Back in 2024 the Our Place Wonder Oven was the talk of the town (or maybe that was just amongst kitchen appliance reviewers) because it looked so impossibly cute. We were all getting bored of the best air fryers being big black boxes and then came the Wonder Oven with its adorable pastel shades.

Whilst I reviewed the OG version for a sister publication, I agreed with Ideal Home’s appliances editor, the Wonder Oven is small, and the controls are basic at best. So I’m delighted the brand has launched a bigger Pro oven, with digital controls. It still looks nice and comes in three great colours, but it’s the cleverer, more grown up version.

In a nutshell

The Our Place Wonder Oven Pro will set you back £100 more than the original Wonder Oven, but in my opinion it’s well worth the extra investment. It offers more than double the cooking capacity, making it far more usable, even for smaller households.

Furthermore, the digital controls and automatic preheat offer much greater accuracy than the analogue dial controls on the smaller version. The Pro comes with two additional cooking functions, dehydrate and proof, for most people they’re not game changing added functions, but still nice to have.

I do find it annoying that the accessories can’t go in the dishwasher. And while I would have loved some cooking time and temperature suggestions listed in the manual, I still managed to successfully cook lots of different foods across the various functions.

From roast chicken in under an hour, to perfectly toasted bagels, air fried fish and chips, and beautifully baked homemade cookies, I whipped up a real variety of foods in this oven and on the whole it did a great job. Though it’s worth pointing out that when lots of steam is produced, you can end up with puddles on your kitchen worktop.

Who reviewed this air fryer?

Unboxing and first impressions

Unboxing this oven from its fully recyclable cardboard and paper packaging, was made somewhat easier by the fact that it’s relatively lightweight and easy to lift. I reviewed the blue salt colour which added a fun pop of colour to my beige worktops. It’s nice looking, but not in an attention seeking kind of way.

The accessories can all be stored inside the oven, so it’s neat and tidy when not in use. It comes with a mesh style air fryer basket, a non-stick bake pan, and a wire rack similar to the shelves in your normal oven. There’s also a removable stainless steel crumb tray that slides into the bottom below the heating elements, to catch drips and crumbs.

The steam function is simply an inlet in the top of the oven covered by a cap that you can fill with water to make sure you add the right volume of water into the hole. It’s a basic feature that’s easy to use, though there’s little guidance in the manual on how best to make use of it. It can be used on all functions apart from dehydrate and proof. You just have to add the water after the preheat stage.

The digital touch controls are well laid out and very simple to use. The touch controls make an audible beep when pressed, but thankfully this can be turned off. You can also turn the internal light on and off as needed, making it easy to check browning levels during cooking.

Each cooking function has a preset time and temperature as a starting point. The timer is adjustable in 1 minute increments for most functions (apart from dehydrate). Similarly, temperatures can be adjusted in 5C intervals for most functions. Adjustments are easy with the big dial control on the right.

It’s worth noting that there isn’t a countdown timer for the preheat. The display shows the word ‘preheating’ so you know what’s going on, and once the preheat stage is complete, it beeps and the countdown timer immediately starts. Which means, ideally you have to stay close and pop your food in as soon as you hear the beep. Luckily, the timer pauses whenever the door is open.

One thing that bugs me is the use of American terminology on the control panel. The ‘Broil’ function is what we in the UK would call a grill. It's fine if you know that, but not everybody will, so there’s potential for confusion. Similarly for the ‘Proof’ function, in the UK we usually say ‘Prove’, though this one is admittedly, more of a minor niggle.

Be aware that the instruction manual gives all the details on operation but little-to-no guidance or suggestions on cooking temperatures and times for common foods. So you will have to wing it a bit when it comes to selecting settings.

The accessories all have to be washed before use and it’s at this point you realise they can’t go in the dishwasher, something that’ll no doubt feel frustrating to most busy cooks.

What's it like to use?

Toast function

The first thing I did after setting up, was use the toast function to toast a bagel. Since this setting doesn’t require a preheat, I popped my bagel sliced side up, on the wire rack. And even though my instinct was to put the rack in the upper shelf position, I followed the recommendations in the manual to put it in the middle.

I went with the default time and temperature settings. As it started toasting, and both the top and bottom heating elements lit up, I understood why my bagel was best placed in the centre. It toasts both sides simultaneously.

After three minutes, I enjoyed a nicely toasted bagel that had an appealing golden colour. It’s as quick as a standard toaster, plus it can toast much thicker slices too. So if you wanted fewer appliances in your kitchen, you could ditch your toaster.

Even during this first use, I was struck by how useful the large glass viewing window is. Almost the whole door is a window, which makes it really easy to see inside and keep an eye on your food while it cooks.

Air fry function

I used the air fry function to make jacket sweet potatoes. I’d microwaved them before coating the skin in oil and salt. Then I set the air fryer to 200C. I would have loved a timer to show how long the preheat takes, in this instance it took 5 minutes to preheat to 200C, which is fine, it’s just frustrating not knowing how long you need to wait.

The potatoes were ready in 20 minutes, which is similar to the time they take in my usual Ninja air fryer, and the skin was lightly crisped with good browning.

To further put the air fryer through its paces, I made fish and chips. The chips were made from scratch, the breaded fish was from the supermarket freezer aisle. As I always do, I soaked the fresh cut potato batons for 30 minutes, then coated in oil.

I spread the chips out on the wire basket and turned them a couple of times. After 18 minutes I added the frozen fish alongside the chips.

The fish cooked quickly in just under 14 minutes. The crumb was lovely and crunchy and the fish remained moist. The chips ended up being in for just over 30 minutes, I could have taken them out a few minutes sooner but didn’t want them to cool down while the fish was still cooking.

The chips were very good, they had a lovely crisp texture on the outside and were nicely cooked inside. All in all it was a great result and I was impressed that I could fit two portions of fish and chips in the basket.

The air fryer function was my first choice when cooking some chicken thighs. But I was concerned about the thighs drying out due to them having no skin on. So once the air fryer had heated to 190C, I added a cap full of water to the steam inlet.

It’s hard to say how much difference the steam function makes, but the chicken thighs cooked in 12 ½ minutes and remained moist and juicy, so I was happy with the result.

Roast function

I roasted a selection of vegetables on the roast setting at 215C. This time the preheat took 3 ½ minutes. I stirred the veg a couple of times during cooking and was impressed that after just 20 minutes, the heavily loaded tray of onions, peppers and mushrooms had become perfectly roasted, with some lovely charring and caramelising.

Excess steam vents out of the base of the door and the viewing window can fog up with condensation when cooking certain foods. I noticed when roasting vegetables, a lot of steam was escaping, and consequently little puddles formed on the worktop below the door. This is definitely something to keep an eye on, especially if you’ve got wooden worktops that could become damaged if you don’t spot and mop up these puddles.

After my success with the roasted veg, I used the roast function again for a whole chicken. I decided to cook it at 170C and initially set the timer to 60 minutes. The preheat was speedy, taking just 2 ½ minutes. I coated my chicken in oil, and seasoned it with salt and pepper, then popped it on the baking tray on the lowest shelf position.

I didn’t want the chicken to dry out during the early stages of cooking, so this felt like another good opportunity to use the steam function. I poured a cap full of water into the inlet and hoped for the best. Steam is created automatically and I could hear the sizzling sounds as the water was heated inside the oven.

The chicken roasted in 55 minutes. The skin was golden brown and apart from one small area towards the back of the chicken, it was even in colour. The meat was tender and moist. The skin didn’t crisp up quite as much as I hoped for, which could well be due to the addition of the steam at the start, though it’s hard to say.

On the whole though, it cooked quickly and the taste and texture was great. What’s more, there was plenty of space for a large 2kg chicken. I’m not sure if it was due to the steam function or moisture from the chicken, but once again, puddles formed on my worktop below the door. I checked the manual, and it is listed as something you should expect, which is somewhat frustrating.

Broil (grill) function

For a pasta bake that was cooked, but just needed some cheese melting on top, I opted for the Broil (grill) function. Preheating to 230C took 4 ½ minutes. And I was surprised that in just six minutes the cheese was golden, perfectly melted and crisp around the edges. It was super speedy and effective.

The next day I tried the reheat function for a bowl of leftover pasta bake. I popped it in the microwave first for a couple of minutes, then after eight minutes reheating at 175C, the cheese topping had crisped back up and it tasted just like the night before.

Cookies are one of my favourite sweet treats to bake, because they’re best served warm and you really can’t get the same freshly baked, slightly gooey and melty texture from shop bought cookies.

I used the bake setting at 170C and was able to fit six cookies onto the tray with plenty of space to stop them melting into one another. I didn’t bother lining the tray, because the non-stick is really good so I didn't feel the need to.

The chunky cookies took 15 minutes and baked to perfection, I was really happy with the result. And with just a 3 minute preheat, it was much quicker and more convenient than cooking them in my normal oven.

Personally, I’m happy to bake six at a time, because I like to keep the cookie dough balls in the fridge or freezer and bake them on demand. But if you’re cooking for a crowd, you’ll either need a second tray, or to cook back-to-back trays of six at a time.

What's it like to clean?

As I’ve already mentioned, the accessories can’t go in the dishwasher, which is a bit annoying. The wire air fry basket is particularly fiddly to clean by hand and I recommend a brush. Luckily the tray has a good non-stick coating and is very easy to clean.

As far as the inside of the oven goes, the removable crumb tray in the base certainly helps make life easier. After roasting a chicken, I did have to spend some time wiping all the grease splatters from the sides. And I imagine the stainless steel interior will become harder to keep clean after prolonged use.

Due to the heating elements, the top of the oven is virtually impossible to get to, which is a bit frustrating when you can see the grease and food splatters. Luckily, I found the exterior stayed looking as good as new with just the occasional wipe over.

How does it compare to competitors?

The obvious comparison is the smaller Our Place Wonder Oven. It’s £100 cheaper which is a big draw. But even for a two person household, it’s small and depending on what you want to cook, it may not meet your needs. That said, for very compact spaces or single person homes, it could be a great option. So long as you accept that the dial controls are very simplistic.

Alternatively, if you can forego the colourful good looks of the Our Place ovens, you could save some money by opting for a more generic looking model. There are several top performing Ninja air fryers that could fit the bill.

Should you buy the Our Place Wonder Oven Pro?

If you’re choosing between the Wonder Oven and this new Pro version, then I think I’ve already made no secret of the fact that I think the Pro is hands-down the superior choice. It’s a much better investment for many reasons, including the larger capacity and user-friendly digital control panel.

It’s not without faults and for me, the pools of condensation on the worktop are a big annoyance. And I really do wish the accessories could be chucked in the dishwasher. That being said, I like the look of it. And if you want an air fryer oven that’s not an eyesore then I think you’ll be able to get over these niggles.

I've tested a few Kärcher cleaning appliances over the years, so when the SC 2 Deluxe landed on my doorstep, I had high hopes. As a mum of three, I was drawn to the promise of cleaning everything from my floors to my oven hob and shower screen using nothing but water.

So, I put it to the test around my family home to see how it measures up against the best steam cleaners and mops. A couple of niggles aside, it lived up to expectations, and it really impressed me.

In a nutshell

The Kärcher SC 2 Deluxe is a compact steam cleaner that comes with a useful range of attachments, so it can tackle much more than just your floors. I used it to clean my hob, oven door, shower screen and the awkward areas around taps.

Interestingly, it wasn't my floors where I saw the most impressive results, as it was the smaller attachments that really won me over. Using the small round brush around my hob rings and the base of my taps, I was genuinely shocked at how much hidden dirt it blasted away from spots I didn't even know were there. It even came to the rescue when nail varnish ended up on my carpet, leaving the mark barely visible.

It's well built, and the wheels and carry handle make it easy to move from room to room. The illuminated LED ring is a simple touch, but it gives it a more modern feel than many of the steam cleaners I've used before. It's not without its niggles, though. It takes around six minutes to heat up, so it's not something I'd reach for to deal with a spill in a hurry. I also found it hard to tell how much water was left, as the tank is hidden inside the unit.

Overall, the SC 2 Deluxe really impressed me. It's incredibly easy to use and delivered a genuinely thorough clean across my whole home, with results that surprised me more than once. Once you factor in the warm-up time, it's a brilliant, harsh-chemical-free steam cleaner, and with little ones around, it's earned a spot in my cleaning cupboard.

How I tested

Specifications

• Dimensions: 30.4 x 23.1 x 28.7 centimetres
• Cable length: 4m
• Steam settings: 3
• Heat up time: 6.5 minutes
• Water tank capacity: 1 litre
• Cleaning power: 1500 watts
• Weight: 2.68 kg
• Accessories: 2.2m Steam hose with trigger gun, accessories bag, crevice brush, detail nozzle, floor cleaning cloth, floor nozzle, hand nozzle, microfibre cover for hand nozzle, small round brush

Unboxing, assembly, and first impressions

Arriving in the brand's unmistakably bold yellow packaging, the Kärcher SC 2 Deluxe Steam Cleaner was light enough for me to carry myself. Inside, everything was neatly packed, with some components wrapped individually in plastic packaging labelled '50% recyclable'.

The box also includes a generous selection of accessories. Alongside the main unit, it comes with a steam hose with a trigger gun, crevice brush, detail nozzle, floor cleaning cloth, floor nozzle, hand nozzle, microfibre cover for the hand nozzle, and a small round brush. There was also an accessories bag, which I thought was a handy touch, especially since I'm someone who easily misplaces things.

Assembling it couldn't be simpler - all you need to do is fit the desired accessory onto the steam gun. I started with the floor nozzle, which connects to the gun via two extension pipes. They slotted together with a satisfying click, and the microfibre cloth attaches neatly to the mop head with Velcro.

Once everything was ready, my first impression was that the Kärcher SC 2 Deluxe looks and feels well built. The main unit is sturdy and solid, with the brand's distinctive white-and-black finish.

The standout design feature is the illuminated LED ring on top of the unit. It changes colour to show when the steamer is heating up and when it's ready to use. It's a simple touch, but it gives the SC 2 Deluxe a more modern, premium feel and sets it apart from basic steam cleaners. It's also more practical than it sounds, as you can see at a glance whether it's ready from across the room.

It's also compact, so it won't take up much room when stored away. Although it's a corded model, the 4m cable length means you can move around freely without constantly switching sockets. I also like the fact that it has wheels underneath, which makes it easy to slide along with you as you clean.

Before switching it on, I needed to fill the water tank, and that's when I noticed the Kärcher SC 2 Deluxe works differently from other steam cleaners I've used. The tank isn't a separate, see-through container; instead, it's concealed inside the main unit, and you fill it through a top opening sealed with a screw-on safety cap.

My first thought was that this might make it tricky to judge how much water I was pouring in, and harder to tell when it was running low mid-clean. If I'm nitpicking, I also would have appreciated a funnel in the box, since the opening is fairly small. It wasn't a big issue though, and I just used a jug from my kitchen, which made filling it straightforward enough.

On a positive note, water is all you need. With little ones in the house, I always favour harsh-chemical-free options where possible, as it gives me peace of mind that I'm not leaving nasty residue on floors or surfaces that they're constantly touching.

Using the Karcher SC 2 Deluxe

Getting started was simple. There's no on / off switch; as soon as you plug the Kärcher SC 2 Deluxe into the mains, the LED ring on the unit lights up red to indicate it's heating up.

While it warmed up, I could hear it quietly working away in the background. The sound never got any louder, so it wasn't distracting, and I could carry on with other jobs while I waited.

Kärcher states a heat-up time of 6.5 minutes. I timed it myself, and it was about right: after around six minutes, the ring turned green to show it was ready. It did feel on the longer side compared with other steam cleaners I've used (for reference, the Kärcher SC 1 Multi Up & Extra was ready in around 30 seconds). If you're after something to clear up a quick spill, it's not a 'grab-and-go' sort of steam cleaner.

Once it was ready, the controls were easy to get the hang of. There are three settings which sit on top of the handle: maximum steam, reduced steam and no steam. Having the switch right under your thumb makes it easy to adjust as you go.

To clean floors

For its first use, I decided to just give my laminated kitchen floors a once-over. I have three children, and I feel like I'm constantly mopping up after them, so I usually reach for my Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic, although it works differently because it's purely a floor mop and uses rotating mop pads to clean surfaces.

I experimented with the different steam settings, but for my floors I found I needed the max setting to get the best results. To release the steam, you have to keep your hand on the trigger continuously, so worth knowing if you're planning to clean several rooms in one go.

I was really impressed with how effortlessly the floor nozzle glided across the floor. It also felt smooth and lightweight to hold. I'll admit, I expected more steam, since it looked quite subtle. But it didn't take long to see it was working, as my floors were visibly wet after each pass.

I did have to apply more pressure to really stubborn marks, and it took a few passes before they lifted. But I was impressed with how clean my floors looked afterwards, and they were dry enough to walk on within a couple of minutes, too.

Cleaning the oven

After using it on my floors, I decided to tackle one of the jobs I hate most: cleaning my oven. I started with the hob rings, using the small round brush attachment, and it's safe to say it was pretty shocking to see how much hidden dirt and grime it blasted away from the edges and crevices I'd clearly been missing with my usual wipe-downs.

I then went over the whole surface with the hand nozzle and microfibre cover, which lifted the loosened grime and left the hob looking noticeably cleaner and fresher. And the colour of the cloth afterwards told me everything I needed to know!

I also used the hand nozzle to clean the inside of my oven door, which I'll admit was embarrassingly dirty. My expectations weren't high, but after just a couple of passes I could see the grime starting to lift.

Granted, I needed to apply pressure and scrub the tougher spots, and it didn't shift all the baked-on dirt. Still, considering its state and that I used nothing but steam, I was really impressed with the results.

Cleaning a carpet spill

I'd normally reach for my Bissell SpotClean HydroSteam spot cleaner when tackling carpet spills, and it's worth noting that the Kärcher SC 2 Deluxe is mainly designed for hard surfaces. But when I had a huge mishap and spilt a bottle of nail varnish on my living room carpet during the testing period, I decided to try my luck with it.

Using the round brush attachment, I was pleasantly surprised to see that after a few passes with the steam, the stain had visibly lifted. It didn't remove every trace of it (nor was I expecting it to), but it made a massive difference to a stain I assumed I'd be stuck with for good.

I would still recommend a dedicated spot cleaner for a spill like this, but if you want to try the SC 2, test it on an inconspicuous area first.

Cleaning the bathroom

I swapped to the small round brush to tackle my sink and the base of my taps. No matter how often I clean, within five minutes the basins seem to be covered in toothpaste marks and general grime from the kids.

After a couple of bursts of steam, the toothpaste melted away. The area under the taps is such an awkward area to reach with a cloth, but the brush got right into the gaps with ease.

Not sure if I'm alone here, but there's something quite satisfying about watching all the limescale you've been missing lift away. My taps and sink area looked noticeably cleaner and shinier afterwards, so this was one of the areas where it impressed me the most.

I also put the Kärcher SC 2 Deluxe Steam Cleaner to work on my glass shower screen, using the hand nozzle with the microfibre cover. It did a good job of lifting the random spots of water, and the glass looked noticeably cleaner afterwards.

That said, once it dried, faint water streaks remained on the glass. It's still a handy option for wiping down your shower doors, especially if you're using it to clean other bathroom surfaces.

Cleaning, storage and maintenance

Looking after the Kärcher SC 2 Deluxe is fairly straightforward. Once I'd finished cleaning, I unplugged it and let it cool down completely before emptying any leftover water. Since the tank isn't removable, you have to lift the whole unit to empty it, which is a bit inconvenient.

The floor cloth and the microfibre cover are both machine washable, which is just as well considering the colour of them after each cleaning session. I did find the brushes and nozzles were in need of a clean after each use, particularly after I'd tackled a really tough area. But I found soapy water did the trick.

As with any steam cleaner, limescale can build up over time. Kärcher recommends regularly descaling the boiler with a descaling solution.

For storage, I found the included mesh accessories bag really handy. There's also a built-in hook to loop the cable around at the back of the unit, and the unit is compact enough that it doesn't take up much cupboard space.

How does it rate online?

On the brand's website, the Kärcher SC 2 Deluxe has an impressive 4.9 star rating from 11 customer reviews. However, it is worth noting that these reviews were incentivised, and reviewers received the product for free in exchange for their feedback. Even so, the comments were consistently positive, praising its cleaning performance and versatility, and a couple of users said they'd used it almost everywhere around their home.

On Amazon, 33 customers scored it an average of 4.4 stars, with the feedback of a similar nature. A couple of customers referenced the water tank as being on the smaller side, while another found the six-minute warm up time a little long, which echoes my own experience.

How does it compare to similar models?

The Kärcher SC 2 Deluxe is part of the brand's popular lineup of steam cleaners. The most notable differences from the standard SC 2 are in the design. Alongside the illuminated LED ring, the Deluxe weighs 2.6 kg and is 20% lighter than standard models, and the cable and hose can be wrapped around the handle for neater storage.

The most obvious comparison for me is the Kärcher SC 1 Multi & Up Extra, which I've previously tested. It is another versatile steam cleaner that comes with a range of different attachments to tackle different surfaces. However, the SC1 has a much quicker heat-up time and is ready in just 30 seconds, but the water tank is much smaller, making it better suited to smaller clean-ups rather than large-scale jobs, like the SC 2 Deluxe.

It's worth comparing to Ideal Home's top-rated steam mop, the VAX Steam Fresh Total Home. It's an upright mop, but it also comes with a removable handheld unit and 14 different accessories (including a carpet glider, which could have been useful for my nail varnish spill). The downsides are that its water tank is much smaller, and it's heavier overall.

Verdict: Should you buy the Karcher SC 2 Deluxe?

After using the Kärcher SC 2 Deluxe around my home, I'd say it's a great choice for anyone who wants a thorough, harsh-chemical-free clean. The water tank means you won't need to stop and refill often. I cleaned several rooms on a single tank, and the range of attachments makes it easy to switch between cleaning the floors and different surfaces around the home. It really shines on smaller, fiddly jobs, so it's ideal if you want more than just a floor cleaner.

I think it's particularly well-suited to busy family homes. The child lock on the steam gun gave me peace of mind with three little ones around, and because it uses only tap water, I didn't need to worry about harsh chemical residue on floors or surfaces they're always touching. That makes it a great option for households with pets, too.

It's also a good choice if you find bulkier appliances a struggle. It's lightweight and compact, and the wheels make it easy to pull along behind you as you clean, so it may suit anyone with back or mobility issues.

The main drawback is the six-minute heat-up time, so if speed is a priority, there are models that heat up much faster. It isn't the cheapest steam cleaner, but if you are looking to invest in a versatile all-rounder, the impressive results make it feel like money well spent.

Princess is best known for affordable, well-designed kitchen and home appliances, and dehumidifiers are very much part of that offering. I’ve been testing the Princess Smart 20L, available at B&Q for just over a month in my period home, including a bedroom that’s always been a bit of a problem when it comes to damp.

With thick walls and limited ventilation at this time of year, it’s exactly the kind of space where condensation builds up quickly, and mould can creep in if you’re not careful. In other words, a pretty realistic setting for seeing how this high-capacity, smart-controlled dehumidifier copes in day-to-day life.

The best dehumidifiers bring humidity down, stop damp in its tracks and are simple to manage day to day. So when I tested the Princess Smart 20L dehumidifier, I put it through the same checks we use for every model to see how well it handled moisture control and how convenient it was to live with, including how easy it was to 'set-and-forget' with its smart app control.

At a glance

Princess is a well-established consumer appliances brand, particularly popular across Europe, and best known for making affordable, well-designed home gadgets that aim to make everyday tasks easier.

The Princess Smart 20L dehumidifier sits at the larger end of the brand’s dehumidifier lineup and is designed to tackle higher humidity levels in real homes, including older properties like mine. I tested it over a month in a period house with thick walls that’s prone to condensation, damp, and occasional mould, especially during the colder months when ventilation is limited.

What sets this model apart is its smart functionality. Alongside manual controls, it can be operated via the Princess app, letting you monitor humidity levels, adjust fan speeds, set schedules and turn the unit on or off remotely. In everyday use, that made it easy to keep humidity in check without constantly interacting with the machine itself. It felt straightforward to live with, quietly working away in the background while giving me the option to step in and fine-tune settings when I needed to.

Specifications

• RRP: £230.00
• Type: Compressor
• Colours: White
• Extraction rate: 20L/day
• Water tank capacity: 3.7L
• Max room size recommended: 20m squared
• Noise level: 39dB – 44dB
• Power: 325W
• Dimensions: H57.2x W34.4 x D25cm
• Weight: 12kg
• Portable?: Yes
• Automatic humidity sensor: Yes
• Continuous drain option: Yes (hose included)
• Laundry mode: No
• WiFi connectivity: Yes
• Timer: Yes
• Child lock: No
• HEPA filter: No
• Warranty: 2 years

How I tested

I tested the Princess Smart 20L dehumidifier in my home over the course of a month, using it in different rooms to see how it coped with varying conditions. This included a damp bedroom that’s prone to condensation, as well as drier parts of the house, to get a sense of how it performed across the home.

To check accuracy, I used an independent humidity monitor and compared its readings with the humidity levels shown on the dehumidifier display and in the Princess app.

I tested how easy it was to set schedules and adjust settings using the app, as well as how intuitive the manual controls were in day-to-day use. Noise levels were measured on both fan settings using a decibel meter, and I paid close attention to how noticeable the dehumidifier was during normal daily activities.

As part of regular use, I checked how easy it was to empty the water tank and remove the filter, as these are tasks you’ll need to do routinely. By using the dehumidifier in different rooms, under different humidity levels, and over an extended period, I was able to get a clear picture of how easy it is to live with and how well it performs in a real home.

Unboxing, set-up and design

The Princess Smart 20L arrived in a large cardboard box, with additional cardboard packaging inside to keep the unit secure. The dehumidifier itself was wrapped in protective plastic, which did its job well, although whether that plastic is recyclable will depend on the services in your area.

Inside the box is the dehumidifier, the instruction manual, and a hose for continuous drainage. Everything is neatly packed and easy to remove, and there’s nothing over-the-top or fiddly about the packaging. It’s a straightforward unboxing that gets you up and running quickly.

Set-up

Getting the Princess Smart 20L ready to use is refreshingly simple. The filter is already in place, the castor wheels are pre-attached, and there’s very little to do beyond positioning it and switching it on.

The manual recommends leaving around 20cm of clearance between the unit and walls or other obstacles, and avoiding direct sunlight. Once positioned, you can control it using the top panel or the Princess app, available on Android and iOS. It also works with Google Assistant if that's your preference.

Connecting it is as simple as downloading the Princess app, connecting to Wi-Fi, creating an account and adding the device, all of which took just a few minutes. Having struggled with connecting smart devices in the past, this felt like a breeze in comparison.

Using the app, you can turn the dehumidifier on and off remotely, adjust fan speeds and set humidity levels, schedules and timers. The app also displays the current humidity level of the room, which means you can check conditions while you’re out. If humidity creeps up while you’re at work, you can switch it on remotely and come home to a more comfortable indoor climate.

In terms of looks, the Princess Smart 20L is taller than most dehumidifiers, measuring around 57cm in height. That said, it’s not very deep or wide, measuring 25cm by 34.4cm.

It comes in a sleek black-and-white colourway, with a smooth, shiny white plastic casing on the front and back, black side panels, and a black control panel on top. Some of the finishes are glossy, others matte, and overall it looks and feels minimalist and more premium than I expected.

At the back of the unit, you’ll find the vented panel where the filter is housed, along with the drainage tank.

Despite its size, it’s easy to move thanks to the built-in wheels and two well-concealed side handles, which are neatly integrated into the black panels.

I really like the modern, minimalist display. When the unit is switched off, it’s almost completely hidden within the black panel. Once powered on, it clearly shows the current humidity level, fan speed, timer settings and active modes.

There’s also a swing function, which allows the air outlet at the top of the unit to move up and down continuously, helping to circulate air more evenly around the room. You can set a timer between one and 24 hours, and switching between fan speeds and modes is intuitive using the touch controls.

The drainage tank has a capacity of 3.7 litres. That’s a good balance between capacity and overall size, meaning you won’t be emptying it constantly, but it’s still easy to handle when full.

Once the tank fills up, the dehumidifier stops automatically to prevent overflow and beeps at you until you remove and empty it. If you’d rather not empty the tank manually, you can use the included hose for continuous drainage, which allows the unit to extract up to 20 litres per day. The hose measures around 73cm. It could be longer, but it’s perfectly functional.

The tank itself is very easy to remove and replace. There’s a simple handhold that makes it easy to pull out and reinsert. Accessing the filter is a little more fiddly, as it involves removing a perforated panel, but it’s not something you’ll need to do often.

Ease of use

The Princess Smart 20L dehumidifier is easy to live with on a day-to-day basis. Whether you’re using the controls on the unit itself or the app, everything feels intuitive and well laid out.

Using the app, you can check the current humidity level, set a target between 40% and 80%, adjust fan speeds, set timers and schedules, and turn the unit on or off remotely. It’s quick to respond and easy to navigate, which makes it genuinely useful rather than just a novelty.

On the unit, the display is clean and minimalist, clearly showing humidity levels, fan speed, timer settings and active modes at a glance. The touch controls respond well, and switching between settings only takes a few taps. The swing feature allows the air outlet at the top of the unit to move up and down continuously, helping to circulate air more evenly around the room.

Practical details also help with everyday use. The castor wheels and concealed side handles make it easy to move between rooms, while the water tank is simple to remove and empty when full. Filter access is slightly more involved, but it’s not something you’ll need to do often.

There are a couple of omissions worth noting. There’s no child lock, which would be useful in family homes, and there’s no dedicated laundry mode, so drying clothes relies on manual settings rather than a one-touch programme.

Overall, the Princess Smart 20L dehumidifier combines straightforward controls with genuinely useful smart features, and while it lacks a few extras, it's easy and intuitive to use in everyday life.

Performance

I started testing the Princess Smart 20L in a bedroom that’s always been tricky when it comes to damp. It has two external walls, which makes it far more prone to higher humidity, condensation and the kind of damp patches that tend to show up in corners. We’ve had mould issues here in the past, so this felt like a proper stress test.

Before switching it on, humidity levels were sitting at just over 80%, which is very high. I ran the dehumidifier for an hour at full power, using the high fan speed with the swing function on, and checked both the humidity level and how much water had collected. After that first hour, humidity had dropped to around 60%, with about 100ml of water pulled from the air.

I left it running for another hour under the same settings. By the end of the second hour, the humidity level was still holding steady at 60%, and the tank contained around 300ml of water in total. On other occasions in this same room, I managed to bring humidity down even further, to around 55%, which sits nicely within the generally accepted comfortable range for a home and immediately made the room feel fresher and less dank.

I then repeated the test in a room with just one external wall, which tends to be much drier. Here, humidity levels started at around 67%. Under the same settings, the Princess Smart 20L brought humidity down to 55% in just half an hour, and by the end of the first hour had removed around 200ml of water, while comfortably maintaining that lower level.

Overall, the Princess responded quickly to changes in humidity, working hardest where conditions were worst and easing off in drier rooms. It felt particularly effective in problem spaces, while still being efficient and controlled in rooms that needed less intervention.

Energy use

If you're wondering how much a dehumidifier costs to run, it largely depends on its wattage. The higher the wattage is, the more energy it uses.

The Princess Smart 20L dehumidifier has a power rating of around 0.33kWh, which works out to roughly 9p per hour to run. It’s not the cheapest dehumidifier on the market in terms of energy use, but it sits firmly in the middle for a smart 20-litre model. Based on this figure, running the Princess Smart for 12 hours would cost about £1.08

During testing, it felt affordable enough to run regularly without worrying about energy bills creeping up too quickly, particularly if you’re using schedules or switching it on only when humidity levels rise.

Noise levels

The stated average noise level in the manual is 46dB. In real-world use, I measured around 39dB on the lowest fan setting and roughly 44dB on the highest, using a decibel reading app on my phone. That’s comparable to a quiet office or library.

Overall, it’s pretty unobtrusive during the day, though the higher fan speed may be noticeable if you’re trying to sleep nearby.

Portability

Despite being a fairly large, high-capacity dehumidifier, the Princess Smart 20L is easy to move around the home. It comes with built-in wheels, which are already attached out of the box, so there’s no setup required before rolling it into position.

There are also two concealed handles on either side of the unit, neatly integrated into the black side panels. These make it easier to move the dehumidifier between rooms when combined with the wheels.

While it’s not a lightweight machine, it never felt awkward to move during testing. I was able to use it in both a damp bedroom and a drier living room without it feeling like a hassle to relocate, which makes it practical if you want to tackle humidity in different parts of the house rather than leaving it fixed in one place.

Maintenance

Day-to-day maintenance on the Princess Smart 20L dehumidifier is simple and doesn’t take much effort. The water tank is easy to remove and empty, with a straightforward handle that makes it quick to pull out and slot back into place once emptied.

Accessing the filter is slightly more involved, as it sits behind a perforated panel at the back of the unit. That said, it’s not something you need to do often, and once the panel is removed, the filter itself is easy to take out and refit.

Because the dehumidifier stops automatically when the tank is full, there’s no risk of overflow, which also helps keep maintenance stress-free. Overall, routine upkeep feels manageable rather than fiddly, and nothing about the process stood out as awkward during regular use.

How it compares with other dehumidifiers

To put the Princess Smart 20L into context, it helps to look at how it stacks up against a few other popular dehumidifiers we've reviewed recently.

If you compare the Princess Smart 20L with the MeacoDry Arete One 12L, the biggest difference really comes down to size and what they’re designed to do. The Meaco is well-suited to smaller spaces, offering quiet, straightforward moisture control that works nicely in bedrooms, flats and compact rooms. It also includes extras like a HEPA filter and a child lock, which the Princess doesn’t offer. The Princess, by contrast, is built to handle much higher humidity levels, making it a better fit for larger rooms or more persistent damp. Its smart app control also means you can check humidity levels and adjust settings without needing to be in the same room.

When you look at the DREO Smart 512S, there are plenty of similarities on paper, particularly around smart features and app control. The DREO is often praised for its clear humidity feedback in the app and family-friendly extras like a child lock. However, it’s a little noisier during operation, the water tank is a little smaller at 3.4 litres, and our reviewer found it kicked out quite a bit of heat during use, so it may not be suitable during the summer months.

When you compare the Princess 20L with another smart dehumidifier designed for larger living spaces, the Duux Bora Smart 20L is more expensive to run, costing around 12p per hour compared with the Princess’s 9p per hour. That higher running cost does bring added benefits, though, including a built-in carbon filter designed to help reduce airborne pollutants such as bacteria and tackle lingering odours from damp, smoke, cooking smells, or pets.

How does it rate online?

The Princess 20L dehumidifier has 3.7 out of 5 stars from 18 ratings on Amazon, with 57% of reviewers giving it 4 stars or above. Feedback from buyers is generally positive, with most reviewers agreeing that it does a solid job of pulling moisture out of the air. Several customers describe it as a “great dehumidifier” that’s effective when left running for longer periods, particularly in damp-prone rooms. The smart features also get a thumbs up, with one reviewer saying it’s “handy to have it controllable from my phone”, making it easier to tweak settings without constantly fiddling with the controls on the unit itself.

Some reviewers do flag concerns around longevity and noise on higher settings, which brings the overall score down, with one noting that it “stopped working after about 14 months”, despite performing well up to that point. Others flag that it’s on the heavier side.

Overall, though, reviews suggest it’s a capable, well-featured dehumidifier for the money, as long as you’re aware of a few trade-offs.

Should you buy it?

After a month of real-world testing in my period home, the Princess Smart 20L proved itself as a strong option for tackling serious damp. It brought humidity down quickly in problem rooms, kept condensation under control, and made my home feel noticeably more comfortable.

The smart app worked reliably, making it genuinely easy to set schedules, monitor humidity remotely and let the machine quietly get on with the job without constant input.

It’s not without compromises. The unit is larger and heavier than compact models, and while noise levels are reasonable for a 20L dehumidifier, the higher fan setting is noticeable if you’re trying to sleep nearby. There’s also no dedicated laundry mode or child lock, which some households may miss.

Compared with smaller models like the MeacoDry Arete One 12L, the Princess is bigger, more powerful and better suited to persistent damp, while remaining affordable to run at around 9p per hour. More premium smart alternatives, such as the Duux Bora Smart 20L, offer extras like air filtration but cost more to run.

If you’re dealing with higher humidity in a larger room or older home and want smart control without premium running costs, the Princess Smart 20L strikes a strong balance between performance, convenience and value.

With cooler temperatures taking hold, now is the time to ensure you are set up to stay comfortable warm throughout the autumn and winter months.

Whether or not you have put your central heating on yet, having one of the best oil-filled radiators available can help keep you warm in the room you are in, especially when you don't want to heat your whole home unnecessarily.

I've recently been testing the Morphy Richards HeatFlux 2.5kW digital oil-filled radiator in my own home. This is how it fared in our tests and whether I ultimately think it's worth your money.

In a nutshell

The Morphy Richards HeatFlux 2.5kw Digital Oil Filled Radiator is designed to heat medium to large rooms up to 25m2. It offers three different heat settings, low, medium and high, as well as an eco mode, with a customisable thermostat from 5-30°C, giving you complete control over your comfort levels.

It's also got a LED display, with touch buttons, plus a remote control for easy operation.

Available in both grey and white, it has an RRP of £99.99.

How I tested

Specification

• Type of heater: Oil-filled radiator
• RRP: £99.99
• Weight: 9.9kg
• Dimensions: (W x H x D): 46.4 x 63 x 24.5cm
• Wattage: 2500W
• Running costs per hour: 26-66p/kWh
• Room size suitability: Up to 25m2
• Smart features? None
• Dual functionality? None
• Timer? Yes
• Remote control? Yes

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

It took me less than 5 minutes to get from opening the cardboard box to the Morphy Richards HeatFlux 2.5kW Digital Oil-Filled Radiator plugged in and ready to use.

While it arrived in largely cardboard packaging, there is a recyclable plastic bag and some polystyrene in the mix.

In the box, you get the radiator itself, an instruction manual, the remote control as well as two sets of wheels and the bolts needed to attach them.

While I've found it a bit fiddly to attach the wheels to other oil-filled radiators I've tried, fixing the wheels to this Morphy Richards model was a doddle. Firstly, the U-bolt needed is already fitted to the radiator itself, which means it stays in place, and frees your hands up to hold one of the wheel bases steady while you attach the bolts. For the second wheel base, there are predrilled holes and all you need to do is line up the holes on the wheel base, then attach the screws.

At 9.9kgs, it's not the lightest to turn upside down to fix the wheels in place, and then turn right way up again, but I did find it manageable.

I was a bit surprised that the battery for the remote control wasn't included. It's a flat circular battery that I don't tend to have spare versions of lying around the house, but fortunately, I have reviewed other Morphy Richards products with remove controls with the same battery so I was able to swap them over. Alternatively, you could buy the CR2025 batteries for a couple of pounds from Amazon.

In terms of appearance, the Morphy Richards HeatFlux 2.5kW digital oil-filled radiator looks more modern than other oil-filled radiators on the market, with it's LED digital display screen, and stylish grey colourway.

What’s it like to use?

My first thought when using the Morphy Richards HeatFlux 2.5kW digital oil-filled radiator was just how user friendly it is. The touch buttons on the LED display are clear and easy to press (and a beep sounds even time a press is registered so it's simple to tell you've pressed the touch button correctly, although you can turn this off if it'd bug you).

I found it pretty intuitive to use, but the instructions in the manual are also clear to follow. I also liked how you can achieve exactly the same functionality with the remote control as you can with the on-board controls.

The display clearly illustrates which mode you are in, whether it's low, medium, high heat mode or on the eco setting, which adjusts the power based on your target temperature and the ambient temperature in the room.

First up, I used it in my living room, that is around 18m2 in size, in high heat mode and found that I could feel the heat from about 2.5m away after 10 minutes or so. My thermostat also measured that the ambient temperature in the room had risen by almost a whole degree in those first 10 minutes. After an hour, it had risen by about 3.5°C, and after two hours, it was 5.2°C warmer than the starting temperature.

When I used it in my larger kitchen diner, that measures around 22m2, it did take a little longer to warm up, raising the ambient temperature by 2°C in two hours. However, I could feel the cold edge being take off the room, wherever I stood in it, after about 30 minutes.

A feature I particularly liked was the On/Off timer functionality. It was so easy! A couple of presses on the remote and I could set the radiator to turn on or off after 1-24 hours. Compared to those oil-filled radiators that have physical dials with tiny little plastic notches that represent 15 minute segments, this was a breeze, and definitely much more my preferred way to set a timer.

Once turned off, the radiator carried on kicking out heat for about 15 minutes, which is nice, but it's not quite as impressive as some other oil-filled radiators we've tested.

In terms of noise, it's virtually silent. There was a bit of a crackling sound for a couple of minutes the very first time I used it, which the instruction manual told me was completely normal. But after those first few minutes, I couldn't hear anything at all. And it didn't happen on subsequent uses.

When it comes to manoeuvrability, the wheels glided smoothly across both my wooden floor and my thicker rug so it required very little effort to move around. But I'd definitely wait until it's cool to move it about. After a couple of hours use, the handle gets quite hot, so while you could make minor adjustments to the positioning, I'd wait until it's cooled down before trying to move it.

As with all oil-filled radiators, they do tend to be heavier than some of the best electric heaters around, so this probably isn't a heater I'd want to be lugging up and down stairs on a regular basis. Although when it's cool, it's doable.

How much does it cost to run?

The Morphy Richards HeatFlux digital oil-filled radiator will cost up to 66p/hour to use (based on the October 2026 energy price cap), but the cost will depend on the mode you use.

Using the eco mode will be the most cost effective, allowing you to set a target temperature and when that's reached, the radiator will cycle on and off to maintain that temperature. That means it won't be using energy unnecessarily.

There are other ways to ensure you use an oil-filled radiator more efficiently, including choosing a suitably powered appliance, positioning it correctly and using it to complement, rather than replace, your central heating.

Cleaning and maintenance

You won't need to do much to keep this oil-filled radiator in good working order. Keeping it dust-free is advised, and while a dry microfibre cloth will get the job done, you can also use a vacuum cleaner with the nozzle attachment to remove any stubborn dust between the fins.

When you're not using it, there's a handy cable tidy you can wrap the power cord around to keep it from getting damage or being a trip hazard.

Who should buy this oil-filled radiator?

If you are looking to heat a room up to 25m2 and ease of use is your primary concern, then the Morphy Richards HeatFlux 2.5kW digital oil-filled radiator will be right up your street. The on-board control panel and remote control are both intuitive to use, and the LED display makes it clear exactly what settings are in play.

But if the radiator's power and heat output is more of a concern, then Vonhaus' 2500W 11 fin oil-filled radiator may be more suitable. Despite having the same wattage, it felt more powerful in testing, warming a larger space more quickly. It also offered better heat retention, keeping warm for close to an hour after it was turned off, compared to around 20 minutes for the Morphy Richards. The downside? It's timer is definitely not as easy to use as the Morphy Richards model and it doesn't look as modern.

If you're trying to heat a much larger space, then the De'Longhi Dragon 4, which can heat spaces up to a whopping 50m2, will be best.

After a quicker boost of heat? Then instead of an oil-filled radiator, I'd recommend an electric heater than will kick out heat instantly. The Dreo Atom 316 is a favourite here at Ideal Home, making quick work of heating spaces up to 20m2, while the Duux Threesixty 2 evenly heats larger spaces up to 30m2.

It’s fair to say that when it comes to the best air fryers, Ninja dominates all the lists. I’ve reviewed, and been impressed by, several of Ninja’s air fryers. But the brand is new to the microwave scene.

Combination style microwaves have always been a bit hit and miss, they can be infuriatingly complicated to use, or simply a bit rubbish. Often they end up just being used as a microwave, with all other functions being abandoned or ignored.

Ninja has a great reputation for innovation, and for creating appliances that combine multiple functions in one, so can they finally crack the nut and bring us a microwave with combination functions that are actually worth having?

Who reviewed the Ninja Crispi Microwave Air Fryer?

In a nutshell

The Ninja Crispi Microwave manages to offer lots of functionality without being complicated or confusing. It can air fry, microwave, grill, and more, and I could access all the functions and settings without constantly having to check the manual.

There are five different air frying settings, and these rely on using a glass basket that you slide into the top part of the microwave. It’s hefty, and won’t be suitable for everyone. But it is at least dishwasher safe and free of non-stick coatings and forever chemicals.

The Ninja Crispi also includes all the settings you’d expect from a standard microwave and performs as expected, thoroughly heating everything from porridge to soup. But it’s when combined with the air fryer in the fusioncrisp function, that this multifunctional cooking appliance really shines.

I successfully used the fusioncrisp function to cook a whole roast chicken, lasagne, and baked potatoes. And in case you’re wondering, the standalone air fryer functions are just as good as other Ninja air fryers. In short, Ninja strikes again, with another outstanding appliance.

Unboxing and first impressions

The box that was delivered to my front door was big and heavy, if you need to move it any distance, it’s really a two person lift. And so it follows that when I managed to get it out of the box and onto the worktop, I wasn’t surprised that it’s a big microwave. But I think that’s to be expected given that it offers so many functions.

It’s a flatbed microwave so there’s no turntable to worry about. Instead, you get a 5.2 litre glass basket (Ninja call it a basket, but it’s essentially a big deep glass dish). Plus there’s a crisper plate insert that goes inside it. These are the only accessories and are for the air fry and fusioncrisp functions only.

The glass basket slots into rails near the top of the microwave, it can sit on the base, but for most uses, the advice is to slot it into this higher position near to the air fry heating element and fan.

I was surprised by the weight of the glass basket, so I popped it on my kitchen scales and it weighed in at 2.5kg. So when it’s full of a family sized lasagne or a roast chicken, it’s going to be a bit of an arm workout lifting it in and out of the microwave.

The fusioncrisp function is the one that Ninja makes a big deal about in the quick start guide, most of the recipes are based around using this function. Essentially it’s a two stage cooking function that combines microwave cooking with air frying.

It’s selected with the fusioncrisp button and then you adjust the microwave cook time and the air fry cook time, you can’t adjust the power levels or temperatures when using this function. Thankfully they provide cooking charts with loads of suggested cook times for various foods, so it’s not all total guesswork.

There are five air fryer functions to choose from. Air fry can be adjusted from 150- 240C, whereas Max Crisp is fixed at 240C. Both air bake and air roast allow temperatures between 120 - 210C. The air grill can be set at 200C, 230C, or 240C.

The microwave power levels can be adjusted from 10% to 100% in intervals of 10%. There are also eight microwave presets. These require you to put in the weight of the specific food and then the cook time is predetermined based on the weight.

There’s a light button so that you can turn on the interior light as and when required, though the dark coloured door doesn’t make for the clearest viewing window. The door opens by pressing the big button at the base of the control panel, and there’s a childlock function that can be engaged if that’s a concern.

True to form for a Ninja appliance, the control panel and user interface are very straightforward and intuitive to use. I found I quickly got to grips with all the settings without having to keep referring back to the manual.

There’s also plenty of inspiration in the form of recipes and cooking charts provided in the quick start guide, so unlike some older style combination microwaves I’ve reviewed over the years, getting started with it doesn’t feel daunting or complicated.

What is it like to use?

FusionCrisp

I usually microwave then air fry baked potatoes, so the combination fusioncrisp function did the same thing without having to move them between two separate appliances. I could only find suggested cooking times for standard potatoes, so used these as a starting point for the two sweet potatoes I was cooking.

The Ninja recipe said to microwave for 14 minutes, but I opted for 10 minutes and kept the suggested 10 minutes of air frying. I’d normally air fry my potatoes for 20 minutes, so this time felt short, but I put them in and crossed my fingers.

It doesn’t microwave and air fry simultaneously, it completes the microwave part first, then the air fryer kicks in. Plus it beeps at the crossover point, in case you want to add anything or stir your food.

When the timer went off, the potatoes were nicely softened but not as well crisped as I wanted, so I ended up air frying them for a further 10 minutes. It was a good result, it’ll just take a few goes to nail the timings.

With instructions on how to cook a whole chicken using the fusioncrisp function, I decided to give it a try. The timings listed for a 1.5kg chicken are 30 minutes of microwaving followed by 45 minutes of air frying. And while this is faster than the 1 hour 40 minutes it would otherwise take in the oven, I’m not sure about microwaving a whole chicken for half an hour.

You can’t slide the glass basket onto the upper rails when there’s a whole chicken in it, so this is one of the few times they recommend just sitting it on the base of the microwave. I adjusted the times on the fusioncrisp setting and then left it well alone during cooking.

When the timer went off, the chicken was beautifully cooked, juices were running clear and the skin was a crisp, even golden brown. The meat had a great texture, it was soft and succulent, it was an all round good roast chicken. My only complaint was a bit of drying on the tops of the legs.

My final big test for the fusioncrisp function was a veggie lasagne. There’s a lasagne recipe in the inspiration guide, but I chose to use my own tried and trusted recipe, I based the cook times on those listed for Ninja’s lasagne recipe.

You have to make the lasagne in the glass basket, which does mean you can’t do any other air frying until you’ve eaten it all or decanted it and washed the basket up. Aside from that, the recipe cook times are for 20 minutes microwaving and eight minutes air frying, using the fusioncrisp function.

Yet again, I was dubious about the long microwave time, but that seems to be the theme with these fusioncrisp recipes. When the timer went off, I decided to air fry it for an additional five minutes, just to make the top more crisp and golden.

The lasagne was cooked through, which is pretty impressive given the raw lasagne sheets. And it’s a great shortcut in comparison to oven baking, plus I enjoyed the fact that the top still developed those chewy cheesy bits around the edges.

It worked and it was tasty, a good option for a speedy weeknight dinner. But for me, it lacked the depth of flavour that you get from a lasagne that’s been bubbling in the oven for ages, so I wouldn’t make the switch to this method permanently.

Air fryer

Obviously chips go hand in hand with air fryers and it wouldn’t be an air fryer review without making them. I cut potatoes up into fresh chips and soaked them in cold water for 30 minutes before drying and coating in oil.

I set them to air fry at 200C and gave them a stir every seven minutes. They ended up taking 24 minutes. The result was good, fluffy potato, and golden and crisp on the outside, just as good as I’d expect in my usual air fryer.

For roasted tenderstem broccoli and asparagus, I popped the lightly oiled veg into the basket and started the air fry setting at 200C. It took just eight minutes and the vegetables were beautifully softened with some browning and crisping.

I’m currently obsessed with healthier snacks and so used the air fry function a couple of times to make crispy roasted chickpeas and crispy roasted edamame beans. Both times they roasted on the standard air fry setting at 200C for just 10 minutes.

The Max Crisp setting is designed specifically for frozen foods that might benefit from extra crunch. I was in two minds about whether to use it for frozen breaded fish as I didn’t want to overcook the fish, and the cooking temperature is fixed at 240C.

Thankfully, the fish cooked beautifully with an excellent crunchy crumb and moist and tender fish inside. What’s more, the two pieces of frozen fish cooked in an impressively speedy 14 minutes.

Air grill was my go-to setting for cheese on toast. It worked perfectly, melting the cheese in minutes, without having to preheat it first.

I make homemade granola every week and cook it on the bake setting of my Ninja Combi. As baked things go, this felt less risky than attempting a cake or other baked goods. I popped my granola in the glass basket and selected 175C, then came back to it after 10 minutes to give it a stir.

Apart from being quite difficult to stir thoroughly without fully removing the basket, the granola was very well toasted on the top. I turned the temperature down to 165C and had to stir it every five minutes because the top layer kept browning and toasting really fast. I took it out after 25 minutes.

My main take away from cooking the granola is that this air bake function feels quite fierce. And a delicate cake would be a gamble. Hopefully Ninja will publish some recipes for this setting, as there’s currently nothing to go on in the inspiration guide. Incidentally, there is a chocolate fudge cake recipe, but it’s for the fusioncrisp function.

Microwave

To defrost a bowl of frozen edamame beans I took advantage of the defrost preset. I dutifully weighed them and selected 200g, then when I pressed start, I was surprised that it started counting down from 17 minutes. I stopped it after eight minutes and they were nicely defrosted, so I’d say no matter what you’re defrosting, definitely check it regularly as it might be ready before the timer goes off.

The porridge preset cooked my 300g of oats and milk for four minutes, which, after a good stir and a little bit of standing time, turned out to be pretty accurate. I was just thankful that there was no boiling over and associated clean up of spilt milk.

Arguably, you don’t need a preset to reheat a mug of cold tea, but I used it nevertheless and my mug of cold tea was piping hot in under two minutes. For a bowl of soup I used the soup preset and it was perfectly heated in under three and a half minutes.

The soften butter preset is particularly handy and took my 200g block of butter from fridge cold, to spreadable in just over a minute. Most of it was the ideal spreadable texture though there was a small pool of oil from some butter that got overly melted. Nevertheless it was a better result than my usual guesswork when trying to soften butter in the microwave.

During the time I had it in my kitchen, I used it for plenty of other incidental tasks like reheating and defrosting and it always worked as expected. Personally I gravitate towards adjusting the power level and choosing my own cook times, rather than making use of presets, but either works well.

What's it like to clean?

Because there’s not a turntable, it’s easy to wipe over the base of the microwave and keep it clean. Cleaning all the splattered oil from roasting a chicken, took a few minutes, but with a spritz of kitchen spray and a good cloth, it wasn’t hard work.

There’s also a 20 minute clean cycle that you can run periodically when it requires a deeper clean, you just have to add water to the glass basket and then give it all a good wipe at the end of the cycle.

The accessories are dishwasher safe, though due to the size of the glass basket, sometimes the available space in my dishwasher meant that I ended up cleaning it by hand. You have to wait quite a while for it to cool down, and it's definitely heavy and cumbersome. Some burnt on roast chicken residue required a good soak and scrub, but otherwise, it wasn’t tricky to clean.

I noticed the door-open button marked with fingerprints, as do the parts of the door that I naturally touched when closing it, as well as the areas around buttons on the control panel. So I found myself giving it all a quick wipe or buff with a microfibre cloth quite frequently.

How does it compare to similar models?

The size of the glass basket does limit the air frying capacity of the Crispi Microwave, so larger households might want to consider a big capacity air fryer instead. The Ninja Foodi Flexdrawer air fryer offers 10.4 litres of air fryer capacity and is designed with the flexibility to split that capacity into two independent cooking zones.

If you want a multi-functional air fryer, but don’t necessarily need it to be a microwave, you should definitely consider either the Ninja Speedi or the Ninja Combi, both of which combine several cooking modes that make them far more functional that a standard air fryer.

Should you buy the Ninja Crispi Microwave?

In some ways it’s hard to conclude that such a big microwave is actually a space saving appliance. But truly, if you currently have an air fryer as well as a microwave on your worktop, then this will absolutely free up some space.

The microwave works well, there’s not a great deal to say about it, the standout is the air fry function and using the two together. The air fryer surprised me and was much better than I expected. In some ways it outperformed my current Ninja air fryer, in fact, it could at times be a bit fiercer than expected. So it may take some adjustment.

The heavy, cumbersome glass basket will be a deal breaker for those that don’t have the strength to keep lifting it in and out of position. But the big upside is that this glassware is free of worrying forever chemicals. On the whole though, the takeaway is that if you’re in the market for a combination microwave, this is a great buy.

I always love a stick vacuum I can grab and go without thinking too much, and one that can handle my cat's hair and whatever's been tracked in from the patio of my basement flat. That's why I've always leaned towards the best cordless vacuum cleaners. It's an extra bonus when they're affordable, too.

That's why I wanted to test the VAX Pace Plus Cordless Vacuum Cleaner. It's the entry model in VAX's ONEPWR cordless range, with an RRP of £189.99, well below most of the stick vacuums I've tested. You wouldn't expect Dyson-level performance at that price, of course, but I was curious as to whether it would clean well enough that I wouldn't end up eyeing a pricier model. This is how it fared.

In a nutshell

A big vacuum has never really made sense for me, since my one-bedroom basement flat is mostly hard floors with a couple of rugs, and most of the mess worth worrying about comes in on my cat's paws as Jet comes through his cat flap. So, on paper, the VAX Pace Plus fit the bill.

And from the first proper clean, it did more than I'd anticipated for the price. Spilt flour and rice disappeared from the kitchen floor in one go, and the rugs (where a cheap stick vacuum usually gives up) were no trouble at all. At 3.1kg, it's light enough to pick up for a quick tidy, and it steers easily around chair legs and under the sofa.

I timed battery life at around 43 minutes in standard mode, which was more than enough for a go-around my flat. Boost mode, as you'd expect, wipes it out in about 10 minutes. Crushed cereal also needed an extra pass, and the only real nuisance was the fur wrapping itself around the brush bar. If you have a small place with mostly hard floors, I'd keep it in mind.

For the most part, though, this is a budget-friendly cordless vacuum that ticks a lot of boxes - just be warned that it won't be able to compete at the same level as the best vacuums for pet hair if you share your home with any furry friends.

Specifications

• Weight (overall): 3.1kg
• Weight (handheld): 1.4kg
• Bin volume: 0.6L
• Run time: Up to 40 mins, 10 mins in Boost
• Charge time: 3 hours
• Modes: 2 (standard and Boost), plus brush bar on/off
• Filtration: 3-stage, washable filter
• Noise level (measured by us): 56dB (standard), 64.5dB (Boost)
• In the box: Wall mount, ONEPWR charger, crevice tool, stair tool
• Dimensions: H105 x W24 x D21cm
• Guarantee: 3 years with registration

Meet the tester

Unboxing and setting up

The VAX Pace Plus comes in a tall, skinny box which I could quite easily carry in from the doorstep with one hand. All the components are in cardboard inserts, and the only thing that's in a plastic bag is the battery itself, so pretty much everything went straight into the recycling.

You get the main body, floorhead, extension wand, the removable ONEPWR battery with its charger, a crevice tool, a stair tool and a wall mount. It's a fairly basic kit by stick vacuum standards with no dusting brush or mini motorised tool - though at this price, I'd rather the money went into the floorhead than a drawer full of attachments destined to gather dust.

It took about two minutes to set it up. The wand clicks into the main unit, the floorhead clicks onto the wand, and the picture-led instructions take care of the rest. There's no floor-standing dock, just a wall mount, so you'll need to find a spot and drill it in (screws and wall plugs are included).

It won't stand on its own, so between cleans it'll be either on the mount or leaning against the wall. The battery slides out and charges in its own little cradle, so you don't have to keep the vacuum by a socket.

It feels a bit more plasticky than a Dyson or a Shark at this price, as you'd expect, but nothing gives way or flexes, and the wand feels solid. The grip is comfortable, and the weight is well balanced, sitting close to your hand rather than the front end dragging down.

Using the VAX Pace Plus Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

The controls are as simple as you could possibly get. Three buttons sit along the top of the handle: one for power, one to switch the brush bar on and off, and a plus for Boost.

There are just two power settings (standard and Boost), and you can turn the brush bar off for hard floors. The 40-minute runtime VAX quote is for standard mode on hard floors with the brush bar off, so you'll get less if you're cleaning rugs or carpet.

I started with a debris test on the textured vinyl in the kitchen, scattering flour, rice, and crushed cereal, then running the Pace Plus over it in standard mode with the brush bar on.

The flour and rice were both dealt with in one pass (a few grains did get caught in the vinyl's dimples), and the cereal took a second pass, with a few larger pieces being pushed ahead of the floorhead before it caught them.

Boost made very little difference, so I'd save that for carpet or rugs. I also did a pass with the brush bar off (as VAX recommends for hard floors), but I ultimately left it on for everything as the results weren't as effective.

The rug in the living room took a couple of passes to clean properly, largely because the muck had worked its way down into the pile. Boost definitely earned its keep here, pulling up the last of the fluff right along the edge.

VAX makes no anti-tangle claims for the brush bar, and it’s clear why. By the end of the test, a thick band of Jet's fur (and some of mine) was wound right around the brush bar, and a good-sized felted clump packed into the corner of the floorhead, which I had to pry the brush bar out of to clear.

Day to day, it's easy to carry between rooms and gets on well with furniture. The wand is low enough to reach under the sofa and bed, and my wrist was fine after a full clean, though I wouldn't want to use it as a handheld for long, as the 1.4kg weight can take its toll if you're constantly reaching up high to clean upper nooks and crannies.

The bin was the real story, as after the first couple of cleans, it was stuffed past the MAX line with hair, grit, and bits of leaf from the houseplants, plus stuff pulled out of the rugs, which I'd thought were fairly clean.

I got just over 44 minutes in standard mode, well above VAX's 40-minute claim. A full clean of my flat takes about 20 minutes, so one charge is more than enough, and I'd only be recharging every other clean.

Recharge time was just over 3 hours, which matches VAX's claim, but if you have a larger property, the removable battery could be worth a look. A spare ONEPWR battery (£79.99 from VAX at the time of writing) would double your cleaning time, and it's compatible with VAX's other ONEPWR machines, too

I recorded noise levels at 56dB in standard mode and 64.5dB in Boost (again, below average for a stick vac). You could still hear the TV over it in standard mode, though Boost is loud enough that I'd definitely avoid it if someone were on a call in the next room.

Using the attachments

There are just a crevice tool and a stair tool to swap between with the VAX Pace Plus, and it becomes a handheld when you unclip the wand with the button by the bin.

The corner by the cat flap is where Jet's litter and all the general outdoor mess accumulates, so that's where I put the crevice tool to work. It cleared that and the skirting boards pretty quickly, although the narrow nozzle does take a couple of passes to cover the width.

There are no stairs in my flat (another benefit of living in a basement), so I gave the stair tool a go on my sofa. It did a good job lifting cat hair out of the sofa cushions, though it required a few passes to get into the seams.

Cleaning and maintenance

The 0.6L bin is a bit bigger than some more expensive competitors, and in my flat I expected to empty it every two or three cleanings.

It's pretty easy to do, as there's a release that simply drops the base open, though it is a two-handed job, and hair has a habit of getting caught in the mesh filter in the middle, so I had to fish some of it out with my fingers.

The filter is washable (which keeps future costs down), but it needs rinsing about once every two weeks and takes 24 hours to dry. I'd wash it the night before a day off cleaning.

If hair did get caught on the brush bar, it was easy to release and remove, and clearing, refitting, and reassembling it took less than a minute.

The wall mount holds the vacuum by its handle with the floorhead resting on the floor. The battery charger obviously needs its own space near a socket, which is a small inconvenience but means the vacuum can stay in one room while the battery charges in another.

How does it compare?

A natural competitor to the VAX Pace Plus is in the same brand, though the Vax HomePro Pet-Design Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is slightly pricier at £299. However, this model is a dedicated pet model, so it suits those who need to rely on anti-tangle technology.

Spend a bit more, and you get the Dreame V20 Pro (£349.99 RRP), with Auto mode that adjusts suction to the level of dirt, a sharper edge and a charging dock with tool storage.

The bin is a little smaller at 0.5L, and for a small flat like mine, I suspect the extra performance isn't worth the roughly threefold price premium, at least while the Pace Plus is on sale. If you want a vacuum that looks like it's straight out of a sci-fi film, it's certainly an option.

Verdict: Should you buy the VAX Pace Plus?

The VAX Pace Plus cleaned my floors better than the price suggests, lifting flour and rice in one pass while also handling rugs quite well. It's light, easy to live with, and the removable battery makes it more versatile than most budget stick vacs I've tried.

It would start to struggle in larger homes, though. Half an hour of battery won't go far, and if you have a long-haired pet, untangling the brush bar will be a regular job. For a small, mostly hard-floored property, though, it's an easy one to put on your shortlist.

It's what I reach for now when Jet comes in through the cat flap trailing half the patio, and I haven't once wished it were something pricier.

It's getting to that time of year when if you spend a lot of time at home, but don't want your heating on constantly, it's worth investing in a heater to provide a boost in the room you're in, when you need it.

If, like me, you have a larger, open plan space, you'll need one of the best oil-filled radiators powerful enough to warm it up.

I've been putting the Vonhaus 2500W 11 Fin Oil Filled Radiator with Timer through it's paces in my home for the last couple of weeks, to see if it was up to the challenge of heating up my kitchen diner. This is what I thought of its set up and performance, and whether I think it could work in your home too.

In a nutshell

The Vonhaus 2500W 11 Fin Oil Filled Radiator with Timer is suitable for medium to large rooms, warming them evenly and with ease. With three different heat settings, 1000W, 1500W, and 2500W, as well as a thermostat dial, you can customise the heat output to your preferences. There is also a timer that you can use to turn it on or off at certain times.

It comes with wheels so you can easily move it around without needing to lift it's 10kg weight, and it has a built in cable tidy so you can keep it neat when it's not in use.

Available in black, grey and white, there is an option to best suit any interior scheme, and it has an RRP of £79.99.

How I tested

Specification

• Type of heater: Oil-filled radiator
• RRP: £79.99
• Weight: 10kg
• Dimensions: (W x H x D): 44.2 x 61.8 x 28cm
• Wattage: 2500W
• Running costs per hour: 26-66p/kWh
• Room size suitability: Up to 30m2
• Smart features? None
• Dual functionality? None
• Timer? Yes
• Remote control? No

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Vonhaus 11 fin oil-filled radiator with timer was delivered in a large yet narrow cardboard box. While the box was quite heavy, I did manage to move it single handedly into my living room from the doorway to unbox it.

While the outer box is all recyclable cardboard, there is polystyrene internal packaging inside that I wish had been recyclable cardboard instead, as well as a plastic bag.

In the box, you get the radiator itself, an instruction manual, two wheels, two wheel bases and two u-shaped bolts, which you will need to attach. I followed the instructions for fitting the wheels, but did find it a little more fiddly than I thought I would.

It was easy enough to attach the wheels to the wheel bases, but you will need to upturn the radiator, which is quite heavy, and it's not all that stable whichever way up you have it until you pop the wheels on. And so it was propped on my knee while I tried to fit the wheel bases to the radiator with the u-shaped bots, and that's where things got a bit tricky, especially when my curious puppy decided she wanted to help. While I managed it with two hands, I do think it would be better to have a second pair of hands to support the radiator at a suitable angle while the wheels are attached.

Once the wheels were fixed in place and I'd turned it right side up, about 20 minutes had passed. But with two pairs of human hands, I'd say this could be done in a couple of minutes tops.

Then it's just a matter of plugging it in and turning it on.

When it comes to looks, the radiator is largely plain and minimalist, but it does look a bit dated compared to other oil-filled radiators I've seen. But as this isn't an appliance I am likely to leave out year round in my home, I tend to view as more functional than aesthetic.

What’s it like to use?

I first tried the Vonhaus 2500W 11 fin oil-filled radiator in my medium sized living room, that is around the 18m2 mark. I was prepared to wait a little while for the oil-filled radiator to start producing heat (after all that's one of the main differences between electric heaters and oil-filled radiators), but I was pleased to notice that I could feel the room warming up after just 10 minutes.

Measuring the ambient temperature in the room, it rose from 16.8 to 17.8°C in those first ten minutes in the highest power mode, up to 20.2°C after 30 minutes and a very cosy 22.2°C after an hour. The heat seemed to be evenly distributed around the room, too.

When I turned it off, it continued to radiate heat for the best part of an hour too. Free heat!

I also used it in my open plan kitchen diner, which is around 22m2, to see how it would perform in a larger space. It took a bit longer to feel the effects, but I clocked the ambient room temperature had risen by a degree in about 20 minutes, and I was able to feel the warmth from the radiator while I was about 5m away on the other side of the room. After an hour, the ambient temperature had risen by 2.5°C.

Moving the radiator from room to room was really easy. I found the wheels moved well on both hard floors and carpet, although I did find it easier to pull it over the rug in my living room, using the recessed handle above the controls, rather that pushing it.

While moving it around the same level in my home was a doddle, moving it up and downstairs is a bit more of a task. Weighing 10 kilos, and being quite sizable in dimension, it's doable, but it's not easy. If you have any mobility or dexterity concerns, I would suggest waiting for assistance before attempting to manoeuvre this up the stairs.

I did find that the handle and controls were warm to the touch once the radiator had been on for a while, but it was still possible to move it around. But to be on the safe side, I'd wait until it was fully cooled before trying to move it around.

In terms of controls, they are pretty basic. You have one dial that goes from 0 to 3. This is to select your heat output, from 1000W in position one, to 2500W in position 3, and position 0 turns it off.

A second dial, which sadly does not show any numerical measurement, is the adjustable thermostat. Turn it clockwise to raise the temperature and anti-clockwise to reduce it. While that's simple enough, I do wish there was a little more specificity so I could select an actual target temperature. However, adjusting the heat output and thermostat based on your comfort levels, it's easy enough to ensure a comfortable level of heat. There's no remote control included so you will need to do this via the onboard control panel.

While the general operation of the oil-filled radiator is straightforward, the same can't be said for the timer, which to me seems overly complex and old fashioned. It's comprised of two dials which represents a 24 hour clock, with 96 tiny plastic segments which each represents a 15 minute time window. These segments are so tiny, it's very difficult to set with any accuracy. Those with vision or dexterity issues may experience an added layer of difficulty with the timer. But if you're happy with being able to programme the radiator to turn on or off at more of a rough time, then the timer is worth using. If you are looking for a more rigid timescale, I'd be tempted to turn it on and off manually instead.

When it's off and cooled down, it's easy to push closer to the wall so it's out of the way. I like that there is an onboard cable tidy to protect the cable and avoid a trip hazard when it's not in use.

How much does it cost to run?

The running costs of this oil-filled radiator will depend on which setting you use and how long you use it for, but based on the October 2026 energy price cap figure of 2.32p/kWh of electricity, you can expect this heater to cost between 26 and 66p per hour to run.

Using the timer can help ensure it's not used longer than necessary

Cleaning and maintenance

One thing I love about oil-filled radiators is that they need very little maintenance, and this Vonhaus model is no exception.

To ensure your oil-filled radiator lasts, and works most efficiently, you'll need to give it a regular dust and try to avoid any dings or dents. The oil inside doesn't get used up, so it won't need refilling, but when it's not in use, it's wise to store it upright so the oil remains settled.

As with any appliance, you should check the cable is always in good condition too.

Who should buy this electric heater?

The Vonhaus 2500W 11 fin oil-filled radiator with timer will be ideal if you are looking for an affordable, high-powered radiator to complement your existing heating system.

However, if the timer is an important feature for you, then a digital oil-filled radiator like the Morphy Richards HeatFlux 2.5kW Digital Oil Filled Radiator with Remote Control or the app controlled Duux Edge will be easier to use. They both have Eco mode too, which sadly the Vonhaus doesn't. But as a consequence, both have higher price points than the more affordable Vonhaus model.

Want to heat a smaller space? The 2500W of the Vonhaus oil-filled radiator will be too powerful, and you'll be spending more to run in that you need to. Instead Vonhaus' 800W oil-filled radiator may be much more suitable. On the other hand, if you want to heat a large open plan space, the De'Longhi Dragon 4 can tackle spaces up to 50m2.

As soon as we found out De'Longhi was releasing a cheaper alternative to it's top-rated Rivelia machine, we couldn't wait to get our hands on it. The Italian brand is a worldwide leader for home baristas, with a fleet of premium machines for every type of coffee lover, so expectations were high.

Having tested a few coffee machines, many of which happen to be from De'Longhi, I was the right person for the job. Looking to upgrade from my De'Longhi Scultura – a workshorse of a manual espresso machine – I was keen to test contenders for the best bean-to-cup coffee machine, especially if they are come with cold brew and iced coffee options.

In a nutshell

I'm quite particular about my coffee, so I wasn't sure an automatic would be able to offer the level of customisation I need in my brew. However, with my work-from-home coffees sometimes taking as long as 15 minutes to make in my existing machine, I definitely needed speed. The De'Longhi Rivelia Start has not only impressed me for convenience, making my flat white in just a couple of minutes, but the taste leaves no complaints.

Saving money by omitting touch-screen displays and smart bean-adaptation technology, has helped De'Longhi create a brilliant alternative to the De'Longhi Rivelia which we rated five stars. It comes in at a price point that feels well justified when you can make flat white, latte, cappuccino, espresso, American, filter, cold brew and iced coffees in just a couple of button presses. And it can pour hot water or steamed milk for your guests, too.

It comes with some great design features like swappable bean hoppers, hidden storage and a slick look that comes in several colourways. Overall, it offers a lot of functionality and quality in an afforadable and neat little package.

Who tested this coffee machine?

Unboxing the product

This compact machine is fairly light (just under 10 kilograms), but comes with a few accessories to negotiate during unpacking. The two hoppers, milk tank, water tank, and part of the drip tray were wrapped in (recyclable) plastic bags to prevent scuffs, but other than that, everything is neatly packaged in cardboard. You also need to locate the water testing kit for setup, and put the cleaning tabs away for future use.

I initially couldn't find the scoop, but this is stowed in a handy integrated storage space on top of the machine, along with a spare nozzle for hot water and a place to add grounds. There is also a brush for keeping this area clean (more on that later).

Overall, the machine looks smart, and despite being predominantly plastic, the combo of smooth and textured finishes adds to a premium look. The neat footprint adds to the slick look, and while I received the Onyx Black colourway, the Sand Beige and Jade Green options would have looked at home in my cottage kitchen.

I also like that more utilitarian parts like the grounds inlet and nozzle/milk carafe attachment are hidden when out of use. There is a clever sliding panel for the latter. When the milk carafe is in place, it is somewhat less appealing, but it is never left attached to the machine.

Though compact, the machine does need a fair bit of headspace for the hopper, but being just under 40cm high, the unit will fit under most cabinets – even with the 15cm use clearance factored in. Note that the control panel is on top, so it needs placing where this will be easy to view, and could impact use for shorter users or those who use a wheelchair.

Getting started

Unpacking and construction took under 10 minutes once I had washed some of the parts and allowed them to dry. This gave me a good opportunity to read the instructions.

You get a visual quick-start guide and can also scan a QR code on the machine and instructions for more info. Though some parts of the quick start guide were very easy to follow, I always follow the recommendation to read the main guide for anything not covered. In this case, the main instructions explained that you have to run through several functions, before you are able to pull a drinkable coffee.

This configuration and cleaning element took a good 40 minutes, extended by my need to watch a few of De'Longhi's videos to check I understood the instructions correctly. If you are not familiar with coffee makers, and have never used a bean-to-cup, it could well take longer.

First, you have to do a water test to check your water hardness and tune the settings accordingly with a couple of button presses. This tells the machine how it might need to adjust brewing to compensate, and how often the machine will need descaling. This is a quick dip-test, and it determined my water to be medium-hard: a surprise to me, as our water is known to be hard. I have since found out our readings are fairly low compared to a lot of Italy where De'Longhi machines are designed.

Then, you have to make a series of drinks (including milky drinks using the milk carafe), to prep the machine for use. This includes five hot coffees; three steam/milk cycles (using the carafe); three hot water cycles; and three cold brew cycles. This uses a lot of coffee and seems long-winded, but it rinses the system and calibrates the various pressure and temperature controls that help the machine work automatically. It also clears the grinder, which is tested before sale and might contain some bean residue.

This process also got me used to operating the machine so that I was ready to make my first coffee. All I had to do was place my mug under the adjustable coffee spout and press one button for a flat white.

The 'Morning Rush' test

Whenever we test a coffee machine, we prioritise the Morning Rush test. This is to see how quickly you can prepare two milky coffees, back-to-back. With the De'Longhi Rivelia Start, I can make two flat whites in just under four minutes (three minutes 59 seconds), including the time taken for the machine to prime, and do a cleaning cycle after making the coffees. With my prior espresso machine – a non-automatic – this would take me at least 10 to 15 minutes.

I tend to have an extra shot, and again, the process is impressively quick. Each shot takes an extra 30 seconds, so our usual Sunday morning order of two double flat whites can be made in exactly five minutes.

Having the milk carafe means I don't even need to attend to the steamed milk. There is a froth adjustment dial on top to keep the process hands off. This allows you to select minimum for light foam (just hot milk), medium for creamy froth (latte and flat white), to maximum for a thick cappuccino foam. It decants straight to mug, so no fancy latte art, but gives good results and allows you to do something else while your coffee is made – perfect for busy mornings.

User experience

This machine is very easy to use, and I quickly worked my way through the range of hot, cold, milky and straight coffees on offer. Most drinks are one or two button presses away, and the machine primes automatically. The control panel has pictorial icons that make it easy to understand. There isn't an overwhelming menu of options, yet you have a good level of customisability.

However, it can take a little while to learn everything to take full advantage of the range of tweaks you can make with this machine. To reduce costs compared to the original De'Longhi Rivelia, the Rivelia Start doesn't have a touch screen menu, so changing things like drink length or temperature requires you to learn the correct sequence of button presses.

For example, the temperature is controlled by pressing 'settings', then the 'Milk/Hot Water' button, then using the 'Intensity' setting (the beans) to choose low, medium or high heat. It would therefore be fair to assume 'the beans' are used to control any other low-to-high options, but they are not. They do change water hardness; auto-off time; and whether you want the machine to beep or not; but drink size is a different process altogether.

This is not a dealbreaker at all. It just means you will want to download the full instructions to your phone (via QR code on the machine) and have them to hand until you know the ropes.

The De'Longhi Rivelia Start also has a set of warning lights to help you properly use and care for your machine. Again, you will need the instructions to hand until you are fluent in what all of these mean.

What is great about this machine is that it is really straightforward to make classic coffees, but doesn't remove all of the tinkering some of us enjoy with a non-automatic espresso machine. You can still adjust the grind size if needed, and control coffee and milk ratios to your preferences – or you can press a button and leave the machine to making a very decent cup of coffee based on its factory settings.

Other features

As mentioned before, this machine can make iced coffees (espresso over ice), as well as cold brew. There is a button for iced options to adapt the extraction temperature which works well, though I prefer a slow-extraction cold brew for the best flavour. For an additional cost (£99.99 including four glasses on the De'Longhi website), you can get a cold carafe to froth cold milk into your drink. It would be nice to have this included, but it isn't essential for enjoying the cold coffees the machine makes.

It also has the benefit of swappable hoppers so you can switch to decaf in the afternoon, or have different beans for different tastes. The 'Bean Switch' system is designed to purge any grounds so you only the new grounds for your next cup.

Coffee quality

The De'Longhi Rivelia Start does not have Bean Adapt Technology – a feature in smart De'Longhi machines that optimises the grind, dose and temperature for specific beans – but still pours a well-rounded and delicious coffee. I used Cafe Direct Honduras Arabica beans (available at Ocado) and as expected, the result was a smooth and chocolatey coffee that was enjoyable as espresso and punchy enough in milky drinks. The coffee spout can be moved close to the mug to help produce a golden crema that lasts well.

The default settings did make a slightly smaller and milkier drink than I like, so I have learned my go to is a flat white with an extra shot and a slightly shorter dose of milk. I also upped the temperature because I am a slow sipper and like my coffee a bit hotter. It didn't overextract the coffee or impair flavour.

The filter coffee was initially a bit weak for me, but I had been a bit cautious with the amount of ground coffee I added to the machine because the instructions warn against using too much. After an adjustment the results were much better. And I like that you have the choice to do ground and bean-to-cup with this machine.

The milk frother is also effective. It creates a glossy milk that looks like the 'wet paint' standard needed for a good microfoam. Because of the carafe, you do lack the finesse of a machine that froths and allows you to free-pour, but this option is more aligned to my lack of latte art skills.

Noise test

This is where the machine does let itself down a little. It isn't deafening by any means, but some of the best bean to cup coffee machines we have tested are only 60 decibels in use. This one averages 66 decibels, hitting around 75dB when it grinds and maxing at 82 when it ran out of milk at the end of a froth.

This is similar in volume to a hair dryer – loud enough to be a bit jarring at 6am.

What's it like to clean?

Autoclean runs every time you turn the machine on and off, rinsing the pipes and tubes that deliver your coffee. I keep a small glass under the coffee spout for this as it reduces the frequency of drip-tray emptying. The milk carafe also alerts you to turn the dial to clean after each use, emitting a bursts of steam/water until the nozzle is cleared. The carafe can store milk in the fridge for up to two days, after which you need to give it a thorough clean.

I find the drip tray and coffee ground container need emptying every 10 coffees or so. The drip tray has an indicator on the tray to keep an eye on, but the machine will alert you when the coffee ground tray is full.

On top of that, you need to do a circuit drain if you leave the machine for three days or more (easy to do at the press of a button). And you must run the start-up process of using the steam, hot water and coffee functions to clear the interior when you return.

Deep cleans are recommended every 30 days, and the machine will alert you when it needs descaling. Both processes run automatically with minimal intervention and a deep clean takes a few minutes, while the descale can take up to 30. For cleaning, you will also be prompted to remove the brewing unit for rinsing. The brush included with the machine comes in handy here for cleaning housing and fiddly spaces.

Some parts are dishwasher safe and some aren't. Those which aren't are labelled as such, but I have tended to hand wash everything to be on the safe side. The exterior of the machine wipes clean easily, and aside from the metal grill over the drip tray which does show water stains, nothing marks too badly.

How does it compare to competitors?

At under £600, the De'Longhi Rivelia Start is one of the most affordable automatic bean-to-cup machines, including iced coffee and cold brew options. You do have to pay nearly £100 for the cold carafe to froth cold milk, but it is not essential to enjoy iced drinks from this machine.

A comparable model for a one-touch range of coffees like this is the Ninja Autobarista. That comes in at around £150 more as it has Grind IQ – Ninja's equivalent of Bean Adapt. You could alternatively get the Start's predecessor and our current top-rated coffee maker – the De'Longhi Rivelia which is also £150 more. It can fine-tune based on your beans and has a touch screen that offers a little more guidance than the Start. However, I feel that Bean Adapt is not something you would know you were missing unless you had it before, and the controls on the Start are plentiful for easy everyday coffees.

Should you buy the De'Longhi Rivelia Start Coffee Machine?

If you were looking for an automatic coffee maker that has cold coffee options, the De'Longhi Rivelia Start is a very smart buy. It is quick and offers plenty of customisation, alongside easy operation once you get used to it. Busy families will appreciate the speed with which you can make several coffees, and it will soon earn its worth for homeworkers partial to takeaway barista drinks.

The noise is a tolerable drawback and worse when beans, water or milk are running low – in other words, don't let it dissuade you. And, the machine looks good with a better range of colourways than most brands offer. From the masters in Italian coffee at home, you can't go far wrong with the De'Longhi Rivelia Start.

Whenever the temperature starts to dip, my focus always goes to how I can ensure my energy bills remain as low as possible.

Sometimes that means digging out an electric heater or a heated blanket to warm myself up while I'm working from home, rather than popping my central heating on longer than necessary, and heating parts of my home that I don't tend to use during the day.

As part of my mission to save energy while I work from home, I tried the Stoov Big Hug3, a heated seat pad, on my home office chair (and beyond) to see whether it was my solution to staying warm throughout the day, without reaching for my thermostat.

In a nutshell

Stoov's Big Hug3 is a cordless heated chair cover that uses infrared heating technology to warm the body rather than the air.

Ideal for those working from home, the Big Hug3 is designed to cover the chair seat and back, offering three different heat levels to keep you toasty. Available in two different sizes and colourways (a dark grey and a beige), as well as different fabrics, including a very cosy woolly texture.

As well as the variety of options for the Big Hug3 itself, you can choose different battery options depending on how much you plan to use your chair cover, from Base which offers the lowest run time and is best if you only plan on using your BigHug3 for short periods. Flex offers the middle run time, while Pro offers the longest and was the one I chose, which offers between 2-5 hours run time.

It's part of a range of cordless infrared heating products, which also includes cushions, blankets and electric hot water bottles.

Specification

• Sizes available: 45x115cm | 47x135cm
• RRP: from £119.99
• Type: Chair pad
• Wattage: n/a
• Temperature settings: 3
• Auto shut-off timer: Yes
• Dual controls: No
• Machine washable: Yes at 30°C

Unboxing, set up and first impressions

The Stoov Big Hug arrived in a surprisingly compact cardboard box, with the brand's mission clearly stated 'We warm people, not the planet.' Its largely card packaging, with the exception of the bag the cover itself comes in which is made from 100% recycled plastic.

In the box you get the cover, a battery pack, a charging cable and plug, as well as a Getting Started Guide.

Unrolling the Big Hug, I instantly liked the soft material and luxe beige and burgundy colourway. There's also a cable to securely attach it to a chair, which I thought was a very nice touch, although in practicality, this didn't actually work that well on my style office chair, which has arms. Fortunately, it's not essential in order to use it.

A huge bonus for me is that it's cordless – I already have multiple cables streaming across the corner of my desk, and I was very thankful not to have yet another. Not being constrained by proximity to a plug socket gives a whole sense of freedom about when and where I can use it.

When it comes to other features, I especially liked that the charging cable and battery pack match the burgundy accent on the Big Hug3 – all thoughtful design elements which I feel warrant the £100+ price tag.

There's really not much involved in terms of set up. All I needed to do was connect the battery and slot it into the handy pocket, which took less than a minute, and then plug the charger into the smart label and leave it for a couple of hours to charge.

What's it like to use?

The Stoov Big Hug3 is really simple to operate via the smart label, the burgundy tag that is located on the edge of the cover, about half way down the back. There's a small, discreet switch that you need to flick first (there's a little green sticker to look out for that will tell you it's on). Then you just long press the Stoov logo, and you'll see a light come up. That shows it's on the lowest heat setting. Press it again, for the two lights and the middle heat setting, and again for the third light and highest heat setting.

After laying it on my office chair, I popped it on the highest power setting, which should heat up to a very toasty 58°C. The warmth is nice, not as hot as I was expecting, but it's very pleasant and it effectively warms the body, without creating a stuffy environment that I find can happen if I use an electric heater for too long.

I was expecting the whole pad to warm up, but rather than that, there are two distinct heat zones, one on the back and one on the seat, with a narrow heat zone connecting the two. Initially, I was a bit disappointed by this, but as I was using it, it didn't actually feel that problematic. I could feel warmth exactly where I wanted it and where my body had the most contact with the Big Hug3. However, while that works for a heated chair pad, it means this wouldn't be my first choice to double up as a heated blanket. The dimensions and thicker material don't drape as well over the body, and are far better to sit on rather than be covered with.

On the highest heat setting I got just under two hours heat time, but even after the heat turned off, the woolly texture was so cosy, I felt really quick snuggly still. On the lower heat setting, I got closer to five hours before it needed recharging.

It also held its shape well, with no wrinkles forming, even by the end of a long work day.

While there were a lot of positives, I did have one main gripe with the user experience of the Big Hug3. Despite the back of the BigHug3 being almost 10cm longer than my chair back, whenever I leaned forward on my chair, the weight of the battery pack would cause it to slump down, which was rather frustrating after the third or fourth time. In hindsight, I should have opted for the BigHug XL, which is longer than the Big Hug, and would be better suited to my higher back (67cm) chair. However, when I used the Big Hug on a lower backed chair, this definitely wasn't a problem, I could drape enough of the non-heated part over the back so that the weight of the battery actually helped keep it in place.

I also tried it as a heat pad while sitting on the sofa. While the weight of the battery did cause it to slump down, I found that if I popped a pillow behind my back, and tucked the battery pack behind it, I could keep it in place, still benefit from the heat zones, and it was remarkably comfortable.

When it comes to charging, Stoov advises to charge it via the smart label, which I did, but this does mean that you need a decent amount of counter space to sit the rolled up Big Hug as it charges. I would position it with the smart label facing outwards so I could easily tell the charging progress (the heat level lights flash until you have three solid lights that mean it is fully charged).

Whenever it's not in use, I love how neatly it rolls up – it takes up a fraction of the space of one of my sherpa fleece blankets I tend to use in winter.

Running costs

While you will need to charge it regularly, the Stoov Big Hug3 is cordless so it doesn't run directly off electricity, and depending on the battery you choose and the heat setting, you can get up to five hours of use on a single charge.

Maintenance and cleaning

Apart from regular charging, there's not much the Stoov Big Hug3 needs in terms of maintenance. Should you spill anything on the cover, the good news is it can be washed, but you need to make sure you remove the heating element from the inside first.

I found this quite easy to do. There is a large zip on the back where the base and the back meet, and there is another mat on the inside, which houses the heating element. I found it easiest to slip the base out of the woolly cover first, then detach the smart label (which is attached to the outer cover with Velcro), and finally remove the battery connector through a whole in the fabric at the base of the fabric pocket before sliding the rest of the heating element mat out.

Once the two are completely separated, you can wash the outer cover in the washing machine, according to the care instructions.

I found it just as easy to slip it back together again.

Who should buy the Stoov BigHug3?

If you work from home, have a lower back desk chair (say that comes up to just below your shoulder blades) and don't want to be limited by proximity to a plug socket, then the Stoov Big Hug3 may be exactly what you're looking for. Not only is it comfortable and effective, but it holds it shape well and it both looks and feels cosy and luxurious.

If, like me, you have a higher back office chair, or want to use it on the sofa, I'd definitely recommend the XL version instead, to avoid having it slump down whenever you move.

However, if you want something more blanket like to keep you warm on chilly evenings, I think a heated throw, like the Dreamland Luxury Heated Throw, would be a better option. You will need to be near a plug-socket, but that may be more doable as you chill on the sofa.

Looking to heat a room itself? That's where an electric heater will be most useful for a quick burst of heat when you need it. The Dreo Atom 316 is the best we've tried and it's small enough to fit neatly on a desk. For more prolonged heating, one of the best oil-filled radiators will be more economical to run.

A cordless leaf blower-vac with a mulching function? That’s exactly what the Flymo EasiBlowVac is – and why I was so excited to try it out.

I’m all ears when it comes to new contenders for the best leaf blowers on the market, but what really grabs my attention is when a machine can multi-task: blow leaves, vacuum them up, and mulch them. When I tested the cordless Flymo EasiBlowVac (currently £199.99 at Amazon), it excelled at all three – and made ultra-light work of clearing the fallen leaves in my garden.

Below, you’ll find my notes on the FLYMO EasiBlowVac’s setup, design and performance.

Specifications

• Blow speed: 250km/h
• Collector volume: 30L
• Weight: 3.6kg
• Noise level: 82dB(A)
• Vibration: 1.2 m/s²
• Battery voltage: 18V
• Battery capacity: 4.0 Ah

In a nutshell

The FLYMO EasiBlowVac is ideal for small to medium gardens thanks to its cordless design and relatively large (30L) collection bag. Leaves are mulched before they reach the bag, which gives you even more room when working, and the zipper design makes emptying really straightforward. I also thought the blowing power was brilliant, even without the PowerBoost setting enabled.

Vacuuming is most successful at close range, and the mulching function breaks down most large leaves with ease. The only downside is the limited battery life (up to 36 minutes), which makes this model less suitable for larger jobs and gardens.

Setup

It was relatively easy to put the Flymo EasiBlowVac together, with very few tools required (I only had to use a screwdriver once) and minimal instructions.

The main shaft comes in two parts, and to start with, I had to fix the upper part of the shaft to the orange unit with the handle and controls. It was simply a case of unscrewing the nail from the unit, pushing in the shaft, and then screwing the nail back in again to hold the two parts together. It did take quite a lot of effort to push the shaft fully into the orange unit, though – I had to stand up and use the ground as a support to push it all the way in.

The same applied to the second part of the shaft – pushing that onto the upper shaft took a lot of elbow grease, but it was satisfying to hear each of the little clicks when it was finally in place. I then had to slide on the wheel component, which, again, clicked to let me know it was fixed.

The instructions were actually so minimal that I had to use the box for reference at points – especially when it came to attaching the collection bag to the main unit. Once I’d figured out the correct angle, I pushed the plastic connecting part of the bag into place. Then, I attached the collection bag loop to the plastic loop on the shaft of the blower-vac to hold the bag up.

After that, it was simply a case of clipping the fabric shoulder strap onto the handle part of the blower-vac, right above the control panel.

Before setting it all up, though, I put the battery on charge. It’s the 18V Alliance battery that’s compatible across a range of garden tools and brands, from Bosch to Husqvarna, so it’s a handy one to own – and it comes with a charger as part of the 4.0 kit. It's the one that fits the Bosch VISIMOW 18V-100 Robot Lawn Mower, too.

A green light indicator shows the battery is charging. To release the battery from the charger or the EasiBlowVac, you press the red button on the end of the battery. Getting the battery out of the blower-vac is quite tricky, though – but I find that to be a problem with the 18V battery in general, across a range of tools.

Design and power

Operating the FLYMO EasiBlowVac was so straightforward. Whether the blower-vac blows or vacuums leaves depends on the grey lever on the side of the tool. The arrow symbols speak for themselves, but the machine blows in the downward position and vacuums when switched upwards. It’s super easy – no swapping out any parts, just a simple switch.

What I love about the FLYMO EasiBlowVac is that it’s trigger-free – you don’t need to keep your finger on a button or lever to keep the machine running.

Once you’ve chosen your setting, you simply press the on/off button on the control panel at the top of the orange unit to turn the blower-vac on. It’ll start you off at the lowest setting, but for more power, you simply press the button with two upward-facing arrows above the on/off switch. That one gives you two different power levels, with an accompanying green light next to the button to show you which one you’re using.

If you want more power, you can press another button above that, which features two upward-facing arrows with a plus sign. It enables the PowerBoost mode, which gives the machine extra speed for intense bursts on stubborn debris.

There’s also a battery section which indicates (via a green light) how much life is left in the battery. Since it’s on the handle, it’s easy to check while working.

My favourite feature of the FLYMO EasiBlowVac is its mulching function. The metal mulching blade inside the machine breaks down vacuumed leaves into a fine mulch, so there’s no need for a shredder if you plan to reuse the collected leaves in the garden. It also saves space inside the collection bag, allowing you to collect more leaves before emptying it – and that means fewer interruptions while you’re trying to tidy up your garden.

The blade itself is made from what FLYMO describes as ‘premium’ metal, so there’s less chance of stones and other hard objects damaging the machine. The FLYMO EasiBlowVac is powered by a high-performance brushless motor, which FLYMO claims offers ‘high efficiency, durability, and reliability’.

The collection bag also has a smart design: it’s dual-lined and moisture-proof to keep you clean and dry when working, and features a strong zipper that allows you to easily open, empty and reseal the bag. The zipper teeth are on the larger side, too, to prevent the mulch from getting stuck when you empty the bag.

I also need to talk about that wheel I mentioned during setup. When I first unboxed the FLYMO EasiBlowVac, I was a little confused by the need for it at first – but actually, the wheel offers lots of support while working (the machine weighs 3.6kg, so although it isn't very heavy, it can take a toll after a longer tidying session), and allows you to glide the blower-vac along the floor to reduce strain.

It’s omni-directional (360 degrees) and height-adjustable, so you can tailor the wheel to your working needs. Personally, I kept it on the setting that’s closest to the end of the shaft for vacuuming, so I could position it as close to leaves and debris as possible. The shoulder strap adds to the comfort, taking some of the weight and strain away when using the tool.

The FLYMO EasiBlowVac’s impeller (the bladed rotor that churns up the leaves into a mulch) can be accessed easily when the blower-vac is off via a flap on the side of the orange unit. It’s right by the handle, and it’s opened by unscrewing a black stopper. That way, you can check and clear blockages yourself.

Performance

Once the battery was fully charged and inserted, the FLYMO EasiBlowVac was a breeze to use. First, I tested the blowing function, which proves to be really powerful – even at the lowest setting. It made light work of blowing leaves into the corners of my garden, where I could later vacuum them up (I did leave some for wildlife, though – it's one of the best ways to use fallen leaves in the garden!).

The PowerBoost mode was actually a little too powerful for smaller leaf piles in my garden, but for larger piles in bigger gardens, it would be ideal.

The vacuum function was the one I was especially excited to try, and it didn't disappoint. Granted, you need to work at very close range to the leaves for effective vacuuming – but that's exactly what the omni-directional wheel is for, allowing you to glide the blower-vac along the ground to precisely target leaves and debris.

I found that vacuuming worked better on paved areas like my garden path, where leaves loosened more readily than in between blades – although it was easy enough to aim for leaves on my lawn, too (it's pretty bumpy, but thanks to the wheel, it was easy enough to move the EasiBlowVac across the lawn). It only took me 10 minutes to vacuum up the fallen leaves on my lawn.

I did find the PowerBoost mode helpful for vacuuming leaves on the lawn, since they were a little hard to dislodge from the grass – and that meant that the battery drained a lot faster. The machine cut out a few times at the end because of that, so the battery life is probably the main gripe I had with the EasiBlowVac.

Larger leaves would sometimes get stuck on the end of the vacuum, so I'd have to manually remove those with my feet, but that was a small price to pay for what followed...

The mulching function! It proved to be brilliant, and my favourite thing about the FLYMO EasiBlowVac. When I unzipped the collection bag, it was filled with mulched-down leaves – the perfect ingredients for compost, leaf mould or leaf mulch. Some of the larger, tougher leaves hadn't quite broken down (thank you, loquat tree), but the majority were perfectly processed.

Emptying the collection back was fairly easy – I just had to unzip the bag and tip the contents out – but because the bag only opens at one end, I found I had to shake it around a lot and even use my hand to pull some of the leaf mulch out.

Should you buy the FLYMO EasiBlowVac?

If you're looking for a powerful cordless leaf blower that also vacuums and mulches leaves, the FLYMO EasiBlowVac is one I'd recommend. It's so easy to use, manoeuvre and empty, and the mulching function saves so much time and space during garden tidy-ups.

At £199, it won't break the bank, but it isn't the most affordable blower-vac on the market either. The Vonhaus leaf vacuum, for example, is just £44.00 – but it's also corded, which can be limiting and a little bit of a nuisance during use.

Overall, if you don't mind splurging a little on a powerful, easy-to-use 3-in-1 machine, I'd say the FLYMO EasiBlowVac is a brilliant one to have in the shed.

When I was growing up, my mum swore by her Kenwood Chef stand mixer for her weekly batch baking. In those days, Kenwood stand mixers, while excellent at what they did, weren’t known for their good looks. Thankfully the brand launched the kMix in 2007 (which has long been Ideal Home's top pick of the best stand mixers), the ideal choice for home bakers who wanted an aesthetically pleasing mixer.

Almost 20 years later, the kMix is still going strong, and there are numerous colours and finishes to choose between, from pastel colours to metallics. This new look is an update from the kMix we reviewed back in 2021, so we thought we'd give this new version a spin to see if its still the mixer to beat.

It’s one of those appliances that’ll take pride of place on your kitchen worktop. I tried a muted matte cream coloured kMix at home, to see how well it copes with everyday home baking recipes.

In a nutshell

Kenwood has a long standing reputation for making some of the best stand mixers around and just because this is the pretty version, doesn’t mean they’ve scrimped on quality or functionality.

The kMix can cost anything from £300 to £480 depending on the colour and finish you choose, so it’s not a flippant purchasing decision. That said, for regular bakers, it’ll quickly become the workhorse that takes the effort out of every recipe you whip up.

During my review I used each of the three main attachments. The whisk speedily tackles egg whites, while the K-beater is adept at creaming butter and sugar and beating the rest of the ingredients into a cake mix. Lastly, the dough hook takes the effort out of kneading bread dough.

It’s simple to use and all the parts are dishwasher safe. And if you choose one that comes with a stainless steel bowl (some come with a glass bowl) the main bowl is lightweight, durable and easy to lift.

Who reviewed this stand mixer?

Unboxing and first impressions

There weren’t really any surprises when I took it out of the box. It’s certainly weighty, but I expect that of a stand mixer, otherwise it’s in danger of walking itself across the worktop when mixing heavy doughs.

The main mixing attachments are either stainless steel or aluminium and the model that I had for the review came with a stainless steel bowl. Some of the kMix models come with a glass bowl. Personally, I prefer the more lightweight and durable stainless steel option. And I love that the bowl has a handle, something my current stand mixer lacks.

There’s a lever at the back to release the tilt head from its locked position. It doesn’t spring up on its own though, you do have to help it up. In this position it's easy to twist the attachments in and out of place. Then you have to press the lever again when you want to drop it back down.

The speed control dial is very self explanatory, the first setting is a slow fold function. Then you can move up through the six speed options, it couldn’t be simpler. It’s also worth mentioning that the bowl twists into the base so that it’s locked into position during use.

On the front of the tilt head there’s an attachment outlet, hidden beneath a cover. It’s only used if and when you purchase compatible attachments. And there are plenty to choose from, ranging from pasta makers to a mincer, grater, and even a juicing attachment.

In the box there’s a handy spatula and also a splashguard that attaches to the tilthead and helps stop ingredients from ending up on the worktop if you’re a bit heavy handed with the speed dial.

What is it like to use?

On the day the kMix was delivered, I’d planned to make an apple crumble for a weekend treat. But I was itching to make use of the newly unboxed mixer, so I decided to pivot, and found a recipe for apple crumble cake.

The apple crumble cake consists of a layer of cinnamon flavoured sponge cake, topped with a layer of apple puree, followed by a crumble layer on top. I doubled the cake recipe so that it was a four egg mix, that way I could make a few apple cupcakes too.

I used the K-beater, which did a great job of creaming together the butter and sugar, creating a light and fluffy mix. Like most mixers, you have to scrape down the sides a few times during the various stages of making a cake batter and the included spatula comes in handy for this job.

I added the four eggs one at a time and it mixed them in well. Then, before adding and mixing in the flour, I installed the plastic splashguard to prevent any flour clouds from billowing up into the air. I didn’t need to worry though, turning the dial up gradually meant the flour mixed in effectively without any trying to escape the bowl.

On the whole the cake batter was light and airy and well mixed. The kMix worked exactly as I expected and I particularly loved having a handle on the bowl. It made tipping the mix into a cake tin much easier.

Whilst making the cake mix I noticed the K-beater was hitting the base of the bowl slightly on every rotation. So once I’d cleaned it, I followed instructions in the manual to adjust it. I had to find my own spanner, but it was easy to make a small adjustment to the knut on the K-beater so it no longer hit the base of the bowl during use.

Mixers aren’t one of the appliances that can be called whisper quiet. This one wasn’t any noisier than others I’ve tried though. When I measured the sound as it mixed on speed 2 it was 75dB. Then when I cranked it up to max speed the sound level went up to 85dB. It's a bit noisy on this higher setting, but I’m okay with that given how much arm ache it’s saving me from.

I tried out the dough hook when making a batch of bread dough for pizzas. Regardless of whether you’re making pizza or a loaf of bread though, the recipe I used was for a standard amount of bread dough (500g of flour and 300ml of water). So it meant I could see how the dough hook would cope with an everyday bread recipe.

After dissolving my yeast in water, I bunged everything into the mixer, with the dough hook and the splashguard in place, then set it going on the slowest speed. I had to stop it once to scrape the sides down, but apart from that, the dough came together nicely in a few minutes.

My recipe required 5-10 minutes of kneading, so once the dough was mixed, I left the mixer on the slowest speed setting for 10 minutes to do the kneading for me. There’s a bit of play in the tilt head of the mixer, so it jogged up and down as it kneaded the dough, making some clunky noises as it did so. Though compared to 10 minutes of an exhausting arm workout doing the kneading by hand, it’s very easy to put up with.

I’ve reviewed mixers in the past that have moved around on the worktop when mixing something heavy like bread dough, luckily this one stayed firmly in place. I did have to take the splashguard off while it kneaded the dough, the movement of the tilt head was rattling it and since it was no longer needed, it made sense just to take it off.

On the whole, making my dough in the mixer was far easier than doing it by hand. Plus the dough was nicely kneaded and the pizzas turned out perfectly. They rose well and had a light and airy crust, so I couldn’t ask for more.

Since I was reviewing this mixer during the very same week that Nigella joined The Great British Bake Off and the first episode aired. It only seemed fitting to revisit a recipe of hers that I’ve enjoyed in the past. So I used the whisk attachment to make Nigella’s chocolate olive oil mousse.

The big balloon whisk made short work of creating stiff peaks from four egg whites. On the maximum speed setting it took just a couple of minutes to create white fluffy clouds of aerated egg white.

After removing the egg white, I used it again to whisk the egg yolks and sugar together to a pale creamy consistency. Four egg yolks and 50g sugar is quite a small volume, but because the whisk reaches right to the bottom of the bowl, this wasn’t an issue, and it took just a few minutes.

I did the final mixing by hand, since it requires gentle folding with a metal spoon to mix the fluffy egg white with the chocolate and egg yolk. But it was the mixer that did the bulk of the work and the mousses were incredible.

What's it like to clean?

Every removable accessory from the bowl to the splashguard is dishwasher safe, which makes cleaning hassle free. After making cake and chocolate mouse mixtures, I popped everything in the dishwasher. When cleaning up after making bread dough, the bowl and dough hook were quick and easy to wash by hand.

The mixer I had for the review had a matte finish, and I wondered how easy it would be to clean. But after making chocolate mouse and realising I’d managed to smear chocolate all over it, I’m happy to say it all came off with a quick wipe. What’s more, the matte finish doesn’t show smears or fingerprints as much as a glossy finish would.

How does it compare to competitors?

The obvious comparison in terms of appearance is the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer. Depending on the exact colour and finish you’re looking at, the two brands are comparable in terms of price and bowl capacity as well as accessories included. However the 300W power of the KitchenAid is substantially less than the 1000W motor in the Kenwood kMix.

If you’re a very serious baker, you may wish to consider the Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker which can now be found for under £400 if you shop around. It’s not as pretty, but it packs a 1200W motor and integrated weighing scales, to simplify the process.

Should you buy the Kenwood kMix?

The thing is, yes you can make cakes or whisk up egg whites and cream using an inexpensive electric hand mixer, but in my opinion you’ll get better results with a decent stand mixer. Because when you take arm fatigue out of the equation, you’re less likely to rush, and more likely to cream, mix, or whisk your ingredients for the correct amount of time, thereby leading to better results. So can a stand mixer turn you into a star baker? Probably not, but it’ll definitely help.

The kMix is a great choice, it’s powerful enough for most home bakers and it’s well made and good looking to boot. If you want to start an at-home baking business, you’ll need to look at Kenwood's more professional models. But for general use, the kMix is a great choice that’ll take the hard work and effort out of baking home made treats.

I'm always on the lookout for ways to simplify my cleaning routine, so I was keen to put the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop to the test. With a detachable handheld steamer and a generous selection of tools, it promises to clean everything from kitchen floors to windows, tiles and awkward corners.

So, how does it compare to the best steam cleaners and mops? I put it to the test in my family home to see whether one steam cleaner is enough to tackle the whole house.

In a nutshell

The Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop RHMSM6001 is a lightweight, versatile steam cleaner that offers much more than your average steam mop. It heats up quickly, is easy to use on hard floors, and comes with a generous selection of tools to tackle everything from windows and grout to general bathroom grime. The range of additional attachments felt overwhelming at first, but once I'd familiarised myself with them, they were straightforward enough to use.

On hard floors, I was impressed with the results. My floors looked noticeably cleaner afterwards and were dry enough to walk on almost straight away. The mop also removed a large proportion of a tomato ketchup spill in a single pass, although it left some residue on the plastic edging, which was a little more of a hassle to clean. It doesn't include the bells and whistles you'd find on a premium mop, but the upside is that it's hard to beat for simplicity. It has only one control dial for steam output, and the water tank lasts through several cleaning sessions without needing a refill.

I also appreciated how little maintenance it demands. You can remove and wash the mop pads, and the various attachments only need a quick rinse or wipe after use. The handle detaches too, making it easy to tuck away, and it includes a wall mount if you'd prefer to store it upright.

Its biggest selling point is the versatility, but that doesn't come without a trade-off. While the mop itself is incredibly lightweight, it felt considerably heavier when converted to a handheld cleaner. I personally can't see it replacing my smaller handheld steam cleaner, particularly for jobs that require you to hold it for more than a few minutes. But for the price, it offers good value for money, especially if you want a harsh-chemical-free steam cleaner that works on floors and other surfaces.

Specifications

• Capacity: 350ml
• Power: 1500W
• Weight: 3kg
• Dimensions: 21D x 29W x 109H cm
• Heat time: 30 seconds
• Cord length: 6m
• In the box:  2 x Machine Washable Mop Pads, User Manual
• RRP: £72.99

How I tested

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop turned up on my doorstep in a branded, rectangular-shaped cardboard box so there was no second-guessing what was inside. I was surprised at how lightweight it felt, and I had no trouble carrying it inside myself.

Inside, I found the user manual resting on a layer of moulded cardboard. Beneath that, all of the parts and accessories were neatly packed and wrapped individually in plastic.

The plastic was marked 'PE-LD 04', which can be recycled, although it can't be done with general household waste and needs to be taken to a specific drop-off point. While it was reassuring to know it was recyclable, it did feel slightly inconvenient and not the most eco-friendly solution overall.

Once I removed everything from the box, I could see how many parts and accessories were included. It's a 12-in-1 mop, so I expected some additional tools - although I won't lie, there were a lot of extra parts, which did feel slightly overwhelming at first. My first concern was making sure I didn't lose them, but thankfully the plastic bag they came sealed in doubles as a handy storage bag.

The accessories included a flexible hose, window cleaning tool, straight nozzle, grout tool, large round brush, angled nozzle, small round brush, wire round brush, and scraper tool. It also includes a spare mop pad and window cleaning cloth.

Assembling the mop was straightforward and took only a couple of minutes. The handle clicks onto the main body, and you can disassemble it just as easily by pressing the 'handle release button'. It's a small point, but it stood out to me because the handles on many similar models don't detach easily. This is particularly useful when storing the mop, and you need to make it more compact.

The mop pad was already attached to the floor head, but it sticks on with Velcro and loop-and-hook fasteners that align to hold it securely in place.

Once the steam mop was fully assembled, before putting it to the test, I did what I always do and took a moment to take in the design and overall look and feel of the model.

The first thing that struck me was how lightweight and slim it felt. The white and blue colourway gives it a clean, simple look, and the steam control dial on the front of the unit makes it feel more like a traditional mop than newer models with digital displays.

The steam mop is also corded, but its six-metre power cord is one of the longest I've come across, which was reassuring, as I knew I would be able to clean larger areas without stopping to switch plug sockets mid-clean.

So overall, while it didn't feel as premium and modern as some steam mops, I appreciated the simple, no-fuss design.

The water tank sits on top of the main unit and can be removed by pulling it upwards and away from the unit. It holds up to 350ml, which is about average in size. As someone who mops their floors at least once a day, I was keen to see just how many jobs I could tackle with one full water tank.

I filled the tank with water - the fact that it's chemical-free is also a bonus for me with kids in the house - then popped it back onto the main unit and was ready to go.

Using the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop

As a steam mop

The first place I wanted to test the Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop was on my laminated kitchen floors. With three children, my floors are no stranger to wet spills and muddy footprints, and I normally rely on my Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic to keep them clean.

To get started, I plugged the power cord into the nearest plug socket in my kitchen, and the control dial lit up red to indicate that it was heating up. After 30 seconds, the light turned green, and the mop was ready to use.

Activating the mop is fairly typical. I stepped on the floorhead before pulling the handle back toward me. There's a steam release trigger on the bottom of the handle, which the manual instructs to 'long press' to release steam.

The manual isn't particularly clear on this, so I had to work out for myself that I needed to keep hold of the button to continuously release the steam. I could hear the mop producing steam, although I couldn't actually see it, so it was difficult to tell at first whether it was working.

In use, the mop felt incredibly lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. Reassuringly, I could see a layer of moisture on my floors, and they looked noticeably cleaner afterwards. Within a couple of minutes, they were dry enough to walk on, too.

A major bonus was that the mop was flexible enough to reach into awkward corners and close to my skirting boards. And while I've used steam mops that feel almost self-propelling before, I did have to apply some pressure to particularly stubborn areas, such as the area by my conservatory door, which is a magnet for muddy footprints.

Still, after a few passes, I noticed a visible difference in my floors, and I was pleased with the results.

As part of how we test steam cleaners and mops at Ideal Home, I wanted to see how the Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop handled a deliberate, noticeable mess. So I squirted some tomato ketchup on my kitchen floor and left it to sit for 30 minutes.

I turned the control dial up to 'Max' before activating the steam trigger. On the first pass, it removed a large proportion of the ketchup, but it smeared some further along the floor, too. After a couple more passes, my floors were clean.

One thing I noticed was that some of the ketchup stuck to the plastic edging rather than just the mop pad, so I had to wipe it off by hand. That said, I was impressed with its cleaning power, particularly given the size and nature of the mess I was tackling.

There's also a carpet glider attachment designed to give carpets a light refresh. To be honest, when I've used a carpet glider attachment before, the results haven't been as transformative as I'd expected, but it did help me keep my expectations realistic this time.

The carpet glider consists of a plastic mop cover which clicked onto the base of the floor head easily. I used the carpet glider the same way I did on my hard floors, except I kept the dial turned down to 'Low' because I didn't want to saturate my carpets.

Pushing it back and forth over my carpets, the first thing that struck me was how smooth and lightweight it felt, even on carpet. As before, I couldn't see any steam coming from the base, which made it hard to tell how effective it was. The carpet did feel damp to the touch, though, so I knew it was working.

While I didn't think the results were particularly noticeable, the glider works well enough for a light refresh. And I hoped that it was working hard to eliminate invisible bacteria, grime and any potential dust mites.

As a handheld steam cleaner

Switching the mop to handheld mode is simple - the handle can be easily removed using the release button at the top of the unit, and there is an accessory adaptor to attach the relevant accessory to the base. I liked that a separate handle sits on top of the unit, and it has another steam release button at the front, making it feel more convenient to use.

I used the window cleaning tool first, attaching the nozzle, before fitting the window cleaning tool and cloth to the end of the mop. It was comfortable to hold, and I found the steam release button easy to use since it was positioned on the front, but my arm started to ache before I'd covered the whole window.

I could definitely see a difference on the glass, and my windows felt clean, but while it's a convenient addition, it didn't feel like the easiest way to clean my windows.

The Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop also includes a flexible hose to increase the reach of the cleaning accessories. I used this with the straight nozzle to clean the rim of the toilet, but once again I found it quite fiddly to hold.

The hose wasn't as firm as it needed to be, so I had to hold it with one hand and the unit in the other. That said, I could hear the steam releasing more clearly, and it worked effectively, clearing the general build-up of grime around the toilet.

I also used the grout tool to give my shower tiles a once-over. As with the windows, I found the unit quite cumbersome after a minute or so. I also found I had to angle it on its side to reach the corners and edges, although I did find the handle helpful.

While I wouldn't describe the results as transformative, the tiles looked and felt noticeably cleaner and fresher afterwards.

A few additional tools are included to cover smaller cleaning jobs around the home. The small and large round brushes are for tough stains, while the angled nozzle directs steam into awkward corners, like under taps.

I'm not sure how useful I'd personally find some of these, particularly the round brushes, as I rely on my Bissell HydroSteam Spot Cleaner for smaller jobs. They are useful to have on hand when you need them, though, and I like how simple it is to switch between the different tools.

Cleaning and maintenance

Thankfully, maintenance is minimal, and cleaning the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop is straightforward. The mop pad is machine washable, and the box includes a spare pad, which is useful. The manual states that only Russell Hobbs mop pads can be used with the appliance, although I couldn't find any online for this particular model when I searched.

I also rinsed and wiped down the additional tools after use to keep them clean. The filter, which sits under the water tank, needs to be replaced every six months. I haven't reached this stage yet but the manual advises that replacement filters can be purchased direct from Russell Hobbs and selected retailers, for between £10 - £15.

How does it rate online?

Online reviews are quite sparse for the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop. On Amazon, it currently has a 4.7 star rating and a total of 27 reviews. Customers praise its ease of use, how lightweight it feels and how effective it is at cleaning floors.

Beyond that, while it is available from B&Q and Tesco, I couldn't see any further customer feedback or reviews.

How does it compare to predecessors and similar models?

The Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop builds on the brand's earlier steam mop models, most notably the Steam & Clean RHSM1001BP. While both clean hard floors and carpets, as the name suggests, the Multifunctional 12-in-1 is far more versatile, with a detachable handheld steamer and a wide selection of additional tools. The Steam & Clean is primarily more basic, but it also comes at a much lower price point.

During testing, the Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop reminded me of the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop - another 2-in-1 model that includes a range of additional tools. The Lakeland is slightly heavier and not quite as lightweight, although it compensates with a larger water tank and three dedicated steam settings. I'd say the cleaning performance is broadly on a par, although the Lakeland has the edge as it feels slightly more modern.

As I've mentioned, the steam mop I use day-to-day is the Shark & Scrub Automatic, which sits at the more premium end of the scale. It's hard to beat when it comes to blasting stubborn stains, and its rotating mop pads do much of the work for you, but it does have a much higher price tag. It also doesn't offer the same versatility as the Russell Hobbs 12-in-1 and can only be used on hard floors.

Verdict: Should you buy the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop

If you're looking for an affordable steam cleaner that can tackle more than just your floors, the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop is worth considering. At £72.99, it offers plenty of versatility for the price, and it's incredibly lightweight and easy to use on hard floors.

It's a cleaner that doesn't rely on chemicals, which could be particularly useful for households with children or pets. There are certainly more modern, high-tech models on the market, and this feels very much like a traditional steam mop, but it's also very simple to use.

The handheld mode feels heavier to use, but it includes a good selection of additional tools to help you tackle almost every surface. The performance also isn't as standout in handheld mode, but I think that's a fair compromise, given what the 12-in-1 can do.

In this Simba Natural Hybrid Source Mattress review, I put the brand's entry-level natural hybrid mattress through its paces to see how it compares to the best mattresses Ideal Home has tested.

In a nutshell

Unlike the mattresses Simba is best known for – namely the Simba Hybrid Mattress and Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress, which have both scored highly with Ideal Home's review team – the Simba Natural Hybrid Source Mattress doesn't employ the brand's signature 'Simbatex' memory foam.

Instead, this mattress focuses on wool comfort layers and spring support; hence its 'natural' product name.

In practice, I found this meant exceptional breathability and temperature regulation – if you're a hot sleeper, you'll love the cooler sleep this wool padding offers. My husband and I also found those wool top layers were great at absorbing movement; we couldn't feel when one of us rolled over in bed.

However, after giving the Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress almost full marks for side sleeping support when I tested it recently, I did find the Natural Hybrid Source very firm in comparison.

Simba says the Natural Hybrid is medium-firm, but my husband and I definitely rate it firm; in fact, my husband dubbed it 'too firm', especially for side sleeping where it lacked enough cushioning for our hips and shoulders.

That said, if you're a hot sleeper who enjoys a firm sleep surface, this could be a great choice for you. It's a well-made mattress made from great quality materials, and I think it will suit back sleepers (who tend to need less cushioning than most side sleepers) well. It also comes with Simba's generous 200-night sleep trial.

Simba Natural Hybrid Source Mattress review

Specifications

• Type: hybrid (springs + natural materials)
• Construction materials: British wool and Hampshire wool, "Aerocoil" micro springs, "Coremax" steel sprung base, viscose cover
• Sizes: single, double, king, super king
• Tensions available: medium-firm
• Height: 28cm
• Side handles: yes
• Flip or rotate: rotate
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 200 nights

1. Comfort

The Simba Natural Hybrid Source Mattress is a hybrid wool and spring mattress made up of eight layers. These eight layers amount to an overall mattress depth of 28cm which, for me, was a comfortable height to sit on and get into and out of bed.

Simba says the Source is designed to feel medium-firm, but as I've mentioned, I found its tufted wool top to feel much more on the firm side. Unlike the memory foam Simba Luxe I recently tested, I didn't feel 'hugged and cradled'. Instead, I felt I was sleeping on top of the firm sleep surface, rather than sinking in at all.

This meant my husband and I found it too firm for comfortable side sleeping, as it lacked cushioning around our hips and shoulders. I found it to be more comfortable on my back but, again, I didn't feel hugged. My husband, who is 6ft 4in, dubbed it 'too firm' all round.

I also asked my mum to assess the comfort of the Source Mattress. A little bit of info: mum is 5 ft 3 in, likes a firm tension, is a back-sleeper, and will only sleep on a mattress made from natural materials. The verdict? She, of course, loved the Source, saying it provided 'wonderful' support for her back.

It just goes to show, we're all different. So whilst I found the Source too firm to be totally comfortable, for back and front-sleepers, however, sleeping on this mattress could be a dream – it's certainly got all the qualities of support and breathable materials.

2. Motion isolation

I found that the Simba Natural Hybrid Source Mattress has exceptional motion isolation, no doubt thanks to the 'Aerocoil microsprings' working together inside it to absorb movement.

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 shape-shift through the night.

Collectively, we can also confirm that we didn't roll into the middle of the bed either; we both stayed on our respective sides of the mattress.

3. Responsiveness

One of the things I've always loved about Simba's memory foam hybrid mattresses is the amount of bounce in the Simbatex foam the brand uses. In comparison, the wool and spring layers of the Source mattress feel quite "flat".

This mattress doesn't instantly spring back into shape when I press down on it, instead, any weight is more gently nestled and absorbed by the surface of the mattress before regaining its shape.

Personally, I would have liked a little more give and bounce-back, as this is one of the factors that made it feel too firm for my liking. However, my two kids still found it a great mattress to bounce on (albeit not as high as they've managed on Simba's memory foam mattresses!).

4. Temperature regulation

With no memory foam and only natural material used in the making, I can comfortably say that the Simba Natural Hybrid Source mattress has exceptional temperature regulation.

Throughout the 10 nights of testing this mattress, neither my husband or I woke up overheated. Equally, as we were sleeping on our back or side neither did we feel hot and uncomfortable.

The construction of the Source mattress ultimately plays a huge role in the temperature regulation. Multiple layers of British wool promote cooling breathability, and cushioning Hampshire wool assists with air circulation. And Simba Natural Hybrids have microspring Aerocoil layers at the top of the mattress too which are designed to keep you feeling comfortable, supported and cool.

5. Edge support

Simba says that the reinforced frame on the Natural Hybrid Source Mattress helps to limit roll-off and, therefore, encourages good edge support as you launch out of bed every morning.

To test, I sat on the edge of the bed. I found that the sides collapsed only a little as I perched. It was then easy enough to get up from the side of the bed, which has a mattress depth of 28cm so my feet could be firmly on the floor also, which I'm sure helps.

And whilst lying on the mattress, I found that I could enjoy the entire surface of my side of the bed without any danger of it dipping at the sides. Even after a night with my youngest child pushing me to the edge, I could still sleep in comfort without falling out of bed.

6. Sleep trial

Simba offers a 200-night sleep trial when your mattress is delivered to give you plenty of time to get used to your new mattress, and decide if it's for keeps. If within 200 nights you decide that your Simba mattress isn't for you then you can request to return your mattress.

This trial period is highly competitive with other brands such as Emma and Origin offering the same duration. In comparison, Nectar and DreamCloud have the longest sleep trial in the business, with a generous 365 nights to try out their mattresses.

7. Ease of care

The Simba Natural Hybrid Source 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 strong handles on either side of the mattress to help with this, but you will need another strong person to help turn it 180 degrees because it is heavy.

And unlike other Simba mattresses, the cover is not removable so I'd highly recommend a mattress protector to help keep the Source is tip-top condition. For example, I bought the John Lewis Natural Cotton Quilted Mattress Protector for £50 (super-king), so I could still benefit from the breathability of this Natural Hybrid mattress.

8. Delivery

Because Simba's Natural mattress range is handmade in the UK, the Source took a little longer to be delivered than the brand's super-speedy memory foam collection. However, it still arrived within a few days of the order being placed.

The day before the mattress delivery, I received a phone call from the courier company asking a few basic questions, such as: which floor should the mattress be delivered to? Is there a lift? Do I have a mattress bag for the old mattress?

Then, on the day of delivery, I received a phone call in the morning to say that they will be arriving at 1 pm that day (traffic delayed things somewhat so it was more like 1.30pm in the end).

I'm used to Simba's memory foam mattresses being delivered rolled and in a box, so I was actually quite surprised to see the Source was delivered flat. As such it was a little trickier to get up our stairs, and I was beyond relieved that the courier company was the ones lugging this super-king mattress up to our bedroom.

It did not look easy. Cardboard was wrapped around each of the four corners of the mattress, secured by large plastic sheeting that was wrapped around the mattress (I could see at least three layers). This made it difficult for the mattress to be manoeuvred up the stairs, so the delivery drivers removed the packaging so it could be manhandled more easily.

On the plus side, the mattress was ready for immediate use. It didn't require any inflating, and there was no mattress off-gassing (although if you were to press your face into the plush pillowtop you'd get a hint of "farm" thanks to the wool fleece used in its construction).

I also opted for the removal of our Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress at the same time. I would have loved to keep it, but it was a king mattress, and we've just upgraded to a super-king bed, so, sadly, it had to go. The courier company took care of it by zipping it up into a mattress bag and carrying it out of the house, which couldn't have been simpler.

9. Third-party reviews

The Simba Natural Hybrid Source Mattress is available direct from Simba or third-party websites including Mattress Next Day, Mattress Online and Bensons for Beds. All the sites that this mattress can be bought from collate user reviews, and it's worth noting that Bensons for Beds pulls through reviews left direct with Simba.

That said, Bensons for Beds has an overall rating of 4.7-out-of-5 stars for this mattress, with 85% awarding it the full 5 stars. Recent reviews shared that it is "So comfortable – getting a great night's sleep, and waking up with no aches or stiffness at all. Love it!" and "My husband wanted an all natural material mattress that also delivers comfort & we've got exactly that we couldn't recommend it enough!". Also: "It's definitely firm. I'm so light, so hardly make a dent. I was able to feel where the tufts are, but this has evened out, even after a few days." (this was a five-star review).

The majority of reviews that were fewer than three stars were mainly reflecting on the delivery service or that they hadn't yet tried the mattress out. However, one review to note shares that they found it to be a "very hard mattress".

Mattress Online just has the one, five-star review which says: "I was a bit daunted at first as it's quite a deep and solid mattress, but my goodness we've been getting the best continuous nights' sleep we've had in a long while. My back issues have disappeared, too. There was very little odour and what there was was natural. The feel of it is that you feel as though you're very well and firmly supported but there's a softness to the top layer. Very pleased." I agree: it does look deep. However the plush-top makes it look like a thicker mattress and it'll still, just about, fit into standard-sized fitted sheets.

And with Mattress Online the one and only review is a 4-out-of-5-star rating which shares that "its' a very firm mattress great for my wife but not for me but overall good quality." It seems as though the medium/firm tension is subjective, since is can depend on preference, sleeping position and body type.

10. Environmental impact

As a brand, Simba is certainly making more efforts than most mattress brands to be environmentally conscious. Through using CertiPUR foam and recycled materials where possible, and recycling or refurbishing old Simba mattresses, they're taking action to turn their manufacturing processes into a circular economy, where no Simba mattress enters landfill.

The brand will also recycle your old mattress, regardless of the brand or size, with no Simba purchase necessary, which is awesome. For £50, their specialist mattress removal and recycling service will collect the mattress for you. Working with their UK-based partners, they'll carefully strip down mattresses into their component parts at a rate of about 12,000 mattresses per week.  All components will then be sorted and sanitized before a check and redistribution to their next life.

The Simba Natural Hybrid Mattress also uses Hampshire and British wool, keeping emissions down and supporting UK farmers.

By continuing to do its bit to protect the planet, Simba is also doing all it can to be Net Zero by 2030. It's also proud to be a B Corp, which means that it's been verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

11. Value for money

Simba has a mattress to suit all budgets. From £699 for a double Hybrid Essential Mattress to £2,399 for the Hybrid Ultra Mattress, there's a mattress to suit everyone.

The Simba Natural Hybrid Source Mattress is bang in the middle of the Simba price range, costing £1,299 for a double. This is more affordable than the Simba Hybrid Luxe (my favourite Simba mattress thus far, and a dream for side-sleeping comfort), which costs £1,699 for a double, and blends memory foam, springs, wool and bamboo for its construction.

The Source is the entry-level non-synthetic mattress in the Natural Hybrid mattress range by Simba. A step up would be the Escape, which is a 30cm-deep mattress with 10 layers of wool and up to 4,800 springs, that'll cost £1,799 for a double. Then there's the Apex, a 32cm-deep mattress with a total of 12 layers of Hampshire wool, silk, cashgora and up to 6,700 springs, that'll cost £2, 199 for a double.

So is the Source good value for a natural-fill mattress? I'd say it's about average. Our testing team found the Hypnos Pillow Top Select mattress to be one of the most comfortable natural mattresses they've tested. That costs £1469.65 for a double as of now, but it has a cushioned pillow top that's much more comfortable for side sleeping

However, if you're a back sleeper who prefers a firm, all-natural sleep surface, I think the Source could prove good value for money, and that sleep trial does lessen the risk of testing it out for yourself.

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 Simba Natural Hybrid Source 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 my husband and I (and our toddler) slept on the mattress for a minimum of two weeks 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.

This Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier review puts a popular and highly-rated dehumidifier through its paces with laundry to dry, condensation to combat, and humidity levels to keep in check.

It also happens to be one of the most affordable dehumidifiers that I have seen, so I'm keen to find out if you can get one of the best dehumidifiers without having to pay top dollar.

If you get a good one, aka the best, then you could find that your dehumidifier is saving you money on your energy bills as the tumble dryer is made redundant, and there’s less mould on the window sills as moisture in the air is efficiently removed. It'll also be a helpful aid to have around the home because it'll dry the laundry within a few hours.

To see if the Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier, £158.99 at Toolstation, is indeed value for money, I tried it out for two weeks in the utility room to dry laundry and in a couple of bedrooms with condensation on the bay window walls. To do this, I followed the Ideal Home dehumidifier testing process, taking note of how it can affect humidity levels and how easy it is to use day-to-day.

In a nutshell

If you're after an effective, easy-to-use dehumidifier, then this Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier is the one.

I've found that it has reduced humidity throughout my home within hours and, although it's not "smart" per se, the timer has meant that it'll operate during the times that I want it to. I found that Dry Clothes mode was particularly useful for drying bedding within a few hours, and jeans within 6 hours.

This unit will also clean the air with a dedicated Air Clean button that'll remove airborne odours, such as burnt toast.

I also found it easy to manoeuvre around the house thanks to its castor wheels and integrated side handles. I could clearly see the control panel and indicator light, which changed from red to green to blue as humidity levels increased or decreased.

The only quibbles I have with it are that the child lock doesn't lock down the power button, so it can still be played with, and it's tricky to empty the water tank when it's full (best to empty when you notice that the water levels are on the up).

Specifications

• Type: Compressor
• Extraction rate: 20L/day
• Water tank capacity: 5.5L
• Max room size recommended: 30 - 40m²
• Noise level: 42dB
• Power: 320W
• Dimensions: H65 x W35.5 x D20cm
• Weight: 12kg
• Portable: Yes
• Automatic humidity sensor: Yes
• Continuous drain option: Yes (comes with 1m hose attachment)
• Laundry mode: Yes
• Wi-Fi connectivity: No
• Timer: Yes
• Operating temperature: 5°C - 35°C

How I tested

Unboxing

The Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier is delivered in a branded cardboard box, which, fortunately, has a cut-out handle on either side to help carry. It weighs 12kg and measures H65 x D20 x W35.5 cm, so those handles on the box helped get a firm grip on the box for lifting into the utility room.

Minimal packaging was used. I removed a piece of cardboard from the top of the dehumidifier, and then I lifted the dehumidifier out of its box thanks to two integrated handles on either side of the unit. It wasn’t wedged in with any polystyrene (as I was expecting), and no unrecyclable plastic packaging was used.

The water tank housed the power cable during transport, and the separate drainage hose and instruction manual were further down inside the delivery box.

Assembly and set up

No assembly is required, which means that the Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier is ready to go straight out of the box. That is, if you're not using the drainage hose.

The hose is easy enough to connect to the back of the appliance, so it's just another step (and another consideration) before you can use it.

It's advised to position this dehumidifier with 30cm or more away from anything to allow for efficient operation. You can use the castors to move it around the floor, or the integrated handle to lift it into another space.

As soon as I switched on this dehumidifier, it started to monitor the humidity in the room, displaying a humidity rating on the display screen. This increased and decreased depending on what the sensors were detecting. The fan speeds could be set to high or low; the desired dehumidify mode (normal, continuous or strong) could be selected or clothes dry mode could be activated.

I also had the option to turn on the sleep function, activate the defrost setting, operate the Auto Swing and activate or deactivate child lock.

It'll either run continuously or you can set a timer between 1 and 24 hours. For example, every day I set the dehumidifier to run for 1 hour in the morning on our landing to remove any excess moisture in the air from shower time.

Design

There isn't often that much to a dehumidifier, and the Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier is no exception. That said, its design features all the essentials.

Measuring H65 x D20 x W35.5 cm, it's a compact unit that'll fit into most spaces.

On top is a control panel with a series of indicator lights. This is where you can toggle through modes including: normal dehumidifying, continuous dehumidifying and strong dehumidifying, Dry Clothes, Sleep and Defrost. You can also set a fan speed (low or high), activate/ deactivate child lock and activate/deactivate Auto Swing.

The front of this dehumidifier has an indicator light that displays the humidity by colour (red for 70%, green for greater than 50% but lower than 70% and blue for lower than 50%), as well as a digital display of humidity.

To the side, towards the top, are integrated handles. Then, at the same level as the handles, around the back of the dehumidifier, is a power cable storage hook.

Around the back, there is also an air inlet, drain hose groove, power cable and drain hose. This is also where you'll find a 5.5L water tank with a (really) useful water level window so you can see how much water is in the tank and gauge when you may need to empty it.

The Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier can be manoeuvred easily on its four castor wheels.

Ease of use

Throughout my time testing the Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier, I have found it incredibly easy to use. It's not "smart" per se, so there's no app, which means that it's ready to go straight out of the box and straightforward to use.

The control panel is responsive, and all modes work effectively. I also found it easy to remove the water tank, and equally easy to manoeuvre on its four castors.

A pain point to note is that even with child lock activated, children can still power OFF the appliance. And a feature that would be helpful is the ability to schedule when this dehumidifier is activated so it'll be less of a thing to switch ON in the morning.

And depending on where you locate the dehumidifier, the 1.8-meter-long cable may be too short to reach a power outlet, so an extension cable may be required.

Performance

The performance of the Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier has been effective with all tasks I've set it to throughout the 10 days of testing. The most used mode has undoubtedly been "Dry Clothes" mode and, for testing purposes, I have also selected "Normal Dehumidifying" mode and "Air Clean" – alongside buttons for Child Lock, Sleep, Fan Speed and Auto Swing.

I found that "Dry Clothes" mode effectively dried a 10kg load of bedding and a few garments within a few hours. It also reduced humidity levels in the utility room from 81 to 37 within 7 hours of continuous use.

In this setting, it increased the temperature of the airflow exiting the machine and pulled in more air, set to the higher fan speed by default. The utility room ended up being toasty warm, which, I'm sure, will be especially helpful through the cooler months of the year when radiators would usually be doing what they do best.

Impressed by its effectiveness, I carried the unit up the stairs (using the integrated handles) the following day to see how it could reduce the humidity in the bathroom. The digital display showed a humidity rating of 75 at 10.30 am that morning, and by 12.30 pm that day the humidity rating was down to a more comfortable 59.

I also wanted to monitor humidity levels in the bedroom, and I was shocked to see that it displayed a rating of 69. Within one hour of using the unit in normal dehumidifying mode, this rating dropped to 54.

Then, later that day, I wanted to see how the Sleep function performed. The machine continued to work; it just switched off all the lights except for illuminating the buttons for sleep, water full (should the tank become full) and child lock.

I found that even on the low fan speed it was too noisy to sleep through, so I ended up shutting it down for the night.

Nighttime use of this dehumidifier was only as it was drying laundry downstairs, and that was on a timer. I didn't feel comfortable leaving the dehumidifier working through the night, so I set the timer for a few hours until it shut off, which would at least dry the lighter garments or bedding.

I was also curious to try out Air Clean on this dehumidifier. It's a function that aptly cleans the air. For test (and breakfast) purposes, I toasted a couple of slices of bread. This always created a distinct odour in our kitchen, with a hint of burnt, so I was interested to find out how effectively this Wessex dehumidifier removed the lingering smell.

It's suffice to say that it did the job, just as effectively as an air purifier, I must add. This feature isn't often available on dehumidifiers, so essentially, you're getting a 2-in-1 appliance with this unit.

As I worked my way through the modes and features that the Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier has to offer, I activated child lock by pressing both the Auto Swing and Air Clean buttons to prevent my toddler from playing around with it too much. This worked well, so long as he didn't press the power button because this wasn't "locked" and could still shut down the unit.

Depending on where the unit was located, I also deactivated Auto Swing. Unlike many other dehumidifiers that I have tested, this one has a louver that swings automatically on all dehumidifying modes and Air Clean. I switched this off whilst it was being tested in the kitchen, bedroom and outside the bathroom, which are spaces regularly played in by the children, so a moving part on an already "fun-looking" unit may be the final straw.

The Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier also has a Defrost function. When the frost builds up on the evaporator coils, the automatic defrost function will be started. It'll continue to defrost at a room temperature of up to 23C. I have not tested this, so I cannot vouch for its effectiveness at this time.

When the water tank becomes full, the water full indicator will show on the display, and you'll hear a buzzer beeping for up to 20 seconds. The compressor will then stop, and the fan will stop several minutes after that, which may sound like the unit is starting up again. If you're using the drainage hose, then this is something that you won't need to worry about because the water will be freely flowing into a drain. However, if, like me, you're not using the hose, this should be a consideration when choosing modes, and you're not planning on using the timer.

After use, I wrapped the 1.8-metre-long cable around the cable tidy at the back. This kept it out of harm's way, i.e. standing on the plug. The cable tidy folds back into the unit when it's not being used, which, again, prevents any damage – to humans and the appliance – which is considerate.

Energy use

With the current energy price cap for July 2026 at 26p per kWh, I've calculated that it costs around 11p per hour to operate the Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier. This is half the cost per hour of our tumble dryer, which costs 21p per hour.

Experts suggest that homeowners should leave their dehumidifier running for around 4-12 hours per day, so I left ours running throughout a day in testing. It took fewer than 3 hours to dry a 10kg bedding load in the “laundry” mode, which cost 34p in total. To dry this load in the tumble dryer, it would have cost 63p, based on a 3-hour program.

Noise levels

I recorded a noise level of 55dB on high fan speed, and 48dB on low fan speed. I thought it prudent to record a noise level on "laundry" mode since this is the most popular in our household, which peaked at 55dB – equivalent to a normal conversation. I also found that Sleep had the same noise output as the low fan speed – equivalent to rainfall.

I also toggled through the dehumidifying modes to find out the noise level differences between them. Both Normal Dehumidifying and Continuous Dehumidifying modes recorded a noise level of 48dB, whereas Strong Dehumidifying mode reached 55dB.

Portability

Whilst there is some bulk to the Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier, I found that it can still be easily moved around room to room. I pushed it along over hard flooring on its four castors, and lifted it by its two integrated handles to carry it up the stairs.

Note: it'll be even easier to move around with the water tank emptied before lifting.

Maintenance

Alongside removing the water tank to empty it, there is very little maintenance required for the Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier.

To empty the water tank is to draw it towards you by holding the concave part of the tank, and then use the collapsible handle on the tank to pour away the water. I found that the tank was extremely full (this was AFTER the buzzer alert had sounded), so full in fact that water was splashing about on its way to the sink, so it made a bit of a mess. The actual water tank removal was OK, though. I have since removed the tank BEFORE hearing the buzzer, which was much easier and less messy.

The Original User Instructions note that you are to clean the exterior only of this unit with a soft dry cloth. It then flags that you are to ensure that any dust or fluff does not build up on the air inlet on the back by regularly vacuuming both the inlet and outlet, which all easily unclip from one another.

Comparisons

Through all the years of testing and using dehumidifiers, I've found that they all come in different shapes and sizes, not forgetting extraction rates and smart capabilities. They also come with some standout features, such as Air Clean on this Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier, which is all worth factoring in, especially when you're working with a set budget.

Owning an appliance that is essentially a 2-in-1 can save money and space. For example, this unit will cost £159.99 from Toolstation, whereas just a (very good) air purifier, like the Blueair Blue Max 3250i air purifier, will cost the same amount.

Similarly, the MeacoDry Arete Two is a dehumidifier with a built-in air purifier which retails for £179. This also has an extraction rate of 20L (the same as my Wessex dehumidifier), but it runs at a mere 38dB. And the SmartAir 20L dehumidifier also has an extraction rate of 20L per day, the same-sized 5.5L water tank and excels at drying laundry, for £249.99.

Wessex also have a portable dehumidifier and air conditioner, which is frankly genius for designing an appliance for year-round use (cool in summer, laundry drying in winter). This also combines two appliances in one, but it'll set you back by £239.99. At the time of writing (September 2026), it's only available for store collection from Toolstation, but as many others have clearly thought, it could be a worthwhile investment.

If you need a unit with a higher extraction rate than 20L, like when you're drying plaster, then the Pro Breeze 30L High Capacity Smart Dehumidifier would be the better choice. Just be mindful that this one doesn't come with a dedicated laundry mode, so although it may remove more moisture, it doesn't have a dedicated setting to tackle wet washing.

Equally, if you're after a dehumidifier with a lower extraction rate, the Wessex 12L Dehumidifier (£99.99, Toolstation) is designed for smaller rooms of up to 25m2.

I found that the most helpful mode, for me, was "Laundry mode", which will certainly help to dry laundry indoors on a more regular basis as we head into autumn/winter. As with this Wessex dehumidifier, a number of other dehumidifiers have this mode, such as the SmartAir Dry Zone, MeacoDry Arete Two and EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 Dehumidifier.

And if you have small children around the home, then you may want to look for a dehumidifier with a child lock feature that literally locks in all buttons. I also tested the DREO Smart Dehumidifier 512S recently, which has this feature, and I found it comparably much more helpful than the child lock on the Wessex.

How it rates online

The Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier has received a total of 364 reviews, at the time of writing, with 298 reviewers awarding a full five out of five stars. In total, it has an overall rating of 4.7 out of five stars.

There's a lot of love for the unit. It has efficiently reduced the humidity, is simple to use and has been quiet in operation for so many users. For example, one recent reviewer shared in June 2026 that it's: "Well built slim unit, quiet and efficient in bringing down humidity in room" and another reviewer from September 2026 said that "this is a good dehumidifier that works really well and is very cost competitive. Just one quirk. When shutting down, it needs to be left for 10 - 15 mins to complete the shutdown before restarting or emptying."

I wasn't aware of this quirk, and haven't experienced it with the unit that I have on test (yet!). Other things to note are that some users have received faulty products, it kept freezing up, ordered it by mistake, or it stopped working after 18 months.

To summarise? I could only count a dozen reviews that awarded this unit fewer than 4 out of 5 stars, with the majority of experiences with it being exceptional. It is in stock with Toolstation and, if ordered by 9 pm, can be delivered the next day, so delivery is a great service, too.

Verdict

So, should you buy the Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier? In my opinion, it's a firm "yes" – I've already recommended it to a friend. It's an effective unit that can reduce humidity levels and clean the air, and it's easily got to be one of the best that I've used over the years for usability.

It has reduced humidity levels from 81 to 37 within a matter of hours, and dried laundry in the same time as it would take the tumble dryer – just at better than half the cost. I found that "Dry Clothes" mode is a worthwhile reason alone to buy this dehumidifier (it really is good).

I also like that it could clean the air of the smell of burnt toast, just as effectively and efficiently as an air purifier.

Designed with wheels and integrated side handles, I could easily move the unit around my home and work my way through the different modes depending on what I needed it for. My feeling is that there is always going to be a need for a dehumidifier, and now, with them being more versatile than ever before, it is always going to be a worthwhile investment – especially this one.

Over the past few years, robot vacuum cleaners have dominated the floorcare market. And as demand for hands-free cleaning continues to rise on a mammoth scale, brands like eufy have ramped up production to meet it. So, meet the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 Omni, the brand’s latest addition to the squad.

The E35 Omni’s little sister has sat at the top of my best robot vacuum cleaner guide for the past year, with other makes and models failing to knock it off its pedestal. So I was eager to see whether the upgraded model, with its higher specs and added features, had what it took. This is what I found out.

In a nutshell

Last year, I tested the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E25, and its power and precision quickly made it my new number-one rated robot vacuum. The new E35 supposedly builds on what worked for the E25 and improves it… and in some ways it does. In others, it doesn’t.

The design is sleek, and the docking station is relatively compact compared to other models on the market. Plus, I genuinely can’t fault its cleaning ability. With 35,000Pa of suction power, it tackled dry debris with an ease you rarely see without getting hands-on, and the HydroJet mopping system leaves hard floors sparkling while removing 99.99% of bacteria. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that it offers some of the best robot vac-mop cleaning I’ve ever come across.

The app is uncomplicated and easy to use, while still offering the customisability you’d expect from a big brand like this. It also offers enough cleaning modes and features to make the docking station and bot as hands-off as possible. Still, I found this new model couldn’t really figure out what it was, where it was, or where it was going.

During testing, I ran into quite a few problems with the E35’s mapping and navigation technology that I didn’t expect from such a high-tech model. Don’t get me wrong, it was still usable and didn’t turn me off completely, but it did impact the areas cleaned and my overall enjoyment of the robot vac. After all, when I'm paying £1,000, I want it to scrub every inch of my floors seamlessly.

Specifications

• Max. run time: 180 mins
• Suction power: 35,000Pa
• Bin volume: 3L (up to 75 days)
• Mop function: Yes
• Multi-level mapping: Yes
• Charge time: 3.5 hours
• Noise levels (tested by us): 60- 68 dB
• Dimensions: 38L x 45W x 42H centimetres
• Weight: 18.14kg
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
• Warranty: 2 years

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

Testing robot vacuums is like my own personal gym workout - especially as a 5’2” woman with very weak arms. This became clear when the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 Omni arrived at my door in a hefty box weighing a whopping 20kg.

Normally I try to struggle and carry these boxes into my house by myself, but this time I knew I genuinely needed a helping hand. So keep that in mind if you live alone or have mobility issues.

Nevertheless, unboxing and setting up the E35 Omni was relatively pain-free after my husband carried it into the dining room. There were very few parts to click together, a dust bag was already pre-installed, and it was pretty much plug-and-play. The only things I needed to do were fill the clean water tank with fresh water and then fill the detergent cartridge with the detergent from the bottle.

And, strangely, despite being very heavy, this model is actually very compact and smaller than other robot vacuums I’ve tested. This was a huge tick, as I like my on-show appliances to be as small as possible.

My only other niggle at this stage was that the dock and some smaller parts were packaged in PE-C7 plastic, which isn’t generally recyclable. I expected a big brand like eufy to have moved away from such eco-unfriendliness by now, so this was a shame.

Nevertheless, with everything assembled, I could link the E35 Omni to the Anker eufy app and let the robot vacuum map out the downstairs of my house. This took less than 10 minutes, but I have to admit that it wasn’t 100% accurate.

While the robot vacuum managed to pick up the main rooms downstairs, it completely ignored my hallway and downstairs toilet - despite the fact that they’re connected to the rooms it did map, and I left the doors open for the robot to discover them.

In the end, I moved the E35 Omni into my hallway and found it could map the entire downstairs without any issues. This was pretty frustrating, as I don’t like appliances cluttering up my hallway, but for some reason the mapping function had an issue with its initial placement.

Ease of use

One thing I always love about Eufy products is the easy-to-use app. I’m already familiar with the app, as I have three of their security cameras for my house, and the robot links directly to the same app, so I can control everything from one place.

But if you’re new to this app, I’m happy to report that it offers the best of both worlds. It’s a no-frills app that’s not complicated in any way, shape, or form, but it still offers the customisation robot vacuum owners need to make the most of it.

The app's most important feature is the ‘Mode’ setting, where you can choose how you want your E35 Omni to clean. Here you can choose between vacuum + mop or vacuum-only, adjust the cleaning intensity (‘Fast Cleaning’ covers the main areas of a floor but omits corners and edges, while ‘Deep Cleaning’ takes longer but covers all corners and gaps), and even the water flow and suction levels.

It’s customisable without being convoluted, and you can also toggle between whole-map cleaning or ask the robot vacuum to focus on a single room or area. Plus, you can set up schedules, adjust base settings, manage the map, or even turn on the child lock if you have young ones in the house.

One feature I also always like in an app is the ability to check the lifespan of the accessories, and the eufy app gives detailed information on the percentage and the hours left before features like the side brushes, sensors, and rolling brush need cleaning or replacement. You can also buy replacements via the app.

All in all, there’s not much more you could need from a robot vacuum cleaner app. If it offered anything more, I think it would just be overkill.

Performance

With 35,000Pa of suction power, the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 Omni is one of the most powerful models I’ve ever tested - and a huge step up from the 20,000Pa of the E25 Omni. This new model also uses AeroTurbo 2.0 Multi-Cyclone Filtration, which means it spins the dust before it clogs and, in theory, should offer 365 days of consistent suction - without any loss of power. So, I was excited to put it through our robot vacuum cleaner testing process.

First, I threw sugar, crushed cereal, and my dog’s hair onto hard flooring. As you can see in the video, it picked up 99% of the debris in one pass. The only thing left behind was a little hairball, which the robot picked up when it came around again.

I then repeated this on my carpet and got equally impressive results, proving the suction power is as good as advertised. Again, the bot picked up little hairballs of mine and my dog’s on the carpet and my rugs, but it eventually sucked them up as it made its way around the space. And as someone who lives in a hairy household, I’ve yet to test a robot vacuum that doesn’t do this.

For the second test, I spooned some yoghurt onto my floors and let that dry before spooning on some more wet, fresh stuff to test its mopping power - and this is where it really thrived. Not only did the E35 Omni clean up the yoghurt with its HydroJet mop technology, but it also detected the dry yoghurt stains and kept cleaning the affected area until it was confident it had removed them 100%. And it did so extremely well. No lingering residue or even a smell remained.

Next up was the obstacle test, which had very varied results. When I put obstacles in its way, the E35 Omni really struggled to figure out its route around them. It immediately barged into one and pushed it out of the way, but then it detected the second one without any problem. This inconsistency carried on through real-life testing, too.

When the robot followed the map, it avoided obstacles quite well. It navigated my dining room chairs with ease, diverted around my dog’s food bowl with minimal fuss, and avoided bumping into large pieces of furniture. So, I can only conclude that the E35 Omni handles expected obstacles well, but doesn’t cope as well with unexpected ones.

I also appreciated the extendable arm, which cleaned right up to (some) of my kitchen cabinets and the skirting boards in my living room. However, one major flaw I found during testing was that the general navigation system often left the robot wondering where it was, or where it was supposed to go.

Sometimes it completely cut large areas of the room from its cleaning schedule, and other times it ditched the traditional zig-zag pattern for a random one that didn’t make sense, especially when it faced large, open, empty stretches of floor.

You can see this in the app screenshots earlier on, where it started cleaning my hallway and some of my living room in the zig-zag pattern before ditching that for a random one in the living room and the kitchen - not cleaning the edges at all, despite being in ‘Deep Clean’ mode. During this cleaning session, it also finished cleaning and headed back to the dock despite missing a huge portion of my dining room.

Also, the bot returned to the dock three times during one 45-minute cleaning session. It did this to clean and wash the mop, which I understand from a hygiene perspective. But this really interrupted the cleaning cycle, and I imagine it’ll need to do this even more if you have a larger home.

Cleaning and maintenance

While the E35 Omni had some disappointing performance issues, it definitely made up some ground with its cleaning and maintenance. Or, should I say, the lack of it.

As with any robot vacuum cleaner, you need to empty the wet debris chamber, but the beauty of high-tech models like this one is that the dock does everything else for you.

After every cleaning session, the robot vacuum gives itself a good deep clean - immediately emptying the dry debris into the 3L dust bags (which, depending on your usage, could hold up to 75 days’ worth of dirt, dust and hair), washing the mop with 60°C hot water and then drying it with 55°C hot air to keep it clean and prevent mould growth or nasty smells.

I must admit the drying process takes quite a while (for example, one cleaning session ended at 8 pm, and it didn’t finish drying the mop until 2:30 am), but I do appreciate the care and attention the mop roller gets.

The charging time is much speedier, though, and I found that the robot vacuum could go from around 40% to 100% in just two hours - which meant that if I did want to give my floors another clean before the mop was bone dry, it at least had the charge, even if it was still damp.

As mentioned, the app lets you track any extra cleaning or replacement parts you need, so it requires very little hands-on input. But if you want to get up-close-and-personal, you can easily click the integrated dust bin and rollers in and out to remove any lingering dust or wrapped hair (if any).

How does it compare to similar models?

I would be doing eufy - and myself - a disservice by not comparing the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 Omni to its older model, the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E25. Especially as it’s been my top-rated model since August 2025.

On paper, the E35 is significantly better than the E25. It has 35,000 Pa of suction compared to the E25’s 20,000 Pa; the HydroJet mopping system has been improved for a more powerful, hygienic clean; the 8-in-1 docking cleaning station has been updated; and it adds AI navigation technology.

However, in practice, the E35 seemed almost overloaded with features - so much so that the mapping was inconsistent and the navigation was unreliable a lot of the time. This limited the hands-off experience I need from a robot vacuum, and I didn’t encounter it at all with the E25. Because of this, I’d personally stick with the older model if you’re an average household that doesn’t require a deep clean every time.

It’s also worth comparing the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 with another model with nearly identical specs and features: the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum. Both robot vacuums offer 35,000Pa of suction, impressive edge cleaning, and a sleek, compact look that fits easily in any home.

The downside of the Roborock is that the app is much fiddlier than the Anker eufy app, but their cleaning power is virtually the same. And the Roborock’s navigation ability was miles better than the eufy. So, it depends on what you want from your robot vacuum.

If you want an easy-to-use model that won’t confuse you - even though the navigation will - the E35 might suit you better. If you’re willing to take some time to get to know the app for a consistent and clear clean every time, the Roborock is your best bet… and it’s slightly cheaper.

Verdict: Should you buy the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 Omni?

After loving the E25 so much, I went into testing the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 Omni with very high expectations - which is perhaps why it disappointed me in some ways. However, it’s not a bad robot vacuum. It’s just not perfect, and not what I’d expect from a model with these specs.

Its shining glory is the cleaning quality, with strong suction power and impeccable mopping that truly did leave my floors spotless. In fact, I can confidently say that it left my floors cleaner than 99% of the robot vacuum cleaners I’ve tested. The easy-to-use, customisable app also makes it suitable for robotic newbies and veterans alike.

Where it falls short is the mapping, navigation and overall cleaning routine, though. The E35 Omni regularly seemed to forget where it was or which direction it was cleaning, and the route was never consistent. It also needs to wash the mop multiple times during a single cleaning session, which is something to consider if you have a larger home.

So, it comes down to what you want from your robot vacuum. If you understand that a robot vacuum will never truly replace a regular vacuum and you live in a smaller home, the strange navigation could be a trade-off worth making for the impressive cleaning quality. But if it’s not, the E25 is a solid, reliable choice instead.

With mornings and evenings feeling decidedly chilly, I'm definitely feeling the need for a burst of heat around my home. But I don't necessarily want to rely on my central heating for that just yet.

That's where the best electric heaters can come in. And recently, I have been trying out the Morphy Richards HeatFlux 1.5kW Ceramic Fan Heater, which has quickly become one of my favourites I've ever tested.

In a nutshell

This compact 1.5kW ceramic heater from Morphy Richards is designed to fit easily on a table top and warm smaller rooms up to 15m2. That makes it ideal for a bedroom or home office, where you might need a heat boost in between your central heating schedule.

Thanks to a ceramic heating element, it's quiet to use and heats up quickly, meaning you don't waste energy waiting for it to heat up and you to feel the benefits.

It's got three different heat settings, plus an eco mode and a fan-only option, which gives you plenty to customise it's output to your chosen comfort levels.

With an RRP of £49.99, it comes in two colourways, black and grey (although the control panel section on the grey version is black, which gives it a two-tone appearance).

How I tested

Specification

• Type of heater: Ceramic fan heater
• RRP: £49.99
• Weight: 1.4kg
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 15.8 x 24.5 x 15.8cm
• Wattage: 1.5kW
• Running costs per hour: 39p (based on the July 2026 energy price cap)
• Room size suitability: up to 15m2
• Smart features: None
• Dual functionality: Fan and heater
• Oscillation: None

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

Right off the bat, I loved how there is barely a stitch of plastic in the packaging of the Morphy Richards HeatFlux 1.5kW Ceramic Fan Heater. Apart from a plastic cover over the prongs of the plug, there is no other plastic to be seen. It's largely cardboard packaging, with paper or fabric covering the heater itself. I'm definitely holding on to the fabric bag it comes in to use as a dust bag when it's not in use over the summer months.

Better still, there is no set up involved, I simply needed to plug it in and I was ready to go.

As I was positioning it where I wanted, I was struck by how light it was. I found it super easy to move around single handedly. Combined with the integrated handle on the back, it's an absolute doddle to move around. It's also really compact compared to other electric heaters I've tested, like the Mill WiFi Max 1500W Portable Electric Heater or the Vonhaus Electric Stove & Log Store, which means it sits easily on a table top without taking up too much space – ideal for smaller homes where space is at a premium.

As with most electric heaters I've tried, it did produce a bit of a metallic smell the first few times I used it, but this dissipated quickly and is completely normal.

What’s it like to use?

There's a lot I appreciated about this heater. It's surprisingly quiet, measuring around 48dB on my decibel meter, which is the equivalent of gentle background noise. It's not utterly silent, but it's definitely quiet enough to not be bothersome. When I used it in my home office, I found that I could still concentrate. You could definitely have this on while watching TV too, without needing to turn the volume up.

Another bonus for using it in the bedroom is that it has an option to dim the display by 50%. While it's not exactly like Blackpool Illuminations at full brightness, this is a nice touch for anyone who is bothered by lights while they are trying to sleep.

I loved how quickly it took the chilly edge off my space too. I used it in my bedroom as I was getting up, and found I definitely dreaded sticking my toe out of my nice warm bed much less. There's no timer to set the fan to come on, so leaving the remote next to my bed was ideal.

Once I was up, I'd take it downstairs and pop it on in my home office for 10 minutes to take the chill off in there while I was having my breakfast. It kicks out heat instantly so there's no waiting for it to warm up. When we get into the depths of winter, I'll make more use of the timer function so that I can programme it to turn off automatically preventing me from leaving it on for longer than necessary.

I like that you don't have to position this fan right next to you to feel it's benefits. I was sat a good five feet away from it in my office, and the warm air hadn't turned into a chilly breeze, meaning I didn't find myself putting it on a higher heat setting or having it on for longer than I really needed. Both my bedroom and home office are smaller than the recommended room size of 15m2, which was essential for me to get the optimum benefits. I did try this heater out in my larger living room, and while it did an admirable job, it's definitely not the most energy efficient way for me to use it.

From a safety perspective, it will not only shut off automatically if it overheats, but it also shuts off it is knocked over. Even without knocking it over, it automatically cut out when I lifted it after turning it on, which will ease the mind of anyone concerned about an electric heater being a fire hazard.

While there are a lot of positives about this heater, I did have a couple of small niggles. Firstly, I was slightly confused by the different modes (this may be down to me liking to use the controls intuitively before delving into the instructions to see how clear they are). Despite a clear control panel, I was expecting to be able to choose a target temperature, regardless of which heat mode I was in, but instead this is only possible in Eco Mode.

Once I understood this, it's really simple to operate this heater. You have the same options and capabilities on the remote as on the on-board controls, which I appreciate, especially as I move this fan between rooms, but sometimes forget to take the remote with me.

When it comes to the heat modes, there are three options, low, medium and high, although to be there didn't seem to be a lot of noticeable difference between them. Whichever I chose, the heat kicked out instantly, and was ideal for that first blast of heat before I'd switch to the Eco Mode to have more control over the temperature setting.

Secondly, while the design is minimal and inoffensive, it's not quite up there in the style stakes as, say, the Swan 1.5kW Retro Ceramic Heater, that has a cool 1950s-inspired aesthetic.

And lastly, while this heater does have a fan-only function, which means it has potential to be used year round, for me, this function doesn't really compare to my favourite fan to use in the bedroom, the ultra quiet Duux Whisper Flex 2.

What are the running costs like?

Based on the energy price cap that was in place at the time of writing, this electric heater costs around 39p per hour to run, so it's definitely best to use in conjunction with your central heating, rather than as a replacement, otherwise that would turn out very expensive indeed.

It does offer an Eco mode, however, where you can set a target temperature. Once that temperature is reached, the heater will switch into fan mode, which is more energy efficient. This would be the mode I use most often. I'd use the heat modes to take the chill of a room to begin with, and then switch to the eco setting for more prolonged use.

Cleaning and maintenance

Apart from a regular dust, there's not much needed in terms of cleaning or maintenance.

It's a good idea to store it in it's original packaging, or even an old pillowcase when not in use to keep it dust-free and protected.

Who should buy the Morphy Richards HeatFlux 1.5kW Ceramic Heater?

If, like me, your bedroom is starting to feel a bit chilly at certain times of the day, then this compact Morphy Richards heater will be right up your street. It's quiet, doesn't take up loads of space, and is ideal for a smaller space.

For something similar at a more affordable price point, we regularly see the Dreo Atom 316, which has the same RRP of £49.99, available for around the £40 mark, which might be a more suitable option for those on tighter budgets.

However, if you want something better suited to a larger room, then we also really liked Morphy Richards tower heater offering, the HeatFlux Ultra Thin 2kW Ceramic Tower Fan. As well as being more powerful, this floor standing design oscillates, which means it can evenly and quickly heat rooms up to 20m2.

Over the years I’ve reviewed dozens of the best air fryers and I’m very accustomed to boring black box appliances that look very unremarkable on my kitchen worktop. So when I heard Smeg was launching its first ever standalone air fryer, I was hoping for something fun and colourful.

The Smeg AFC01 Air Fryer might be a bit late to the game, but with four colour options to choose from, combined with streamlined curves, it offers a very different aesthetic to its competitors. And it’s this kind of design that might mean it was worth the wait.

In a nutshell

The Smeg AFC01 offers all the colourful curviness that’s synonymous with the brand, but without looking kitsch or overly retro. It’s a modern take on classic Smeg styling, and I think it looks great. Green or blue are the only options for those who want some colour in their kitchen, since the other two options are black and white.

In addition to standard manually controlled air fryer settings, there are seven presets to choose from. Some of the presets include a steaming function, whereby you add water and steam is produced to help lock in moisture within certain foods. I was disappointed that the steam function can only be used within the presets and isn’t a standalone function.

I love that it doesn’t take up much space and that the removable accessories are dishwasher safe. The 7.3 litre capacity sounds roomy, but in reality, this isn’t a family size air fryer, it’s ideal for a two person household.

The heating element is halogen and as such the performance was very mixed, with some foods like fish fillets cooking fast, but disappointing chips, and a whole roast chicken that was very uneven in colour. It did well with simpler foods like halloumi, vegetables, and chicken thighs.

Product specs

• Capacity: 7.3 litres
• Presets: Chicken wings/legs, meat, fish, shrimps, chips, vegetables, roast chicken
• Dimensions: 31 x 32.2 x 31cm (h x w x d)
• Weight: 5.6kg
• Colours available: black, white, emerald green and storm blue,
• RRP: £199.95

Unboxing and first impressions

My first impressions after I’d removed the air fryer from its compact box and fully recyclable packaging, was that the sleek curvy design is unlike any other air fryer. It doesn’t take up loads of space, so would be great in smaller kitchens, plus, it looks super cool.

The lower section has a matte look and feel, while the black sections above are glossy, it’s a nice mix. The upper part hinges open when you press the big button on the front beneath the Smeg logo. Then you can lift out the removable basket via its silicone handles. The basket and its rack insert are made with PFAS free ceramic non-stick coatings.

It’s worth pointing out that there’s an air vent at the back, so you can’t have it pushed right to the back of the worktop when in use. Furthermore, due to the way the lid hinges open, you can’t push it against the wall, or you won’t be able to open it.

Since this air fryer includes a steaming function, there’s a small water container that pulls out of the very top. Also on top, the touchscreen control panel gives access to all the available settings.

There are seven presets to choose between. I was a tad surprised that when in manual mode, you can only access the air fryer function. Steaming meanwhile is incorporated into some of the presets, but it’s not a standalone function.

The temperature is adjustable between 40 - 200C in five degree intervals. The timer adjusts in one minute intervals between 1-60 minutes. And although the various food presets come with predetermined time and temperature settings, you can still adjust them within the same parameters.

The touch controls are simple and straightforward to get to grips with. There are audible beeps when the buttons are pressed, but by following instructions in the manual, the sound can be turned off.

Uniquely for an air fryer, there’s also the option to set it up for delayed start cooking. You can set a timer to start cooking anywhere from 5 minutes to 24 hours later. It’s one of those features that is nice to have, but in reality I don’t think many people will use it.

What is it like to use

The first time I tried this air fryer, I simply air fried one piece of frozen breaded fish on the manual mode. I selected 190C and it took 22 minutes to both crisp up on the outside and get hot enough in the centre.

A similar piece I’d heated a couple of days earlier in my usual air fryer, took just 17 minutes. So the Smeg was a little slower, but the fish was tasty nevertheless and the crumb was nicely crisped. I measured the sound at 53dB, confirming it's very quiet in use.

Next up, I had some halloumi kebabs that were essentially halloumi slices on a stick with a spicy coating. The packaging didn’t have air fryer instructions, so I winged it and put them on a 200C.

I kept an eye on how the halloumi was cooking every time the light came on. It quickly became frustrating that the internal light cycles on and off. I wanted to be able to switch it on as needed, instead of hanging around waiting, or otherwise opening the air fryer up to check on my food. In the end though, the halloumi kebabs cooked nicely and were ready in 14 minutes.

I used the vegetable preset to roast some peppers and red onion that I intended to add to a pasta dish. The recommended weight for this preset is 250 - 600g so I chopped up enough to hit that 600g upper weight limit.

The vegetable preset cooking time is 20 minutes, but I needed to add a further five minutes to create the roasted appearance and texture I was looking for. And even then, the peppers didn’t char much around the edges like they would do in my usual air fryer.

Chips are an air fryer staple, and since there’s a chip preset, I had to try it out. The manual says there’s a minimum of 250g and a maximum of 600g recommended for this preset. After cutting up enough for two portions, I weighed my raw chips and at 540g was comfortably within the weight guidelines.

I guess, if you’re cooking more, you can simply add a few minutes to the preset time to compensate for a larger quantity. The manual also says that you should shake or stir several times during cooking for the best results.

During the preset 27 minute cook time, I gave the chips a shake twice and was really pleased that the basket’s silicone handles stayed cool, so I was able to lift it out easily to shake the chips.

It’s a long cook time in comparison to what I’ve experienced when cooking chips in other air fryers, so I was surprised when the timer went off, that the chips weren’t ready. They were all very pale and the thicker ones were still a bit hard.

I started the preset again and ended up cooking the chips for a further 20 minutes, which is a total cooking time of 47 minutes, a really long time for an air fryer. By this point the inside of the chips was fluffy. The outside was somewhat crisped and a bit hard and dry on the ends. Overall they weren’t as good as chips I’m used to making in an air fryer, so I was disappointed.

The fish preset is one of the four that offers the combined air fry and steam function, called ‘juicy and crispy’. The time and temperature on these steam settings can’t be adjusted, so I popped in two salmon fillets and started the 15 minute timer.

I put the salmon skin side down initially and then turned it over after seven minutes. I ended up taking it out after just 12 minutes, since it was nicely cooked by this point. I would keep it skin side up next time, to try and get the skin crispier, but the meat itself was moist and flakey.

When I dug into the manual, I discovered that the whole roast chicken preset is designed for a 1kg chicken, which is pretty small. The smallest chicken I could get in my local supermarket was 1.2kg, so I chanced it, knowing that I may need to add extra time.

There was plenty of space for the chicken in the basket, but I can see why a bigger chicken wouldn’t work, the top would probably sit too close to the heating element.

I didn’t do much to the chicken, just rubbed it with a bit of oil, salt, and pepper and started the roast chicken preset. There’s no information provided that suggests you need to do anything during the cooking time, so apart from occasionally glancing through the viewing window, I just left it

The preset time is just 45 minutes, and given that my chicken was over the recommended weight, I wasn’t surprised when I checked it at the end of the timer, and it wasn't quite hot enough. It only needed an extra five minutes though.

The finished chicken was moist and tender, but the meat towards the tops of the legs was dry and overcooked. The browning was also very uneven. It was too pale at the back and quite dark in one area on the top.

On the whole it was a tasty and well cooked chicken, ideal for a speedy weeknight dinner, but probably not perfect enough to serve up on the table to guests.

Separately, I tried cooking bone in chicken thighs on the chicken preset. The manual says you can add 1-8 thighs, but my five pieces (1kg pack) took up most of the space so any more might be a bit too crowded.

There is an option for the ‘juicy and crispy’ steam function, but again the manual advises using this for wings and legs, whereas for thighs it suggests the ‘crispy’ air fryer option. I went with the suggestion and started the thighs skin side down.

The preset time is 30 minutes, I turned the thighs after 10 minutes and checked the temperature after 22 minutes. At this point they were cooked through, but I left them in for the full 30 minutes in order to achieve a well crisped and browned skin.

Again, I’d say 30 minutes is a lengthy cook time for an air fryer. However, the taste and texture was good and they cooked very well. The only thing to note is that the thighs towards the back, which is directly beneath the heating element and fan, did brown more than those at the front. So for even browning, you may need to rotate some foods.

Cleaning

Thankfully, the removable basket and rack are dishwasher safe. They fit nicely into my dishwasher and clean up well. What’s more, the ceramic non-stick coating is very effective and when I opted to wash it by hand, it came clean without any hassle or scrubbing.

The shiny black plastic areas do mark easily with fingerprints. These include the control panel and the front part of the lid, that I often pressed to close it. They’re easy to clean so it’s not an issue on that front, but I just noticed I had to wipe these areas after most uses, to keep it looking pristine.

My review sample was the white colourway. I accidentally got a splatter of ketchup on it that I didn’t notice until an hour later when I came back into the kitchen to clean up after dinner. When I wiped it away, there was no obvious staining, which was a relief.

Comparisons

At around £70 less, it’s worth looking at the Ninja MAX PRO AF180UK. Its 6.2 litre capacity might be marginally smaller, but during testing I still managed to roast a 1.5kg whole chicken, with excellent results. In fact, I really struggled to find any downsides during my review, the performance was excellent. The main drawback in comparison to the Smeg, is that it’s not as stylish.

And if you’re still looking for something a bit different to the standard black box style air fryer, the Ninja Crispi range stands out. The Ninja Crispi Pro XL was well liked by Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor. There are plenty of sizes to choose from in the Ninja Crispi range, and there are several colours available, which will please people looking for a pop of colour on the kitchen worktop.

Should you buy the Smeg AFC01 Dual Flavour Air Fryer?

The Smeg AFC01 has left me with such mixed feelings. On one hand, I really do love the design and how it looks in my kitchen. If you’re not a massive cook, and the look of your kitchen is very important to you, then it’ll absolutely appeal.

On the other hand, if you want an air fryer for speedy cooking and top-notch performance, then I have to admit, there are other models, with much better performance, that’ll suit your needs better. This one uses a halogen heating element and doesn’t offer the same level of performance of more traditional air fryers.

On balance, my main complaints are that browning could be uneven and cooking could, at times, be very slow in comparison to many other air fryers. So it really comes down to weighing up your needs and priorities.

I put the affordable Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress to the test to see how it compares to the best mattresses and best budget mattresses on the market.

In a nutshell

At £199 for a single and £449 for a double, the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress is an affordable mattress. However, after testing, I do think you get what you pay for here.

It's dubbed a medium-firm mattress, but I definitely found it on the firmer side, feeling it lacked cushioning compared to the equally budget-friendly mattress that's usually on my and my husband's bed: the Simba Mattress Simbatex Cool, which is £399 for a double.

I didn't feel this Nectar mattress gave me enough cushioning around my hip when I was sleeping on my side. Sleeping on my back, I found that it was comfortable around my hips and lower back, but lacked support around my shoulders/chest. This caused me to toss and turn a lot more than usual.

Plus, although its cover claims to be cooling, I didn't notice that I slept any cooler.

However, the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress does excel at motion isolation. I hardly moved when my (heavier than me) husband lay down and got back up off the mattress. And the 365-night sleep trial is one of the longest I've come across; that should be plenty of time ot test out and see if this mattress is for you.

Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress

Specifications

• Type: Foam
• Construction materials: Cover, dynamic support layer, pressure-reliving memory foam, 7-zone supportive base, positioning base material
• Sizes: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King
• Tensions available: Medium-firm
• Height: 25cm
• Side handles: Yes
• Flip or rotate: Rotate
• Manufacturers sleep trial: 365 nights

1. Comfort

I used to be a somewhat difficult sleeper. Without my beloved pillow and ultra-comfortable mattress-and-topper combo, I could never manage an 8-hour snooze without waking up with a sore neck. My husband? He has a hidden talent for being able to catch a few winks wherever he possibly can. Classic.

Upon first sleeping on the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress, we barely noticed a difference between this mattress and our usual mattress, the Simba Mattress Simbatex Cool, which, by the way, is ultra-comfortable and, interestingly enough, has a lower price tag of just £399 for a double.

However, after about a week, the differences started to flag: we'd wake up with the occasional neck ache; I'd wake in the night needing to change sleep positions ASAP. As someone who tests mattresses, I know that this can be normal and you've got to power through as your body adapts.

But now it has been over a month, and I can confidently say that as a back and side sleeper, I did notice a difference in comfort. Sleeping on the Nectar Classic, my pressure points don't feel as cushioned as they felt when cradled with my previous setup. It lives up to its medium-firm name, particularly when it comes to cushioning (or lack thereof!), and some might feel that it's actually on the firmer side of the scale. I agree.

It's definitely not one of those mattresses that your entire body will sink into. In fact, I almost felt like my body was on top of the mattress at all times.

When sleeping on my side, I found there wasn't enough padding around my hip, and my hips felt unaligned. When I slept on my back, my upper back would sink into the mattress (probably not as much of an issue if you're not female!).

My husband, also a side/back sleeper, felt some minor neck discomfort initially. Now, it's just his shoulders that are troubling him, as this is arguably the heaviest part of his body. However, since tossing one of his pillows, he claims that it's a lot more comfortable. So it's worth rejigging your setup if you're feeling the same way.

We are slowly getting used to this mattress's firmer feel as the nights go by, but by no means was this as easy a transition as we thought it would be. It's not that it's an uncomfortable mattress; it's just not the level of cushioning that we're used to, which means that our pressure points are feeling a little unloved at the moment.

2. Motion isolation

When it comes to a mattress, motion isolation is a hugely important factor for my husband and I, as our toddler is like clockwork when it comes to climbing into our bed at 2 am on the dot.

My husband also tends to wake before both of us, and I did find that I hardly felt him move. In fact, I didn't move at all when he rolled off the bed, which is impressive considering he is at least 20kg heavier than me.

The same goes for him — if I'm tossing and turning, or I wake in the night for a wee, he's never woken up by his body moving.

3. Responsiveness

With its medium-firm comfort rating comes an ideal responsiveness. I pushed this mattress as hard as I could with my hand, and while it did manage to push through a layer or two, when I removed my hand, it bounced back with immediate effect. Impressive.

Don't get me wrong: it's not exactly one of those mattresses that will make you feel like you're sinking into it. But, on the other hand, you also won't struggle to roll off it. Responsiveness has its perks, and depending on the way that you sleep or any sleep issues you suffer from, you'll either love a responsive mattress or hate it.

To be honest: for me, this mattress could've done with being a tad less responsive, so that you're not lying on top of it and do slightly feel like you're being cushioned, beyond just the heavier points of your body.

But, this responsiveness also means that this mattress is very easy to move around on. Even with three people in the bed!

4. Temperature regulation

Both our last mattress and this one claim to be cooling. I didn't particularly rave about the cooling effects of our last mattress at all - it wasn't any warmer, but definitely wasn't noticeably colder than average. The same goes for the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress.

I wouldn't buy this mattress specifically for its cooling claims, but even throughout several heatwaves, I didn't feel like the mattress was unbearably hot.

5. Edge support

I did have higher hopes for this mattress's edge support. Mostly because it's a big-name mattress brand that you think would nail something as simple as this. I was wrong.

There have been too many occasions where I have almost fully rolled off this mattress because of its lack of edge support. Also, admittedly, my toddler (like most) prefers it when I have as minimal moving space as possible whilst I sleep.

Even just sitting on the edge of the mattress, you can see just how much it sinks.

6. Sleep trial

As with all Nectar mattresses, this one comes wrapped in a generous 365-night trail. This means that should you really not get on with your mattress, you can return it. They say that it takes roughly 30 nights to get used to a new mattress, so do bear this in mind before making any quick decisions.

Still, this takes the worry out of buying a mattress you're yet to sit on. Instead of sitting on it in a showroom, you can sleep on it with your favourite pillow and cozy duvet to give it a true test.

7. Ease of care

I was a little disappointed that the Nectar's cooling cover isn't removable. I do think that this should be pretty much standard now with most mattresses, as cleaning your mattress is such an important job. Especially in the summer when you're sweating all night long unless you're lucky enough to own an AC unit.

I do own a much-loved Emma mattress protector that I always make sure to put on my bed before changing my sheets. And some people may already own a good mattress protector, but I think it's also handy if a mattress comes with a removable cover, should there be any accidents - or generally just for ease of cleaning.

Other than this, this mattress is designed to be rotated instead of flipped, and conveniently enough, it has handles to do this job with ease.

8. Delivery

Delivery was fast and fuss-free. I received a text regarding shipping the day before it was due. They gave me a 3-hour window and then called 30 minutes before delivery.

It was dropped into my hallway by the delivery men, as they kindly asked where I wanted it. Overall, the mattress delivery process was fairly simple.

Once dragged upstairs by my husband (I tried, but there was just no way I was going to be able to shift that box solo!), we lumped it onto our bed frame. It was folded in half and rolled into the box, which made it a lot easier to navigate around our furniture.

In the box came a tool to cut the mattress open. This was done with ease, and there were two layers — one to keep the mattress folded and rolled and the other, which has suctioned the air from the mattress to keep it compact. The second you cut this, it expands almost to full size. Impressive.

I did, despite it looking ready to sleep on, leave it all day without making the bed.

Other than that, there was a strong chemical smell once we unrolled this mattress. It wasn't unbearably strong, but it was noticeable. Around 48 hours later, it was gone.

9. Value for money

The Nectar Classic Memory Foam mattress is the brand's most budget-friendly model, and prices start at £199 for a single and £449 for a double, which is very affordable.

However, it has competition at that price point, and there are a couple of recent launches to the mattress market that I do think offer better value for money based on my testing experience.

First, there's the Simba Mattress Simbatex Cool, which I currently sleep on and find ultra-comfortable. It has more cushioning than the Nectar Classic Memory Foam, and a lower price tag of just £399 for a double.

Then there's the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress, which we currently rate as the best budget mattress we've tested thanks to its impressive all-round performance. A double used to be £525, but DreamCloud has just reduced the RRP to £499 for a double, which makes it extremely competitive.

Nectar's remains the longest sleep trial on offer, at 365 nights, but, personally, I would opt for one of these other two budget buys if I were shopping for myself.

How I tested

My sleep stats:

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

In putting the Nectar Original Mattress through Ideal Home's mattress testing process, I considered the nine 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 almost 3-year-old and dog!) slept on the mattress for over a month before I wrote my review.

I also took into consideration ease of care, any sleep trials available, the delivery process, and its value for money before writing my own review and giving this mattress a star rating.

Ice cream makers have become somewhat of a craze, especially this summer just gone. And I totally understand why: have you recently been robbed (in broad daylight, mind you) by your local ice cream man? It's no longer a cheap treat, that's for sure.

Well, thanks to a good ice cream maker, you can create your very own smooth desserts, using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and your fridge. And not only will it cost a fraction of the price of a Mr Whippy, but you actually know exactly what you're eating or feeding to your kids.

Now, I know what you're thinking: where on earth is one of the best ice cream makers supposed to live, especially come winter? I thought the same — as someone who tests appliances for a living, I cannot afford to lose another inch of worktop space.

Well, there's a new ice cream maker on the market, and instead of requiring countertop space, it's tiny enough to fit in a cupboard. Enter: the Nutribullet Chill, which also comes in 3 stunning colourways. I used its 5 programmes to test its churning capabilities, and this is what I thought.

In a nutshell

The Nutribullet Chill is a compact ice cream maker for smaller kitchens or anyone who can't dedicate countertop space to an ice cream maker (understandably!). It has a short cord, too, but do note this if sockets in your kitchen are sparse.

It offers 5 pre-set programmes that are easy to use, while it takes between 3 -4 minutes 30 seconds for each setting to work. It does require you to be prepared, as each dessert needs pre-freezing for 24 hours before churning. Each tub (you get 2 included) offers a generous serving, at almost 500ml, while you also get a recipe for each setting included in the manual.

These tubs are dishwasher-safe after use, plus there's a countdown timer on the machine so you know when your treat is nearly ready to enjoy. After using each programme, I would recommend the frozen yoghurt setting and the ice cream mode the most. These performed the best, in my opinion. I didn't like the smoothie bowl or sorbet modes at all.

The machine itself is nice and compact but admittedly loud while in operation. It suction-cups to your worktop so that it won't jump around whilst churning. It also beeps once finished to alert you, and it does churn well, so expect your desserts to be smooth — you'll want to enjoy them ASAP

Overall, it's a great ice cream maker for small kitchens but still comes in at the same price as the Ninja CREAM (which we awarded five stars to in our reivew). It's fuss-free and easy to use, as well as simple to clean. Just be wary that it's noisy.

Who reviewed this ice cream maker?

Unboxing

Due to its compact size, this ice cream maker arrived in a somewhat small box. It was fairly weighty but not heavy enough to require 2 people to lift.

Inside the box came another box, which housed the main unit, two lids, two pots, a blade and a blade cover. These were all wrapped in plastic packaging. This packaging is 4LDPE, so it's recyclable depending on your local authority.

It comes with a fairly simple instruction manual, which shows how to insert the tub into the machine, and it features 5 recipes — 1 for each function.

What's it like to use?

Overall, it's fairly fuss-free to use. You might need to refer to the manual for first use when it comes to inserting the blade block and shaft into the tub. It offers the following modes: Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Smoothie Bowl, and Frozen Yoghurt. Simply press one and then press the middle button to start.

I really liked that the machine offered a countdown timer, but to be honest, it never took a really long time to churn anyway. It's handy that it beeps once ready in case you're busy and forget about it.

The blade shaft does become hot to the touch, especially towards the base, so be careful when removing it after your dessert is churned. Your hands might not naturally grab it, but it's something to note.

The tubs fit in a standard freezer drawer, too. While churning, I used a decibel monitor to find the noise level of this machine. The ambient reading in my kitchen was hitting 35dB, but whilst the machine was churning, it read 98dB. I wouldn't be using it around any sleeping children, that's for sure.

Whilst I was testing this ice cream maker, I did like its safety features. You need to press the unlock button on the machine to release the tub once finished. It also displayed an error message at one time, which told me that the blade wasn't inserted correctly.

Making ice cream

I followed Good Food's classic vanilla ice cream recipe, which does take a lot of prep, but it makes up for it when it comes to the taste. I froze it for at least 24 hours, as per the manual, and served it in bowls. It would easily serve 4-5.

The ice cream setting on this machine took 3 minutes 30 seconds to churn. The result was tasty, but very smooth. Arguably, this was still a little firmer than the Gelato setting, which was very soft. Still, once churned, this ice cream will need to be enjoyed ASAP.

After churning, we did notice that there was a very thin layer of ice cream left in the bottom of the tub. The blade mustn't have been able to reach down to the bottom of the tub. This had softened by the time we came to eat it, so it wasn't really a huge issue.

Making sorbet

Again, I made Good Food's classic lemon sorbet recipe, which is incredibly simple yet tantalisingly sharp. After freezing for 24 hours and churning for a whopping 4 minutes and 30 seconds, using the dedicated sorbet setting, it was soft. I mean, it was still frozen and cold, but it was very sloppy. This could only be enjoyed in a bowl and couldn't be rolled into a scoop for a cone.

Taste-wise, it was great, and I could've eaten the entire tub. It's just a shame it was so soft. I probably wouldn't use this machine to make sorbet again, but I don't usually eat sorbet, so this doesn't hugely bother me.

Making gelato

I followed the vanilla bean gelato recipe which was featured in the Nutribullet manual. This took all of minutes to make and just 4 ingredients — which I had in my pantry/fridge already. I'd definitely make this recipe again, mostly for how convenient it was to mix, since it didn't require blending or pre-boiling. It was pretty much mess-free, too. Better yet? It took just 3 minutes 20 seconds to churn.

This was a total hit with my family, and I managed to make it stretch to serve 8 cones! It was admittedly quite soft, so it needed to be eaten ASAP, but everyone loved its taste.

I noticed a layer of ice cream stayed on the blade, as you can see below. It wasn't the end of the world, but it did make things a little messy. Next time, bearing this in mind, I'd use this gelato recipe, but maybe try the ice cream setting instead. This mode seemed to make the dessert a tad firmer.

Making a smoothie bowl

I used the Nutribullet smoothie bowl on the recipe card for this, and although it required pre-blending, it tasted great. TBH: smoothie bowls aren't really my thing, so I probably won't use this setting again. But it's nice to know that it works.

This setting took 4 minutes 30 seconds in total. After, the smoothie was surprisingly not soft. It was hard, crumbly and chunky. It wasn't anything like you'd use in a smoothie bowl. This could have been down to the recipe, but this was provided by Nutribullet.

Taste-wise, it was very powdery, which put me off. I wouldn't make this recipe again.

Making frozen yoghurt

I followed Nutribullet's smoothie bowl recipe for this one. Although it required a good few ingredients, I had most of them already in my pantry. These ingredients needed to be blitzed in your trusty blender before being frozen in the tub for 24 hours.

I used the dedicated frozen yoghurt programme, and I was seriously impressed. It churned for 5 minutes in total, and I was left with a soft but still-scoopable dessert that I would definitely make again. Despite thinking that I wouldn't be a frozen yoghurt lover, this machine has convinced me otherwise.

Again, there was a little leftover frozen yoghurt in the blade that I easily scooped away and into a bowl.

What's it like to clean?

There's minimal cleaning required after using this ice cream maker. Both of the tubs and the 2 lids are dishwasher-safe, as is the blade. The blade cover shouldn't get dirty if you only use it over a clean blade.

It's worth checking underneath the blade after each use, as you might find that there's some leftover dessert in there that needs a wipe. Otherwise, that's it! Simple.

How does it compare to other competitors?

I've reviewed 5 ice cream makers, but this one in particular I will be keeping. Mostly because of its compact footprint, which means I can store it in a cupboard, but also because I found it super simple to use.

In comparison to other pre-freeze models like the Ninja CREAMi and the Russell Hobbs Chilluxe, both of which were used on either side, this machine does make slightly softer desserts. But this didn't exactly put me off using it, as I'll always enjoy my treat straight after churning, anyway.

Price-wise, you would probably expect it to be a little more affordable since it's smaller, but this retails at an average price of £200. You can sometimes find it on sale.

Should you buy the Nutribullet Chill?

If kitchen space is a premium and you know that you won't use your ice cream maker all of the time, then this is a great investment. For me, I love that it can fit in the cupboard above my oven, and I can grab it out when I know we're having dinner guests over; in the summertime, I can move it to my worktop as it's not hugely cumbersome.

I also love that it comes with two tubs, so you can have one in your freezer and the other ready for your next creation. There's also the fact that it's easy to use, and it offers a countdown timer so you know when your dessert will be ready; plus, it beeps when finished.

Cleanup is minimal, and its blade cover is a game-changer, as not only does this make it safer, but it also means it looks nice on your worktop, too.

I'd avoid this ice cream maker if you also want to use it to make sorbet, as it admittedly over-churned this and made it extremely soft. It was fine to eat in a bowl but too soft for scooping. The ice cream it created was soft, too, but it was completely edible and a total hit. The frozen yoghurt was definitely my favourite as it was perfectly scoopable yet still soft.

I may be Ideal Home’s Certified Expert in Vacuums, but I also work for a homes magazine - which means that I love pretty things. And when I spotted the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum, I thought it was one of the sleekest, chicest robot vacuums I’d ever seen.

But I also take my job of finding the best robot vacuum cleaners very seriously. And while the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow may look good, I wanted to see whether it has the cleaning power to back it up. So, I’ve spent the past two weeks putting this competitively-priced robot vac and mop through its paces - and this is what I found out.

In a nutshell

I’ve already had the pleasure of testing a few Roborock robot vacuums and mops, including the Roborock QV 35S and the Saros 20. But where the brand-new Qrevo Edge 2 Flow differs from these models - and, in fact, the entire UK range - is that this model is the first one to use a rotating roller instead of rotating mop pads.

This new-and-improved mopping ability, coupled with 36,000Pa of suction power, makes for a very impressive all-around cleaner. The new roller shroud is also a nice touch, as it lets it move from hard flooring to soft flooring without soaking carpets and rugs.

During testing, it tackled dry and wet debris with ease, and its ability to not only detect but also navigate obstacles is up there with robot vacuums priced in the thousands - which makes its £799 price tag hugely competitive, in my eyes.

However, it’s not perfect. For some reason, Roborock doesn’t offer a mop-only option for this model, forcing users to vacuum their floors even when they don't want or need to. The app also offers a lot of customisation that isn’t strictly necessary and can feel overwhelming, and it takes a bit of practice. Overall, though, it’s a solid choice.

Specifications

• Max. run time: 240 minutes
• Suction power: 35,000Pa
• Bin volume: 2.7 litres (up to 65 days)
• Mop function: Yes
• Multi-level mapping: Yes (up to 4 maps)
• Charge time: 4 hours
• Noise levels: 68dB (tested by us)
• Dimensions: 47L x 45.1W x 40.2H centimetres
• Weight: 13.5kg (bot and dock)
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple, Matter
• Warranty: 2 years

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

Like almost every robot vacuum I’ve tested, the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum came in a hefty box. It was big, bulky, and weighed in at a whopping 17kg. It did have carry handles on the side to make it easier to move from my doorstep to my testing room, but you may need an extra set of hands.

Everything inside was packaged very securely, and I could see the contents were heavily protected. But one thing I will knock Roborock down for is that it wasn’t very eco-friendly at all. The bot and the dock were encased in polystyrene (which isn’t typically recycled kerbside), and then wrapped further in LDPE 4 plastic (which can only really be recycled at certain supermarkets). As a result, only the box was recyclable.

Nevertheless, I was impressed with how little assembly was required. All I had to do was place the dock on a flat surface and click in the dock base before filling the clean water tank, located next to the dirty water tank on top of the dock. If you remove both of these, you can also see the dust chamber and dust bag, which were already pre-installed.

I’ve tested a couple of Roborock robot vacuums now, and I was a little disappointed to note that Roborock still doesn’t offer a sample bottle of detergent with these machines - especially as they recommend you only use Roborock-approved detergents in these robot vacs.

I always think a sample not only aids cleaning and improves results, but also encourages future detergent purchases. So, I had to just stick with water for the duration of testing. But with the water tank filled and the dust bag already pre-installed, the only thing left was to link the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow in the Roborock app and create a map of my home.

All in all, the mapping process took less than five minutes. It was also incredibly accurate, and I loved that I could customise the map by adding my furniture placement, separating and merging rooms, and setting no-go zones. I could even add the location of my dog's food and water bowls!

Ease of use

I’ve previously criticised the Roborock app for being a bit overwhelming and complicated, but I found it easier to navigate this time around. I guess this shows that the more you get familiar with what you need to use, the less complicated it seems.

After all, there are so many customisable options on the app - from changing the cleaning sequence to choosing which room(s) you want to clean, and how you want it to be cleaned. You can choose from three modes: vacuum & mop, vacuum followed by mop, and vacuum-only. You can then adjust everything from the water flow to the cleaning count.

However, Roborock seems to have removed the mop-only mode, which has been an option on other Roborock models I’ve tested. I have used this mode a few times for wet spills and when I don’t want to actually mop, since it also stops the side sweeper brush from getting caught in the wetness.

Taking this away seems like an oversight, but it only really affects you if you regularly have wet spills that need cleaning.

You can also use the app to set schedules, turn on ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode, adjust your home layout, change the mop wash frequency, set it to ‘Pet’ mode, and even let the robot vacuum take onboard photos of pets and other obstacles. It also shows you the remaining lifespan of your main components.

Truthfully, you could spend hours fiddling with the different settings, but I’m not sure you really need them all. They’re a nice touch, but the Qrevo Edge 2 Flow is so intuitive and smart already that you can largely leave it to its own devices.

Performance

I’ve developed a thorough methodology for testing robot vacuum cleaners at Ideal Home, but before I start throwing rice on the floor or putting obstacles in its way, I like to let the robot vacuum clean my home as it would anyone else’s.

I set it loose in four rooms downstairs in my house - the dining room, kitchen, living room and small hallway (an area of 31 m²) - and it took the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum 55 minutes to vacuum and mop it. It was fully charged before this cleaning task, and I was impressed to see that it still had 58% battery left when it finished.

This also let me experience some of the fun features, like the Edge-Adaptive Roller Mop, which extends to ensure skirting boards and edges get the same treatment as the rest of the room. If I looked closely, I could also see the Automatic Roller Shield close over the roller when it went over my rugs. This meant that I didn’t have to worry about them getting mopped, too.

The slimline design also meant it fit underneath my low TV unit, sofas, and other low furniture, which is always handy because they’re a nightmare to clean.

And although I follow my own advice and declutter before using a robot vacuum, the Qrevo Edge 2 Flow’s ability to manoeuvre around furniture and plant pots suggested that it would have no problem during my dedicated obstacle test.

The smart navigation and reactive AI obstacle recognition were even able to show exactly which obstacles it encountered on the app, using cute little symbols - like a plant pot or electrical wires.

However, I wanted to test this properly, so I set up a dedicated obstacle course as per my official testing process. I popped down a couple of obstacles in the path of the Qrevo Edge 2 Flow and waited to see how it would navigate them.

As you can see, the obstacle detection was super smooth. The robot vacuum and mop got as close to the obstacle as it could get (without bumping into it), and tried a few times to find an alternative route. When it realised it couldn’t go that way because of another obstacle, it tried again and eventually realised that area was out of bounds.

This was a resounding success in my eyes, and I was thoroughly impressed with the robot vac’s ability to not only detect obstacles but also find its way out of a sticky situation. But I wasn’t going to give it its flowers without officially testing its debris pickup, too.

So, I threw a collection of different debris - including rice, sugar and oats - onto the floor to see how the robot vacuum would cope. As you can see from the video, it picked up most of the debris in a single pass. The side brush did fling a few bits of rice out of its way in the process, but the robot vacuum picked them up when it continued its cleaning routine.

I then repeated the process on the carpet on the upper level of my house, and it was once again a positive outcome. This time, a few oats were left behind, but the Qrevo Edge 2 Flow picked them up once it finished its route.

I also share my home with a very fluffy cocker spaniel, and this model had no trouble picking up the little mounds of hair he likes to leave all over the place. Its anti-tangle design meant that I didn’t have to remove any hair from any of the brushes or rollers, either.

The last test was the mopping test, where I poured some orange juice on the hard flooring in my living room. The robot vacuum and mop had no trouble wiping this away in one swipe, and it left the floor looking as good as new. My only critique is that it smelled like orange juice for a while until I sprayed the area with cleaner, which is where detergent would have helped.

While I found that this Roborock robot vacuum and mop generally managed to traverse hard floors, rugs, and carpet with ease, I did have a slight niggle during testing. I often found it left little pockets of debris on the edge of my rug when it moved off the rug onto the hard floor. I then had to go round with a handheld vacuum to remove this.

However, it is worth pointing out that I have a wiggle-edged rug, so this could be due to the shape rather than the robot vacuum’s cleaning ability.

Roborock also claims that this robot vacuum runs at 66 dB, and I measured a maximum of 68dB on my decibel meter app. This sits at the upper end of the noise-level rankings, but you can set it to Quiet Mode, which reduces operational noise (like the voice alerts) and suction power. This is handy if you want to use it at night.

Cleaning and maintenance

Removing the dirty water tank proved to me that the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow is excellent at mopping. Just look at the colour of that water! I had thought my floors were clean, but that colour suggested otherwise. So, I quickly removed it from the dock, poured it down the sink and gave it a rinse.

Aside from that, it requires very little maintenance. The dock auto-empties the dry debris, and the all-new pressurised self-cleaning system cleans the mop roller after use. Smart detection means that it will re-wash itself if it's not happy with the end result. Then, 63°C warm air dries the mop roller to prevent odours or bacterial growth.

Of course, you’ll also need to keep on top of cleaning sensors and filters, but this is standard when cleaning a robot vacuum. Roborock suggests washing the filter every two weeks, and replacing it every 6-12 months. These are £29.99 for two on the Roborock website. You can also buy replacement dust bags and detergent here, too.

However, I do think that Roborock is missing a trick by not including some detergent as standard. It makes a much better first impression and means that customers are set up for the first few months without needing to pay extra - especially as robot vacuums aren’t cheap in the first place.

How does it compare to similar models?

When looking at this new Roborock robot vacuum, it’s always a good idea to compare it to other Roborock models - especially ones I’ve already tested. The last one I reviewed was the Roborock Saros 20, which I also gave 4.5 stars. However, I actually think I prefer this one more.

It has the same level of suction power and offers the same impressive mopping ability, but there are some distinct differences. And if you have higher thresholds, the Saros 20’s AdaptLift chassis would definitely be a better option.

However, the Saros 20 is well over £1,000 - for not a lot more, in my opinion. It offers a similar level of cleaning (admittedly a little more thanks to the new roller, rather than rotating mop pads). So if you’re after an impressive Roborock robot vacuum and mop that gets the job done, I’d actually recommend this one more.

It’s also worth comparing it to the model that has been number one in my guide for months now: the Eufy E25 Omni - which I awarded 5 stars. I liked everything about the Eufy model, from the app to the cleaning power and the overall look. But I do think that this Roborock model is a very close contender. Especially as it’s a very similar price.

They both offer similar rotating mop rollers, but I’d say the biggest differences are the controls and the detergent. Eufy’s app is much easier to navigate, and it includes a dedicated detergent cartridge. However, it does offer less suction power at 20,000Pa. So, it’s worth weighing up what matters most to you.

Verdict: Should you buy the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum?

I love it when an appliance looks good and does a good job at the same time, and the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum does just that. It’s powerful and capable, and surprisingly high-tech for its competitive price tag. Because of this, I’d have no qualms recommending this to family and friends.

It doesn’t come with any detergent or spare parts, which is a bugbear of mine, and I do think that they’ve missed a trick by removing the mop-only function. However, it proved its cleaning power during testing, and I do think that it’s one of the sleekest, chicest robot vacuum cleaners I’ve tested so far.

I put the Dunelm Coverless Duvet to the test to see how it compared to some of the best duvets on the market.

In a nutshell

Dunelm's coverless duvet is one of the most affordable coverless options on the market, and has just been launched in two stylish looks - the striped version I tested, and a gingham check option.

A double costs £40, which is a lot cheaper than one of the most well-known branded coverless duvet makers on the market: Night Lark, whose most affordable double coverless duvet costs £75.

And I was impressed by this budget-friendly option. I found its all-in-one printed design felt less plasticky than the Night Lark Coverless Duvet I recently tested, although there are fewer style options available, and fewer warmth options. The Dunelm option comes in a 10.5 tog only, but it's a useful year-round tog.

Plus, I found the king-size Dunelm Coverless Duvet I tested was easier to bung straight in my normal washing machine (which is the main point of a coverless duvet after all). In contrast, the larger sizes of Night Lark's duvet are recommended for a large-capacity washing machine only. My Dunelm duvet also dried outside on the line in around two hours on a mild autumn day.

Overall, I think this is a great affordable option if you're considering giving a coverless duvet a whirl; I did find its polyester fill lacked breathability and made me a little too warm on hot nights, but if you want an easy to care for duvet, that could be a price worth paying.

Specifications

• RRP: £35 / £40 / £45
• Sizes: single / double / king
• Tog rating: 10.5 tog
• Materials: outer: polyester
• Care: machine wash at 40ºC, tumble dry on medium
• Manufacturer sleep trial: machine washable, tumble dry on a low heat setting

Feel

The Dunelm duvet comes in a drawstring bag with the same pattern as the duvet. This is super handy if you’re storing this duvet away – especially because you can tell what’s inside the bag without having to unpack it.

The duvet is made from 100 per cent polyester. As a sleep-product reviewer, I'm super fussy about what goes on my bed. So I was a bit dubious about how nice a 100 per cent polyester duvet would feel to sleep under. (Yes, my job has made a sleep snob out of me). Sometimes man-made-textile duvets can feel slippery like a sleeping bag, but not this coverless duvet.

If I were doing a blind test, I’d guess it’s made from cotton. When I slept underneath it, I preferred this because it didn’t feel like it was constantly slipping off and I was having to clutch on to it as I slept. I definitely found it less plasticky than the Night Lark coverless duvet I previously tested.

I usually sleep with a (far more expensive) scooms Hungarian Goose Down Duvet, which is super marshmallowy. The loft on the Dunelm coverless duvet is pretty thin in comparison, and it feels pretty lightweight too. This is probably on par with the Night Lark coverless duvet.

Temperature regulation

Temperature regulation is a real bugbear of mine when I’m asleep. I overheat easily, and man-made fibres often exacerbate the issue because they lack breathability and can result in me feeling like a sticky mess. When weighing up feather and down vs synthetic duvets, polyester duvets are generally less breathable as they let less air flow through than other duvets.

So I was keen to see how the Dunelm coverless duvet fared at keeping me cool. I tested the duvet during early autumn, which gave me a good mix of warm and slightly cooler evenings. At 10.5 togs, this duvet would probably be too hot for very warm summer nights.

I found I was warm as soon as I slid under the Dunelm coverless duvet. It’s quite lightweight, so it didn’t drape too snugly to me. This allowed air to flow and kept me cooler. Any heavier and I think this duvet would have felt very hot.

While the Dunelm coverless duvet is nowhere near as temperature-regulating as my feather and down duvet, nor a wool duvet (my spare room has the wool-filled Woolroom Deluxe Wool Washable Duvet on the bed, which we rate as one of the best duvets for hot sleepers), I did find it on a par with the similarly synthetic Night Lark coverless duvet in this area. It was warm for sure, but not too sweaty.

Ease of care

Coverless duvets are appealing if you want something that’s easy to clean if you often need to wash a duvet. As a parent, I see that having a duvet you can just pull off, stick in the wash, and stick another one on in the middle of the night – so long as you have one to use, one to wash.

What I think coverless duvets are particularly great for is camping, spare rooms and kids’ beds – they’re great for nighttime accidents. This is because you can bung the whole duvet straight in the washing machine, and that's where Dunelm's coverless option trumped the Night Lark’s coverless duvet I'd recently tested.

With the Night Lark duvet, the king size had to be washed in a large-capacity washing machine. However, the Dunelm coverless duvet has no such recommendations so you can stick it in the washing machine at 40ºC. While line drying is recommended on the label, you can also tumble dry it on low.

I dried it on a warm September day on the line, and it took about two hours to dry. If you’re storing your duvet away, it’s really important that the duvet is absolutely bone dry to prevent it from going mouldy.

While it doesn’t pack down super small if you’re a hardcore hike-and-camp type, it’s ideal for campsites and campervans where you can cram all your stuff into your car. It’s also great for student bedrooms as you can quickly and easily give your room a refresh by wholesale washing your duvet.

Sleep trial

There's no sleep trial available on Dunelm's bedding, which does mean there's no option to test this option out before you commit to keeping it.

However, that's the case with every coverless duvet I've come across, and Dunelm's option is at least one of the most budget-friendly on the market, so it's less of an investment if you're on the fence about whether a coverless duvet will work for your needs.

Value for money

Any king-size duvet that's only £45 is impressive value for money, and this Dunelm coverless duvet is no exception. Especially if you consider you don’t have to buy a duvet cover. It’s just £35 for a single and £40 for a double, and it also comes with matching pillowcases, which pleasantly surprised me for the price.

I also liked that this was a double-sided duvet cover. One side has stripes, and the other a solid colour. While I went for taupe stripes, Dunelm also sells a stylish blue gingham coverless duvet if you want something more vibrant.

Conversely, the most affordable Night Lark coverless duvet starts at £45 for a single, and £85 for the king-size. Admittedly, Night Lark has a lot more style options to choose from, but if you're happy with stripes or gingham checks, I think the Dunelm coverless duvet is very competitive on price.

How I tested

I spent two weeks testing the Dunelm coverless duvet during a period of mild weather in early autumn. I slept on the job, testing it while asleep next to my husband – who is also a very hot sleeper and extremely vocal about what duvet he will and won’t sleep under.

While testing, I considered the look, feel, and quality of the duvet, how it draped across me while I slept, how quickly I warmed up underneath it, and if I overheated at all.

Along with my own experience, I used an Oura Ring 4 as a sleep tracker, which gives me all the stats about my sleep I could want or need. This helped to detect every disturbance and how restful my sleep was.

I also factored in how easy this duvet 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.

After a roasty, toasty summer, reports suggest that we could be in for a colder than usual winter. And that means we could see a spike in those needing the best electric heaters to support the efforts of their central heating in the most cost-effective way.

But with some heaters costing hundreds of pounds, I've been on the hunt for more budget friendly models that are just as effective at providing warmth when you need it, while also being stylish enough to have on display throughout the colder months. I was thrilled then when I spotted the Swan 1.5kW Retro Ceramic Heater with an RRP of under £50.

This is how it fared when I used it in my own home, and whether I think it's worth your money.

In a nutshell

Swan's 1.5kW Retro Ceramic Heater is a compact and effective appliance that will see you through the colder months.

While it has a 1950s-inspired design with chrome accents and curved shape, there's definitely nothing dated about its capability. With two different heat modes, plus a fan-only option, as well as an adjustable thermostat between 10 and 35°C, it kicks out heat as soon as you turn it on, warming up your space quickly and evenly.

It'll also revert to fan mode when the target temperature is reached, with the heat kicking back in when it detects a 2°C drop in the ambient temperature, which helps you use it in the most energy-efficient way possible.

You can use the timer so you don't have to worry about leaving it on for longer than you need to.

How I tested

Specification

• Type of heater: Ceramic fan heater
• RRP: £44.99
• Weight: 2kg
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 31.2 x 17.8 x 15.5cm
• Wattage: 1500W
• Running costs per hour: up to 39p (based on the July 2026 energy price cap)
• Room size suitability: up to 20m2
• Smart features: None
• Dual functionality: Fan and heater
• Oscillation: None

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

I appreciated the lightweight and compact nature of the Swan 1.5kW Retro Ceramic Heater from the moment it arrived. Compared to other heating appliances I've tested, this one came in a box that I could carry one handed, rather than nudge with my feet through from the hallway. As someone who's tested everything from large oil-filled radiators to portable air conditioners, this is definitely a nice change.

It was well packaged with cardboard inserts and a plastic bag around the heater itself, and while it was a little tricky to get out of the box (I had to resort to tipping the open box upside down and giving it a little shake in order to get some purchase), it was a matter of just plugging it in before I was set up and ready to go.

There's no WiFi connectivity to set up, which means in less than a minute from opening the box, I had the heater on. As with most electric heaters, there is a bit of a smell on the first couple of uses, but this does disappear after a while.

My first impression was this was one of the best looking electric heaters I've ever seen. I usually see these kinds of appliances as functional, rather than attractive, but the quirky retro design of this Swan heater is right up my street. It's got a mid-grey body, with a chrome grill on the front, and a tan leather handle on the top just behind the small display screen. It sits on chrome legs and comes with a pleasingly simple remote control that echoes the simplicity of the onboard control panel.

Better still, it's smaller than a bread bin, which meant I could easily perch it on the corner of my desk, window ledge or sideboard without any faff.

As well as it's good looks, its so light. I found it really easy to move around wherever I wanted it — hardly any effort required.

What’s it like to use?

To say the Swan 1.5kW Retro Ceramic Heater is easy to use feels like a bit of an understatement. It's so simple I didn't even need to read the instructions. There's an obvious power button, which when pressed shows you the ambient temperature in the room on the display screen, alongside a single dot that showed I was in fan-only mode. Then I pressed the mode button, and a second dot appeared, indicated I was in the 750W heat mode, where I could adjust the target temperature up to a very toasty 35°C. Pressing mode again boosts it into it's highest power (1.5kW) mode.

Given it's simple but effective operation, I also liked that the display screen was small enough to not distract from the retro design aesthetic. When in use, it'll show you the mode you are in (either one, two or three vertical dots that cycle on and off), and the ambient temperature. I like that it flashed the target temperature whenever I changed the settings, it made it very easy to adjust to my ideal comfort levels. With the timer set, it'll slowly cycle between ambient temperature and the timer duration.

As soon as I flipped into heat mode I could feel the heat output instantly, and I left it on in my chilly-first-thing-in-the-morning 12m2 home office with the door closed for five minutes and when I came back it was lovely and warm. After a while, once it had reached my chosen temperature, it reverted back into fan mode, which I was very pleased about seeing as energy prices are set to rise again in October 2026.

While it's quick to heat, even in my larger living room, it's not whisper quiet as it does so. But that doesn't mean it's obnoxiously loud either. I didn't notice a difference in noise level between any of the modes, clocking them all at about 52dB, which is the equivalent of gentle background noise. It's noticeable, but I didn't find it distracting while I was working, and when I used it in my living room, I could still watch TV with it on without having to whack the TV up to a much higher volume.

From a safety point of view, this heater will cut out automatically if it tips over (also if it's lifted while in use), as well as if it overheats, but it's still important to follow the safety instructions. The body of the heater will get hot while it's on, and it'll take a little while to cool down, but fortunately the handle doesn't heat up so you can adjust the positioning if you need to. I made sure to only use it on a solid surface and make sure it had plenty of space around it clear of soft furnishings or anything else that could pose a fire hazard.

There were only a couple of minor things (in my eyes) that I didn't like about this heater. Firstly, the website states that you can use the timer to turn it both on and off, but I didn't find that to be the case, I found that the timer only worked to turn the heater off.

Secondly, when in stand-by mode, the standby symbol flashes on the small display screen, and a couple of times I actually found it a bit distracting when I could see it out of the corner of my eye. It's definitely not a deal breaker, but it feels a little unnecessary.

When it comes to WiFi connectivity and app control that you can get with other heaters, I didn't mind that this retro heater was lacking in that additional complexity. I could just turn it on when I needed it, turn it off when I didn't, and I didn't feel at any point that it couldn't perform in a way that I needed it to. However, if you are keen on all that a smart heater has to offer, then you might be disappointed with the number of features this simple heater has.

What are the running costs like?

Electric heaters can be expensive to run, especially if used for long periods, but that cost will depend on the wattage.

In the case of the Swan 1.5kW Retro Ceramic Heater, the hourly running cost will vary depending on which heating mode you use. The 750W mode will cost about 19.5p per hour to run, up to 39p per hour in the 1.5kW mode, based on the July 2026 energy price cap.

From an energy-efficiency point of view, it's good that this heater will automatically switch into the more efficient fan mode when the target temperature is reached, and has a timer to prevent unnecessary prolonged use. But make sure you try ways to make your electric heater more efficient for the most cost-effective use.

Cleaning and maintenance

Keeping the Swan 1.5kW Retro Ceramic Heater free from dust is key to it working most efficiently. Wiping over it with a dry cloth regularly will help, or you can give it a quick blast with a hairdryer on a cool setting. For stubborn dust or marks, make sure it's unplugged and you can wipe over it with a clean, damp cloth, leaving time for any moisture to dry fully before using it again.

Who should buy the Swan 1.5kW Retro Ceramic Heater?

If you're after a small, affordable and stylish electric heater for a room up to 20m2, then I really don't think you can go wrong with the Swan 1.5kW Retro Ceramic Heater. It works quickly, looks good, and I've regularly seen it available at significantly lower than it's RRP.

Not a fan of the retro vibes of the Swan heater? The Dreo Atom 316 ceramic fan heater is equally affordable and compact, with a no nonsense cylindrical design.

Got a bigger budget and a bigger room, but still want something that nails the style stakes? In that case, something like the VonHaus Electric Stove Heater will fit the bill. It looks just like a log burner, complete with realistic flame effect, but for a fraction of the price and hassle of installing a real one.

If you really want all the capabilities that come along with a smart heater, then the Mill WiFi Max 1500W Smart Heater is the best smart heater I've tried, and has the added benefit of being utterly silent when in use.

It's no secret that Shark has produced some of the most premium floorcare appliances out there, and the brand already has two spots in our guide to the best handheld vacuum cleaners on the market.

But where does the Shark WandVac Deluxe sit amongst their current offering? After using it in my home for two weeks, I can confidently recommend this handheld vacuum to anyone.

In a nutshell

The Shark WandVac Deluxe quickly became one of the best handheld vacuums I’ve tested (and I've tested a lot). It’s incredibly lightweight, yet doesn’t feel like it’s sacrificed power for its slimline design. In my flour tests, it picked up everything from hard floors and carpets in a single sweep, and the boost mode gives you even more power when you need it.

The WandVac Deluxe also couldn't be easier to use. The attachments slot in and out effortlessly, the charging base doubles as storage for all three tools, and the compact design means I can keep it within easy reach without it feeling like a hindrance. The motorised tool is another big plus, particularly if you want a handheld that can tackle more than just everyday crumbs.

It's surprisingly loud for such a small vacuum, and the dust bin is fairly small, so you’ll need to empty it regularly if you’re using it for bigger cleaning jobs. But neither issue has really bothered me during testing.

Plus, I think the Shark WandVac Deluxe earns its £199.99 price tag. I've grown to prefer this model to other handhelds I've tested, and I'm still surprised at just how powerful it is given its lightweight design. So, if you're looking for a handheld vacuum that is as good for grab-and-go cleans as it is for tougher cleaning jobs, this is one I'd happily recommend.

How I tested

Specifications

• Max. run time:  40 minutes
• Charge time:  3.5 hours
• Bin capacity: 0.13 L
• Weight: 2kg
• Dimensions: 46.99 L x 21.11 W x 11.81 H cm
• Modes: 3
• In the box: Main Unit, Duster Crevice Tool, Motorised Pet Tool, Charging Base, Charging Plug
• RRP: £199.99

Unboxing, set-up, and first impressions

The WandVac Deluxe offered exactly the kind of unboxing experience I'd expect from a premium brand like Shark. Everything arrived neatly packaged in a box that was easy to carry around, and there wasn't a scrap of single-use plastic in sight.

All the components were wrapped in recyclable paper instead, which is a big thumbs up from me in terms of both the product's environmental impact but also in relation to the unboxing experience – it just feels elevated.

While I knew the WandVac was designed to be a lightweight, grab-and-go handheld, I was still surprised by just how sleek it looked once everything was out of the box. It's slimline rather than bulky, but it didn't feel flimsy. It's exactly the sort of streamlined design you'd expect from a handheld vacuum meant to be picked up and used at a moment's notice.

I was also a big fan of the charging base, which doubles up as an accessories holder. All three attachment heads slot neatly into the base, so everything has its own place, and I don't have to go rummaging through a cupboard every time I want to use them.

In terms of assembly, there's actually nothing to do at all. The instruction manual is still nice to have, though, as it provides all the information you need to get the most out of the vac.

It recommends fully charging the device before its first use (which takes around 3.5 hours), so I popped it onto the charging base and saw one of the indicator lights start blinking. Once all the lights stopped flashing, I knew it was fully charged and ready for action.

What's it like to use?

I'm glad to say that the seamlessness of the set-up process continued once I started testing the WandVac Deluxe in my home. The three attachments – crevice, upholstery, and motorised pet – each slot easily into the main unit, and detach just as easily via the tabs on either side of the handle.

There’s no fiddling around or wrestling with the attachments, which, from previous testing experience, I know isn't always a guarantee.

I started by giving the edges of my kitchen floor and living room a quick once-over with the crevice tool, and it didn't take long to get a sense of how much power this little vacuum has. There are three modes to choose from – normal, eco and boost – and although I started off in normal mode, I switched to eco pretty quickly.

In fact, Eco mode was more than enough for the surface-level cleaning I had planned, which was also good news for the 40-minute battery life.

However, the vacuum's noise surprised me; it’s pretty loud for a handheld, especially one this small. I could actually see the vinyl floor in my kitchen move slightly under the nozzle's suction, which gave a clear indication of how much power the WandVac has.

But to actually paint the picture of just how powerful this handheld vacuum is, I put it through our usual flour test. I was slightly more generous with the flour than I intended when scattering it across my kitchen floor, which left me a little worried that I’d made the test harder than it needed to be.

Thankfully, it was no problem for the WandVac Deluxe. I used the wider upholstery tool for this test (despite me very obviously not cleaning upholstery), as I wanted to put this attachment through its paces before I tested the motorised tool later on. And it got full marks from me as it picked up the flour in a single sweep.

It was the same story when I repeated the test on my living room carpet. The WandVac picked up all the flour in its path in a single pass, which is always a satisfying sight.

Speaking of the upholstery tool, this was the perfect attachment for refreshing sofas, pouffes, curtains, and even table runners. It glided effortlessly over surfaces and left the telltale, satisfying streaks on my pouffe, which usually indicate strong suction power.

And I was actually very pleased I had a new handheld vacuum for this purpose, as my previous model (the Gtech ProLite Handheld Bagged Vacuum) lacked an upholstery tool altogether.

Next, I tested the WandVac's 'motorised pet' tool by cleaning the interior of our car. This review was well-timed, as I had an oat-related disaster in the car a few weeks back and I still hadn't got around to cleaning it.

Happily, the WandVac made light work of this job. Not only did it pick up the oats and other debris that had been lingering, but it also cleaned the car seats and removed the oat residue that had worked its way into the fabric when I switched to boost mode.

Using the device in boost mode with the motorised head is a powerful combination, and I seriously doubt the WandVac Deluxe would struggle to clean anything with this pairing.

I'd highly recommend the motorised pet tool for deeper cleaning jobs like this. While I don't have any pets, the way it cleaned our car left me with little doubt about the WandVac Deluxe's cleaning capabilities. It's picked up stubborn dirt and hair in my home, and I'd be confident recommending it to people with pets.

Lastly, in terms of how the WandVac Deluxe actually feels to use, I couldn’t be happier. It’s the lightest handheld vacuum I’ve tested so far, and it's made me realise this is exactly what I want from a handheld.

If a handheld vacuum feels bulky, it kind of defeats the point of having one in the first place. The WandVac’s slimline design fit in my hand like a glove, and I could easily pick it up to tackle different surfaces around my home without feeling like I was lugging an appliance around.

It’s also small enough to leave on its charging base between cleans without creating the sort of visual clutter that can come with bulkier handheld devices.

Cleaning and maintenance

My first thought when I saw the size of the WandVac Deluxe was that the dust bin would need frequent emptying. It looked tiny, and I expected it to be a nuisance.

That said, the small dust bin didn't bother me during testing, and I found it took a surprisingly long time to fill up. And when the time does come to empty the dust bin, it doesn't require too much effort or patience.

It springs open at the touch of the button, so you need to hold it horizontally over a bin; otherwise, you risk spilling the contents on the floor. I had a little trouble reinserting the dust cup after I emptied it, but it's easy enough once you get the knack.

Though I didn't find the small dust bin too much of a hindrance, there are great handheld vacuums out there with a larger capacity, so keep that in mind if you think this would bother you.

As with any vacuum, it's best to clean the filter regularly to keep the device in tip-top condition. Although I struggled to remove the filter holder, I could still access the filter easily enough.

Taking mine out revealed just how much flour I'd used on my earlier tests, but thankfully, most of it came out by tapping the filter over the bin. Rinsing the filter is the best way to clean it fully (just make sure it's completely dry before putting it back into the vacuum).

After using it, the upholstery tool had a little dust and debris on it, but it only took a couple of minutes to wipe it down, too. I'd recommend keeping all attachment heads as clean as possible to keep the WandVac working optimally.

How does it compare to similar models?

Shark is no stranger to producing high-quality handheld vacuums, but where does the WandVac Deluxe sit amongst the brand's current offerings? First, it's the upgrade of the WandVac 2.0, a cheaper (£129.99 compared to £199.99) option with a much shorter battery life (max 15 minutes). The WandVac 2.0 is still good for on-the-go cleaning, but you might struggle to use it for longer jobs like cleaning the car.

Then, there's the Shark PowerBoost Pet Handheld Vac. Our reviewer was impressed by its suction power, lightweight design, and battery life, and this model includes a flexible hose and extra tools for awkward areas, making it slightly more versatile. The PowerBoost's dust cup is slightly larger (0.25L), but I'm not convinced the price hike (£229.99) is worth it. It's not a slimline design like the WandVac Deluxe is, which is my personal preference for handheld vacs.

Finally, the Dyson Car+Boat has long held the top spot in our handheld vacuum buying guide. I tested it myself, and it earned full marks for its impressive cleaning performance.

In standard mode, the Dyson Car+Boat runs for 50 minutes, the longest battery life I've found for a handheld vac. That said, after testing the WandVac Deluxe, I think this is my preferred model for easy handheld cleaning. I prefer the lightweight design to the bulkier Dyson model, but I don't feel like the WandVac Deluxe compromises on power. It's also cheaper than the Car+Boat, which costs £249.99 at full price.

Should you buy the Shark WandVac Deluxe Handheld Vacuum?

I rarely give an appliance five stars in my reviews, because it really needs to tick all the boxes. But testing the Shark WandVac Deluxe has genuinely been a delight. The seriously impressive suction, the three power modes for cleaning flexibility, and the motorised tool for deep cleaning mean it handled everything I threw at it. It's perfect for grab-and-go cleans but also holds its own on tougher jobs.

What really sets the WandVac Deluxe apart for me is how lightweight it is. I’ve tested plenty of handheld vacuums, and I’ve realised that if a handheld feels bulky or cumbersome, it defeats the point. The WandVac Deluxe is slim enough to sit comfortably in my hand, and I can quickly grab it to clean room edges or freshen up soft furnishings without feeling like I’m lugging a hefty appliance around.

The compromises are there, but they're small. It's a little on the loud side (especially in boost mode), and the dust bin is small, but I didn't need to empty it as much as I thought I would. That might change if you use the vacuum for regular heavy-duty cleaning, but for this review, it wasn't a problem.

At £199.99, it isn’t the cheapest handheld vacuum around, but after testing it alongside models from Gtech and Dyson, I think it offers excellent value for what you get. If you want a powerful, lightweight handheld vacuum that can handle more than just the occasional crumb, I’d have no hesitation recommending the Shark WandVac Deluxe.

I put the Groove Adjustable Memory Foam pillow to the test on my own bed and slept on it for a week to see how it compares to the best pillows on the market.

In a nutshell

As you might guess from its name, the Groove Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow is adjustable, which means you can alter its height to suit your particular body frame.

This makes it a particularly useful option for side sleepers, as you can make it higher or lower to better suit broad shoulders or a petite frame. It's also ergonomically shaped, with 'cutouts' for your shoulders that aim to improve sleep posture and deliver better spinal alignment.

Because of this, it's one of the best pillows for side sleepers that I've tested, and even better, you get a 100-night sleep trial to test it out for yourself and see if you feel the same. Plus, at just £45 I think it's great value for money.

Does it have any downsides? Yes, at least it does for me. I found it a little too firm – my ear felt squashed compared to my usual bouncy latex pillow – and I found it warm to sleep on. I love a cool pillow, and I found I had a hot head after I'd been lying on it for 15 minutes or so.

However, if you can overlook those niggles, I think this pillow will suit a lot of people, so if you're looking for the best memory foam pillow, or a good pillow for side sleeping, it's definitely one well worth having on your radar.

Groove Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow review

Specifications

• Best for: side sleepers
• RRP: £45
• Feel: firm
• Heights available: adjustable
• Materials: poly-cotton and memory foam
• Care instructions: insert: do not wash; cover: machine wash at 30ºC
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 100 nights

Comfort

The main selling point of the Groove Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow is its adjustable height. The pillow has a zipped cover, and inside are four removable layers, which means you can adjust the pillow to multiple different heights.

Why is this important? Because, as the Groove product page explains, 'if your pillow is too high or too low for your frame, it can contribute to shoulder pain, headaches, and poor sleeping posture.'

As I've discovered during the five years I've been testing pillows as Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, this tends to mean that a one-size pillow that might suit one person perfectly can be completely wrong for another. And this is particularly the case if, like me, you're a side sleeper.

As the Groove website continues to explain, 'wider frames or broad shoulders need more loft to fill the gap between neck and mattress; too little, and the shoulder takes the strain instead.' In contrast, petite frames may find most side sleeping pillows offer too much height, which 'forces the neck to crane upward all night; less loft keeps the spine level.'

Those removable layers mean you can make the Groove Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow the exact right height for *your* body. Plus, it's ergonomically shaped, with moulded sections designed to support your neck whether you're lying on your side or back.

It took me some experimenting to find the right height for me. Initially, I removed two layers, but found I woke with a sore neck as the pillow was still too high. However, after removing another of the thinner layers, I found my 'just right'.

This meant that when I lay on my side, my head and neck were supported in alignment with my spine. I always use a body pillow to help prevent me from rolling forward or back at night (Woolroom's Washable Wool Body Pillow or the Simba Body Pillow are two of the best), and with the Groove pillow under my head and a body pillow at my side, I had good sleep posture all night long.

The downsides? I found this is a pretty firm pillow. I'm used to sleeping on a latex pillow (the Woolroom Natural Latex Washable Wool Pillow is my pillow of choice), and in contrast to latex's springy, zero-gravity feel, the memory foam-filled Groove Adjustable pillow felt very solid and dense under my ear.

As such, it was a little *too* firm for me, and I found I woke up with a bit of a squashed ear the first few nights, although I did get used to the firmer feel as my week's testing wore on.

Plus, I know a lot of people who love a firmer feel under their head. My colleague Zoe raves about the Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow, which I find *far* too firm, so pillow density does come down to personal preference.

Temperature regulation

I actually tested two of Groove's pillows over the summer: the Groove Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow and the Groove Air Cooling Pillow. However, unfortunately, I found both slept warmer than I would have liked.

This is a common problem with memory foam pillows, and despite the addition of cooling technologies, I found my head still got a lot hotter on these pillows than it does when I lay on latex, wool, or feather and down.

Admittedly, I'm a hot sleeper, and I tested these pillows during a heatwave. But I made sure to test them in much cooler weather too, and I still found I got a hot and slightly sweaty head after 15 minutes or so.

My overheating was helped by adding a cooling pillowcase to the pillow (I recommend one of the best silk pillowcases if your budget can stretch), but I wouldn't say that good temperature regulation is this pillow's strong suit.

Ease of care