up 3,600%
Note: To come up with enough trending search terms, the timeline was extended to January 2020.
Arizona
How to get rid of gnats — up more than 5,000% How to get your stimulus check — up more than 5,000% (Also in the top five: “how to track your stimulus check,” up 3,050%) How to measure your ring size — up 4,050% How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 3,050% How to enable 2fa (two-factor authentication, for extra security online) — up 2,050%
Arkansas
How to solve a rubix cube (or Rubik’s Cube) — up 2,850% How to track your stimulus check — up 2,800% (Also in the top five: “how to track stimulus check,” up 300%) How to get rid of moles — up 2,750% How to screenshot on Mac — up 300% How to make slime — up 110%
California
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Colorado
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up more than 5,000% How to turn on sprinkler system– up 3,900% How to make hummingbird food — up 1,900% How to make crepes — up 1,900% How to track stimulus check — up 900%
Connecticut
Delaware
How to make hand sanitizer — up more than 5,000% How to make a face mask — up more than 5,000% (Also in the top five: “how to make a face mask with fabric,” up more than 5,000%) How to track a stimulus check — up more than 5,000% How to file for unemployment — up more than 5,000% How to use Zoom — up more than 5,000%
Note: To come up with enough trending search terms, the timeline was extended to the past 90 days.
Related: How to Disinfect Without Harming Your Stuff (or Yourself)
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Florida
How to get rid of love bugs — up 2,350% How to check on stimulus check — up 300% (Also in the top five: “how to check status of stimulus check,” up 170%) How to make fried chicken — up 200% How to make pancakes — up 150% How to find the mean — up 120%
Related: 20 Chef Secrets for Crisp, Juicy Fried Chicken
Georgia
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 3,400% How to get rid of a headache — up 1,650% How long to boil corn on the cob — up 1,600% How to cook lobster tail — up 1,100% How to pronounce “X Æ A-12” — up 1,050%
Related: 20 Recipes and Tips for Grilling Fish, Lobster, and Other Seafood This Summer
Hawaii
How to make mask — up more than 5,000% (Also in the top five: “how to make a mask,” “how to make face mask,” and “how to make a face mask,” all up more than 5,000%) How to make hand sanitizer — up more than 5,000% How to file for unemployment — up more than 5,000% How to get a stimulus — up more than 5,000% How to make whipped coffee — up 3,450%
Note: To come up with enough trending search terms, the timeline was extended to the past 90 days.
Related: 18 Critical Steps to Take When You’ve Been Laid Off
Idaho
How to get a stimulus check — up more than 5,000% How to make hand sanitizer — up more than 5,000% How to watch “The Last Dance” — up more than 5,000% How to make a face mask with fabric — up more than 5,000% How to hard-boil eggs — up 4,350%
Note: To come up with enough trending search terms, the timeline was extended to January 2020.
Illinois
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up more than 5,000% How to ripen avocados — up 800% How to fall asleep faster — up 350% How to draw a nose — up 350% How to make a mask out of a bandanna — up 300%
Indiana
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up more than 5,000% How to track your stimulus check — up more than 5,000% How to get rid of ants — up 4,100% How to write a cover letter — up 3,150% How to fade hair — up 3,100%
Related: 22 Cheap, Natural Ways to Rid Your Home of Pests
Iowa
How to make a mask — up more than 5,000% (Followed by “how to make a face mask,” also up more than 5,000%) How to make hand sanitizer — up more than 5,000% How to get stimulus check — up more than 5,000% How to use Zoom — up more than 5,000 How to file for unemployment in Iowa — up more than 5,000%
Note: To come up with enough trending search terms, the timeline was extended to January 2020.
Related: 20 Hacks and Tips for Video Chatting on Zoom, Hangouts, and More
Kansas
How to make a live wallpaper — up 2,250% How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 2,200% How to get rid of hiccups — up 190% How to make buttermilk — up 90% How to track stimulus check — up 90%
Kentucky
How to pronounce “X Æ A-12” — up 3,700% How to make a paper airplane — up 2,950% How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 2,150% How to wear a surgical mask — up 1,550% How to make hummingbird food — up 1,450%
Louisiana
How back up iPhone — up 450% “How to Get Away With a Murderer” season 6 — up 300% How to check on stimulus check — up 250% How to lose belly fat fast — up 200% How to delete an Instagram page — up 110%
Maine
How to make a mask — up more than 5,000% (Also in the top five: “how to make a face mask,” up more than 5,000%) How to file for unemployment in Maine — up more than 5,000% (Followed by “how to file for unemployment,” also up more than 5,000%) How to check status of stimulus check — up more than 5,000% How to use Zoom — up more than 5,000%
Note: To come up with enough trending search terms, the timeline was extended to the past 90 days.
Maryland
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 3,450% How to clean washing machine — up 2,550% How to track your stimulus check — up 1,750% How to make lip gloss — up 1,700% How to stop snoring — up 1,650%
Massachusetts
How to wear a face mask — up 3,650% How to solve a rubix cube — up 3,000% How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 2,950% “How to Get Away With a Murderer” season 6 — up 2,850% How to make lasagna — up 650%
Michigan
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 3,650% How to track your stimulus check — up 1,800% (Also in the top five: “how to track stimulus check,” up 200%) How to pronounce “X Æ A-12” — up 1,200% How to write a song — up 180% How to boil corn — up 110%
Related: 41 Things to Do to Before Lockdown Ends
Minnesota
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up more than 5,000% How to boil potatoes — up 3,500% How to take a screenshot on a PC — up 3,350% How to solve a rubix cube — up 2,350% How to track your stimulus check — up 2,300%
Mississippi
How to boil crawfish — up more than 5,000% How to cancel Netflix — up more than 5,000% “How to Get Away With a Murderer” — up 300% How to cook salmon — up 110% How to apply for unemployment in MS — up 50%
Missouri
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 3,200% How to cut a mango — up 2,150% How to make hummingbird food — up 2,100% How to set up a Zoom meeting — up 1,000% “How to Train Your Dragon” — up 450%
Montana
How to make French toast — up 4,950% How to make a face mask with fabric — up 2,400% How to make buttermilk — up 2,400% How to make hand sanitizer — up 350% How to file for unemployment — up 200%
Note: To come up with enough trending search terms, the timeline was extended to the past 90 days.
Nebraska
How to make a face mask — up more than 5,000% (Also in the top five: “how to make a face mask with fabric” and “how to make a mask with fabric,” both up more than 5,000%) How to make hand sanitizer — up more than 5,000% How to bake a potato — up more than 5,000% How to make a paper airplane — up more than 5,000% How to cut your own hair — up 4,350%
Nevada
How to get rid of moths — up more than 5,000% How to get rid of flies — up 350% How to check status of stimulus check — up 300% How to screenshot on Windows — up 250% How to get free Robux (for the game “Roblox”) — up 100%
New Hampshire
How to make hand sanitizer — up more than 5,000% How to sew a face mask — up more than 5,000% (Followed by “bandanna mask how to,” up more than 5,000%) How to test for coronavirus — up more than 5,000% How to get rid of chipmunks — up 3,400% How to cut your own hair — up 2,550%
Note: To come up with enough trending search terms, the timeline was extended to the past 90 days.
New Jersey
How to check status of stimulus check — up 3,300% (Also in the top five: “how to track stimulus check,” up 140%, and “how to get stimulus check,” up 130%) How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 1,750% How to ripen avocados — up 1,650% How to make a margarita — up 80% “How to Get Away With Murderer” season 6 — up 80%
New Mexico
How to lose belly fat fast — up more than 5,000% How to get rid of moths — up 3,400% How to take a screenshot — up 170% How long to boil eggs — up 80% How to make buttermilk — up 60%
New York
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 3,700% How to pronounce “X Æ A-12” — up 1,150% How to become a chiropractor — up 850% “How to Get Away With Murderer” cast — up 500% How to make a mask out of a bandanna — up 350%
North Carolina
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 1,800% How to watch the NFL draft — up 1,000% How to pronounce “X Æ A-12” — up 750% How to put on N95 mask — up 450% How to freeze strawberries — up 400%
Related: 16 Foods to Freeze for Later (and How to Do It Right)
North Dakota
How to make hand sanitizer — up more than 5,000% How to make a face mask — up more than 5,000% (Also in the top five: “how to make a face mask with fabric,” up more than 5,000%) How to screenshot on a Mac — up more than 5,000% How to lose weight fast — up 150% How to boil eggs — up 60%
Note: To come up with enough trending search terms, the timeline was extended to the past 90 days.
Ohio
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 3,350% How to make a mask out of a bandanna — up 1,900% How to pronounce “X Æ A-12” — up 1,850% How to watch the NFL draft — up 1,650% How to check on your stimulus check — up 300%
Oklahoma
How long to bake potatoes in the oven — up 3,850% How to pronounce “X Æ A-12” — up 3,800% How to apply for a stimulus check — up 1,850% (Followed by “how to track a stimulus check,” up 450%, and “how to track your stimulus check,” up 300%) How to delete apps — up 200% How to cut your own hair — up 110%
Oregon
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 4,450% “How to Build a Girl” (a movie starring Beanie Feldstein that began streaming recently) — up 2,950% How to pronounce “X Æ A-12” — up 2,200% How to watch the NFL draft — up 1,400% How to lose belly fat — up 190%
Pennsylvania
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 2,000% How to protect plants from frost — up 2,000% How to make a margarita — up 1,450% How to paint kitchen cabinets — up 950% How to make whipped cream — up 600%
Rhode Island
How to make a mask — up more than 5,000% (Followed by “how to make a face mask,” up more than 5,000%) How to make hand sanitizer — up more than 5,000% How to file for unemployment — up more than 5,000% How to get stimulus check — up more than 5,000% How to make pizza dough — up more than 5,000%
Note: To come up with enough trending search terms, the timeline was extended to January 2020.
South Carolina
How to pronounce “X Æ A-12” — up 3,100% How to watch the NFL draft — up 2,950% How to make whipped coffee — up 2,950% How to make a mask out of a sock — up 1,450% How to address an envelope — up 1,450%
South Dakota
How to make a face mask — up more than 5,000% How to make hand sanitizer — up more than 5,000% How to hard-boil eggs — up 3,150% How to screenshot a Mac — up 180% How to lose weight fast — up 140%
Note: To come up with enough trending search terms, the timeline was extended to the past 90 days.
Tennessee
How to track your stimulus check — up more than 5,000% (Followed by “how to track my stimulus check,” up more than 5,000%) How to make a mask out of a bandanna — up 4,700% “How to Get Away With a Murderer” cast — up 1,950% How to delete an Instagram account — up 1,900% How to solve a rubix cube — up 1,900%
Texas
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 2,400% How to pronounce “X Æ A-12” — up 1,500% How to play spoons — up 250% How to jump-start a car — up 190% How to make a mask out of a bandanna — up 190%
Utah
How to plant potatoes — up more than 5,000% How to watch “The Last Dance” — up more than 5,000% How to make hummingbird food — up 4,000% How to potty train a puppy — up 1,900% How to pronounce “X Æ A-12” — up 1,900%
Vermont
How to make a face mask — up more than 5,000% How to make hand sanitizer — up more than 5,000% How to screenshot on windows — up more than 5,000% How to make French toast — up 3,550% How long to boil eggs — up 60%
Note: To come up with enough trending search terms, the timeline was extended to the past 90 days.
Virginia
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 3,950% How to recall an email in Outlook — up 1,950% How to make whipped cream — up 1,300% How to pronounce “X Æ A-12” — up 600% How to paint kitchen cabinets — up 600%
Washington
How to bake a potato — up 3,650% How to watch “The Last Dance” — up 3,550% How to French braid — up 2,150% How to cook lobster tail — up 2,100% How to feed sourdough starter — up 1,400%
West Virginia
How to make hand sanitizer — up more than 5,000% How to make a face mask — up more than 5,000% (Followed by “how to make a face mask with fabric,” up more than 5,000%) How to cut your own hair — up more than 5,000% How to get rid of ants — up 4,700% How to file for unemployment in WV — up 3,050%
Note: To come up with enough trending search terms, the timeline was extended to the past 90 days.
Wisconsin
How to watch “The Last Dance” — up more than 5,000% How to watch the NFL draft — up 3,200% How much does it cost to build a house — up 3,150% How to poach an egg — up 1,050% How to trim your own hair — up 1,000%
Related: How to Cut Your Long Hair When You Can’t Get to a Hairstylist
Wyoming
How to make hand sanitizer — up more than 5,000% How to screenshot on a Mac — up 3,350% How to make a face mask — up 200%
Note: Only three trending search queries were available from January through present.
