Vacuum mops have become one of my favourite cleaning gadgets, simply because they cut one of the most time-consuming household jobs in half. I've tested plenty of models, so for it to really impress me, it needs to stand out from the crowd.

The Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop did exactly that. After putting it through its paces in my family home, it quickly earned a spot among the best vacuum mops I've tested.

In a nutshell

I didn't expect to be quite as impressed with a hard floor cleaner. But after testing the Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop around my busy family home, it's saved me so much time - and even made cleaning my kitchen floors feel like less of a chore. Not only does it vacuum, mop and dry floors, but it also does so with minimal effort required on my part. This is all thanks to its powerful self-propelling function, which I'd go as far as saying is the best I've come across (and I've tested a lot of vacuum mops).

I can't fault its cleaning performance either. It cleared up everyday mess from my three children with ease, and even removed beans, flour and a cracked egg in a single pass. My floors were only left lightly damp afterwards, too, so there was no waiting around for them to dry before you could walk on them.

Tefal have really paid attention to the design, too. It feels premium, and features such as the built-in LED headlights and 180° flat-edge design make it super versatile for tackling hard-to-reach areas. There are three modes to choose from - Auto, Max and Eco - and it uses automatic dirt detection, adjusting the suction power and water flow accordingly. It also has an impressive 50-minute run time, which is one of the longest I've come across on a vacuum mop.

It falls short of a 5-star review because it won't fully replace a vacuum cleaner, as it's only suitable for use on hard floors, and at £449 full price it is an investment. The clean water tank also sits on top of the main floorhead, which is a quirky feature, and I found it took a little getting used to, but it's decently sized so you won't need to refill mid-clean. Overall, it's a really impressive, powerful floor cleaner that's perfect for busy households.

How I tested

Specifications

• Weight: 5.98 kg
• Dimensions: 325 x 300 x 1192 mm
• Max run time: 50 minutes
• Modes: 3
• Clean water tank capacity: 600ml
• Charge time: 3.5 hours
• In the box: Wet dry cordless vacuum cleaner, additional soft cleaning roller and filter, charging and cleaning base, cleaning brush.
• RRP: £449.99

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop arrived in a large, oblong-shaped cardboard box. Although it was slightly awkward to carry single-handedly because of the size, it was noticeably lighter than I'd expected.

I opened the outer packaging to find another cardboard box, this time branded with the Tefal logo and product images. Inside, all the components were neatly secured between a layer of moulded cardboard, and wrapped individually in plastic bags, labelled as '50% recyclable'. I always pay attention to how eco-friendly the packaging is, and while I'll always favour brands that use 100% recyclable material, it's not something I've come across regularly.

The box contained the main vacuum mop and handle, an additional soft cleaning roller, the charging base, a cleaning brush and a user manual.

Assembly was incredibly simple; all I needed to do was insert the handle onto the base and pop it on the charging station to charge before use. And my first impressions of the Tefal X-Clean 7 were positive - it instantly felt premium and well made. It was lightweight too, and I appreciated the fact that the charging station was compact enough not to take up too much room (always a bonus when you're short on storage space!).

Once connected to power, the LED display on the top of the main unit activates, and a voice prompt confirms that it's charging. It took around 3.5 hours to reach full charge, which is fairly typical for a vacuum mop.

Before getting started, I needed to fill the clean water tank. Rather unusually, the tank is located at the front of the main body, just above the floor head, and I won't lie, it did confuse me for a second! It's not something I've come across before, and my first reaction was that the tank wouldn't hold as much water as a typical upright design. But at 600ml, it's on the larger side for a vacuum mop, so it's deceptively bigger than it looks once you remove it.

The tank then clips away from the main unit easily; there's a release button on top of the unit which you press to pull it away. The manual advises that adding cleaning solution is optional, but also comes with a warning not to use any foaming, vinegar or greasy products.

There's also no solution included, and I do think the guidance could be a little clearer, something I picked up on when reading online customer reviews. Personally, I try to stick to natural, chemical-free cleaning products anyway, so I decided to stick to water initially to see how it performed.

The manual advises filling the water tank with clean water between 10°C and 50°C. I found it slightly more fiddly to fill because of its shape, and even though it's described as transparent, I did find myself having to pay attention to how full it was, especially as there's no fill line. That said, there's a flashing icon on the LED display to let you know when the tank is empty, as well as a voice prompt, so it's not a dealbreaker.

Using the Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop

The Tefal X-Clean 7 has three cleaning modes: Auto, Eco and Max. When the machine is turned on, it defaults to Auto mode, which detects dirt and automatically boosts suction power and water flow when it comes across messier areas.

To get started, I stepped on the floor nozzle, pulled the handle towards me and pressed the power button. As the unit powered on, the LED headlights on the base lit up the floor ahead, making it easier to spot hidden dirt. I also noticed it sounded louder than I was expecting, probably on a par with my regular vacuum.

I started by taking it for a spin around my kitchen floors, which are all laminated, to familiarise myself with it. Straight away, what I noticed was how smooth it felt to manoeuvre. As soon as I switched it on, a self-propelling motion activated to help the machine glide across my floors with barely any effort needed from me.

I've tested my share of vacuum mops, and I'd easily say this was the most powerful I've come across. I really felt like the mop was doing the cleaning for me, and all I had to do was steer it in the direction I wanted it to go.

I also really appreciated the LED lights on the base of the machine, which illuminate any hidden dirt, and were particularly useful for hard-to-see areas, like under my dining table.

The auto-adjustment worked really well, too. I could clearly hear when the machine boosted its suction, while the coloured ring on the LCD screen gave a visual indication of when it had detected a dirtier area.

The handle also has a 180° flat edge design, which made cleaning under furniture easier. Because of the size of the floorhead, I couldn't reach completely under my sideboard unit, but the flexible design made it much easier to reach underneath my kitchen table - an area I always struggle to clean - without needing to crouch down awkwardly. The voice prompt also lets you know when the machine is cleaning underneath low furniture, confirming that the suction levels have been adjusted. I thought this was a handy feature - although I can imagine the voice updates may feel jarring after a while.

The vacuum mop left a light layer of moisture behind, but this dried within a couple of minutes, so the floor was ready to walk on almost straight away - something I appreciate in a busy home.

To really put its cleaning power to the test (and as part of how we test products at Ideal Home), I cracked an egg on the floor, squirted ketchup and threw a handful flour directly in the vacuum mop's path. This is where it really impressed me.

After switching on the unit, keeping it in Auto mode, I slowly glided it over the mess. It cleared every trace within the first pass. Given the amount of debris in its path, I was genuinely surprised at how quickly it removed everything, with barely any effort on my part. I've carried out this test before on plenty of vacuum mops, and even the most powerful models usually need a couple of passes to pick everything up, so its cleaning performance is definitely one of the Tefal X-Clean 7's standout features.

Immediately after, I emptied the dirty water tank - which pulls outwards from the front of the machine easily - and poured the contents away. As you'd expect, the grime inside the tank wasn't pleasant to say the least, so if you are using the machine to clean up bigger messes, you'll want to empty and rinse it straight away.

This is where the self-cleaning feature comes into its own. After use, I placed the machine on its docking station, and pressed the self-clean button at the top of the handle. I know from testing other vacuum mops that this stage can be pretty noisy, and this was no exception. The roller was automatically rinsed, and all the dirt and debris were flushed into the dirty water tank. The cycle lasts three minutes, after which the dirty water tank was full of filthy water, which I took as a reassuring sign that it had done its job.

Having little ones means I'm constantly mopping up spills, and I had more than one opportunity to see how well the Tefal X-Clean 7 cleaned up large liquid spills, thanks to my one year old's new favourite hobby of throwing milk, water and anything she can get her hands on, all over the floor.

I kept it in auto-mode, and once again, I didn't really need to do much. It suctioned up the puddles with ease, leaving just a light layer of moisture behind. Unlike some models, there's no dedicated 'Dry Only' mode, but I didn't find it made any difference to its performance.

Cleaning, storage and maintenance

Cleaning and maintenance are straightforward and made even easier thanks to the self-cleaning function. Before starting the self-cleaning and self-drying cycle, the manual advises emptying the dirty water tank and making sure the clean water tank is full. It's also worth noting that the function won't start if the battery has less than 20% charge.

Beyond that, Tefal manual recommends cleaning the different parts of the machine once a week. There are a few handy illustrations showing how to remove and clean each component, using a cloth and the cleaning brush that's included. This includes removing the filter that sits on top of the clean water tank and rinsing it out.

There's no guidance on how to how often to clean the roller itself, but from experience it's worth doing regularly, as bits of debris can get trapped between the roller and the floorhead.

Thankfully, the manual includes a step-by-step guide for removing and replacing it when needed. Tefal recommends replacing both the roller and the filter every six months. I like the fact that a spare roller brush and filter are included in the box, as it feels reassuring to know long-term running costs should be kept low.

How does it compare to its predecessors and similar models?

The Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop builds on the strengths of the X-Clean 4, which was awarded a 4.5-star rating by Ideal Home's Content Editor Lauren when she reviewed it.

The biggest upgrades include a new lay-flat design, which makes it easier to reach under furniture, as well as LED headlights to help illuminate hidden dirt. During her testing, Lauren found the X-Clean 4 struggled with smaller spills, whereas the X-Clean 7's automatic dirt-detection felt much more responsive to everyday mess.

It's also worth comparing it to the Shark HydroVac Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner, which really impressed me during testing. Both models have built-in LED highlights, but I think the Tefal has the edge thanks to its more powerful self-propelling motion and hot air self-drying function, which helps keep the roller fresh between uses. It does come with a higher price tag, though.

I've also tested the Kärcher Floor Cleaner FCV3, which I found impressively lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. It also has three cleaning modes and is more affordable, making it a strong option for lighter cleaning tasks. But when it comes to overall performance the Tefal X-Clean 7 comes out on top.

How does it rate online?

The Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop currently holds a 4.5-star rating on the brand's website, from 62 customer reviews. Impressively, 92% of customers recommend the product, with feedback praising the suction power and ease of use. The price point does receive mixed reviews, and one reviewer did highlight the lack of guidance around cleaning solution caused confusion.

Elsewhere, on Very, it has a 4.5 star rating from 58 reviews. Although it's worth noting that a good proportion of the reviews were collected as part of a promotion. Feedback was similar, with users commenting on the impressive power and overall cleaning performance, but listing the affordability as a drawback.

Verdict: Should you buy the Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop?

For busy households who regularly vacuum and mop hard floors, and are looking to cut down on cleaning time, I really couldn't recommend the Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop enough. There's no shortage of hard floor cleaners on the market, and this one does have a high price tag, but its incredible cleaning performance, powerful self-propelling motion, 50-minute run time, edge cleaning abilities and flexible handle make it really stand out from the competition.

As long as you're happy emptying the tanks and keeping on top of basic maintenance, it takes much of the hassle out of cleaning floors. My only really niggle is that I wish I could use it on carpets, too!

I put the Bedsure Cooling Duvet to the test in a heatwave, and I'm impressed. This cooling cover definitely gave the best duvets on the market a run for their money in the cooling stakes.

In a nutshell

It’s generally accepted that it’s very difficult to sleep in a heatwave. Duvets are probably the last thing you want to think about when you’re in the midst of another record-breaking run of hot days. But if, like me, you're eager for a cooler sleep, I was really pleasantly surprised by the Bedsure Cooling Duvet, which is currently fairly reasonably priced at under £50 for a double on Amazon.

I’m a sleep-product reviewer, and I’ve made a career out of finding the best duvets on the market to suit all preferences and budgets. This Bedsure Cooling Duvet is hard to beat. The cool-to-touch casing is complemented by rayon and bamboo filling. These weighty fillings actually help you stay cool by regulating your temperature and wicking away sweat.

I found sleeping under the Bedsure duvet a genuine pleasure. I found the combination of the cooling sleep surface, plus the comforting gentle weight and silky drape of its fabric and filling helped me sleep better and for longer than I usually do during a heatwave.

Specifications

• RRP: £40.99 / £51.99 / £61.99 / £65.99
• Sizes: single / double / king / super king
• Tog rating: n/a
• Materials: outer: nylon, elastane, rayon, bamboo
• Care: machine wash on cool, delicate cycle, tumble dry on low
• Manufacturer sleep trial: none

Feel

On unpacking, what I immediately noticed about this duvet was how cool to the touch it felt (more on that in a bit), and also how pleasantly weighty it felt in my hands.

When it’s hot, I often struggle to sleep without a duvet, because I find the weight of a duvet helps me to relax. However, as temperatures soar, I’m torn between wanting the heft of a duvet and the fact it overheats me. So I was delighted by this duvet, which offers a gentle weight and drapes really nicely over my body but also keeps me cool.

The outer casing of the duvet is silky and soft, meaning you can use it as a coverless duvet if you want. It feels quite similar to a sleeping bag, in that it’s slippery – but thankfully not as sweaty.

The stitching on the duvet is in curves. This looks nice, yes, but in practical terms, it will also keep the filling from slipping around.

The Bedsure Cooling Duvet comes in four solid colourways: grey, blue, green and white. There are also tabs on each corner in case you prefer to tie it to the inside of a duvet cover.

Overall, I was really impressed by the premium feel and smart design of this duvet.

Temperature regulation

In the summer, I usually sleep under the 4.5 tog Scooms Hungarian Goose Feather and Down Duvet. However, I tested the Bedsure Cooling Duvet during a record-breaking heatwave in June, and it was definitely too hot for my usual 4.5 tog duvet. I’d been resorting to sleeping under a Piglet in Bed linen flat sheet – but I was finding even that was too hot.

All this is to say, I wasn’t sure I was up for testing a duvet in the current circumstances. It was only the lure of that 'cooling' promise that got me to consider slipping under any form of cover, and to be honest, I wasn't expecting to be that impressed by those cooling claims. However, I was wrong.

I unpacked the Bedsure Cooling Duvet as interior temperatures in my house were around 30ºC. Bedsure claims that this duvet will instantly cool your body by 4º – for fact fans, this means it’s Q-Max > 0.4. I was intrigued by this idea, and not just because I desperately needed to rescue my sleep quality in the heatwave.

As a sleep-product reviewer, I know that a drop in core body temperature before bedtime sends a signal to the brain that it’s time for sleep. So this duvet could ultimately help me sleep better if its cooling claims worked.

The duvet itself is filled with rayon and bamboo, which are fabrics associated with good thermoregulation. They allow better airflow around your body, allowing cool air to circulate around you while also wicking away sweat. Although it sounds grim, having your sweat wicked away is essential to helping your body feel cool.

So in practice, did all of this stack up? I was surprisingly thrilled to report that yes – I found this duvet’s temperature regulation brilliant. I slipped under the duvet on a boiling-hot night in the hottest room in the house, and I felt actively cooled. It honestly felt like magic.

My husband initially mocked me for lying under a duvet during a heatwave, but I invited him to touch the duvet, and even he had to admit he was impressed by how cold it felt.

The one downside? Those cooling powers were less effective if I put a duvet cover on the duvet. It was the silky surface that really offered the most cooling against my hot skin. And that does mean you'd need to wash the entire duvet to freshen it up, rather than just a duvet cover.

Ease of care

The care label instructs that the Bedsure Cooling duvet can be machine washed at 40 on a gentle cycle. You can also tumble dry the duvet on low.

The duvet filling is quite flat and dense, but that means it doesn't require any shaking out or 'refluffling' like my usual feather and down duvet. However, this does mean it looked slightly flat on my bed, which might be a minus point for people who care about aesthetics.

Sleep trial

The one downside of this duvet is that there's no sleep trial available. That means that, unlike some duvets, you can't test it out on your bed and return it if it isn't suitable for your needs.

However, it is at least quite reasonable priced, which I think makes taking a punt on this cooling cover a lot less risky. More on its price point below.

Value for money

Although this is a mostly synthetic duvet (bamboo aside), I'm still impressed with its low price point. A single costs around £40 and a double £50.

According to my research, the Bedsure Cooling Duvet is also often reduced at Amazon, which makes its budget-friendly price tag even lower.

The quality of the Bedsure Cooling Duvet is outstanding - as good as duvets I’ve tested that are 10 times the price (this will be to do with the price of the fillings though). It feels durable and made to last.

I double-checked how it was rated by other owners online, and was pleased to note that they were also thrilled by how cooling this duvet was in a heatwave.

There were a few people who said it didn’t work for them long term through the night, but I do wonder if they used it with a duvet cover on, which I found did make the cooling experience a little less impactful.

How I tested

I tested the Bedsure Cooling Duvet for 10 days during a record-breakingly hot June. Temperatures reached around 30ºC in my bedroom, and at night it didn’t cool much.

I had the bedroom windows open and a fan on me constantly – my usual set-up during very hot nights – so I was able to compare the duvet side by side with both a linen sheet and my usual 4.5 tog feather and down duvet.

I monitored my sleep quality using an Oura Ring 4, which gives me an almost overwhelming amount of stats. It had been chastising me for the lack of sleep I was achieving in the run-up to the testing period, but my sleep under the Bedsure Cooling Duvet seemed to satisfy my Oura Ring somewhat.

Other things I factored into my testing were the feel and quality of the duvet, how easy it is to care for, and, of course, value for money is always part of the duvet testing process at Ideal Home. I compared this duvet to similar options on the market, and considered how its performance compares to its price point. I was impressed on all fronts by the Bedsure Cooling Duvet.

Cooling appliances have never been more sought after, especially when we've faced multiple heatwaves in relatively quick succession.

If you weren't lucky enough to bag one of the best portable air conditioners before they sold out across the board, then you'll be pleased to know that the Devola DVACO9C portable air conditioner is back in stock.

But with an RRP of £440 for the 9,000 BTU model, you'll want to know if it's the right fit for your home before you commit.

To help, I've been testing it in my own home for the last couple of weeks to see how it performs in a real home environment. This is how I got on with it.

In a nutshell

After selling out once already this year, Devola's DVAC09CW 9000 BTU portable air conditioner is back in stock, but be warned, it's likely to sell out fast. While it might not look and feel as sophisticated as some other models I've tested, if you need an effective cooling solution for a smaller room, then the Devola model is worth investing in.

As with most portable air conditioners offering cooling, fan and dehumidifier functionality, in the case of the Devola, the cooling function is by far the star of the show.

While it's perfectly capable of effectively cooling a room up to 28m2, it does lack some finesse in the design department that would make it even better, including automatic louvres, a top air outlet, and improved buttons on the remote control.

Specification

• Cooling capacity (BTU): 9000BTU
• Recommended room size: 10-28m2
• Noise levels in cooling mode: up to 68dB
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 35 x 70 x 34.8cm
• Weight: 24kg
• Wattage: 1003W in cooling mode
• Functions: Air conditioner, fan, dehumidifier
• Other features: App control, sleep mode
• Window kit included: Yes

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

At 24kg, the Devola portable air conditioner was not light to manoeuvre into my living room from the doorway, but fortunately the industrial strength plastic bands around the packaging helped be to gentle walk it from the front door. It's best to leave these on until you have the AC in position where you want to unpack it, as once they are removed you won't be able to lift the box as they are what holds the box sides to the base.

Fortunately, I was able to unpack most of it by myself as the accessories, like the window kit and exhaust hose were positioned on the top, and then the sides of the box lift off with ease. I'd definitely recommend having a second pair of hands available to help remove the appliance from the base packaging.

Once the packaging was removed, the castors made it really easy to move into position over my hard floors, although it required a little bit more effort to move it over rugs and carpets. The most difficult part, and this goes for all portable air con units, was getting it up the stairs. It's heavy and bulky, so it's definitely not something you should attempt solo.

My first impression of the appearance of the Devola portable air conditioner was that it has nice narrow proportions, which means that it would fit quite neatly in both my home office and my bedroom. The control panel is easily accessible on the top of the appliance, and it has quite a simple design. I tested it in the white colourway, but it also comes in black if that would better suit your home's aesthetic.

The design of the main appliance and the remote control feel a little basic, especially compared to other portable air conditioners I've tried, but as long as it cools my space down effectively, that's definitely not a major concern.

In terms of set-up, I needed to use the flexible window kit (which is included, alongside a kit for sash windows). This involves adding Velcro strips around the window frame and casement that you want to vent it out of. This only takes about 10 minutes, but it can be a bit fiddly.

I also tried to connect it to the app for an additional mode of control (the appliance needs to be within 5m of the router, so definitely attempt this before you lug it upstairs). Unfortunately, for me, this proved quite a frustrating experience, and after multiple unsuccessful attempts, I gave up. Fortunately, I was happy enough to use the two other control methods, and can always attempt the app connection at a later date.

As a final step, I just needed to attach the exhaust hose to the back, which was easy, and vent it out of the window. It was at this point that I really appreciated the 1.8m length hose, which was plenty long enough to reach the window.

What’s it like to use?

In terms of controls, the fact that I struggle to connect the appliance to the app wasn't too much of a hardship as it was still easily controlled by the on-board panel or the remote. It's worth checking the instructions for each mode's symbol to ensure you have it set up in the correct way.

While both the on-board control panel and remote were clear and straightforward, I preferred using the control panel on the appliance itself. This was down to the design of the buttons on the remote control that required a couple of presses to get the command to stick.

Then I moved on to testing the different modes.

Cooling mode

First up I tested the portable air conditioner's primary mode — cooling. This isn't the default mode, so I pressed the mode button on the on-board control panel until I saw the snowflake symbol on the display screen. I then turned the target temperature down to 18°C (although I had the option of choosing anything from 16–32°C).

Before I turned on cooling mode, the room was at a rather toasty 26.2°C. At first, the air doesn't come out ice cold, but after a couple of minutes, it was blissfully fresh. I then left the room and returned 20 minutes later to see it was down to a much more comfortable 22.8°C.

The air outlet is located on the front of the appliance, rather than the top, and so when I was sat at my desk with it on in cooling mode, I could feel the cold air being directed more at my waist than up into the hottest part of the room. It is possible to manually adjust the louvres both horizontally and vertically, but it does feel a shame that these are not automatic to help circulate the cooler air.

But over time, the cool air does reach around the whole room, lowering the overall temperature, just not as quickly as those with louvres on the top.

In terms of noise level, I clocked the Devola DVAC09CW at 68dB in cooling mode (top wind speed), which isn't quite as quiet as others I've tested. In the lower fan speed it comes down to 63dB, which is the equivalent of a chat with friends. Fortunately, if that sounds like it's going to be problematic, you can use the timer function to turn it on and cool the space before you need to use it.

There is also a Sleep function, that dims the control panel and switches to the lower wind speed setting. After an hour, the preset temperature will increase by 1°C, and again after the next hour.

Fan mode

In fan only mode, there are two speed settings, both of which felt powerful and effective, albeit a bit noisy (I didn't find it much quieter in fan mode than I did in cooling mode). While this mode is decently powerful, it's not quite as beneficial as a pedestal or tower fan that offers more wind speed options combined with automatic oscillation.

Dehumidifier mode

The Devola DVAC09CW also has a dehumidifier mode, but as my home doesn't tend to suffer with excess moisture, this isn't a mode I can see myself using often. In the Dry mode, any water extracted from the air isn't stored in the appliance for emptying later, so you'll need to attach the drainage hose and have a container ready to capture the liquid.

As with most portable air conditioners I've tried, the cooling function is by far the best, with any additional functions nice to have bonuses rather than of equal standard.

Running costs

Using 1003W, the Devola DVAC09CW costs roughly 26p per hour to run based on the July energy price cap figure of 26.11p per kWh.

This is somewhere in the middle of the range of energy consumption based on the portable air conditioners we've tested.

Cleaning and maintenance

When it comes to cleaning, keeping the Devola DVAC09CW portable air conditioner as dust-free as possible will help it work most effectively. Every couple of weeks, you will also need to clean the air filter, which can easily be removed from the back of the appliance. The instructions recommend ensuring it's unplugged from the socket before you remove the filter. Then you can use a vacuum cleaner to remove any dust build up, then run it under the tap and leave it to dry fully before reattaching it.

However, if you use the dehumidifier mode, then you will need to attach the included drainage hose so it can continuously empty the water it extracts from the air.

Who should buy this product?

If you are looking for a simple-to-use portable air conditioner that'll work in rooms up to 28m2, then the Devola DVAC09CW is worth investing in. Its cooling mode is effective, its dimensions compact enough to work in a smaller room without getting too in the way, and it offers three functions in one.

However, it's basic design does have it's limitations, and if you want something with automated louvres to boost it's impact, then the Dreo 365S portable air conditioner also faired well in our tests.

For something more affordable, but with a similar look and functionality, then the Vonhaus portable air conditioner is a budget-friendly alternative.

If you want a portable AC for the bedroom, then quietness is going to be a deciding factor, and the Meaco Cirro portable air conditioner is the quietest I've tested.

As we're experiencing the third heatwave of the year (so far), it's no wonder that appliances to help keep us cool and comfortable are selling like hot cakes.

While the best portable air conditioners are selling out left, right and centre, I have heard from industry insiders that more stock of Meaco's Cirro range of portable air conditioners will be available at the likes of Currys, AO and John Lewis over the next couple of days.

And with the range starting from £500+ it's helpful to know whether it's going to suit your home before you buy. Fortunately, I've managed to get my hands on one and have been testing it in my home over the last few days. This is how it fared.

In a nutshell

Launched back in June 2026, the Cirro range of portable air conditioners from Meaco includes six smart models across 12,000, 14,000 and 16,000 BTU sizes, in either cooling only or cooling and heating models. A huge draw of this particular range is that it operates at just 45dB, which is twice as quiet as Meaco's previous range of portable air conditioners.

The recent heatwaves have meant that suppliers have seen unprecedented demand for these products, so if you see them in stock, it's best to act quickly because they are definitely worth the money.

Portable air conditioners have, historically, built up a bit of a reputation for being obnoxiously loud, but in the case of the Cirro range, it's noticeably quieter than its predecessors. It even has a super-quiet mode that is ideal if you want to use it to cool your bedroom at night. It's not whisper quiet though, so if you are a light sleeper, you might want to get some ear plugs.

But from a cooling perspective, it's hard to fault the Cirro's capability. It cools quickly and effectively, taking rooms from stifling to comfortable in minutes. But the cooling mode is definitely the star of the show. While it also offers a dehumidifier and fan only mode, you might find that it's a bit of a compromise compared to dedicated fans or dehumidifiers.

Specification

• Cooling capacity (BTU): 12,000BTU
• Recommended room size: 20-30m2
• Noise levels in cooling mode: 58-62dB
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 43 x 72.2 x 35.8cm
• Weight: 28.45kg
• Wattage: 1350W in cooling mode
• Functions: Air conditioner, fan, dehumidifier
• Other features: App control, sleep mode
• Window kit included: Yes

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

When it comes to any portable air conditioner, it's best to have two people on hand to get it set up thanks to their heavy weight and bulky dimensions and the Meaco Cirro is no exception.

Initially, I was concerned that the wrong model had been sent through as the packaging states that it's the MeacoCool Pro, but fortunately there are notes on the website that confirm that regardless of what the packaging says, it's the Cirro model inside.

It arrived well packaged with industrial strength plastic straps wrapped around it that made it easier for me to manoeuvre it into my living room to unpack it. While I could do most the unpacking single handedly (the accessories sit at the top of the box, and then once the plastic straps are cut, you can slide the sides of the box over the top of the appliance, so it's just left sitting in the polystyrene and cardboard base).

I found I definitely needed some help to remove it from the final bit of packaging around the base. Once it was out though, I could move it around on its castors (this is really easy on hard floors, but a little more difficult on carpet or rugs). There was also no way I'd get it up the stairs by myself, so if you want to use it in your bedroom, definitely make sure you have some able-bodied reinforcements ready to help with the heavy lifting.

In terms of looks, as far as portable air conditioners go, the Cirro is attractive. It's got a contemporary matte exterior, which feels like it would be unobtrusive in any room scheme. It's also packed with thoughtful design details, from the easy-to-read front display for when you're not close enough to see the control panel, to the pop out cable tidy and the arrows on the duct machine adapter than ensure you fix the exhaust hose to the back of the appliance in the right way. It's also a sizeable bit of kit, so if you are using it in a smaller room, you may need to clear a bit of space. It fit well in my home office, but given the layout in my bedroom, it does feel a little more in the way. But if it cools the space down to a comfortable temperature in the height of summer, then I can deal with that.

When it comes to set up, it's relatively straightforward, although the window kit was a little fiddly to install. I don't have sash windows, so I needed to use the universal fabric one (and the Velcro) that's included.

Once the window kit is set up, the rest of the portable air con is simple. All I needed to do was attach the exhaust hose (which at 1.8m in length was plenty long enough) to the back of the unit, vent it out the window, and it was cooling ready.

What’s it like to use?

There are three ways to control the Meaco Cirro — by using the on-board control panel, the remote, or via the Meaco app. While I've had no previous trouble connecting to the app with my Sefte Pro desktop fan, I couldn't seem to get the Cirro to connect to the app. But really, it was no bother, as I was happy to use the remote control or the control panel on the unit itself instead. If I were hugely concerned about the App, I am certain that Meaco's customer service would have been able to resolve the issue.

The Cirro is pretty straightforward to use, and the display screen clearly shows which mode you are in (be it cooling, fan or dehumidifier). As the screen sits on the top of the appliance, it can be difficult to see if you're not up close, but it does show the ambient temperature (and the target temperature when in cooling mode) on the front of the unit, which I found helpful.

I found it intuitive to use the controls (and the instructions are very clear and jargon-free, which I always appreciate), but if you've never used a portable air conditioner before, make sure you read the instructions as the correct set-up will depend on the mode you are using.

But as the temperature in my home office had reached almost 28°C, despite having the window and curtains closed all morning, I knew I was all about the cooling mode.

The Cirro portable air conditioner is definitely significantly quieter in cooling mode than the very first portable air conditioner I tried that sounded like a dustbin lorry. I clocked the Cirro at a maximum of 62dB when it was in active cooling mode, dropping to 59dB in super quiet mode. It gets even quieter (around 53dB) when the room reaches the target temperature, and the compressor turns off.

Those decibels might not mean much to you on the face of it, but it's the equivalent of gentle background noise. For me, it's comparable with a fan on one of it's higher speed settings. I could hear that it was on, but it wasn't so loud that I couldn't work, watch TV or sleep with it on. For those who need silence when trying to get to sleep or when they are concentrating, some ear buds may be needed.

In terms of it's cooling power (I tested the 12,000 BTU model, which is suitable for rooms between 20-30m2), it made quick work of cooling my home office from 27.8°C to 25.6°C in just ten minutes, getting to the target temperature of around 22°C in about 25-30 minutes. Within the first minute of turning it on in cooling mode, I could leave a lovely cool breeze coming out, and I put the louvres on swing to maximise the reach. When I left the room, with the door closed, and came back 10 minutes later, it felt like walking into a supermarket during a heatwave — it was blissful, instant cooling relief. Once it reached the target temperature, the compressor turned off, which made it even quieter, and when the temperature rose again, the compressor kicked back in to keep things cool.

The Meaco Cirro also has a fan only mode, but I'd definitely say this should be considered a bonus mode rather than the primary function. The fan is fine, but after testing other fans from Meaco, including the Meaco Sefte pedestal air circulator, the fan mode on the Cirro isn't a patch on it's range of dedicated fans.

The same can be said for the dehumidifier mode. While it's a nice to have, it doesn't feel as effective as a dedicated dehumidifier. But as I'd want a portable air conditioner for it's cooling properties above all else, and live in a house that fortunately doesn't suffer with excess moisture, this wasn't too problematic for me.

Running costs

Using 1350W of power in cooling mode, the Meaco Cirro will cost roughly 35p per hour to run based on the July 2026 energy price cap.

While it's not as cheap to run as a fan, there are ways that you can ensure you are using it in the most energy efficient way. Firstly, make sure you buy a suitably powered model for the size of room you are looking to cool, and keep doors and windows shut when it's in use. Trying to keep the sun out of the room will also mean your appliance doesn't need to work as hard to cool the space down, which can mean it uses less energy.

Cleaning and maintenance

There is a little bit of maintenance required when using the Cirro portable air conditioner, which may depend on the mode you use.

In cooling mode, there's not much needed. It's a good idea to keep it as dust-free as possible, check and clean the filters regularly, and look out for a full tank symbol on the display screen after long periods of use, which means the tank needs to be emptied.

If you use it in dehumidifier mode, it will need to drain continuously, so you will need to attach the drainage tube to the corresponding port on the back and have a container ready to capture the water.

Who should buy this product?

The Meaco Cirro portable air conditioner will be ideal for those looking for a quiet and effective cooling solution. With models ranging from 12,000 to 16,000 BTU, there's something in the range to suit any size room. I tested a cooling only model, but there are models in the range that offer both heating and cooling, which is well worth trying if you want maximum value for money.

If the Cirro is out of your budget, and you are prepared to wait for stock to be replenished, then the Dreo 318S portable air conditioner is a good alternative, with similar noise levels.

With daily spills, muddy footprints and the general chaos of family life, my carpets rarely stay clean for long. So when the new VAX Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced Carpet Cleaner promised hassle-free cleaning, larger water tanks and a self-rinse function, I was keen to see whether it could give my carpets a much-needed refresh.

I tested it on everything from well-trodden carpets to sticky ice-lolly spills to see whether it could compete with the best carpet cleaners on the market. Here's what I found.

In a nutshell

The VAX Platinum SmartWash XL is a carpet cleaner that gets the essentials right. It's fair to say it had its work cut out in my busy family home, and it did an excellent job of lifting everyday dirt and reviving my tired-looking carpets. While the transformation wasn't always dramatic, I was impressed with how much better-maintained my surfaces looked after testing.

There's no denying it's a big machine, but carpet cleaners aren't exactly known for being lightweight and compact. That said, its design feels practical rather than excessive. The large water tanks meant I wasn't constantly stopping to empty or refill them, and the self-rinse storage tray is a standout feature that helped to take some of the hassle out of post-cleaning maintenance.

It also includes a hose and hand tools, allowing it to double up as a spot cleaner. I found these especially useful for tackling upholstery, stairs and targeted stains, and I even used them to clean my toddler's buggy, which came up noticeably cleaner. While I can't see it replacing my dedicated spot cleaner, I can see the appeal of having one machine to handle multiple cleaning tasks around the home.

It isn't perfect, though. Its size means it's not the easiest to lift up and down stairs or to find storage space for. I also found its performance was strongest on everyday dirt, general refreshes and fresher stains, rather than deep-set marks that had time to settle in. Even so, for keeping carpets looking clean, fresh and well-maintained, it's an impressive all-round performer.

Specifications

• Weight: 9.4kg
• Number of modes: 3
• Clean water tank capacity: 3.8L
• Dirty water tank capacity: 2.7L
• Cord length: 9m
• Dimensions: 44D x 32.6W x 109H centimetres
• In the box: 2.5m hose, 2-in-1 antimicrobial tool, (bristle attachment and rubber attachment) SpinScrub^™ hand tool, accessories bag
• RRP: £379.99

How I tested

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The VAX Platinum SmartWash XL arrived at my doorstep in an unmistakably large, branded box. I wasn't expecting it to be lightweight, and it did have two carry handles on either side, which made lifting it easier, but it's worth noting that if you have mobility issues, you might need a hand.

Opening the box, my initial reaction was slight overwhelm at the number of components inside. Everything was securely packed and neatly organised, although most parts were wrapped individually in LDPE 4 plastic, which typically can't be recycled through normal household collections.

I've previously tested the VAX ONEPWR Cordless Compact Carpet Cleaner, and comparatively, the packaging did feel more eco-friendly, with all the parts wrapped in paper rather than cardboard.

The contents included a hose extension, 2-in-1 antimicrobial tool, (bristle attachment and rubber attachment) SpinScrub^™ hand tool, accessories bag and user manual.

Set up was really straightforward. The main unit arrives in three parts, so the first thing I did was assemble it, which took less than a minute. All I needed to do was insert the handle into the main unit - which clicked into place easily - before placing the clean water tank onto the main base.

Once assembled, it was obvious it's not a lightweight, compact machine. At 9.4kg, it falls within the typical weight range for a full-sized carpet cleaner, but its generous dimensions make it one of the largest models I've tested.

Before plugging it into power, I took a couple of minutes to properly take in the design. It takes up more floor space than I was expecting, but the size feels practical rather than excessive. The floorhead and clean and dirty water tanks are very generously sized, suggesting they're designed to tackle large cleaning jobs with few interruptions for emptying and refilling. The two large wheels on either side of the machine are also prominent features, making manoeuvring easier.

It's a corded machine, but the cord length is probably the longest I've come across at nine metres, so you don't need to worry about switching sockets mid-clean. While I wouldn't describe it as sleek or stylish (or most carpet cleaners, for that matter), its robust, purpose-built design made me optimistic that it would be up to the task of cleaning my tired-looking carpets.

Using the VAX Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced Carpet Cleaner

To get started, I removed the clean water tank and filled it with warm water up to the indicated fill line, as instructed in the manual. There is a bottle of cleaning solution included in the box, though if you fill the water tank to capacity, it will use up most of the solution. As soon as I added the solution, the water immediately turned cloudy.

I also underestimated how big the tank was until I'd filled it and noticed how much heavier it felt. That said, it was still easy to secure it back in place on the machine.

To activate the machine, you first need to press the handle release pedal located on top of the left wheel, and then press the power button at the top of the handle. This took a little getting used to, as the cleaner won't start unless the handle is reclined before the power button is turned on.

There are three cleaning modes: the default 'Wash Dry' setting for everyday cleaning, 'Spot' for tackling stubborn stains and spills, and 'Dry Only', which is designed to leave carpets dry in as little as one hour.

I started by giving my living room carpets a general refresh. While I try to keep on top of spills, because I live in a busy household, it doesn't take much for them to start looking tired. With no specific stains to target, I opted for the 'Wash Dry' mode for an overall clean.

There's no denying the machine is loud - noticeably more so than a regular vacuum - but that's fairly typical for a full-sized carpet cleaner. Using it like a vacuum, I began by making slow forward and backwards passes across the carpets. It felt much heavier than the VAX Compact Cordless, but it was still manageable to manoeuvre and smoother to push than I was expecting.

The SmartWash Motion Sense technology automatically senses whether you are pushing forward to dispense solution or pulling back to extract. As I moved the machine forward, it released the cleaning solution onto the carpet, and the LED display read 'Wash'; pulling it back switched the display to 'Dry' as it vacuumed up the residue.

While I generally try to limit the use of harsh chemicals where possible, one of the first things that struck me was how fresh my carpets smelled almost immediately. It was also incredibly satisfying (not to mention embarrassing) to see just how much was being extracted. After only a couple of passes, the carpets looked noticeably cleaner, brighter and fresher. My usually very unobservant husband even commented on how much better they looked afterwards, before I'd even pointed it out!

Despite the carpets in my toddler's nursery being the newest in the house, they were looking worse for wear after a late-night Calpol mishap. Admittedly, I didn't tackle it straight away, and the spill had become trodden in, leaving behind a sticky, dark patch that I was desperate to remove.

I sprayed the affected area with the pre-wash solution that's included in the box, and left it to soak for five minutes. I then turned the cleaner on, switched to 'Spot' mode, and made a few passes over the stain. The patch looked noticeably better almost immediately, but it was clear that a deeper clean would be needed to lift the remaining residue. Rather than continuing to soak the surrounding carpet, I decided to switch to the hose attachment for more targeted cleaning.

The hose compartment is neatly concealed behind a cover on the front of the machine, which pulls down to reveal the connection port. As I was focusing on a stubborn stain, I opted for the SpinScrub hand tool attachment. It was straightforward to attach; I connected the tool to one end of the hose and inserted the opposite end into the machine's connection port.

The 2.5m hose length felt generously long, so I was able to comfortably reach the stain without repositioning the machine. After switching on the power, I pressed the trigger on the forward stroke to release the solution. The spray pattern initially took me by surprise, as the water sprayed outward in both directions rather than directly ahead, so I had to adjust my positioning to make sure I covered the area.

As its name suggests, the SpinScrub tool rotates continuously, so I didn't have much to do other than guide it over the stain. The rotating brush helped lift more residue from the carpet, noticeably improving the appearance of the affected area. While it didn't completely remove the stain, the remaining mark was subtle enough that it would be difficult to spot unless you knew where to look.

The testing period also coincided with the recent UK heatwave, so a blackcurrant ice-pop spill on my carpets was aptly timed.

Unlike the Calpol stain, I tackled this straight away using the SpinScrub brush attachment, and the results were much more impressive. After the first pass, most of the spill had already disappeared, and I didn't need to apply any pressure or scrubbing. It also left my carpet only lightly damp.

As part of how we test carpet cleaners at Ideal Home, we carry out a number of controlled tests. One of these involves squirting tomato ketchup onto a carpet sample to assess how well the carper cleaner can remove it. For this test I left the ketchup to sit for a good hour before tackling it.

Using the SpinScrub brush attachment, I could see the solution was making a difference, although the results were not as immediate as they had been with the fresh blackcurrant stain. I needed to apply more pressure, and spend a couple of minutes scrubbing the area before most of the ketchup lifted.

The carpet sample was also noticeably wetter as a result of repeatedly spraying the area. After around four hours it was completely dry, but although it was lighter, the stain was still fairly visible. I suspect a second treatment would have improved the results further, but it did suggest that the Platinum SmartWash XL performs better when stains are treated as quickly as possible.

I was also keen to see how it tackled upholstery, so I used the 2-in-1 antimicrobial tool on my sofas, which were in need of a general refresh. It attaches via the hose in the same way as the SpinScrub tool, so all I had to do was swap over the attachment. My sofa easily shows marks as it's a light-coloured fabric, and there were a couple of visible marks I wanted to tackle.

The results genuinely surprised me. I wasn't expecting the difference to be as noticeable as it was with the SpinScrub, but the attachment glided effortlessly over the fabric. Once dry, the sofa looked fresher, brighter and generally much cleaner than before.

Finally, I used the VAX Platinum SmartWash XL to tackle a job I'd been putting off - cleaning my toddler's buggy. As well as looking generally grubby from everyday use, there were a couple of chocolate marks on it so I was keen to put it to the test here.

As I was dealing with specific stains, I initially used the SpinScrub tool. However, the buggy's awkward fabric and crevices made it difficult to extract much of the cleaning solution, so I switched to the 2-in-1 hand tool instead.

This proved to be a better option. It was much easier to manoeuvre around the buggy's different surfaces, and into tighter spaces, and it successfully removed the chocolate marks. Once dry, I was impressed with how much cleaner and fresher the fabric looked, and the buggy as a whole felt more revived.

Cleaning and maintenance

One of the features that sets the VAX Platinum SmartWash XL apart from its competitors is its self-rinse and storage tray, which flushes hair and debris from the brush roll. It's something many vacuum mops have, and I've always found it to be a genuinely practical and useful feature - especially when it comes to keeping maintenance to a minimum.

Naturally, I was keen to see how it worked on a carpet cleaner. Before running the cycle, the dirty water tank must be emptied as usual, and the clean water tank must be filled with warm water. I did get caught out at this stage, as I'd underestimated how much cleaning solution would remain in the tank, so I had to pour half of it down the drain, which felt quite wasteful.

The machine slots onto the plastic storage tray, at which point the 'self-rinse' indicator light illuminates on the LED screen. I pressed this to activate the cycle. It is incredibly loud as the rollers are rinsed and dirt and debris are flushed into the dirty water tank, and the process lasts around three minutes before the icon switches off once the cycle is complete.

Some additional manual maintenance is required to keep the Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced performing well. While the self-cleaning cycle does a good job of cleaning the system after each use, after a few cleaning sessions, I noticed a build-up of debris and dirt in the floorhead nozzle. Thankfully, cleaning it is simple - it unclips from the front of the machine and can be rinsed under warm water.

I also occasionally needed to remove bits of debris caught in the brush rolls. They detach easily enough from the floorhead, although I found refitting them slightly fiddly. The end caps need to slot in first before brushes can be aligned on either side.

How does it rate online?

The online feedback for the Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced is among the best-rated I've seen for a product review. On the VAX website, it holds an impressive five-star rating and has 24 customer reviews. Customers praise its ease of use and performance, with the majority of users impressed by the results. The self-cleaning function is also noted as an additional useful feature.

It's a similar story on Amazon; there are 17 customer reviews and a 4.9-star rating. Although many users point out its large size, it doesn't seem to be a drawback, with the majority noting how easy it is to use.

How does it compare to similar models and its predecessors?

The Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced builds on previous popular VAX models, including the VAX Platinum SmartWash and the VAX Spotwash Home Cordless – which our Ideal Home reviewers awarded 5 stars and 4.5 stars respectively. The biggest difference comes down to convenience - the Platinum SmartWash XL features larger tanks and a spot mode for boosting cleaning power when tackling stubborn stains.

It's also worth mentioning the ONEPWR Compact Cordless Carpet Cleaner - the most notable difference being that it's cordless (the UK's first cordless carpet cleaner, in fact). The ONEPWR Compact Cordless is much lighter, making it easier to manoeuvre and move between rooms, but the trade-off is that the water tanks are smaller and it lacks the self-rinse function and storage tray. In terms of performance, they deliver similar results on targeted stains, but the Platinum SmartWash XL has the edge for general refreshes.

I've previously tested the Rug Doctor Deep Upright Carpet Cleaner, which feels quite comparable in overall size, though at over 14kg, it's still heavier than the Platinum SmartWash XL. It does have the edge when it comes to performance.

Verdict: Should you buy the VAX Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced Carpet Cleaner?

If you're looking for a carpet cleaner that can revive tired-looking carpets, the VAX Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced Carpet Cleaner is a solid choice. It delivered consistently good results through testing, lifting everyday dirt and leaving carpets looking noticeably cleaner and fresher. The large-capacity tanks also make it well-suited to bigger cleaning jobs, as you won't be constantly stopping to refill or empty water.

One of its biggest selling points is its versatility. The included hose and hand tools mean it can tackle upholstery, stairs and spot-cleaning jobs as well as whole-room carpet cleans. While I still prefer using a dedicated spot cleaner for stubborn stains, if you're looking to invest in a single appliance that handles a range of cleaning tasks, the Platinum SmartWash XL makes a strong case.

For homes with limited storage space or for anyone with mobility issues, a more compact, lightweight option might be better suited. It's a sizeable machine, and carrying it between floors can be a bit of a workout. There are also more effective carpet cleaners if you need something to tackle deeper stains.

Overall, its strengths lie in routine carpet maintenance and larger-scale refreshes, rather than intensive stain removal. If that's what you're looking for, the Platinum SmartWash XL offers plenty of useful features and delivers impressive results.

It's the season of the pressure washer. Whether yours is currently sitting in your shed collecting dust and perhaps in need of an upgrade, or maybe you're like me and are forever borrowing one from family and friends? Well, let me introduce you to a budget-friendly buy that can literally clean anything and everything — and fast.

The Webb 165 Bar Pressure Washer is an affordable solution that has all of the added bells and whistles needed to clean everywhere and anywhere outside of your home, from exterior walls to patios, decking, fences and even your car. This all-in-one machine actually comes with various heads and nozzles for under £200, meaning that you'll be using it year-round, not just in the spring to bring your garden back to life.

I've used this pressure washer for the past 2 weeks, and I've found that it works brilliantly, especially on patios and concrete. I used its handy detergent attachment for cleaning my car and covering my patio in pet deodoriser, and so far, I am super impressed with it. Here's what I did and didn't love about this Webb pressure washer.

Specifications

• Model number: WEPW2200 
• Dimensions: 38.5cm × 31.8cm × 83.8cm
• Voltage: 230V
• Flow rate (max): 8.2L/min
• Nozzles: 2
• Accessories: Detergent Bottle & Foam Sprayer, High Pressure Hose, Fan Jet & Turbo Nozzles, High Pressure Spray Gun, Patio Cleaner, Wash Brush
• Power type: 2200W
• Max pressure: 165 bar
• Best for: Heavily stained patios, moss-covered driveways, large outdoor areas, deep, ground-in dirt
• Hose length: 6m
• Power cord length: 6m
• Net Weight without accessories: 13.1 kg

In a nutshell

A great and easy-to-use pressure washer, this Webb 165 Barr model is a handy addition to your shed, and it costs less than £200. We found the manual to be a little confusing initially, as one part of the assembly instructions was labelled wrong, but once we'd worked it out, it was totally plain sailing from there.

It comes with a range of attachments, but the two nozzles are where you'll find most of the power. I used both of these nozzles to transform my decking, my patio and the patch of concrete by my front door — plus more. Do note that the turbo nozzle is not to be used on painted surfaces. The manual claims that the adjustable spray nozzle, in the low-power fan spray setting, is best for painted surfaces. However, we found that this still removed paintwork from my decking and fencing. So, this pressure washer cannot be used on any painted area.

Handily enough, one of the other attachments is a detergent bottle — I used this to cover my patio in pet-friendly deodoriser to banish odours. Plus, it made an easy job of covering both of our cars with car cleaner. It also comes with a brush tool, which I found to be rather weak. It was ok for cleaning the car, but I wouldn't rave about it. The same goes for the round patio cleaner head, which just doesn't offer enough power to make a difference, in my opinion.

In terms of maintenance, it ticks all our boxes — the nozzles can be stored on board, and it offers cable storage, too. You do need to store the brush and patio head separately.

Unboxing the Webb 165 Bar Pressure Washer

This pressure washer arrived in a neat box, which was heavy, so I admittedly needed some help moving it from my doorstep into my garden. Upon opening, I noticed that there was minimal packaging.

The main unit was wrapped inside a plastic bag (04 PE-LD, therefore recyclable), as well as the manual. The brush head was also protected with PET plastic. Otherwise, the rest of the packaging was cardboard — to prevent the parts from bashing against one another in transit.

Unfortunately, this is where we ran into an issue, as the manual wasn't totally correct, hence our confusion when it came to assembling the machine. While the manual was comprehensive and easy to digest, a specific part of the assembly diagram was wrong.

Luckily, my husband was there to help, as he had assembled quite a few pressure washers before, so he knew where this part should go. If he hadn't known, though, I fear I would've ended up calling customer service.

First of all, the manual told us to attach the bottom part of the pressure washer to the top (the part with the handle). It also said to fit the attachment hooks. Easy peasy! This did require a screwdriver, but it was simple enough.

It then instructed us to screw the 'water inlet coupling with filter' to the 'washer water inlet'. In the diagram, this was displayed as being on the back of the machine. This is where the confusion began, as this was actually on the front of the main unit instead. There are holes on both the front and back, but the one on the back of the pressure washer doesn't fit the water inlet.

When we watched assembly videos, it became clear to us that this part was also meant to be black in colour, but the one that we were sent was see-through. Again, not a huge issue, but it did add to the confusion.

Once we'd gotten past this, everything else was a total breeze. The manual was fine otherwise. It explained all of the attachments and how to use them, and what to use them on. The same goes for what not to use them on!

Who will the Webb WEPW2200 165 Bar Pressure Washer suit?

This pressure washer will suit most people, whether you want it for cleaning your patio a few times a year or it's for reviving your decking. It's on wheels so it's easy to move in and out of a shed, plus it has a handle for carrying. Its cord is 6m long, so be sure to note where your closest socket is and ensure that you'll be able to reach all corners of your garden.

Specifically, it would be a great buy for someone who, like me, often uses patio cleaner and needs an easier way to apply this product. And if you often clean your car yourself, the detergent attachment is a game-changer. Otherwise, I imagine that the patio floor cleaner head will do a better job on outdoor tiles instead of concrete, which sadly I don't have, so I can't test it on. The brush was OK — it really did lack water power, but it's useful for popping on after spraying detergent, to get into the nooks and crannies of something like your car.

I would definitely avoid this pressure washer if most of your garden has been painted — whether that's your fencing or your decking. Both nozzles, even the one that claims to be gentle, removed paintwork from different areas of my garden.

Its sub-£200 price point is arguably the best thing about this pressure washer, as it comes with a lot of attachments for this price tag. Saying that, you would be able to pick up a cheaper model if you know you won't use these attachments and think that they will live in your shed forever.

What is it like to use?

This pressure washer is pretty simple to work out. Once you've plugged it into a wall socket, connected the hose to the main unit and turned the water on, you need only spin the red dial on the main unit until it points to 'ON'. Then, for water, you need to hold the trigger continuously.

There's a lock that they say you should press after use, ready for next time. This prevents the machine from accidentally turning on at any point.

Webb WEPW2200 165 Bar Pressure Washer: Performance

Patio

The first place I tackled with my pressure washer was my patio. It was really in need of a good scrub — especially after a full winter of frost, paired with the fact that this is where my dog usually pees. It was partly green in some spots, and while it's not old, it looks like it's in need of a full refit. It also had chalk stains on some of the slabs, thanks to my toddler.

We all know that pressure washing takes time, so I was prepared for a good chunk of my day to be spent on this. While it did take a while because it's a large area, I'd say that it was easy. The adjustable spray nozzle with high power, narrow stream worked the best on my patio.

I did find that this pressure washer was super powerful. In fact, it managed, in some places, to bring up a bit of my patio grout. So, I swifty avoided pointing the pressure washer in these places. Just a warning...

I also used the detergent dispenser on my patio. We often cover our patio with a specially-created pet deodoriser from Amazon. This is to banish pet smells from urine and to disinfect things like my toddlers' toys and climbing frame, too. Usually, this is a faff to use as it requires diluting and I use a watering can to apply it.

All I needed to do was pour some of this solution into the dispenser bottle and use it with the pressure washer lance; this was a total game-changer. It took only minutes to cover our entire patio area. Then, we left it for contact time for 5-10 minutes and washed it away with water using the pressure washer again.

Deck

My decking area was stained last year, so after the fence fiasco, I was admittedly worried that the same thing might happen and that this stain would start coming off. There were some green spots on my patio, which I didn't really want to use chemicals on because my dog often visits this spot — the same goes for my curious toddler.

I decided to go over this particular section very lightly, using the adjustable spray nozzle in low-power fan spray, to preserve the layer of stain we applied to it just last year. Admittedly, you can still see a little bit of green algae on my deck, but the worst of it has gone. I do plan on going over it once more, but the power on this pressure washer is very strong, so I need to be careful.

This pressure washer did try and remove a little bit of the stain on my deck, so I was wary while using it on the rest of my decking area. As you can see, it removed a layer of stain in some spots, so I'll need to re-stain this area soon.

Car

This pressure washer, paired with its dispenser attachment, which was filled with car cleaning fluid, made cleaning our 2 cars a total breeze. In fact, we won't ever get our car cleaned through the car wash again.

We managed to cover our cards in detergent fast, and then we switched to the brush attachment to give everything a good scrub. To be honest, this was the only time I used this brush and actually found it beneficial as it was nice and gentle but managed to get into small nooks — such as around wing mirrors and the window seals.

The result was good — our cars were visibly cleaner, but there were some marks on our cars that even the high-pressure nozzle couldn't remove. Saying that, though, we had no issues with paintwork removal, as we first gave it a go on my 2009 car, just in case, since it had been so powerful on painted fencing and stained decking, but it did not interrupt the paint on my car whatsoever.

Fencing

This pressure washer did a slightly too good a job on my fencing. It actually is so powerful that it removed the paintwork. Otherwise, when tackling a corner of my fencing covered in green algae, it definitely impressed.

I did have to stop as I noticed that it was peeling the paint away, too. Next time, I plan on going all the way and then once dried, I can touch up the paint or repaint this panel entirely if there's no rain forecast.

I tried both nozzles on my painted fencing, but either way, the paint was coming off. A shame, because the manual claims the the adjustable nozzle in low power fan spray is gentle on painted areas. Now I know this, I'll avoid using this on my fencing unless I'm planning on repainting.

Cleaning the front of my house

I also wanted to blast the concrete stones outside my front door with this pressure washer. In the manual, the round patio cleaner head claims to be the best thing to use on these types of stones. So, I gave it a go.

Sadly, I was disappointed because it seemed like the only thing this attachment was doing was getting the floor wet. It wasn't gliding over the floor super easily, either. This definitely wasn't the best attachment for this surface, despite the manual claiming so. The bristles are quite soft, and the water isn't super powerful with this attachment. I barely noticed a difference.

So, we switched back to the adjustable spray nozzle, but on a high-power narrow stream, and it worked wonders and cleaned this small spot very fast.

Afterwards, I used it around the white cladding that sits around my hallway and my front door. It worked fast and gave instant results. I was impressed.

What's it like to clean and store?

Storage-wise, you'll need a shed or garage for this pressure washer, like most of these machines. You can store both the nozzles and the lance, which detaches into 2 parts, on board. The spray gun slides to clip onto the side of the machine. Unfortunately, the brush, detergent bottle, foam sprayer, patio cleaner head and the brush will all need to be stored separately from the main unit.

All in all, it takes up minimal shed space, really. Its cord wraps around the unit for easy storing, and it's on wheels so that you can move it around your garden with ease.

It comes with a cleaning needle, which is attached to the manual, and this is for cleaning the spray nozzles if they are clogged. Otherwise, the manual explains other maintenance steps which don't need to be done very often, like filter cleaning, so that you know if/when to do these steps.

How does it rate online?

This pressure washer doesn't have any reviews online. It has no ratings at Amazon, and over at Webb direct, there are 0 reviews, too.

Should you buy the Webb WEPW2200 165 Bar Pressure Washer?

This is dependent on your budget — and what you'll mostly be using it for. If you can afford to spend £200 on a pressure washer and you'd like it to come with a bundle of attachments, then this is your best bet. If you know you'll be using it for cleaning your car, then it's ideal because of its dispenser attachment. The same goes if you often coat your patio with a solution like a deodoriser or algae remover.

I'd avoid this patio cleaner if you're on a budget, as there are definitely cheaper options out there, albeit they come with just 1 or 2 nozzles and nothing else. If your garden is small, then you probably won't need something with a 6m cable, either, just something to bear in mind. If a lot of your garden is painted, and your decking or fencing is painted, then I would avoid this pressure washer as it might be a little too strong.

How does it compare to similar pressure washers?

In our best pressure washer guide, we rate the Karcher K4 Full Control Home Pressure Washer as our best pick. This Karcher model is more expensive than the Webb one, at £399.99 RRP. It does come with a car cleaning kit and a bottle of stone cleaner solution. It only comes with 1 nozzle, though, and it doesn't have a brush or detergent dispenser. Otherwise, it boasts 3 different pressure settings, unlike the Webb one, which only has one setting. Pressure-wise, the Karcher model isn't as powerful at 130 bar vs 165 bar.

About the review, and our reviewer

Convenience is a given with automatic bean-to-cup coffee machines but the De'Longhi Eletta Ultra, which is one of the most premium appliances of its type you can buy, elevates the user experience to the next level.

With a huge price tag over £1000, this is no budget bean-to-cup coffee machine, but it is unbelievably impressive. Here's what I've loved about testing it.

In a nutshell

The Eletta Ultra is (somehow) a step up from the already hugely impressive Eletta Explore, which our expert home economist Helen McCue awarded 5 stars to in her review.

Its top line selling points include a huge drinks menu, two milk carafes (one for hot drinks, one for iced), a large touch screen and personalised coffee profiles with the machine suggesting a drink based on your previous choices.

Its upgraded from the Ultra with its new quieter tech, faster heat-up times and dedicated storage slots and user features.

After using it every day for months now, I can see why those looking to spend an awful lot on a coffee machine would be bowled over by this pick from De'Longhi. I can no longer imagine my mornings without – it's a total breeze to use. The things I don't love about it are minimal, but if I was to spend my money on it I would be looking for another finish. The stainless steel is a little bit of a fingerprint magnet to me.

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

This isn't the kind of coffee machine that's going to neatly fit under your kitchen cupboards in a corner. It's big, bulky and also quite long (at 45cm). But given what it can do, this may be a small price to pay if you have the space to give over to it.

There's no need to build this machine out of the box – you pretty much can plug it in and go, which is what you'd expect at this premium price point. To get it going, you'll need to run the usual programs which walk you through water hardness and inserting the water filter and run a rinse cycle but this is all very easily done thanks to the hugely intuitive touch screens.

Another stand out thing with this machine is the use of an app to get into the technical settings. You can do this with the help of the materials that come with the machine and then get into the weeds of the coffee making process, if that's your cup of tea.

If you'd rather manually adjust the machine, then there's a dial situated within the bean hopper that you can tweak to get the taste you want.

I can't think of another coffee machine I've tried that has a more enticing user interface. The huge touch screen, which extends across the top of the machine, is in full colour. It also pings you for all sorts of reasons, such as reminding you to clean the milk carafe or add more beans, all of which are very helpful for making a better cup of a coffee.

The user profiles are a stroke of genius too. It's not just that you can set up the machine to remember your favourite drinks, but the tech will also recommend you drinks depending on your previous habits. So if you're prone to an iced coffee in the afternoons, the machine will be one step ahead of you in the process.

Even if you don't download the app, there are plenty of tweaks you can make on the interface of the machine itself. You can change the strength, length and milk quantity of any given drinks as well as how icy you want your cold versions. You can also tweak the level of froth on your drinks by turning the dial on either milk carafe.

The one niggle I have with the user-facing part of this machine is that the coffee spout doesn't quite go high enough for my liking. I have a specific set of glasses I'd like to use for iced coffee that don't fit, so I have to do a bit of pouring over if I want to use them. If you have large travel cups I imagine you'll run into the same problem.

Overall, this machine is astonishingly sleek. It has built-in storage for accessories for ground coffee in the top, as well as a slot for the hot water spout and the water tank fits so effectively on one side that you'd barely notice it was there. I also like how there's an opening at the front of the tank so that you can pour water straight in from your filter jug.

What is it like to use?

As with all of the processes on this app, starting it up is guided by the intuitive touchscreen. You'll be directed to add water, after which the screen will tell you it's warming through. This takes 30-45 seconds, in my experience, and is relatively quiet compared to the other bean-to-cup models I've tried. Obviously it does emit some noise, but nothing too overwhelming.

I would advise that you don't pop your clean cup under the spout straight away as the machine turns on as you'll end up with the rinsing liquid in there. If you can, the best thing to do is have a catch cup under the spouts at all times when you're not making a fresh cup.

Hot drinks

All in all, there are 23 hot drinks to take your pick from with this machine. It's fun to get a taste of all of them when you first get hold of the machine, but I imagine you'll settle on your favourites day to day.

In my household, Americanos are the black coffee drink of choice. I've really enjoyed how seamless making this drink is with this machine, especially when compared to a semi-manual machine on a busy morning. Just one touch of a button and your perfectly hot Americano is ready to go. When I'm making these for my partner to take on his commute, the 'To-Go' setting is also really useful, as it makes a longer version for a carry cup.

The other drinks on heavy rotation with this machine are the caffe lattes and the cappuccinos. This is where the hot milk carafe comes in, which you simply fill and attach to the front of the machine. On the top of it there's a dial with three froth settings. For the caffe latte, it's the medium level of froth while the cappuccino ramps things up with more foam.

I have quite large mugs, so I sometimes top up the cappuccino even further by using the hot milk setting on the menu. This can be done in under 30 seconds as it's very easy to go from one drink to the next. This is also a total godsend when hosting as you're trying to get everyone a drink in their hands. I also like how the temperature of the drinks is hot but not so hot that the cups you give out aren't immeadiately drinkable.

If I'm being picky, I am slightly icked out by the floppy tube you need to insert into the hot drinks carafe. I think I'm particularly sensitive about cleanliness so I am always giving all of the parts of the milk system a deeper clean than they probably need, but the built-in rinse does help to soothe my worries about milk build-up.

Cold drinks

It's been hot already this summer, so I've made good use of the iced drinks options on this machine. In order to make iced milky drinks you need to attach the cold carafe, which again is very easily done. You'll then be asked exactly how cold you want your drink and be directed to add a specific number of ice cubes to your glass.

All of the iced options I've tried have been delectable, but my favourite has to be the iced cappuccino which is delectably foamy. It's

The drinks are very smooth and stay cold well, so you won't be needing to add more iced cubes after the brew process is complete. And the cold frothed foam is such a welcome change to just adding cold milk to a shot of coffee – especially considering that is often what you get in coffee shops with iced drinks! I much prefer using this machine over getting an iced coffee out for this reason.

What's it like to clean?

A lot of people are put off buying a bean-to-cup machine because of the excess cleaning. But if you're paying the big bucks for this machine the good news is that most of those cleaning processes are automated. And even the parts that are not automatically carried out, like the rinse process, are easy to manage thanks to the on-screen prompts.

The cleaning feature I found most useful was the rinse feature on those milk carafes, which cleans the lines without emptying the container of its spare milk. As with all machines, you'll need to remember to empty the grounds container and drip tray but you'll be reminded of this by the features on the machine.

How does it compare to similar coffee machines?

There are so many bestselling De'Longhi coffee machines to compare this product to, but the two I think are most valuable are the Rivelia and the Explore.

I think the Rivelia (which our reviewer fell in love with way back in 2024) is an incredible machine for its price tag and will suit most people well, as long as they're not desperate for those extra iced settings. If you want to save hundreds and still bag an amazing bean-to-cup machine, I urge you to check it out.

Because the Explore came out a few years ago now, it's a little less expensive than the Ultra but offers lots of the same amazing features. It's worth weighing up the differences before you splash the cash.

Should you buy the De'Longhi Eletta Explore?

De'Longhi's offering of automatic bean-to-cup machines are unrivalled in terms of their convenience and the Ultra might just be the pinnacle of that. It's so easy to use and with it, you can whip up delicious drinks that are fine tuned just right with the help of the in-built technology. It's a huge amount to pay for anything, granted, but if you can afford its price tag you won't regret it.

Hoover is an iconic brand within the vacuum cleaner space, regularly dropping new models to tackle specific problems. And the Hoover HF3 Pet DynamicClean Vacuum Cleaner? Well, this new cordless vacuum is competing to become one of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair.

This new model promises to tackle all the cleaning problems pet parents face on a daily basis, but at a price point that works for every household. So, Barney (my dog) and I decided to test these claims for ourselves. And this is everything we found out along the way.

In a nutshell

Retailing at just £199, the Hoover HF3 Pet DynamicClean Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is one of the cheapest pet vacuums on the market - but it doesn't scrimp on cleaning power. Like many other cordless vacuums, this model is ideal for grab-and-go cleaning, but it has the added bonus of being one of the lightest I've ever tested at just 2.5kg.

Offering 150AW of power, its suction power was more than enough for everyday cleaning in my pet hair and dander-filled home, and the 0.7L dust bin coupled with the 30-minute runtime in Standard mode (or 60 minutes in Eco mode) allowed me to vacuum my small three-bed Victorian terrace without running out of juice or having to empty it mid-clean.

Of course, this might not be enough for those who want more suction power or for larger homes that struggle with tougher messes. For the everyday UK household, though, I do think it ticks a lot of boxes. Plus, the additional attachments - including the pet tool that I used almost daily - allow for more targeted cleaning when needed.

The only real downside is that you are buying a cheaper model, so you can't expect it to be perfect. It's also on the louder side of the sound spectrum (92dB in Standard mode), which is something you should definitely consider if your pets are scared of louder appliances.

Specifications

• Weight: 2.5kg
• Suction power: 150AW
• Run time: 60 mins (Eco mode), 30 mins (Standard mode)
• Charge time: 4 hours
• Bin volume: 0.7L
• Modes: 3 (Eco, Standard and Turbo)
• Noise level (tested by us): 92dB in Standard mode
• In the box: Main unit, pet hair removal tool, crevice tool, dusting brush, wall mount and charger
• RRP: £199.99

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

I test a lot of vacuum cleaners in my role as Ideal Home’s Certified Expert in Vacuums, so I’m used to big, bulky boxes landing on my doorstep. As a result, I was pleasantly surprised by the lightweight box the Hoover HF3 Pet DynamicClean came in.

In fact, at just 2.5kg, it’s one of the lightest models I’ve ever received - and it’s on par with the extremely popular (and lightweight) Dyson V12 cordless vacuum cleaner, which is significantly more expensive than the Hoover.

Because of this, it was easy enough for me to carry over the threshold myself, and everything was encased in a solid cardboard scaffold to protect the smaller components from damage. My only niggle here was that they were also individually wrapped in LDPE 04 plastic, which is not widely recycled in kerbside collections. Instead, I had to take it all to the supermarket to dispose of it.

Despite this slight delay, I then got to work assembling the Hoover HF3 Pet DynamicClean, which took just a few seconds. I simply slotted all of the components together and kept the tools separate to test out later.

I then popped it onto charge before using it for the first time, and took a step back to assess both the design and the feel of the cordless vacuum - and I was impressed. It feels lightweight yet not cheap (despite its affordable price point), and I loved the sleek black-and-gold colourway.

One thing I also appreciated was that it stood up on its own without needing to be propped up against a wall. However, the dust bin did look a little small to me, so I was eager to see how it would fare during testing.

Using the Hoover HF3 Pet DynamicClean Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

As part of how we test vacuums at Ideal Home, our process is twofold. First, we conduct tailored tests to assess a vacuum cleaner’s ability to pick up debris. Then, we use it as naturally as possible in our homes as our everyday vacuum cleaner.

So, to start, I threw some rice, flour, porridge oats, and pet hair on the hard flooring in my three-bedroom Victorian terrace home. And as you can see from the video, it picked up every speck of debris within one forward and one backstroke of the vacuum. You can even see the pet hair being sucked into the floorhead before it even touches it.

I then repeated the process on carpet, and it was just as impressive. This is all thanks to the 150AW of suction power, which puts it on par with top-rated models such as the Dyson V8 Cyclone and the Shark PowerDetect Speed - the latter being the model that I choose to use in my home when I’m not testing another vacuum.

After it passed this test with flying colours, I took the Hoover HF3 Pet for a spin around my home, using it to vacuum both the downstairs (all hard flooring with some rugs) and the upstairs (fully carpeted). One thing I really loved was the white lights on the floorhead, which allowed me to see invisible dust and hair that couldn’t be seen to the naked eye.

As it’s so compact and lightweight, it was also incredibly easy to manoeuvre around corners and between rooms. The Double Edge Cleaning feature also meant that every edge received the same treatment as the rest, and I was able to clean right to the edges of the skirting and baseboards.

On carpet, I was genuinely impressed by the floorhead's ability to remove embedded pet hair from my woollen carpets - which typically hold a lot of hair between the fibres. I could see from the dust bin that it was not only filling up quickly with my dog’s hair, but also my own longer, blonde hair.

And while I was initially concerned about the 0.7L size of the dustbin, I thankfully managed to vacuum my entire house without needing to empty it halfway through. It was full by the time I’d finished, but I’m used to emptying it after every use anyway - so this suited me perfectly.

However, I will admit that the run time could be an issue for some. Although it has a maximum run time of 60 minutes in Eco mode, I tended to use Standard mode most, which only allows 30 minutes. This was enough to vacuum my small house, but those with larger family homes may struggle with that timeframe.

Another niggle I have is the noise level of this vacuum cleaner; at 92 dB, it’s significantly louder than other models I’ve tested.

This isn’t a dealbreaker for short cleaning bursts, and because Barney is used to me testing vacuums, but I did find that my dog was more scared of this model than he has been of other vacuums. So, you might want to be cautious if your pets are particularly sensitive to noise.

Using the attachments

It may seem like the Hoover HF3 only comes with two attachments, but the third - the dusting brush - is hidden within the vacuum itself. It’s revealed when you transform it into handheld mode, and I found this tool particularly handy for more delicate cleaning tasks like dusting my blinds and even my laptop keyboard.

As the crevice tool is fairly standard with every vacuum cleaner, there wasn’t anything too remarkable about this - but it’s still a great tool to have for those smaller nooks and crannies.

My favourite tool, however, was the pet hair removal tool. I love it when a pet vacuum cleaner comes with a separate motorised tool like this, as it allows for more targeted cleaning where pet hair is worse. In my house, that’s my carpeted stairs, a footstool and a sofa bed that my dog has claimed as his own.

The pet tool made light work of the footstool and the stairs, and while I’ve definitely had better results with other tools on my velvet sofa bed, it still removed almost all of the hair, dirt and pet dander. So, it’s a worthy inclusion.

Cleaning and maintenance

Like most cordless stick vacuums, the Hoover HF3 Pet relies on a one-touch emptying system to expel the debris from the dust chamber. And while this technically made things cleaner, it still resulted in a dust plume that hit me in the face as I emptied it into the bin. I also often found that some hair had got caught in the chamber, so I had to reach in to pull it out.

However, this is a common problem I often face with cordless vacuums as a pet parent, so I won't hold it against them too much. The bin filters are also removable and can be washed every month for easy maintenance.

This model also comes with a wall mount for easy storage and charging, and it even has space on the mount for the tools - which keeps them neat and tidy and stops them from going AWOL. The 4-hour charge time is also relatively average for this type of vacuum cleaner.

It’s worth noting that while it is also a freestanding model, Hoover only recommends parking it this way temporarily. If you are going to leave it unattended, the brand suggests storing it on the wall mount instead.

How does it rate online?

Despite being a relatively new addition to the Hoover lineup, the HF3 Pet DynamicClean already have many glowing reviews on the Hoover website. At the time of writing, there are 21 reviews, with an average star rating of 4.75 out of 5.

For the most part, customers love how lightweight and easy to use it is, and appreciate that it’s still powerful despite its affordable price point. Many pet owners have praised the floorhead and the pet tool for picking up more hair than they expected.

On the negative side, some have complained about the short runtime in Standard mode and noted that it’s much louder than models they have owned in the past.

Verdict: Should you buy the Hoover HF3 Pet DynamicClean Cordless Vacuum Cleaner?

For £199, I really do think the Hoover HF3 Pet DynamicClean is a worthwhile choice. It’s seriously affordable, but it’s not cheap. It still feels high-quality, offers impressive suction power for everyday cleaning, and is practical for storage and maintenance.

As it’s designed to be a pet vacuum, you’ll be happy to know that it’s also extremely effective at removing embedded pet hair from carpets and rugs, and the motorised pet tool helps you tackle smaller, more targeted cleaning jobs.

Just be warned that it’s not the most powerful model on the market, and it is incredibly loud, which may scare some pets if they’re used to quieter models.

Russell Hobbs is quite a beloved British kitchen appliance brand, but I wouldn’t say it’s one that’s made much of a mark on the coffee machine scene. However, the Russell Hobbs Café Genie is an interesting new launch that could compete for a spot on our list of best coffee machines.

Its RRP of £229.99 puts it firmly at the more affordable end of the scale, and yet, some of the features listed, like a touchscreen menu of drinks, are usually seen in pricier models. So I was keen to put it to the test, to see whether the features on offer could deliver.

In a nutshell

The Russell Hobbs Café Genie has a lot going for it. It’s a manual espresso machine that also offers the convenience of pods, as well as automatic milk steaming. The paired back menu of seven drinks is accessed via the straightforward touchscreen control panel and it’s very simple to use.

Milk is automatically steamed and textured, but no matter which drink you select, it’ll always be bubbly, so if you’re looking for glossy microfoams, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Similarly, while espresso is adequate, it doesn’t produce the well rounded flavour or robust crema that espresso aficionados will be seeking.

That said, this is a good value machine that makes drinks fast and packs in convenient features for busy people. So if you’re not a coffee snob and you want an easy-to-use machine for drinkable milky coffees, it’s a great option.

Who tested this coffee machine?

Unboxing the product

The first thing I noticed when I removed it from the box is that it’s quite a plasticky appliance. The portafilter doesn’t have much weight to it, and the tamper is very basic. However, other features like the intuitive touchscreen make up for some of the cheaper elements. And at this pricepoint, you really shouldn’t expect all the bells and whistles.

The colour is subtle and will suit plenty of kitchen styles. I like that when it’s switched off, the touchscreen is black and there’s no cluttered control panel, so it does look quite neat and streamlined. The on/off switch is tucked away at the side of the machine.

The included accessories are simple and easy to get to grips with. There’s nothing complicated or overwhelming, which is good, because the instruction manual is pretty basic.

If you’re buying this to use the Nespresso pod capabilities, make sure you stock up before it arrives because you don’t get any trial samples included in the box.

Impact on a kitchen worktop

The height of the coffee machine makes it ideal for sliding underneath wall mounted kitchen cupboards. However, when considering where you’ll put it, it’s worth noting that the water tank is at the back. It has to be lifted upwards to be removed, so you’ll need space to do that.

Alternatively, you could add water through the top opening using a jug if you have the space under your cabinets to get to it with a jug of water.

The footprint isn’t too big and when you slide it to the back of the worktop, it feels tucked back and leaves plenty of usable space in front. It’s certainly not one of the coffee machines that feels imposing on the kitchen worktop.

First impressions

Setting up was very straightforward. The manual offers up a list of all the parts that you should wash before using. And once these are all clean, dried, and correctly positioned back on the machine, you simply need to dispense water without any coffee grounds, to get the machine primed and ready to go.

I hit the double espresso button about five times, to make sure I’d run plenty of hot water through the system before using it for the first time. This ensures any dust from manufacturing is washed through.

Unlike some other coffee machines, this one doesn’t come with a water filter, nor is there an option to install one. The instructions state that a clean/ descale cycle will be prompted after 200 uses.

If you live in a hard water area, you may want to use water from a water filter jug, to reduce the build up of scale and help prolong the life of the machine.

The milk dispenser has a handy clean function that’ll run water through the milk nozzle to clean it, which means you can pop it in the fridge between uses.

On the whole, the touchscreen interface is very straightforward, displaying all the available drinks, for quick and easy selection. However, for any other menu functions, you ‘ll need to keep the manual to hand, as you’ll be required to press and hold various buttons or combinations of buttons.

That said, there’s no adjustment for things like temperature, strength, or volume of milky drinks. The main thing that can be adjusted is the volume of espresso dispensed.

It’s fast to heat up when first switched on. If you switch it on without the milk container in place, it’ll only warm up to dispense espresso, and that takes on average 30 seconds.

Meanwhile, if the milk container is in position when you switch it on, the process of heating up takes about 60 seconds. And then it allows you to select milky coffees from the menu.

The ‘Morning Rush’ test

I timed myself making two milky coffees back-to-back using ground coffee. I timed the whole process, from turning on the machine, to having two cappuccinos ready. It took four minutes 20 seconds.

Adding coffee grounds, tamping them down as well as removing the used grounds before making the second cup, took a big chunk of the time. So out of interest, I also timed the same process using Nespresso pods. This time it took three minutes and 10 seconds.

User experience

For me, one of the biggest surprises with this coffee machine was how fast it makes drinks (if you don’t include the time it takes to add the coffee grounds or top up the milk dispenser). From selecting a drink on the menu, to the drink being served and ready to go, is under a minute for almost all drinks on the menu.

The fastest milky drink was a cortado which was ready in just 30 seconds. While the slowest was a latte, which still only took 60 seconds. But it’s worth noting that a lot of the drinks on the menu are quite short coffees.

Thankfully, for lovers of longer, milkier coffees, the latte it dispenses is a decent mug full. And while you can adjust the volume of espresso that’s automatically dispensed, there’s no option to tweak the milk volumes in the various drink recipes.

Milk can be dispensed independent of coffee by pressing and holding the latte button. This is handy if you want to top up a drink with extra milk or create your own drink altogether.

The issue I had when dispensing milk, was that just before milk starts to come out, a quick blast of water comes out of the portafilter area, which, if there’s no portafilter in position, can mean you get bits of stray coffee grounds in your cup. But if you leave the portafilter in position it's not an issue.

Drink temperatures vary depending on the drink. A double espresso comes out at roughly 75C and the frothed milk is around 53C. So it follows that the temperature of milky drinks depends on the ratio of milk to coffee.

A drink with very little milk, like a macchiato, was quite hot, mine averaged 75C. Whereas a milky latte was one of the coolest drinks, measuring around 58C. And it’s worth noting that there are no settings you can adjust to change these temperatures.

The milk dispenser sits quite low, meaning it won’t reach into taller cups. A standard mug is about the tallest cup you can dispense milk into. Most travel cups and taller glasses are too tall.

The vibration of the machine during brewing has a tendency to move some cups, so I did have to pay attention, particularly when using lighter and smaller cups.

Some coffee machines I review seem to magically go through water at a rate that far surpasses the number of coffees you’re making. So I really liked the fact that the water tank wasn’t always running low. Water seemed to last a reasonable amount of time. On the flip side, filling it up is quick and easy.

I expected the machine to switch itself off after a certain period of time, but instead it goes into a low power mode, where the touchscreen display is dimmed. When it’s in this mode, you have to press one of the coffee buttons to wake it up. To switch it off properly, you’ll need to press the on/off button at the side.

How noisy is it?

At around 66dB, pouring an espresso is pretty quiet and unlikely to annoy anyone. The milk steamer is the louder process. This hit a maximum of 85dB on my noise meter, but averaged 74dB.

So while milk steaming is louder than extracting the espresso, it’s still not what you would call noisy. Plus when you take into account that all drinks are ready in 60 seconds or less, any noise created is only for a very short time and won’t be an issue for most households.

What's the coffee like?

During the review I used Exhale Organic Dark(ish) Roast whole beans. This is my regular brand of coffee and the tasting notes, according to the brand, are caramel, stone fruits, red grapes and cola. It’s said to be ideal for espresso and gives a chocolatey, nutty flavour.

I used a separate grinder to grind my coffee beans as needed. The espresso from this machine was drinkable and pleasant, though a tad more bitter and less fruity than it is when I use my usual Sage coffee machine.

The espresso crema was often a bit bubbly rather than thick and silky. I’d say the flavour will satisfy people looking for a decent espresso, but who aren’t reaching for perfection. And if you’re primarily having it in milky coffees, the nuances become less noticeable anyway.

Since there’s also a portafilter designed for Nespresso pods, I made coffee using pods as well. I’m not a huge fan of the flavour of Nespresso pod coffee. But what I would say is that the Nespresso portafilter is a great additional feature that does a good job of extracting the espresso. It's perfect if you’re time poor and want the option to make pod coffee on those busier weekday mornings.

Thermal stability

To check the thermal stability of the coffee machine, I made five single espressos back-to-back. The idea is to check whether the drinks get progressively hotter and if so, by how much.

The first one was 72C, the fifth one was, impressively, only a little warmer at 74.5C. So it wasn’t a massive jump in temperature, which was a good result.

The ‘Wet Paint’ test

When assessing a coffee machine’s ability to steam milk, we’re looking at whether it can produce the silky microfoam that’s perfect for latte art. This is often described as looking like wet paint.

This automatic milk frother makes bubbly milk rather than a thick glossy microfoam. And that’s the case whether you’re making a cappuccino, latte, or flat white. And there’s no ability to adjust the foam level.

What's it like to clean?

The matte plastic finish of the coffee machine doesn’t show fingerprints or small water stains, so on the whole, it stays looking quite clean and you can get away with a quick daily wipe after use.

The drip tray is very small, but I didn’t find this to be an issue. It rarely needed emptying as, unlike some other coffee machines that funnel water from internal components into the drip tray, this one is purely there to catch any drips from the portafilter or cup.

I like having the option to rinse through the milk spout after use. Simply by twisting the control dial into clean mode and selecting clean on the touchscreen, it’ll automatically rinse out the milk spout so that you can pop the milk tank back into the fridge without any gunky milk building up and causing blockages.

I was slightly frustrated that when removing coffee grounds from the portafilter, it wasn’t possible to dislodge a fully formed puck of coffee straight into my food waste caddy. When I did try this, the whole metal filter basket would fall out. So instead, I had to scrape the coffee grounds out with a spoon after each use.

The drip tray and the filter baskets can go in the dishwasher, but everything else has to be washed by hand.

Descaling

A full descale cycle takes about 45 minutes from start to finish. Thankfully it’s not a very hands-on process. Other than filling the water tank with water and descaler at the start, all you need to do is stay close in case your waste water vessel gets too full and needs emptying.

Then halfway through, you have to reset everything, this time with plain water in the water tank. And start it again, to complete the process a second time but without the descaler. All-in-all it’s simple and automated, but not super quick.

The machine should prompt you to run one of these cycles every 200 uses. So how frequently you need to do it really does depend on how much you use the coffee machine.

How does it compare to similar machines?

The Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea is an Ideal Home favourite that’s similarly priced. It’s a sturdy pod machine with a built-in milk frother. And it’s a great alternative option if you don’t intend to use ground coffee. There’s no preset drinks menu, but it’s easy to create your favourite drink nevertheless.

If you like the idea of a more hands-on approach, the Sage Bambino is an excellent beginner espresso machine. It’ll set you back an additional £100, but is capable of delivering a well-rounded tasty espresso, and you get to froth your own milk and create your coffee just how you like it.

Should you buy the Russell Hobbs Café Genie Espresso Machine?

I think at this price point, the Cafe Genie really sets itself apart with features like the automatic milk steaming and touchscreen drinks menu, as well as the option to switch between ground coffee and pods. It nicely straddles the line between espresso machines, pod machines, and automatic coffee machines.

The compromises are that there aren’t many adjustable settings. Milk is bubbly and frothy, it can’t create barista quality microfoams, but that’s the case with the majority of automatic milk frothers.

While it doesn’t produce the best quality espresso I’ve ever had, it’s decent enough to please most people. In conclusion, if you’re looking for a reasonably priced coffee machine that packs in the features, it’s absolutely worth considering this one.

As a 46-year-old perimenopausal woman who's already prone to overheating in bed, I put the Silentnight Restore Cooling Copper Mattress Topper to the test during a heatwave to see how it compares to the best mattress toppers and best cooling mattress toppers on the market.

In a nutshell

As I mentioned, as a woman in her mid-forties, I'm increasingly prone to overheating in bed, so according to Silentnight's product description, I'm the exact audience the Silentnight Restore Cooling Copper Topper is aimed at.

The main USP of this product is its cooling powers. Silentnight says it's 'ideal for overheaters', and that its 'cool sensation fabric helps to banish night sweats and hot flushes'. That's paired with its eye-catching copper-infused yarn, which the brand says is 'naturally anti-bacterial, kind to sensitive skin, and keeps sheets fresh and hygenic'.

It promises a lot, and I found it *almost* delivers on those promises. I certainly agree with the 'cool sensation fabric' part. This topper felt instantly cool to the touch when I lay down on it – even through a fitted sheet – and it certainly made getting into bed a lot more appealing when my family and I tested it during a heatwave when temperatures in my part of the UK reached 35C plus.

Did it stay cool all night? I still felt hot and clammy when I woke up in the morning, so I'd say not. However, I was still impressed by how cool it felt as I drifted off to sleep, as were my hot-blooded husband and two sons when they were given a go.

It's also fairly reasonably priced, at approximately £49.99 for a double, depending on where you shop, and it can be machine-washed (as long as you have a drum big enough for the size you purchase).

At 2.5cm deep, it's thin, so it doesn't offer much cushioning or support, but if you have the space to store it ready for the next summer heatwave, its instant blast of coolness did bring some welcome relief to this hot sleeper.

Specifications

• RRP: Single £44.99 / Double £49.99 /Kingsize £54.99 / Super-king £59.99
• Sizes: single / double / king / super-king
• Depth: 2.5cm
• Construction: cover 38% Polyethylene, 62% Polyester. The percentage of copper in the topper is 17% copper-infused yarn. Filling 100% polyester
• Care instructions: machine washable at 40 degrees and can be tumble dried on a cool heat
• Manufacturer sleep trial: no

Attaching the topper to the bed

I tested the Silentnight Restore Cooling Copper Topper in a super king-size, and unlike some of the heavier memory foam toppers I've tested recently, this mostly polyester topper was light enough to carry upstairs easily.

Fortunately, there wasn’t an off-gassing smell as many foam toppers have, and because it's simply folded into its packaging rather than vacuum-packed, it was ready to get onto the bed straight away.

To attach it to the mattress, I found that there were four fairly thick elastic corner straps in each corner.

Although it was a bit awkward to lift the corner of my mattress to hook them under, I found these really useful because they meant the topper didn’t move around when I was making the bed or when my husband and I were getting in and out of bed.

Comfort

The first thing that struck me about this topper was how stylish it looked. The orange and white patterned cover with orange piped edge made it look more like a well-designed quilted throw than a mattress toppers. It was almost a shame to cover it up under a sheet!

The surface of the fabric feels smooth and shiny to the touch, and once my fitted sheet was in place, I did discover that this was a bit of a downside. I found the fitted sheet kept sliding around on top of the topper and on some occasions slipping off. It may be more a reflection of my sheet than the topper, but it hasn’t happened before with any of the previous toppers I've tested.

Measuring just 2.5cm deep and filled with soft polyester rather than a denser foam or memory foam, this topper is considerably less deep than most mattress toppers I’ve tested, which tend to start at around 5cm in depth.

It also didn't offer that much support or cushioning. Instead it felt a little like adding a thin duvet to the top of our bed. However, it did deliver some gentle cushioning for my joints, something which I felt the benefits of on my shoulder and hip as I predominately sleep on my side.

Temperature regulation

However, what this topper doesn't deliver in cushioning, it aims to make up for in temperature regulation.

Silentnight says that the Restore Cooling Copper Mattress Topper is 'perfect for over-heaters and restless sleepers,' offering 'cooling relief and all the natural health benefits of copper'. 'Made with innovative cool fabrics,' the brand says it's 'the perfect solution for menopausal night sweats'.

As a 46-year-old woman, I'm no stranger to overheating in bed, and as I've mentioned, I also tested this topper during a heatwave, so I was eager to see if it could help me to stay cool in bed.

Silentnight says that the topper is constructed with 17% copper-infused yarn, which, according to my research, should keep me cool by utilising the metal’s natural properties to wick away excess body heat.

The impact of this was immediately clear when I touched the topper, as it felt cool to the touch when I placed my hands on it and when I lay on it.

My hot-blooded husband and sons all loved how cool it felt to lay on too, especially during the heatwave when it provided an instant feeling of coolness. So much so that I struggled to drag them off of it! I was surprised that even with a cotton bedsheet on the coolness of the topper could still be felt.

This feeling of coolness when I first got into bed was extremely beneficial when getting to sleep. When my youngest son slept on it during a heatwave, he also fell asleep quickly.

However, I still woke up in the morning feeling hot and clammy, which does make me question how long-term the cooling impact is.

I tended to find that instant coolness wore off during the night and the topper gradually warmed up to match my body temperature. But, the cooling effects when I first got into bed were still welcome, and definitely helped me to drift off quicker on hot nights.

Care instructions

You can machine wash this topper at 40 degrees, and it’s also compatible with being tumble dried on cool.

However, the ease with which you'll be able to do this depends on the size of the topper you own, because it is quite bulky. As the care label mentions: ‘for best results we recommend the use of a large capacity washing machine’.

This advice is spot on because when I tried to fit the super king-size topper into my standard washing machine, I couldn’t. A single or double would have fitted, but it's worth bearing in mind if, like me, you opt for a larger size.

Sleep trial

Unlike a lot of other mattress toppers we've tested, Silentnight doesn't offer a sleep trial on its bedding products.

That's a shame, because it can be tricky to know how bedding performs without the opportunity to test it out at home.

In contrast, Simba offers a generous 200-night sleep trial on all of its toppers, and brands such as Woolroom and Panda offer 30 nights.

Value for money

Whilst there's no sleep trial to test out this topper before you commit to keeping it, the one plus point is that it is very competitively priced.

As of writing, the Silentnight Restore Cooling Copper Topper costs £44.99 for a single and £49.99 for a double, which, in the world of mattress toppers, is very reasonably priced.

For comparison, the best memory foam topper we've tested (which is also one of the most affordable) – Panda's Bamboo Mattress Topper – costs £99.95 for a single.

It also did the job in cooling my family and me down when we first got into bed, and although I didn't find that cooling lasted throughout the night, I still appreciated the help in drifting off to sleep in the first place.

Would I buy it again? If I had the space to store it when the weather was colder (I probably won't appreciate that chill-factor when I get into bed in the winter!), then yes, I do think it's worth the money for helping me to fall asleep quicker.

But if I were looking for cushioning as well as cooling properties, I'd probably up my budget and consider the highly breathable (yet equally cosy in winter) Woolroom Deluxe Wool Mattress Topper or the more supportive Simba Hybrid Topper instead.

How I tested

My sleep stats:

• Sleep position: back or side
• Tension preference: firm
• Sleep problems: lower back pain and/or neck pain and occasional overheating
• Height & weight: 5"5 and 9.5 stones

In order to test out this mattress topper, my husband and I slept on it for two weeks in our own home on top of our usual mattress. I assessed how easy the Silentnight Restore Cooling Copper Topper was to attach to the bed, how comfortable it was when sleeping on my back and side, and whether it offered good temperature regulation. I also took into account how easy it was to care for and any sleep trials on offer, as well as its value for money.

With summer heatwaves more commonplace, it's no wonder that more and more people are looking for the most effective ways to stay cool at home.

And one of the most effective has to be a portable air conditioner. But when these appliances can set you back hundreds of pounds, it helps to have a deeper insight into how well it works, what it's actually like to use, and ultimately whether it's right for your home.

I've tested the Dreo 318S Portable Air Conditioner in my own home over a few weeks, including during a heatwave. This is how I got on and whether I think it's worth your money.

In a nutshell

It's hard to beat a portable air conditioner when it comes to cooling your home, but not all portable ACs are created equal, with size, noise, looks and cooling capacity all varying between brands.

Fortunately, the Dreo 318S portable air conditioner ticks multiple boxes, which makes it a very good buy indeed. With a cooling capacity of 7500BTU, it's best for smaller spaces (up to 20m2) and as such it's quite a compact for a portable air conditioner. It's really effective too, quickly dropping the temperature in my home office from 24°C to 20.5°C in about 20 minutes. It also does it relatively quietly too. Portable ACs are not whisper quiet like some fans are in their lower speeds, but the Dreo 318S is definitely quieter than portable ACs I've used in the past, that sounded like a bin lorry in the house.

My only niggle really, is the length of the exhaust tube that you use to vent it out of the window, it felt a touch too short and so it was a bit tricky to get it effectively vented out of the window.

Specification

• Cooling capacity (BTU): 7500BTU
• Recommended room size: Up to 20m²
• Noise levels in cooling mode: 62dB
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 38.5cm x 63cm x 35.5cm
• Weight: 22.5kg
• Wattage: 800W
• Functions: Air conditioner, fan, dehumidifier
• Other features: Timer, 'night' mode, remote control
• Window kit included: Yes

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

With a weight of 2.5kgs, it was tricky to manoeuvre the package from the front door further into my house, especially as I was by myself when it arrived, so I'd definitely recommend waiting until you have an extra pair of hands. Fortunately, I have laminate flooring and managed to push the box upright into my living room.

I loved that the cardboard packaging had instructions on the outside of exactly how to unpack it safely. Once I'd removed the heavy duty plastic bands, I opened the top of the box to remove the accessories, and then I just needed to lift the cardboard sides away from the base. That's all very easy and requires no heavy lifting. But you will need to lift the appliance out of the base packaging (which is polystyrene and cardboard), and that is not easy to do single handedly, especially when you need to keep the portable AC upright.

There is plastic packaging included, which can't be recycled at home, which is a shame.

Once the portable AC is out of the packaging, that's half the battle won. Then it was time to set up the window kit. You get two window kits in the box, one for sliding windows and a universal fabric one that should work on most other types of window. To set this up takes a bit of time as you have to stick Velcro all around the window frame and again around the casement. I'm very glad I set this up before the heatwave hit as it takes about 10 minutes. Then I needed to attach the fabric to create the window seal, which probably took me another 10 minutes or so.

I then moved the portable AC into position (it's on wheels so this is really easy if you have hard floors, although it's a little bit more difficult on carpet). If you want it upstairs, definitely do not attempt to do it alone. I set it up in my home office, which measures roughly 12m2. When the exhaust hose is attached, it doesn't sit flush against a wall (you need space around it for adequate air flow, so you'll need to clear a suitable space for it to do it's thing). As you need a window kit in order to vent it out of the window, if you want to be able to move it from room to room, you will need to move the window kit along with it. It's relatively easy to move from room to room on the same floor, but it's heavy to take up and down stairs, so I found it easier to leave it in a specific room.

Once in position, I used needed to attach the exhaust hose to the back of the unit, and vent it out through the window seal (although there is also some accessories to vent it through the wall if you would prefer, although remember this is a permanent change. This should have been easy, but the length of the exhaust hose, combined with the height and depth of my window cill, meant that it only just reached to the window.

What’s it like to use?

Once the window kit and exhaust hose were set up, I decided to hold off on setting up the app control and instead went straight in with the remote control to get it up and running. The remote control is pretty easy to use, although I did find it helpful to have the instructions nearby to start with.

I tried it in fan mode first, which is fine, but not a patch on the best fans out there. There are four speeds (low, medium, high, auto) and I found that if you have the louvres on swing mode, it'll feel like a natural breeze. It's not quite though, even in the lower speed. But realistically, I view this as a bonus function that I'm not likely to use that often. I have other fans that are quieter and more compact, and they would be by go-to for air circulation.

The pièce de résistance is definitely the cooling mode. When I first switched to this mode, I was a bit confused as it defaulted to Fahrenheit which, to be honest, does not compute in my brain. Is 75°F hot or cold? Who knows? While it wasn't initially obvious how to switch it to °C, it fortunately does explain how to do it in the instructions (long press the + and - buttons). I found it best to do this on the remote as when I did it on the unit itself, it went back to °F when I changed a setting. But doing it on the remote changed it to default to °C.

I'd put the portable AC in my home office, and measured a temperature of 24°C, and turned on the cooling mode with a target temperature of 18°C. I then shut the door and left the room for about 20 minutes. When I went back, my thermometer was showing 20.5°C and it felt much cooler and fresher in there. I'd left the louvres on swing too which I think helped distribute the cool air more effectively. It was blissfully cool.

Once I'd got the settings to my specific liking, I appreciated that the unit remembered them when I came back the next day and turned it on again.

I was initially surprised by how quiet the Dreo 318S was (bin lorry being my yardstick), it's not silent, but it's definitely not obnoxiously loud. Using my decibel reader, I clocked it at 59dB in the lowest fan speed, and at 62dB at top speed, which is the equivalent of between gentle background noise and a chat with friends. I could definitely cope with that in a bedroom setting! It also offers a sleep function in cooling mode, which not only mutes all beep sounds, turns off the display and decreases louvre swing to reduce noise, but also gradually increases the temperature to compensate for body temperature lost during sleep (which you can customise in the app).

In addition to fan mode, this portable air con also has a dehumidifier mode. But given I'm fortunate to not suffer with moisture issues in my home and it wasn't particularly humid when I was testing, this isn't a mode that I would use often. However, if your home does struggle with excess moisture, then the dehumidifier mode that can extract 2.5L per hour, will be right up your street. In that mode, it does require continuous drainage, so bear that in mind.

After using it for a couple of weeks via the remote control or on-board control panel, I decided to set it up for app control. It was easy enough to download and register on the Dreo app, taking only a minute or so. You can do exactly what you can do on the remote through the app, with the added extra of being able to set up schedules.

Running costs

Using between 800W and 2.2kW of power, this Dreo portable air conditioner will cost you between 21 and 57p per hour to run, based on the July 2026 energy price cap.

To help reduce running costs, the appliance does have a customisable Eco mode, where you can adjust the compressors start/stop frequency from 10-30% to reduce energy consumption. Bear in mind though that this will affect it's cooling capacity.

Cleaning and maintenance

To keep the Dreo318S in good working order, it's important to keep it as free from dust as possible. Wiping over the exterior with a dry cloth regularly is a good start, and the instructions state how to clean the air filters and remove any build up there.

Maintenance will largely come down to the removal of excess water which will vary depending on the mode you use. If you only use it in cooling mode, then DREO's patented algorithm, sensors and pump evaporate excess water automatically eliminating the need for drainage in environments of up to 90% humidity. This was great for me as I only really need to use it for cooling purposes.

However, if you use it in dehumidifier mode, you will need to drain it continuously whenever that mode is selected.

Who should buy this product?

If you're looking to keep a smaller room cool in the heat, then the Dreo 318S will be ideal. It cools quickly and effectively and is easy to use. While it's not exactly whisper quiet, it's quiet enough to be used in a home office or bedroom with ease, and the Sleep Mode will help reduce any overnight distractions.

It's a good option too if you want an air conditioner and dehumidifier in a single unit.

However, at 7500BTU, this portable AC won't suit you if you are looking to cool a larger space. Fortunately, the DREO 516S portable air conditioner (£599.99 at Amazon) offers all the same functionality in a 12,000BTU powered unit, which can serve rooms up to 37m2.

While the Dreo 318S portable air conditioner is near the low-mid point in terms of price range, if you want something more affordable you could consider the Vonhaus portable air conditioner. Although for a lower price, you will have to make a bit of a sacrifice on quietness.

Eufy has built a solid reputation for making reliable robot vacuum cleaners at a range of price points - from budget-friendly entry-level cleaners to more high-tech, premium machines. And the brand's Omni E25 model is currently crowned Ideal Home's best robot vacuum. The eufy Robot Vacuum C10 with Self Empty Station sits at the opposite end of the range, promising a more compact and affordable alternative.

As a mum-of-three, I've come to rely on a robot vacuum cleaner to keep on top of everyday mess, so I was curious to see whether a more back-to-basics model would compromise on performance. After testing it in my busy family home for two weeks, I found it's a capable maintenance cleaner - providing your floors are relatively clutter-free.

In a nutshell

The most notable difference between the Eufy Robot Vacuum C10 with Self-Empty Station (which I'll refer to as the Eufy C10 throughout this review) and other robot vacuum models I've previously tested is that it's a compact vacuum-only robot that's designed with simplicity in mind. So while it wouldn't be fair to compare it to more premium models, there are a few areas where it does fall short.

Its 4,000Pa suction performance falls within the typical range for a robot vacuum, but I found it better suited to light maintenance rather than deep cleans. It generally picks up messes in its path, but its obstacle avoidance isn't particularly reliable, which becomes especially noticeable if you live in a busy household. During testing, it frequently bumped into objects and struggled to navigate around them, making it less effective in cluttered environments.

That said, it's incredibly straightforward to use, while still offering plenty of functionality through the detailed app - such as multi-floor mapping and scheduling cleaning sessions. Its compact size is, in my opinion, its biggest selling point, allowing it to reach under furniture that many other robot vacuum cleaners can't access. The small self-empty station doesn't take up much floor space, and it also helps to keep maintenance to a minimum.

The price is a sticking point for me. At its £399 RRP, there are robot vacuum cleaners that offer stronger cleaning performance and more advanced navigation features for a similar price. However, the Eufy C10 is frequently discounted, which makes it a much more competitive option.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 42.5L x 33.5W x 19.2H cm
• What's included: C10 robot with dustbin, auto-empty station, quick start guide, safety document
• Weight: 5.56kg
• Suction power: 4,000Pa
• Run time: 120 minutes
• Mop function: No 
• Multi-floor mapping? Yes, up to 5 maps
• Disposable Dust Bag Capacity: 2.5 litres
• RRP: £399.00

How I tested

Unboxing the product, setting up and first impressions

The first thing that struck me was how light and compact the packaging for the Eufy C10 was. It was clear even before opening that this model was much smaller than any other robot vacuum cleaner I'd previously tested.

Inside, I found an illustrated quick-start guide resting on top of the contents. I find this quite reassuring when I'm unboxing a product as it gives you an immediate sense of what to expect. I was pleased to see the set-up looked relatively straightforward, and while there was no printed manual, the quick-start guide featured a QR code linking to the full instructions, app download and support videos.

The actual box contents were minimal, consisting of the C10 robot, dustbin, auto-empty station, the quick-start guide and safety document. Everything was neatly packed and easy to identify, which made a refreshing change.

Each component was wrapped in plastic packaging, labelled LDPE 4. While this type of plastic can be recycled at specialist collection points (such as larger supermarkets), it can't generally be recycled through household collections, so would need to be disposed of with general waste.

There were also a couple of small foam inserts securing the robot vacuum in place, which weren't recyclable. While I'd have preferred to see more eco-friendly packaging used throughout, the compact size of the vacuum meant I wasn't left with a huge amount of packaging to dispose of once everything was unpacked.

Although the quick-start guide included a series of illustrations, I tend to find videos and written instructions easier, so I used the QR code to access the full user manual and set up videos. I appreciated having both options available.

The auto-empty station doesn't have a mop function, so there are no water tanks to accommodate, making it noticeably more compact than other robot vacuum cleaners I've tested. The dust bag needs to be inserted into the station, which slotted easily into place using the cardboard tag.

I then popped the lid on top of the station, before positioning it next to a plug socket in my kitchen. The instruction manual advises placing it against a wall and avoiding high-pile carpet, which wasn't an issue in my home - my biggest challenge was keeping it away from curious little hands!

The last step was to insert the dustbin, which sits underneath the robot. After turning it upside down, it clicked into place easily. Generally, I wouldn't describe the set up and assembly process for robot vacuums as particularly quick, but the Eufy C10 felt really straightforward. Before I'd even moved on to the app set-up, it already felt like a beginner-friendly model.

I then docked the robot onto the station, at which point a voice prompt confirmed it was charging. There's also a small indicator light at the top of the station which illuminates during charge, so there's not really any second-guessing.

With the robot docked, I could fully appreciate the overall look and feel of the Eufy C10. And I was pretty impressed. The white colourway gives it a clean, modern appearance (although it is also available in black), and its build and quality feel more premium than I'd expected at this price point. As someone who doesn't have bags of floor space, I also appreciated its compact size, although I did wonder whether such a small robot would be capable of tackling obstacles and everyday mess in my busy family home.

I then moved on to connecting the Eufy C10 to the app. As I've previously tested a Eufy robot vacuum, I had the app already downloaded and an account already set up. If you are new to the brand, however, you simply need to download the app from your App Store and follow the instructions.

Within the app, I tapped the '+' symbol in the top-right corner, selected the model from the 'Robot Vacuum-C Series', and then connected it to my WiFi. Once paired, the robot appeared on the app's homepage as 'online', allowing me to start cleaning, adjust settings, check progress and create maps of my home.

Ease of use

Although the Eufy C10 robot vacuum is very straightforward in design, it is controlled through the very detailed Eufy app. It's definitely worth taking some time to explore the options, but it means you can really customise the robot's cleaning routine.

While there aren't as many settings to tailor as the more advanced Eufy robot vacuums, you can still modify the suction strength by choosing between quiet, standard, turbo and max.

I especially appreciated the child-lock feature, which can be activated to prevent curious little hands from pressing anything, as well as the 'Do Not Disturb' mode, which keeps the robot silent and prevents it from performing auto-return cleaning during set hours. The app even has an 'Accessory Services' section, where you can easily check the remaining lifespan of components like the side brushes and sensors, as well as when you need to manually clean the filter or water tanks.

You create a floor plan from the base station, so the first thing I did was let the robot vacuum loose around my downstairs rooms, letting it map out the kitchen, conservatory and living room. It initially registered the entire area as one room, but the app lets you customise the floor plan by splitting, renaming and organising rooms. You can also set no-go zones, which I found useful. It took about 20 minutes to explore the floor and create a map of the space.

You can also set up a cleaning schedule, which I found really handy. I programmed it to run each morning once the kids were at school, and again in the evening once they were in bed. After each session, the app generates a cleaning report, complete with a map of the areas covered and the total cleaning time.

You can also create up to five different maps with the multi-mapping feature. Mapping my upstairs wasn't as thorough as the initial downstairs run. The robot missed one room entirely on its first pass, and the resulting map wasn't as detailed, although in fairness there were more obstacles to contend with. You can merge and edit rooms, though, once the mapping is complete.

Performance

The Eufy C10 has a 4,000Pa suction power - which is fairly typical for a robot vacuum - but if I'm honest, I was expecting to see more noticeable results. I usually rely on my Samsung Jet Bot Combo AI, which has a 6,000Pa suction but delivers visible carpet lines after cleaning.

One thing that became immediately obvious was that its obstacle avoidance wasn't great. I live in a busy household so there's often the odd toy left on my floors, but the robot didn't seem to recognise objects in its path most of the time. It either pushed them further along the room or tried to climb over them.

It also crashed into the chair legs at my kitchen table whenever it cleaned that area, and took at least 30 seconds to navigate away, which slowed down the cleaning session.

What impressed me about the Eufy C10, though, is its slim design. At only 2.85 inches tall, it's the only robot vacuum that has been able to fit under my sofas. In fact, every time it cleaned the living room, it completely disappeared underneath them, much to the amusement of my one-year-old!

It didn't always find its way back out from under the sofas, so I did need to pull it out and reposition it.

Despite its compact size, the C10 handled changes in flooring well. It glided effortlessly from the hard floor in my kitchen to the low-pile rug in my conservatory.

As part of how we test at Ideal Home, we put appliances through a series of controlled tests. As I'd already seen how it handled obstacles, I jumped to the vacuuming test. I scattered some chocolate crumbs on my carpet and placed the robot nearby to see how it would respond.

Rather than detecting the mess immediately, it rotated around in a circle and moved straight past, only picking up a small fraction of the crumbs before disappearing under my sofa. I did have to manually return it to the area, but this time the cleaning performance improved hugely. Within a couple of passes it had collected the majority of the mess.

One thing that became clear after the first few cleaning sessions was that I didn't feel confident enough to leave the Eufy C10 running when I wasn't around. It would often get stuck, and I'd regularly hear the voice prompts alerting me that the robot was no longer touching the ground. More often than not, this meant I had to track it down and manually reposition it before it could continue cleaning.

Cleaning and maintenance

While it doesn't have a full-sized docking station, the Eufy c10 does include a self-empty station, which is designed to reduce the level of hands-on maintenance. During my initial testing, I expected the station to empty after each run, so it's worth noting that the auto-empty frequency can be adjusted in the app.

By default, it's set to empty every 30 minutes, so I changed this to 20 minutes, but if you want it to empty after each run, you'll have to activate the 'Empty Dust' function each time in the app.

When the machine does empty the dust, it is loud - but most self-emptying docks are very obvious when they activate.

Overall maintenance is relatively straightforward. The filter and dustbin need to be removed and cleaned regularly, and the self-empty station reduces how often you'll need to empty the dust bag.

It's worth checking this on a regular basis - particularly if you're using the robot every day. It was less than half full when I checked after a week, but I noticed a build-up of debris around the opening where the bag connects to the station, which needs clearing by hand.

You can track the lifespan of various components within the app, with most of the maintenance intervals ranging between 30 and 180 hours of use. The dust bag has by far the longest lifespan - when I checked, it had 1438 hours remaining, making it incredibly low-maintenance.

The other parts to keep on top of are the roller brush and side brush. The roller brush is really easy to remove thanks to two release tabs that unlock the brush guard. When I took it apart, I found a stray cardboard tag that had got caught between the brush and the robot, which could have slowed down performance. I haven't needed to clean the side brush yet, but any clogged hair or debris can be removed by unscrewing it.

Thankfully, Eufy provides an online step-by-step video, and the process looks straightforward.

How does it rate online?

The Eufy C10 has a 4.5-star rating on the brand's website, out of a total of 56 reviews. Customers praise its overall compact design, ease of use, and in-app features including mapping abilities.

On Amazon, there are over 13,000 reviews, and it has a 4.4-star rating overall, where many customers describe it as a good-value option.

Interestingly, a recurring theme among reviewers was the importance of buying at a discount, with several users commenting it reflected a better deal when bought on sale. That largely mirrors my own experience - while I found it mostly capable of handling daily upkeep, its performance felt more in line with a lower price tag.

How does it compare to similar models and its predecessors?

The Eufy C10 launched in late 2025 and is positioned as a more affordable vacuum-only model within the brand's robot vacuum cleaner lineup.

I've previously tested the Omni 28, which sits further up Eufy's range. The Omni 28's 15,000 Pa suction power delivers noticeably stronger cleaning performance, and it also offers mop functionality. Both offer the same detailed app controls, including multi-floor mapping, but I found obstacle avoidance to be a weak point for both.

It's also worth mentioning another Eufy model, the Omni E25, which is currently crowned Ideal Home's best robot vacuum cleaner overall. Its 20,000Pa suction power makes it a clear step up from the C10, but it does come at a significantly higher price.

I've also previously tested the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI, which sits at the premium end of the scale - its obstacle avoidance is the best I've seen, but it takes up much more space and comes with a considerably higher price tag.

If you are considering similarly priced alternatives, the Hoover HG2 is another entry-level option worth looking at. It includes mop functionality for a similar price, but its navigation and obstacle avoidance are also inconsistent.

Verdict: Should you buy the eufy Robot Vacuum C10 with Self Empty Station?

The Eufy C10 is best suited for anyone looking for a straightforward robot vacuum cleaner that can take care of day-to-day maintenance with minimal fuss. Its slim design means it can reach under furniture that many robot vacuum cleaners can't access, while the compact self-empty station makes it a good option for small homes or households who are tight on storage space.

However, I think its appeal depends heavily on the price. It retails at £399 at full price, but at that price I would expect stronger performance and reliable obstacle avoidance. During testing, the robot regularly bumped into furniture and stray toys on the floor, which makes it less suited to households where it would need to navigate around clutter.

I've seen it discounted to £159, which, if I'm honest, feels a far more reflective price point. If you can pick it up on sale and use it primarily for light maintenance cleaning in a relatively tidy home, it's a solid choice. For busier households, I'd be inclined to invest in a model with more advanced navigation and obstacle avoidance.

If you're like me and hate a noisy fan when you're trying to get to sleep, then trust me, you're going to like this one.

While I've been testing the best fans and best desk fans around, I've come across many that offer comfortably quiet operation, but nothing quite as deliciously quiet as the Duux Whisper series. As part of that offering, I've put the Duux Whisper Flex 2 through it's paces in my home.

This is how it fared and whether I think you should buy it.

In a nutshell

Here at Ideal Home, we've reviewed multiple fans from the Duux Whisper range and have always been impressed with just how quiet they are. So I was delighted to test the bestselling Whisper Flex 2, and I've got to say, I'm not surprised people love it so much.

It's smart, which means you can control it from your phone (which is just so easy), and it's a really good looking fan. But where this fan really stands out is in it's noise levels. It's so, so quiet. I could get through the first six speed settings before I could really hear it make any noise, and even then it definitely could not be described as noisy. It also oscillates really well, circulating air quickly and effectively.

It can also be switched between a pedestal and desktop configuration, and while it has multiple thoughtful design elements, adjusting the height was sometimes a little tricky, although this may well be something that eases over time.

Specification

• Type of fan: Pedestal (but adaptable to desktop)
• RRP: £179.99
• Weight: 4.2kgs
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 34 x 92 x 34cm
• Wattage: 1-19W
• Wind speed (metres/second): 1.3-4.3m/s
• Running costs per hour (based on energy price cap at the time of writing): 0.02-0.47p
• Number of fan speed settings: 30
• Noise in dB: 34-72 (based on own measurements)
• Smart features: App control, compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
• Dual functionality: None
• Oscillation: Multidirectional (30°/60°/90° horizontal, 45°/90° vertical)

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

I was very impressed by the packaging for the Duux Whisper Flex 2 as there's not a stitch of plastic in sight. The parts are encased in molded cardboard and compostable packaging, which is a bit tick in the sustainability column.

The Whisper Flex 2 does require a little more assembly than other fans I've tested, and I found it easier to follow the assembly video that I accessed via the QR code on the instructions than to follow the instructions themselves.

I was initially frustrated that I needed a screwdriver to remove the protective cardboard from around the blades in the fan head, but then I discovered that there was an allen key with Philips head screwdriver end hidden in the base. This is a really thoughtful touch and made assembly a breeze. All in all, it took me about 5 minutes to get it all set up. There's another nice design element in that there is a little marker on the top of the base that indicated where the power cable goes in. I've not see that on any other fan I've tested.

While it's possible to run the fan off a battery or via mains power, the battery is an optional extra that is sold separately. But if you want the flexibility of cordless operation, you can buy a battery separately (for about £60)

Setting up the app control was incredibly quick and easy, which has not always been my experience with smart fans, so I was relieved this process was so painless.

In terms of looks, the Duux Whisper Flex 2 is incredibly stylish. I got it in the largely monochromatic stone colourway, which I think is ideal for people who want their fan to fade into the background rather than stand out. On the back of the fan head, there is also a handle that makes easy work of moving it around. I loved that it was a proper handle rather than just a slot to put my fingertips as it made me feel like a had a much surer grip on it.

What's it like to use?

The Duux Whisper Flex 2 is incredibly straightforward to use, despite the fact it has 30 wind settings, various levels of oscillation and multiple wind modes.

I really liked having the choice of either operating it via the on-board controls (which are positioned on the base), the remote control or the app, but during testing I definitely gravitated more to using the app. It's really clear to use and I found it super easy to switch between the speed settings, adjust the oscillation and to toggle between normal mode (which offers a consistent wind speed) and natural mode, which varies the speed to mimic a real breeze. I also loved that I didn't have to reconnect the fan and app after it had been unplugged. I've had to do that before and it's a real faff if you've only got one brilliant fan and want to move it around the house with you.

The control panel on the base of the fan is also clear and intuitive to use, but if I was using the fan in pedestal mode and it was on the floor, it felt very bizarre to crouch down to adjust the settings. My dog also managed to turn the fan off when she was sniffing around it. I managed to solve that by turning on the child lock.

Similarly, if I had it in the desktop configuration and had it on a table top across the room, it was difficult to see the control panel, but fortunately, with the remote and app control, I didn't ever really need to use the control panel.

When it comes to the wind speed, it goes from a very gentle and comfortable 1.3m/s up to a breezy 4.3m/s. The lower speeds not only feel lovely on the skin and don't feel like they are drying your eyes out, they are also whisper quiet. I genuinely can't hear it until about speed 6 and even then it's still very quiet. Because of that, I loved using this fan at night as I was falling asleep, especially in the natural wind mode, which is just so relaxing.

However, when I was measuring the wind speed of the different settings using an anemometer, I found that there was very little if any difference between some of the speeds. That's not to say that the scope of speeds is narrow, just that maybe take the number of speed settings with a pinch of salt.

Beyond that though, the multidirectional oscillation is lovely, and will at times even point directly at the ceiling and I could feel the air bouncing off the walls and ceiling, which helps to make the whole space feel cooler.

There's also a night mode, which dims the lights on the base and mutes any beeps that happen when you adjust the settings, so it's ideal for those who are sensitive to noise or lights while they are trying to sleep. Although for me, the lights on the display were never a problem. Whether the fan was on the floor or my bedside table, the location of the control panel meant that I couldn't really the lights anyway.

I did find it a bit tricky to switch the Duux Whisper Flex 2 from a floor standing fan to a table top one, and back again, despite it seeming very simple to do. To remove a pole, there's a button to push in, then you should be able to simply pull the two pieces apart, but to begin with, it felt like the two pieces had created a vacuum which made them a little challenging to pull apart. Then if you are trying to remove a piece from the base, you need to squeeze a release mechanism on the underside of the base, and then pull the pieces apart. This may get easier over time, but those with any dexterity concerns may struggle with this part.

I tended to use this fan a lot in desktop mode, although it's just as lovely in pedestal mode. However, if you do want to use it as a desk fan, the base is quite large, so I found I did need to clear a bit of space to make it fit.

I've also been testing the Duux Whisper 3, which is a very similar looking fan (I have it in grey) and is just as quiet with very similar settings. The main difference is that the Whisper 3 isn't smart so it can't be controlled by your phone, and rather than adjusting the height by removing a pole from the stem, it has a telescopic pole that offers a few more height variations between the lowest and highest (and is much easier to change between them).

Running costs

Based on the April 2-26 energy price cap figure, which was in place at the time of writing this review, the Duux Whisper Flex 2, is incredibly inexpensive to run, costing between 0.02-0.47p per hour, which is miniscule.

Cleaning and maintenance

As with most fans, there's really not much needed in terms of cleaning or maintenance. It's always best to keep them as dust-free as possible so an occasional wipe with a dry cloth may be all that's needed.

Who should buy this fan?

If you are looking for an uber-quiet smart fan, then this is the one to buy. However, if you aren't fussed about the smart features and want something easier to adjust the height of, I've also been testing the Duux Whisper 3, and found that just as quiet and just as good looking, but much easier to tweak in terms of height.

If you're after a fan with a more powerful breeze, then the AirCraft LUME is the most powerful I've tested, with a top wind speed of 5.3m/s, very closely followed by the Meaco Sefte 10'' pedestal air circulator, with a top speed of 5.2m/s. But if you find that level of power uncomfortable, then the Vonhaus 16'' pedestal fan is much more gentle.

If you’re reading this, then lusting after KitchenAid appliances is something we probably have in common: gorgeous looks and great design are a win-win for any style-conscious kitchen. Naturally, KitchenAid’s first foray into the world of bean-to-cup coffee machines was no exception – the £1,500 KitchenAid KF8 won our admiration (and a four and half star review) back in 2025.

Now, in 2026, the brand has now unveiled the more affordable members of its automatic bean-to-cup family. And in this review we’re going to be looking at the most upmarket model in the new trio, the £899 KF4.

In a nutshell

The big news here for many buyers is that KitchenAid has shrunk the size of these machines down – it claims that they’re 25% smaller than the previous models. In practice, the machines are roughly 6.5cm slimmer, so far easier to squeeze on a busy countertop. In truth, I haven’t seen any fully automatic bean-to-cup machines which are quite so slender.

The new range includes the £699 KF2, £749 KF3 and the £899 KF4 which I have for review here. Naturally, the KF4 is the most feature packed of the group. It doubles the KF3’s two user profiles to four. It adds five extra drink recipes. It also includes a rather more elegant plastic milk carafe in the box: by contrast, the KF3 simply dangles a tube into your preferred milk receptacle while the KF2 makes do with a manual steam wand.

Who tested this machine?

Unboxing

The KF4 comes clad in several separate protective panels of moulded wood pulp. Sensibly, KitchenAid wraps the whole package in a polypropylene sling with handles, so you can just lift the entire machine out of the box easily without worrying about dropping it.

As usual, several little strips of blue adhesive tape hold the various parts in place during transit, and protective transparent plastic sheets are adhered to the touchscreen and between the water tank and the machine’s rear to prevent scratching. Some of the packaging – the wood pulp, for instance – is recyclable with home recycling, but the plastic sheets and tape may need to be taken to a specific plastic bag recycling collection depending on your local area’s recycling facilities.

Open up the KF4’s box, and the user manual and quick start guide are placed just inside the box’s top flap, directly on top of the machine. Alongside, there’s a QR code offering to help you ‘Get Started’. Point your phone at the code and you’re transported to KitchenAid’s website where a very basic tutorial helps you to get familiarised with the machine. If you’re the kind of person who likes to familiarise yourself with the user manual before rifling through the packaging, it’s a good way to start.

The instructions could be better, however. The website instructions feel like a bit of an afterthought; the thick user manual is actually just a few pages of text instructions repeated in a multitude of languages – hardly what I’d call an Owner’s Manual – and the quick start guide is nothing more than an annotated diagram of the machine and its touchscreen interface. It would have made far more sense to combine the information from both into one concise pamphlet.

Thankfully, the touchscreen also does its bit to lead users through the set up process. It, too, could be more detailed – it’s not as clear as the full colour animations on Sage’s machines, for example – but it’s informative enough to get most buyers started. There’s definitely room for improvement here, though. Oddly, there’s no mention of using the water hardness tester at all, and the little on-screen diagrams are too small to be really helpful.

Impact on a kitchen worktop

This is where KitchenAid’s new models will win a lot of friends. At 36cm tall, it’s a tiny bit shorter than many of the bean-to-cup machines I’ve seen recently, and this is because of the integrated bean hopper – it doesn’t protrude from the top like some rivals.

At 19cm wide, however, it’s dramatically thinner than any machine I’ve reviewed in recent memory. The De’Longhi Rivelia (which we've reviewed) is the closest model I can think of, but that’s 24.5cm wide due to its side-mounted water tank. If you’ve been wishing you could accommodate a fully automatic model but just didn’t have the space, it’s a major selling point.

The downside of the KF4’s design, as you may have gleaned already, is that the water tank is positioned at the rear. Bean-to-cup machines often opt for side mounted water tanks that either slide forwards for easy removal, or unclip to the side. The KF4’s needs to be lifted up by about a centimetre and removed to the rear – you’ll need to leave room around it to make for easy refilling. You can open the lid (which isn’t removable) and just pour water in, but you may not want to risk this if you have mains sockets behind the machine. And if there are cupboards above, you’ll struggle.

First impressions

The KF4 feels well built. Like most bean-to-cup machines, it’s predominantly plastic, but those plastics feel solid and all the attachments feel robust enough to instil confidence. There isn’t the thin, hollow feeling which I’ve noticed on some sub-£1,000 machines.

It’s all been sensibly designed, too. The spouts slide up and down smoothly and provide up to 14cm of cup clearance. The drip tray slides out to reveal the grounds bin, and this separates into multiple parts for easy cleaning. The 1.8-litre water tank slots firmly onto the rear. The 250g bean hopper is hidden neatly under the top panel – the centre of this pulls away to reveal the bean hopper and the single dose chute. The rubber seal on the underside of the removable panel helps keep your coffee beans fresh, too, which is a nice touch.

A single water filter is provided in the box, and this screws into place in the tank. Replacements cost a fairly steep £15 each on KitchenAid’s website, but were just under £10 at the time of writing. However, don’t make my mistake of initially trying to install the water filter by hand: the narrow tank makes this nigh-on impossible. KitchenAid supply a coffee scoop in the box, and the odd-looking attachment at the other end is designed to fit over the top of the water filter and screw it into place.

The milk carafe design simply connects via a tube. One added benefit is that if you can’t find the carafe – or it breaks – you can just jam the tube directly into a milk bottle or jug. As long as the tube is intact, and it’s submerged in milk, it’ll work just fine.

The only issue with the carafe is the loose lid. I’d have liked to see the lid actually click into place – or secure in place with a rubber seal and interference fit. Make the mistake of grabbing it by the lid and it just comes off without any effort. Try carrying it by the lid and you’ll get a nasty surprise. It’s a poor design choice.

User experience

Hit the power button on the machine’s right hand side and the machine thrums into action. After the initial setup process has directed you to rinse the water tank and install the water filter, the machine pulls through four shots of coffee to prime and clean the machine. These need to be poured down the sink, so my advice is to use some old beans you have lying around rather than wasting good coffee.

Once the machine is warmed up and ready to go, you can swipe to scroll through the machine’s various recipes. Tapping an icon reveals a settings menu which provides options to adjust drink temperature, coffee and milk volumes and drink strength. Some drinks recipes give you the option to pour two drinks simultaneously: pop two cups under the spouts and the machine will pour two shots back to back and add milk to each.

There are four user profiles, too. These allow you to save specific drinks recipes to your user page. Tap the touch sensitive user button on the front panel and you can access your saved drinks without scrolling through the main menu at all.

Noise test

The KF4’s Quiet Mark certification is more than justified. It’s still noisy compared to the quiet splutter of a filter coffee machine, granted, but the loudest sound emanating from the KF4 was an average of 63dBA during grinding. Brewing was remarkably quiet at 50dbA and steaming was mostly around 55dBA apart from a brief splutter of 63dBA as the machine started to slurp milk.

For reference, this is a little bit quieter overall than the De’Longhi Rivelia and Philips LatteGo 5500, and only a tad louder than the two Jura models – the C8 and J10 – which passed through my test kitchen in recent months. If silence (or at least relative quietness) is golden in your kitchen, then the KF4 puts in a good show.

Coffee quality

The KF4 pours great coffee from the first prod of its touchscreen. I tried all of the major drinks from espresso to macchiato and latte to flat white, and they were all consistently well extracted. The over-ice drinks – the iced coffee and iced espresso – are brewed cooler (around 55c) and it’s left to you to add your own ice.

By default, it’ll pour a 40ml espresso while most of the longer milk-based coffee recipes seem to target a small cup size of around 120ml, so bear in mind that you’ll need to up the volumes to fill larger cups or mugs.

The milk frothing works well. It doesn’t create the thick, silken gloss of a carefully wielded manual steam wand, but it’s very good. The froth has a tight, creamy texture, and it’s much thicker and more long-lasting than the light, bubbly froth which you’ll get from some mid-range models, such as the Philips LatteGo 5500.

It’s a shame that the froth levels aren’t adjustable – for recipes such as the macchiato, where you just want a dollop of froth popped on top, it doesn’t quite fit the bill. What it can do, however, is create a flat warm milk or a frothed milk (and both of these hot milk options are on the menu for the non-coffee drinkers in the audience). For recipes such as the cappuccino, the KF4 uses its frothy setting; for a flat white, it pours plain steamed milk, so there’s only a thin layer of froth on top.

For those who want to dial in every coffee to perfection, there’s a good amount of adjustability. You can adjust the various options for each drink and save those settings to your user profile.

One interesting addition is the Body setting. This speeds or slows the extraction time, and you can use this in tandem with the dosage and volume settings to tweak the flavour of beans to your preferences. It works really well, too. There was the slightest hint of bitterness to the espresso with the strength set to maximum – dialling it down to the light body setting gave both a juicier, more fruity shot and dialled back the bitterness nicely.

There are only 5 settings for the grinder (the dial is hidden behind the KF4’s side panel), but it didn’t really need any adjusting for my medium roast beans. And in any case, the lack of extreme adjustments means that users are less likely to create undrinkably bitter or sour shots. I’d personally prefer more adjustability for dialling in different coffees, but most people probably won’t be too bothered. Rivals such as the De’Longhi Rivelia offer 13 steps of grind adjustment which gives a little more latitude for fine tuning.

Temperature consistency is good. The first drinks out of the machine were very slightly cooler than subsequent ones, but that’s not unusual as any coffee machine takes a little time for all the parts to warm up. In fact, the temperature stability is better controlled than some bean-to-cup machines I’ve tested recently. The first drinks came through around 68C and subsequent cups settled between 70c and 72c depending on the recipe and the ratio of milk to coffee. As the machine heats milk to around 65c – the perfect temperature to prevent scorching the milk – it’s the volume of hot coffee added which bumps temperatures up to and beyond 70C.

If you are in a rush, then you can get a couple of coffees poured in under five minutes. Once you’ve waited for the initial rinse, each milk-based drink at default size (40ml coffee, 80ml milk) takes around a minute and a half. You can tap the main drinks icon to pour two simultaneously though. Pop a couple of cups side by side, and it’ll brew two shots back to back and then add milk to both cups. This takes just under 3 minutes for the standard sized cappuccinos and flat whites.

What's it like to clean?

The KF4 rinses and warms up automatically the first time you turn it on, and this takes just under a minute and a half. Turn it on again a little later – while the machine is still warm – and it’ll prompt you to rinse but not force you to do so. A word to the wise: this can’t always be skipped. Ignore the prompts to clean the machine or milk system and you may find you’re forced to do both in succession next time you turn it on.

The milk carafe cleaning is elegant. Simply disconnect the tube from the carafe and plug it into a hole in the drip tray. This then blasts out any residue in the milk system for around a minute, while you simply have to clean the carafe in the sink with a bit of warm soapy water. Unlike rival designs which use more complex carafe designs, such as De’Longhi’s LatteCrema system, there are precious few nooks and crannies for milk residue to get stuck in.

Drips do tend to accumulate on the metal drip tray, but there’s nothing you can’t clean up with a damp cloth.

In terms of internal cleaning, KitchenAid recommends using a cleaning tablet after every 200 cups of coffee. Two are supplied in the box, and the KF4 will prompt you to carry out the process when it’s needed – or you can manually trigger it in the settings menu.

The water filter is designed to be replaced every 2 months or after every 50 litres of water used. Descaling is required in anything from 6 weeks to 2 months depending on water hardness. If you replace the filter regularly – or just use filtered water from a jug – descaling shouldn’t be required as often.

Bear in mind, however, that the initial setup process seems to bypass the water hardness testing if you opt to install the supplied water filter. This means that the machine is set to the worst case Very High water hardness setting which will prompt more regular cleaning and descaling. My advice would be to manually carry out the water hardness test and input the relevant information for your area – there’s a tester in the box, so you may as well use it.

How does it compare to competitors?

At this kind of price point, I normally have two recommendations – the Jura C8 or the De’Longhi Rivelia. Both retail for around £650 at the time of writing. For faff-free simplicity, I’m a big fan of the Jura. It makes good coffee and the milk steaming is very good, too. It’s not for everyone, though, as it lacks a lot of features compared to either the KitchenAid KF4 or the De’Longhi Rivelia. The C8 only has a handful of recipes, no hot water dispensing and while it makes good coffee, it lacks the adjustability to eke as much flavour from as wide a range of coffees as the Rivelia.

And this is where the KitchenAid KF4 comes in. In short, I think it’s markedly better than the Jura C8 and marginally a better all-rounder than the Rivelia. Given that it costs £899, that’s probably to be expected. In terms of coffee quality, both the KitchenAid and De’Longhi machines are capable of making a very mean espresso and an excellent milk-based coffee. Where the KF4 marches ahead, however, is looks and convenience: the slender footprint, simple carafe design and better touchscreen and controls all lean in favour of the KF4.

Should you buy the KitchenAid KF4?

I had high hopes for the KitchenAid KF4, so it’s impressive to see it deliver the goods in such confident fashion. The narrow footprint is perfect for smaller kitchens, and the fact that it’s relatively quiet, highly adjustable and makes such consistently tasty coffee is enough to convince me that it’s worth the relatively high asking price. There are cheaper rivals out there if you can accommodate a larger machine, but if you want great coffee without the bulk, it’s a great buy.

Shark is a household favourite in the world of vacuum cleaners, with several of its vacuums consistently being ranked among Ideal Home's top-rated models. So, when I learned that the brand had quietly dropped its most powerful handheld vacuum last month, I had to test it out for myself.

Naturally, I was keen to see whether the new Shark PowerBoost Pet Handheld lived up to expectations and if it deserves a spot among the best handheld vacuum cleaners. Here's everything you need to know.

In a nutshell

After testing the Shark PowerBoost Pet Cordless 2-in-1 Handheld Vacuum (which is a bit of a mouthful, so I'll refer to it as the Shark PowerBoost Pet from here on) in my busy family home for two weeks, it's fair to say I'm impressed.

The suction is more powerful than I expected for a handheld vacuum, and it handled crumbs, dust and general mess with ease. I found myself reaching for it far more than I'd expected, as its lightweight design and decent battery life made it ideal for quick clean-ups when I didn't want to pull out my full-size vacuum cleaner.

It also includes a car detailing kit, which consists of a flexible hose and various small tool attachments designed to clean computer keyboards, air vents, and car interiors. While I found the results a little underwhelming overall, particularly when using the extension hose, the smaller brush attachments are handy for tackling intricate hard-to-reach spaces.

The motorised hand tool, with its rotating brush roll, is a standout attachment. I noticed a difference when I used it on upholstery and carpets, where it helped lift more stubborn debris and embedded dirt, making it the most useful part of the kit. Cleaning and maintenance are also straightforward, with the dust cup opening with a simple button release. And although its capacity isn't huge, it was easy to get into the habit of emptying regularly, which makes it feel low-maintenance.

How I tested

Specifications

• Max. run time: 40 minutes
• Charge time: 4.5 hours
• Bag/ bin capacity: 0.25L
• Weight: 1.13 kg
• Dimensions: 24.21 cm L x 8.89 cm W x 33.6 cm H
• Modes: 3
• In the box: Car Detail Kit, Charger, Motorised Hand Tool, Shark PowerBoost Cordless Handheld Vacuum
• RRP: £229.99

Unboxing, set-up and first impressions

The Shark PowerBoost Cordless 2-in-1 Handheld Vacuum packaging was fairly plain and compact, and light enough to carry single-handedly.

One thing I really like about Shark products is how eco-friendly the packaging tends to be. There was no plastic at all; everything was protected in paper bags and cushioned on top of a layer of moulded cardboard, with the user manual placed on top. It's a small detail, but always one that I think makes a noticeable difference.

The contents were also refreshingly minimal and included the handheld vacuum, motorised hand tool, charger, and a car detail kit comprising an extension tube, a crevice tool, and precision attachments.

With everything out of the box, I then popped the motorised hand tool onto the end of the vacuum (which clicked into place easily), and took a couple of minutes to take in the design.

The first thing that stands out is how lightweight the Shark PowerBoost Pet feels. At 1.1kg, it sits on the lighter end of the range for handheld cordless vacuums, but it still feels sturdy and built to last. The charcoal grey and blue finish also adds to its premium feel.

The digital display sits neatly at the back of the unit, and there are only two buttons - power and mode- which feels refreshingly straightforward.

It also stands upright when the battery is resting on a flat surface, but it topples when the motorised hand tool is attached. I initially wondered if I'd find this inconvenient during use, but given how easy the attachment is to remove, it's not a dealbreaker.

Before getting started, though, the battery needed to be fully charged. I discovered that it can be removed to charge, but because of its compact size, I didn't feel this was necessary, so I just plugged the charger into a power socket before inserting it into the charging port on the side of the battery.

When it's charging, the battery icon on the digital display flashes until it reaches full charge, after around 4.5 hours.

What's it like to use?

I live in a three-bedroom home with my husband and three children, and it would be accurate to say I vacuum multiple times a day to keep on top of the mess that comes with family life. Generally, I rely on my Dreame V20 Pro Cordless for most of my vacuuming, and I also use the Shark Stratos, which converts to a handheld vacuum. For the purpose of this review, I switched the Stratos for the PowerBoost to allow a fair comparison.

The PowerBoost Pet has three modes - auto, eco and boost - which you'll be familiar with if you've used the Shark Stratos. When you switch it on, the digital display cycles through the modes before settling on auto mode, so I tended to stick to it for general clean-ups. I know from using the Stratos and similar vacuums that boost mode will drain the battery much quicker.

To get a proper feel for the device, I took it on a full lap around the house, using it on both carpets and hard floors. I was impressed instantly at the suction power; it handled everything in its path with ease. I found it particularly effective at reaching along skirting board edges and between the crevices of my bar stools, which are a magnet for stubborn crumbs and dust.

I experimented with the motorised hand tool attachment, as the user guide doesn't specify where it should be used. On carpet, I generally found it improved cleaning performance, particularly when tackling stubborn, embedded debris within the carpet's fibres. The motorised brush helps loosen dirt that suction alone sometimes struggled to lift.

As part of our testing process, I put the vacuum through our flour test to get a clear visual of pick-up performance. On hard flooring, I removed the hand tool attachment, and it had no trouble picking up the flour, collecting most of it in a single pass.

On carpet, I was equally impressed with the results. I used the brush tool for this test, and I've got to say, to my surprise, it glided effortlessly over the carpet and lifted the flour with ease.

There is a car detailing kit included with the Shark PowerBoost Pet, which includes a flexible hose and various different tools and brush attachments. As the manual recommends that the detailing kit is designed to clean hard-to-reach spaces like computer keyboards too, I thought this would be a good place to start before moving onto the car itself.

After attaching the extension hose onto the end of the vacuum, I used the round brush to try and extract the crumbs and debris that had built up in between my laptop screen and the keyboard. While it lifted some of the mess, I immediately noticed a drop in suction compared to using the vacuum without the extension hose.

I switched to the wider brush tool, which did improve performance, although I wouldn't describe the results as transformative. In fact, I did find myself checking the vacuum was drawing enough suction a couple of times.

That said, given the small surface area of the detailing tools, I think the emphasis is on precision rather than outright cleaning power. They feel better suited to tackling hard-to-reach areas rather than cleaning larger surface areas quickly.

I'm completely outing myself here, but my car is embarrassingly messy, and it's honestly the one job I'll put off cleaning for as long as possible. As I'd familiarised myself with the attachments, it felt like the ideal next test.

As with the keyboard, I noticed a drop in suction when using the extension hose. It did still pick up lighter mess but wasn't as powerful as when I used the motorised hand tool or the main unit directly.

I found the angle brush was the most useful attachment in this setting, particularly for reaching tight, fiddly spaces, such as the space underneath the seat belt buckle. And while my car did look cleaner by the end of the cleaning session, I was left slightly underwhelmed by the smaller tools.

Cleaning and maintenance

I'll always favour a floorcare appliance that's low-maintenance when it comes to cleaning - and thankfully, upkeep for the Shark PowerBoost Pet is really straightforward to keep on top of.

Although the dust cup isn't the largest, I found it was more than enough to tackle several clean-ups around the house before I needed to empty it.

When it does fill up, emptying the vacuum cleaner is really simple. There's a button on the side that releases the bin, and it swings open. I'm used to vacuums that open from one end and can be a bit fiddly to empty, but the PowerBoost Pet opens outwards making it much easier to drop straight into the bin.

The filter is just as easy to access. It pulls out of its housing once released and can be rinsed with water before being left to air dry for at least 24 hours. I've not needed to give it a full deep-clean yet, but when I did disassemble it, it was covered in flour and dust, so it's worth getting into the habit of keeping on top of.

The manual also includes a section on additional parts and accessories, which I thought was a useful touch as it highlights how versatile the vacuum can be. Replacement filters can be bought for just under £10, and there's also the additional option to purchase additional tools, including a wider upholstery tool and a duster crevice tool.

Given its price point, it would have been nice to see a couple more tools included in the box, but it's still useful to know what's available if you want to pick up any other accessories down the line.

How does it compare to similar models?

Ideal Home's top-rated handheld vacuum is the Dyson Car+Boat thanks to its impressive suction power and deep-cleaning capabilities. It does come with a much higher price tag than the Shark PowerBoost Pet, positioning it firmly on the premium end of the handheld vacuum market.

Within Shark's own range, the PowerBoost Pet feels like a natural step up from the WandVac 2.0. While both are designed as lightweight, grab-and-go cleaners, the PowerBoost Pet offers stronger suction, a larger dust capacity and three power modes. The trade-off is it is more expensive, slightly heavier and bulkier than the WandVac.

The Shark Cordless Pet is currently rated our best handheld vacuum for dealing with pet hair, but the PowerBoost Pet arguably has the edge when it comes to versatility thanks to its motorised hand tool. During testing, I found this attachment particularly effective on carpets, rugs and upholstery, making it a strong option for homes with pets.

Beyond Shark's range, there are a couple of other handheld vacuum cleaners worth comparing to. The Gtech AIRAM Multi Platinum (in handheld mode) is another Ideal Home favourite. That model impressed our reviewer with its cleaning power, generous battery life, and large dust canister. However, it’s bulkier and pricier than the PowerBoost Pet.

If you're looking for something ultra-light, the Gtech ProLite is one of the lightest handheld vacuums we've tested and has a more affordable price tag. That said, its bagged design means you'll need to factor in the ongoing cost of replacement bags.

How does the Shark PowerBoost Pet Cordless 2-in-1 Handheld Vacuum rate online?

On Shark's website, the PowerBoost Pet currently hold a 4.6 star rating from 24 customer reviews. The feedback was largely positive, praising its powerful suction as well as how lightweight, convenient and easy to use it feels. It's worth noting, though, that the majority of these reviews did come from users who had received free products.

On Amazon, there are 19 reviews, and the product has a 4.5 star rating. The performance feedback was slightly more mixed, with some highlighting how powerful the suction is, while others weren't as impressed. The price point was also flagged as a drawback by one user. Again, most of the reviews were incentivised, but I'd expect to see general feedback increase over time, as it has only recently been launched.

Should you buy the Shark PowerBoost Pet Cordless 2-in-1 Handheld Vacuum?

If you're looking for a powerful handheld vacuum that goes beyond tackling the usual sofa crumbs and everyday carpet refresh, the Shark PowerBoost Pet Cordless 2-in-1 Handheld Vacuum is a brilliant option. The suction is genuinely impressive, the motorised hand tool makes a noticeable difference on sofas and stairs, and the three power modes mean you can adapt it to whatever mess you're tackling.

The smaller dust capacity means you'll be emptying it fairly regularly, and the car detailing kit isn't quite as effective as the main unit, but these feel like fair trade-offs given its overall performance.

While it won't replace a full-sized vacuum, I found myself reaching for it far more than I'd expected during testing. It's lightweight enough to grab for quick clean-ups, and the battery life is long enough that you don't need to worry about constantly recharging it.

For busy homes, particularly those with pets or children, I think it's a solid, reliable choice - and it's certainly earned a permanent place in my cleaning routine.

My Simba Simbatex Cool Mattress review puts the much-loved sleep brand's new Amazon-exclusive mattress to the test to see how it performs compared to the best mattresses on the market.

In a nutshell

First things first, this is a very affordable mattress. It's sold exclusively on Amazon, rather than on Simba's own website, which, to my mind, suggests the brand is aiming to deliver a budget-friendly option that suits shoppers with an under-£500 budget.

A double of the Simba Simbatex Cool Mattress costs £399 and a king-size £429 as of writing, which is about as affordable as you can go and still get a decent mattress.

And all in all, I do think this new launch is one of the best budget mattresses out there, other than a few niggles. Especially because, even though this mattress is sold through Amazon, Simba is still honouring its usual 200-night sleep trial, which means you can test this mattress out at home to see if it suits your sleeping style before you have to commit to keeping it.

As a back and side sleeper, I found its medium-firm foam sleep surface very comfortable, and enjoyed its light cushioning around my shoulder and hip. My husband and I share a bed with our toddler most nights, and we also really appreciated its motion isolation, which meant we didn't notice when one of us in the bed tossed or turned. And, it has a nice amount of bounce to say it lacks springs.

On the downside, I didn't feel it really lived up to its name in the cool stakes. It didn't cause us to overheat, but it definitely wasn't as cooling and breathable as I would have liked either. And its edge support was lacking, which meant my leg could slip out of bed when I was pushed to the edge by our star-fishing toddler!

However, if you're not a hot sleeper and there aren't three of you crammed into one bed, I'd definitely recommend this mattress for most sleepers. If you're on a budget and are searching for a king-size mattress for less than £500, I think this is a great choice that you won't be left unimpressed with.

Simba Simbatex Cool Mattress Review

Specifications

• Type: Foam
• Construction materials: Breathable cover, graphite-infused Simbatex cooling foam, foam support layer, zoned CertiPUR foam base
• Sizes: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King
• Tensions available: Medium-firm
• Height: 23cm
• Side handles: Yes
• Flip or rotate: Rotate
• Manufacturers sleep trial: 200 nights

1. Comfort

Having finally managed to nail my sleep setup – the perfect combination of a medium-firm mattress, a thick mattress topper, and some sumptuous pillows – I've been snoozing well for a few years. Despite my toddler getting in with us every night and my husband turning into a breathing radiator past the hour of 10 o'clock!

As such, I have to admit I was slightly apprehensive about changing my sleep setup to test the Simbatex Cool mattress. However, I worried for no reason – luckily, I instantly clicked with this mattress from the first night I slept on it.

It's crafted from three main layers in total. There's a Simbatex foam layer, and below this, you'll find a wedge of foam support, above the final layer, which is zoned CentiPUR foam.

I'm mostly a back and side sleeper, and I found this mattress to be instantly comfortable. It's a true medium-firm feel, and I found it lightly cushioned me at the pressure points of my shoulders and hip, where I need it most. It also kept my spine well-aligned in both positions.

I never suffered from any aches while sleeping on this mattress, not even once. The same goes for my husband, who was initially annoyed that I was changing our much-loved mattress, but now knows he overreacted a little and had nothing to worry about.

As this mattress is foam only, that means there are no springs inside, and we were initially concerned that might mean a lack of support, especially for my husband, who is heavier than I am. However, he sleeps on his back and side, but mostly his side, and he also found this mattress ultra-comfortable from day dot.

2. Motion isolation

As an all-foam mattress with no springs in sight, the motion isolation of this mattress is impressive.

I share a bed with my husband, and very often our toddler, and when my husband moved off the bed, I barely felt it. And the same goes for him, as he rarely felt me tossing and turning at night.

Even with our toddler in tow, the motion isolation proved to be very impressive, especially for the affordable price tag.

3. Responsiveness

I was also super impressed by the responsiveness of this mattress. I found its cushioning cradled my pressure points perfectly, but unlike some memory foam mattresses I've tested, it doesn't feel so foamy that you can't roll around or get out of bed with ease.

It was easy to move around on, and even more fun for my toddler to bounce on top of! I never struggled to switch positions on this mattress, although when I pressed my hand on it, it did leave a visible print for a few minutes.

4. Temperature regulation

Since this mattress is specifically called 'cool', I had high hopes that it would give us some sort of relief in the heatwave we were baking in during testing. I put it to the test during one of the hottest Mays on record, with the temperatures where I live reaching 32C.

Our bedroom is very warm, so most nights from around April, we need to sleep with a fan on, regardless of whether it's 15C or 30C outside. And perhaps we were expecting too much, but on nights when we didn't sleep with a fan on, we were both still very warm and sweaty.

That said, it didn't actively cause me to overheat like some budget memory foam mattresses I've tested. It just didn't keep us that cool either.

Simba uses its trademark graphite-infused foam in the top layer, and according to the brand, that Simbatex foam also offers five times more airflow than standard memory foam, so I don't doubt this mattress is more breathable than many cheap foam options.

From its name, I guess I just expected it to be a little cooler to the touch. My husband, as a hot sleeper, has a cooling pillow which is impressively cold when you lay your head on it.

Overall, if you're a hot sleeper, this mattress may not be as cooling as you'd hope. A natural fill mattress such as the Hypnos Pillow Top Select is definitely your best bet there, but if you're looking for an under £500 mattress that won't actively overheat you, the Simbatex Cool did 'okay' for temperature regulation. Not brilliant, but definitely not awful either.

5. Edge support

When I unboxed this mattress, I didn't have high hopes for its edge support, mostly because the mattress is slightly rounded at the edges and doesn't feature an edge trim, as more expensive mattresses generally do.

One of the main USPs of this mattress is also its affordability, and having put numerous budget mattresses through their paces, the one area they do all tend to scrimp on is edge support.

As you can see, the mattress sinks quite a lot at the edge when I'm sat on it, and – as a parent who is regularly joined in bed by our toddler – I found this a bit of an issue when sleeping too.

During the night, if my toddler fancied sleeping in the starfish position and I found myself at the very edge of the mattress, I found that my leg would slip off the mattress and onto the floor. This was only when I was pushed to the very, very edge, though.

6. Sleep trial

As this mattress is sold via Amazon rather than direct from Simba, I was really pleasantly surprised to find out it still comes with Simba's usual 200-night sleep trial.

That's important because it can be tricky to tell if a mattress is really going to suit you when you're buying online, so it really helps to take some of the risk out of the purchase.

7. Ease of care

Similarly, considering this is a purse-friendly mattress, I was pleasantly surprised to discover it still comes with a removable cover that unzips for easy cleaning.

You can add a mattress protector to any mattress, of course, but, personally, I think that the removable cover is a total game-changer, as I like to wash all of my bedding, pillow protectors, and everything else I sleep on, a good few times a year. Especially since my dog sometimes comes up on our bed while we watch TV in the evenings.

Once unzipped and removed from the mattress, the washing instructions say to wash the cover at 40C; you just can't tumble dry. This makes the job of cleaning your mattress a breeze, plus it is easy to unzip and fit back onto the mattress.

It also comes with sturdy side handles – again, something many under-£500 mattresses lack – and they make rotating the mattress every few months a dream. It's not that heavy either, plus there's no need to flip this mattress, so it's very easy to care for.

8. Delivery

When it comes to the Simbatex Cool mattress delivery process, you get free shipping, and this can be as fast as three days. You have the option to also buy service add-ons, which include unpacking (£5) or unpack and recycle (£20), in which they will take your old mattress and recycle it.

You will be contacted by a carrier to choose a delivery date that suits you. I chose a day I knew I would be working from home. Unfortunately, I also received a text the day before this, alerting me that my delivery was en route, but this turned out to be a glitch in the system.

I was assured by my contact that this was wrong and it would still arrive the next day. However, unlike a normal order from Simba's own website, I couldn't use any online tracking capabilities, which did make things a little more stressful.

On the delivery day, I did receive a tracking text with a link that gave me a more specific timeframe for delivery, and it informed me I needed to be home to sign for the mattress.

The mattress arrived rolled, although not boxed. And unlike a normal Simba delivery, which is delivered to your room of choice, I needed to get it into our bedroom myself.

I received a king-size mattress, which is heavy, so I wouldn't have been able to lift it on my own, but luckily I had help on hand.

This mattress did initially have a strong chemical smell after being unwrapped. This lingered for around a day. It wasn't unbearable, and rest assured, my bedroom air purifier didn't flag it, but I did leave the windows open whilst it was offgassing.

The plastic that this mattress was protected in was labelled as '4 LDPE', which is recyclable. This does depend on your local authority, though, as in some places you can leave it kerbside with the rest of your recycling, while in other areas, it may need to go to your local supermarket.

9. Third-party reviews

The only way to buy one of these mattresses is via Amazon. Since it's a pretty new product, there aren't a huge number of reviews yet – 24, as of writing, to be exact.

Overall, it's given a 4.5 out of 5 star rating, and shoppers rave about how supportive it is, plus mention it being budget-friendly and noticeably cooling. I agree with the support and purse-friendly pricing, but I can't relate to the cooling comments, unfortunately, and my husband agrees.

Some shoppers complained about the chemical smell after unwrapping their mattress, which I can definitely relate to, as this does linger for a day or so.

10. Value for money

Starting at only £349 for a single size, I think this mattress is a true steal. The most you'll pay for one of these mattresses is £479, and that's for a super king size.

In comparison with our best-rated mattress, which is the Simba Hybrid, you'll be saving 50%. This mattress comes in at £999 for a king-size (when it's not on sale).

I do think the Simbatex Cool feels like a cheaper mattress when compared directly to the Simba Hybrid, but then, it is. And you still get a lot of the bonuses of a 'normal' Simba mattress, such as the cooler graphite-infused foam and 200-night sleep trial.

Even our best-rated affordable mattress, which is the DreamCloud Hybrid, is still £599 for a king-size. So, overall, if you're looking for an under £500 mattress, I think the Simbatex Cool is a very good option.

11. Environmental impact

This mattress perhaps doesn't scream green in the same way as Simba's more expensive range, but it is made in the UK, meaning it won't travel far to get from production to your doorstep. It also has CertiPur-approved foams inside – these are certified for safe sleep, meaning these foams have been tested for environmental, health and safety properties.

How I tested

My sleep stats:

Sleep position: Back/side
Tension preference: Medium-firm
Sleep problems: None

In putting the Simbatex Cool Mattress through Ideal Home's mattress testing process, I considered the eleven factors that we deem vital to any mattress purchase.

I tested the mattress for comfort, motion isolation, responsiveness, temperature regulation, and edge support. This means that my husband and I, (plus quite frequently my 2.5-year-old and dog!) slept on the mattress for a month before I wrote my review.

I also took into consideration ease of care, any sleep trials available, the delivery process, its value for money, and, where possible, researched the mattress's environmental impact and any third-party customer reviews – to see if they aligned or were at odds with my own experience – before writing my own review and giving this mattress a star rating.

My Simba Cool Foam Mattress Topper review puts the brand's latest launch, and its most affordable topper yet, to the test.

The Cool Foam claims to allow five times more airflow than standard memory foam mattress toppers, and as someone who has spent four years testing the best mattress toppers and best cooling mattress toppers on the market, I wanted to put that claim to the test.

In a nutshell

After sleeping on top of the Simba Cool Foam Mattress Topper for the past three weeks, I think this topper is a brilliant option if you want to add some extra cushioning to your bed.

My husband and I also appreciated the improved motion isolation it added to our bed. We couldn't feel each other toss or turn at night, and when our kids jumped into bed, I wasn't bounced awake as I usually am.

However, I did find it fairly soft – if you crave a more solid sleep surface, this might not be the mattress topper for you. In terms of the name “Cool Foam”, I’m also not totally sold that this is more cooling than most other mattress toppers I’ve tried.

However, it didn’t cook me while I slept as some memory foam toppers have in the past, so although it wasn't as cool as the natural materials in the Woolroom Deluxe Mattress Topper I usually sleep on, if you're not a hot sleeper this likely won't be an issue, and even if you are, this topper still didn't actively cause me to overheat.

Overall, I think the generous 200-night sleep trial, Simba's excellent customer service, and this topper's cushioning comfort and excellent motion isolation will make it a good buy for many.

Simba Hybrid Essential Topper review

Specifications

• RRP: £149 / £199 / £199 / £249 / £299
• Sizes: single / small double / double / king / super-king
• Depth: 6.5cm
• Construction: foam
• Care instructions: removable cover is machine-washable at 40ºC, do not tumble dry
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 200 nights

Attaching the topper to the bed

When the Simba Cool Foam mattress topper arrived on my doorstep, it was in a tiny box. As a seasoned mattress-topper reviewer, I was genuinely mystified as to how a king-size topper could fit in such a small box. But it did – probably because this mattress is pure foam, rather than hybrid, so it can squash down a lot smaller.

Inside the box, the topper was vacuum-packed in plastic, which was easy to remove. Just be careful not to cut into your topper while executing this move. The mattress topper then unfurled. I would suggest unboxing your topper as far in advance of sleeping on it as you can – a day or so. This is because the topper slowly reshaped and expanded over time.

It also allows time for off-gassing – the release of VOCs from the manufacturing process. The off-gassing smell from this topper was quite strong – I left the room well ventilated, but it still took a while to dissipate.

There are thick elasticated straps on the corners of the topper to attach it around the mattress. Plus, there is an anti-slip underside of this topper, but I found this to be almost imperceptible. However, the elasticated straps were generous enough to fit around my extra-thick Brook + Wilde mattress underneath with ease, so it should fit most mattresses.

Comfort

The main difference between the Simba Cool Foam mattress topper and Simba's other toppers is that it's made from three core layers rather than four, and that 'missing' layer is the microsprings the other toppers use. Instead, the Cool Foam is a foam-only topper.

The uppermost layer is Simbatex – this is Simba’s own comfort-engineered memory foam. This foam is infused with graphite particles. The idea is that the graphite will draw heat away from the body, while the open-cell structure will allow fresh air to flow into the topper to keep you cool.

We’ll dive into temperature regulation in the next section, but in terms of comfort, Simbatex is meant to be bouncier and more elastic than regular memory foam. This layer is the cushioning element of the mattress, offering pressure relief on hips and joints so you feel gently supported without that sinking feeling you get from a lot of old-style memory foams.

Underneath this layer is a foam base. This section is doing the heavy lifting in the topper – it should distribute your weight evenly over the mattress topper so no spots get overloaded. This means you feel supported and your spine stays in good alignment (the holy grail in terms of minimising discomfort while sleeping).

This topper is 6.5cm deep, and Simba says that it's medium-firm, although I found it fairly soft.

However, despite usually preferring a firmer mattress, I really enjoyed sleeping on the Simba Cool Foam topper. I found it responded well to my body, cocooning me and contouring around my body. I woke without an ache or pain – many soft mattresses leave me with lower-back pain.

During testing, I also really appreciated the motion isolation it added to our bed. Even when my children bounced into bed in the morning, I found that I remained asleep – we call that in the parenting trade “an absolute win”. But it shows that the topper does a good job at limiting the transfer of movement across the bed. This is also essential if you’re disturbed by your partner fidgeting next to you.

I have tested many other mattress toppers – including the Simba Hybrid Essential Topper, which costs £299 for a double, and the premium £349 Simba Hybrid Mattress Topper, both of which incorporate supportive springs. In comparison, I would say this £199 all-foam topper does feel a little less robust and a little less supportive.

However, if you're simply looking to add an extra layer of comfort and cushioning to a mattress, or to mask the movements of a fidgety partner, the Cool Foam topper did a great job.

Temperature regulation

I err on the side of being a hot sleeper and often find myself overheating in bed, which then disturbs my sleep. I usually find memory foam is a particular problem for this.

As previously explained, the Simba Cool Foam mattress topper has a layer of Simbatex foam on the upper part of the topper. This foam is designed to draw heat away from your body via the graphite particles and then allow fresh air to circulate underneath you.

I slept on this topper under my usual Woolroom wool duvet during some fairly temperate nights. I did find that I felt warmer sleeping on this topper than I do on my usual Woolroom deluxe mattress topper. I think it would be hard for a synthetic foam to outdo natural materials, especially temperature-regulating wool, when it comes to breathability.

However, by no means was it intolerable heatwise, and there was no overheating that kept me awake. I was aware I was slightly warmer than I was used to, but I do think this topper slept cooler than other non-graphite-infused memory foam toppers I've slept on.

Care instructions

Looking after this mattress topper is fairly easy. There’s a zip-off cover that is machine washable cover at 40ºC on a reduced spin cycle. You shouldn’t tumble dry it though, so pick a sunny day when you can dry it on the washing line.

If you want a deeper clean, you can spot clean the foam using a soft damp cloth. You should make sure the foam is absolutely dry before sleeping on it though.

However, it is worth noting that 40ºC isn’t always hot enough to kill those pesky dust mites that cause a lot of allergies to flare up. Personally, I'd always recommend using one of the best mattress protectors over the top.

Sleep trial

Simba offer a 200-night sleep trial on this topper. This is more than enough time to figure out if the topper is right for you.

It’s worth noting that this sleep trial kick starts as soon as your topper is delivered. So if you don’t try it for 199 nights and find out that it’s not for you on night 201, you’re out of luck. And, of course, you will need to actively notify Simba of your plans to return the topper if you’re not keen on it.

If you’re buying through a third party, double check that this offer extends to you. Not all retailers will have the same offers in place.

Value for money

The Cool Foam is now Simba’s most affordable topper. A double of this topper costs £199, while Simba's Hybrid Essential Mattress Topper costs £299 and the premium Simba Hybrid Mattress Topper is £349 for a double.

In order to achieve that lower price point, this mattress topper has been “streamlined” by Simba, so it’s foam only. The brand's other toppers are hybrid and include springs.

I found that meant this topper is a little softer than the brand's two sprung options, but I still found it very comfortable, and it added some welcome cushioning and motion isolation to our bed.

That said, I do think its £199 price point is still quite expensive. This is a pretty thick topper, at 6.5cm, but the 5cm deep Panda Topper is only a tad thinner, and the Panda Topper costs £134.95 for a double. Similarly, the Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper costs £135 for the 6cm deep option and £175 for the 10cm deep option.

We've reviewed both the Panda Topper and the Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper and found both similar in terms of temperature regulation and comfort. The main difference is that the Dunelm option doesn't come with a sleep trial, whereas the Simba and Panda options both offer 200 nights to test out on your own bed.

Overall, do I think the Simba Cool Foam mattress topper is good value for money? I think it's still a little on the expensive side. Personally, I'd wait for some Simba deals to drop and hope there's a discount before I shopped.

How I tested

Usual sleep position: side
Tension preference: medium-firm
Sleep problems: hip pain

In order to test out this mattress topper, I slept on it for three weeks in my own home on top of a hybrid mattress. I assessed how easy it was to attach to the bed, how comfortable it was when sleeping on my back and side, and whether it offered good temperature regulation. I also took into account how easy it was to care for and any sleep trials on offer.

With a run of mild weather and the first heatwave of the year signalling a warmer summer to come, it's been the ideal time for me to put the Vonhaus 16'' pedestal fan through its paces.

I've been testing various models from a whole range of brands and price points in my own home so I can help you choose the best fan for your home.

This time, it's a budget-friendly pedestal fan offering from Vonhaus. But can this affordable option stand up against its more expensive competitors?

In a nutshell

If you want a pedestal fan and are on a tight budget, then the Vonhaus 16'' pedestal fan will be well worth investigating. It's height is great if you prefer a taller fan (it's the tallest fan I've tested with a max height of 128cm), and it offers a decent scope of wind speeds, from ultra gentle to a more significant breeze. If you find the wind speed of some fans to be too strong, then the lower speed settings of this one will be right up your street. In addition to being really comfortable on the skin and not drying your eyes out, the lower speed settings are pleasingly quiet.

But if power is what you are after, then you may be disappointed. Even out of 24 wind speeds, it's top speed is more like the middle speed of other fans I've tested that have a more premium price tag. With a more affordable price tag, you may also have to make a compromise when it comes to how loud the fan is at higher speeds. If you aren't bothered by noise then this won't be an issue, but if you are, this may be a deal breaker.

Specification

• Type of fan: Pedestal
• RRP: £64.99
• Weight: 5.4kgs
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 42 x 110-128 x 42cm
• Wattage: 30W
• Wind speed (metres/second): 0.8-3.7m/s
• Running costs per hour (based on energy price cap at the time of writing): 0.74p/hour
• Number of fan speed settings: 24
• Noise in dB: 37-81dB
• Smart features: N/A
• Dual functionality: None
• Oscillation: Horizontal (80°), manual vertical tilt (+7/-15°)

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Vonhaus 16'' Pedestal Fan arrived in a cardboard box, with the pieces wrapped in recyclable plastic and molded cardboard forms.

There's a little bit of assembly required (you'll need a little screwdriver), which was largely manageable, but I did find the instructions for assembling the fan head a little confusing. However, with a little trial and error, I managed to get it together. All in all assembling the fan took me just under 10 minutes.

Once put together, I just needed to plug it in and then it was ready to go.

My first impressions on looks were that this was taller than other fans I'd tested, which I liked (this may be down to the fact I'm quite tall myself, but my friend had also recently explained to me that she needed to invest in a new fan for her daughter who has a taller bed and the existing fan meant she didn't feel any of the benefit of it). I also noticed that the fan blades were transparent, which I'd not seen before.

What's it like to use?

The Vonhaus 16'' pedestal fan is quite intuitive to use via the on-board controls or simple remote control. By default the fan starts on speed 10 (of 24) which you can adjust easily using the plus and minus buttons on the remote, or repeatedly pressing the wind icon on the fan itself. I found it easier to use the remote as your can cycle up or down the wind speeds, while the control panel only allows you to cycle upwards.

I like that there are different modes, from comfort (which maintains a consistent wind speed), natural (which varies the wind speed to mimic a natural breeze), and night mode (which gradually reduces speed as you fall asleep). You can select these on the remote control or the control panel, and there's a little icon that displays to show you which mode you are in.

The fan has 24 wind speeds in total, which range from ultra gentle (which will appeal to those who struggle with fans being too powerful) — speed 1 is very gentle indeed, so much so that it didn't register on my anemometer (which measures wind speed), but I could feel a gentle fluttering of air across my skin. According to my readings, speeds vary from 0.8-3.7 metres per second between speeds 2 and 24. By default, the fan always starts on speed 10 when you turn it on, which is a nice soft breeze. The lower speed settings will be ideal for those who find more powerful wind speeds uncomfortable.

As there are so many wind speeds, I found it really handy that there are two buttons on the remote which allow you to jump to a mid-point (speed 15) and top speed (24) rather than increasing the levels one by one.

However, as you increase the speed, the fan does get noisier, and by the time you reach top speeds, it's definitely louder than other fans I've tested. I clocked it at 81dB at top speed which my decibel meter says is the equivalent of a noisy street, so I definitely didn't use this setting when using it at night. In fact, I rarely used the top speed setting, even in the heatwave, because I have the luxury of having other fans that have faster top speeds at a quieter noise level. Similarly, while the natural mode feels lovely, you can hear the motor speed up and ease off as the wind speed changes, which wasn't that problematic when I was watching TV or listening to music, but it was noticeable when I was working and didn't have any other noise going on.

I tried this fan in different room sizes (from my 12m2 bedroom up to my 21m2 kitchen diner), and despite it's large fan head, I'd say it's best in medium sized rooms. Something more compact, or even one of the best desk fans may be better in small rooms that are short on floor space. When using this fan in my kitchen diner, I put it at one end of the room and I stood at the other (about 5m away) to see how it felt. At top speed, I could only feel a slight breeze, so I'd definitely say you need to be within 3.5m to feel the benefit of the breeze this fan creates.

In terms of oscillation, the Vonhaus 16'' pedestal fan can oscillate side to side, which allows it to get more air flowing, but any vertical movement is manual. Fortunately, it's very easy to tilt the fan head to your chosen position.

When it comes to portability, it's definitely possible to move this fan around the house with you, but doing so at its full height is a little cumbersome. I'd adjust it to its lowest height before taking it up and down stairs. However, if you are much shorter than me (I'm 5'10''), this might be a little trickier.

Running costs

At 30W, and like most fans, this fan won't cost you a fortune to run. Based on the April 26 energy price cap of 24.67p per kWh of electricity, which was in place at the time of writing this review, the Vonhaus 16'' pedestal fan will cost you 0.74p per hour to run.

Cleaning and maintenance

A regular dust with a dry cloth will keep this fan in good working order, and you can dissemble the fan head if you see dust starting to accumulate on the blades. I'd also say it's worth holding on to the box for storing the fan during the winter months to prevent any inadvertent damage.

Who should buy this fan?

If your primary requirements are for a tall pedestal fan with a softer breeze for an affordable price, then the Vonhaus 16'' pedestal fan could definitely fit the bill. While it has an RRP of £64.99, I have seen it on sale for under £50, which may cement your decision further.

However, if you can stretch your budget a little further, then the Silentnight Airmax Pro360 Pedestal Fan is quieter and more powerful with multidirectional oscillation, but still under £100.

If a strong wind speed is what you are after, then the AirCraft LUME fan is the most powerful I've tested, reaching 5.3m/s at top speed. It too is quieter and comes with an integrated ambient backlight. Those features do command a higher price though — the LUME has an RRP of £149. The Meaco Sefte 10'' Pedestal Air Circulator (which I've crowned the best fan overall in our round-up) comes a very close second at 5.2m/s.

For an ultra-quiet fan that is ideal for the bedroom, the Duux Whisper 3 lives up to its name and is whisper-quiet. Or you could opt for the smart version the Duux Whisper Flex 2, which you can operate from your smartphone.

For great coffee at home, you can’t go wrong with a good quality espresso machine. In fact, I owned, and loved the Sage Bambino for over three years. It’s a great compact espresso machine that still has a place on our list of the best coffee machines.

The Bambino Plus (£399.95 via Sage) is only slightly more expensive and marginally bigger than the Bambino, but the additional functionality it offers in terms of automatic milk texturing, is a potential game changer. Steaming and texturing milk is an artform and can be tricky to master, so I’m excited to see what this automatic wand can produce.

In a nutshell

For only £70 more than the entry level Sage Bambino, the Sage Bambino Plus offers quite a transformational upgrade in its automatic steam wand. In my opinion, this additional feature is worth the bump up in price, but it’s not flawless.

While I managed to create perfect espressos with a rich crema and tasty fruity flavour, I found the steam wand to be a bit hit and miss. The crux of it is that if you don’t add in an extra purge step, it can scald the milk. That said, during my tests, when purged first, it achieved great textured milk with zero effort on my part, and I soon came to rely on it.

So, in short, if you’re not super confident at steaming milk, but you want a manual espresso machine, then the Bambino Plus is the answer. But if you’re happy to steam milk yourself, then save £70 and go for the Sage Bambino.

Who tested this coffee machine?

Unboxing the product

When I removed the Bambino Plus from its box I was instantly struck by two things; it’s very lightweight and very shiny. The backplate that sits behind the drip tray is mirrored and I’m not sure how practical this is going to be to keep clean.

It appears to be well built and looks premium, but I expected it to have a weighty quality that’s lacking. Nevertheless, it comes with everything I need to get going, other than coffee.

The portafilter isn’t quite as premium as the one that comes with pricier Sage coffee machines, however it’s perfectly well made and fit for purpose. It comes with four filter baskets designed for single and double espresso shots depending on whether you’re using pre-ground or freshly ground coffee.

There’s a premium tamper that’s used for compressing the coffee into the portafilter, and this feels a good weight. The stainless steel milk jug is a typical size, though the max fill marker that’s embossed into the side is barely half way up the jug. What’s more, you can’t see the max and min markers easily on the inside of the jug, which might prove to be tricky when filling.

Impact on a kitchen worktop

Compared to so many coffee machines I’ve reviewed, this one is neat and pretty compact. It won’t dominate your kitchen and is suitable for smaller spaces.

The water tank sits at the back of the coffee machine, it’s easy to access and remove, or you can fill it by lifting the lid on top. But if you set the machine up beneath wall hung kitchen cupboards, it might be a bit awkward to get to.

First impressions

The physical instruction manual is brief, although it does include a QR code linking to a longer manual. For setup, you’re advised to download the free app BILT. It’s definitely worth it for the 3D interactive step-by-step set up guide which gives you all the info you need to get started. It's delivered via short, easy to watch video clips with audio descriptions.

In the app there are additional helpful guides on things like milk texturing, care and cleaning, and programming shot volumes. After watching all of these, I was armed with all the information I needed.

There’s a water filter included in the box to get you started and in hard water areas, this will definitely help to protect the machine from limescale. It is easy to install in the water tank, though it only lasts for three months. Replacements are costly at £14.95 each, which soon starts to add up.

This machine won’t automatically perform rinses, but it does advise you to do this manually by pressing the one cup button. This runs hot water through the group head and portafilter before and after use.

My main takeaway after getting it set up and familiarising myself with the control panel and accessories, is that it’s very straightforward to use. The paired back controls are very simple to understand.

If I'm being critical though, I’d love an on/off button. It automatically goes into standby after 30 minutes, but if you want to enter standby faster, you have to manually press two buttons in combination, and it took me a while to remember which two buttons.

And similarly, other processes like adjusting shot volumes or running a descale cycle are performed using various button combinations. This means you have to keep referring back to the BILT app or manual when you want to perform these additional tasks.

The ‘Morning Rush’ test

When the coffee machine is first switched on, it’s ready to use in seconds. I timed myself making two milky coffees in the morning to see how long the whole process was from start to end.

This included adding coffee to the portafilter, tamping it down, and pouring a double espresso. I did this twice and then filled the milk jug to its maximum level and set it to automatically texture the milk to the medium foam level and medium temperature.

By the time the two drinks were poured, the whole process had taken six minutes. Personally I have the time in my mornings and enjoy the ritual of making coffee, so I don’t think this is too long. But if your mornings are very rushed and you have very little time, you may need to consider a more hands-off automatic coffee machine.

Similarly, it’s worth noting that if you make very milky lattes, you may have to steam two jugs of milk to get enough for both drinks, which will add to the time.

User experience

It can take a while to get used to some of the processes involved in using a manual espresso machine. Tamping the coffee grounds with the right amount of pressure takes practice, but I love the tamper that’s provided, it feels really good quality and works effectively.

Sage also provides a clever Razor tool, which is especially useful if you’re new to manual espresso machines. It allows you to trim coffee from the top of the portafilter, this ensures it’s not over-filled, which in turn helps you to learn how much coffee is needed.

On the whole, making an espresso in this machine is a simple process, but there’s one part that I found annoying. Twisting the portafilter into position, and also removing it again, are both actions that require a bit of force.

Unfortunately, the machine isn’t weighty enough to withstand the force without being pushed across the worktop. So you have to stabilise it with one hand/ arm, while positioning the portafilter with the other. It can be awkward.

The double shot espresso is a bit smaller than I would like, but that's not an issue as it can be programmed it to deliver the exact volume you prefer. Alternatively you can dispense hot water from the steam wand to top up an espresso into a longer drink.

When I first got my hands on this machine, I didn’t think it was capable of dispensing hot water as there’s no obvious button to do so. But upon scanning the QR code in the manual and accessing the more comprehensive manual online, I discovered how to do it.

It is, unfortunately, another button combo to remember. With the steam wand tilted up, you have to press the 1 cup and foam buttons simultaneously and then hot water is dispensed. I dispensed a cup full and took the temperature. It was 71C, which is fine for topping up coffee or making the odd fruit tea.

The automatic milk steamer does the job, it's super simple to use and easy to toggle between the three foam levels. The highest foam setting delivers a spoonable cappuccino style foam, whereas you get more of a microfoam on the middle and lower foam settings.

My biggest issue with the automatic steaming is that it often made the milk too hot. Even on the lowest temperature setting, milk could reach temperatures in excess of 80C, which is far too hot and will scald the milk, affecting the taste.

I did eventually discover that if I purged the steam wand for a few seconds before use, by pressing the steam button and allowing water/ steam to escape, it was then less likely to scald the milk. After a purge, milk steamed on the lowest temperature setting, came out at 58-66C, which is much better.

Milk temperatures weren’t as consistent as I would like and seemed to be impacted by the foam level selected as well as the amount of milk in the jug. That said, when it was producing milk at the correct temperature, I very much enjoyed this hands-off automatic function. And I can see how this feature will be really handy if you’re busy, or if you hate steaming your own milk.

When filling the milk jug to the max line, you can add about 250ml milk which is just enough for two smaller drinks. If you prefer a longer milky drink, you won’t be able to make two at once. You ‘ll need to steam a second jug of milk.

Don’t be tempted to go over the max line though. I steamed the maximum amount of milk on the maximum foam level and the foam rose to the top of the jug. Any more and it would have spilled out over the top. However, I should say that I also found it very hard to see the max and min lines on the inside of the jug, which is frustrating.

Due to the occasional high temperatures achieved by the automatic steamer, I was thankful that I could also use the milk wand for manual steaming. I was able to texture the milk without scalding it when I did it manually. However it still heats the milk very fast and I still had to purge it first for best results. And if I’m honest, I did default to the automatic milk steamer on most uses.

Noise test

When brewing an espresso, the coffee machine registered a pretty quiet 59dB on my noise meter. It's the milk steaming that’s the noisiest part of the process. The automatic milk steaming averaged 69dB but peaked at 84dB for a few short seconds. On the whole, I wouldn’t class this as a loud coffee machine.

Coffee quality

During the review I used Exhale Organic Dark(ish) Roast whole beans. This is my regular brand of coffee and the tasting notes, according to the brand, are caramel, stone fruits, red grapes and cola. It’s said to be ideal for espresso and gives a chocolatey, nutty flavour.

I used a separate grinder to grind my coffee beans as needed, so I used the single wall basket in the portafilter as this is designed for coffee that’s freshly ground. Although I did also try out the double wall baskets with some pre-ground coffee I had in the cupboard.

I found the espresso had a rich and thick crema on top, and it lasted well. I enjoyed the espresso flavour too, it was fruity and had a nutty marzipan backnote. It was neither bitter, nor was it flavourless and watery, which is a good sign. On the whole, I was very happy with both the flavour and the quality of the espresso.

Thermal stability

I made five single espressos in quick succession to check how the temperature of the coffees changed. The first one started at 60C and each one was marginally hotter than the last. The final espresso was 68C. On that basis, and for consistent coffee, I’d suggest it’s best suited to smaller households where it’ll usually be required to make a couple of coffees at a time.

The ‘Wet Paint’ test

After much experimentation I found the automatic milk steamer could produce a lovely glossy microfoam, perfect for latte art. It had to be on the lowest temperature and middle foam setting (provided it’s been purged before use). The higher foam setting is a bit more bubbly, though ideal for a cappuccino.

Manual milk texturing is an option, but once I’d got the hang of purging it first, the microfoam delivered by the auto steaming function, far exceeded the quality of what I could produce when manually steaming.

What's it like to clean?

The exterior of the steam wand will need a good wipe down with a damp cloth after use. It automatically purges with water, dispensing water into the drip tray to ensure there’s no milk residue left on the inside. The steam purge can be messy and I found I needed to wipe over the drip tray afterwards.

I was able to tap out the coffee grounds in a nicely compacted puck. Giving the portafilter a quick rinse is the only other daily cleaning task. However the stainless steel sides and shiny mirrored back of the machine marked easily, so I found myself giving it all a daily wipe and buff to keep it looking as good as new.

The drip tray is very small, and this soon becomes noticeable if you make a lot of milky drinks, due to the automatic steam purge. A red float in the drip tray pops up to tell you it needs emptying, and I could only make 3-4 milky coffees before it needed to be emptied.

What's it like to descale?

The machine alerts you when descaling is due. It does this by flashing the one cup, two and steam buttons in sequence. You’ll need to use a Sage descaling product for the process and it has to be done when the machine is completely cool.

I followed the directions in the BILT app and found descaling very easy. For the most part it’s an automatic process, you just have to stay nearby to empty the waste water container and refill the water tank as needed. The whole process took around eight and a half minutes.

The other cleaning process required is a flushing cycle to clean the grouphead. This is a quicker clean that requires you to insert the rubber cleaning disc into the portafilter, followed by a Sage cleaning tablet.

Again, the machine alerts you to do it with a sequence of flashing lights after every 200 cups. It’s another automatic cleaning cycle and took me just six minutes. Waste water is supposed to be collected in the drip tray, but some leaked out onto the worktop during the clean, so I’d sit it on a teatowel next time.

How does it compare to competitors?

I’ve already made comparisons to the brand's entry level espresso machine, the Sage Bambino. It’s more compact and will save you £70, as long as you’re willing to steam your own milk.

It must be said though, the Bambino Plus isn’t cheap and if you shop around, you could bag a Ninja Luxe Cafe for around £70 more. This is an Ideal Home favourite that also offers automatic milk steaming. Crucially though, the Ninja has a built-in bean grinder and offers more adjustable settings and features. So if your budget can be stretched, it’s worth considering.

Should you buy the Sage the Bambino Plus?

Having previously owned the Sage Bambino I was pleasantly surprised by how much of an upgrade this model feels like, especially given the comparative difference in price. And if it’s a toss up between the two, the decision will come down to whether or not you’ll use the auto milk steaming.

If you’ve already got some barista skills, you may not need to pay the extra for the auto steaming function. That said, I’m used to steaming my own milk, but I soon got used to letting the Bambino Plus take care of it for me.

While it’s one of Sage’s cheaper espresso machines, this is still pricey compared to other brands. That said, it delivers a great espresso, and the automatic milk texturing is an elevated feature that you won’t find on many other machines. If you’re not confident at texturing milk, you’ll adore having perfectly steamed and frothed milk without any faff.

Beldray is a well-known name in the affordable spot cleaner space, and its new Spot Lift Pro Carpet Cleaner promises to scrub, spray and vacuum in one, so I was keen to put it through its paces in my busy family home.

I used it to tackle everything from fresh spills to older, stubborn stains on sofas and carpets for two weeks to see if it deserves a spot among the best carpet cleaners. Here's everything you need to know...

In a nutshell

The Beldray Spot Lift Pro Carpet Cleaner is a compact, lightweight spot cleaner that keeps things refreshingly simple. There are no complicated settings to figure out - within minutes of unboxing, I was tackling stains around my home. While it doesn't have the bells and whistles you'd find on a more expensive model, the straightforward design makes it a reliable choice for everyday cleaning.

Over two weeks of testing, I used it on everything from a dried tea stain hiding under my sofa to liquid spills on my kitchen floors. It was the latter that surprised me the most. With a toddler who seems determined to tip water on the floor at any given opportunity, I was impressed at how quickly the Spot Lift Pro sucked up liquid, often saving me from reaching for the mop.

Another standout feature is its long hose and cable. I've tested my share of carpet cleaners, and it's rare to find one that can clean an entire staircase in one go without needing to unplug and move it. The Spot Lift Pro managed it with ease, and the lightweight design meant carrying it around the house didn't feel like an effort.

That said, its simplicity does come at the expense of a few extras. There's only one cleaning mode, no steam function and no self-cleaning feature for the nozzle. But if you're looking for an affordable spot cleaner that's incredibly easy to use, easy to store, and capable of handling everyday spills and stains, the Beldray Spot Lift Pro is a worthwhile buy.

Meet the tester

Specifications

• Weight: 4kg
• Dimensions: 41.7 x 19.5 x 31.4cm
• Wattage: 450W
• Clean water tank capacity: 1 L
• Waste water tank capacity: 0.7 L
• Power cord length: 4m
• Hose length: 1.65 m
• What's included: spot cleaner hose, brush head, instruction manual
• Price: £69.99

Unboxing, assembly and first impressions

The Beldray Spot Lift Pro Carpet Cleaner arrived well-protected in an additional plain cardboard box, and it was light enough to carry by myself from room to room.

Inside, everything was neatly packaged beneath a cardboard insert and wrapped individually in plastic, including the manual. From an eco-conscious perspective, I would have preferred to see less plastic packaging. The plastic was labelled 'LDPE 04,' which I know from previous reviews is recyclable, though it typically needs to be taken to a specialist recycling point rather than disposed of with general household waste.

I've got to say, the overall unboxing experience was refreshingly straightforward. Inside the box was the main spot cleaner unit, the extendable host and brush head, a storage holder and an instruction manual.

The user manual included diagram instructions to assemble, but thankfully the setup was fairly self-explanatory. I connected the brush head to the end of the hose - which clicked into place easily - before securing it onto the main unit.

The first thing I noticed was how long the hose felt; a promising sign that there would be plenty of flexibility for cleaning awkward areas. There's also a small plastic clip, which slots onto the back of the spot cleaner and is used to wrap the hose firmly in place between use.

There are a few things that I think immediately make a model stand out - and this one ticked a lot of those boxes. It's lightweight, easy enough to carry around the house, and compact enough to store without taking up too much space. The midnight blue finish also adds a stylish, modern feel to it. Overall, it felt more premium than its price tag suggests.

Before getting started, I removed the clean water tank - which lifted out of the main unit without needing any force. With a one-litre capacity, it sits on the smaller end of the scale, but for quick spot-cleaning jobs it still felt more than sufficient, and I didn't expect to need to stop and refill it frequently.

The water tank opens via a screw cap at the bottom, and the manual instructs to fill it with warm water and diluted detergent. Annoyingly, it doesn't include any cleaning solution, and the guidance around what to use is quite vague. The manual instructs users to use a 'low-foaming' solution, which I can imagine may leave some users unsure which products are actually suitable.

I used a carpet cleaning solution I already had at home, filled the tank, then clicked it back into place easily on the machine.

Using the Beldray Spot Lift Pro Carpet Cleaner

One advantage of the Beldray Spot Lift Pro Carpet Cleaner is that it's incredibly straightforward to use. There's only one mode, and turning it on is as simple as pressing the main power button on top of the machine.

The manual recommends pre-treating the area first by spraying the surface and leaving the solution to sit for five minutes. While I was tempted to dive straight in, it made sense to give the detergent time to soak into the stain before cleaning.

It did take me by surprise slightly when I first sprayed the nozzle, as the water seemed to shoot out in both directions. It did take a little getting used to, but once I adjusted my technique, it was easy to control and apply evenly over the area.

To clean carpets

The first place I was keen to put the Beldray Spot Lift Pro to the test was on a dried tea stain on my carpet. I'd spotted the mark in an area that would have otherwise been really easy to miss. As I had no idea how long it had been there, I wasn't sure how easily the machine could remove it.

I pre-treated the area and left the solution to soak into the carpet for five minutes before tackling it. After a few passes with the cleaner, I was pleasantly surprised to see the stain beginning to lift. The flexible, long hose came in really handy here, as it gave me plenty of reach and meant I didn't need to worry about lifting the machine to tackle the stain.

Although it didn't completely disappear, the improvement was significant, and the area looked noticeably cleaner by the time I'd finished.

Having seen how well it handled the tea stain, I decided to put it through a tougher test using a fresh nail varnish stain on my carpet. It's worth noting that spot cleaners aren't specifically designed to tackle stains as tough as nail varnish, and as I'd tried various other methods beforehand, I wasn't expecting miracles. Still, I was keen to see if it could lift any of the stain at all.

After pre-treating the area, I switched on the machine and got to work moving the brush forwards and backwards over the stain. As expected, the stain didn't budge much, but it did make the surrounding carpet noticeably cleaner and fresher.

While the results weren't enough to completely remove the mark, I didn't feel this reflected a weakness of the machine so much as the challenging nature of the stain itself.

To clean sofas

As it's also designed to clean upholstery, I used it to give my sofas a refresh. The armchair of one sofa was covered with chocolate fingerprints, which provided the perfect testing ground.

As before, I pre-treated the area and left the solution to soak for a few minutes before going over it. Almost straight away, the stain lifted, and I didn't need to apply much pressure. I actually found the Spot Lift Pro really effective on upholstery, possibly because the fabric's texture made it easier for the brush to work the solution in.

The area was only lightly damp afterwards too, which was an added bonus.

To clean stairs

I'm yet to find a spot cleaner that has a cord long enough to tackle my entire stairs in one go. This is where the Spot Lift Pro really delivers. With a generous cable length of 4m and a flexible hose of 1.65m, I was able to plug it in at the bottom of the stairs, and it easily reached the top step without needing to change sockets.

One drawback I did notice was that the nozzle cover isn't clear, which makes it harder to see exactly how much water and dirt is being lifted as you clean. I also found that because there's only one mode, the results felt more gradual than dramatic on a light refresh clean.

To mop up spills

The Spot Lift Pro is also designed to mop up spills on hard floors. With a toddler whose new favourite game is to throw her water all over the floor, I'm not exaggerating when I say I feel like I'm constantly mopping.

I've used spot cleaners to clean liquid before, and I'll be honest, I've never been completely convinced of their convenience. Until now. Instead of reaching for a mop, I simply turned on the machine and ran the nozzle over the water. The spill lifted almost instantly, and within a couple of passes the floor was dry.

Across each of these tests, the dirty water tank didn't fill particularly quickly, even after tackling various spills and stains. However, given the spot-cleaning nature of the machine and relatively small treatment areas, it was hard to gauge exactly how much moisture was being extracted at any one time.

Combined with the dark nozzle cover, this made it harder to assess its performance in real time. That said, the results on carpet were impressive overall.

Cleaning, storage and maintenance

There's very little cleaning and maintenance involved for the Spot Lift Pro, and the guidance in the manual is quite top-line. There's also no self-cleaning function for the nozzle, a feature I've seen on similar models. Instead, maintenance relies on manually rinsing the hose and brush after each use, which thankfully is fairly straightforward.

The dirty water tank didn't fill up as quickly as I'd expected, but I still got into the habit of emptying it regularly. Inside the tank, there's an internal float mechanism, which detaches easily for cleaning. There's no reference to this in the manual, but it's worth removing and rinsing, especially as I found this is where debris tended to build up.

On the main unit, beneath the dirty water tank, there's also a small sponge filter. From testing similar spot cleaners, I know that this can be removed, gently rinsed under cold water and left to dry before refitting. However, without any mention of it in the manual, it would be easy to overlook this step if you weren't familiar with how spot cleaners are maintained.

I've already mentioned how lightweight and compact the Spot Lift Pro is, and as someone who struggles with storage space, I like that it doesn't take up much room. The hose wraps neatly around the unit, the cleaning head clips into its holder, and the power cable sits securely around the built-in hook. As it doesn't have any other attachments, it's easy to pop away without worrying about losing any parts.

How does the Beldray Spot Lift Pro Carpet Cleaner compare to similar models?

The Spot Lift Pro is the latest addition to Beldray's line-up of spot cleaners. It's probably most similar to the Spot Buster Pro, offering a similar spray, scrub and suction approach to tackling carpets and upholstery, but in a more compact, simplified design focused on ease of use.

I've also tested the Gtech Koala Spot Cleaner, and it holds a few similarities in terms of its compact, lightweight build and single operating mode. The Koala does have a self-cleaning feature, which makes maintenance noticeably easier, but the hose length and power cable aren't as generous.

If you are looking for a more capable, premium model, the Bissell Hydrosteam Spot Cleaner is currently rated Ideal Home's best spot cleaner. It offers steam cleaning and multiple attachments, but it comes at a much higher price point.

It's also worth comparing to a couple of VAX models. The VAX Spotwash Home Cordless has the clear advantage of being cordless for convenience, but it is pricier and bulkier overall. The VAX Spotwash Duo is also available, but it's not as lightweight, although it does offer two brush heads, giving it a slight edge when it comes to cleaning versatility.

How does it rate online?

There aren't many reviews online for the Beldray Spot Lift Pro Carpet Cleaner, besides two five-star ratings on the brand's own website. Those customers were impressed with its performance and highlighted its lightweight, compact design. It's worth noting that both reviews were incentivised.

Verdict: Should you buy the Beldray Spot Lift Pro Carpet Cleaner?

If you're looking for an affordable, easy-to-use spot cleaner for tackling everyday spills, stains and accidents, the Beldray Spot Lift Pro Carpet Cleaner is a strong contender. Its compact size and lightweight design make it particularly well suited to smaller homes, or anyone who wants a machine that's easy to carry, store and grab at a moment's notice.

The generous cord and hose length make reaching awkward areas, such as stairs, much easier, which is an advantage if you need something more manageable than a full-sized carpet cleaner.

The single cleaning mode and lack of multiple attachments mean it's one of the most straightforward models to use. That said, if you are looking for more advanced features such as steam cleaning, multiple settings or a self-cleaning function, a more premium model would be better suited.

While it performed well on everyday stains and spills during testing, it isn't designed for deep-cleaning large carpeted areas. If that's your priority, it's worth investing in a larger, more feature-packed model instead.

My Sealy Side Sleeper pillow review puts this affordable option through its paces to see how it measures up to the best pillows on the market.

In a nutshell

As a side sleeper, I found this the perfect pillow. And I've tested a fair few, so that's really saying something.

I found the supportive foam centre cushioned my head and neck at just the right height, enabling my spine to remain in a straight and neutral position when I lay on my side.

And because that foam core is wrapped in hollow fibre polyester strands, it also has a nice degree of softness. Not a firm block like many side sleeping pillows I've tested.

What's more, this pillow is very reasonably priced. Sealy advertises it as £59.99 on its own website, but I've found the Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow sold at Argos for just £25.

The downsides are that there's no sleep trial to test it out before you commit to keeping it, plus, it's only available in one height, and the filling isn't adjustable. That means that, although it suited me perfectly, smaller or larger body frames may find it doesn't fit the gap between their ear and the mattress quite as perfectly as it did me.

Still, if you can snap it up at its £25 price point, I think this pillow certainly gives the best pillows for side sleepers a run for their money, and it's definitely the best value side sleeping pillow we've tested at Ideal Home.

Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow review

Specifications

• RRP: £59.99
• Best for: side sleepers
• Materials: inner: hollowfibre polyester with polyurethane foam core, cover: cotton
• Dimensions: H19 x W50 x L78cm
• Care instructions: cover is removable and machine washable at 40°C (on a delicate cycle) and can be cool tumble dried
• Manufacturer sleep trial: none

Comfort

The Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow has a foam centre, which the brand says is designed to cushion and support the neck and spine in an optimal position for side-sleeping.

That foam core is then surrounded by hollow fibre polyester fibres and a quilted cotton cover. When I unzipped the pillow outer and looked inside, these fibres looked like candy floss and felt as soft, but were bouncier to the touch.

The effect is that I found this pillow had a softer, bouncier feel than most memory foam pillows I've tested, which can tend to feel a bit block-like under the head.

I’m a very fussy pillow person, fuelled by years of testing them! And, personally, I don’t like a pillow to feel too hard, so a lot of the dense memory foam pillows are too rigid for me. However, as a side (and occasionally a back) sleeper, I also like a pillow that isn’t too soft, otherwise, my head and neck dip too low, and the neck and spine lose their alignment.

According to Sealy, this pillow offers a medium level of firmness – ideal for people who side-sleep. And overall, I'd agree.

When I lay on this pillow for the first time, my overriding impression was how soft and comfortable it felt, whilst also being supportive enough to keep my neck and spine aligned (thanks to the foam centre).

One of my sons described it as like a piece of giant sponge wrapped in cotton wool, because the outside was so springy and light, but the inside was firmer and more supportive!

My head sank into the pillow a bit and didn’t sit on top of it as it has with other side-sleeping pillows I’ve tested. Overall, I found it offered the perfect combination of comfort and support for side sleeping, and it didn’t let my head sink too far down towards the mattress - just enough to feel comfortable whilst also keeping my neck and spine in alignment.

I often wake up in the morning with neck and shoulder aches, but when I slept on this pillow, I didn’t notice any pain in the morning.

The only downside is that, unlike pillows such as the firmer Levitex Sleep Posture Pillow, or softer Simba Hybrid Pillow or Cloudpillo Original Pillow, this pillow isn't adjustable. So, although its height suited me perfectly when side sleeping, sleepers with different body frames may find it a little too low or too high, and there's no option to tweak its height to suit individual users.

Temperature regulation

The Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow does have a cotton cover, but the rest of the pillow is synthetic, so I wasn't sure how warm it would get under my head.

However, the foam comfort layer inside the pillow is ventilated to encourage air to move around the pillow to keep you fresh and comfortable, and the hollow fibre outer has air pockets to add some breathability too.

I often wake up in the night feeling hot and clammy around my neck and head but when I slept on this pillow I noticed that I didn’t wake up during the night, and my head and neck area didn’t feel as hot and clammy as usual.

Whether that breathability will change over time as the fibres become a little more compressed, I'll have to keep you updated on, but during my testing period this pillow offered decent temperature regulation. It's not as cool as a feather and down or wool-filled pillow, but I didn't overheat, either.

Ease of care

The foam core of the Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow can't be washed, but it does have a removable cover that is machine washable at 40 degrees. The cover can also be tumble dried on cool.

The zip is so well concealed and discreetly tucked under the edge of the piping on one side that I initially struggled to find it but once I did it was easy to remove.

The fact that the cover can go in the washing machine makes it very easy to care for, and will definitely help to extend its life in terms of keeping it fresh and clean. It came up well after washing and looked as good as it did before. It was easy to put the cover back on too.

Sleep trial

The one downside of this pillow is that unlike a lot of its competition, there is no sleep trial offered.

It can be hard to gauge whether a pillow is right for you before you actually sleep on it, so it is a shame there isn't the option to test it out before you commit to keeping it, especially because its £59.99 retail price – although not the most expensive pillow I've tested – is still a significant outlay.

This said, as we'll come onto below, I have found it on sale for significantly less at a few retailers, in which case you may be more willing to take a punt and see how it works for you.

Value for money

As I mentioned, the Sealy website lists the retail price of this pillow as £59.99. However, I've found the Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow sold at Argos for just £25, and the Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow is currently available at Dreams for £35.

Compared to most side sleeping pillows I've tested, this is very reasonable. For comparison, Panda's Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow costs £44.95, the Woolroom Natural Latex Washable Wool Pillow costs £113.99, and the Levitex Sleep Posture Pillow retails at £80.

Overall, I think it's a very good buy. It's certainly one of the best pillows I've found for comfortable side sleeping, and although it isn't adjustable (so may not suit everyone height-wise), if you can snap it up at £25 then I think it's a good all-rounder that's well worth a try.

How I tested

In order to test out this pillow, I slept on it for two weeks on my own bed to assess its comfort and temperature regulation. I also assessed its ease of care, any sleep trials available, and how it compares to similar products on the market to see if it offers good value for money.

As I write this review, it's 27°C outside. And I have never been more grateful that a part of my job is to test a whole host of cooling products in my own home.

I've been putting the best fans through their paces ahead of summer, but a surprisingly roasty toasty May heatwave has meant that I really get to see what they are made of.

Lately, I've been putting the AirCraft LUME Quiet Air Circulator Fan to good use, and this is how it fared in our fan testing process.

In a nutshell

If you want a fan that can blow your socks off, this is it. The AirCraft LUME Quiet Air Circulator Fan offers the highest wind speed of any fan on our best fans round up, which means it can get the air moving quickly to alleviate stuffiness in seconds.

While it's powerful, it's also really quiet. I could barely hear it in the low-mid power settings when testing it in my own home, which is a huge bonus in my book. The multidirectional oscillation is also great for giving the air flow a boost.

What sets this fan apart from others on our round up is the inclusion of a ambient light on the back of the fan head. While I was testing this at a time of year where it's still light well into the evenings, this light is a nice option for glow.

Adaptable between a desktop and pedestal configuration, I liked that the base was compact enough to easily fit on a side table, which made using it on a table top much easier. However, I do wish that it was a little bit taller in pedestal mode.

Specification

• Type of fan: Pedestal (but adaptable to desktop)
• RRP: £149
• Weight: 4.2kgs
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 36.5 x 63-95 x 28cm
• Wattage: 24W
• Wind speed (metres/second): 1.4-5.3m/s
• Running costs per hour (based on energy price cap at the time of writing): 0.59p/kWh
• Number of fan speed settings: 12
• Noise in dB: 36-60dB
• Smart features: None
• Dual functionality: Fan, ambient light
• Oscillation: Multidirectional (30/60/90°)

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The first thing that struck me when the AirCraft LUME arrived was that there was plastic wrap around the cardboard box, which felt a little unnecessary. However, I was pleased when I opened the box to find that inside, the fan was contained in moulded cardboard forms, with the pieces wrapped in paper.

In the box, you get the fan head, base, power cable and pole, as well as a remote control and clear instruction manual.

Assembly feels very intuitive. All I needed to do was to twist the fan head into the base (if I wanted it in desktop mode), or to twist the additional pole into the base first and attach the fan head to that if I wanted it in pedestal mode. I first opted for pedestal mode, which I instantly noticed was shorter than the pedestal mode of other fans I'd tested.

Then all I needed to do was plug it in and turn it on. All in, it was out of the box and ready to go in about 60 seconds.

When it comes to looks, my first impressions were largely positive. It's a similar design to models I've tested from Pro Breeze and Silentnight, with the fan head attached to the base via two arms to the side, rather than a hinge at the base. Despite it being a modern fan, something about it feels a little retro, which I liked. That might be down to the off-white and black colourway.

What's it like to use?

The first thing I like to do when I test any fan is to run through the wind speeds to see what we're dealing with. And I like it when a fan can offer everything from a very gentle and comfortable breeze to a much stronger wind that feels like it could blow cobwebs off the ceiling. And I wasn't disappointed.

In the lowest speed setting, my anemometer (which measures wind speed) clocked the AirCraft LUME at 1.4 metres per second (m/s), which is very soft, pleasant and was ideal when I was sitting close to the fan. Over the 12 speed settings, there is a noticeable difference between each one, up to the most powerful, which I recorded at 5.3m/s. That was the strongest wind speed I'd recorded of any of the fans in our best buy round up.

At top speed, the fan was easily rustling wall hangings on the other side of the room, a good four metres away. Turning on the vertical and horizontal oscillation, I could feel the effects of this speed setting wherever I was in the room, which was very nice, especially when the heatwave hit towards the end of my testing period.

It's quiet too, with my decibel meter recording noise levels of 36-60dB, which is the equivalent of a whisper up to gentle background noise, like the hum of a fridge.

When I used the fan in desktop mode, I really appreciated the fact that the base was small enough to fit easily on a side table in my living room and my bedside table (some similar fans I've tested have large bases that felt a bit cumbersome when on a table top). However, in pedestal mode, I did find that I wished it was a bit taller. At full height, it's 95cm, which is about 14cm shorter than the Meaco Sefte 10'' Pedestal Fan that takes the top spot as the best fan in our list.

In terms of using the controls, it's pretty easy. Five touch buttons on the fan itself allow you to turn it on, adjust the wind speed and oscillation, as well as turn on and adjust the brightness of the ambient light. You can do the same on the simple remote control. You do get a little extra functionality via the remote, however. Switching between normal, sleep and natural modes can only be done via the remote.

In normal mode, the fan will remain at your chosen wind speed until you change it. In natural mode, you can select an average speed and it will alternate speeds to mimic natural breeze. Rather than showing a symbol on the LED display to indicate natural mode, it instead displays the letters CF. Sleep mode will show SL, and once you select a starting wind speed, it will decrease speed every 30 minutes until it gets to speed 1 where it will remain.

I enjoyed using this fan at night. Not only does the display automatically turn off after a few seconds, but you can also mute the button-press tone, which is a lifesaver if you want to change the settings but share a room with a very light sleeper. There's also a handy timer, which meant I could set it to turn off when I'd dropped off to sleep.

The ambient backlight is a welcome addition to the design. It's not a light to read by, but it offers a nice glow, with three levels of customisable brightness.

Running costs

If you are looking for a fan to see you through the next summer heatwave, you'll be pleased to know that this one won't cost you the earth even if you need it on all day. Based on the April 2026 energy price cap of 24.67p per kilowatt hour of electricity, the AirCraft LUME will cost around 0.59p per hour to run.

Cleaning and maintenance

As with most fans I've tested, there's not much that's required in terms of cleaning or maintenance. To keep this fan in good and efficient working order, it's best to keep it free from dust with a dry cloth. If dust builds up in the grills on the fan head, you could use a vacuum cleaner (or a hair dryer on a cool setting) to remove it.

When not in use, it's best to store it somewhere clean and dry. It might be a idea to hold on to the original packaging so you can safely store it's dissembled parts.

Who should buy this fan?

If powerful wind speed is what you're after, then the AirCraft LUME is absolutely the fan to buy. It'll be suitable for effective air circulation in even large spaces, benefitting everyone in the room rather than just the one who ends up sitting closest.

However, if you want something with a similar look that you can control via an app, then the Pro Breeze Air Flo 43'' Hybrid Pedestal Fan with Smart App may be a better fit.

For the lowest running costs possible, and for something even more stylish, the Duux Whisper 3 looks great and costs between 0.04-0.46p/kWh to run.

If you want something more affordable, the Silentnight Airmax Pro360 Pedestal Fan with Remote Control has similar proportions and functionality, although it doesn't quite reach the same wind speeds.

Automatic bean-to-cup coffee machines are the at-home coffee appliance for people who want coffee shop style coffees without leaving the house. If you don’t want to learn any barista skills or mess around grinding coffee beans and steaming milk, automatic is the way to go.

When I reviewed the Philips 5500 Series LatteGo it was the top of the range Philips automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine at the time. And I was impressed with its large menu of 20 drinks. But that was until the Philips Café Aromis Series 8000 made its way onto the scene, offering over 50 drinks on the menu.

I think this bean-to-cup machine offers the widest menu of drinks I’ve ever seen and there are several drinks that I’ve never even heard of. I’ve had it in my kitchen for two weeks and still haven't gotten close to trying all the options.

In a nutshell

The newly launched Philips Café Aromis Series 8000 slides in right at the premium end of the brand's automatic bean-to-cup range. The next best in the lineup offers a drinks menu of 20 drinks, so this model really does knock it out of the park.

It should be noted though that this new, more premium model is also £200 more at £849, which is a pretty hefty jump in price. And at this high price point it’ll certainly be out of reach for many households.

Price to one side, it’s got a lot to offer. The colour touch screen makes it effortless to navigate through the coffee menus. And tweaking settings like temperature, volume and intensity is an absolute doddle. Plus, you can even control it from an app on your phone.

The grinder is quiet and I enjoyed trying lots of different drinks. It’s brilliant for larger households with multiple coffee drinkers who can all save their preferences in a personal profile on the touchscreen.

The downsides for me are the milk texturing, which always produces frothed milk, even if the style of drink doesn’t require it. And I struggled to get a robust crema on an espresso. But these issues won’t bother everyone, so if you want a decent coffee and you’re not critical of the nuances, then this could be the machine for you.

Who tested this coffee machine?

Unboxing and setting up

The coffee machine was delivered in a pretty hefty outer box. After shuffling it inside, I removed the smaller main box, and its cut out handles in the sides meant it was much easier to lift into the kitchen.

Apart from a few plastic bags wrapped around some of the parts, the packaging was mostly cardboard, so easily recyclable. And the clever design of the inner cardboard cradle, allows you to lift the coffee machine out of the box, using integrated cut out handles.

Unboxing and setting up the coffee machine so that it was ready to use, took just 25 minutes. Once it’s plugged in, the colour touch screen walks you through the set up step-by-step, so you really can’t go wrong. The machine is chunky and it’s not designed for small kitchens where space is at a premium.

My first impression is that the control panel is very user friendly, which is going to make this machine super easy and intuitive to use. With so many drinks on offer, the drinks menu could be tricky to navigate, but thankfully it’s divided into sub sections; hot with milk, black coffee, cold coffee, cold with milk, and hot water.

When you click onto a specific drink, the screen displays the volume of coffee/ milk/ water. For me, being able to see the ratio of coffee to milk for example, helps when trying to understand all the different coffees on the menu, and work out which ones I’m keen to try.

Additionally, the coffee and milk volumes are also adjustable for each drink, via simple sliders within the settings. Plus there are seven adjustable coffee strength settings to choose from as well as three temperature settings. You can also select an extra shot in your drink. Then all of your choices can be saved to your personal profile for next time.

I also downloaded the app and connected the machine so that I’d have access to all the functions offered there too. You can set up eight different named profiles for different members of your household or your regular visitors. And each profile can save up to eight favourite drinks, including personalised settings for each of those drinks.

The main coffee dispenser slides up and down so that you can adjust it for the height of your cup. My 14.5cm travel cup just slides under it when it's pushed to the top. And when it’s all the way at the bottom of its range, there's about 8.5cm between the dispenser and drip tray, which is much better for espresso cups and other shorter cups like cappuccino cups.

The machine switches on and is ready to use in under 10 seconds, or if you select the option for a start-up rinse. It goes through an initial warm up and rinse and takes just over a minute. Personally, I prefer a rinse and proper warm up before brewing my first coffee, so am happy to wait.

Furthermore, I noticed that without the rinse and warm up phase, the first drink took 20-30 seconds longer to brew, essentially because it does still need to warm up.

Making coffee with the Philips Café Aromis Series 8000:

Since most coffees on the menu are espresso based, it’s crucial get this right when you're initially setting up and getting used to the machine. At first, the espresso started off quite weak, and lacking a proper crema on top. Initially I tried to adjust the strength settings in the menu, but it was clear that the grind size would also need adjusting.

Grind size is adjusted via a knob in the bean hopper. It’s recommended that the grind size is only adjusted one notch at a time, and you can only do it while the grinder is grinding.

It’s also recommended that after every adjustment, you brew 3-4 coffees before adjusting again. In the end it took me almost a week to get the grind size adjusted to the correct level, which was all the way at the very fine end of the dial.

It’s worth noting here that the noise from the bean grinder is one of the quietest I’ve come across, when compared to other automatic bean-to-cup machines I’ve reviewed. It registered 69dB on my noise meter.

The espresso tasted pleasant, fresh and fruity, and was very drinkable. Despite my adjustments though, I wasn’t able to create the rich, thick crema on top that I’m used to getting from my manual espresso machine.

The double espresso from this machine had an okay crema, but it disappeared long before I got to the end of the drink. With that in mind, if you’re an espresso lover chasing the perfect punchy espresso flavour, combined with a dense creamy crema, I would guide you more towards a barista style home espresso machine to tick all those boxes.

The espresso temperature on the default medium temperature setting was around 75C. This increased to 78C when I selected the high temperature option and dropped to 67-70C on the lowest temperature setting. So the temperature differences are minimal.

There are so many other black coffee options, whether you like a tall gluggable coffee, or a shorter, more intense caffeine hit, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for here. As well as a double espresso, I enjoyed the Caffe Crema, a very drinkable black coffee that’s flavourful and balanced but not too intense.

Other black coffee options include popular drinks like a Long Black, or Americano, as well as lesser known, very strong black coffees like the Red Eye and Black Eye. The beauty is, you get to try them all.

The menu for cold black coffee is similar, but notably there are cold brew coffees added to the lineup. The cold brew is slow to make, even a small 120ml size dripped through so slowly that it took over five minutes to pour the drink, whereas the same sized iced Americano was ready in one and a half minutes.

The process of making these two iced black coffees is clearly different and that’s evident in the taste too. The cold brew is stronger, and by comparison the iced Americano tasted watery. But again, with 11 cold black coffees on the menu, coupled with adjustable strength and volume, as well as the option to add an extra shot, it's easy to create a bespoke drink to suit your own taste.

I also like that a lot of drinks include the option to size up for a travel cup, simply by pressing the travel cup icon.

Hot milk drinks

Given the number of drinks on offer and all of the adjustable settings, I was surprised that the milk texture isn’t adjustable. The milk steaming and texturing process only delivers frothy, bubbly milk. The biggest issue with this is that you get the same amount, and texture of foam on a latte as you do on a cappuccino or even a flat white.

If you prefer drink options with less foam, or those that should have a very fine microfoam like a flat white, you might be disappointed with the quality of milk texturing and the lack of any optional adjustment.

On the whole I enjoyed the hot milk drinks, and with so many adjustable settings, I believe most people will be able to create their perfect milk to coffee ratio and get a coffee strength that hits the spot. For me the biggest sticking point is the milk texture - it simply won’t be able to win over people who dislike bubbly foam on the top of their milky coffee.

The position of the milk spout is ideal for taller cups. But when I was using a short cappuccino cup, I did have to keep a close eye on the cup as the milk began to pour. The milk flows from the high spout like a waterfall, so when using a short cup there is a danger of missing it if you don’t position it correctly.

Milky drink temperatures ranged from 56 - 66C depending on the temperature setting selected. But other factors like the coffee to milk ratios and the temperature of your cup, will also affect the temperature of the finished drink.

When selecting just hot milk froth without coffee, the temperature isn’t adjustable. You can select one of five different volumes between 40ml and 320ml. There’s not an option to adjust the foam level, you will always get frothy milk. I poured out 180ml for a chai latte. It took 53 seconds and was 60C.

Cold milk drinks

For cold milky drinks, you have to use the dedicated cold milk carafe. Additionally, the screen prompts you to add ice cubes to the glass before the drink starts pouring. You can add as much as you prefer, but ultimately, the more ice you use, the colder the drink, but the more danger it’ll get diluted if you drink it too slowly.

I measured the temperature of an Iced Galao, it was 11C when first poured over a handful of ice. The ice cubes quickly chill it further and after just a minute in the glass, it was already down to 8.5C and getting colder the longer I left it. It’s absolutely possible to enjoy proper iced coffees from this machine and it’ll really come into its own on hot summer days.

Like the hot milky drinks, the cold milk carafe is only capable of dispensing frothed milk. So again, when I did a side by side comparison, the iced latte had the same amount of foam sitting on top as the iced cappuccino.

I tried several iced milky coffees and they were all enjoyable. Ultimately apart from temperature, the cold drinks are just as customisable as the hot drinks, so you can tweak the strength as well as the coffee and milk volumes, to get your cooling iced coffee just how you like it.

It does also dispense cold frothed milk without coffee, which can be used to create other non-coffee drinks with syrups for children for example. There’s even a cold babyccino on the menu.

Hot water

When the milk carafe is removed, the spout doubles as a hot water dispenser. You can select 100-300ml when dispensing hot water. 300ml was about right for my favourite mug and it took about 90 seconds.

Hot water on the medium temperature setting was only 75C, so a bit cool for most types of tea. On the high temperature setting I was disappointed that it didn’t get much hotter, the water in the mug was almost 80C.

Most of us Brits wouldn’t consider ditching the trusty kettle and getting all of our hot water from a coffee machine, so with that in mind it’s a decent temperature to top up a coffee, or to make a fruit or herbal tea.

Using the App

I think the app is absolutely worth downloading and connecting to. It offers additional features and settings. But for me, I just don’t automatically reach for my phone when I want to make a coffee, so I rarely selected my coffee and started brewing via the app. Let’s not forget you still need to place a cup under the spout and attach the milk carafe, so it’s usually simpler to use the touchscreen.

What's it like to clean?

After pouring a milk based drink, it didn’t automatically prompt me to rinse the milk dispenser, which is unusual for an automatic coffee machine. Most other machines I’ve reviewed are quite insistent in prompting you to do this. So to rinse it, I had to go into the settings and select the milk carafe rinse, which is a bit more long winded.

On the plus side, the milk carafes are really quick and easy to rinse clean under the tap. I like that there are no fiddly tubes to clean out. They come apart easily into three pieces and are some of the easiest to clean that I've come across.

The coffee spouts are automatically rinsed when the machine switches off, so ideally you need to leave a cup or container under the spout, otherwise it makes a mess of the shiny metal drip tray area.

You can choose whether it also rinses during the start-up/ warm-up phase. I switched this on because I like it to get a rinse before it dispenses the first coffee of the day, but as I stated earlier, this does increase the initial start up time to just over a minute.

Other regular cleaning tasks include emptying out the grinds and the drip tray. And then there are the less frequent tasks like rinsing the brew unit or descaling the whole machine.

As with most functions on this machine, the clear on-screen instructions and prompts will guide you through these cleaning processes, so nothing is ever too tricky or confusing. I ran the descaling programme, it took 20 minutes from start to finish, but was very easy.

How does it compare to competitors?

The De’Longhi Rivelia is still one of my favourite automatic bean to cup machines. In contrast to this model, it offers a smaller footprint on your counter and a more paired back coffee menu. It makes a great coffee, is easy to use, and can also produce some cold coffee recipes. Its RRP is only £100 cheaper though.

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro is an Ideal Home favourite, and you should look in this direction if you want an all-singing all-dancing machine that’s a tad more affordable. The trade-off is that it's semi-automatic, meaning you have to get a bit more involved, but not quite to the level of a manual espresso machine.

Should you buy the Philips Café Aromis Series 8000?

If you’re a household of two adults who each drink the same coffee day in day out, then you really won’t get the most from this machine. It’s designed for coffee lovers who enjoy switching up drinks with the seasons, and for larger households where everyone's varied choices are catered for.

There’s a particular joy in scrolling through the menus and sampling different coffees. You won’t get the same feeling from an espresso machine or pod machine. And simplicity is one of its key strengths, it’s effortless to navigate the choices, create the various coffees, and customise settings.

That said, the price is a potential stumbling block and hardcore espresso lovers would do better with a more traditional style espresso machine. Meanwhile, if you’re particular about your milk froth and want the option of froth free milk or silky microfoams, this isn’t the machine for you.

In this Origin LumbarCloud Mattress review, I put the brand's premium mattress through its paces to see how it compares to the best mattresses Ideal Home has tested.

In a nutshell

Overall, the Origin LumbarCloud Mattress is one of the best mattresses for back sleepers that I've tested. Origin says that it has focused a lot of this mattress's design around lumbar support, and during testing, I felt like it had my back, literally.

The pillowtop provided wonderful cushioning, which made my body feel weightless as I lay on my back, and if you like a firm mattress, this delivers.

I was also impressed with its temperature regulation. At no point did I wake feeling hot and bothered, and I also found its motion isolation exceptional. I didn't feel when my husband got into bed, or if one of us tossed and turned during the night.

No doubt that's in part thanks to its whopping eleven layers of foams, springs, wools, and latex. However, because of that, it's by far the deepest and heaviest mattress that I've ever reviewed.

Its 35cm depth meant I needed new sheets for our bed, and anyone shorter than me would possibly struggle to get onto this bed, it's *really* high! Plus, it was incredibly heavy to get upstairs to our bedroom, despite the fact that it's delivered boxed.

Personally, I also found it too firm for side sleeping, even though Origin describes it as having a medium-firm core. My body wasn't as cradled as I would have liked in a side-sleeping position, and I prefer for my body to sink into a mattress more, rather than rest on the surface of the mattress.

However, if you're a back sleeper looking for a firm mattress, then I found the Origin LumbarCloud certainly did the trick, and when it's on sale, it also gives our top-rated Sealy Newton Posturepedic Mattress a run for its money price-wise.

Origin LumbarCloud Mattress review

Specifications

• Type: hybrid (springs + foam + natural fibers)
• Construction materials: British wool and cashmere, micro-springs, open-cell foam, "AstroLift" (graphite-infused latex), "Orignex" (gel-infused foam), cotton-blend cover
• Sizes: single, small double, double, king, super king
• Tensions available: medium-firm
• Height: 35cm
• Side handles: yes
• Flip or rotate: neither
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 200 nights

1. Comfort

The Origin LumbarCloud is a hybrid mattress made up of eleven layers. I won't go into the makeup of each of those layers in detail here, as you can find them on the Origin website, but they're a mix of foams, graphite-infused latex, micro-spring layers, and some breathable wool thrown in for good measure.

Overall, these eleven layers amount to a mattress depth of 35cm. This makes it the deepest mattress that I've ever tested, and, with that, it makes it the highest bed that I've ever slept on.

It's worth noting that most mattresses are around 25cm deep, which only requires a standard fitted sheet. With a mattress that is 35cm, you will need to buy extra-deep fitted sheets. I got mine from John Lewis. You may also find that if you're petite, you'll find it too much of a climb to get into this bed. I'm about 5 feet 8 inches, and I found I was 'climbing' into bed rather than simply sitting down on the mattress.

Origin describes the LumbarCloud as a medium-firm mattress, which, as a side and back sleeper, is my go-to tension.

Overall, I found this mattress incredibly comfortable and supportive when I was sleeping on my back. Origin says that the center third of the LumbarClouds' surface is reinforced for lumbar support. And whilst I wouldn't say that I generally suffer from any lower back pain, I definitely appreciated the support and the spinal alignment that this mattress delivered when I was lying flat on my back.

The pillowtop also provided good cushioning, which made my body feel weightless as I lay on my back. My back-sleeping husband agreed. A month sleeping on this mattress has been a welcome relief for our tired bodies as parents of two little ones.

However, whilst I was cradled a little when I lay on my side, my shoulders and hips didn't nestle into the mattress as much as I'd have liked for comfortable side sleeping. I'd definitely describe this mattress as more on the firm side of medium-firm.

For me, this mattress is definitely one for back sleepers only. I think that side sleepers are going to need more cushioning than this mattress provides.

2. Motion isolation

The Origin LumbarCloud Mattress has exceptional motion isolation, no doubt thanks to all those spring and foam layers working in harmony.

By this, I mean that I didn't feel the mattress move when my husband climbed in and out of bed. Similarly, I didn't get disturbed when he switched up sleeping positions through the night. From my husband's point of view, he concurs that he couldn't feel me rolling about in the night.

Collectively, we can also confirm that there was also no rolling together into the middle of the bed either; we both stayed on our respective sides of the mattress.

3. Responsiveness

Since my first impression of this mattress was a "firm" one, I thought that it would feel the same as some of the other foam and hybrid mattresses I've tested; 'flat' with 'no bounce'. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the LumbarCloud's responsiveness.

Initially, it gave me vibes of the Nectar Premier Mattress I had recently tested, which I felt was a little flat, even though the foam layer hugged me, and I didn't struggle to roll into a different sleeping position. However, after a few nights sleep-testing, I realised the CloudPlush pillow top on this Origin mattress makes a huge difference.

This first layer cradled my body in a way similar to when my head is nestled into a pillow, and then the micro spring system delivered a seamless comfort transition as I shape-shifted through the night.

I found that there was some spring back when I pressed my hand on the surface of the mattress, and my two kids certainly found that it was a great mattress to bounce on, so, all in all, it responded well to movements.

4. Temperature regulation

I found that the materials in all eleven layers of the Origin LumbarCloud Mattress provide a wonderfully cool sleep.

Origin says this mattress has been designed with ultra-breathable layers that work together to enhance airflow and disperse heat with materials such as wool and bamboo that are renowned for regulating temperature, as well as open-cell foam, which promotes extra airflow, and graphite-infused latex, which is intended to draw heat away from the body.

Whilst I'm not generally a hot sleeper, I know all too well what it is like to overheat on an all-foam mattress, and it's not nice. Luckily, this mattress kept me at a consistently 'just right' temperature all night long.

5. Edge support

Origin says that the walls of the LumbarCloud have been wrapped with a foam to offer good edge support.

When I sat on the edge of this mattress to put it to the test, I found that the sides did collapse a little, but not as much as the similarly priced TEMPUR EASE mattress, on which I ended up sitting on the edge of the bed frame! I also found that the LumbarCloud retained its form at the edge a lot better than the Nectar Premier Mattress I recently tested.

Whilst lying on the mattress, I found that I could enjoy the entire surface of the mattress without any danger of it dipping at the sides, and when both the kids managed to climb into bed with us, pushing me to the edge of the mattress, I could still sleep in comfort without falling out of bed.

However, the Sealy Newton Posturepedic Mattress does still retain its crown for offering the best edge support in the business. The LumbarCloud can't quite compete with Sealy's excellent side walls, so if you struggle to get out of bed without firm support to push off, the Sealy is for you.

6. Sleep trial

Origin offers a 200-night sleep trial when your mattress is delivered to your home to give you a chance to try it. As long as you stick to the terms and conditions, if you don't love it, then you'll receive a full refund, and your returned mattress will be donated to the British Heart Foundation.

In comparison, Nectar and DreamCloud have the longest sleep trial in the business, with a generous 365 nights to try out their mattresses. However, this length of trial is on par with the likes of Simba and Emma, and it is still one of the most generous trial periods available.

7. Ease of care

The Origin LumbarCloud Mattress is an easy(ish) one to care for, as you don't need to flip it.

Instead, to maintain optimal performance and longevity, the brand recommends that the mattress be regularly rotated.

There are two handles on either side of the mattress to help with this, but you will need another strong human to help turn it 180 degrees because of its hefty weight.

When it comes to freshening up the mattress, the cover is not removable. Whilst it's good to have a removable mattress cover for freshening up the mattress every now and then, I really wouldn't want to be removing the cover from the LumbarCloud, even if it was an option. This mattress is HEAVY. I would certainly struggle to lift the mattress in kingsize, let alone the super king I tested.

Instead, reach for one of the best mattress protectors. These are a lot easier to remove and stick in the washing machine.

Origin says you can spot clean the surface of the mattress if you need to with warm soapy water, and then dry it with a hair dryer. In my experience, though, this can make matters worse and create another problem: a watermark. If you have that mattress protector on, this can all be avoided.

8. Delivery

The Origin LumbarCloud Mattress will arrive the next day by courier, for free, if you place your order by 09:00 the day before. After this time, it'll arrive within a couple of days. And the delivery drivers will deliver your new mattress to a room of your choice.

This is an improvement on the first Origin mattress we tested – the budget-friendly Origin Hybrid Mattress – which used to be delivered to the doorstep only.

I received a couple of emails, a phone call, and a text message throughout my LumbarCloud's journey to advise me of its movements. However, on delivery day, I made a mistake. I opted for the delivery team to leave the mattress in our hallway because I hadn't organised our bedroom. This was a definite error!

The LumbarCloud is delivered as a mattress-in-a-box, meaning it's rolled and vacuum-packed in a compact box. This means that, should you prefer to move the mattress yourself, the size won't be the problem – but I hadn't realised its weight. This mattress is *mega* heavy. The box was also terribly damaged from its time in transit, which made it harder to lift.

Luckily, I had the help of my husband to drag and lug this mattress in its box up the stairs, but it was still harder than I'd have liked. I also enlisted his help to remove said box as I was unpacking the mattress.

Unlike Nectar and REM-Fit, no cutter is included with this mattress that can be used to slice through the plastic that is tightly wrapped around it. I (carefully) used scissors instead.

As soon as I started to cut through the plastic the mattress started to inflate. Less haste was important here so that I didn't manage the mattress. The force of the mattress unravelling helped to release it from the plastic.

With the help of another grown-up human, the plastic can then be lifted and removed from the inflating mattress.

Within a few hours the LumbarCloud was ready to sleep on, but on the box that it arrived in it says to allow 24 - 48 hours for the full rebound. I didn't notice any mattress off-gassing which is an unpleasant smell associated with the foam layers in a mattress, but I did open the window to ensure that the bedroom was well ventilated.

9. Third-party reviews

The Origin LumbarCloud Mattress is only available to buy directly from Origin, and at the time of writing, this mattress has 366 reviews in total, with 338 of those awarding it a full five-star review.

I sorted the reviews by most recent first, which led with a rating left on 21 April 2026, headlined 'Great mattress can't praise it highly enough'. Other reviews that followed included 'Great quality, condition, and I have noticed an improvement in my sleep quality. I'd recommend this mattress to anyone.'

Another shares that the mattress is delivered rolled, which is convenient when navigating tight stairs, but, similar to my experience, notes that 'it does weigh 60kg'. Other comments worth noting mention that it's quite high.

As a brand, Origin scores 4.1 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot. I can see here some comments about the delivery service, with the box being damaged and orders not being delivered when expected. I, too, received a badly damaged delivery box, which doesn't set the best first impression.

10. Environmental impact

I couldn't find much information about Origin's mattress production process anywhere on the Origin website, and, as far as I can tell, it doesn't appear that any of the materials used in this mattress are from recycled sources, which is a shame.

On the About Us page, there is a sentence about working with local communities in different countries to become environmentally friendly, but Origin hasn't shared 'how' or set any goals.

Although the brand does state that any mattresses returned via the 200-night sleep trial are donated to the British Heart Foundation in an effort to minimise harm to the environment, and to offer help to those who may need it.

Overall, I'd like to see more effort being made by the brand to address its environmental impact; Simba is still at the helm for circular design processes so it would be good to see some more mattress brands follow suit.

11. Value for money

There is no getting away from the fact that the Origin LumbarCloud is an expensive mattress. It'll cost you £1,717 for a double. However, I've found that it is regularly on sale, so you may be able to get a better deal, depending on when you shop.

I rated it as best for back sleepers rather than side sleepers, which pits it against the Sealy Newton Posturepedic Mattress, which we rate as the best mattress for back sleepers overall.

In comparison, the Sealy Newton Posturepedic Mattress costs £1,499.99 for a double, so it remains the best value for money at full price. Plus, the Sealy mattress has outstanding edge support, and nearly 500 5-star reviews from customers on the Bensons for Beds website.

At 27cm deep, the Sealy mattress also isn't as deep as Origin's 35cm LumbarCloud, so it's easier to get in and out of, and you shouldn't need to invest in new extra-deep fitted sheets.

And if you're a side sleeper? I'm still a *huge* fan of the more cushioned Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress, which retails at £1,699 for a double, but the great value Simba Hybrid Mattress remains a brilliant all-rounder that I think suits both back and side sleepers well. And it's just £899 for a double.

How I tested

My sleep stats:

Sleep position: back or side
Tension preference: medium/firm
Sleep problems: shoulder and/or neck pain and occasional pins & needles
Height & weight: 5"8 and 12 stone, 7lbs

In putting the Origin LumbarCloud Mattress through Ideal Home's mattress testing process, I assessed eleven factors that we deem vital to any mattress purchase.

I tested the mattress for comfort, motion isolation, responsiveness, temperature regulation, and edge support. This means that myself (and my husband) slept on the mattress for a month before I wrote my review.

I also took into consideration ease of care, any sleep trials available, the delivery process, its value for money, and, where possible, researched the mattress's environmental impact and any third-party customer reviews – to see if they aligned or were at odds with my own experience – before writing my own review and giving this mattress a star rating.

With the UK experiencing the first proper heatwave of the year, I am also experiencing my first bout of heatwave anxiety.

But something that gives me real comfort is that it's literally my job to test the best fans on the market. While I've found some brilliant pedestal and desktop options that can keep my living room, bedroom or home office comfortable, I've been crying out for a brilliant portable fan option that I can take around my home with me, as well as out and about.

Enter the new Shark ChillPill, a 3-in-1 portable fan that offers different cooling options for ultimate in personal comfort. This is how I got on when I tried it out myself.

In a nutshell

As someone who generally runs hot, the idea of a hand-held fan definitely appeals to me. But the Shark ChillPill takes that appeal a good few steps further, offering three different cooling experiences. Firstly there is a beautifully traditional fan, then there is a misting fan head (that doesn't leave you drenched) and finally an 'InstaChill' cooling plate that is designed for direct skin contact and is deliciously cool.

It's simple to use, incredibly easy to swap over the fan heads and small enough to slip into my bag when I'm out and about (although it's a little too large to be described as pocket sized).

While a hand-held fan is particularly useful in the summer in those spaces where you wouldn't have a larger floor standing or table top fan, like the bathroom or garden, the fact that the Shark ChillPill can also stand unaided on a desk gives you the option to use it as a personal desk fan too.

Available in a range of colours, there's also a load of accessories (sadly not included with the fan itself) that make the ChillPill even more suitable for all aspects of daily life, including wristlets and crossbody straps available now, and clips, clamps and sleeves coming soon.

Specification

• Type of fan: Hand-held (but adaptable to desktop)
• RRP: £129.99
• Weight: 0.35kgs
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 8.41cm x 11.2cm x 4.5cm
• Wattage: 15W
• Wind speed (metres/second): 1.5-4.8m/s
• Running costs per hour (based on energy price cap at the time of writing): 0.37p per hour
• Number of fan speed settings: 10
• Noise in dB: 48-78dB
• Smart features: None
• Dual functionality: Fan, mister, cooling plate
• Oscillation: None

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Shark ChillPill comes with the main body, three fan heads, a charging cable, three replacement wicks (for misting mode) and a little drawstring bag to keep your fans heads in when you're not using them.

First I gave the fan a good charge for a couple of hours and took a proper look at the packaging that gives you a good steer as to what the different fan heads do as well as basic instructions on how to get started.

Once the body was fully charged, I got a feel for the ChillPill. It's very attractive (I had the Iced Latte shade but there are six colours to choose from), lightweight, and easily fitted in my palm. It's essentially comprised of two tubes that are attached by a hinge. The larger tube is the fan, and the smaller one is the battery, with the display screen on one end and charging point on the other.

I found it really easy to attach the fan head. There are dots on both the heads and the body, which you just line up to slot them together and then twist until the dot on the base and the lock symbol on the head line up.

There's also a lock switch on the base which prevents you from inadvertently turning it on while it's in your bag (the switch also helpfully shows red or green depending on whether it's locked or not). Once it was unlocked, it was simply a matter of pressing the display screen, which turns it on.

What's it like to use?

First up, I tried the fan head and was surprised by how powerful the wind speed was on this handheld fan. According to my anemometer (a device that measures wind speed in metres per second), the ChillPill ranges from a very pleasant 1.5m/s in the lowest power setting up to a gloriously blustery 4.8m/s at top speed. For context, the most powerful fan we've tested is the Meaco Sefte, which hits 5.2m/s at its top speed. So I was very impressed to get anywhere near that with a portable device.

Then I tried the misting head. Before I attached it to the body, I needed to fill it up with water. I wasn't initially sure how to do that, but then I had a better look at the misting head and saw a very handy water symbol that indicated the lid I needed to open to fill it with water. Inside, there is a foam wick, which Shark recommends you change every 30 days. Three replacement wicks are included with the fan, and you can buy a pack of three replacements for £7.

Once I'd filled it with water and attached it to the body, I twisted the nozzle open and turned it on. I love that you can choose between constant or intermittent misting, as well as cycling through the wind speeds to find the combination that feels the nicest. I was a bit worried that I'd end up a bit wet, with this being a personal fan and all, but I was so wrong. The mist is ultra fine and just makes the breeze feel a bit fresher, which is a very pleasant sensation indeed.

While the fan and misting heads are brilliant, my absolute favourite was the InstaChill cooling plate. Designed for direct contact with the skin, there are two cooling modes which make the metal head feel like it's just come out of the fridge, and the only word I can use to describe the sensation is delicious. On an unseasonably warm spring day during the testing process, this head applied to my wrists, neck and warm cheeks was incredibly effective at cooling me down. I can also see this providing particularly welcome relief for perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms.

In terms of portability, the fact that the ChillPill fitted in my palm meant that it was really easy to move around my house as I went, and could slip inside my usual handbag while I was out and about. I do plan on picking up one of the cross body straps for a hands-free option too.

I love that this fan isn't just for when you're on the move though. Twisting the two tubes so that they are at right angles to each others means that the ChillPill can stand on any surface unaided. I'd pop it next to me in fan mode while I was working at my desk for a little blast of cool breeze when I needed it. It's never going to cool a whole room, but for personal comfort, it's spot on. While the misting head produces an ultra fine spray that doesn't leave you soggy, I'd be a bit cautious about using this one need electronic equipment.

When it comes to noise, I was expecting the ChillPill to be louder so was pleasantly surprised. It's not silent, even in the lowest speed setting, but I would have been shocked if that was achievable in such a compact design. On the lowest setting, my decibel reader clocked it at 48dB, which is audible, but not loud by any means. In top speed, I recorded 78dB, which is considerably more noticeable, especially when it's close by. But I'm telling you, if I was so hot that I needed my ChillPill on the highest setting, I would not be put off by the noise.

In terms of battery life, a single charge will give you 11 hours of fan mode in the lowest speed setting, but if you are using it intermittently while you are out and about, then it'll take you a decent amount of time to run down the battery. However, if you favour use of the InstaChill attachment, you can expect the battery to run out much sooner. Used solely with this attachment, I got less than two hours of battery life.

Running costs

While the ChillPill runs off a battery, that doesn't mean it's running costs are zero. With a wattage of 15, it's definitely not an energy intensive device. When charging, it will cost around 0.37p per hour, and it'll take 3.5 hours to go from empty to full charge.

Cleaning and maintenance

There's definitely not much required in terms of cleaning when it comes to the ChillPill beyond a wipe with a dry cloth. With the cooling pad, you might want to give that a regular clean, especially when it comes into contact with your skin.

The misting attachment does need a little bit more to keep it safe and hygienic to use. Shark advises that the water chamber is emptied after each use and that the wick is replaced every 30 days.

Who should buy this fan?

If you want a personal fan that not only looks good, but that is also practical to take with you around your home, garden and beyond then the Shark ChillPill is a worthy investment. But while you could absolutely buy a cheaper portable fan that will get the job done, it won't have the choice of cooling options that's offered by the ChillPill. Having the flexibility of going from a fan to a misting fan, to a direct contact cooling solution is really what makes the Shark ChillPill such a game changer.

While the ChillPill is a great option for personal comfort on the go, it does have it's limitations. This is not the fan to buy if you are looking for a whole-room cooling. If you want something that can benefit the whole family while hanging out together, then something like the Meaco Sefte 10'' Pedestal Air Circulator or Pro Breeze 43'' Hybrid Pedestal Fan would be much more suitable.

Similarly, if you are looking for a fan to keep you cool as you drop off to sleep, I would instead recommend the ultra quiet Duux Whisper 3, or the sub-£100 Silentnight Airmax Pro 360 Pedestal Fan.

If you need a desktop fan that doesn't involve any misting whatsoever, the Morphy Richards AirFlex 10'' air circulator won't take up loads of space, but still delivers decent wind speeds and oscillation to keep you comfortable as you work.

If you want a portable fan alternative, Dyson has just launched the HushJet Mini Fan.

Gtech's AirRAM range has built a solid reputation for reliable, easy-to-use vacuum cleaners. So I was keen to see how the newer Core model fits into the line-up, especially as one of the most affordable AirRAM models you can buy.

With so many of the best cordless vacuum cleaners leaning into advanced features, smart tech and multiple attachments, I tested the Gtech AirRAM 2 Core Cordless Vacuum in my busy family home to see whether a simpler approach could still hold its own for everyday cleaning.

In a nutshell

The Gtech AirRAM 2 Core Cordless Vacuum is a straightforward, no-fuss vacuum that may lack the bells and whistles of more premium models, but I found it cleaned floors quickly and efficiently. It's sturdy and practical, with a simple upright design that's easy to grab and use without much thought. Unlike most stick vacuums, it stands independently, which makes a noticeable difference day to day if you're short on storage or need to pause mid-clean.

It performs particularly well on hard floors, where it picks up fine dust and larger debris with ease. I also appreciated the low, floor-based design, which helped it feel easier to manoeuvre around awkward spaces. With just one cleaning mode and no complicated settings to navigate, it made the overall experience refreshingly straightforward.

The simplicity does come with its trade-off, though. The bulky floorhead is less practical in tighter spaces, and without any extra attachments, it's not really suited for jobs like stairs, edges and above-floor cleaning. It's also worth noting there's no digital display or indicator alert to say when the bin is full, so I had to rely on performance changes and doing manual checks to know when it needed emptying.

Still, once I got used to its quirks, the AirRAM 2 Core slotted neatly into my daily cleaning routine. While it's not the most versatile or high-tech vacuum I've tested, it feels like a very intentional trade-off - fewer features in exchange for a lower price, and a simpler, more accessible design. For everyday cleaning, it keeps things refreshingly uncomplicated.

Specifications

• Weight: 3.2 kg
• Dimensions: (H) 112cm x (W) 30cm x (D) 26cm
• Bin volume: 0.8L
• Run time: 30 minutes
• Charge time: 4 hours
• Modes: 1
• In the box: floor head, lower and upper handles, charger, hair removal tool, manual
• RRP: £179.99

How I tested

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

I was expecting the Gtech AirRAM 2 Core Cordless Vacuum to arrive in a large box, but to my surprise, it came compactly packaged. The packaging itself was fairly plain, with just the Gtech logo printed on the front.

It opened widthways, which I always appreciate as it makes removing the contents much easier. And the floorhead was wrapped in a plastic protective layer, labelled PE-LD 0 (low-density polyethene), which can be recycled, but it needs to be taken to a specialist collection point, which seems to be quite typical for many floor care appliances I've tested. It would be more convenient if I could just recycle it at home, but technically it's not completely wasteful, so overall it felt reasonably eco-friendly.

The contents consisted of the floorhead, a lower handle, an upper handle, a charger, a hair removal tool and the user manual. As there were no additional attachments, the unboxing process felt refreshingly simple and straightforward.

In terms of assembly, the AirRAM 2 Core was slightly more fiddly than I expected. Both the lower and upper handles arrived in two parts that needed to be slotted together, and, with the bottom handle in particular, I had to use a fair amount of force to push the pieces fully into place.

The floorhead also has a pivot poke, which needs to be pushed upright before attaching the handle, which again required more elbow grease than anticipated. There's a locking clip at the end, which needs to be pulled out so the lower handle can slot into position.

On the bottom of the handle is a small metal pin that aligns with the pivot hole. It took a few attempts (and some patience!) before I heard it click into place. Once assembled, I pushed the locking clip back in until it clicked, securing the vacuum fully.

Once it was fully assembled, the first thing that struck me was how sturdy and robust the Gtech AirRAM 2 felt. While it doesn't have the same sleek, high-tech aesthetic as some fancier cordless stick vacuums, its simplicity gives it a practical, no-fuss feel. Overall, the design seemed centred around functionality rather than flashy features.

One immediate advantage of its upright design is that it can stand independently without needing to be propped up against a wall or stored in a docking station. This made it feel more convenient for quick clean-ups, especially given that I'm short of storage space at home.

It also took me a moment to realise the dust bin is concealed within the floorhead - which isn't something I've come across before in a cordless vacuum. My first thought was that it would mean sacrificing bin capacity, but at 0.8L, it's actually pretty average in size. The only thing I questioned was how I'd be able to tell when the bin was full and needed emptying, since it doesn't have a digital indicator or alert system, as you get with many models.

Before use, the manual also states that the AirRAM 2 Core should be fully charged. The instructions explain how to remove and insert the battery, but as it was already fitted, there was little set-up required on that front.

The charging cable then plugs directly into a port on the back of the floorhead, so I left it connected for four hours until it was fully charged and ready to use.

Using the Gtech AirRAM 2 Core Cordless Vacuum

It's not an exaggeration to say I'm always vacuuming. With three (very messy) children and my husband all at home in our three-bedroom home, I reach for the vacuum several times a day. So I need something that's lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, but with genuinely powerful suction.

Thankfully, turning on the AirRAM 3 Core couldn't be easier. The power button is located on the front left side of the cleaning head, and while you can switch it on by hand, it's clearly designed to be pressed with your foot, which felt convenient.

I started on the laminate floor in my kitchen and conservatory, where it glided far more smoothly than I was expecting. It doesn't feel quite as lightweight or flexible as the Dreame V20 Pro Cordless I recently tested, but it does have a flexible, foldable wand for tighter reach, and the overall design is quite different.

The AirRAM 2 Core also has LED headlights. They're not as bright or sophisticated as Shark or Dyson models, but they did still help me spot stray crumbs and debris. It picked everything on my hard floors up with ease, and the flexible handle made it easy to navigate around the many obstacles in my kitchen.

While I was impressed with its overall performance, it struggled to reach stray crumbs around my skirting boards, suggesting edge cleaning isn't one of its standout strengths.

As part of how we test vacuum cleaners at Ideal Home, I then put it through its paces with a number of controlled tests. The 'debris test' involves throwing various sizes of debris on the floor and seeing how quickly and effectively the vacuum picks it up.

Starting in my kitchen, I scattered some porridge oats and flour on the hard floors before passing the floorhead over the mess. I won't lie, I expected it to take several passes to clear everything completely, but to my surprise, it picked up both the oats and flour in a single sweep.

Because the dust bin is clear, I could immediately see the flour that had collected inside, although it did make me wonder how easy the inner compartment would be to take apart and clean.

I then repeated the same test on the carpet. It did take a few passes to completely lift the flour, but it removed the oats straight away, which was still impressive overall.

I also noticed that I had to apply slightly more manual effort than on hard floors. Still, the suction power was effective enough to keep the carpets clean.

One thing I did notice, though, was that while the handle is flexible, I found it tricky to reach under my sofa due to the size of the floorhead, which made it clear that it's not quite as slim and compact as other models.

As the AirRAM 2 Core also doesn't convert to a handheld vacuum or come with any additional tools, I was curious to see how it would cope with stairs. Unfortunately, this was where its limitations became more obvious. I couldn't fit the floorhead on the step, making it awkward and impractical to use there.

One thing I did really like, though, is that the AirRAM 2 Core has a 30-minute run time, which is fairly average for a cordless vacuum. However, because there's only one setting, it means the battery drains at a consistent rate, rather than dropping quickly when using a higher suction mode, as is typical for many models.

Considering how often I used it during testing, it was several days before I needed to recharge the battery. One thing I did notice, though, is that there isn't actually a low-battery warning sign, so it can catch you slightly off guard when the charge is running low.

Cleaning and maintenance

Although there's no indicator light or warning to alert you when the dustbin needs emptying, in practice, I didn't find it an issue. Because the bin sits on the floorhead and the casing is clear, I could clearly see when it was getting full.

At 0.8L, it's a fairly average-sized bin, so I didn't feel like I was constantly emptying it. Removing the bin is straightforward, too. I just held the floorhead with one hand and pulled the handle to release it. To empty the contents, there's a latch marked with a green arrow, which slides open to release the dirt.

The filters are also easy to access. The manual recommends cleaning them once a month, but after only a week of testing, I was surprised at how much dust had already collected around the foam filter housing cover. You can rinse this and the filter itself under warm water, before being left to dry fully before reinserting.

One niggle I did have was that I could see debris - particularly flour residue - trapped inside the plastic casing of the dustbin, but I couldn't fully reach inside to clean it. As the manual doesn't advise dismantling the compartment further, it felt slightly trickier to clean thoroughly than some other cordless models.

The AirRAM 2 Core also comes with a hair removal tool, which is especially handy for households with pets or for anyone with long hair.

Taking the brush bar out is simple: there's a release button on the side of the floorhead. As predicted, there was a build-up of hair wrapped around the brush, but the tool made light work of it. I used the cutting groove to slice through the hair before switching to the comb end to remove it. I won't lie, I found the process weirdly satisfying.

How does it compare to its predecessors and similar models?

This isn't the first time Ideal Home team has tested a Gtech AirRAM vacuum, with the team previously reviewing the AirRAM 3 Dual-Edge Clean, and the more premium AirRAM Platinum. Compared to these options, the AirRAM 2 Core definitely feels like the more pared-back option, but it comes at a more affordable price point.

While it lacks some of the fancier features found on more advanced AirRAM models, like the AirRAM 3's dual-edge technology or the Platinum's long run time and more premium finish, it still delivers the same straightforward cleaning experience the brand is known for.

In a lot of ways, the AirRAM feels designed for people who just want a vacuum that's easy to grab and use. There's no digital display and only one mode, so it couldn't be more straightforward.

It's also worth comparing to Ideal Home's best-rated cordless vacuum - the Shark Stratos. The Shark offers a more premium experience overall, with a range of hand-held tools, anti-odour capsules, multiple cleaning modes and longer battery life. It is more expensive, though, and if you're looking for an easy-to-use vacuum, the simpler approach of the AirRAM 2 Core may be more appealing.

How does it rate online?

The Gtech AirRAM 2 Core Cordless Vacuum currently holds a 4.8-star rating on the Gtech website, based on 69 customer reviews. Many users praise its cleaning performance, suction power and lightweight design. The affordable price tag is also mentioned frequently.

Interestingly, many of the reviews appear to be from existing Gtech customers who have repurchased from the brand, suggesting strong customer loyalty and satisfaction with the AirRAM models.

Despite the overall high positive feedback, some reviewers expressed disappointment at the lack of tools or attachments, particularly compared with more versatile cordless stick vacuums on the market.

Beyond that, online reviews for the AirRAM 2 Core are limited, likely because it's a new addition to the brand's cordless vacuum range.

Verdict: Should you buy the Gtech AirRAM 2 Core Cordless Vacuum?

If you're after a simple, affordable, cordless vacuum that's designed purely for everyday floor cleaning, the Gtech AirRAM 2 Core Cordless Vacuum makes a strong case for itself. It's easy to use, quick to set up and performs well on hard floors, which will cover most of the day-to-day mess in many homes.

However, if you are looking for something more versatile, a more advanced model may be more suited. The lack of attachments, multiple cleaning modes, or digital features can feel limiting, particularly in busier households. Although it's lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, it's not really designed for stairs or more awkward areas, so it may work better as a secondary vacuum, or for smaller, low-maintenance homes.

Ultimately, if you value simplicity and affordability over flexibility and features, the Gtech AirRAM 2 Core Cordless Vacuum is a solid choice. It focuses on getting the basics right without overcomplicating things.

A good set of pans is rarely an investment that you’ll regret. And more and more, we’re scrutinising the materials that pans are made from. For a myriad of reasons there’s a lot of noise around at the moment about switching from non-stick to stainless steel versions of the best saucepan sets.

And while there are plenty of non-stick pans that claim to be non-toxic, mastering the art of cooking in stainless steel seems to be one of the trends of the moment. And trust me, if you’re used to non-stick, this can be a steep learning curve.

I’ve reviewed a lot of great Ninja appliances, including a whole host of the best Ninja air fryers, but this is the first time I’m trying out the brand’s cookware. So I’m intrigued to see if this simple set of pans can live up to the excellent design and functionality that I’ve experienced when I’ve reviewed Ninja kitchen appliances.

In a nutshell

The Ninja EverClad Stainless Steel 5-Piece Set includes three saucepans with lids, and two frying pans. So as a set, it covers most people's needs. At around £400 it’s an investment. Alternatively, depending on your needs, you can buy the three saucepans as a bundle for £289.99, or the two frying pans bundled together for £179.99.

For me, what makes the price tag justifiable, is that provided you look after it, this stainless steel cookware should last a lifetime. The tri-ply construction consists of an aluminium core, with stainless steel on the interior as well as the exterior.

It’s suitable for all hob types and can withstand oven temperatures of up to 300C. The rub is that ideally it all needs to be handwashed. And while you’re learning how to cook without non-stick coatings, this could mean extra time at the kitchen sink.

The pans all feel well constructed, but with a weighty quality that will be on the heavy side for some people. That said, I found them responsive to heat, fast to cook with, and there were no obvious hot spots. I enjoyed using them, and if you’re looking to take the leap into stainless steel cookware, this is an excellent all-round set.

Who tested this cookware set?

Product specs

• Materials: Stainless steel with aluminium core
• Metal utensil safe? yes
• Dishwasher safe? No, hand washing is recommended
• Saucepan capacity: 1.4 litre, 2.4 litre and 3.3
• Pan diameter: 16cm, 18cm and 20cm saucepan/ 24cm and 28cm frying pan
• Suitable for all hob types: yes

Unboxing and first impressions

Thankfully there was nothing to worry about in terms of packaging, it was all paper and cardboard, so easily recyclable. Once out of the box, my first impression of the pans is that they appear to be lovely quality.

At first look, they seem super sturdy and well made. Compared to my current set of cheaper stainless steel pans, they're much thicker, but with that comes more weight and they're definitely a tad heavier than my current pans.

The handles are very straight, which gives the pans a very modern appearance, but isn’t necessarily the most ergonomic handle design.

There’s a quick start guide in the box that gives advice on use and care. It includes some helpful hints on how to preheat the frying pans to avoid food sticking. It also gives some recommended heat settings, as well as some tips on how to extend the life of the cookware.

I’m disappointed that the cleaning guide makes no mention of using a dishwasher to clean the pans. It doesn’t explicitly say they can’t be cleaned in a dishwasher, but it also doesn’t say they’re dishwasher friendly. And only hand washing advice is given, so it's implied.

Cooking in the Ninja EverClad Stainless Steel 5-Piece Set

Saucepans

The three saucepans offer a good range of capacity options. The smallest was the one I reached for when I needed to heat a tin of baked beans. Likewise, it’s big enough for whisking up a couple of warming mugs of hot chocolate. And I also used it to make some Mexican refried beans.

Even this smaller saucepan feels heavy though. After emptying a tin of beans into it, I was so surprised by the weight when I lifted it onto the hob, that I popped it onto the scales out of interest. Given that it’s the smallest saucepan and only had a tin of beans in it, I was surprised that it weighed a hefty 1.3kg.

When making hot chocolate, I was impressed with how fast it heated. What’s more, when the milk started to bubble up the pan, threatening to boil over, it responded immediately when I turned the hob off.

The medium sized saucepan was a great choice for making two hearty portions of porridge. The inner rounded corners meant my wooden spoon could easily stir the porridge and there was no clumping or sticking.

When I wanted to boil some broccoli and asparagus, the medium size pan was roomy enough to cook a whole head of broccoli and a bunch of asparagus simultaneously. The lid kept the heat in, but steam could easily escape through the steam hole. The glass of the lid steamed up though, so I couldn’t clearly see what was going on inside.

In my two person household, I must admit, I got more use from the two smaller saucepans, than the biggest one. That said, the larger pan was a great size for making up a batch of broccoli and stilton soup.

I first softened two finely diced onions, then added diced broccoli stalks, before the stock and the rest of the broccoli. For context, I used 1.5 litres of stock, two onions, and two whole heads of broccoli. In total it made enough for 5-6 portions of soup, so it’s a decent size pan.

The soup was cooking for about 30 minutes in total. During this time the handle on the lid became quite hot. So you’ll need to be mindful of that when cooking for longer periods. The handle on the pan itself stayed cool enough to touch. The bit closest to the Ninja logo was warm, which you may need to keep in mind if using both hands to lift something heavy.

I blended the soup directly in the pan with my stick blender, which is something I wouldn’t be able to do if it had a non-stick coating. The pan also worked well for a big batch of mashed potato and I was able to use my stainless steel masher without worrying about scratching any coatings.

Frying pans

Before using a stainless steel frying pan, I’d urge you to learn about the ‘leidenfrost effect’. It’s crucial to know about this before using the pans. It’s a way of testing if a stainless steel pan is hot enough to cook with.

You judge it by adding a small amount of water to the hot pan, and if it clumps up and dances round the pan in a ball, it’s spot on. I’d suggest watching some videos online to see what it should look like.

Halloumi proved to cook really well in this pan. I heated the empty pan on a medium heat for a few minutes until it was hot enough to make water bead, then I added a glug of oil, which I swirled around the pan to ensure the surface was fully covered.

The halloumi browned really nicely and I managed to get the heat level just right so that it didn’t overcook. It did show signs of sticking when I initially tried to turn it, so I just left it a bit longer and then went in quite firmly with a metal spatula, which did the trick. All in all, a great result.

Due to its delicate nature, fish was slightly trickier. I tried sea bass and salmon on separate occasions. I cooked them in the same way as the halloumi, but left skin side down for most of the cooking time.

The sea bass and the salmon fillets cooked evenly and had a great texture overall. But there was some sticking, and I didn’t get the skin as crisp as I would like, so there’s some room for improvement.

I’ve since researched this a bit more and discovered that you have to be diligent about patting the fish dry before frying, as well as removing from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking. So fingers crossed it’ll be perfect next time when I add in these steps.

I have a favourite chilli paneer dish that I usually make in my non-stick wok, but decided to try in the large frying pan. When the pan was hot enough to make water bead, I added oil then diced onion and pepper.

Once the onion and pepper had started to soften I added paneer cubes and some sliced chilli and garlic. By this point I’d turned the heat down too low and the paneer wasn’t browning, so I turned up the gas in the hope of browning it before adding the sticky sauce.

This ended up being a bit of a reminder that frying in stainless steel requires more care and attention than my usual casual approach to cooking! I got slightly distracted cleaning up the kitchen and some of the paneer and onion burnt onto the pan. It was rescuable and perfectly edible but the washing up was not fun!

I made pancakes in some stainless steel pans I recently reviewed and had surprising success. So I wasn’t too intimidated by doing it in these pans. I decided to follow the method that worked for me before (which I found after going down a bit of a YouTube rabbit hole).

This method involves gently heating the pan for just 30 seconds on a medium heat before adding a teaspoon of oil. You then have to allow the oil to heat for a further 60 seconds. I used a pastry brush to ensure it coated the full base of the pan.

I added my batter and turned the heat to low. However, after a few minutes, it was evident that the thin pancake was sticking. I did manage to coax it off the base of the pan with some firm persuasion from a spatula. And it actually came away in one piece, so I was able to turn it and salvage it.

In hindsight, I realised that when initially heating the pan, my hob was on a medium low rather than a medium heat, which probably led to the sticking. So once I’d removed the stuck residues from the pan, I added more oil and popped it back on a medium heat.

The next pancake worked a treat, cooked evenly with no sticking whatsoever. And the third and fourth were perfect too. This larger frying pan is the perfect size for a thin crepe style pancake. And despite my hiccup with pancake number one, I was very pleased with the results and would happily call it a success.

Having always avoided omelettes, I’ve recently developed a newfound love of a cheese omelette. Admittedly though, having never made one in a stainless steel pan, the prospect of doing so was daunting.

So before diving in, I watched a few Youtube videos on how best to make it in a stainless steel pan. The general consensus seems to be that the pan should be heated over a medium heat until water beads on the surface of the pan.

Then the pan should be removed from the heat and a generous knob of butter as well as a splash of oil added. Once the butter has melted, the eggs get added to the pan and it goes back onto a low heat. You then make the omelette as you normally would.

I followed this method to the letter and the result was perfect. The omelette cooked gently and evenly, and slid around the pan without a hint of sticking. I was super pleased with the result.

Despite being able to nail pancakes and omelette, I seem to struggle with fried eggs in a stainless steel pan. On my first attempt I tried heating the pan on medium until I achieved the leidenfrost effect of water dancing around.

I added a good glug of oil and then my eggs. I did manage to get both eggs out in one piece, but it took some firm persuasion to remove them from the base of the pan. And then there was a layer of stuck crispy egg white left behind.

I changed things up on my second attempt, this time going for a gentler approach mirroring what I did for the pancakes. The result was better, but they still wanted to stick, and I had to be a bit forceful with the spatula.

On both occasions, the eggs came away in one piece. I just feel like I need a bit more practice to get the best result.

Even though the idea of it made me a bit nervous, I successfully managed to dry fry a home made flatbread in the larger pan. It cooked brilliantly and my sticky yogurt based dough didn’t stick to the pan at all.

What are these pans like to clean?

As I’ve already mentioned, I was disappointed that Ninja makes no reference to cleaning in the dishwasher. By only listing hand washing instructions, it's implied that they must be hand washed. But I’d rather know for definite if they can go in the dishwasher or not.

Washing the saucepans by hand wasn’t a bother. For things like porridge and hot chocolate I let them soak for 10 minutes or so, which made the job quick and easy. The frying pans were trickier though.

I had a few instances of foods sticking, which required a fair bit of elbow grease to remove. And after several uses, there were some stubborn fatty deposits around the sides of the larger pan. I followed the advice in the manual and tackled it with bicarb and vinegar, but it still demanded some effort to get it shifted.

The stainless steel can easily pick up water marks on the outside, and the inside can become somewhat marked/ discoloured from use. But in my experience that’s typical of a lot of stainless steel pans.

What are they like to store?

The pans nestle comfortably inside each other, so they can be stored quite neatly, with just the three lids to the side. Plus, the lack of any delicate non-stick coatings, means you don’t need to worry that storing them like this will cause damage or scratches.

How do they compare to similar sets from competitors?

In comparison to this Le Creuset 3 Piece Set I recently reviewed, the Ninja set starts to look like a good value option. Though Le Creuset’s stainless steel pans can go in the dishwasher, which is a big bonus.

Alternatively, if price is your major sticking point, you can still dip your toe into the world of stainless steel with the Ikea HEMKMOST Set which we've reviewed. The three saucepans are stainless steel, but you get the safety net of having a non-stick coating on the frying pan. Plus at under £100 it’s a steal.

Should you buy the Ninja EverClad Stainless Steel 5-Piece Set?

For me, the saucepans are great, but they are a tad weighty which will make them unsuitable for some people. The frying pans will take time to adjust to if you’re used to non-stick pans. That said, if you’re reading this, it’s probably a learning curve you’re willing to embrace. And if I can make pancakes and omelette successfully, then you can too.

Yes, the set is pricey in comparison to some other stainless steel sets on the market. But these pans are well made and it’s reasonable to assume that they should last way beyond the guaranteed life of 10 years, especially if you follow the guidance on cleaning and care. So over time, it’s an investment that could work out to be pretty cost effective.

Having been incredibly impressed with another fan offering from Meaco, I was really excited to test out the latest offering from the brand, the Meaco Sefte Pro 10'' table air circulator.

As it's my job to test the best fans around and determine which are worth your money, I like to think I'm quite tough to impress. At the core, I want a fan to be quiet, powerful when I need it to be, as well as being both comfortable and easy to use.

And it's fair to say that the Sefte Pro 10'' table air circulator surpassed my expectations. But, it's the replaceable battery, and what that means when it comes to the fan's lifespan and sustainability, that is arguable the best feature.

In a nutshell

This air circulator definitely ticks all my boxes, it's really quiet, offers impressive wind speeds and reach, and is very intuitive to use. It's packed with thoughtful design features too, including the magnetic and glow in the dark remote control.

Also available in a pedestal version, the Meaco Sefte Pro 10'' table top air circulator can run using mains power or a battery, which offers brilliant flexibility over when and where you can use it. Better still, the rechargeable battery is also replaceable. That means that when the battery reaches the end of it's lifespan, you don't need to buy a whole new fan (which will be the case for other portable fans). With the Sefte Pro, you can instead just buy a new battery and keep enjoying your existing fan for longer.

The only thing that may be a sticking point is the price. This considerate design, whisper quiet operation and power capabilities does come with a price tag of around £120, which may be too expensive for some.

Specification

• Type of fan: Desktop
• RRP: £119.99
• Weight: 3.2kgs
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 30.5 x 43.2 x 22.7cm
• Wattage: 8-26W
• Wind speed (metres per second): 1.2-3.6m/s in battery mode (2.1-5.2m/s when plugged in)
• Running costs per hour (based on energy price cap at the time of writing): 0.2-0.64p/kWh
• Number of fan speed settings: 12
• Noise in dB: 31-46dB in battery mode/ 37-56dB when plugged in (based on my measurements)
• Smart features: App and voice control
• Dual functionality: None
• Oscillation: Multidirectional (horizontal up to 120°, vertical up to 65°)

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

When I first opened the Meaco Sefte Pro 10'' Table Top Air Circulator from its cardboard packaging, I was struck by it's proportions. Despite having a 10'' diameter fan head, the footprint of the base still seems quite compact, something I think is essential for a table top fan. I've tried fans that are adaptable between pedestal and desktop mode, but the large base needed to stabilise a pedestal, also means that you need a sizeable amount of table top space to sit it on. To compare, this fan's base is 22cm in diameter, much smaller than the Meaco Sefte Pedestal which has a diameter of 34cm.

Having already tried another fan from the Sefte range, the controls and fan heads look identical so I knew I would get to grips with it easily. The onboard control panel is intuitive with clear markings so I wasn't worried about it being overly complex to operate.

There's also a companion app that I found very easy to install and set up, which meant I could control the air circulator from my phone.

One major difference was the fact that this fan comes with a rechargeable and replaceable battery. There's a small button on the side of the base that opens the battery compartment and thanks to a small fabric tab, the battery is really easy to take out and pop back in. I just need to remember to keep that tab out when putting the battery back in!

What's it like to use?

I'm a fan of simplicity, and this air circulator is definitely easy to operate. While it comes with instructions, which is very handy for understanding the different modes, the control panel, remote and app are all pretty self explanatory, so I didn't feel like it took me long to get to grips with customising the fan's settings to my preferences. I found myself gravitating towards using the app more than the remote control or on-board controls, but all are equally easy to use.

I especially loved that the app meant that I could pop the fan on from wherever I was. During some unseasonable warm spring weather, I'd pop it on for about half an hour before I went to bed to freshen up my bedroom. In battery mode, I'd also feel comfortable popping the fan on to keep my dog comfortable if I am out on a warm summer day.

As with the whole Sefte range, each fan has a crisp and clear display that shows the mode, wind speed and air flow direction, before defaulting to show the ambient temperature in the room.

Moving it around was really easy too thanks to a concealed handle on the back of the fan head. I like that this handle was sufficiently deep that I could really get my fingers in there for a reliable grip, rather than having to precariously carry the weight on my fingertips, which for me, never feels quite stable. For me, it was light enough to move around one-handed, but if you have any dexterity concerns, it's not so bulky that it's cumbersome to hold with two hands.

There are 12 wind settings, but right off the bat I did notice that the wind speeds felt very different when using the fan in battery mode versus when it was plugged into the mains. In battery mode, the wind speed ranges from a nice and gentle 1.2 metres per second (m/s) to a decent 3.6m/s (based on my own measurements). But when plugged in, I recorded a wind speed of 2.1m/s in the lowest power mode, up to 5.2m/s in the top wind speed, which is much more on par with the Sefte pedestal fan, which is the most powerful wind speed I've clocked on any of the fans I've tested.

In a heatwave, I'd definitely opt for running this fan on the mains for maximum wind speed, but on the warm spring days when I was doing my testing, the lower speeds in battery mode were just what I needed to keep me comfortably cool while I had it on my desk as I was working, and when I had it on as I was falling asleep.

Speaking of oscillation, for horizontal movement, the entire base rotates from side to side, while the fan head itself only moves up and down when vertical oscillation is selected. In vertical oscillation mode, you get a decent amount of range, although it doesn't quite reach directly towards the ceiling like other air circulators I've tested. But it does have really good reach, so would work well at benefitting everyone in a room, rather than just the person who happened to be sat closest.

I really liked that I could select a more narrow or wider scope of oscillation depending on what I was doing. I chose a more narrow scope when using the fan at night so that the wind didn't catch my blinds and cause a rattle as I was trying to fall asleep. But when I used it in the living room, it was nicer to have a wider scope to cover the space as a whole.

I also loved the night mode option on this fan. It not only turns off all lights on the display, but it also mutes the beeps that occur every time a setting is changed, which is a great feature for those who share a room with a light-sleeping partner. It'll also slowly decrease the fan speed until it gets to the lowest setting. It's really quiet too, especially in the lower wind speeds, both with the battery and mains power. My decibel reader clocked it at 31dB in speed 1 and 46dB in speed 12 while running off the battery, and between 37-56dB when running off the mains.

There's also an eco-mode that adjusts the fan speed based on the ambient temperature in the room, running in speed 1 when the temperature is 19°C, up to speed 12 when it registers a temperature of 30°C.

You can take the battery out while using it in corded mode, and to charge it, you simply pop it in while it's connected to the mains and in 3.5 hours, it'll be fully charged. The light above the power button will change depending on the battery level, so you'll know if it's about to run out.

Running costs

With a power consumption of between 8 and 26W, the Meaco Sefte Pro Table Top Air Circulator will cost between 0.2-0.64p per hour to run when plugged in, based on the April 2026 energy price cap of 24.67p/kWh of electricity.

But once the battery is charged, you can use this fan cordlessly for up to 40 hours.To boost it's eco credentials further, there is also an Eco Mode that adjusts the airflow based on the ambient room temperature, which helps to maintain comfort levels while also minimising energy wastage.

Who should buy this fan?

If your budget will stretch, this Meaco Sefte Pro Table Top Air Circulator is a worthwhile investment for those looking for a powerful fan that they can use absolutely anywhere. The fact that it can be used cordlessly mean you can position it exactly where you want it without having to worry about the cable length or proximity to a plug socket. The replaceable battery will also be a draw to those who like to prioritise sustainability. Once the battery reaches the end of it's lifespan, you can simply buy a new one, and keep the same fan.

If you'd prefer something that you can adapt between a pedestal and table top design then you might prefer the Meaco Sefte Pedestal Air Circulator, or the Pro Breeze 43'' Hybrid Pedestal Fan. For something similarly quiet, powerful and adaptable, but for less than £100, the Silentnight Airmax Pro360 pedestal fan performed well in our tests.

If a desktop fan is what you are after, but your budget doesn't stretch to the Meaco Sefte Pro, the Morphy Richards AirFlex 10'' Air Circulator (£79.99) will fit the bill.

Beldray is well known for its affordable steam cleaners, but its latest launch feels like a real step up for the brand, thanks to the introduction of its first handheld digital model. The Beldray Digital Handheld Steam Cleaner is one of the most compact and lightweight options out there, and promises to make light work of quick cleaning jobs around the home, so naturally, I was keen to put it to the test.

I tested it on everything in my family home - from sofas and windows to kitchen grout, clothes and even the kids' toys - to see how it stacked up against the best steam cleaners. My verdict? It's a brilliant little buy for everyday cleaning jobs.

In a nutshell

I had pretty high hopes for the Beldray Digital Handheld Steam Cleaner - it's compact, lightweight and designed to work across a range of surfaces, which ticks a lot of boxes for me with three children at home. It comes with a range of attachments for tackling everything from upholstery and grout to windows, clothes and hard-to-reach areas.

What won me over straight away was how quickly it heats up. It was ready to use in less than 20 seconds, which made it genuinely useful for quick, everyday jobs you need to deal with on the spot, rather than dragging out a larger appliance.

I put it to the test on pretty much every surface I could in my home - from my cream-coloured sofa and patio doors to kitchen grout, bathroom taps and even the kids' toys. It worked brilliantly on lighter dirt, everyday grease and grime, although it did struggle with more stubborn, deeper-set stains, making it better suited as a handy maintenance cleaner rather than for deep-cleans.

For the price, I was really impressed by how versatile and easy to use it is, and the digital display adds a more premium feel. While it won't replace a full-size steamer for bigger jobs, I think it's a brilliant little tool to have on hand for quick cleans and awkward spots in a busy family home.

How I tested

Specifications

• Dimensions: 22x12.5x28.5cm
• Cable length: 4m
• Settings: 2
• Water tank capacity: 400ml
• Cleaning power: 1350W
• Weight: 1.45kg
• Accessories: angled nozzle, round brush, measuring jug, funnel, flexi-hose, general nozzle, upholstery tool, window/mirror squeege

Unboxing, assembly, and first impressions

The Beldray Digital Handheld Steam Cleaner came packaged in a very compact, branded cardboard box (smaller than I was expecting), and everything was neatly stored inside. The packaging itself was minimal and felt fairly eco-conscious overall.

A few of the accessories were wrapped in plastic packaging labelled LDPE 04, which is recyclable, though it typically needs to be taken to a specialist recycling point rather than disposed of with general household waste.

There was also a generous selection of accessories included in the box. Alongside the main unit, there was an angled nozzle, round brush, measuring jug, funnel, flexi-hose, general nozzle, upholstery tool, window squeege and user manual.

After unwrapping the main unit, my first thought was how incredibly lightweight it felt to hold. The handle is wide enough to grip comfortably, while the water tank sits at the base of the unit. Initially, I did wonder how much water it would hold, but the smaller capacity does align with the overall compact, handheld design.

It's also a corded model, which isn't unexpected for this type of steam cleaner, as most still rely on a mains connection for consistent power. While I'm generally more drawn to cordless appliances for convenience, it wasn't a dealbreaker. My main hesitation would be using it around the kids, but in reality, that's something I'd avoid anyway with any steam-based cleaner.

Visually, I liked the modern, dark blue finish, and the digital display sits neatly on top of the unit, giving it a slightly more premium edge than basic handheld models. And overall, my first impressions were positive - it felt simple, lightweight and practically designed for everyday steam cleaning.

One thing that stood out was how condensed the instructions were. I'll be honest, I find some manuals overwhelming when there's a lot of detail, so it was refreshing to see something clear and easy to follow for a change. There was also a handy table listing which accessory to use for each function, which made getting started feel more intuitive.

The water tank detaches by twisting it in an anti-clockwise direction, following the small locking arrow symbols on the front of the unit. I did need to use a little force for it to unlock at first, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes straightforward. After removing it, I slid the water tank cover off - which is a small rubber tag - and used the supplied measuring cup and funnel to fill up the tank.

If I'm nitpicking, I'd say this step is a little fiddly, and you need two hands because the rubber tank cover doesn't remove fully, so I found it did get in the way a little.

Using the Beldray Digital Handheld Steam Cleaner

Getting started with the Beldray Digital Handheld Steam Cleaner was really straightforward. Once plugged into power, you simply press the power symbol on the digital display, and the temperature indicator begins climbing until it reaches 100 degrees. What impressed me most was just how quickly this stage happened - within a matter of seconds (15 seconds to be exact), it was fully heated and ready to use, which makes it feel genuinely practical and convenient if you need to use it for quick cleaning jobs.

There are two steam settings - Normal and Max - and to activate, you press and hold the lock symbol next to the power icon. I appreciated that there's a deliberate safety step before the steam activates, especially with young children in the house, because I quickly realised this compact cleaner produces a serious amount of steam for its size.

So much so that the power caught me slightly off guard the first time I used it. As soon as the steam function activates, the unit immediately fires out a strong jet of steam, and there's no other way to describe it but LOUD. Initially, it did take me by surprise, but I took it as a promising sign that it might actually pack more cleaning power than you'd expect from such a small device.

To steam clothes

If there's a household chore I avoid at all costs, it's ironing. So naturally, steaming clothes was the first feature I wanted to test. To really put it through its paces, I tried it on my son's freshly washed - but very creased - school polo shirt.

To set it up, I attached the upholstery nozzle by aligning it with the grooves on the main unit, then attached the fabric cover over the top, making sure the elasticated edges fully covered the nozzle head. This part was very straightforward, and it felt reassuring that it would be easy to switch between the different tools.

I used the Normal steam setting, which felt powerful enough for fabric steaming, and almost immediately, I could see the creases begin to relax and fall away. It definitely felt more convenient than dragging out the ironing board for a quick refresh, particularly for last-minute jobs or smaller items.

That said, it still requires a reasonable amount of effort and repeated passes to get rid of deeper creases, so the experience wasn't quite as transformative or time-saving as I'd initially hoped. I also think the relatively small size of the cloth attachment means it's better suited to smaller garments or quick touch-ups rather than larger items like shirts or dresses, where I'd find it easier to reach for a traditional iron.

To clean sofas

You can also use the upholstery nozzle to freshen up furniture, and I had the perfect testing ground in my cream-coloured sofa. It's an absolute magnet for spills and mystery marks, so after spotting a couple of stains, I was keen to see if the Beldray could work its magic on it.

Although my sofa fabric isn't particularly delicate, I still felt slightly wary about using the Max steam setting, so I stuck to Normal mode instead.

The attachment glided smoothly across the fabric, and the steam output felt impressively powerful, but unfortunately, the stains themselves didn't seem to shift much. In fairness, I had no idea what the actual marks were or how long they'd been there, so they may simply have been too set in to be cleaned quickly.

The sofa did feel noticeably fresher afterwards, so while it might not replace a dedicated upholstery cleaner for tougher stains, it's a reliable option for quick refreshes.

To clean windows and mirrors

The window and mirror squeegee attaches onto the upholstery nozzle, so the first place I tested it was the glass panel on my kitchen door. It was straightforward enough to attach, and I found it worked best when I pulled it downwards over the glass, which is how this type of attachment is designed to be used.

One thing that did surprise me was how much condensation it created. The steam quickly turned to water on the glass, which then trickled down the rest of the door, and needed wiping away with a cloth afterwards.

I also tested it on my patio doors, which seem to be permanently decorated with toddler-height sticky-fingerprint marks. Here, I could definitely notice a greater difference. The steamer had no trouble lifting the marks, leaving a streak-free and cleaner finish.

Annoyingly though, it once again left a sizeable puddle of water on the floors where the condensation had run down the doors. I only used the Normal steam setting too, which really highlights just how much steam this compact cleaner is capable of producing.

To clean tiles and hobs

Next, I moved on to testing the round brush attachment on the grout between my kitchen wall tiles, which were definitely overdue for a deep-clean. This felt like one of the more practical uses for the steam cleaner, as the concentrated steam helped loosen built-up dirt in the grout lines.

I did still have to put in a fair amount of manual effort and scrubbing to really lift the grime, so I wouldn't describe it as effortless. One thing that really stood out, though, was how easy it was to manoeuvre the steam cleaner thanks to its compact, lightweight design. I've used bulkier steam cleaners before, and it can feel like a full-body workout after a while, so by comparison, this felt refreshingly easy to use.

By the time I'd finished, my tiles were looking much cleaner and fresher. Although it did struggle to completely lift more stubborn grime, I suspect it's something if I went back over the same area a few times, I'd see more noticeable results.

I also used the round brush on my kitchen hobs - another area which was in desperate need of a deep clean. Here, I got more noticeable results, and it was weirdly satisfying to see the dirt and grime lift away within seconds of applying the steam.

To clean toys

One place I was particularly keen to test the Beldray Digital Handheld Steam Cleaner on was my children's toys. Because it relies on steam alone, I didn't need to worry about harsh chemicals on surfaces they touch all the time, which is a big plus for me.

I used the angled nozzle to give my toddler's plastic chair a clean, and it turned out to be the perfect attachment for getting into the awkward crevices at the back of the seat where crumbs and grime had built up over time.

The compact design made it easy to get close to the areas I wanted to target, which would have felt much trickier with a bulkier cleaner. After going over the area a few times, the steam noticeably lifted the dirt.

Once I'd finished, I gave it a quick wipe-down with a cloth to remove the moisture. Considering how lightweight and easy the steamer was to hold throughout, it ended up being one of the areas that impressed me the most.

To clean taps

I also tested the flexible hose attachment with the round brush around my bathroom taps, which somehow end up covered in toothpaste splatters on a daily basis - honestly, I have no idea how my kids manage it!

This was actually where the long cable length came in really handy, as I could plug it into the socket in the next bedroom and still comfortably reach the bathroom without needing an extension lead.

I wouldn't describe it as a particularly quick job, as I had to hold the steam over the area for a couple of minutes before the marks fully loosened. Once lifted though, the area did look noticeably cleaner and fresher. The flexible hose also made it much easier to manoeuvre around hard-to-reach areas behind the taps.

Cleaning, storage and maintenance

The good news is that the Beldray Digital Handheld Steam Cleaner is incredibly straightforward to clean, and there's very little in the way of maintenance.

After use, I simply removed the water tank, drained any leftover water and gave the main unit a wipe down with a damp cloth.

The attachments can all be washed in warm, soapy water, and the fabric upholstery cover is machine washable too, which is handy as it marks easily because of its colour.

Storage-wise, I like how compact it is, so it doesn't take up much space. Saying that, as it does have so many small attachments, it's worth hanging on to the original box to keep everything together and avoid anything getting lost.

How does it rate online?

As it's only recently launched, there aren't currently many online reviews for the Beldray Digital Handheld Steam Cleaner, although the limited reviews are very positive.

On Beldray's website, three reviewers have rated it a five-star product, praising how versatile and easy to use it is. Although it's worth noting these are incentivised reviews, meaning the products were gifted in exchange for feedback.

There is one five-star review on Amazon, noting the reasonable price, powerful steam output and overall ease of use.

How does it compare to similar models and its predecessors?

The Beldray Digital Handheld Steam Cleaner is the latest addition to the brand's line-up of steam cleaning products, sitting alongside other handheld models, including the 10-in-1 model. The biggest upgrade is the addition of the digital display and controls, which gives it a slightly more modern, premium feel compared to the brand's earlier handheld designs.

We've also previously tested the Beldray 15-in-1 model, which comes with floor cleaning attachments and a bigger water tank capacity for tackling larger jobs. However, the trade-off is that it's not as lightweight and comes at a noticeably higher price point. In contrast, the Beldray Digital feels more geared towards quick, targeted cleaning tasks

It's worth comparing to the Kärcher Multi Up & Extra, which combines a mop and handheld steamer. The Kärcher model really impressed me during testing with its cleaning power, but it's also not as lightweight or compact as the Beldray.

Finally, design-wise, the Beldray bears a similar resemblance to the Bissell SteamShot Steam Cleaner, although the Beldray has the advantage of a digital display and a higher power output, so it feels like a more modern option.

Verdict: Should you buy the Beldray Digital Handheld Steam Cleaner?

If you're after a compact, affordable steam cleaner that's ideal for everyday jobs, the Beldray Digital Handheld Steam Cleaner is a reliable choice. It's particularly well-suited to smaller homes or anyone who doesn't have larger-scale cleaning tasks to keep on top of.

It's incredibly lightweight, heats up in seconds and comes with a genuinely useful range of attachments that make it versatile enough to use on a range of surfaces around the home.

The fact that it's chemical-free is a standout benefit, especially for households with pets or children. It does feel better suited to quick refreshes rather than deep-cleans, and it's not designed to replace a full-sized steam cleaner. During testing, it struggled more with older, stubborn stains and larger cleaning tasks.

Overall, it's a budget-friendly, practical, handheld steamer that's easy to reach for when you want fast results without the effort.

My Dunelm Hotel Bamboo Anti-Wrinkle Pillow review puts this unusual-looking pillow through its paces to see if it can really deliver a wrinkle-free sleep, and to see how it compares to the best pillows Ideal Home has tested.

In a nutshell

The first thing you're likely to notice about this pillow is its *very* unusual shape. This is not a traditional rectangular pillow in any sense, but there’s a reason for this.

Dunelm says that its unconventional shape is intended to ‘cradle your face without creasing skin to help minimise sleep lines’. The brand also claims that it ‘keeps creams and oils on your face and not on your pillowcase’ and helps to ‘protect hair and lashes.’

Pair its odd shape with a silky soft bamboo-viscose cover that Dunelm says is ‘smooth and gentle on your skin and hair,’ and you have a pillow that boasts of its 'anti-wrinkle' properties.

As a 46-year-old mother of two, I’m very familiar with a bit of face creasing, and not just at nighttime! So I was intrigued to find out if this innovative shaped pillow would not only feel gentle on my skin and hair but also offer anti-wrinkle benefits, and feel comfortable to sleep on.

Overall, I was fairly impressed. Whilst I haven’t seen an immediate impact on my wrinkles, it’s reduced the usual creasing that I often wake up with on my face. It also keeps my hair smoother than my usual pillow, and I wake up without looking like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards!

The main downside was that I found it tricky to keep my head within the 'cradle' of the pillows' arms throughout the night, but if you're a less wriggly sleeper than me, you might have more success!

Specifications

• Best for: anti-wrinkling
• Materials: cover: 100% viscose derived from bamboo, inner: 100% polyester
• Dimensions: 45cm x 35cm x 25cm
• Care instructions: outer cover can be washed at 40 degrees
• Manufacturer sleep trial: n/a

Comfort

As I've mentioned, the first thing you're likely to notice about this pillow is its unusual shape. It resembles a starfish of sorts (minus a few limbs), and it's certainly the most oddly shaped pillow I've tested.

This unconventional shape is intended to ‘cradle your face without creasing skin to help minimise sleep lines.’ And, luckily, it comes with a pillowcase included, as there's no chance you'd get a normal rectangular pillowcase onto this pillow!

The pillowcase itself also contributes to the anti-wrinkle mission. It's made from 100% viscose ‘derived from bamboo’, and I found it felt incredibly soft to the touch, almost like silk.

Inside the cover, the pillow itself feels soft and springy, with good bounce back when squashed or pushed.

I’m a fussy pillow person; my pillow can’t be too hard, so some of the brick-like memory foam ones I’ve tested previously are too rigid for my preference, and they can’t be so soft that they don’t offer enough support for my neck and spine.

Overall, I'd say this pillow has a medium-firm feel that I felt comfortable with, but otherwise this pillow is like nothing I’ve ever tried before!

I’m usually a side sleeper, although I sometimes sleep on my back, and I usually prefer a mid-height pillow with a medium level of firmness.

When I first lay on this pillow, my initial thoughts were that the cover felt incredibly soft and smooth on my skin, but it definitely took me a moment to work out exactly how I should be lying on it!

On my back, it felt very different from my usual pillow; higher and also with a smaller surface area. I could feel the ‘arms’ on either side of my head, too, which I didn't mind, but I think could be a red flag if you suffer from any level of claustrophobia!

When I rolled onto my side, I found the unusual shape cupped my head nicely, allowing my face to fit through the gaps in the arms and my arm to nestle under what I’m going to call the arms of the pillow. This also meant that my nightly moisturiser wasn’t rubbed off.

Overall, I found it offered me enough support to keep my neck and spine in alignment when I went to sleep on my side, with the added benefit of making sure my face wasn’t squashed.

However, I could feel the ‘arms’ pressing against my chin and forehead, though when lying on my side, which I didn’t love. Plus, on some of the nights that I slept on this pillow, I woke up to find that my face had moved from the original position, and I was either off the pillow completely or had my face squashed into it like my normal pillow. Whether that’s a reflection of me being a wriggly sleeper or the pillow itself, I’m not sure!

Overall, though, I found this pillow offered a good combination of comfort and support, and it didn’t let my head sink too far down towards the mattress.

Anti-wrinkle powers

One of the unique selling points of this pillow is that Dunelm describes it as an ‘anti-wrinkle’ pillow. Apparently, this is achieved by a combination of factors, such as the ‘ergonomic’ design which ‘cradles your face without creasing skin to help minimise sleep lines,’ and helps to ‘keep creams and oils on your face and not on your pillowcase’, plus the silky pillowcase that ‘helps protect hair and lashes’.

This pillow definitely felt softer and smoother on my face than my existing embossed cotton pillowcase, from which I often wake up with an imprint on my skin! And, on the mornings that I woke up on my side with my face still in the correct position between the ‘arms’ of the pillow, I did notice that my face didn’t have as many sleep lines and indents as it usually does.

However, I couldn't guarantee my head would remain in the 'right' position all night long, so on those nights I moved in my sleep, I still had a smushed face the pillow couldn't help.

Overall, my existing wrinkles definitely didn’t vanish overnight, but at 46, I wasn’t expecting miracles! However, I think that over a longer period of time, this reduction in ‘sleep lines’ and skin creasing when sleeping on it might well be more beneficial to my skin than my usual pillow.

I also liked that I could apply moisturiser before bed without it being absorbed by the pillow. The 'hole' in the pillow meant my creams absorbed into my face instead of the fabric. And as far as I’m concerned, that's definitely a good thing!

Temperature regulation

Although the pillowcase of the Dunelm Hotel Bamboo Anti-Wrinkle Pillow is made of silky viscose bamboo, which is cool to the touch, the inside of the pillow is filled with polyester, so I was a bit concerned it might make me feel hot during the night.

However, during testing, I found this pillow felt instantly cool and refreshing when I lay on it, and I didn’t wake up in the night with a sweaty neck and head like I sometimes do on my usual pillow.

My hair wasn’t damp or tangled when I woke up, like it sometimes is on my normal cotton pillowcase, either, suggesting that the fabric may, as Dunelm says, be ‘smooth and gentle on your skin and hair.’

My sons, who regularly turn their pillow over to find the cool side when getting to sleep, also loved the temperature regulation of this pillow and said it felt very cool to the touch. That said, after the initial novelty of testing it out, neither of them wanted to spend the whole night sleeping on it.

Ease of care

The Dunelm Hotel Touch of Bamboo Anti-Wrinkle pillowcase is machine washable but not suitable for ironing. It can be tumble-dried on a low heat.

The cover has a zip down the back, which makes it easy to remove, and I found it washed and dried well in my washing machine.

The only downside is that the unusual shape of the pillow and pillowcase makes it a bit fiddly and time-consuming to get the pillowcase back on after washing, so you’ll need to allow additional time for this.

Sleep trial

There's no sleep trial available on this pillow, so that does mean that once you've unboxed it it's non-returnable.

However, most of us aren't too far away from a Dunelm store, so there is the option to go test it out in person before you shop.

Value for money

Costing just £25, the Dunelm Hotel Touch of Bamboo Anti-Wrinkle Pillow is very affordable and much cheaper than many other pillows I’ve tested.

In fact, I was surprised by how affordable it is, considering how much more work must go into manufacturing its unusual shape than a standard rectangular pillow, and I thought its silky bamboo viscose cover also looked simple but luxurious.

Would I buy it again? I'm not sure. I thought its arms were clever, and the theory was good, but in practice, I found it hard to keep my head aligned in its 'cradle' all night to get the benefit of 'uncreased' skin.

It has definitely convinced me to invest in one of the best silk pillowcases, so I continue to enjoy the smoothing benefits of a non-cotton pillowcase, though!

How I tested

In order to test out this pillow, I slept on it for two weeks on my own bed to assess its comfort, temperature regulation, and those anti-wrinkle claims. I also assessed its ease of care, any sleep trials available, and how it compares to similar products on the market to see if it offered good value for money.

As I was putting the Silentnight Airmax Pro360 Pedestal Fan through its paces in my home, it was unseasonably warm, with temperatures around the 20°C mark. So I was feeling very lucky that it's literally my job to review cooling products to determine the best fans you can buy.

I was particularly keen to try out the Silentnight fan as it claimed to be very quiet and had a price tag of under £100.

This is what it was like to use, and ultimately whether I would recommend it.

In a nutshell

I'm a big believer in that you get what you pay for when it comes to fans, with the best functionality and looks usually coming in at well over £100. But having said that, I was definitely impressed by the Silentnight Airmax Pro360 Pedestal Fan, which is available for under £100.

It's very quiet, offers a good range of wind speeds and oscillation, while also being very easy to use. On those factors, it can definitely hold it's own against more premium fans that command a much higher price point.

However, with the lower price point, it is missing some of the design considerations that make more expensive models so worth their money. It doesn't feel as premium as other fans I've tested, the power button on the remote feels like it's in the wrong place, and, while height adjustable, the height options achievable based on the chosen configuration don't feel optimum.

Specification

• Type of fan: Pedestal (but adaptable to desktop)
• RRP: £99
• Weight: 3.5kg
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 32.5 x 63-93 x 32.6cm
• Wattage: 30W
• Wind speed (metres per second): 1.2-4.9m/s
• Running costs per hour (based on energy price cap at the time of writing): 0.74p/kWh
• Number of fan speed settings: 12
• Noise in dB: 31-66dB (based on my measurements)
• Smart features: None
• Dual functionality: None
• Oscillation: Multidirectional (140° horizontal, 90° vertical)

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The fan arrived in a carboard box, with the fan parts enclosed in inflated packaging, which could be recycled. A little assembly is needed to attach the fan head to the base via the poles, but in my experience, this is quick to put together (it's where you have to assemble the fan head itself that things can get a bit fiddly.

As I unpacked the pieces, I was initially struck by how light the pieces were, including the base. Would it be be weighty enough to keep the fan stable? I was curious to find out.

In the packaging, you get the fan base, two poles (which allow you to choose either a desktop or pedestal height — more on that later), the fan head, power cable, remote control and an instruction manual. While most of the packaging was really easy to remove, I did struggle when it came to the packaging around the power cable. It was fixed quite tightly using sticky tape, which made it very fiddly to remove.

But once that was done, it only took me a couple of minutes to get the fan assembled and ready to go. It does require a screw in the base to fix the pole, which I largely managed to do with my fingers, but I did give it a tighten with a screwdriver. Depending on how tall you want it, you screw one pole into the base, screw in the second pole if you want a pedestal fan height, and then screw on the fan head. Then I just needed to attach the power cable and pop the batteries in the remote.

When assembled in pedestal mode, I noticed it was considerably shorter than other fans I'd tested (93cm compared to the almost 110cm of the Meaco Sefte 10'' Pedestal Air Circulator), so I was keen to see how that difference would impact my use of the fan in practise.

What's it like to use?

Moving the fan into position was really easy due to it's light weight - in fact it's the lightest of the fans I've tested. I could hold on to the stem, or slot my fingers into a groove on the back of the fan head, and lift it one handed with ease.

But while it's weight is definitely an advantage in terms of portability, it does mean that the fan doesn't quite feel as premium as some of the heavier fans I've used. However, considering this fan has an RRP of under £100, and the weight didn't impact the functionality of the fan, it's not put me off too much.

That aside, this fan could really hold it's own against other fans I've put through their paces. Firstly, it's really quiet. I clocked it at 31dB in the lowest power mode, which was barely audible. Out of the 12 wind speeds, I found the first 4 to all be really quiet, with speeds 5 and upwards making a bit more noise, up to 66dB at top speed. That's equivalent to a chat with friends.

Secondly, it's got a decent spread of wind speeds. The lowest setting has a wind speed of a very gentle 1.2metres/second (m/s), which is very pleasant on the skin. While it reaches a top wind speed of 4.9m/s, which is actually more powerful than the top speed settings of other fans we've tested (I've broken this down in our best fans guide, linked above), I couldn't feel the difference between some of the middle speed settings, despite my anemometer registering different wind speeds.

It's also really easy to use. While it doesn't offer app control (which definitely isn't a dealbreaker for me), it does have both a remote and on-board controls that are pretty self explanatory. Via both, you can select the mode, wind speed, oscillation and set a timer.

The only thing that would be a tiny niggle on my part is that the power on button on the remote is not in the top right or left corners, which is unlike any other fan remote I've used (or TV remotes for that matter). Instead, the power button is the lowest button down on the remote. While you would definitely get used to this over time, multiple times during testing when I intended to turn the fan off, I instead unintentionally set the timer.

I enjoyed using this fan in the bedroom thanks to its low volume and gentle wind speed in lower settings and the timer function, which meant I didn't have to worry about switching it off before falling asleep. While I could determine the night settings myself, I also really liked the night mode. This mode automatically puts the fan on speed 4 for 15 minutes, before dropping it to speed 2 until you or your timer switches it off. I'm not particularly sensitive to light while I'm sleeping, but I did like that whatever mode the fan is in, the display switches off after a minute or so, so you don't have to worry about being kept awake by the lights.

In addition to a normal mode, it also has a very nice Natural Wind mode (which you can only use with speeds 1-5) that mimics the feeling of a real breeze, and is very pleasant.

While the fan was easy to use and created a lovely customisable breeze, the height of the fan felt a little off to me, compared to other fans I'd tested. It felt too tall in desktop mode (despite me using the shorter of the two poles to attach the head to the base) and I could feel the air being blown over my head when I had it on my desk while working. At the same time, it felt not quite tall enough in pedestal mode next to my desk where, unless I had the vertical oscillation on, it was blowing at my torso rather than near my face. For me, the pedestal height wasn't a problem in the bedroom when I was lying down, but this could be if you had a higher bed. I did try it in desktop mode on my bedside table too, but it's scope of oscillation doesn't angle the fan head downwards so it was blowing over me, and I couldn't feel the effects at all.

It also starts in speed 5 by default, and doesn't remember the speed you had it on when you turned it off, which I found a bit annoying, especially when I was using it at night. While it's not challenging to turn it down to a lower speed, it grated a bit doing it every single time I put the fan on.

Running costs

Using just 30W of power, the Silentnight Airmax Pro 360 fan is not an energy guzzler by any means. It'll cost around 0.7p per hour to run based on the April 2026 energy price cap of 24.67p per kWh of electricity.

But while it doesn't use loads of energy, this fan uses more than other fan's we've tested. The Duux Whisper 3, for example, uses between just 1.6 and 19W.

Cleaning and maintenance

This Silentnight fan didn't get particularly dirty during testing, so a gentle dust with a soft, damp cloth was all that was needed to keep it looking it's best and performing well (just make sure it's unplugged before you clean it).

When it comes to storing the fan when not in use, Silentnight recommends to keep it somewhere safe and dry, and to protect the fan head from dust build up. They recommend to store it in the original packaging, but if you don't still have it, you could pop an old pillow case over the fan head to keep it dust free.

Who should buy this fan?

If you're looking for a super quiet fan for under £100, then I'd definitely recommend the Silentnight Airmax Pro360. It offers a broad range of windspeeds and three modes that mean you can customise it to your personalised comfort levels pretty easily.

If you did have a bit more to spend and wanted even more customisation, the Duux Whisper 3 is even quieter, offers better height adjusting, and comes in a couple of neutral colourways that give it a premium look.

For better air circulation, you can't go wrong with the Meaco Sefte 10'' Pedestal Air Circulator, which reaches wind speeds of 5.2m/s in it's top setting, and oscillates even further to reach every corner of your space.

Every spring, my garden appears to have morphed into something resembling Shrek’s swamp, thanks to a circle of overarching fir trees. They shed a fine green film over absolutely everything – patio, steps, fencing, even the car, if it’s been sitting still for more than five minutes.

So, armed with the Kärcher K5 Comfort Premium, RRP £379, available at Argos, I set about reclaiming my outdoor space over a solid two-week test period in Spring. I used it on my driveway, natural stone steps, timber fencing and, perhaps most satisfyingly, my very grubby car.

This model sits in that tempting middle ground: more powerful than entry-level machines but not quite in pro territory. I’ve reviewed several of the best pressure washers over the years, and the only one that beats the K5 Comfort Premium is Stihl’s RE 120 Plus.

But while the Stihl may still have my heart, it’s fair to say I was very impressed by this washer overall. Setup is quick, the cleaning results are instantly gratifying, and it makes deeply unglamorous jobs feel weirdly enjoyable. That said, you do need to respect its 145 bar power, especially on painted or more delicate surfaces. Unless you fancy adding “touch-up work” to your weekend plans, as I now have.

From snapping it together in minutes to blasting through weeks of garden grime and giving the car a much-needed glow-up, I’ve properly put the K5 through its paces. At £379, it’s not wildly expensive, but there are cheaper options in the pressure washer market – find out if I think it justifies that little extra spend.

Specifications

• Model number: Kärcher K5 Comfort Premium
• Dimensions (cm): H66.8 x W34.6 x L41.7
• Voltage: 230 - 240
• Wattage: 2.1kw
• Weight: 13.8kg
• Cable length: 5m
• Hose length: 10m
• Pressure (max): 145 bar
• Flow rate (max): 550L
• Nozzles: 4-in-1 multi-jet spray
• Accessories: Detergent dispenser attachment

In a nutshell

The Kärcher K5 Comfort Premium is a powerful, mid-range pressure washer that makes light work of everyday outdoor grime. It’s particularly strong on versatility, thanks to the 4-in-1 multi-jet lance, which lets you switch between spray types without faffing around with attachments mid-clean. The detergent system is equally flexible, offering two ways to apply soap depending on your preference.

Performance is where it really excels. It delivers fast, visible results on everything from cars to stonework. However, that power needs a cautious hand, as it can strip paint or damage softer materials if you go in too aggressively. Obviously, you can switch to a gentler spray. I’m just warning you to tread carefully (not follow my lead at go at everything with the max power rotary spray mode!).

Add in decent onboard storage, a long hose and comfortable trigger mechanism, and it’s a highly capable all-rounder with just a couple of usability quirks. It comes with a 5-year guarantee.

Kärcher K5 Comfort Premium: Unboxing and delivery

Straight out of the box, this felt like a serious bit of kit. It’s fairly heavy, but that weight translates into a sturdy, well-built machine rather than anything flimsy or plasticky.

Assembly was impressively straightforward. I didn’t really need the instructions (always a personal benchmark), but I checked them anyway, and they’re clear and easy to follow if you prefer step-by-step guidance. Everything clicks or slots into place in a logical manner and without too much effort.

The telescopic handle is slightly clunky to extend, but once it’s up, it sits at a comfortable height – even for taller users (I’m 5’ 10). Moving it around the garden is manageable thanks to the wheels, though you’ll notice the weight if you have to lift it.

Storage is well thought out. There are dedicated slots for the lance and handle, the detergent bottle clips neatly onto the side, and both the hose and power cable wind onto the unit. In theory, this keeps everything tidy. In practice, the hose did my head in, but more on that later.

Who will the Kärcher K5 Comfort Premium suit?

If your outdoor space regularly takes a beating – think algae-coated patios, grubby cars, green-tinged fencing and garden furniture you forgot to store away over winter – the Kärcher K5 Comfort Premium will be just the ticket.

It’s ideal for busy households, pet owners, or anyone who’d rather blast dirt away than scrub it off by hand. I’d say it’s probably overkill for the occasional quick rinse-down or smaller spaces. You’ll get the most from it if you’ve got a decent amount to clean and the strength to handle something with a lot of power.

Using the Kärcher K5 Comfort Premium

This is very much a plug-and-go situation – no head-scratching construction or complicated accessories, just click, connect, and you’re off. There is a vague mention of downloading an App for cleaning tips, but I’m very much a “read-the-manual” refuser and preferred to crack on to the fun part.

The Comfort Hold trigger gun is designed to reduce the effort needed to keep it running, and while it does help (you’re not death-gripping it the whole time), I still found my hand and forearm aching after about an hour of non-stop washing. There’s definitely a vibration factor at play too, so pace yourself if you’re prone to aches.

It’s also pretty loud – I clocked around 80dB on my iPhone App – and while it wheels smoothly on flat ground, hauling it up steps is a workout. And the hose? It is long, which is brilliant, but it’s not remotely tangle-free. In fact, we may have fallen out on several occasions as it determinedly wound itself into tight knots.

How did the Kärcher K5 Comfort Premium perform?

Car cleaning

I started with Trisha, my faithful Qashqai, mainly using the rotary nozzle for maximum cleaning impact – she was pure filth! If you enjoy that instant “before and after” transformation, this delivers in spades, and Trisha looked showroom clean in an impressively short amount of time (less than 15 minutes).

I tested the detergent dispenser attached directly to the lance first. There’s a handy dial to control how much soap you use, and naturally, I went full throttle to create a thick, satisfying foam layer. It comes with a bottle of universal cleaner, which I left to sit for about five minutes before rinsing off.

The results were excellent. Dirt lifted quickly, and I barely needed my usual car chamois to finish the job. It felt efficient and smug-inducing – especially when thinking about how much our local car wash costs these days.

I also tried the integrated detergent system, where the bottle clips onto the machine and you switch the lance to soap mode. This dispenses less foam but makes the lance noticeably lighter, which is helpful if you’re doing a longer session.

I suffer from weak wrists and a little RSI from years at a keyboard, so anything that helps with grip and weight-bearing is hugely welcome.

One slight mishap…in my enthusiasm with the max power rotary spray, I managed to strip a bit of paint off a section of my car roof bar. It looked awful, so I kept spraying and wiped the entire section back to black. It’s still not ideal, but I’m just relieved I wasn’t washing my husband’s much newer/posher car!

Entirely my numpty error. In the instruction booklet, it clearly states, “ATTENTION Risk of damage due to too close a spray distance or inappropriate spray type”, but a good reminder that this machine is not messing about.

Garden steps

Next up were the front steps, which, by April, had reached peak neglect. Made from natural sandstone, the dirt was deeply ingrained (probably two years’ worth if I’m honest), and not exactly the best impression given they lead to our front door.

This is where the K5 Comfort Premium really came into its own. The transformation was immediate and deeply satisfying, revealing a much lighter, fresher surface underneath.

However, using the most powerful spray mode, the sprayback was intense. On a breezy day (I had the bright idea to tackle it in 22mph winds), you will get soaked.

While most of the grime disappeared quickly, in a satisfying sea of brown sludge cascading down the steps, there were still a fair few stubborn black mildew spots remaining. I cycled through all the nozzle settings, but they didn’t fully shift.

I decided it was a job more suited to a specialist cleaner, so slapped on some of my all-time fave Wet & Forget, £26.99 at Amazon and left it to work its magic. Even so, the overall improvement was dramatic, and the kind of result that makes you immediately start eyeing up the next filthy surface.

Garden fencing

Finally, I tackled the green film coating my garden fencing – that very ugly residue courtesy of the surrounding fir trees (algae, technically, but “green gunk” feels more appropriate).

Our fence is black-painted timber, and I knew from previous clean-ups that a lighter touch was essential. As I’d learned to Trisha’s peril, the K5 Comfort Premium is powerful enough to strip paint if you’re not careful. Even on the gentlest flat stream mode, standing well back, I lost a few small patches of the black paintwork along the way, but nothing too critical.

It took a couple of passes to make a real dent in the slime, but the improvement was obvious. The frustrating part is that everything looks pristine while wet, only for some of the green to reappear once dry. Not entirely the washer’s fault, but worth knowing.

With patience and a bit of distance control, though, it was very effective and much quicker than scrubbing each fence panel by hand. Just be prepared for the odd touch-up job afterwards if your fence finish is delicate.

What's the Kärcher K5 Comfort Premium like to clean and store?

Storage is one of this machine’s strengths. Everything has a designated place, from the lance to the detergent bottle, and once packed away, it feels surprisingly compact for something so capable.

Maintenance is refreshingly low-hassle. It’s recommended to flush the system with clean water after using detergent to prevent residue build-up, and to store the unit somewhere frost-free to protect internal components. Occasional checks of the filter and connections will keep things running smoothly. Overall, nothing onerous – just a bit of basic care to keep it performing at its best.

The only downside was the integrated hose reel, which is designed to aid neat storage and appears to be a great idea, but in practice, it really wound me up. The hose is billed as tangle-free, but mine had other ideas, twisting itself into tight, stubborn knots that tested my patience. Rewinding it onto the onboard reel was hard work – fiddly, resistant and frankly, the last thing I needed after a couple of hours of pressure washing.

How does it rate online?

Across the board, Kärcher’s K5 models (there are currently 9 to choose from) tend to score highly, and this Comfort Premium version is no exception. Users consistently praise the cleaning power and the convenience of the 4-in-1 lance, which removes the need for juggling nozzle attachments mid-task.

Common complaints mirror my experience: the hose can be prone to tangling, and the reel isn’t the slickest to use. For most reports, these were minor irritations rather than deal-breakers, and on the whole, it gets rave reviews. Durability and performance are where it really earns its reputation, with many reviewers highlighting how well it handles regular, heavy use around the home.

Should you buy the Kärcher K5 Comfort Premium pressure washer?

If you’ve got more than the odd patio chair to spruce up, then yes – the Kärcher K5 Comfort Premium is a worthwhile investment. It’s powerful, quick to set up and genuinely satisfying to use, making grubby, time-consuming jobs far more efficient (and dare I say, enjoyable). It coped brilliantly with everything I threw at it, from car cleaning to deeply ingrained patio dirt.

It's not without its quirks – it’s quite heavy to carry up steps, a tad loud in max power mode, and the hose situation drove me slightly insane at times. You also need to respect the power – this isn’t one for a casual, heavy-handed blast on painted surfaces.

But if you want reliable performance and real cleaning clout, it more than earns its keep.

It’s a fairly new model, so it wasn’t available at my local Kärcher centre when I checked, but I did find it for £379 at B&Q at the time of writing, and £350 at Argos, which seems like a pretty good deal to me.

How does the Kärcher K5 Comfort Premium compare to other pressure washers?

If you’re considering stepping up, the Kärcher K7 Smart Control offers more power and smart features, making it better suited to larger areas and tougher jobs – but it’s heavier and pricier. On the flip side, the Kärcher K4 Power Control is a more affordable, lighter option for occasional use, though it doesn’t deliver quite the same deep-clean performance.

It’s also worth looking at the Kärcher K5 WCM Flex Eco Booster Car & Home, which sits at a very similar price point to the K5 Comfort Premium but comes bundled with a frankly hefty pile of accessories. That might appeal if you like having a tool for every niche job, but having tested and/or owned at least 10 pressure washers over the years, I’ve found most of those extras end up cobweb-covered at the back of the shed. In reality, not much beats the raw effectiveness of a strong, well-directed jet of water.

For me, the K5 Comfort Premium gets the balance right: fewer gimmicks, more focus on core performance.

About the review, and our reviewer

The world of robot vacuum cleaners has become a competitive place, with brands looking to out-smart and out-tech each other at every turn - and sometimes this can result in gimmicks that nobody really wants or needs. So, when Shark announced the new Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 Vac & Mop Robot Vacuum, I wondered whether they’d gone down the gimmick route.

But I don’t like to judge a book by its cover, which is why I decided to test the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal out for myself - and it instantly squashed any concerns I had. Sure, it’s not perfect, but this new robot vacuum cleaner definitely has what it takes to compete with the best robot vacuum cleaners on the market today.

In a nutshell

In all of my years of testing vacuums, I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m a fan of the best Shark vacuum cleaners. Most of the time, I find that they’re easy to use and get the job done with minimal fuss - and the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 Vac & Mop Robot Vacuum RV3000XEUK is further proof of that.

Yes, I’m under no illusion that robot vacuum cleaners can be intimidating, but this new model is anything but that. The app couldn’t be simpler, the cleaning and maintenance required is minimal and quite literally spelt out for you, and it’s smart and efficient enough to be left to its own devices without worrying about it going AWOL or bumping into furniture every five minutes.

The eight PowerDetect technologies in this robot vacuum and mop combo deliver a reliable clean every time, and it’s particularly impressive on hard flooring thanks to its three cleaning modes and wet and dry edge-cleaning features. However, it’s the UV Reveal Technology - which I previously thought would be a gimmick - that is truly the winning feature, as it’ll reveal stains you don’t even know are there.

The elephant in the room is that this is a pricier model in Shark’s robot repertoire, and it doesn’t support multi-floor mapping, which could be a dealbreaker for some. But whether you’re a prospective first-time robot vacuum cleaner owner or you’re looking to step up from your current model, I genuinely think you’ll be very happy with this robot vacuum.

Specifications

• Max. run time: 180 minutes
• Suction power: Not supplied
• Bin volume: 0.36L (bot), 1.51L (dock)
• Mop function: Yes
• Charge time: 4 hours
• Noise levels: 69-74dB (tested by us)
• Dimensions: H44.45, W36.32, D46.1cm
• Weight: 12.21kg
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

I’ve tested enough robot vacuum cleaners now to know that I shouldn’t expect a small, lightweight package to arrive on my doorstep. So, the 17.2kg box that held the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal didn’t exactly surprise me - but you might need a hand moving it inside if you have any mobility issues or can’t carry that much weight by yourself.

Inside the box, everything was encased in a cardboard scaffold for protection, and the bot was enclosed in a smaller box, while the dock and the dock base were wrapped in recyclable paper. In fact, everything was recyclable, which was a huge tick in my books.

From the get-go, I also knew that I wouldn’t struggle with assembly or getting started. That’s because everything from the stickers on the bot itself to the dock and the ‘Quick Start’ guide printed on the inside of the box gave me all of the information I needed to know. And as setting up robot vacuums for the first time can be intimidating, I really do think Shark stands out from the crowd with these additions.

To get started, I placed the dock on hard flooring in its new home - which, in my case, was my dining room - before installing the ramp, which clicked into place easily. I then attached the side brush (again, with a rather satisfying click), inserted the anti-odour cartridge into the top of the dock, and slid the robot onto the base to start charging.

With that done, I followed the instructions to fill up the clean water tank. This is where Shark impressed me once again, as the brand included a free bottle of their VacMop solution, which was originally designed for the very handy Shark VacMop, but is now compatible with many of its robot vacuums. This was a nice touch, as so many brands don’t offer a sample of their cleaning solution as standard.

The measurements are also easy to follow here. There are lines on the clean water tank indicating the water fill line, and a separate line for the cleaning solution. So, it’s impossible to go wrong during this step.

The last step of the setup process was to link the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal to the Shark Clean app and let it map out my home. This was incredibly easy to do, with the app talking me through everything and laying out exactly what it needed from me. The mapping process then took around 10 minutes, during which it mapped the entire ground floor of my house, detecting floor types and furniture it needed to avoid.

Ease of use

One thing I will say about robot vacuum cleaners is that they always vary in app complexity. But the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal is so easy to use and offers just the right amount of app customisation - making it suitable for newbies or those looking to upgrade an older model.

You can edit the map, set up a schedule, choose which room (or spot) you want to clean, and even change the cleaning mode. This includes Vacuum-only, Mopping-only, and Vacuum + Mop. Within these modes, you also have power levels - three for vacuuming (Eco, Normal and Max) and three for mopping (Eco, Normal and Max).

You can also turn off the UV Stain Detect if you want to, but I really don’t know why you’d want to, as this is one of the model’s key features - as well as one of the most impressive.

Within the ‘Settings’ category, you can also customise the robot and the dock, changing everything from the stain lights to the button sounds, pad dry duration, cleaning preferences and more. Once you’ve found what works for you and your home, it’s unlikely that you’d need to do much with these, but it’s still nice to have the options there.

One touch I really like is that you can also see the completed ‘Mission Report’ after the robot finishes cleaning. This report gives you a lowdown on the stats, from the time spent cleaning to the modes used and any stains detected.

However, my one big niggle with all of Shark’s robot vacuum cleaners is that they don’t allow for multi-floor mapping. This means that you can only store one map in the app - whether that be the upstairs or the downstairs.

It also means that you have to choose between three options. 1) You only use the robot vacuum on one floor of your house and use an alternative cleaning tool to clean any other floor. 2) You use the robot vacuum on another floor without a map or proper navigation. 3) You buy another robot vacuum for the other floors of your house.

Since there’s a very obvious section in the app to add another robot vacuum, I’m going to assume that Shark would prefer you to opt for the latter. But I do think the brand would benefit from offering customers the chance to save multiple maps, as this is something that almost every other robot vacuum brand offers in spades - especially at this price point. In fact, most offer you the chance to save up to five maps.

Aside from this, though, the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal was an absolute dream to use, and I’d go as far as to say that it’s impossible to go wrong with it.

Performance

Shark’s new robot vacuum boasts a whopping eight PowerDetect Technologies, including Dirt Detect, UV Stain Detect, HyperSonic Mopping, Floor Detect, Edge Detect, Wet Edge Detect, Automatic Mop Pickup & Object Detect. And while this sounds impressive on paper, it’s my job to test whether they’re worthwhile.

So, in keeping with our strict robot vacuum testing process, I decided to see how the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal would fare against a debris test. To do this, I threw rice and oats on the floor to test the dry suction power.

The result? Pretty impressive. The bot managed to pick up every speck of debris within 1-2 passes, and it didn’t fling it around like many robot vacuums often do. I then repeated the process on a carpet sample, and the results were still good, but it took the robot a few more passes to pick up every speck.

I then moved on to the mopping test, where I squirted tomato sauce onto the floor and watched how well it removed the wet debris. This was also a positive experience, and the robot vacuum worked hard to remove all visible debris in seconds. Thanks to the VacMop solution, there was absolutely no lingering smell left behind either.

Next up was the obstacle test, where I test a robot vacuum’s ability to both detect and navigate an obstacle it isn’t expecting. In this instance, I popped a dumbbell in its cleaning path and watched it seamlessly do both. And as you can see from the video, it still cleaned the immediate area surrounding the dumbbell without touching it once.

After it passed these tests with flying colours, I used the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal as naturally as any other customer would. And one thing that really impressed me was its ability to adjust to changes in debris level and floor type, and to remove pet hair from my rugs and carpets, as evidenced by the mountain of both human and pet hair visible in the debris chamber after cleaning.

The vacuuming mode is definitely better on hard flooring than it is on carpet or rugs, but it was still more than enough for light cleaning on softer flooring, and I felt extremely confident using it. I didn’t have to follow it around to make sure it didn’t get stuck, and its ability to lift its mop meant that I could breathe a sigh of relief that my rugs wouldn’t get wet either.

The pièce de résistance of this new Shark model, though, is the UV Reveal technology, which is truly remarkable. After all, I obsessively clean my floors as Ideal Home’s Floorcare Expert, and I’d say that they look incredibly clean.

On its first proper clean of the downstairs of my house, though, the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal uncovered four hidden stains that were completely invisible to the naked eye. And when it found these spots with its UV light, it worked hard to remove them with HyperSonic Mopping. This was actually quite fun to watch, as the bot would mop around in circles until it was confident it had removed the stains.

Cleaning and maintenance

Robot vacuum cleaners with docks are far superior to those that don’t have them, and the dock that comes with Shark’s PowerDetect UV Reveal model is proof of that. This is the kind of dock that does everything for you; it’s self-emptying, self-refilling and self-cleaning. In fact, it automatically washes and sanitises the mop pad with hot 85°C water, then dries it with 80°C air to prevent bacterial or mould growth.

Unlike many other robot vacuums, it also empties the dust into a bagless base, preventing the need to buy replacement bags in the future. One thing I do question is the ‘60-day capacity’, though, as I had almost completely filled mine up during the two-week testing period.

However, it is worth noting that I used it every single day (and sometimes twice daily) and performed specific tests with lots of debris that could have impacted this. I also have a new rug that sheds like crazy right now, so it’s hard to judge this exact claim, as there are so many factors at play, including how often you use the robot vacuum and how much debris you’re vacuuming up.

Nevertheless, I do think the 0.36L dust capacity on the bot and the 1.51L capacity on the dock are enough to ensure it remains as hands-off as possible for a couple of weeks, which is still better than emptying it after every use.

One thing I also appreciated was that the base maintenance requirements were printed on the inside of the dock’s lid. This includes refilling and emptying the clean and dirty water tanks after every four mop missions or as needed, emptying the dust bin, cleaning the pre-motor filter (located on the top of the dock) every 30 days or as needed, and the post-motor filter (located on the left-hand side of the dock) every six months or as needed.

Shark also advises replacing the odour puck every six months, and these can be bought directly from Shark for £15.99 for a pack of 2. You can also buy a 2L refill of the Shark VacMop solution for £14.99 from Shark - but this isn’t necessary if you just want to use water instead.

Of course, Shark includes only one spare part with the PowerDetect UV Reveal as standard: a spare side brush. This means you will need to replace items like the mop pad and filters over time, but you can turn on notifications in the app to let you know when they need replacing.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention that the bot gets ridiculously dirty during use. I tested the black colourway, and it seemed to pick up a huge amount of dust and hair that needed to be wiped off after every use. So, just be prepared to do that with a clean cloth.

How does it rate online?

The Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 Vac & Mop Robot Vacuum is a relatively new addition to the Shark family, but it already has an impressive set of reviews on the Shark website. At the time of writing, it has 43 reviews with an overall rating of 4.8 stars out of 5.

So many customers love how hands-off this robot vacuum is, saying it offers impressive cleaning and navigation, meaning they can leave it to its own devices without worrying about it getting stuck or hitting obstacles. They also found the cleaning solution to be a handy extra and believe the UV reveal functionality to be a worthwhile investment.

Some have criticised the robot vacuum's edge cleaning, stating that it hasn’t always cleaned right up to the edges of their rooms or furniture, and noting that it performs better on hard floors than on thicker carpets and rugs.

However, it is important to note that almost all of the reviews on the website so far have been written by those who received a free product from Shark for testing purposes. They are not obligated to give a positive review, but bear in mind that this may impact their rating. Because of this, I will update this section when more paying customers have reviewed it.

How does it compare to similar models?

I’ve previously tested the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch 2-in-1 RV2800YEUK, which is sadly no longer available to buy. Both models were very similar, and I also praised this model for its ease of use and cleaning.

However, there’s no denying that the UV Reveal offers a step-up in stain-detection technology and all PowerDetect features. I also think it looks a lot sleeker and more expensive - which, of course, it is. But even if the NeverTouch was still available to buy, I’d still recommend the UV Reveal as the better option.

It’s also worth comparing it to the similarly priced Roborock Saros 20, which I tested just a week before this one, as these two models couldn’t be more different. On the one hand, the Shark is simple to use and offers a little bit of customisation without being overwhelming.

On the other hand, the Saros 20 offers so much choice it could be a little too much for the everyday user. The features available are complex and ideal for those who really want to get stuck in with their cleaning efforts - especially as it’s also the most powerful robot vacuum I’ve ever tested - but it will suit those who are already extremely familiar with robot vacuums.

So, it really depends on what you’re after. If you’d prefer a simple, easy-to-use robot vacuum that will get the job done fairly well, the Shark is your best bet. If you want to ensure a precise, customised clean every time, the Roborock could be a better choice.

Verdict: Should you buy the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 Vac & Mop Robot Vacuum RV3000XEUK?

Testing the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 Vac & Mop Robot Vacuum was genuinely an enjoyable experience - something that isn’t always the case with these appliances. So much so that I’m writing this almost a week after my testing period was supposed to end, and I’m still using it as my day-to-day robot vacuum.

This is largely because it really does offer the best of both worlds - an effective clean with minimal fuss or hands-on input. It gets the job done quickly and efficiently, while navigating homes, obstacles and hidden stains with ease.

Because of this, I do think the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal is a good investment. Admittedly, it is on the more expensive end of the spectrum, but for what you get, I do think it’s worth it… as long as you’re willing to overlook the fact that you can only save one map.

I feel like it is important to begin this review by saying that I haven't tested this type of unit before so I really did step into the process not knowing what to expect. However, as the owner of an old house with first floor, vaulted bedrooms that can get unbearably hot thanks to the poorly insulated roof, I was keen to see what the best portable air conditioners could offer me – and whether the VonHaus Air Conditioning Unit 9000 BTU was going to live up to my hopes.

This unit combines air conditioning with fan and dehumidifier modes and, in the past I have tested some of the best fans and dehumidifiers, so I was keen to see what it could offer in these departments too.

While summer hasn't quite hit here yet, I was still able to get a good idea of the cooling capabilities of this unit thanks to a few unseasonably warm spring days – here's how I got on.

In a nutshell

Combining air conditioner, fan and dehumidifier in one, where this unit really comes into its own is its ability to cool even large rooms down really quickly. It is heavy and instructions for set-up might be a little sketchy but when it comes to lowering the temperature in my son's over-heating-prone bedroom, I couldn't have asked for more.

About your tester

Specification

• Cooling capacity (BTU): 9000BTU
• Recommended room size: Up to 18m²
• Noise levels in cooling mode: 65dB
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 30.3cm x 67.3cm x 28.9cm
• Weight: 22kg
• Wattage: 1005W
• Functions: Air conditioner, fan, dehumidifier
• Other features: Timer, 'night' mode, remote control
• Window kit included: Yes

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

This was my first time testing any kind of air conditioning unit so I was a little unsure of what to expect in terms of how portable air conditioners work. Given that this model combines an air conditioner with a fan and dehumidifier, I kind of thought it would be a similar set-up to when I've tested these types of products – it wasn't.

Firstly, it is really heavy and, when boxed, pretty unwieldly – I had to get my teenage son to help me get it off the doorstep and into the house, and then upstairs where I planned on testing it in his bedroom.

Then came the unboxing. There was a fair amount of packaging in the box, but it was mainly cardboard which can be recycled easily. Getting the actual unit out was a bit of a struggle given its weight, but I got there in the end.

Now to the part that, personally, I found really tricky – setting the unit up to use as an air conditioner. Before I could even think about using the machine I needed to fit the window kit that came included as it needs to be vented to outside. You can use this kit with sliding windows or hinged, like mine. The main issue lay in the rather confusing instructions rather than with the kit itself, which is made up of a large sheet of fabric with a zip down the middle. Basically, you use self-adhesive Velcro strips to attach it to the window frame and the window itself so that you can open the window to let the exhaust hose vent to outside yet keep everything else sealed up.

After I'd looked at the instructions a fair few times, I found a video online that took me through the steps and, eventually, set-up was complete – for context this took the best part of an hour. After this, things were plain sailing.

What’s it like to use?

The window kit fiasco was something I wish I'd known before buying an air conditioner but, after the initial set-up, this unit is super simple to use via the control panel on the unit itself or with the remote control. It is easy to switch between the three different modes – fan, dehumidifier and air conditioner – as well as to change the temperature and speed settings. There is also an uncomplicated timer that means you can look forward to a nice cool room when you've been out and about.

My son's room measures just under 11m² and this unit can cool spaces up to 18m². I set it to cooling mode, closed the door and left it to get to work. When I came back around 15 minutes later the room was lovely and fresh – not uncomfortably so, but just right and perfect for a hot summer's night.

I also tested the fan mode – both the low and high speeds offered powerful blasts of air, although you should be aware that this is simply circulated air as opposed to cooled – just as with a standard fan. One of the negatives I found was that there is no oscillating option. Instead, you manually adjust the louvres to direct the air where you want it – definitely something to note.

When it came to the dehumidifier, I did feel it was lacking a couple of functions. I have a Meaco dehumidifier that works brilliantly and comes with all kinds of useful features to look out for when choosing a dehumidifier, including a humidity indicator, removable water tank and oscillating fan that can be used in laundry mode to get clothes dry faster. The VonHaus unit has none of these – the main negative for me is the lack of water tank. You have to connect a drainage pipe and direct it into a container such as a bowl or bucket instead.

Water drainage is also something to note when using the unit as an air conditioner. When full, an alarm sounds, meaning the integrated water container needs to be emptied. However, it isn't removable so you need to attach the drainage hose to an outlet near the base of the unit. This outlet is really close to the ground which makes getting any kind of vessel other than a baking sheet underneath it to catch the water really tricky.

And, finally, if there is one thing to know before installing air conditioning it is the associated noise levels. I had expected an air conditioning unit to be a little noisy, but I have to say, this one was more boisterous than anticipated. Using a decibel app on my phone I got a reading of 67.7dB on high speed and, to be honest, this is comparable to my vacuum cleaner – I'm imagining this could be too much for many people to sleep with. I had assumed that selecting the 'sleep mode' would quieten things down but actually it works by automatically increasing the pre-set temperature by 1°C after one hour, then another 1°C after the second hour and dims the control panel light.

All that said, if you had the air conditioning running prior to going to bed, it would do a great job of cooling the space down ready for a sweat-free slumber. Even after returning to my son's room after the unit had been off for some time, it had stayed cool.

Running costs

The portable air conditioning running costs of this unit came out lower than I expected, although this will obviously depend on the power setting you use, the length of time you use it and your electricity costs.

Based on the April 2026 energy price cap figure of 24.67p per kilowatt hour, to run the air conditioner for one hour costs roughly 25p.

I don't know about you, but I would be quite happy to pay that to cool down the rooms upstairs in our house which can become uncomfortably hot in the midst of summer making a good night's sleep nigh on impossible.

Cleaning and maintenance

As I mentioned, emptying the water from the tank can be a bit of a struggle and you have to take care of the water produced in dehumidifying mode yourself. Other than that though, maintenance and cleaning are really easy. The filter does need to be cleaned from time to time and you will need to remove a couple of screws in order to do this.

The unit can be moved from room-to-room easily once up and running thanks to the castors it sits on and its carry handle.

The most important thing to consider, as part of looking at whether it is worth fitting air conditioning in the UK as whole, is where you will store this air conditioning unit when not in use. It is quite large and needs to be kept upright in a dry, well-ventilated area, ideally indoors. It also needs to be emptied of all water and allowed to dry out so that it doesn't accumulate mould while not in use.

What do other online reviews say?

Online reviews are generally really positive, with users praising how quickly and effectively it cools spaces down.

A fair few reviews mentioned noise levels, stating they would find it hard to sleep with this running in the background, although if you are using it elsewhere in the house, such as in a living space or for trying to cool down a hot kitchen, this wouldn't be so much of an issue.

And, finally, a few people were a little baffled by the size of the fabric section of the window seal and, like me, found it a bit fiddly to fit.

Who should buy this product?

I've thought long and hard about how often I will use this and how useful it will be long-term. For the last couple of summers, finding ways to keep bedrooms cool has been a priority and they really have become pretty unbearable on a hot night. This really would make a huge difference in that respect. Personally, I probably wouldn't mind the running noise too much, but for some people it would definitely be too much. The solution would be to let it blast for a while prior to bedtime with the door closed.

I think where it would really come into its own, though, is in a hot, stuffy living space or kitchen diner where the noise wouldn't matter too much. It would be particularly useful if you had pets who were finding the heat too much too.

I also think that anyone who works from home, looking at planning the perfect work space, would benefit from placing this in their home office where both the fan and the air con would come in handy on a hot day.

I'm already a fully signed-up member to the temperature-regulating benefits of wool bedding as someone who feels the cold when they first get into bed, but often wakes up a sweaty mess. I was delighted to put Soak & Sleep's New Zealand Mitchell Wool Mattress Topper to the test to see if it could compete with the best mattress toppers and elevate my own sleep, while also making my sofa bed more comfortable for guests.

In a nutshell

The Soak & Sleep wool mattress topper is a strong contender for the best cooling mattress topper. Made out of 100% New Zealand Wool, it is designed to regulate your body temperature and even help with allergies. The biggest improvement I noticed in my sleep was that I was no longer waking up sweating or needing to stick a leg out of the bed to cool down.

However, the topper is slim at 2.5cm deep, and only offers a little extra soft cushioning on top of a mattress. Its limitations in the comfort department became most clear when I tested it on my sofa bed, where it didn't feel that different to just laying an extra duvet under the bottom sheet.

It isn't expensive for a mattress topper at £130 for the double size, but it does feel like a big spend on something so thin that it feels more in keeping with an extra-thick mattress protector. Still, it is well-made and comes with a 5-year guarantee. I also have to commend the elastic straps; this topper does not budge an inch when on a bed.

Specifications

• RRP: £130, £150, £170
• Sizes: Double, King, Super King
• Depth: 2.5cm
• Construction: 233TC Cotton Casting, 100% New Zealand Wool filling
• Care instructions: Machine washable, but professional wash and dry recommended
• Manufacturer sleep trial: No
• Guarantee: 5 years

Who tested

Unboxing and first impressions

The Soak & Sleep New Zealand wool mattress topper arrived in a square plastic and fabric zip bag with handles. The topper is only 2.5cm deep, so it could be folded up to fit in the bag again if you wanted to store it away at a later date.

The topper didn't require any expansion time like other deep mattress toppers that arrive vacuum-packed. It just needed to be shaken out and could go straight onto the bed.

The thinness made the topper appear more like a generous mattress protector than a traditional mattress topper. It felt like handling a winter duvet, but a bit springier thanks to the 100% wool filling. The topper has an even flat profile thanks to its quilted design that was undetectable once a bed sheet was on top.

My favourite feature (aside from the wool filling) was the thick elastic straps that hold the topper in place around the corners of the mattress. I have had many bad experiences with slipping mattress protectors and toppers with flimsy straps. These straps do not budge. For the first time in months, my bottom sheet stayed firmly in place, helped by this new topper.

In the four months I've been testing it, the straps still feel secure and strong with no signs of stretching, despite being moved back and forth onto a sofa bed when guests have visited.

I was warned that a wool mattress topper can give off a 'sheep' smell rather than the off-gassing smell other toppers have. However, when I unpacked it, I noted no particular smell at all, which meant I didn't need to air it out before sleeping on it.

Comfort

Soak & Sleep refer to the New Zealand Mitchell Mattress Topper as offering a 'fine layer of comfort'. This is the best way to put it. My mattress certainly felt more comfortable with a topper on it; it added a soft, springy top layer. However, the 2.5cm depth isn't deep enough to offer the additional pillowy softness that you get with something like the Woolroom Deluxe mattress topper, which is also made out of 100% wool, but is a little deeper at 4-5cm.

This became even clearer when I tested it out on my Haru sofa bed from Made.com. This sofa bed has a very uncomfortable bar running along the middle that hits most guests in the back. The topper eased this discomfort by offering additional padding on the bed; however, if you are looking for a mattress topper to make a sofa bed more comfortable, I'd go for something thicker, like the Panda mattress topper, which has memory foam and is 5cm deep and comes in a wide range of sizes, or the Emma Flip mattress topper, which is 6cm deep.

The Soak & Sleep mattress topper is about half the depth of many other luxury mattress toppers on the market, so it struggles to compete with the level of cushioning other toppers can provide, and it offers zero motion isolation.

But it delivers comfort in other areas. Its quilted surface stops the wool from bunching up in any way, creating a lovely, smooth and even sleep surface. The wool filling also offered me just enough cushioning for my knees, hips and lower back, which helped ease any aches and pains I had.

Temperature regulation

This is the main USP of the New Zealand wool mattress topper, wool is not only naturally hypoallergenic (great news if you suffer from allergies). But it also has natural temperature-regulating properties. The wool absorbs and releases humidity to help you sleep at the perfect temperature.

I had already switched to an almost entirely wool bedding set up a few years ago as a sleeper who often overheats and suffers from night sweats. I honestly can't recommend wool enough as a sleep material. I no longer switch between summer and winter bedding as the wool bedding keeps me warm in winter (without night sweats) and cool in summer.

The topper was the missing piece of the puzzle, as I was also still suffering the occasional sweaty night with my old wool bedding set-up, but since adding this topper to my bed, I haven't woken up a single time from overheating.

At one point, I naively hoped I'd just outgrown my night sweats. However, a few stays in different posh hotels and at friends' houses, where I immediately started to overheat in bed, were enough to convince me this was not the case. In fact, it was just a testament to how effective the Soak & Sleep mattress topper was at keeping me cool at night.

Care instructions

Soak and Sleep recommends that you use a mattress protector on top of the topper to protect it from any spills or stains. They also suggest shaking it out once a week or every time you change the sheets to redistribute the filling and turn it regularly.

The wool topper does require regular washing - about every 6 months. However, while it is machine washable, you need a tumble dryer to ensure the topper is bone dry after washing, as Soak and Sleep warns that even the slightest bit of moisture can cause the filling to clump. It is for this reason and due to the size of the topper, which has to be washed in its entirety, that they recommend getting it professionally washed and dried.

I don't have a tumble dryer at home so was unable to machine wash the topper myself. Most mattress toppers we've tested either require dry cleaning or can only have the cover washed. So even though it will require professional washing, it's one of the easier to care for toppers we've tested at Ideal Home.

Value for money

While this mattress topper might be called 'luxury' with prices starting at £130 for a double, it's actually quite an affordable cooling mattress topper. In comparison, the Simba Hybrid Mattress Topper will set you back £314, and the Woolroom mattress topper will cost you £269 for a double.

However, both of these toppers are about double the thickness of the Soak & Sleep wool mattress topper. Plus, both come with sleep trials, which allow you to test out whether the topper improves your sleep before committing to keeping it, which sadly, Soak & Sleep's topper does not.

The brand has worked out that the cost per use of this mattress topper should work out at 4p per sleep over the course of 2 years. That could well be worth it if you're simply looking for a cooler sleep, but I would consider this mattress topper more of a turbocharged mattress protector; so, for its thickness, I would say that it's expensive.

Should you buy the Soak & Sleep New Zealand wool mattress topper?

Overall, I have enjoyed sleeping on the Soak and Sleep mattress topper. It has put an end to my overheating in bed and adds a lovely extra layer of luxurious cushioning to my mattress. It is really well made and comes with a 5 year guarantee, so it is built to last. However, I wouldn't recommend this mattress topper if you're looking to add extra support to your current mattress or a sofa bed.

You should buy if:

• You overheat at night
• Only want a thin layer of extra cushioning
• You have a tumble dryer/access to a professional cleaner

You should not buy if:

• You need something more supportive
• You have a single or small double bed/sofa bed
• You need to be able to clean the cover regularly

A few years ago, robot vacuums were clunky appliances that would often create more problems than they solved. Fast forward to today, and robot vacuum cleaners are on a whole new level. They're more popular than ever, and they're also more powerful than ever.

Enter: the Roborock Saros 20 Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Mop. As the brand's new flagship model, it claims to be its most powerful robot vacuum to date. And as Ideal Home's Certified Expert in Vacuums, I took it upon myself to test that claim. And whether it deserves a place in my best robot vacuum cleaners guide. This is everything you need to know.

In a nutshell

With 36,000Pa of suction power, the Roborock Saros 20 officially takes the crown as the most powerful robot vacuum cleaner I've ever tested.... and by a hefty margin, too. It was this suction power, combined with the impressive rotating mop pads, that resulted in efficient, effective cleaning of all floors during testing.

Equipped with all of the smart technology you could want, it can successfully map out a home, detect and recognise over 300 obstacles to avoid collisions, clean under furniture thanks to its low profile, and even use its extendable mop pads to clean right up to the edge of each room. The new AdaptiLift Chassis also helps it glide over high thresholds with ease.

However, that’s a drop in the water when you consider all of the other features and customisation options this robot vacuum and mop combo offers. This means that you can easily tailor it to your home and needs, making it an extension of yourself as it cleans your space. Then, the auto-empty dock will continue the hard work by charging, emptying, refilling, and drying the relevant components.

And while there are many benefits to this all-powerful robot vacuum, the Roborock Saros 20 isn’t perfect. For a high-ticket appliance, I was a little miffed to find that there wasn't any cleaning solution provided, and there’s no denying it could be overkill for the everyday user who just wants a robot vacuum cleaner that’ll get the job done with minimal app interaction.

Because of this, I’d say it suits those looking to upgrade an older model, rather than first-timers looking to finally add their first robot vacuum cleaner to the mix.

Specifications

• Max. run time: 200 mins
• Suction power: 36,000Pa
• Bin volume: 2L
• Mop function: Yes
• Multi-level mapping: Yes
• Charge time: 2.5 hours
• Noise levels: 63dB in use (tested by us)
• Dimensions: 47.5L x 48.8W x 38.1H cm
• Weight: 16.05kg
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Siri

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

Like almost every other robot vacuum cleaner I’ve tested, the Roborock Saros 20 arrived on my doorstep in a rather large and hefty box. At 21kg, it wasn’t exactly easy for me to carry over the threshold, but Roborock has at least made it more efficient by adding built-in handles on the sides of the box.

Inside the main box, the components were split into two: the bot, dock base, mop pads, and the instruction manual were encased in a smaller box (protected by a cardboard scaffold), and the main docking station was wrapped in plastic.

Using the printed ‘Quick Start’ guide included within the box as my point of reference, I then assembled the robot vacuum by clicking the dock base to the main dock (which they have dubbed the ‘RockDock’), connecting the power cord to the back of it, and placing it in its new home. For me, this was on the hard flooring in my dining room, right underneath a plug socket.

And while you can put the Roborock Saros 20 anywhere, it’s worth noting that with all robot vacuums, you should always keep them on a hard, flat surface - and Roborock suggests keeping it 0.4m away from the nearest carpet or rug.

The disposable dust bag was already pre-installed, so I didn’t have to fiddle with it, but I did fill the clean water tank with cold water as recommended, then lifted the lid of the dirty water tank. I was pleasantly surprised to find two spare dust bags and spare roller mop pads stashed in here - a nice touch for when it’s time to replace them.

One niggle I did have was that Roborock’s instructions mention adding the cleaning solution, and there’s even space for a dedicated cleaning solution cartridge hidden behind the dust container cover. However, Roborock does not supply this. And while you can buy this Roborock 1L Floor Cleaning Solution from Amazon for £25.99, I really do think Roborock could have added a free one into the mix.

After all, this isn’t a cheap model, and the brand doesn’t recommend using any other cleaning solution. And if they’d have offered a freebie, I would definitely be more likely to continue buying it in the future.

Despite this slight grumble, I continued the setup process by downloading the Roborock app and connecting it to the robot vacuum. This took just a couple of minutes, and then I let the bot loose on its initial mapping quest, which allowed its StarSight Autonomous System 2.0, advanced 3D ToF sensors and RGB vision to understand everything it needed to know about the downstairs of my house - including different rooms, furniture, boundaries, and more. All in all, the mapping took under 10 minutes.

Ease of use

This isn’t the first Roborock robot vacuum cleaner I’ve tested, so I’m already familiar with the app. But one of the slight issues I had with the older Roborock QV 35S Robot Vacuum With Mop still holds true with this new flagship model. After all, the Roborock app and its accompanying features are extensive.

For the average person - and especially those who are new to robot vacuum cleaners - this will be overwhelming. But I am conscious that anyone dropping over £1,000 on the Roborock Saros 20 probably wouldn’t be a newbie. So, those already au fait with robot vacuum cleaners will see this customisability as a major win, rather than a negative.

As well as allowing you to set up voice commands and connect to Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Siri, the app also lets you customise your settings to suit your every need. You can set up cleaning routines, adjust the bot and dock settings, set up a schedule, edit your maps and set up no-go areas, and even turn on Do Not Disturb.

There’s not enough time in the day for me to explain all of the settings available in the app. But for me, personally, there were just too many options to choose from - especially when it came to water levels and suction power. All in all, there are five vacuum modes and a whopping 30 water flow levels for mopping, and I found myself questioning my choices more often than I’d like.

Despite this, I can appreciate how useful this could be for those who love to play around with robot vacuums and their settings. And one of my favourite features was the ‘Pin n Go’ option, which allows you to spot clean a particularly dirty area - or tackle a single spill instead of cleaning the entire floor. All you have to do is drop the pin by the mess and let it work its magic.

I also like how the AI and smart technology are the overall driving forces of this new model, but it can be easily overridden if something isn’t quite right or you’d like to edit something. It can also add a fun element into the mix, with the ‘remote viewing’ option allowing you to ‘call’ the Saros 20 and view your home through the onboard camera.

All in all, ease of use is easy enough when you know what you’re doing - but it definitely takes a lot of playing around and experimenting to get to that point.

Performance

When testing any robot vacuum, I always like to use it as naturally as possible to mimic how the everyday user would experience it. But as we take how we test vacuums at Ideal Home very seriously, I start by putting it through a series of dedicated tests.

First up is the debris test, where I throw cereal and rice on the floor to assess its suction and cleaning power - and the Roborock Saros 20 Robot Vacuum performed exceptionally well. It picked up every speck of debris that came in its path and cleaned in a predictable pattern that showcased its smart navigation technology. I wasn’t surprised, though. With 36,000PA of suction power, it was bound to be a winner.

I then moved on to the mopping test, in which I squirted some tomato sauce onto my floors (yes, this is a stinky job!) to see how well it would remove more viscous debris. Thankfully, the rotating mop pads tackled the tomato sauce in just a few passes, and there was no visible trace left behind - although, as no cleaning solution was provided, the smell lingered.

The final test was the obstacle detection test, which tests a robot vacuum’s ability to navigate around any obstacles that come in its way - an important test for average households that regularly leave things like toys, shoes and other obstacles on the floor. And once again, the Roborock Saros 20 really impressed me.

Not only did it detect and avoid the dumbbell I put in its path, but instead of veering far away from the obstacle (as some robot vacuums do), it stayed close by. This meant that it didn’t hit it, but still cleaned the immediate surrounding areas.

With these tests passed with flying colours, I then continued to use the Saros 20 as the main robot vacuum cleaner in my house for the next two weeks. And one thing that I really appreciated was the confidence that I had in it. In fact, I felt like I could happily leave it to its own devices without having to chase it around the house to make sure it wasn’t hitting anything or getting stuck.

Not only that, but the robot vacuum's slimline design meant it could easily fit under furniture. This is because this new model doesn’t have a LiDAR dome on the top, so it stands at just 79.8mm tall. This, coupled with the robot vacuum's impressive extendable arm for edge cleaning, meant that almost every inch of my house benefited from its cleaning power.

Of course, one of the Saros 20’s selling points is its ability to climb higher thresholds than its predecessors - without losing suction in the process. And while I will say that its AdaptiLift Chassis allows for better manoeuvrability over thicker rugs and floor changes, it still couldn’t clear the 4cm threshold between my living room and kitchen. However, this model is definitely the closest I’ve come to finding one that will!

All in all, I can’t really fault this robot vacuum's performance, and I did rate its cleaning power. Is it a bit overkill for the average home? Perhaps. But I guess it’s always better to have more than you need than to have too little.

Cleaning and maintenance

One of the reasons why I’ll always believe that robot vacuums are worth it is because they require so little cleaning and maintenance - and this is certainly true for the Roborock Saros 20. This is largely thanks to the large dust bag that holds up to 65 days’ worth of debris and the automatic dust-emptying system. The auto-refilling function also means that it’s always ready to mop, too.

Of course, anyone familiar with robot vacuum cleaners and mop combos will know that this isn’t anything special - but the Roborock Saros 20 doesn’t stop there. It offers so much more, making it one of the most hands-off robot vacuums I’ve ever tested.

From the 100-degree hot mop pad washing and dock self-cleaning to the 50-degree warm air mop drying, and the dust bag fresh air drying (which supposedly helps to prevent mould and odour build-up), it does all of the hard work for you. Couple that with a rapid 2.5-hour charge, and this really is a winner.

In fact, the only niggles I have with cleaning and maintenance are, once again, that no cleaning solution was provided and that the bot itself is a nightmare for fingerprint marks. But that’s something a clean cloth can tackle in no time.

How does it rate online?

The Roborock Saros 20 is still a relatively new addition to the market, so there are limited reviews available so far. At the time of writing, it has four reviews on the Roborock website, with all four of them giving the new robot vacuum a perfect 5-star review.

There are more reviews on Amazon, with 105 global ratings and an average rating of 4.2 out of 5. Overall, customers praise the suction and mopping power, stating that it offers a quick and effective clean - particularly on hard flooring.

Users also seem to love the extendable arm for cleaning edges and corners, and found the obstacle avoidance to be impressive. However, some have complained of receiving a faulty unit, which they have taken up with Roborock.

How does it compare to similar models?

It first makes sense to compare the Roborock Saros 20 with another Roborock model I’ve previously tested in my home - the Roborock QV 35S Robot Vacuum With Mop. And in terms of appearance, these two robot vacuum mop combos look almost identical.

There are some major differences, though - including the price. The QV 35S is significantly cheaper at £499.99, so it is a much more desirable price point in my opinion (especially for those just taking the plunge into robot vacuums). But if cleaning power is the determining factor when buying a new robot vacuum, the Saros 20 is definitely the better option.

The Saros 20 has almost four times the suction power of the QV 35S and way more customisability options in the app. Because of this, it’s the superior option for results.

It’s also worth comparing it to the robot vacuum I’ve currently crowned the ‘best overall’ robot vacuum cleaner - the Eufy Omni E25, which retails at £849 (but is regularly on sale for much less). In terms of suction power, Eufy offers much less at 20,000Pa, but I will say that the mopping capabilities are just as impressive.

However, I do think the Eufy is more user-friendly and offers the perfect amount of cleaning power for everyday cleaning. So, the question comes down to whether that’s enough or whether you want something a little more advanced.

Verdict: Should you buy the Roborock Saros 20?

In terms of cleaning power, I really can’t fault the Roborock Saros 20. This Roborock robot vacuum is powerful not only in suction power, but also in its mopping ability and all of the other features that help it clean a home - from the edge cleaning technology to the intelligent obstacle avoidance.

The hands-free auto-empty dock is also a major plus, requiring very little cleaning and maintenance and ensuring the robot vacuum is ready to go whenever you need it. Because of this, I do think it’s a worthy investment for those who will appreciate an efficient and complex robot vacuum that can be customised to their home and needs.

If you’re new to robot vacuums, this might not be the right option for you - unless you’re willing to put a lot of time into understanding the intricacies of the app and all of the features available.

The MeacoDry Arete One 6L, RRP £129.99 on Meaco, is the brand's newest (and smallest) model in the Arete One range. It's a compressor dehumidifier designed for smaller spaces of up to 25 square metres. I've lived with the 6L for a couple of weeks in my home, using it to tackle condensation and high levels of humidity in my period home.

The best dehumidifiers bring humidity down, stop damp in its tracks and even speed up your laundry drying time. So when I tested the MeacoDry Arete One 6L, I put it through the same checks we use for every model to see how well it handled all three - and how simple it was to live with.

At a glance

Meaco has a bit of a cult following when it comes to dehumidifiers, and it’s easy to see why. The brand is known for no-nonsense, reliable machines that suit UK homes, older, draughtier ones (like mine) included. The MeacoDry Arete One 6L is the smallest dehumidifier in the popular Arete One range, designed to keep your home feeling fresher by tackling moisture and cleaning the air at the same time., without taking up too much space.

It’s a compressor model, so it works best in rooms warmer than 15°C, and it comes with a built-in humidistat that keeps an eye on moisture levels for you. There’s also the option to pop in a HEPA filter to help clear dust and allergens, and all the parts are simple to remove and clean.

In my at-home testing, the 6L slotted naturally into daily life: it quietly kept condensation at bay in smaller rooms, freshened the air in spaces that tend to feel a bit musty, and even gave laundry-drying a noticeable boost. Like the rest of the Arete family, it’s designed to be straightforward and easy to use, and it lived up to its reputation. It was also super quiet and inexpensive to run as a dehumidifier, though, as you'll hear, it took longer than the 6-hour laundry mode feature to dry my laundry.

Specifications

• RRP: £129.99
• Type: Compressor
• Colours: Available in Pebble and Charcoal
• Extraction rate: 6L/day
• Water tank capacity: 1.8L
• Max room size recommended: 25m squared
• Noise level: 32dB – 35dB
• Power: 101W
• Dimensions: H39.5 x W28.8 x D21.4cm
• Weight: 7.9kg
• Portable?: Yes
• Automatic humidity sensor: Yes
• Continuous drain option: Yes (using standard garden hose, hose not included)
• Laundry mode: Yes
• WiFi connectivity: No
• Timer: No
• Operating temperature: 5-35 °C
• Child lock: Yes
• Filter type: Washable dust filter + free HEPA filter
• Warranty: 5 years

How I tested

I tested the MeacoDry Arete One 6L in my home for two weeks, using it in a variety of real-life situations to see how it handled everyday moisture problems.

I moved it between my landing, a small bedroom and a larger, more humid room to check how well it tackled condensation, dried laundry and improved air quality.

I used the smart laundry mode, night mode and variable humidistat, and compared the onboard humidity readings with my handheld meter to check accuracy.

I also paid close attention to noise levels, energy use and how often I needed to empty the tank.

By testing it across different rooms and tasks over a couple of weeks, I got a clear sense of where this 6L model really shines - and where it starts to reach its limits.

Unboxing

The MeacoDry Arete One arrived securely packaged in heavy-duty cardboard, which is fully recyclable. However, the dehumidifier and the plug were wrapped in protective plastic, so I had to recycle the plastic separately. Inside the box, there's a quick-start guide, a full instruction manual, and a free H13 HEPA filter for air purification.

The dehumidifier has a sturdy carry handle that slots discreetly into the top of the unit when not in use, making it easy to pick up and move around. It doesn’t include a hose for continuous drainage, though, so if that’s something you’ll need, you’ll be happy to know that the hose adapter inside the water tank lid connects to any standard garden hose.

Set-up

The electric cable provides 1.8m of flexibility, which is good, though I would have liked to have seen a cable tidy at the back of the unit to tidy away unsightly excess cable.

Getting the MeacoDry Arete One ready to operate is super straightforward, as there’s no WiFi connectivity or app to set up beforehand. Admittedly, this might turn some people off, especially if you love smart, connected devices and want to control everything from your phone. But it does make life a little easier when it comes to setting up.

First, I had to remove the bag from the HEPA filter and insert it into the back of the unit. You simply slide the combined filter case and dust filter into place, pop the HEPA filter into it, and slide the whole thing back into place.

This step is optional, since the dehumidifier already has a standard filter in place. But the additional HEPA filter means the dehumidifier acts as an air purifier while it extracts moisture, which is a win if you tend to have poor indoor air quality.

It also means that you can use your dehumidifier as an air purifier in the summer months, when humidity isn’t as much of an issue, so you get to use the device all year round and save money on buying a separate air purifier, which is a pretty great bonus feature.

Before first use, Meaco recommends leaving the dehumidifier to stand for 6 hours. This allows any refrigerant that may have shifted during transit to settle. Once that’s done, you can plug it in and press the power button.

The MeacoDry Arete One also comes with a laundry mode, night mode, and variable humidistat, which lets you set a target humidity anywhere between 40 and 70%, or opt for continuous dehumidification. The digital display clearly shows the current humidity, and all modes are accessible via the intuitive control panel at the top of the unit.

A sleep mode and child lock are also included, so you can rest easy at night without excess noise from the fans, and prevent tiny fingers from making accidental changes to settings - two small but welcome features in a family home!

It’s designed to sit right up against a wall, thanks to its inset air intake, and setup only takes a few minutes. Once turned on, the device takes about 10 minutes to accurately measure the room’s humidity before it starts working efficiently.

Overall, the whole setup was straightforward and intuitive, and the addition of the HEPA filter gives it a clever dual-purpose functionality that really impressed me.

Design

I really like the design of the MeacoDry Arete One. It’s compact enough to tuck neatly into a corner, and you can push it right up against the wall without affecting the performance. It’s definitely more attractive than most dehumidifiers, with a modern, sleek feel. The matte white casing gives it a subtle, stylish look, avoiding the shiny, utilitarian appearance you often get with other units. While I tested the charcoal design, you can also buy it in the lighter pebble design.

The water tank is simple to unclip, and at the front, there’s a clear water level indicator. On top of the device, the air output sits just below the pop-up carry handle that can be discreetly slotted back into the unit when not in use. The entire top section is finished in black matte plastic, with the control panel neatly centred for easy access. At the back, the filter housing is also finished in matte black, keeping the look consistent and understated.

Ease of use

The control panel itself is intuitive and easy to navigate. You’ve got a power button, humidity setting, smart laundry mode, and sleep mode, with the current humidity clearly displayed underneath. Just below that, four small symbols indicate which modes are active, including the child lock and water tank status.

Other thoughtful touches include a pull-up handle for easy portability, an inset air intake allowing the unit to sit flush against a wall, and a five-year warranty, which gives real confidence in the product. Overall, it’s a very easy-to-use dehumidifier that balances convenience with good functionality.

Performance

I tested the MeacoDry 6L in several spots around my home, using it for laundry, tackling condensation, and purifying the air. It didn’t just manage moisture - air quality was noticeably improved too, pulling down airborne particles into a ‘good’ range. I also checked its onboard humidistat against a handheld device and found that the humidity levels generally matched those displayed on the MeacoDry Arete One 6L control panel, which gave me more confidence in its readings.

With my tumble dryer out of action due to a product recall, I was keen to see how well the MeacoDry Arete One 6L handled laundry. I tried the dedicated laundry function beside an airing rack on my landing, but it struggled to dry clothes effectively, probably because it had to handle humidity in quite a large space.

It performed much better in a smaller bedroom with the door closed, and my standard laundry load dried fully in around 12 hours. For larger or multiple loads, you’ll likely need to run it for longer, but at just 3p per hour, it’s far cheaper to run than my heated air dryer, which would cost around three times as much, and much less than my tumble dryer.

Living in an old house, I’m used to condensation on windows and the occasional patch of mould or damp, particularly in one bedroom. I popped the MeacoDry in there at 8.30 am when the humidity was 73%. By midday, it had reduced the level to 63%, noticeably cutting condensation and helping to keep surfaces drier. A few hours later, it had pulled humidity levels down to a very respectable 53%. I was pretty happy with this result, especially in a room prone to moisture problems, so it will help reduce the risk of mould and condensation.

Overall, the MeacoDry Arete One 6L is versatile and reliable, particularly useful in smaller rooms or for short-term moisture control. That said, it’s not a quick fix for large laundry loads or very damp spaces, so expect longer run times if you’re tackling bigger jobs. Similarly, don’t expect it to dehumidify very large spaces or multiple rooms, as it’s simply not built for those types of spaces.

Energy use

If you're wondering how much it costs to run a dehumidifier, it largely comes down to the wattage of the device. The higher the wattage, the more it will cost per hour. The MeacoDry Arete One 6L is very economical in this respect. It uses around 101W at 20°C and 60% relative humidity, which works out to roughly 3p per hour based on the current electricity rate of 26.35p per kWh.

Running it for 12 hours comes to around 36p, which is far cheaper than drying a full load in my tumble dryer, which would cost at least 74p. Even my heated airer costs noticeably more at 91p for a nine-hour session. Overall, the Arete One 6L offers impressively low running costs, making it a great choice if you want to keep energy bills down while still getting your laundry dry.

Noise levels

During my testing run, I found the MeacoDry Arete One 6L to be very unobtrusive, quietly humming away in the background. It operates between 32 dB and 35 dB, depending on the fan speed, which is roughly equivalent to a quiet conversation or the background hum of a fridge. It’s far from the louder whirring you sometimes get with bigger dehumidifiers, so it’s easy to have it running without it being annoying.

I also tested it in laundry mode on my upstairs landing at night, with the bedroom door open, and it didn’t disturb my sleep at all. At lower fan settings or in night mode, the dehumidifier became almost completely indiscernible - just a soft background hum that faded into my home’s ambient noise.

The night mode is particularly useful if you don’t need to dry laundry but want the dehumidifier running quietly. It’s impressively quiet for a small, efficient dehumidifier, making it easy to leave running overnight or if you work from home.

Portability

Given that the MeacoDry Arete One 6L is a fairly small dehumidifier, there are no issues with portability, unless perhaps you’re moving it with a full tank. But even then, it’s fairly lightweight, and the slot-away handle is strong and sturdy enough to move the unit around. There are no castors/wheels, though, so if you have limited mobility, you may want to take that into account.

Maintenance

The front-facing water level indicator on the MeacoDry Arete One 6L makes it easy to see at a glance how full it’s getting. When it’s time to empty, the tank is simple and easy to remove and empty.

To keep your unit running smoothly, Meaco recommends cleaning it regularly. Wipe down the exterior with a soft, dry cloth, and clean the main filter at least every two weeks to maintain the impressive five-year warranty. You can vacuum it using the dust attachment or hose on your regular vacuum cleaner, or wash it in soapy water no hotter than 40 °C. Make sure the filter is completely dry before popping it back in - it may take 24 hours or so, so it’s a good idea to schedule this for when you don't need to run the dehumidifier.

The HEPA filter should be replaced once it changes from white to grey, which is roughly every three months, according to Meaco. A replacement pack of three costs around £19.99 from the Meaco site, though you might find cheaper options elsewhere.

It’s also a good idea to give the water tank a quick wipe whenever you empty it, as this prevents mould or bacteria from building up.

How does the MeacoDry Arete One 6L compare with other dehumidifiers?

When you compare the MeacoDry Arete One 6L with its bigger sibling, the MeacoDry Arete One 20L, the differences really come down to power and capacity. The 20L model is built for whole-home moisture management, with a huge 4.8L tank, almost double the energy draw, and an extraction rate that easily outperforms the 6L in larger or consistently damp spaces. It’s also significantly heavier at 15kg, so it’s not as easy to move around.

But the flip side is performance: the 20L is excellent for year-round use, noticeably faster at drying laundry, and remains impressively quiet for its size. If you have bigger rooms or a household-wide damp, the 20L is a better investment. For smaller bedrooms, flats, or occasional moisture control, the 6L is far more manageable, cheaper to run, and easier to live with day to day. Or, you could opt for something right in the middle, such as the MeacoDry Arete One 12L.

The Duux Bora Smart 30L is almost the opposite in scale to the MeacoDry 6L, designed for large rooms and open-plan spaces. It can extract up to 30L of moisture per day, offers continuous drainage with the supplied hose, and has a much larger 4L tank. Where the Meaco keeps things simple, the Bora delivers full smart-home functionality.

The Duux app gives you real-time air quality readings, remote control, scheduling, and seamless integration with Google Home and Alexa. It’s also impressively quiet for its size at 30–36dB and includes thoughtful extras like a carbon filter, laundry mode, child lock, and night setting. But its larger footprint, heavier weight, and 315W energy draw make it far better suited to larger homes, while the Meaco remains the more space-friendly and energy-efficient option for smaller living areas.

How does the MeacoDry Arete One 6L rate online?

The 6 L model is very new, so there aren’t many customer reviews for this specific unit yet. However, the MeacoDry Arete One range is well-established with existing customers, with over 2,500 Amazon UK ratings and around 91% of customers giving it four stars or above.

Users consistently praise the range for being quiet, efficient, and easy to use. One reviewer of a similar Arete One model said: 'An excellent little dehumidifier… much quieter and has intelligent features like a sensing fan that runs periodically. It has a night mode and can be used as an air purifier.' Another highlighted its laundry performance: 'A full load on a clothes horse is bone dry overnight… extracts a LOT of water in a short period of time… not ‘whisper quiet’ but doesn’t intrude more than a fan or background TV noise during the day.'

So overall, while the 6L version is new, the strong reputation of the Arete One range suggests that purchasers will also find it reliable, quiet, and effective, as I’ve done, making it a solid choice for single rooms and bedrooms.

Verdict

After two weeks of real-world testing, the MeacoDry Arete One 6L proved itself as a dependable little workhorse for smaller rooms in my home. It quietly tackles condensation, keeps the air feeling fresher, and even helps your light laundry dry faster without hiking up your energy bills.

It’s not perfect, though. The modest 6L capacity and small water tank mean it will struggle with big, damp problems or multiple laundry loads. And if you’re after smart features or app control, this one doesn’t have them.

Compared with more expensive or larger models, like the Duux Bora Smart 30L (£349.99) or the MeacoDry Arete One 12L (£179.99), the Meaco 6L is smaller and slower, but that’s also what makes it quieter, lighter, and easier to place flush against a wall. For its price, simplicity, and low running costs, it’s ideal for flats, bedrooms, or any smaller space that needs reliable humidity control. If you need something for a larger home or heavy-duty drying, you’ll want a bigger model, but for day-to-day use, this is quietly efficient, fuss-free, and surprisingly versatile.

For cutting lawn edges with precision, comfort and low noise, STIHL's new grass trimmer is one of my new favourites.

In fact, I'd go as far as saying that the STIHL FSA 50 Cordless Grass Trimmer, which you can order for £149 without the battery from Just Lawnmowers, is one of the best cordless strimmers on the market right now. If you’re looking for a powerful grass trimmer that’s a little bit quieter than the vast majority of other strimmers, this is the tool I’d recommend. It does a brilliant job of trimming lawn edges and grass with speed and precision.

This STIHL FSA 50 Cordless Grass Trimmer review will look at unboxing, setup, design, ease of use, performance and maintenance. I tested the trimmer in my own small garden. Have a read, and see if it's the right trimmer for you...

In a nutshell

The STIHL FSA 50 Grass Trimmer seriously impressed me – it trimmed my grass and lawn edges at speed, even reaching underneath low-growing shrubs that regular lawn mowers tend to miss.

It's a robust machine that feels as comfortable as it is high-quality. It's light and balanced during use, and also really easy to assemble. For small gardens, it's a must – but it is quite powerful, so you'll need to learn to control it properly to avoid scalping your lawn.

Specifications

• Type: Cordless, battery-operated
• Cutting width: 2.9kg
• Weight: 2.9kg
• Sound power level: 82dB
• Running time: 25 minutes

Unboxing

The STIHL FSA 50 came in a slim cardboard box that was light enough to carry through the house and into the garden. There was minimal packaging inside, save for a few cardboard strips and wedges to hold the trimmer in place and a couple of plastic bags that housed the screws and other components.

The battery and charger were enclosed in an inner cardboard box at one end of the main box, the battery wrapped in a plastic bag. If your trimmer doesn't come with a battery, you can buy the STIHL AK 10 battery from Amazon, and the STIHL AL 101 battery charger from Amazon, too.

Setup

The STIHL FSA 50 Grass Trimmer took me less than half an hour to assemble, and the instructions were really easy to follow. The trimmer must be turned off for safety, so it’s crucial that you don’t insert the battery before this stage (more on that shortly).

First, I attached the deflector. I simply had to push the guard into the guides on the housing, and then insert and tighten two screws to hold them together. The guard has to stay on once assembled, and mustn’t be removed.

Then, I had to mount the bump guard by inserting its ends into the holes on the housing. It was as simple as that! There were also instructions on mounting and removing the mowing head, which were really easy to understand.

I had to install the loop handle, too, and for that, I needed the accompanying star knob nut. Once fitted, the loop handle mustn’t be removed either.

I love that you can adjust the shaft angle to three different angles on the STIHL FSA 50 to suit different heights. It’s really straightforward – you simply have to press the release pedal, move the shaft into the required position until it engages, and then let go of the release again. You can also adjust the shaft length by toggling the clamp nut.

I also had to ensure the battery (which comes with a charger) was charged before getting started (it was!), and then pop the battery into the trimmer. It was really easy to insert, with a satisfying ‘click’ that told me it was in place.

To turn the grass trimmer on, the instructions are a little more complicated, requiring you to press and hold the trigger in a certain way to switch the machine on, but I soon got the hang of that, too.

Design

Before we dive into how well the STIHL FSA 50 Grass Trimmer performed in my garden, it makes sense to get familiar with its key design features.

It’s certainly ergonomic – the trimmer is fitted with a soft grip round handle that’s easily adjustable without tools. The telescopic shaft is adjustable, too, and the mowing head can be set at three different angles, allowing you to reach trickier areas like slopes and under trees and furniture. You can even rotate the mowing head 90 degrees for easier lawn edge trimming.

I also love that the spacer bracket protects plants and other objects in the garden from damage during trimming.

STIHL always designs its tools with the user in mind, which means the FSA 50, like other tools in the range, has excellent balance. It’s also pretty lightweight at 2.9kg, so it isn’t a slog to use like heavier trimmers on the market.

Performance

STIHL says the FSA 50 grass trimmer offers ‘practically flawless trimming thanks to the new spacer on the tool,’ and during testing, it lived up to those claims. I was stunned by the clean edge it left on the grass that runs alongside my garden border, and it was a lot easier to use than I expected.

At first, I thought the spacer would stop the trimmer from cutting the grass along my raised garden border, but miraculously, it didn’t – in fact, it gave those hard-to-reach parts of my lawn a really good trim. With the mowing head set at the lowest angle, trimming the grass beneath the lower-growing shrubs in my garden, which even the best lawn mowers out there often miss, was a piece of cake.

The only downside (which can also be a total plus side, depending on the task at hand) was that the trimmer was so powerful, you had to be careful not to scalp your lawn during grass trimming. Luckily, its ergonomic design made it easy enough to hold and control – but it does take a little bit of practice when you first get started.

There’s a variable speed trigger on the trimmer that allows more precision in control of the mowing head, and STIHL says that can help extend the working life of your battery, too.

What really appealed to me about the STIHL FSA 50, though, was that it has lower noise emissions than a lot of other cordless strimmers on the market. It boasts a sound power level of 82dB, which is 7dB less than our previous favourite low-noise strimmer, the STIHL FSA 57. It’s still noisy enough, of course – strimmers will never be as quiet as robot lawn mowers, for example – but it certainly isn’t intrusive. That said, STIHL supplied me with protective earmuffs, which you’re advised to wear during use.

Speaking of safety, you’ll also need to wear protective goggles when using the STIHL FSA 50 Grass Trimmer. Debris does fly up at you as you cut, so it’s crucial that you have eye protection in place to avoid injury.

On a full charge with the AK 10 battery, you’ll get 25 minutes of working time. That’s more than enough time in a small garden like mine – and with the speed and power of STIHL FSA 50, my lawn edges were neatened up in no time at all. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever edged my lawn so fast. You can buy more powerful batteries with a longer runtime if you’re working in a larger garden.

Maintenance

STIHL makes maintenance easy, too – the FSA 50 is supplied with the AutoCut 3-2 mowing head, which can be refilled without using tools. That cuts a lot of the faff, in my opinion.

If you’d prefer to use the Polycut 3-2 Mowing Head (which is sold separately), you can swap it out. Basically, that one is a mowing head with two movable plastic blades that’s designed for cutting medium-height grass, lawn edges and tougher vegetation (it’s a bit more robust for harder jobs), whilst the original AutoCut 3-2 mowing head is the standard for efficient mowing and clearing.

Verdict: Should you buy the STIHL FSA 50 Cordless Grass Trimmer?

If you're looking for a robust garden trimmer that doubles up as a brushcutter and isn't too noisy, the STIHL FSA Cordless Grass Trimmer is definitely worth the investment. It's a solid tool that's well-suited to edging small lawns with precision and enough power to tackle tougher grass and weeds, too.

Clever wouldn't usually be the first adjective that springs to mind when you think of a coffee machine but that's exactly what the De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic is, with a flurry of features to make your at-home barista experience completely seamless.

I got to try out this seriously kitted out coffee machine at the Ideal Home test centre to explore its huge drinks menu and see if its worthy of joining the ranks of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines out there. Here's how I got on.

In a nutshell

The price tag of this machine takes it beyond what you might call an investment level purchase and more into wishlist terrority. At over £1000, it's a seriously pricey appliance.

What you get for that exorbitant sum is a very impressive machine. Highlights include De'Longhi's integrated BeanAdapt technology, which runs a program of automatic calibration to get the best from your chosen beans, as well as an interface that responds to your everyday coffee choices by prioritising your favourite drinks at certain times of the day.

For black coffee lovers or for latte obsessives there's a lot to love. The drinks menu is equipped with all manner of drinks in a variety of lengths and strengths as well as milk frothing like I've never experienced. It textures milk in a deliciously silky way for cappuccinos and caffe lattes that are as good as you'll get in an expensive coffee shop. The separate milk carafe for cold milk frothing would be just exquisite for the warmer months too.

Product specs

• Coffee machine type: Automatic bean-to-cup
• Dimensions: 26.2 cm (width), 40.7 cm (height), 46.3 cm (depth)
• Coffee options: 38 pre-set recipes (iced and hot)
• Water tank capacity: 2.2L
• Pressure: 19 Bar
• Weight: 12.6 kg
• Colourways: Stainless steel finish
• RRP: £1,549

Who tested this coffee machine?

Getting started & first impressions

There's no learning curve with a machine this kitted out as the process is made so painlessly simple for you. Once you've unboxed it and set it up, you just need to follow the instructions on the screen to calibrate its settings.

You'll waste a small amount of beans and get through at least 4 espressos in the process of tweaking the machine's settings but this only needs to be done once and is very much worth it.

Getting to grips with the Bean Adapt technology is the most important step for me. Usually with an espresso machine you'll need to turn a dial to get the grind size for your beans just right. With the Primadonna, in-built software takes this manual step out of your hands with the process beginning by creating a profile for the coffee beans you pop into the hopper.

From here, you answer different questions on the machine's touchscreen on the bean type and roast level which the program then uses to adjust various settings including the grind size and brewing temperature.

This isn't where the feedback ends. Once your coffee has been made, the machine will ask you for your opinion on how it dispensed as well as how it tasted. If you answer these, the machine will go even further to make the necessary changes to make the coffee more suitable the next time around. You can run this program as many times as you like to get your perfect brew.

As for first impressions, there's no getting around it: this machine is big and bulky. But its still stylishly done somehow, with its gleaming stainless steel exterior and large, engaging touch screen. One of the things I really like about this machine is that the water tank pulls out from the front, so that if you put it underneath a cupboard you don't have to grapple with it every time you need to refill. It's all programmed from the front, which is excellent for everyday use.

What is it like to use?

Unless you're a black coffee drinker, the next thing you'll want to know about in terms of use is how to pick drinks and froth milk. For me, this is the best element of this machine.

The touchscreen is genuinely a pleasure to use. It displays the machine's menu in full colour, with engaging illustrations and visualisations of any steps you need to take.

It pools the types of drinks into two categories: iced and hot. You can then browse your options by swiping across the screen.

There are over 38 preset drinks on offer. And if there's something you like hot then you'll also be able to find it in the cold menu, which can lead to lots of fun drinks experimentation. I imagine it's also very fun to show off to guests.

Once you've selected your drink (let's say a cappuccino) then you can customise it even further by tweaking the intensity, size and temperature of your beverage. If you've chosen a milk-based drinks, the next thing you'll need to do is attach your milk carafe to the front of the machine. The gamechanging feature with the Primadonna Aromatic is the two milk carafes – one for iced drinks and one for hot.

On each of the carafes there's a dial which enables you to set your drink up as dictated by the machine. For a cappuccino, for example, you might want to set the dial to level 3 for maximum froth. It's a seamless system which allows for a huge range of different froths for various drinks and the combination of steam, air and milk within the carafes does such a gorgeous job. It's also as good for plant milks as it is for normal milk – and that is no mean feat.

What's the coffee like?

I started simple with my tests, opting for a hot cappuccino. I'd already had a good run through with the black coffees whilst I was tweaking the espressos as part of the BeanAdapt tech and was keen to get onto how the milk frothing was with this machine.

To make a cappucino you need to take the black milk carafe and plug it in to the front of the machine. De'Longhi recommends keeping the carafes with milk in them in the fridge so that they're always ready to go at the right temperature.

The espresso dispenses from the spouts attached to the main body of the machine after the milk has been frothed. The resulting drink had such a pleasing look of many layers and tasted divine. The frothing with this machine and similar De'Longhi's is so impressive.

Next I tried an iced caffe latte, which meant swapping out the milk frother carafe and turning the dial that sits on the top. I also filled a double walled glass with ice, which you'll need to do for all of the cold drinks to have the maximum drinking experience.

With the iced latte the espresso dispenses first followed by the cold milk foam. The hot coffee hitting the ice does melt some of it, which is why it's important to have a full glass. By adding the milk second with this drink, the classic layered look that's usually reserved for coffee shop drinks is easily achieved.

Next I moved onto trying out the cold brew function, which works pretty differently to the iced caffee latte. While the latter dispenses a hot espresso over ice, the cold brew setting uses room temperature water and low pressure. This means it takes a little longer for your coffee to dispense (a couple of minutes as opposed to a few seconds) and it gives it a different taste profile too which is less acidic than normal coffee.

It's a seamless experience to try out a cold brew with this machine and it takes less than 3 minutes from start to finish to replicate a process which usually takes 24 hours (steeping coffee grounds in cold water). The taste is less intense than coffee and more suitable for sipping all day in hot weather and this machine does a great job of it.

Cleaning

Extensive cleaning can put people off bean-to-cup machines in a big way. But with the Primadonna, the process is made as easy as it can be (which adds up given the price tag).

Standout cleaning features include the ease of refreshing the milk carafes after you've used them (you just turn the dial to 'clean' before you put it back into the fridge) as well as the reminders to empty the empty grounds tray (which conveniently pulls out from the front).

The big jobs, like descaling, are also prompted to you by the touch screen complete with in-depth instructions. The machine also self-rinses to keep you from having to perform that separately.

How does it compare to similar models?

The De'Longhi Rivelia is one of the best-loved coffee machines we've ever tried here at Ideal Home as per our expert home economist's five star review. You can find it on sale for under £600 and it boasts many of the things I love about this machine too including BeanAdpat tech and hands-free milk frothing. It also has two interchangable bean hoppers so that you can enjoy decaf coffee in the afternoons. If you're on more of a budget, it's an easy pick.

Should you buy the De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic?

If you're looking for a best-in-class automatic coffee machine and budget is no object, then what are you waiting for? This machine is unbelievably kitted out and the enjoyment you'll get from using it, as well as the calibre of drinks, will blow you away. It's ultra-capable.

If you're saving up for a De'Longhi or similar, while this machine might be out of your budget there's plenty from the same brand offering phenomenal quality for far less – check out the Rivelia as your first port of call.

As a mum of three, my vacuum gets a serious workout on a daily basis, so I'm always keen to try something that promises to save time and make the job easier. That's exactly why I was keen to put the Dreame V20 Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum through its paces.

While not as well-known as Shark and Dyson, I've heard positive things about this brand (pronounced like 'dreamy') and its products, so I was curious to see whether it would live up to the hype. After testing multiple times of day in my family home, I'd say it's definitely earned its place among the best cordless vacuum cleaners.

In a nutshell

From the first use, I was genuinely impressed by how well the Dreame V20 Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum performed, especially given that it's from a brand that might not be on everyone's radar yet. It handled the day-to-day mess of my busy family home with ease, and what really stood out was how lightweight and manoeuvrable it felt. The extendable, forward-bending wand is a feature I used more often than I expected, making it far easier to clean under furniture and around awkward spaces.

One of the biggest highlights for me was the edge cleaning. The GapFree technology really does make a difference, pulling up dust and debris right up against skirting boards and into corners - areas I notoriously struggle to clean. Combined with the Auto mode, which responds exceptionally well to changing levels of dirt, it made cleaning feel more intuitive, and I didn't need to think about switching settings mid-task.

It also fits naturally into everyday life. It's comfortable to use for long periods, and the battery time held up well, particularly if I stuck to Auto mode. The attachments make it versatile enough to handle everything from hard floors and stairs to skirting boards and my breakfast stools after the kids have eaten at them (IYKYK). In addition to the multi-surface floorhead, there's a soft roller brush designed for hard floors, but I can understand how switching between the two floorheads could be a hassle for some people.

If I had to pick a downside, it would be the dustbin size. At 0.5L, it fills up fairly quickly in a busy household like mine, so you need to get into the habit of emptying it regularly. That said, it's quick and simple to do, so it didn't feel like a major inconvenience. It's completely won me over, and I can't see myself parting with it.

Specifications

• Weight (handheld unit only): 1.6kg
• Weight (wand and floorhead): 3.2kg
• Bin volume: 0.5 L
• Run time: Eco mode: 80 mins, Auto mode: 34 mins, Max mode: 6 min
• Charge time: 4 hours
• Modes: 3 (Auto, Eco, Max)
• Noise level: 86 dB(A)
• In the box: Charging Dock, Combination Tool, Soft Dusting Brush, Flexible & Foldable Tube
• RRP: £349.99

How I tested

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Dreame V20 Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum came packaged in a large, rectangular box, protected by an additional, outer layer of cardboard. It was fairly heavy, but it has a built-in carry handle, which made it manageable to carry.

After sliding out the branded box, I turned it sideways to open - rather than lengthways, which actually made it easier to see what was inside and remove the contents. Inside, the parts and accessories were wrapped individually in plastic and placed on top of a moulded cardboard tray. Beneath this, the main vacuum body, extendable tube and charging dock sat on top of another layer of moulded cardboard.

I laid out all of the parts and accessories, and I was immediately struck by just how many tools are included. It includes two floor heads (a multi-surface brush and a soft roller for hard floors), a flexible extension tube, a motorised mini-brush, a combination tool, and a charging and storage base.

Then, setting up the Dreame V20 was straightforward. The user manual features several diagrams, which on first glance can feel a little overwhelming, but in practice, there's very little to it. All I needed to do was insert the extension rod into the main unit and attach the floorhead (I opted for the multi-surface brush), which only took a couple of minutes in total.

I always like to take a proper look at any new appliance before using it. The Dreame V20 isn't self-standing, but it slots neatly onto its charging dock, so it's not an issue. And as the vacuum needs to be fully charged before first use, I placed it on the dock, connecting the charger between the mount and the power supply.

In terms of design, the Dreame V20 felt really sleek and premium. The handheld unit weighs just 1.58kg, so it's impressively lightweight, which makes it feel easy to handle and manoeuvre from the outset. The control panel sits on top of the main unit, and there's an extendable rod for added reach, which is a practical touch. My only real reservation at this stage was the size of the dustbin, which felt on the smaller side. So, I was keen to see how that would hold up in practice, and how often it would need emptying.

Using the Dreame V20 Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum

There are two buttons at the bottom of the control panel: one for power and the other to switch between the three vacuum modes (Auto, Eco, and Max). Once powered on, the control panel is intuitive to navigate, with a clear display which shows the battery percentage and cleaning mode.

By default, the vacuum starts in Auto mode - indicated by an 'A' symbol - where suction power adjusts automatically depending on the level of dust detected. This works alongside the fan-shaped icon, which changes colour in real time: green for low, orange for medium and red for high dust levels. You can switch manually between the modes, but it's worth noting that this does affect the battery life, draining much quicker when in Max mode.

Before using the Dreame V20 Pro for regular cleaning, I put it through its paces with a number of controlled tests, which is part of how we test vacuums at Ideal Home. The 'debris test' involves throwing various sizes of debris on the floor and seeing how quickly and effectively the vacuum picks it up.

I switched to the soft roller brush, designed for hard floors, and scattered some flour, crushed Cheerios and porridge oats across my kitchen floor. Keeping the vacuum in Auto mode, I passed it over the debris, and I was immediately impressed. It had no trouble picking up everything in its path in a single pass, without needing to go back over the same area.

I then repeated the same test, using the multi-surface brush on carpet. I was expecting it to take a couple of passes, but again, I was left really impressed after the vacuum removed all traces of debris after only one pass. Overall, the Dreame V20 Pro made light work of the debris test.

I then continued to use the Dreame V20 Pro in my busy family home, multiple times a day. It replaced my regular Shark vacuum (which is quite a few years old), and I relied on it for everything from general floor cleaning to more targeted tasks using the different attachments.

I was really impressed with how lightweight and easy to use it is for everyday cleaning. I found it really easy to carry between rooms and switch between attachments. And one of the standout features is the flexible, forward-bending wand with an adaptable hose, which made it easy to reach under furniture and into awkward spaces without needing me even needing to crouch down.

In terms of performance, it handled the demands of my busy household with ease. I found the Auto mode particularly effective in day-to-day use, responding well to changes in debris level and automatically adjusting the power where needed without any input.

The battery life varies depending on the mode you use. While it can last up to 80 minutes in Eco mode, it depletes quickly in Max mode, so I tended to stick to Auto, which delivered around 30-35 minutes of runtime. This was more than enough for everyday cleaning, and I quickly got into the habit of recharging between each use, with the storage dock doubling as the charging station.

The only real drawback was the dust bin size, which at 0.5L is on the smaller side. While I did need to empty it regularly, it was straightforward to do so it didn't feel like a hassle in practice. Overall, it feels like a fair trade-off for lightweight design and strong performance.

Using the attachments

In addition to the two floorheads, the Dreame V20 Pro includes a motorised mini-brush and a combination tool. I'll admit I have a tendency to misplace appliance tools without a designated home, so I particularly appreciated the storage compartments built into the charging station.

I used the motorised mini-brush on my stairs, an area I always struggle to keep on top of, and I was really impressed with its edge cleaning power. It reached right into the corners and along the edge of each step, lifting out dust and hair with ease. It was weirdly satisfying to see every bit of debris lift.

Cleaning the stairs wasn't completely effortless, and I did have to apply some manual effort using the vacuum as a handheld appliance, but it still felt far more effective than using a standard attachment. It was also noticeably more lightweight without the main floorhead and wand attached.

The combination tool is a 2-in-1 attachment with a crevice nozzle and soft brush, designed for smaller and more focused cleaning tasks, such as corners, edges and upholstery.

The first place I put it to the test was on my breakfast stool chairs, which are a notoriously difficult area to keep clean. The amount of crumbs, and frankly, unknown debris that had built up in the crevices was embarrassing to say the least.

Turns out the Dreame V20 Pro proved to be exactly what I needed here; it lifted all the trapped crumbs and dust with ease. The bristle brush also adds an extra level of effectiveness, helping it feel like a more thorough, deep clean rather than just a surface tidy.

Cleaning and maintenance

Cleaning a vacuum cleaner is one of those jobs that's easy to neglect, but a non-negotiable if you want to keep performance consistent over time. Thankfully, maintenance for the Dreame V20 Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum is straightforward.

The dustbin easily detaches from the main unit and empties with a simple, one-click release. Although the bin capacity is on the smaller side, it's quick to empty, and I got into the habit of emptying it daily and wiping it down with a cloth.

The filters and components are also easy to access and clean, and each attachment can be removed individually. The rollers on the multi-surface brush and soft roller brush do require occasional maintenance - they need to be rinsed and left to dry for 24 hours when necessary. While this is slightly more involved than a quick wipe-down, the upside is that it doesn't need to be done after every use.

The charging station doubles as a storage dock, helping keep everything neatly organised while accessories dry and ensuring all components are stored in one place. Overall, maintenance is low-effort and fits easily into everyday use. As far as charging docks go, it's quite neat and relatively compact, so it doesn't take up much floor space either.

How does it compare to similar models?

thatThe Dream V20 Pro sits in a competitive part of the cordless vacuum market, and there are a few models it’s worth comparing to.

The one it reminds me of most during testing is the Shark Stratos Cordless - it’s currently Ideal Home’s top-rated cordless vacuum, and it’s the one I use daily at home. Both offer smart features like automatic suction and a clear display, but where the Shark leans into more robust, all-round cleaning - and doesn't require switching floorheads between surfaces - the Dreame feels lighter, sleeker and more design-led. The flexible wand also makes it easier to manoeuvre, although the dust bag is noticeably smaller.

The Shark PowerDetect Speed Clean is another highly rated cordless vacuum. Both models feature flexible wands for added reach, but the obvious difference is the capacity - the Shark's larger dust system makes it better suited for larger homes and households who vacuum frequently, while the Dreame feels lighter and more agile.

In terms of innovation, the Dyson V8 Cyclone is a a closer comparison. It offers a more advanced, data-led cleaning experience, while the Dreame delivers a similar, smart feel in a simpler, more accessible way.

Finally, we recently tested the Halo Capsule XR Cordless, which takes a slightly different approach focusing on capacity and hygiene with its bagged design. This makes emptying and cleaning more convenient, while the Dreame leans more into smart features, and a sleeker design.

Verdict: Should you buy the Dreame V20 Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum?

The Dreame V20 Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum delivers where it counts. If you're looking for a cordless vacuum that handles everyday mess with ease, feels genuinely effortless to use, and goes the extra mile on edge cleaning, I can't recommend it enough.

For larger homes and those who vacuum regularly, the smaller dustbin may feel like a drawback, and there are certainly other alternatives which may be better suited, but they come with a trade-off in weight and manoeuvrability.

As a mid-range option, it punches well above its weight. And if you've been on the fence about trying a less familiar brand, the Dreame V20 makes a very convincing case for itself. It's certainly earned a permanent place in my cleaning routine.

I put the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper through its paces to see how it compares to the best mattress toppers on the market.

In a nutshell

Considering this is one of the most affordable memory foam toppers I've tested, I found the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper did a great job of adding comfort and support to our mattress.

It retails at around £68.99 for a single and £93.99 for a double. Although I've seen it sold for less at third-party stockists (more on that below). I think that's very good value for a memory foam topper that also offers gel-infused temperature regulation.

As a 46-year-old woman who often suffers from shoulder, back, and neck pain, this topper offered support and comfort, which enabled me to sleep better. And it didn't make me overheat as many memory foam sleep surfaces can do.

I'm a side and back sleeper who prefers a slightly firmer sleep surface, so I enjoyed the fact that this topper isn't too deep and didn't make me feel like I was sinking into the surface of the bed, never to be seen again!

I also appreciated how easy it was to roll over without it moulding around my body too excessively, and my husband and I both appreciated its motion isolation, which stopped the other person's movements from disturbing us too much.

Its only real downside is the lack of a sleep trial. That's why the Panda Memory Foam Topper, with its 30-night trial period, retains its crown as the best memory foam topper Ideal Home has tested.

However, this Slumberdown topper has still proved an extremely cost-effective way to upgrade our existing mattress. And I, for one, won't be taking it off our bed anytime soon!

Specifications

• RRP: Single £68.99, Small Double £86.99, Double £93.99, Kingsize £99.99, Super-king £112.99
• Sizes: single / small double / double / king / super-king
• Depth: 5cm
• Construction: 2cm CertiPUR-approved 'Niva Gel' layer and 3cm 'Visco elastic memory-foam layer', encased in a removable knitted polyester cover
• Care instructions: the removable cover is machine washable at 40 degrees
• Manufacturer sleep trial: no

Attaching the topper to the bed

The Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper arrived rolled and packed in thick, clear plastic with a Slumberdown label on. The packaging looked quite budget, but on the plus side, it meant that there was no excess packaging to dispose of.

Once the plastic was off, the mattress topper sprang to life and expanded to its full 5cm height.

Slumberdown recommends leaving the product to air for 24-48 hours after unpacking, and I did immediately notice an off-gassing smell once the plastic was removed. This is common with mattress toppers made from memory foam or polyurethane foam, and I found the smell lasted for over a week, but it did fade gradually.

Similar to many of the other mattress toppers that I’ve tested, the Slumberdown topper has four elastic corner straps to attach it to the mattress.

Although it can be a bit awkward to lift the corner of the mattress to hook the straps under, I find these really useful because it means the topper doesn’t move around. I tested a super king-size topper over my super king-size mattress and found it fitted perfectly.

Comfort

Measuring 5cm deep, I found the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper made an immediate and noticeable difference to my existing mattress. My preference is for a firmer sleeping surface without too much sinking, and this topper provided that.

As someone who predominantly sleeps on their side or back, I found it provided a good level of support and comfort for both sleeping positions, whilst also cushioning my hips and shoulder when I lie on my side. More so than that offered by Dunelm’s Gel Fusion Mattress Topper, which I'd just finished testing.

I also liked the fact that I didn’t sink too deeply into the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress topper, which meant that it was easier to roll over and get out of bed. At the same time, it kept my spine in alignment whilst cushioning my joints, so a number of nights when I went to bed with a sore shoulder, when I woke up, the pain had eased.

The edges of the topper also felt supportive, so there was no roll away when you got close to the edge. This made the mattress feel bigger. The texture of the foam itself was flat, rather than with ridges like the Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper, and I preferred this flat foam surface for lying on.

Memory foam is known for its excellent motion isolation because its cushioning helps absorb and dampen movement, and I found this topper did a great job of masking the movement of the other person in the bed.

When my husband and I slept on this together, I wasn’t disturbed when he came to bed later than me or rolled over in the night. And when my very wriggly son slept on it with me, I wasn’t disturbed in the night by his fidgeting like I often am!

Temperature regulation

This topper is constructed with a 2cm top layer of 'Niva Gel'. Slumberdown says this material is designed to enhance both comfort and temperature regulation, preventing the excessive heat buildup often associated with traditional memory foam.

This is combined with breathable mesh panels around the side of the topper that are designed to allow for airflow.

In practice, when sleeping on the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper, I didn’t overheat or wake up feeling sweaty in the night like I often have on other memory foam sleep surfaces. In the morning, when I woke up with the heating on, I didn’t feel overheated either, so I'd say the claims regarding improved temperature regulation ring true.

Care instructions

The cover of the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper is removable, and the manufacturer advises washing it at 40 degrees. It’s also compatible with being tumble dried on cool.

I found that unzipping and removing the cover of the mattress topper was straightforward, and after it had been washed and dried, it retained its original shape well, so putting it back on again wasn’t too hard.

As a mum of two boys who often has friends and family to visit, I think it's a big plus point that the cover can be washed to keep the topper looking and smelling fresh, and therefore extending its lifespan.

Sleep trial

Unlike brnds such as Simba, Woolroom, or Panda, Slumberdown doesn't offer a sleep trial on its products. This is a shame because it can be extremely useful to test out a mattress topper to see if it improves your sleep comfort before you commit to keeping it.

However, based on my testing experience, I think you would be hard-pushed to find someone who didn’t find this topper comfortable to sleep on!

Value for money

Slumberdown prices this topper at £68.99 for a single and £93.99 for a double, although I've seen the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper sold at Argos for less at various points of the year, and Amazon is currently selling the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper at a reduced price too.

Personally, I think that's very reasonable for the comfort and support it offers. I recently tested the more affordable Silentnight Deep Sleep Ultimate 1000 Mattress Topper, which retails for around £59 for a double, but its polyester fill can't compare with the cushioning of Slumberdown's memory foam topper.

Compared to other memory foam toppers, this Slumberdown topper is also a good buy. We still rate Panda's 5cm deep Memory Foam Topper as one of the best in class, mainly because it comes with a sleep trial and a wider range of sizes than this Slumberdown model (making it very useful for adding to a firm sofa bed). However, Panda's option does cost £139.95 for a double.

I also recently tested the Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper, which retails at £135 for the 6cm depth. If you're looking for a softer, deeper topper, this could be the better option, especially as there's also a super deep 10cm option. However, as someone who prefers a slightly firmer, more supportive sleep surface, I would choose the Slumberdown option out of the two.

Overall, I think the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper is affordable and effective. After putting it on our mattress to test it, I definitely won’t be taking it off in a hurry!

How I tested

My sleep stats:

• Sleep position: back or side
• Tension preference: firm
• Sleep problems: lower back pain and/or neck pain and occasional overheating
• Height & weight: 5"5 and 9.5 stones

In order to test out this mattress topper, my husband and I slept on it for two weeks in our own home on top of our usual mattress. I assessed how easy the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper was to attach to the bed, how comfortable it was when sleeping on my back and side, and whether it offered good temperature regulation. I also took into account how easy it was to care for and any sleep trials on offer, as well as its value for money.

You've probably already heard of an ice cream maker. They're similar to the ones you catch a glimpse of through your local ice cream van's window, just a little more worktop — and budget — friendly.

In the main, there are two types of ice cream makers to choose from. Pre-freeze ice cream makers only churn the ice cream once it has been frozen in your freezer. Self-freeze machines do all of the work for you — simply add your ingredients and it'll freeze and churn them into ice cream, fast.

I've tested both, and when it comes to convenience, a self-freeze machine is second-to-none. Specifically, the Cuisinart Frost Fusion Ice Cream Maker is great as it's multi-functional and can also make frozen drinks.

I've been using this Cuisinart ice cream maker in my kitchen for the best part of a month now. I've used all of the 6 preset programs, from sorbet to frozen wine — yes, it's seriously versatile! And here are my honest thoughts. Firstly, be sure to consider where it will live before you invest, as although it's slim, it's tall, so it needs some worktop space.

In a nutshell

If you want an ice cream maker that's multi-purpose, this is your girl. It can make slushies, sorbet and ice cream. And it's easy to clean afterwards, thanks to its self-clean cycle. While testing, we made one of each drink/dessert type, so 6 things in total, and I came to the conclusion that it manages to freeze drinks better than desserts (soft serve and sorbet), while the lower the alcohol content in those drinks, the more they froze.

The fastest the machine worked while testing was 14 minutes, and that was to make frappuccinos. We also noted that the serving sizes noted on the recipes in the manual were a little off — you can pretty much half the servings.

All in all, it's intuitive, looks great on your kitchen worktop, and it's a steal considering it can make much more than ice cream. It also keeps drinks frozen for up to 16 hours, and for ice cream, it can keep for 30 minutes.

Specifications

• Model number: ICE201U
• Pre-freeze or self-freeze: Self-freeze
• Accessories: Drip tray, star tip (for soft-serve)
• Functions: 6 - Soft Serve Ice Cream, Slushy, Sorbet, Frappe and Frosé
• Settings: 5 frozen levels (not applicable for ice cream or sorbet)
• Dimensions (cm): H45 x W18 x D47cm
• Bowl capacity: 1.6L

Unboxing the Cuisinart Frost Fusion Ice Cream Maker

While the box that this ice cream maker arrived in was sizable, it was easy enough for me to carry. It wasn't too heavy, so I managed to pick it up and lift it onto my worktop without needing any help.

Upon opening the box, I was impressed with the lack of packaging. There were two cardboard inserts to keep the machine from rattling around; otherwise, the only other packaging was a plastic bag. This bag was recyclable (02 HDPE) and wrapped around the main unit.

The star tip comes separately and isn't initially attached to the machine. You'll find info in the manual for fitting it to the machine, but this part is only for use when in soft serve mode.

First of all, you need to wash all of its removable parts in soapy water and dry them before first use. Otherwise, all that's needed to assemble the machine is to attach the removable drip tray, which is simple. Then you need to slide the auger inside the machine and fit the dispenser assembly and paddle onto the front of it. It's clear how to do this as there are arrows and lock symbols to show where it needs to sit.

Other than that, you need to place the ingredient funnel tray and cover at the top of the machine. After this, you're set to start mixing your ingredients.

Note: the machine must be placed in the spot you'll be using it and left upright for 4 hours before use.

Using the Cuisinart Frost Fusion Ice Cream Maker

The only thing you need to do ahead of using this ice cream maker is to prepare your ingredients. Some recipes require your hob, others need a blender, so be sure to check ahead of time. Once your mixture is ready for use, you pour it into the machine via the ingredient funnel. Turn the machine on, and using the touch screen, you can select one of the preset modes. Press the bar button at the bottom of the screen to cycle through these 6 modes.

Then comes the choice of firmness — there are 5 options. Press the snowflake button to increase the firmness. Once chosen, press the play button. You cannot choose the firmness of soft-serve ice cream or sorbet. The machine will then get to work, and once ready, it will beep. After that, it will automatically go into its Keep Cool mode.

While there isn't a timer countdown on the LCD control panel, you can check the status of your treat by looking at the firmness progress bar. The status it's currently at will correlate to the bar that's flashing. If it isn't flashing, then it's ready, and you may have missed the beeping noise.

Overall, it's pretty intuitive to use, and I had zero issues with any of the programs.

Making soft serve ice cream

There are two recipes for soft serve in the manual — vanilla or chocolate —, and I decided to give vanilla a try. It requires only 5 ingredients and claims to serve 8. You need to attach the star tip to the machine before serving this ice cream so that it swirls.

I ended up having to make this 3 times, as the first time it took so long and never froze properly. After 1 hour, I was still waiting for it to beep. I concluded that the recipe must have exceeded the maximum capacity level for ice cream, as this is 900ml, whereas for frozen drinks it's 1300ml.

The second time, I halved the recipe, and it was below the minimum fill line. I turned the machine on, and it did work as it bleeped to signal it was ready for serving, but it wasn't super frozen. And it just about served 2 people.

The third time I made ice cream, I made the full recipe and poured it into the max ice cream line (900ml). It sat slightly below the line for maximum ice cream capacity.

The ice cream took around 30 minutes to be ready to serve. When served, with the star tip fitted to the machine, it was frozen but soft. It swirled great and tasted amazing. It served 5-6 people, which I was impressed with.

After 30 minutes, the machine bleeped to signal that the keep cool setting was ending. The ice cream had melted slightly by this point, but it was still swirling.

Making a wine slushy

A frosé on a summer's day, is there truly anything better? The recipe in the booklet serves 12 and took 40 minutes to make. It was nice, but admittedly not my favourite drink ever. It'd be great for serving at a party, but again: it wouldn't serve 12 — maybe 6 at a push.

This slushie definitely frose better than the margaritas, perhaps because the alcohol content was a lot lower, as it requires just 750ml of rose.

I did like it, but it's not something I would drink every day. I love that the recipe contains fresh strawberries making it almost healthy for you. Also, the thickness was really great! Easy to slurp through a straw yet it didn't melt very fast.

Making a frappucino

You can find two frozen coffee recipes in the manual. I decided to make the Frozen Sweet Latte. You need to balance the sugar with the other ingredients correctly, or the recipe won't freeze. This one apparently made 8 servings, so I decided to half the measurements to prevent throwing any away.

The recipe asked for 4 teaspoons of sugar, 275ml of whole milk and a double espresso shot. Immediately, I didn't think this was enough coffee to feed 4 — that's half a shot of espresso in each drink.

I set it to the most frozen setting, and it took just 14 minutes to be ready, so I was impressed by its swiftness! However, this definitely was not 4 servings; it fed 2 of us. Arguably, this was the most frozen drink I made in this machine.

Making a slushy (no alcohol)

Choose from a pink lemonade slushy or a cherry cola slushy if you're going from the manual. I used this machine for a pink lemonade, which was a hit with my nephews, and this drink definitely froze better than the 2 alcohol-based beverages, probably due to the lack of alcohol in its ingredients.

Using the entire recipe, I added the mixture to the machine, and it sat just above the ice cream's maximum capacity line, which is 900ml. I switched it on, and after exactly 30 minutes, it was ready for serving.

The taste was really nice and subtle, not like a slushie you'd get for the kids in a soft play (thankfully!). It was frozen, but not in large chunks; it did melt very fast.

Making a frozen cocktail

I made Margaritas in this machine 3 times. Yes, we loved them that much. They're also so easy to make, with a recipe included in the manual. It depends on how many servings you make, but having followed Cuisinart's recipe for 10, it took just 25 minutes to freeze the ingredients to the highest setting.

This frozen cocktail tasted great; there's no doubting that. But it wasn't as frozen as the other drinks we'd made, plus it melts fast, and it definitely didn't serve 10 — we got maybe 5 servings. At the end, I noticed there was still some liquid left in the machine, which just wouldn't come out through the dispenser, making a messier cleaning job.

Making a sorbet

There are 2 sorbets to choose from in the manual: tangerine or mango. I chose mango, which, surprisingly enough, didn't require many ingredients, but it did need some preparation — a blender to turn the mango chunks into a liquid. It claims to serve 8 and took just 16 minutes to beep and signal it was ready. This recipe did actually serve quite a few people, perhaps not 8 but definitely 5-6.

Consistency-wise, this sorbet was soft. It was essentially soft serve sorbet. I also found that it was very thick — when I poured it into the ingredient funnel, it struggled to strain into the machine. You cannot choose a thickness level for sorbets, BTW.

Undeniably, the taste of the sorbet was great. It wasn't quite as frozen as I'd hoped it would be, though. So, if you want this machine mostly for making sorbets, then be prepared that you might need to play around with ingredients or branch away from the manual.

What's it like to clean?

Handily enough, there's a rinse setting on this machine for after use. It requires you to empty the machine of the liquid first, and then you need to add warm water via the ingredient funnel until the machine is at its max capacity.

Press the rinse setting button and press play. This setting takes roughly 5 mins. After, you need to dispense the water out of the machine like you would a slushy, into a jug of some sort.

Once emptied, the machine can be dismantled. Remove the drip tray and soak it in warm, soapy water. Then take the ingredient tray and the cover out of the machine and soak this, too. Also soak the paddle and the auger. Once soaked and rinsed, they can be put back into the machine when fully dried.

I did notice that this machine was harder to clean after making ice cream than slushies. This is because the ice cream is thicker, and in the case of the vanilla flavour, it requires vanilla essence, which is oil-based, so harder to rinse clean.

You can put the auger in your dishwasher — but this is the only dishwasher-safe part, and it's suitable for the top rack only.

How does it compare to other ice cream makers?

You can really only compare this ice cream maker to other self-freeze ones. Similar machines that we have reviewed are the Cuisinart Ice Cream and Gelato Maker and the Sage Smart Scoop.

In comparison to the other Cuisinart model, this one offers a lot more functions. The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker and Gelato Maker is £199.99, therefore £100 cheaper than the one I've tested. It offers just 3 modes, which are Gelato, Sorbet, Frozen Yoghurt. Its capacity is smaller, too, at 1.4L vs 1.6L. Something to consider, especially if you often host large families and groups. Both are pretty sizeable machines and come in a stylish white colourway.

When comparing this to the Sage Smart Scoop, price is a big deal breaker, as this machine is a whopping £369 (via Sage). It has 5 preset programs, including Sorbet, Frozen Yoghurt, Gelato, Ice Cream, and Keep Cool. It can keep your dessert churned for 3 hours once it's ready, which is a winner.

Should you buy the Cuisinart Frost Fusion Ice Cream Maker?

If you're looking for an ice cream maker that's nothing but convenient and also super versatile, then this is a great buy. You might have to play around with some of the ingredients, depending on what you're hoping to make, but overall, the machine is a game-changer because it can keep drinks frozen for 16 hours — and ice cream for 30 minutes.

We did find that the recipes included in the manual were slightly inaccurate when it comes to portion estimates. Some say they serve 8, but actually only serve 4. We had great results on all of the slushie drinks, alcohol and zero-alcohol, but noticed that the zero alcohol drinks froze a little better. The sorbet was a little disappointing as it wasn't very frozen, but it tasted great. The soft serve took 3 tries, but in the end, it came out perfectly swirled and soft.

It's definitely worth the £300 price tag because of its intuitivity alone, and the fact that it has a self-clean function is also a big winning point. Its small footprint means it won't take up much worktop space, and its white colour means that it'll look great while sitting there, too.

With temperatures warming up as we get closer to summer, I'm very glad that I get to put fans through their paces as part of my job.

In order to decide which are the best fans you can buy, I try and test them in my own home and assess how easy they are to use, how effective, how much they'll cost to run and importantly, how they compare to other fans I've tested.

This time, it's the turn of the Vonhaus Air Circulator Cooling Fan, which is a desktop fan with an RRP of £44.99.

In a nutshell

While the Vonhaus Ari Circulator Cooling Fan is not as quiet as other fans I've tested, it's surprisingly powerful for such a compact unit. That power, even in the lowest wind speed setting, makes it an effective choice for circulating the air around smaller rooms. Although if you are looking for a more personal fan, the lowest wind speed may feel too blustery for close-up comfort.

It's clear and straightforward controls will appeal to those who prefer simple functionality over more complex or smart models, but that simplicity does mean that you sacrifice some nuance in personalising the settings to your specific preferences.

Specification

• Type of fan: Desktop
• RRP: £44.99
• Weight: 2kgs
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.5 x 33.5 x 22.5cm
• Wattage: 50W
• Wind speed (metres per second): 2.8-4.1m/s
• Running costs per hour (based on the April 2026 energy price cap): 1.2p
• Number of fan speed settings: 3
• Noise in dB (based on our readings): 48-64dB
• Smart features: N/A
• Dual functionality: None
• Oscillation: 60° horizontal (90° manual tilt)

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Vonhaus Air Circulator Cooling Fan arrived in a compact package, with recyclable cardboard outer packaging. Inside the fan was encased in inflated plastic packaging and a plastic bag (both of which can also be recycled).

I didn't realise the inflated packaging was just folded underneath the fan rather than sealed, so was glad that I opened it while sitting on the floor otherwise the fan may have dropped out from quite a height before I had the wherewithal to catch it. So I would definitely advise being cautious when getting this fan out of the box.

From there, set up was really simple. With no assembly required, I just needed to unwrap the power cable, pull the protector off the plug and remove the plastic strip from the remote control. All in all, it took me less than a minute to get this fan set up.

In terms of looks, I like that the Vonhaus Air Circulator is compact enough that it could easily sit unobtrusively on my desk, sideboard or bedside table. I like the contemporary black and white colourway and the thick base makes the fan feel sturdy and secure. It's also got a handy handle built into the back of the fan head which made it very easy for me to move around.

What's it like to use?

I liked how simple the Vonhaus Air Circulator Cooling Fan was to use. There's no app to set up, so the control options are to use the on-board display panel or the remote control. There are only three different modes to contend with: Normal, Natural and Night.

The normal mode has three wind settings, with speeds ranging from 2.8m/s to 4.1m/s based on my anemometer readings. The natural mode will cycle randomly through the different speeds and the night mode will gradually reduce from speed 3 to 1 at 30 minute intervals.

I found the lowest wind speed to be a little too strong when the fan was close by, especially compared to other fans I've tested, and so would tilt the fan head away so it wasn't pointed directly at my face. But when I was across the room from the fan (a good 3m), the air flow was definitely strong enough to feel the breeze. Once you get up to the third speed setting, I could feel this fan getting the air circulating around the room.

The natural mode felt nice from that distance too, but it is audible when the fan speed changes, which I found a bit distracting.

While the fan's compact dimensions meant that it easily fit on a side table in my living room as well as my bedside table, I did have to tilt the fan head upwards to get a clear view of the whole control panel, which displays the ambient temperature in the room and a symbol to denote the mode the fan is in, and to be able to access the mode button. Because of that, I did find that I favoured using the remote control instead.

When it comes to oscillation, the fan will oscillate horizontally (the entire base moves rather than the fan head twisting while the base remains still) but in order to change the air flow direction vertically, that's a manual job. While I had to tilt it myself, I did like the range of the tilt, meaning I could take the fan head from pointing straight forward to directly up to the ceiling. The oscillation is decent, but it doesn't quite reach the scope of fans like the Meaco Sefte 10'' Pedestal Air Circulator or Pro Breeze AirFlo 43'' Hybrid Pedestal Fan, that both offer multidirectional oscillation that will reach into every single nook and cranny of your room.

The one area where this little fan can't quite match up against other fans I've tested is on noise. So many fans are whisper quiet in their lowest speed modes, and so even though this one only clocks in at 48dB in speed 1 on my decibel meter, up to 64dB in speed 3, it does feel noisier than other fans I've tried. While I could disguise the sound on the lowest setting when I had the TV or music on, on the higher settings I had to turn the volume up when the fan was in use.

For me, because of noise level, I also found this fan a little too loud to use as I was falling asleep, especially if I put it in night mode, which meant it started off at 64db (the equivalent of a chat with friends) for 30 minutes before dropping in fan speed. However, if you aren't bothered by noise, then you might love this compact fan on your bedside table. The display lights all turn off after three minutes when the fan is in use, so you don't have to worry about them keeping you awake.

Running costs

With a wattage of 50W, the Vonhaus Air Circulator will cost just over a penny per hour to run, so it's not an energy guzzler by any means. It also comes with a timer function so you don't have to worry about leaving it on longer than necessary. But while it might cost much to run, it consumes more energy than other fans we've tested.

Fans with higher price points might also come with additional eco features that reduce wind speed based on the ambient temperature of the room, so it's a bit of a balancing act between saving money on the purchase price, versus saving money on the ongoing running costs.

Cleaning and maintenance

There's not much maintenance needed when it comes to fans, but keeping it dust free will be essential to ensure it remains in good and energy-efficient working order.

The instructions say, once the fan is unplugged, to wipe over the exterior with a damp (not wet) lint-free cloth than has been rinsed in hot soapy water.

It's also a good idea to keep an eye on the cable and make sure it's not fraying anywhere, and store it upright in a dry place when not in use.

Who should buy this fan?

If you are budget conscious and want a powerful desktop fan to keep a small room, like a home office, cool while you work, then you should definitely consider the Vonhaus Air Circulator Cooling Fan.

However, if you are looking for a fan to keep you cool in the bedroom, then the noise level of the Vonhaus fan and its powerful wind speed even in the lower setting, mean this may not meet your needs. Instead, I'd advise you to opt for something like the Duux Whisper Flex Ultimate Fan or the Dreo PolyFan 508S, which are much quieter, and have a much more comfortable gentle breeze on the lower setting.

If you’re new to the realm of robot lawn mowers and want a fuss-free machine that’s as easy as it is good at mowing, I have one recommendation for you: the Bosch VISIMOW18V-100 Robot Lawn Mower, RRP £349.95 at Amazon.

Of all the models I’ve tested so far, I think it’s one of the best robot lawn mowers on the market – especially if you’re looking for a budget-friendly, wire-free machine that doesn’t compromise on intelligence and cutting ability. It’s designed for smaller lawns up to 100m², so it’s perfect for compact outdoor spaces – and the straightforward setup made it a breeze to use.

Here’s what I thought of the Bosch VISIMOW18V-100 Robot Lawn Mower when I reviewed it on my 38m² lawn.

In a nutshell

The Bosch VISIMOW18V-100 is the simplest robot mower I've tested, but by no means the least capable. Its cutting ability is impressive, tackling the areas of my lawn (specifically, around my stepping stones) that other robot mowers have missed.

It's so easy to set up – after inserting the battery, you only need to press three buttons. At 52dB, it's the quietest robot lawn mower I've tested, so you barely remember it's there during mowing!

The only downside? It's a little fiddly to remove the battery. It also doesn't connect to an app like robot lawn mowers at higher price points, so there's no lawn mapping, and less customisation.

For users who prefer a straightforward setup that cuts grass evenly using smart camera and sensor technology, though, it's a steal for the price.

Specifications

• Max. lawn size: 100m²
• Cutting height range: 20-60mm
• Cutting width: 16cm
• Max. climbing ability: 35% (19°)
• Dimensions: 42.9 x 34.8 x 22.6 cm
• Weight: 7.6kg (with battery)
• Noise level: 52dB
• Warranty: 2 years

Unboxing

The Bosch VISIMOW18V-100 Robot Lawn Mower, packaged, was the easiest robot mower I’ve had to lift and unpack. It came in a box that was barely larger than the mower itself, thanks to the fact that this machine doesn’t require a charging station (it’s battery-operated).

The packaging was minimal, with just a sheet of paper wrapped around the mower and a few stick-on strips and cardboard wedges along the outer edges of the mower and buttons to protect it from scratches. That meant it was far better for the environment, of course, but I suppose some people would argue that the mower could’ve been better protected. With careful transportation and delivery, though (both of which my machine had), that shouldn't be an issue.

The battery came separately (although you can buy the Bosch VISIMOW18V-100 Robot Lawn Mower and battery as a bundle, like this one from QVC), in a cardboard box that also included the charging port.

Setup

Setup was an absolute breeze. The Bosch VISIMOW18V-100’s quick start guide boasts a simple three-button setup – ‘Place, Press, Mow’ – and it’s not joking. The instructions are on the inner flaps of the cardboard box the mower comes in.

Before that, though, you’ll need to make sure the battery is charged. Mine was already charged when I put it into the charging dock, and the flashing green light on the front makes it easy to monitor charging progress.

Then, it was a case of inserting the battery into the robot mower. There’s a flap on the back of the mower with a red button that you press to lift. It was easy enough to push the battery in until a satisfying click let me know that it was inserted properly.

Before you turn the mower on (or when the 'Stop' button is pressed and the mower is in standby mode), you’ll need to adjust the cutting height (there's a range of 20-60mm, which rivals many of the best lawn mowers on the market) using the dial below the buttons before pressing those buttons.

Once the mower powered on, it was time to test that three-button 'Place, Press, Mow' setup. It really was a case of just pressing three buttons (which are numbered) on the top of the mower in a simple sequence: the fourth (On/Start), followed by the third (Auto Mow), and then the fourth again.

The Bosch VISIMOW18V-100 doesn’t connect to an app like other robot lawn mowers I’ve tested. That’s a drawback if you’re looking for ‘smarter’ features and the ability to map your lawn and customise setup from your phone – but for gardeners looking for a simple, fuss-free setup that will crack on with lawn mowing so they don’t have to, it’s perfect.

So, let’s dive into how it performed on my lawn…

Performance

I tested the Bosch VISIMOW18V-100 on my 38m² lawn. The robot mower is designed for small gardens with lawns up to 100m², which is brilliant considering its compact size (it’s the smallest one I’ve tested so far).

After I completed the three-button setup, the mower set off on my lawn. On this ‘Auto Mow’ setting, the Bosch VISIMOW uses a SmartVision system to target uncut patches of grass. Its cameras very intelligently detect where your lawn needs to be mowed, and this process manifests as a random mowing pattern that startled me a bit, initially.

That’s because many other robot lawn mowers (usually those that map your lawn) tend to cut your grass in a classic ‘up-and-down’ pattern. Not the Bosch VISIMOW, though – it zig-zagged horizontally, vertically and diagonally across my lawn, and you could almost see it mulling everything over, thinking about where it would go next.

If you’re a fan of lawn stripes, that won’t be music to your ears – it doesn't produce a striped effect like robot lawn mowers that follow a mapped route often do – but what I can say is that the result was an evenly cut lawn. It’s one of the best I’ve seen a robot lawn mower do, actually – and stripes or not, my lawn looked like a smooth sea of green by the time it had finished. It didn't quite cut the outer edges of my lawn, but I've yet to see a robot mower that perfects that (and that's where a cordless strimmer can come in handy).

The Bosch VISIMOW18V-100 handled the stepping stones that run down the mid-to-right section of my lawn with ease, too, covering more of the margins of each stone than some of the other robot lawn mowers I’ve tested. It also trampled over dead leaves on my lawn with no qualms, and I'm pretty sure it mulched them up, too.

Its ‘semi-autonomous’ freedom means it can mow multiple lawns and zones, too, which is perfect if you have different segments of lawn on the same level in your garden. My lawn is level, but the Bosch VISIMOW18V-100 can navigate slopes with a gradient of up to 35%. The instruction manual says that you should block off steeper slopes than that with a vertical border higher than 6cm prior to mowing.

The Bosch VISIMOW uses ultrasonic sensors and bump sensors for grass recognition and obstacle avoidance. I found that object avoidance wasn’t quite as good as other robot lawn mowers have demonstrated in testing – the VISIMOW never bumped into fixed objects like my garden border, but when I threw objects like my cap in front of the mower last-minute, it would ‘boop’ them on occasion before stopping and rerouting. It didn’t actually run over the objects, but it wasn’t as responsive as other robot mowers I’ve tested at higher price points.

What I did find, though, was that the mower was good at covering patches of lawn under lower-growing shrubs in my garden border. The mower’s compact size means it was better able to achieve that coverage in my garden than some of the larger robot lawn mowers on the market. There’s also a SpotMow mode that targets specific areas of grass (an area of approximately 2m² is mowed anticlockwise), like under garden furniture, for example. It's a handy option if AutoMow missed a few patches of grass.

The VISIMOW18V-100 took around an hour to cut my grass in total, which was considerably longer than some of the more expensive robot lawn mowers I’ve tested. So, it’s not one for speedy mowing tasks – but if you’re happy to let the mower do its thing in the background, I’d say it’s a pretty good compromise.

Like most other robot lawn mowers out there, there’s no collection bag on the VISIMOW, so the fine grass clippings are dispensed onto the lawn after they’ve been cut. Any clippings up to 20mm are actually mulched, and leaving grass clippings on your lawn in this medium can have a number of benefits.

Design

The Bosch VISIMOW18V-100 is the smallest robot mower I’ve tested, and it’s designed with small spaces in mind. At just 22.6 x 42.9 x 34.8 cm, it’s compact enough to be stored away without taking up too much space, and it’s also much lighter than many other robot mowers at 6.9kg. That means it’s easier to carry – and to make things even smoother, there’s a handle on the top of the mower, which a lot of other machines on the market don’t have.

The button layout on the top of the mower is really simple, too, with just four buttons, a cutting height dial and a large red ‘Stop’ button. There are two larger wheels on either side of the back end of the mower, and one smaller swivelling wheel underneath the mower at the front, which you can’t see when the mower is on the ground.

The battery compartment is in the back end of the mower, beneath a flap. While it was easy to get the battery into its slot, I did struggle to remove the battery afterwards. There’s a red button you press to release the battery, but I found that even after I did that, I had to wrestle with the battery a bit before it came out.

Overall, the Bosch VISIMOW feels like a robust machine, with a clear button layout and a simple design.

Cleaning and maintenance

Naturally, the Bosch VISIMOW gets a very grassy underside during mowing, but it’s easy enough to turn the mower over (once you're sure it's switched off) and brush away the debris. There are three small blades on the middle disc, so you’ll need to be careful around those – and it can be tricky to get some of the grass out from behind the wheels.

What’s really impressive about the Bosch VISIMOW, though, is that it boasts a Brushless cutter motor. Bosch says it provides superior performance and a longer motor lifetime because it has no carbon brushes that wear out over time – and as well as powerful cutting ability, that means less maintenance, too.

There's a really handy troubleshooting guide in the instruction manual that tackles any issues you might find during setup and mowing.

Robot mowers often require occasional software updates, and the same applies to the Bosch VISIMOW18V-100. The instruction manual says you'll need a USB flash drive (FAT 32 formatted), and when a new software version is available online, you'll need to load the software file onto the USB stick and follow the download instructions in the manual. That's the only thing I'd have reservations about, actually; many gardeners might find that too much of a hassle.

How does it compare to other models?

The Bosch VISIMOW 18V-100 Robot Lawn Mower is battery-operated, which sets it apart from many other robot mowers on the market that charge via a charging station. It's much better for gardens where space is at a premium, and there's less room for a charging dock. You'll just need to remember to charge the battery inside.

There's also no accompanying app for the Bosch VISIMOW, which means you can't customise and map your lawn from your phone like you can with the Eufy E15, for example. For users who prefer to set specific tasks and watch the progress from their own device, that's a downside – but the SpotMow feature on the Bosch VISIMOW does allow you to target patches of grass up to two metres away.

What sets the Bosch VISIMOW apart from other models, for me, is how quiet it is. It's considerably more subtle than other robot mowers I've tested, and it's also a lot smaller and more compact for storage.

Verdict: Should you buy the Bosch VISIMOW18V-100 Robot Lawn Mower?

Overall, I think the Bosch VISIMOW18V-100 is an absolute steal its price tag. It's so easy to setup, which makes it perfect for beginners and busy gardeners alike, and it provides a smooth cut via a random mowing pattern that relies on smart cameras and sensors.

There's less customisation to be had, since the mower can't be controlled via a companion app, but for a lot of users, that can make things even more straightforward. In terms of design, the only downside is that the battery can be tricky to remove (but as I've seen a review or two mentioning the same problem, I'm hoping this might be something Bosch fixes).

If you're after a quiet, compact robot lawn mower for a small garden that's a breeze to set up, though, I think the Bosch VISIMOW18V-100 Robot Lawn Mower is worth every penny.

The Philips Baristina coffee machine was launched in the UK earlier this year to much fanfare, with a sleek design and an affordable price point for a bean-to-cup machine, it has an alot going for it. However, its biggest selling point (alongside it's looks) is that it is unbelievably easy to use and is one of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines you can buy to ease the transition from a pod coffee machine.

In a nutshell

I will start by telling you what the Baristina is not: it's not a coffee machine for latte drinkers or budding baristas who already understand how to pull a good espresso shot. What this machine really is is an upgrade for anyone who needs their caffeine hit quickly and easily in the morning, but is fed up with coffee pods.

Philips has kept things very simple; like many coffee pod machines, it only has two options when making coffee: an espresso or a lungo. The machine makes the switch from pods to using coffee beans effortless. It does away with the mess and guesswork of other bean-to-cup machines doing the grinding, dosing, tamping and pulling the shot for you. All you have to do is touch one button, and every time you'll get a consistently good cup of coffee.

It was so quick and easy to use the Philips Baristina coffee machine that it finally persuaded my Mum (a decades-long Nespresso owner) to switch out her pod coffee machine.

Product specs

• Coffee machine type: Bean-to-cup
• Dimensions: 18 cm (width), 34.5 cm (height), 38 cm (depth)
• Coffee options: Espresso and Lungo
• Water tank capacity: 1.2L
• Pressure: 16 Bar
• Weight: 5 kg
• Colourways: Black or White
• RRP: £299.99

Unboxing

What is immediately striking about the Philips Baristina is how much smaller it is than your average bean-to-cup coffee machine. It arrived in a compact cardboard box that was easy for one person to lift and carry.

The box immediately won me over, as once I removed the cardboard sleeve, the inside box side fell open to reveal the coffee machine. No awkward tugging or shuffling to tip the coffee machine out of its box. Only a small piece of foam was used inside the box to protect the coffee machine; all the packaging was recyclable cardboard.

The coffee machine is relatively straightforward to use. While it did come with an instruction book, a quick start guide was written out on the top of the box along with a QR code to a dedicated website that included a digital user's manual.

The Baristina only comes with a white-handled portafilter, but other than a bag of beans, that is all you need to get brewing your first cup of coffee. However, if you do prefer a latte, you can buy the Baristina in a bundle with a milk frother for an RRP of £379 on Amazon.

First impressions

This is one of the best-looking coffee machines I've tested, I was testing the white version, but it is also available in black. I loved the chic matte white finish and the stylish fluted design. My one disappointment is that the coloured-handle porta filters, which this coffee machine launched with in the US, are currently not available in the UK. Here's hoping they'll land soon for an even more striking look on a kitchen worktop.

The coffee machine fits comfortably under a set of kitchen cupboards, and has a small foot print for a bean-to-cup coffee machine.

The water tank sits hidden at the back, and while relatively easy to lift out and refill, the tank felt more flimsy than my other coffee machines. The lid was completely removable rather than a simple flip-up, and a little tricky to lift off if you just wanted to fill it up with a jug. However, the water tank is a good size, I found it only needed refilling every five coffees.

I was a little concerned about the size of the drip tray; it doesn't cover the whole bottom of the machine. Instead, it is a tiny box that can be easily removed to fit large mugs underneath. When making a couple of espressos in a row, the mess from drips on the bottom of the machine had me wishing for a larger drip tray.

Before using the coffee machine, you need to wash the portafilter and run a rinse cycle, which is easily done by slotting in the portafilter, filling the water tank and pressing the intensity boost button to run the cycle. The machine communicates via easy-to-understand blinking lights around three buttons (espresso, lungo and boost). When the intensity boost button stopped blinking, the machine was ready to go.

The machine doesn't have a water filter, so there is the potential for hard water to impact the machine in the long-term. If you do live in a hard water area, as I do in London, you might want to only fill the water tank with filtered water; the machine will also alert you when it needs descaling.

There is nothing else you have to do to set up the coffee machine; the bean grind is automatically set. You can't adjust it, but I found it to be spot on for the beans I was using. The Baristina is the definition of a plug-and-play coffee machine; you can be up and running in minutes.

What is it like to use?

The Baristina, for all its simplicity, is very fun to use, and became my party piece when testing it out at home. It is a fully automated system, so all you have to do is slide the portafilter into the machine until it clicks and place your coffee cup under the spout. Press your chosen coffee size button, then slide the portafilter over to the right and leave the machine to do the rest.

On the right-hand side, the portafilter will fill with coffee grounds, a job it does while waiting for the machine to heat up. This is where my guests would panic that the cup was on the wrong side to catch the espresso shot, but the portafilter will automatically move back over to the left, where it brews and pulls the perfect espresso (or lungo) into your cup.

Then you have to wait until the button stops flashing on top before removing the portafilter. There is alot of flashing and blinking buttons involved with this machine, but they were helpful prompts to follow.

The portafilter has a little button that ejects the puck, which I was a big fan of it. It means there's no banging on the side of the bin, just press the button a couple of times.

What might put some people off is that the coffee machine has only two coffee options, espresso and lungo. I found myself using the espresso function most of the time as it was best suited to a latte base (I heated the milk using my Dualit milk frother). However, my partner and Mum, who both drink daily black coffees, loved the lungo function.

There is a degree of customisability with the machine; you can increase the intensity of the espresso or lungo by pressing the boost button after selecting your drink. You can also adjust the drink volume. You do this manually the first time, pressing your chosen size button for 5 seconds before moving the portafilter over to the right, and then pressing it again when it is dispensing the coffee into your cup. The machine will then save your chosen preference.

Personally, I found that the settings of the coffee machine were already set for the perfect espresso and lungo, so I didn't use either of these adjustments beyond initially testing them out.

The ‘Morning Rush’ test

All the coffee machines we review are put through the 'Morning Rush' test, which usually involves going from turning the machine on to having two milky coffees ready. As the Baristina is best suited to espresso or americano drinkers (maybe with a splash of milk), this is what I timed it for, and it aced the test.

It achieved the task in under five minutes. The machine heats up within a minute or two, and it can grind the beans of your first coffee while heating up. Once it's warmed up, it can produce either an espresso or a lungo from grinding to brewing in under 60 seconds. I put it to the ultimate test and cranked out five coffees (a mix of lungo and espresso) for some friends, and it achieved the task in 6 minutes.

If you are a latte drinker, the slowest part of the coffee machine process with the Baristina will be waiting for the milk frother to heat up. I didn't try the Philips Baristina milk frother. However, using my own separate milk frother, I found I could still get two lattes out the door in around 8 minutes, because I could froth the milk while the coffee machine was brewing the espresso shot - something many budget bean-to-cup coffee machines can't do.

Noise test

This coffee machine is relatively quiet. The specifications say its noise level is 72 dB, which is about the same level as a dishwasher, a little louder than a normal conversation. When I tested, I found the sound level to range to reach 78.9 dB at its loudest, which is when it's grinding the beans. The brewing and dispensing of the shot were all much quieter.

Coffee quality

Kiss the Hippo is one of my favourite coffee shops in London, and my main reason for using their house beans in testing is so I can compare my finished result to their professional barista-made drinks. I'm happy to report that the Baristina measured up well.

The espresso shots and lungos had a lovely, thick golden crema on top that lasted for a long time. The taste was lovely and smooth, with nice chocolately notes and a slight acidity. Overall, I was incredibly impressed by the quality of the espresso; the automated elements were calibrated perfectly. It delivered a superior coffee than I'd ever managed to achieve with my manual (and more expensive) bean-to-cup coffee machine.

Thermal stability

To test the thermal stability to see if the coffee machine was potentially overheating or over extracting I made 5 espressos in a row to compare the temperature from the 1st to the 5th cup. The 5th cup was slightly hotter than the 1st cup, indicating it could be at risk of overheating with extended use.

However, each of the five cups was consistently good, with a lovely flavour and beautiful crema. This machine is designed for easy consistency, which is excels at. The only issues I ever had with consistency was when I accidentally didn't put enough coffee beans in the bean hopper and was left with a very soggy coffee puck to remove.

Cleaning

A white coffee machine sounds like it's going to be a nightmare to clean; however, the simplicity of the grinding and brewing process and the lovely matte finish of the machine meant it was relatively easy to keep clean.

However, a word of warning, if the sight of coffee drips bugs you, then you do need to wipe it down after every use, every splash will show up.

All the parts, including the drip tray and water tank, are easy to remove and clean. The bean hopper isn't removable, but the instructions recommend simply wiping it down with a damp cloth and leaving the grinder alone altogether. The only issue I could foresee with this is if you were to use dark roast beans, which can clog some grinders up with their oils

The portafilter was easy to clean; you just need to make sure to press the puck release button a couple of times when running it under water to remove all the coffee grounds.

Descaling the machine was fine, once I got the hang of all the button-holding times. The machine will alert you when it needs to be descaled by the espresso and lungo buttons blinking simultaneously after brewing a drink. Philips recommends using their own CA6700 liquid, which you can buy for £8 on Amazon, for descaling, which you add to the water tank.

To start the cycle, you need to insert the portafilter and press and hold the espresso and lungo buttons for 5 seconds. The descaling cycle will begin when the buttons change so that the espresso button stops blinking and the lungo starts blinking. You can remove the water tank, rinse, refill and put it back to start the flushing cycle. The whole process took around 15 to 30 minutes. Personally, I'd have preferred a dedicated button, as I found all the buttons and light blinking combinations more confusing than they needed to be.

The rinse cycle, which should be done at the start before using the machine, or if the machine hasn't been used for a while, is quicker. You just need to press the intensity boost button for 5 seconds with the portafilter inserted into the machine, and it is done in a couple of minutes.

How does it compare to similar models

The Philips Baristina is an unusual bean-to-cup coffee machine as it has more in common with the best pod coffee machine, with the simplicity of its drink options. However, at £299 it is more expensive than most of the pod coffee machines we've tested, the most expensive Smeg Lavazza A Modo Mio is priced at £250, and at the other end of the spectrum, you can pick up the Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie for under £100 right now.

However, with pod machines comes the extra expense of buying into the pods your machine uses; there is also a difference in taste. Personally, I prefer the flavour and freedom of choosing my own coffee beans, and enjoyed the espresso the Philips Baristina produced more than the Nespresso Pixie Pod Coffee Machine I also had in my kitchen.

Now, compared to high-end bean-to-cup coffee machines, which are rarely found under £500 the Baristina appears well priced. However, there are other super-easy-to-use automatic bean-to-cup coffee machines on the market around the £300-£400 mark. The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Next, which our reviewer awarded 4 stars, can usually be found on sale for around £449, but it has a milk frother built in that can make lattes and cappuccinos at the touch of a button. The Philips Series 2200 Fully automatic espresso machine, priced at £319 at John Lewis, also includes a lot of things the Baristina lacks, including a built-in water filter and milk frother.

But while those two might deliver more functionality, they are nowhere near as aesthetically pleasing or compact in size as the stylish Baristina.

Should you buy the Philips Baristina?

I loved the look and simplicity of the Baristina, and it makes a 'damn good cup of coffee' to quote Twin Peaks. As a latte drinker, this coffee machine is not well-suited to my taste, but my partner and Mum, who both drink black coffee, loved it so much that my Mum has just swapped her old Nespresso for the Philips Baristina.

It is expensive for its functionality, but for the £299 pricetag you get a compact machine that is better looking than any other automatic coffee machine. It also makes super-speedy and consistent cafe-worthy coffees with zero effort. If you are trying to ditch a takeaway coffee habit and have no interest in learning how to tamp your coffee grounds, this coffee machine will help.

You should buy the Baristina if:

• You want a stylish and compact coffee machine
• You drink espressos or black coffees (with a splash of milk)
• You want to use coffee beans instead of pods
• You want your coffee quickly and easily

You shouldn't buy the Philips Baristina if:

• If you are a latte, flat white or cappuccino drinker
• You prefer a more hands-on coffee making experience
• You are on a tight budget

We've tested a number of Levoit air purifiers at Ideal Home, and all of them have impressed us so far. So, I had high hopes for the Levoit Vital 100S Smart Air Purifier. I tested it for over two weeks in my family home, putting it through its paces with our usual series of real-world tests - from cooking fumes to aerosol sprays.

But can it compete with the best air purifiers and live up to the brand's reputation for impressive performance? Read on for my full verdict, but in short: while it's not flawless, there's plenty I'd recommend.

In a nutshell

After using the Levoit Vital 100S Smart Air Purifier around my home, it proved to be a practical and easy-to-live with option for everyday use, particularly in smaller to mid-size spaces. Although on first glance, it doesn't look the most compact, its slim depth means it doesn't take up as much space as you might expect. It's also lightweight enough to move between rooms, and its clean, white design means it blends seamlessly into most interiors.

It's incredibly straightforward to use. The digital display is intuitive, and the VeSync app is convenient for day-to-day use. Unlike some competitor apps, it's not complicated to use, but it does allow you to adjust settings remotely, set schedules and it's compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. One of its standout features is the dedicated Pet mode, making it particularly appealing for homes with animals.

In terms of performance, the Vital 100S is quick to pick up obvious changes in air quality. During testing, it responded quickly to aerosol and cooking fumes, but it did take longer to fully restore the air to optimal levels. Auto mode also doesn't always kick in as expected, so it can require manual input.

Overall, it strikes a good balance between usability and performance. It doesn't offer the same power or detailed air quality readings as more premium models, but it's a reliable and capable option for everyday, particularly for use in smaller spaces.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 6D x 32.1W x 40.6H cm
• Weight: 3.4 Kg
• Power consumption: 24V ⎓ 1.5A
• Recommended room size: 104m²
• Filter: 3-stage filtration system
• Air flow: 143 CFM
• Wattage: 35W
• CADR: 243 m³/h
• Noise levels: 23 - 52 dB
• Smart App connectivity: Yes
• RRP: £169.99

How I tested

Unboxing and setting up

The Levoit Vital 100S Smart Air Purifier was packaged in a fairly lightweight cardboard box. Inside, the air purifier was cushioned with a layer of polystyrene. Once removed from its plastic wrapping, the air purifier felt surprisingly lighter than I was expecting.

Contents were refreshingly minimal, consisting of the air purifier, the charger and user manual. The user guide and air purifier were wrapped in plastic packaging, which was labelled PE 04. I know from previous reviews that this type of packaging is recyclable, though it needs to be taken to a specialised collection point, such as larger supermarkets. While I generally prefer fully eco-friendly packaging, I appreciated that nothing felt excessive or overly wasteful.

Following the set-up guide instructions, I started by gently pulling the sides of the air purifier's front cover to remove it, before taking out the pre-filter. Behind this sat the main filter, which was wrapped in plastic packaging. After removing the packaging, I slotted it back into place. The filter has a blue ribbon which faces outwards, making it easy to position correctly without having to second-guess.

There's also a dedicated VeSync app, which allows you to control the air purifier remotely and access additional functions and features. As I didn't already have the app, I downloaded it from the App Store and set up an account. It was a really straightforward process and only took a few minutes.

To sync the Levoit to the app, I connected to my WiFi. This was simple: I just pressed and held the power symbol on the air purifier's control panel until it started flashing, then followed the in-app instructions.

You can also connect it to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant if you prefer to use voice commands.

Design

The Levoit Vital 100S Smart Air Purifier is noticeably taller than many compact air purifiers, which give it a more substantial presence in a room. I've previously tested the Coway Airmega 50, which is much shorter and overall more compact, making it easier to tuck away on a side table or kitchen worktop. By contrast, the Levoit Vital 100S feels more like a floor-standing unit thanks to its tall, upright design, but its slim, rectangular shape means it doesn't take up much floor space.

In terms of aesthetics, the all-white design is clean and understated. It's more minimal than design-led models like the Dupray Bloom Air Purifier (which cleverly doubles up as a plant or accent table), but I think that simplicity works in its favour - it blends into most interiors rather than drawing attention to itself.

Despite its height, it's also noticeably lighter than I expecting, making it easy to move between rooms when needed. The control panel sits on the top of the purifier and features clear, identifiable touch-screen symbols. These include three air flow speeds, a Sleep mode, light sensor, a preset timer, and a control panel lock - a particularly useful feature if, like me, you have young, curious children around.

Air quality is displayed via a colour-coded AQI light: blue for very good, green for good, orange for moderate and red for bad.

Performance

After switching on the air purifier it begins monitoring the air immediately, using its built-in sensor to assess the air quality. The indicator light cycles through the different colours, before settling on the one that reflects the current air quality level.

When we test air purifiers at Ideal Home, we judge them based on how they function in real-life home settings. To do this, we carry out a series of tests designed to put the appliances through their paces, helping us build an accurate picture of how they perform.

First up, was the match test, which is designed test the air purifier's ability to detect and filter out smoke. With the Levoit Vital 100S set to auto mode, I lit a match a safe distance from the unit and let it burn out, which took around 10 seconds.

It then took around 20 seconds for the air purifier to register the change in air quality, with the indicator ring switching from blue (very good) to green (good), before quickly moving to orange (moderate) and then red (bad), indicating that smoke had been detected. I then timed how long the air purifier took to clean the air, and it took just over three minutes to restore normal air quality levels and for the light to change back to blue.

One thing to note, unlike higher-end models like the Levoit Core 600S, the Vital 100S doesn't display exact PM2.5 readings - instead, it relies on a simple colour-coded system to indicate air quality. While this keeps things simple, it may feel limiting for anyone who prefers more detailed air quality readings.

Next, I carried out the aerosol deodorant test, spraying the can very generously directly in front of the appliance. Straight away, the light changed from blue (very good) to green (good), before quickly switching to orange (moderate ) and then red (very poor). This all happened within 10 seconds.

I waited for the fan to clear the air, but after almost 30 minutes, there was no change and the indicator light was still red, indicating the air was still bad. I decided to switch from Auto mode to the highest fan speed setting to see if that would speed things up. It took a further 5 minutes for the light to switch to green, where it settled for another 15 minutes. It took a total of 50 minutes to restore the healthy air quality.

Next, was the fried food test, which is always the highlight! Designed to see how air purifiers cope with fumes, this is typically the test that sends the device into overdrive. If there's one dish guaranteed to create strong, lingering odours, it's a curry, so it provided the perfect testing ground.

With all the doors and windows closed, I placed the air purifier directly next to the hob and started by frying onions. Almost immediately the air purifier's fan ramped up and the indicator light cycled through the colours to settle red, indicating it had detected the cooking fumes and classed the air quality as bad.

As expected, the light on the unit and in the app remained red throughout the duration of cooking the curry. I timed how long it took for the indoor air quality light to return to blue (very good levels), and it took almost 40 minutes.

This sits somewhere in the middle in terms of performance. It's slower than more premium models, such as the Levoit Core 600S, which took just six minutes to restore healthy air levels, but still quicker than the entry-level Coway Airmega 50, which took 70 minutes to clear the air after cooking.

It would have been useful to see PM2.5 readings in the app here, as this would have given a clearer picture of how effectively the purifier was working to clear the air.

The final test, the dust test, involved emptying the contents of my (very full) vacuum cleaner in front of the air purifier to see if its built-in air quality sensor would register any dust particles. Having carried out this test before, I wasn't expecting a strong reaction, as my vacuum's HEPA filter captures the majority of dust particles before they escape from the machine.

As predicted, the indicator light remained a solid blue, suggesting no detectable change in air quality. It's likely that the debris emptied onto the floor didn't contain enough fine airborne particles for the purifier's sensors to pick up - particularly compared to smoke or aerosols which are made up of smaller particles.

Ease of use

Although it has a wide range of features, the Levoit Vital 100S is refreshingly simple and easy to use. The on-board digital display feels intuitively designed and it's straightforward to operate. The multicoloured indicator rings that display the air quality readings is also clear and easy enough to interpret at a glance.

One of the key benefits is the VeSync app, which enables the air purifier to be fully controlled remotely. It's incredibly user-friendly, unlike many other product-based apps I've tested which have a lot of layers and can feel overwhelming.

At the same time, it still feels genuinely useful, offering more tailored features, including an indoor air quality graph. Overall, I think first-time users would have no trouble getting to grips with it.

Through the app, you can set up schedules, activate the purifier remotely, and turn on Sleep mode or the Display lock. While most of these features can be accessed physically from the air purifier's digital screen, the VeSync app has an additional Pet function, designed to support homes with animals. When activated, the air purifier cycles between fan speeds to target pet-related pollutants more effectively.

Noise levels

In everyday use, the Levoit Vital 100S Smart Air Purifier isn't particularly loud when in use. For the most part, it fades into the background, producing a soft-consistent hum that I found easy to ignore during day-to-day activities like working or watching TV.

That said, it does become noticeably louder when the fan ramps up. On the highest setting, or when Auto mode detects a change in air quality, such as cooking fumes - the air flow becomes louder and more pronounced. I didn't find it distracting though (although I do live in a fairly noisy household), but it is likely to stand out more in quieter environments.

Noise levels range from 23 dB when in Sleep mode up to 52dB at maximum power, placing it comfortably in the mid-range compared to similar models. It's not as quiet as the Coway Airmega 50 at its lowest setting, which measures 18.4 dB at its quietest, but its also not as loud as the Shark NeverChange5, which can reach noticeably louder volumes at full speed.

Portability

As someone who's relatively short on storage space, how much room an appliance will take up is always a key consideration. When I first unboxed the Levoit Vital 100S, my immediate thought was where I'd store it and how easy it would be to move between rooms.

At 6D x 32.1W x 40.6H cm, it's fairly taller and wider than some compact models, but the narrow depth means it takes up less space than you might expect. In practice, I found it slotted neatly besides furniture, rather than dominating the room.

It's also noticeably lighter than it looks, making it easy to carry around the house. While it doesn't have dedicated carry handles, the air inlets on either side are deep enough to grip, effectively doubling as an improvised handle when I needed to move it between rooms.

Energy use

The Levoit Vital 100S uses a maximum of 35W whilst it's running on its highest setting, with lower consumption on reduced fan speeds. Put into context, that's roughly equivalent to a small household light bulb, and fairly typical for a mid-range air purifier of this size and performance level.

Based on the current Ofgem energy price cap (April - June 26), running the purifier continuously at full power all day would only cost a few pence per day, making it relatively inexpensive to run. In practice, it's unlikely to operate at maximum output for extended periods, making the actual cost to run even lower.

It's still not quite as energy efficient as some low power models, such as the Blueair Blue Max 3250I, which uses between just 2-20W of energy.

You can find out more about how much it costs to run an air purifier in our dedicated guide.

Filter replacement

You don't need to worry too much about knowing when it's time to change the main filter, as there's a handy 'Filter Life' feature within the VeSync app, which shows the remaining percentage. There's also a handy filter replacement guide, and a link to buy filters, although this didn't actually direct me anywhere when I clicked on it. You can, however, purchase them directly from Levoit's website for £39.99.

How often to replace an air purifier filter does vary depending on usage and environment, although Levoit generally recommends replacing it every 8-12 months as a rough guide.

The pre-filter, meanwhile, is removable and washable. It can be cleaned using a mild detergent and soft cloth, or alternatively you can use a soft brush or vacuum hose to remove any visible hair, dust and large particles. The manual advises cleaning it every 2-4 weeks, and you can use the app to set reminders and stay on top of maintenance.

How does it rate online?

On the brand's website, the Levoit Vital 100S reviews are relatively sparse. At the time of reviewing, it holds a 5 star rating, based on just six customer reviews. Users praise its effective performance, with one reviewer noting it has helped to alleviate her son's hay fever symptoms.

By contrast, customer feedback is far more extensive on Amazon, where the model has accumulated more than 38,000 reviews, and holds a 4.6 star rating overall. Positive feedback consistently highlights its ability to filter dust and allergens effectively, as well being able to quickly detecting changes in air quality. However, opinions on value for money are more mixed.

I couldn't find any further online reviews beyond these websites.

How does it compare to similar models and predecessors?

The Levoit Vital 100S Smart Air Purifier sits in the mid-range offering of the brand's line-up It's not as compact as the Levoit Core 300S, but it also doesn't deliver the same level of airflow or large room performance as the Core 600S.

It's worth comparing to wider competitors, including Ideal Home's top rated air purifier, the Blueair Blue Max 3250i, which delivers faster cleaning and a more responsive Auto mode, but is better suited to smaller spaces. I've already mentioned the Coway Airmega, which is more compact and energy efficient, but it offers less coverage and doesn't have smart functionality.

Overall, I'd say the Levoit Vital 100S sits comfortably in the middle - it's more capable than compact entry-levels, but it's less powerful than high-end options designed for bigger spaces.

Verdict: Should you buy the Levoit Vital 100S Smart Air Purifier?

The Levoit Vital 100S Smart Air Purifier is a strong choice if you're looking for a straightforward, easy to use model that conveniently fits into everyday life. It combines quick air quality detection with useful features, such as WiFi connectivity and a dedicated Pet mode.

However, if your priority is fast speed or more detailed air quality data, a more premium model might be a better option. While the Levoit Vital 100S is reliable and capable, it doesn't offer the same level of power or in-depth PM2.5 readings as higher-end models.

Overall, it's a practical middle ground choice - ideal if you value ease of use and smart functionality over cutting edge performance.