
Lauren Bradbury
Lauren Bradbury started writing for Ideal Home's House Manual section back in 2023 as a freelance writer, writing about everything you need to make a house a home - from cleaning tips and DIY hacks to energy-saving guides and decluttering methods. After building up a wealth of information on the practical side of running a home, she joined the team permanently as Content Editor for House Manual in January 2025. When she's not writing how-to guides and handy features, Lauren is constantly updating many of our home appliance buying guides and is now the Ideal Home Certified Expert in Training on Vacuums, having spent over 110 hours testing different vacuum models - as well as the latest releases in the world of dehumidifiers, electric heaters, air purifiers, and more. In doing this, Lauren is able to assess everything a consumer may want to know about the essential household products that make life so much easier. Before joining the Ideal Home team, Lauren graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Chichester. She then dipped her toe into the world of content writing, primarily focusing on home content. After years of agency work, she decided to take the plunge and become a full-time freelancer for online publications, including Real Homes and Ideal Home. It was during this time that she also took an interest in transforming her bland Victorian terrace into a cosy home with the help of affordable DIYs and considered styling.
Ideal Home Truths
Where’s your happy place?
My happy place is sitting in my living room with my dog by my side. Myself and my husband have painted the walls around five times since we moved in, but we have finally settled on a sage green colour that has turned it into the cosy space I was really hoping for.
What’s your home addiction?
I just can’t get enough of candles and reed diffusers. Every room in my house smells different, which means I’m hit with a new smell everywhere I walk. For some reason, this just puts a smile on my face and really awakens my senses - especially when I’m working from home.
What is your next home project?
Since moving into my home in 2020, I’ve tried to avoid any major renovations, but my bathroom is in need of some serious TLC. Like many Victorian properties, the bathroom is on the ground floor and is extremely hard to ignore. So, I’m hoping to transform the old, white bathroom into a bright oasis that still acknowledges its Victorian roots.
Latest articles by Lauren Bradbury
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How to remove stains from carpet – a foolproof guide to DIY stain removal for red wine, grease or coffee stains
Everything you need to know about DIY carpet stain removal
By Lauren Bradbury
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How to clean carpet – expert-approved ways to freshen up your floors without the hassle
Carpet looking tired, dull, or dirty? These tips will help it look as good as new
By Lauren Bradbury
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My whole family is allergic to my dog — these are the 4 things I do to get rid of pet dander in my home, so you'd never know
Every pet owner should know these
By Lauren Bradbury
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Don't spend £500 on a 'flashy' vacuum – here's what'll suit you better and ‘clean your floors reliably for the next 20 years'
I sat down with Gtech founder Nick Grey to get his hot take on the vacuum market
By Lauren Bradbury
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How to keep foxes out of your garden — 6 (safe and humane) ways to deter these garden invaders
Deter foxes without harming them in the process
By Lauren Bradbury
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I’m calling it! I predict this game-changing appliance will be just as popular as vacuums by the end of 2025
I test vacuums for a living, but I just can’t deny that it has the potential to de-throne the traditional vacuum
By Lauren Bradbury
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The best desk fans — after testing, these are the only 6 I’d recommend for smaller spaces and WFH setups
Our top picks from the likes of Meaco, Duux, Shark and more
By Lauren Bradbury
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Aldi is bringing back its £39.99 sellout bladeless fan — and it’s £30 cheaper than Lidl’s almost-identical alternative
Missed out on Aldi’s bladeless fan last year? It’s back in stock this week
By Lauren Bradbury
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The 4 laundry items you should never dry on a washing line — or risk damaging your wardrobe for good
Think before you peg
By Lauren Bradbury
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I’m an expert vacuum tester, but these are the 5 things I wish I knew before buying a Dyson vacuum
If you’re struggling to justify the higher price tag, you'll want to know this too
By Lauren Bradbury
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Does an air purifier help hay fever? Yes, but only if you choose the right model (and use it in the right way)
See ya later, hay fever
By Lauren Bradbury
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Shark wants your old vacuum (even if it’s not a Shark!) — and its new trade-in scheme offers £50 cashback to customers for a limited time only
This new initiative will help you make money from your old vacuum while saving money on a new one, too
By Lauren Bradbury
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Bissell’s new CrossWave model is the ultimate 2-in-1 appliance – I now use it more than my regular vacuum cleaner
Its innovative edge-cleaning technology won me over, too
By Lauren Bradbury
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Experts warn that vacuuming this one type of flooring could cause irreparable (and costly) damage — this is how you should *actually* be cleaning it
It might be time to retire your vacuum
By Lauren Bradbury
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How to clean a Shark vacuum cleaner — 6 steps to ensure your investment continues to work at its best for years to come
I’m a vacuum expert and this is the exact step-by-step process I follow
By Lauren Bradbury
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Dyson has announced the release of a groundbreaking new vacuum — it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen and I want one immediately
There's more new technology than you can shake a stick at
By Lauren Bradbury
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How to keep a bedroom cool — 9 ways to beat the heat and create a comfortable sleeping space during hot weather
My bedroom is the hottest room in my house, so this is what I'll be doing to cool things down this summer
By Lauren Bradbury
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Russell Hobbs' Bladeless Tower Fan doubles as an air purifier and is the ultimate budget alternative to a Dyson — it’s so effective that I can’t sleep without it
As a hay fever sufferer and a hot sleeper, it's been a game-changer
By Lauren Bradbury
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This is the one thing you need to do if your Shark vacuum keeps stopping — it’s my secret weapon for a fault-free appliance
The good news? Your Shark vacuum cutting out can be easy to fix
By Lauren Bradbury
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How to clean wool carpets — 5 gentle cleaning tips to prolong your carpet’s lifespan without damaging the fibres, according to experts
After all, you probably shouldn't use a carpet cleaner
By Lauren Bradbury
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These are the things I wish I knew before buying an air purifier so you don’t make the same expensive mistakes I did
I wasted so much money before becoming an air quality expert
By Lauren Bradbury
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Dyson has quietly slashed the prices of its bestselling fans to help you beat the heat this week — our top pick is now £100 off
The Dyson Week deals are in full force, and I'm a big fan of this discount...
By Lauren Bradbury
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How we test air purifiers at Ideal Home and translate confusing specs into the information you *actually* need to know
We've put countless air purifiers through Ideal Home's testing process to find the best-in-class. Here's how we do it.
By Lauren Bradbury
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I’ve stopped buying cleaning products from the supermarket — this is where I go to get everything I need instead (and for a bargain price)
I spend less, and they stock all of the big brands
By Lauren Bradbury