Nothing ruins a room's overall look quite like an overflowing clothes airer, especially if you have guests coming over. As the colder months make outdoor drying more difficult (nigh on impossible), most of us end up with laundry racks taking over our living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms.

While practical, a traditional clothes horse (and even some of the best heated clothes airers) is rarely pretty when it's covered in washing. Thankfully, there are a number of clever ways to make drying laundry indoors less of an eyesore, from changing where and how you hang clothes to swapping a bulky floor-standing rack for a more discreet alternative.

If, like me, you're fed up with staring at laundry all week, these expert-approved solutions are worth giving a whirl.

1. Choose a clothes airer that hides the washing

If you can't hide your airer, conceal the clothes instead. Covered and screened designs are a smart option for anyone who regularly dries washing in a living space, and the Joseph Joseph Eclipse 3-tier ecru clothes airer with screen, £135 on Amazon, is one of the smartest-looking examples we've seen.

Rather than leaving every item of washing on show, it has a fabric screen down one side that helps disguise the laundry behind it. It's a small design detail but one that could make a big difference if your airer has to live in your kitchen, living room or another highly visible spot.

Richard Joseph, CEO and co-founder of Joseph Joseph, agrees. 'A covered side instantly tidies the look of laundry while adding an elevated design element to your home,' he explains. 'It's great at concealing clothes whilst blending seamlessly into your surroundings.'

Covers can also be useful for heated airers. Catrin Parry, buying lead for cleaning and laundry at Lakeland, recommends pairing a Dry:Soon heated airer with its purpose-designed cover. It conceals the clothes, helps speed up drying and is my top pick in our buying guide.

2. Swap a wide airer for a tower design

When floor space is limited, think upwards. A tall, narrow tower airer can hold a large wash while taking up less room, says Lauren Roelofs, Laundry category expert at Brabantia.

The Brabantia HangOn tower, £80 at Argos, for example, offers 23 or 30 metres of drying space, with independently folding levels and wheels making it easier to move when guests arrive.

Mary Widdall, Product Category Manager for Laundry at Minky, agrees that vertical designs suit flats and smaller homes. Slimline and extendable models can also provide drying space without permanently taking over the floor.

3. Make use of the back of the door

For smaller loads, an over-the-door airer can keep laundry off the floor and out of the centre of the room.

Brabantia's Hanging Drying Rack provides 4.5 metres of drying space and attaches to a door or suitable radiator. Lakeland's Beechwood and Steel over-the-door airer, £34.99, is another slick-looking alternative to a traditional clothes horse.

Catrin says these designs are useful for 'making the most of underused drying spaces,' and most collapse for easy storage.

4. Install a retractable washing line

This is one solution I've actually built into my own utility room that has also gone viral on Instagram. I have a brass retractable washing line, £14.99 on Amazon, that I can pull out whenever I need extra drying space and then retract completely once the washing is put away.

With a retractable clothing line, you get a useful drying space without having another bulky laundry product permanently taking up room. I also deliberately chose a brass design so that even the small part that remains visible feels like it belongs with the rest of the room rather than looking overly functional.

'For a larger wash, a wall-mounted retractable line is a practical option,' says Emma Rawley, Senior Product Manager at Beldray. 'Beldray's 16m retractable clothes line, £12.99 at Amazon, can be used indoors, provides drying room but then retracts back into its casing afterwards.'

5. Use a radiator, bath or ceiling airer

Radiator, wall-mounted, over-bath and ceiling-mounted airers make use of otherwise wasted space and keep laundry off the floor.

Lakeland's over-bath and extendable ceiling airer, £39.99, is designed for this purpose, while Minky's Over Bath Airer, £29.99 on Amazon, provides 9.5 metres of drying space above an area used only occasionally.

Radiator airers are useful for small loads, although Emma warns that they should only be used on compatible radiators and work similarly to a heated clothes airer, but should never be placed on portable or electric heaters.

6. Put small laundry on a peg airer

Socks, underwear and kids' clothes don't need to take over your main drying rack.

Richard recommends a compact peg hanger, such as Joseph Joseph's Petal 22-piece quick-grip drying hanger, £10 on Amazon. 'Peg airers can be ideal for drying smaller items without the need to assemble a full-sized airer, helping the space feel more organised and less cluttered,' he says.

Beldray's 20-peg folding airer, £9.99 on Amazon, works similarly, clipping onto an existing airer or washing line before folding away.

Separating smaller pieces makes the washing look tidier and frees the main rails for longer garments.

7. Make the laundry itself look less messy

If buying another product isn't an option, changing how you load your airer can make a difference, says the experts, whether it's a traditional clothes airer or a heated one.

Lauren recommends grouping similar garments, placing larger pieces towards the outside and smaller items inside, with underwear and socks on the lower racks. Shirts and blouses can go directly onto hangers, freeing rail space and allowing them to move straight into the wardrobe once dry.

Mary also suggests grouping similar items and colours together, while leaving space between garments rather than overlapping them.

And Emma recommends an extra spin cycle before hanging washing. Removing more water means less drying time and less looking at your airer!

Shop clothes airers you won't need to hide

Failing all that, if you're in the market for a new clothes airer, these are by far some of the prettiest looking I've found.

So there you have it! Disguising an ugly clothes airer isn't just about hiding it. Choosing a smaller or more attractive design, organising the washing and getting it dry and put away quickly can make the biggest difference, say laundry experts! Easier said than done, though!

As we shift into autumn and the temperature drops, the chance of damp creeping into our homes rises. We close the windows, start drying clothes inside and pop the heating on. All of these elements together can increase the chances of damp, and whilst a dehumidifier is a great option, it's not solving the actual problem in this case.

The most common reason for damp appearing can be sharing a wall (or two) with a neighbour. This is called 'penetrating damp' and can be caused by a number of issues. Once established, it can spread and settle, so it's important at this time of year to be aware of the causes; as such, we have asked our experts what we should all be looking out for this season.

1. Leaking gutters

Leaking gutters are one of the biggest issues, and with leaves starting to drop, they're also getting clogged up.

Mark Irving, building expert at Build & Plumb, explains, 'If your neighbour has a leaking gutter, this can eventually lead to penetrating damp in your home due to the repeated overflow of water saturating external brickwork. Bricks, mortar and render are all porous, and they will soak up escaping water instead of allowing it to flow down the drainpipe. Over time, this moisture will build up and travel downwards or sideways through the masonry. If it hits a shared or adjoining wall, it will cross over onto your property and show up as damp.'

If you are suspicious of a leak, then a good option is to check the guttering when it's actually raining; this will show you whether it's overflowing or dripping onto brickwork.

Also check the downpipe. A blockage lower down can cause water to back up into the gutter and overflow even when the gutter itself looks fairly clear.

'If the same wall keeps becoming damp after rain, the guttering and downpipe are worth checking before assuming there is a plumbing leak somewhere inside the house,' advises Peter Jones, director at ADI Leak Detection.

Give your gutters the once-over; we love Amazon's 4m 13ft 2-in-1 telescopic gutter cleaning brush scoop kit, currently £25.64. You can operate from the ground so no need for ladders.

2. Plumbing leaks

These can come from various sources – a broken pipe, a leaking bath (if you live in a flat), appliances like a leaking washing machine, radiators and shared drains.

'A bathroom or kitchen on the other side of a shared wall can cause damp in your home if there is a leak behind it,' says Peter. 'It does not need to be a burst pipe. A small leak from a shower connection, bath, toilet or pipe joint can release water slowly over a long period without either household noticing straight away.'

A sign to look out for is if the damp gets worse even during dry weather. 'This means plumbing becomes more likely. You may also notice the patch changing after the bathroom or kitchen next door has been used, although it is not always that obvious,' Peter adds.

If you or your neighbour have a leaking pipe, then the 151 waterproof stop leak rubberised leak repair spray is a good quick fix, £6.94 at B&Q.

3. Damaged roofing

'The flashing on a roof seals the gap where your roof meets your neighbour's, or where a chimney joins onto a property,' explains Mark. 'If the flashing on your neighbour's side is damaged, cracked or missing, water can run straight down behind the brickwork and seep into interior walls.'

Slipped or broken tiles can also expose roof felt, Mark adds. 'If this felt is old or damaged, water running off the roof can be directed onto the brickwork of your property and cause damp in party walls or loft spaces.'

Laura Rich, former estate agent and property designer at Furniturebox, says to look for signs like brown or yellow staining, bubbling or flaking paint, or even the smell of damp. 'Mould growth or patches that become worse after rain is a sign that the roof tiles are problematic. If the damp is concentrated on a wall or ceiling directly adjacent to a neighbour's roof structure, it's worth considering whether the source could be external rather than assuming it's an internal plumbing problem.'

For an emergency roof issue, B&Q's liquid rubber roof coating leak seal will do the trick and is ideal for flat roofs too, £59.99 for 5 litres. It is definitely worth maintaining your roof and encouraging your neighbour to check theirs too.

4. Empty properties

Is the property next to yours empty? This can be fine during the summer months, but once the seasons change, problems can begin to show themselves, especially if the house is being neglected.

'A vacant property can pose more of a risk as problems may not be spotted as quickly; homeowners are likely to notice a dripping tap, leaking radiator, overflowing gutter or water stain much sooner than a property that is sitting empty,' says Laura. 'Properties that are unoccupied for an extended period might mean heating may also be switched off, ventilation may be limited and routine maintenance can be missed - contributing to moisture and condensation problems within the empty property.'

Of course, if the house is temporarily vacant but still maintained by the owner, it should be fine, but if not, it can be worth investigating. You can check ownership and occupancy records at HM Land Registry.

5. Garden issues

Perhaps not one we often think about, but it can be a cause. According to Mark, there are three main causes for concern.

'First up is if your neighbour raises the level of their garden soil, lawn or patio so that it is above your home's damp-proof course, moisture can bypass this barrier and soak into the brickwork of your home. The second is surface water run-off – sloped lawns, patios and concrete slabs that direct rainwater towards your property can saturate external walls and cause penetrating damp. The last is dense vegetation near a brick wall, as it will be constantly shaded and wet, which prevents water from evaporating; this increases internal condensation.'

A good time to check for these is after heavy rain. 'Look for water pooling beside the wall, water running from the neighbouring garden towards the property or one section of soil which stays wet much longer than everywhere else,' suggests Peter.

If your garden becomes waterlogged, the quickest solution is to spike it with a fork; this will help the standing water drain away.

6. Building work or structural changes to a neighbouring property

We know that building work near your property can create issues – it can move pests like rats, create foundation cracks, cause wall and roof damage due to heavy equipment vibration and add extra dust.

'Extensions, new paving, raised patios or changes to external walls can sometimes alter how rainwater drains around a property,' says Noel Folk, indoor air quality expert and founder of EcoAir. 'For example, if paving is raised too high against a shared wall or water is redirected towards your property, it can increase the risk of moisture getting into the walls.'

Shopping essentials

FAQs

You must check your home over for damp at this stage in the year, then keep looking over potential areas and put some preventative measures in place.

If you've been thinking about buying a heated clothes airer ahead of the colder weather, I've found a budget Beldray option that really impressed me in testing. The Beldray winged electric heated airer, £49.99, is affordable, quick to heat up and most importantly, I found it surprisingly speedy at drying my clothes.

Having tested plenty of the best heated clothes airers, I know that you can easily spend upwards of £100 on one. But what stood out to me about this Beldray airer was just how effective it felt for its price. It also has a relatively compact, familiar winged design, so it didn't feel like it was taking over the room, which is a huge bonus if you're trying to dry laundry in a smaller space.

Here's a little more about why it's an absolute bargain and a must-buy.

Speed was one of the first things I noticed about this heated airer. Its heated bars get warm quickly, so you don't have to wait long for it to start getting to work on damp laundry.

However, there is a knack to getting the best results from this winged style of heated airer. Because the heat is concentrated around the bars, I found it worked best when I moved and repositioned my clothes periodically. This helps different parts of the items come into contact with the heated rails rather than one section drying much faster than the rest.

Alternatively, I took heated airer advice from the laundry experts, and rather than hanging one garment from a single bar, you can drape it across a number of heated bars. This gives more of the fabric contact with the heat and can help it dry more evenly. I've found that this is particularly handy for smaller items, such as my kids' clothes, which fit easily across the main section without taking up too much drying space.

I'd also recommend using it with a heated airer cover, like Beldray's cover, £7.99 on Amazon. A cover helps trap the warm air around your laundry rather than allowing it to escape straight into the room, creating a warmer environment and helping the airer work more effectively.

Its size was another big win for me. Some of the larger three-tier models I've tested offer a huge amount of drying space, but they can feel cumbersome, especially in smaller homes. The winged design of this one felt much more manageable while still providing enough space for an everyday load of washing.

Now, I'll admit, it is a fairly simple heated airer, but I don't necessarily see that as a negative. If you want an affordable way to speed up indoor drying without a huge appliance taking over your room, this does the job remarkably well.

More heated clothes airers I rate

And if this heated clothes airer isn't quite fitting with what you need, there are plenty of other models I rate that are well worth a look.

If you're a heated airer that won't cost a fortune ot ake over a room, I think this Beldray model is a brilliant budget buy. It's simple, heats up quickly and with a little repositioning of your clothes as they dry, gets the job done. Happy drying!

There is most definitely an autumnal chill in the air recently, so what better time or place to welcome Lidl’s dehumidifier back to stores? Not only will it reduce the amount of damp in your home, but it has a dedicated laundry mode to make drying clothes faster and easier.

If you struggle to dry laundry during wet, chilly weather (i.e during autumn and winter), then one of the best dehumidifiers is an essential item to help you keep on top of your laundry routine. However, these appliances can be pricey, even costing hundreds of pounds for the best models, which is where Lidl’s budget dehumidifier comes into play.

Landing in stores on Sunday (27 September), the Lidl Tronic Dehumidifier is just £79.99 and is perfect for getting rid of damp and reducing humidity levels for a more comfortable home. Here’s everything you need to know.

Usually, the dehumidifier we recommend for drying laundry indoors is the ProBreeze Premium 20L Dehumidifier with Special Laundry mode (£159.99 at B&Q); however, if you’re working to a smaller budget, I think the Lidl dehumidifier can be used as an alternative.

It offers a moisture extraction rate of 10 litres per 24 hours and offers two programmes: ‘dry laundry’ or ‘dehumidifier’. It has a decent-sized water tank of 2.1L, a removable and washable filter, as well as a built-in timer and warning signal for when the tank is full.

The dehumidifier also has four castors, making transportation easier around your home. But if you’re struggling to dry clothes in winter, this is where a dehumidifier shines. As a dehumidifier’s job is to suck moisture out of the air, when placed near your drying rack can help clothes dry faster. It also helps prevent any musty odours or mould forming if your clothes are taking too long to dry. The other alternative is using one of the best heated airers, but these don’t have quite as many benefits as dehumidifiers with dedicated laundry modes.

Ideal Home’s Senior Digital Editor and resident dehumidifier expert, Jenny McFarlane, is also impressed by the specifications of the Lidl Tronic Dehumidifier.

‘The Tronic dehumidifier is a really affordable option for tackling condensation and excess moisture. Its 10-litre extraction rate makes it a good fit for smaller rooms, and I really like that it has a laundry mode so it can help speed up drying your clothes indoors. Being able to set your target humidity is another feature I'd normally look for in a good dehumidifier, while its compact size and castors make it easily portable from room to room,’ she says.

Lidl’s dehumidifier will only be in store, so if you find your local store quickly sells out, or doesn’t stock the dehumidifier, I’ve rounded up a few more models the Ideal Home team rate highly.

When you think about the everyday items in your home - your bin, ironing board or clothes airer, for example - do you ever consider them to be beautiful?

I’ll wager you barely even notice such household items, let alone consider them beautiful. Yinka Ilori OBE’s new collaboration with Brabantia is here to change that. The collection, titled ‘There is Magic in Joy ’, takes the best kitchen bins or even the best airers and turns them into works of art.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Yinka to discuss his latest bold and colourful collection (the Yinka Ilori x Dunelm collection impressing the Ideal Home team in the summer). After discussing the importance of colour and joyfulness in his work, I was convinced every area of your home should add joy to your life.

British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori is well known for his use of bold colour and intricate detailing within his designs. He’s a master of creating a kaleidoscope of colour, and the most recent Brabantia collection is no exception.

The collection includes statement bins, a bold, colourful airer, and ironing board and lunchbox accessories. Yellow and pink feature heavily throughout the designs, with Yinka even telling me they’re two of his favourite colours to work with.

‘I was really interested in seeing how you could reimagine an everyday object into something that is a ritual that we do daily. But how can that ritual become a ritual of joy?’ Yinka told me.

‘And I think having slogans and artworks on things that we use daily within our home, I think, can really kind of shape our day, our moods, and really kind of change the way we look at kitchen utensils and kitchen objects within the home space.’

What struck me as someone who has a small home and a really small kitchen was that this latest Brabantia collection contained items that look like pieces of decor, rather than functional items. For example, I don’t have a tumble dryer, so my bog-standard grey clothes horse is on show the majority of the time in my home. Since seeing the HangOn Drying Rack (£99) in person, I like the idea of my clothes horse adding colour to my space, rather than looking unsightly.

‘I thought there’s something quite playful about the drying rack because of all the kinds of block colours. I mean, for me, I might put my socks in the yellow section, and I might put my t-shirts in the purple section. So I think there's also something quite playful that kids might find interesting about, you know, an object that we see daily,’ Yinka added.

‘People shouldn’t be nervous by color. For me, it's just like doctors saying to you, you know, you need vitamin D from the sun, right? You know, for your skin, it's good for your body. It brings you joy. It's the same thing as, you know, as if you are around colour and around affirmation, it will uplift your mood and change your home space.’

So as we head into winter, and Vitamin D starts to wane, consider finding yours in colourful and joyful home decor. I saw that the Yink Ilori x Brabantia collection is a good place to start.

One thing I’ve learned during my time at Ideal Home is that functional items can, and often should, be beautiful. And if anything is beating the drum of pretty yet functional, it’s John Lewis’ new range of laundry baskets.

Given that this is an item that is on show in our homes, whether that be your bedroom, bathroom or utility room, I think it makes absolute sense that pretty laundry baskets should be available for every home.

John Lewis has answered our call, dropping stunning new styles that add glamour to such a boring chore. You may already be aware that wicker is a defining home decor trend this autumn, and imagined into a laundry basket genuinely looks fabulous.

Wicker has been a breakout trend for autumn 2026, particularly in the form of wicker vases and lamps. But it’s also perfect for your laundry basket, as John Lewis demonstrates. Wicker is a natural material and typically a warm, brown colourway, making it gentle on the eye and relaxing - perfect for inclusion in your bedroom storage ideas.

A natural wicker laundry basket is the perfect balance of good looks and being able to blend into your surroundings. If you have a classic country style, it’s an ideal laundry basket material for your home.

First to catch my eye was undoubtedly the Oval Seagrass Storage Basket (£30), which is perfect for depositing loads of laundry around your home. It has integrated handles and sturdy construction to make the chore easier, while its stunning design looks far more expensive than its £30 price tag. I love the blend of rich, autumnal red and beige - it makes the basket look like fallen leaves.

Similarly, the Wicker Oval Laundry Basket (£35) offers the same function, but has a more traditional look. It combines classic woven wicker with a white fabric insert and bow to create a timeless style that won’t look out of place in any home.

Lastly, the Rectangular Bulrush Lidded Laundry Basket (£90) is large enough to hold the washing of a busy household, yet its simple, timeless look means it won’t take up too much visual space. It also tucks neatly along a wall or in a corner, taking up less physical space, too.

It’s also made from natural bullrush, a sustainable grass that grows in brackish water to help improve soil and water quality. It’s lidded and comes with built-in handles to keep dirty laundry out of sight.

These may be the newest additions to John Lewis’ pretty laundry baskets, but they’re not the only ones. Here are a few more styles that have caught my eye.

If you find your current luandry basket is a bit of an eyesore in your home, consider upgrading to one of these gorgeous woven alternatives.

Living in an older house, I know all too well that excess moisture doesn't always show up somewhere handy. In autumn and winter, I'm always having to keep an eye on condensation around my windows, as well as smaller, tucked-away spaces with limited airflow, like wardrobes, cupboards, drawers and behind furniture.

That's why the Lakeland 2L dehumidifier with removable dehumidifier wand made me do a double take. I regularly test the best dehumidifiers for Ideal Home, but this is the first model I've come across with a detachable wand specifically designed to tackle moisture in smaller spaces.

And with autumn here and the damp season approaching, I'm putting it to work around some of the trickier areas of my home. Here's why it's such a must-buy.

The removable wand is what makes the difference

The feature I was most intrigued by is the detachable dehumidifier wand that sits on top of the main unit. This is the first time I've actually come across a design that lets me remove part of the appliance to tackle moisture in spaces where the main machine simply wouldn't fit.

Inside the wand are silica gel beads that absorb moisture from the surrounding air, so it doesn't need to be plugged in while doing its job. There's even a button-fastened strap so you can hang it inside a wardrobe, or I can place it in a drawer or another small damp-prone space.

I've already been using it at my windows. Condensation is something I have to keep on top of in my Victorian home, particularly around my single-glazed windows when temperatures drop. While the wand isn't going to replace a full-sized dehumidifier for controlling humidity in an entire room, its small size means I can position it close to those particularly condensation-prone spots.

There's also a little indicator window that makes it easy to see when it needs regenerating. The silica beads are orange when they're dry and ready to use, gradually turning green as they absorb moisture and become saturated.

Once they're green, you need to return the wand to the top of the main dehumidifier, where the silica gel is dried out.

I really like that it's reusable too, as moisture absorber bags are usually my go-to for enclosed spaces (I love these dehumidifier bags, £14 at Amazon), whereas this one can be regenerated and moved from one problem spot to another.

One thing to be aware of is that the wand will be hot when it's first removed from the dehumidifier after drying. Lakeland advises keeping it at least 10cm away from plastic and other flammable items. If you're placing rather than hanging it, the instructions also recommend using a heat-resistant surface or tray, as some moisture or condensation may appear where it comes into contact with the surface.

The main unit then tackles the rest of the room

The clever wand might have been what caught my eye, but you also get a compact dehumidifier to use around the home. It's got double-duty appeal.

This Lakeland model has a two-litre water tank and can extract up to 500ml of moisture from the air per day, which makes it a great dehumidifier for under £100. Its slimline proportions make it well suited to smaller rooms, where you might not want a bulkier model taking up valuable floor space.

It also has adjustable humidity and fan settings, a timer and a full tank alert, giving you more control than I'd expect from some of the very small dehumidifiers I've tried in the past.

Although I would be mindful of the extraction rate. At up to 500ml per day, I wouldn't choose this over a large compressor or desiccant model if I were dealing with a significant damp problem or wanted a powerful dehumidifier for regularly drying big loads of laundry.

I think its strength is in targeted moisture control; I can use the main unit to help manage humidity in a smaller room and potentially reduce the conditions that lead to condensation on windows. And then the removable wand gives me another way to target those awkward little moisture-prone spots.

More condensation must-haves

And if this dehumidifier isn't quite fitting with what you need, there are plenty of other condensation-busting products we rate that are well worth a look.

As we head further into autumn, I'll be watching out for the little awkward, damp-prone spots, including my window condensation, as it always gets worse the further we get into autumn/winter.

I'm really interested to see how useful this little wand will continue to be when the temperature drops even further!

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.

There are some people who just seem to have laundry figured out. Their washing baskets never seem to overflow, clean clothes don't live in laundry baskets to be sorted later, and they always have somewhere to dry clothes indoors during autumn and winter.

Who are these people, you ask? Well, I'm about to tell you! As someone who tests the best heated clothes airers, steam irons and other laundry kit for Ideal Home, I've learned that a good laundry routine isn't necessarily about doing more washing. It's often more about having a few simple systems and the right tools in place to make sorting, washing, drying and putting clothes away that little bit easier.

According to the laundry pros I spoke to, there are seven things worth having in your laundry arsenal.

1. They own more than one laundry basket

One enormous laundry hamper might look tidier, but it can leave you with a mountain of clothes to sort before you've even got them to the washing machine.

'Separate laundry baskets make sorting as you go much easier,' says Emma Rawley, Product Development Director at Beldray. ' Stackable baskets (like this set of 2, £9.99 at Amazon) are great for separating lights, darks or different household members, while collapsible designs are ideal when storage space is limited.'

Mary Widall, Product Category Manager for Laundry at Minky, agrees. 'Using a divided laundry hamper is one of the simplest ways to make sorting easier, as clothes can be separated as soon as they're taken off rather than tackling one big mixed pile on laundry day.'

For larger households, she recommends giving each family member their own basket. Stackable versions like this laundry basket organiser (£37.96 from Amazon) are particularly useful as they make use of vertical space and can then be used to return clean clothes to the right room.

Shop pretty but practical laundry baskets

2. They use a versatile clothes airer

A reliable clothes airer is one of the first things I'd invest in for a smoother laundry routine, particularly in the UK where the weather can't always be relied upon.

'A good airer is another essential, particularly in the UK where drying outdoors isn't always an option,' says Mary. 'Choosing one that suits the size of your household and folds away easily when it isn't being used can help prevent laundry from taking over your living space.'

Emma recommends having a mix of drying options, such as a main airer for larger loads and a radiator or heated clothes airer when you need additional space or faster drying.

Catrin Parry, Buying Lead at Lakeland, also recommends an indoor/outdoor airer, like this Lakeland airer, £44.99, that can be folded without removing all the clothes if the weather suddenly changes.

The important thing is having a drying setup flexible enough that one rainy day doesn't bring your laundry routine to a halt.

Shop clothes airers you won't need to hide

3. They've invested in a heated clothes airer

If you regularly dry washing indoors, I think a heated clothes airer really comes into its own during autumn and winter.

Catrin recommends Lakeland's Dry:Soon Deluxe heated clothes airer, £169.99 (our top choice in our buying guide), which can hold a whole load of laundry and costs around 8p per hour to run, based on Lakeland's figures. She also suggests pairing it with a cover to help speed up drying.

However, you don't necessarily have to buy another airer. Mary highlights Minky's SureDRI Heat Pod Pro, £45 at Argos, which can turn a standard three-tier airer into a heated drying set-up.

Whichever method you choose, remember that drying clothes indoors releases moisture into the air, so ventilation is important too and is one of the main considerations when choosing a heated clothes airer and one of the main reasons why getting your hands on a good dehumidifier with a laundry mode is a real gamechanger.

Shop our favourite heated clothes airers

4. They use mesh wash bags

This is possibly the smallest addition to the list, but it's one all three experts really rate.

'Wash bags are great for keeping delicates such as bras and smaller items together, while larger bags can be useful for washable trainers,' explains Emma. 'Using wash bags protects delicates and can help extend the life of clothing and also helps you keep socks together.'

Catrin similarly recommends using different mesh bags for bras, trainers and socks (like this set from Amazon has a selection of different sizes and shapes for items, £9.33) to stop smaller pieces disappearing amongst the rest of a load or becoming tangled.

They're inexpensive, take up virtually no storage space and can save time at the other end of the wash (which is an actual godsend). Anything that reduces the number of odd socks I'm dealing with is worth having!

5. They've got a laundry essentials caddy

It's much easier to stay organised when you're not searching through cupboards for stain remover or hunting for a peg bag every time you need to hang up a load.

Mary recommends keeping pegs, wash bags, stain removers and other frequently used products together in a dedicated storage caddy (this 10L capacity caddy is a great pick, £9.99 at Amazon) so they're always ready when you need them.

Even small accessories can make a difference. Mary recommends a peg bag that clips onto a belt loop to keep both hands free, like this drawstring bag from Minky, £7.99 on Amazon, while a no-peg dryer (this one on Amazon, £9.99 from Amazon, is perfect) can make hanging socks, underwear and other small items considerably quicker.

Catrina also singles out stain remover as a laundry essential (I really rate Dr Beckmann power brush stain remover, £2.75 on Amazon). Keeping yours within easy reach of the washing machine means you can treat stains immediately rather than discovering them again once the wash is finished.

Must-have laundry accessories

6. They have a quicker way to deal with creases

For many of us (ahem, me), washing and drying isn't actually the problem. It's the pile of clean clothes waiting to be ironed that brings the whole system to a standstill.

If you don't want to get a full-size ironing board out for every garment, Mary recommends a clothes steamer and steam pad for quick crease removal, or a tabletop ironing board for smaller jobs.

For larger households with substantial ironing loads, Catrin recommends investing in a good steam generator (I second this and recommend the Philips PerfectCare Steam Generator 8000, available at AO) and a sturdy ironing board to make the job quicker and easier.

It's also worth looking at how you're drying clothes in the first place. Mary recommends Minky's SureDRI Compact Drying pod (£79.99 at Amazon), which dries up to 10 garments on hangers while helping to release creases, potentially reducing the amount of ironing needed afterwards.

Shop our top-rated steam irons

7. They have a small-but-regular washing routine

The final thing people with the best laundry routines have isn't actually something you can buy. It's a system that stops washing from reaching overwhelming proportions (which is us on the daily here!)

Rather than saving everything for one enormous laundry day, the experts recommend tackling smaller loads regularly and, importantly, completing the whole process, which is where I fall short.

Catrin sums it up neatly: 'A cycle a day keeps the washing at bay.' Her approach is to wash, dry and fold rather than allowing clean washing to become another pile to deal with later, no matter how painful it is to sort through.

Emma agrees. 'Keep to small, regular loads and having flexible indoor and outdoor drying options means you're not relying on a sunny day to stay on top of the washing.'

And don't forget the final step. Mary says one of the biggest problems is the journey laundry has to make: 'from hamper to washing machine, to drying space, back to wardrobe.' Having baskets that are easy to carry (like these lovely Minky collapsible laundry baskets, £14.99 on Amazon) or keeping one upstairs and another downstairs can remove some of that friction.

Once everything is dry, Emma recommends folding and hanging clothes and putting them away straight away.

Shop easy-to-carry laundry baskets

Emma also makes an important point, which should give you and has given me, some comfort: sometimes it's okay to be behind. Laundry around the house is a normal part of life, so the aim isn't perfection. It's simply having a routine that makes the washing easier to get back on top of. Happy washing!

As a Homes Journalist and Certified Vacuum Expert, I love it when an appliance is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. But while I believe that every household needs a robot vacuum cleaner, they've never quite struck that pretty-but-practical balance.

After all, the best robot vacuums are typically quite intrusive, compromising your home’s design and decor. However, Bosch is looking to change that. The home appliance brand has just launched a fully integrated vacuum and mop robot, designed to fit seamlessly into your kitchen cabinetry - so much so that it becomes ‘invisible’ when not in use.

Created in collaboration with robotics brand ECOVACS, the Bosch Built-In Vacuum and Mop Robot even comes with its own full-service station, where it automatically empties dry and wet debris and dries the mop pads before its next cleaning session. But this integrated design comes at a cost - spatially, practically, and, of course, financially.

Deciding whether a robot vacuum is worth it ultimately comes down to whether you want the convenience of a hands-free appliance doing the work for you - and whether you’re willing to sacrifice the overall ‘look’ of your home to house a freestanding appliance that doesn’t quite match your aesthetic.

The Bosch Built-In Vacuum and Mop Robot removes the freestanding, individualised aspect and turns it into a fully integrated addition that forms part of your kitchen - just like your oven and fridge. It’s hidden within cabinet plinths (the area between your cabinets and the floor), and the docking station is hidden in a cupboard that can be pulled out for maintenance.

When you need it to clean your floors, it’ll move out of its little hidey-hole and make its way around your house. When it’s finished, it’ll take itself back to its hidden home - out of sight and out of mind.

This new development isn’t just about design, though. It’s officially Bosch’s most powerful robot vacuum and mop to date, offering 20,000Pa of suction power, which, for reference, is the same cleaning power as the current number-one-rated robot vacuum cleaner in our guide, the Eufy Omni E25.

It also has an ultra-slim design to clean under furniture, plus smart navigation and multi-level mapping to clean every area of your home. Then, you can control everything via the app.

But what are my thoughts on this new development in the robot vacuum world? Well, I’m torn. On the one hand, I can definitely see the appeal and wholeheartedly agree that robot vacuums are often an ugly addition to any room.

On the other hand, I do find the concept quite limiting, especially as we’re in the midst of a serious robot vacuum revolution right now.

It seems as though new-and-improved models are being released every week, and I think the beauty of buying this appliance - especially if it’s your first robot vacuum - is figuring out the features and modes you like, and what you don’t like. Then, you work your way up from a cheaper model to a more expensive one.

In fact, I feel like my own favourite model changes every time I review a new robot vacuum cleaner, as they're changing so much, and so quickly, too.

For example, the robot vacuum I'm currently testing - the new roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Mop (now just £599 at Amazon) has a whopping 35,000Pa of suction power. That's almost double that of the Bosch. And I know of even more coming soon that go well above 40,000Pa.

However, this model requires you to stick with the same robot vacuum to keep it integrated, and you’ll need to enlist a professional to install it properly. So, at just under £3,000 to buy and install, it would be a very expensive mistake if you don’t like the way the robot cleans - or the features it offers.

You’ve also got to consider the fact that this new integrated robot vacuum has to be installed within or next to an under-the-sink cupboard in a kitchen or utility room - meaning you’ll always have to sacrifice cupboard space in those specific rooms. Which, let’s be honest, are typically quite small and limited on storage space anyway.

Could you justify these quibbles in your home? If you value interior design and aren’t fussed about the latest models, I get it. It's a great idea on paper and makes sense for many people.

But with so many other ways to hide a robot vacuum cleaner, I’m not sure I’m 100% sold.

Alternatives to consider

What are your thoughts on a disappearing robot vacuum?

As someone who tests heated clothes airers regularly, I thought I had a pretty good handle on how to get the most out of one. However, with autumn approaching and indoor drying season almost upon us, I wanted to know if there were any simple tricks I was missing that could actually get clothes dry faster.

And since a lot of us will be relying on one of the best heated clothes airers to dry our laundry indoors, I asked Catrin Parry, Buying Lead for cleaning and laundry at Lakeland, and Mary Widall, Product Category Manager: laundry at Minky, how they use theirs to speed up drying.

It turns out that where you put your clothes, how you space them and even where you position the airer itself can shave valuable time off drying a load.

1. Don't overcrowd your heated clothes airer

This is probably the tip I need to take on board most because my default is always to get the most washing done in the least possible time. Which means I end up squeezing as much onto the airer as physically possible, but both experts warned against overcrowding.

'There's no fixed amount of space you should leave between garments, but not overlapping or allowing garments to touch each other improves warm-air circulation and helps clothes dry faster and more evenly,' explains Mary.

Catrin agrees, saying clothes shouldn't be 'packed too tightly' and that you need to allow the heat to circulate around them.

One trick I particularly like comes from Mary: rather than folding a garment tightly over one rung, she spreads it across two where possible. It takes up more space but exposes more of the fabric and stops clothes from sitting against one another.

2. Make the most of the hottest part of your airer

I've never actually given this much thought to which tier I use for different clothes (I sort of use instinct), but there's a good reason to be more strategic.

'Heat rises, so if there's something you urgently want first, put that on the top level,' says Catrin. She tends to put heavier towels lower down and lighter items near the top, along with accessories such as mesh shelves for delicates like these mesh shelves, £12.99 from Lakeland) and peg hangers (like these Dry:Soon peg hangers, £7.99 from Amazon) for socks.

Mary takes a slightly different approach and reserves that warmer upper section for garments that naturally take longer to dry. Either way, the important takeaway is that the top of your airer is prime drying real estate, so use it for whatever you most want to speed up.

Clever heated clothes airer accessories

3. Use a cover to trap the heat

If your heated airer has an optional cover, both experts are firmly in favour of using it.

'Yes, always,' says Catrin. 'It can really speed it up, trapping warm, relatively dry air and removing a couple of hours of drying time.'

Mary explains that containing the warmth creates a warmer drying environment rather than allowing all that heat to escape into the room. However, she stresses that ventilation is still important. A suitable cover should allow moisture to escape rather than simply trapping increasingly humid air around your clothes.

Mary also shared a clever trick I'll be trying now: 'In the evening, I'll often switch the airer off after a couple of hours and leave the cover on, allowing the residual warmth to continue helping the clothes dry overnight.'

4. Turn thick clothes partway through

You shouldn't need to constantly rearrange your washing, but particularly thick items can benefit from being turned partway through drying.

Catrin recommends doing this with heavier pieces such as jeans and towels because it takes longer for the warmth to penetrate thicker fabric. Mary also suggests rearranging jeans and jumpers to help speed things up, although she points out that every time you lift the cover, you'll release some of the warm air you've worked to trap.

Shop our favourite heated clothes airers

5. Open clothes up as much as possible

Instead of hanging trousers with both legs together or leaving the sleeves of a top bunched up, Catrin says: ' Spread sleeves, open shirts, divide trouser legs, to allow the fabric as much contact with the airer as possible.'

Longer garments can also be hung over the outside rails rather than folded up inside the airer, leaving more space for warm air to move around the rest of our washing.

Essentially, the less fabric you have folded, overlapping, or touching other clothes, the better.

6. Where you put your airer matters more than you think

I've always been conscious of where I position a heated airer, particularly because drying a load of wet washing indoors inevitably adds moisture to your home.

Catrin recommends putting one in a utility room if you have room, underneath its cover and slightly away from the wall. Mary similarly advises choosing a well-ventilated room and giving the airer 'some breathing room' rather than squeezing it against a wall or into a corner.

And while a garage or bathroom might seem like a convenient place to hide an airer, Mary says a room that is already cold or humid could actually increase drying times. A reasonably warm, dry and well-ventilated space is preferable.

7. Get rid of the moisture your laundry releases

This is something I already do when I want to get washing dry quickly: I pair my heated airer with a dehumidifier.

Wet laundry releases a significant amount of moisture into the surrounding air as it dries. If that moisture is allowed to build up, you're essentially trying to dry clothes in increasingly humid conditions.

Mary recommends opening a window or using an extractor fan or dehumidifier where appropriate. 'Good ventilation helps manage humidity and condensation, while also reducing the risk of clothes taking longer to dry or developing a musty smell.'

Catrin agrees, explaining that you'll release excess moisture into your home whether you're using a heated or non-heated airer.

I already swear by running mine alongside a dehumidifier when I have a big load to get through, particularly when it's too cold or wet to open the windows.

Shop our top-rated dehumidifiers

The biggest lesson I picked up from the experts is that faster drying isn't about cramming as much washing as possible onto your heated airer (which is a huge mistake). It's quite the opposite.

Give clothes room, expose as much fabric as possible to the warmth and get excess moisture out of the room, and you have a much better chance of getting your washing dry quickly and efficiently.

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.

A major perk of my job is testing cleaning and floor care appliances in my own home - something that has come in very handy after recently moving into a new (slightly neglected) house. And in an effort to restore my old, worn carpets into something that didn’t give me the heebie-jeebies, I decided to take the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner out for a spin.

Typically, the best carpet cleaners are big and cumbersome, but the new Shark CarpetForce is marketed as a lightweight, compact alternative to these larger, heavier options. But does the cleaning power match its impressive size and weight specs? That was what I wanted to find out.

In a nutshell

At 6.9 kg and with a small footprint and removable wand for easy storage, the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner is undoubtedly the lightest, smallest, and most manoeuvrable carpet cleaner I’ve ever tested. That alone would be enough to add it to my basket, especially in a world where these appliances can weigh over 15kg and require an entire room for storage.

But the CarpetForce also offers two cleaning modes - Express Clean and Deep Clean - allowing homeowners and renters alike the chance to give their carpets a quick refresh or a deeper, more powerful clean to get right into the carpet fibres. And during testing, Express Clean impressed me with its power and rapid drying time.

On the other hand, Deep Clean mode handled smaller, less-intrusive stains with ease, but it wasn’t quite enough to remove deep-set coffee stains, and the drying time was over 24 hours. Because of this, this carpet cleaner isn’t for those who want to take soiled, stained carpets and restore them to their former glory. Instead, I believe it’s for the everyday user who wants to refresh their carpets with more than just a vacuum cleaner.

Just be warned that with no tools or attachments, this is very much an appliance for carpets and rugs - not your sofas, upholstery or stairs. But for an affordable, compact carpet cleaner that gets the job done quickly and efficiently (and on a small scale), it left me impressed.

Specifications

• Cord length: 6m
• Clean water capacity: 3.8L
• Modes: Deep Clean, Express Clean
• Weight: 6.9 kg
• Dimensions: 32.69 cm L x 26.39 cm W x 110.9 cm H
• In the box: Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner with removable wand, 350ml Shark Deep Clean Ultra formula - Starter Bottle
• RRP: £179.99

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

When a brand says something, I like to think that they mean it. So, things started off well when Shark’s ‘lightest carpet cleaner’ turned up on my doorstep in a compact box weighing no more than 10kg. After all, I’m used to testing carpet cleaners (and even some vacuum cleaners) that weigh significantly more than that.

In true Shark form, everything was packaged incredibly simply and in an eco-friendly fashion - from the outer cardboard box to the paper packaging surrounding the carpet cleaner and the removable wand. The box also included an instruction manual and a starter bottle of the cleaning solution.

I was happy to see that very little assembly was required. All I had to do was click the wand into the top of the unit and remove a few sticky labels before I could inspect it in its entirety.

It's a compact model and so lightweight to carry around the house, and I knew just from looking at it that I wouldn’t have to rehome my husband to find storage space for it (which I’m sure he was happy about, too).

And while I’m used to testing carpet cleaners that also come with hoses and handheld attachments for smaller cleaning jobs, I tried not to be too disappointed. I got the feeling that this carpet cleaner was for everyday refreshes rather than deep fibre penetration and stain removal. But I was eager to test this theory out.

To get ready for the first clean, I removed the clean water tank, unscrewed the cap, and filled it to the handy ‘WATER’ fill line. Then, I topped up the rest of the tank with the solution, which was also marked with a ‘CONCENTRATE’ line.

Then, I popped it back on the unit, ready to start cleaning. From unboxing to ready-to-go, it took no more than five minutes, which is a major win in my (very busy) book.

Using the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner

We have strict rules for how we test carpet cleaners at Ideal Home, so I started the review process by throwing coffee onto a carpet sample, wiping blue toothpaste next to it, and letting the stains settle and dry for 24 hours. I then set to work on (hopefully) removing these stains with the Shark CarpetForce.

I used the ‘Deep Clean’ mode for these stains, applying the solution by pressing the trigger while slowly pushing the carpet cleaner forward. Then, I released the trigger and pulled the unit back to ‘extract’ the stains and the water/cleaning solution concoction.

One thing I noticed immediately is that Deep Clean mode uses a lot of water - so much so that it started leaking over the sides of the carpet sample. This left it soaking, and while the extraction removed a fair amount, a lot of water remained behind. In fact, it took the carpet sample over 24 hours to feel dry to the touch - a little too long, in my opinion.

The results here were fair. Although the Shark CarpetForce removed the toothpaste stain with no problem during the first Deep Clean, the coffee stain remained - albeit a lot fainter. So, I had to repeat the process a couple of days later, but even then a slight hint of brown still lingered if you looked close enough.

The issue, in my eyes, is that the CarpetForce doesn’t come with a spot-cleaning function or tool that allows for more targeted stain removal. But in Shark’s defence, it didn’t design this carpet cleaner with that in mind.

So, I can’t really fault it for not having a smaller hose or attachment for stains. It is worth considering this if you regularly have to tackle stains, though, as it may be worth buying a separate spot cleaner like the Shark Stainforce.

However, one thing that did impress me during this stain removal test was how lightweight and manoeuvrable the carpet cleaner was, so I then decided to take it for a spin on my living room rug - a cream number that, in hindsight, wasn’t a good choice in a high-traffic area when you live with a dog.

I used Express Clean for this task, and the water usage felt much more appropriate. I could see and feel that it left the rug damp, not sodden, and it looked noticeably cleaner on the first try. But what I loved most was that the rug was completely dry again in less than three hours.

I was so impressed that I decided to tackle the carpeted landing that has been giving me nightmares since we moved into this house. The property was fairly neglected when we moved in, and I had no idea how long it had been since it was last cleaned, so I was fully expecting to be horrified - and I was.

Even in Express Clean mode, the Shark CarpetForce extracted so much dirt and grime that the water turned a disgusting dark brown. But despite giving me shivers, it was extremely satisfying and took very little effort on my part.

Of course, without attachments or tools, I couldn't use this carpet cleaner to clean my carpeted stairs, which was a shame. But for a refresh of rugs and flat carpets, it did a very good job, and the 6m cord length was long enough to offer stretch without the cable getting in the way all the time.

I was also able to use one full tank of water and cleaning solution for three separate cleaning jobs - including one Deep Clean and two Express Cleans on smaller areas - so it went a lot further than I thought.

Cleaning and maintenance

While not having any tools or attachments is undoubtedly a negative for versatility, it’s certainly a positive for cleaning and maintenance. The Shark CarpetForce was surprisingly easy to look after, and not as messy as I was anticipating.

I’ve previously tested carpet cleaners where the brush roll gets ridiculously gunky where debris hasn’t been sucked fully back into the dirty water chamber, but the CarpetForce was fairly clean - just a bit wet, with a little bit of hair wrapped around the brush roll. However, I always have my Pikk-It® Hair Removal Tool (£7.99 at Amazon) to hand whenever I test a floorcare appliance, as this tends to come with the territory.

Despite the few strands caught around the brush roll, though, most of the human (and dog) hair was captured within the strainer that sits within the dirty water tank. In fact, it was completely full to the brim with hair and carpet/rug fibres, but it was easy to tap it into a bin and get rid of it all.

Then, you can pour the dirty water down the sink and clean the foam filter with soap and water. It’s also a good idea to lightly wash the dirty water tank and its removable parts in washing-up liquid and water before air-drying and reassembling. You can also remove the brushroll for a deeper clean.

One ongoing maintenance cost to consider, though, is the cleaning solution. This particular Shark carpet cleaner isn’t compatible with any other solution or carpet cleaning solutions, so you will need to buy it every so often if you’re running low - and a refill of the Deep Clean formula will set you back £14.99 at Shark. You can also buy pet- or stain-specific Shark solutions, too.

A bonus is that - unlike other carpet cleaners I’ve tested - you can store the carpet cleaner with any unused solution in the tank, and you don’t have to empty it after every use.

In terms of storage, this is also undoubtedly the smallest full-size carpet cleaner I’ve ever tested. The wand is removable, making it even smaller and easy to store in smaller homes with limited storage. So, that’s a major bonus in my book.

How does it rate online?

The Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner is still relatively new to the market, but at the time of writing, it has 32 reviews and an overall rating of 4.7 stars out of 5.

Most reviewers praise the ease and manoeuvrability of the lightweight, compact carpet cleaner, saying that it was ideal for giving their carpets a refresh - especially at the low price point.

However, some have criticised how quickly it runs out of water during carpet cleaning. Others noted that it was a shame there were no tools or attachments for cleaning stairs.

How does it compare to similar models?

When comparing carpet cleaners, it’s important to compare with the top-rated model in our guide - the VAX Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design Carpet Washer. This model is significantly more expensive at £350, but it offers much more in the way of deep cleaning.

It comes with a longer power cord for extra reach, plus a 2.5m hose, 2-in-1 anti-microbial tool, SpinScrub tool, and more cleaning solutions. This meant that our reviewer could use it on everything from her rugs and sofas to her stairs with ease.

It also has a hot air dry-only setting that significantly speeds up drying time by removing moisture before you pop it away. However, it is a lot heavier at 8.9kg, and a lot bigger - making it trickier to store.

As it’s a Shark model, it’s also worth comparing it to the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro Pet Deep Carpet Cleaner with Spot Cleaner, which I tested last year and gave a slightly higher 4.5-star review thanks to the built-in spot cleaner and Dry Only mode.

The CarpetXpert is undoubtedly a better carpet cleaner than this CarpetForce in terms of performance and features, but ultimately it depends on what you want to buy a carpet cleaner for. If you want it to give your carpets a big, deep clean, the CarpetXpert will suit you best.

If you want an everyday carpet cleaner that you can whip out quickly for quick spills and refreshes, the CarpetForce is a better option.

Should you buy the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner?

If you’re after a carpet cleaner that you can keep out of sight in a cupboard and bring out to give carpets and rugs a quick refresh, I genuinely couldn’t recommend the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner more. It ticks all those boxes, and it's extremely easy to use while effectively removing dirt, hair, and grime.

The compact size makes it an accessible option for those who have previously had to rent a carpet cleaner or pay a professional, and the low price point is a major bonus for those on a budget. However, it’s not perfect.

Its stain-removal abilities are fair, but not fantastic, and without any tools or attachments, its cleaning options are limited to rugs and large carpeted areas. This means that you’ll still need to buy another cleaning tool - like a smaller spot cleaner - for targeted stain removal, cleaning upholstery and furniture, and cleaning stairs.

But all in all, the Shark CarpetForce offers much of what it promises, and for under £180 I really do think it’ll be a welcome addition to many people’s cleaning routine.

If you live in a Victorian house, autumn can be the point at which all its charming period features start to show their less appealing side. As temperatures start to drop and we begin closing our windows, turning the heat on and drying laundry indoors, condensation and damp can quickly become a bit of an issue.

I live in a Victorian house myself and know all too well the pitfalls of single glazing in autumn/winter, and while I love my house's high ceilings and features, keeping moisture under control is something I have to be far more conscious about starting from now. Older properties can be particularly susceptible to damp problems, especially where there are cold external walls and areas with limited airflow.

The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to prevent damp before the wettest, coldest weather arrives. These are the habits worth getting into right now.

1. Check gutters, downpipes and pointing

Before concentrating on moisture inside your home, take a walk around the outside. Autumn is a particularly important time to check gutters and downpipes as falling leaves and other debris can quickly cause blockages.

'I'd look at the colder areas first. Around windows, in corners, against external walls and behind wardrobes or sofas are all places where you can get a bit of a damp or condensation problem because the air doesn't circulate as well,' explains Tony Reynolds, Managing Director of Supreme Merchants.

And he also recommends looking outside. 'Gutters and downpipes can easily get blocked, and things like damaged roof tiles or cracks in the pointing can let water into an older house. Autumn is a good time to give everything a quick check before the weather gets really wet.'

If damp repeatedly appears in one particular spot, rather than as general condensation around the home, it's especially important to investigate whether water is getting in.

Mary Widdall, Product Category Manager for Laundry at Minky, also recommends checking lofts and roof spaces for signs of leaks and condensation, as well as making sure they have adequate ventilation.

2. Keep the house consistently warm

You don't need to crank up the thermostat, but allowing a period property to become very cold can make condensation harder to manage.

Catrin Parry, Buying Lead for Cleaning and Laundry at Lakeland, recommends keeping your home at a relatively consistent, warm temperature. Cold surfaces are more likely to become places where moisture in the air condenses, which is why external walls and windows can be particular problem areas in Victorian properties.

Once your heating is back on for autumn, aim for consistency rather than allowing rooms to become extremely cold before heating them intensely for short periods.

Mary points out that colder homes often have colder walls and surfaces, making it easier for moisture created by everyday activities (even breathing overnight) to turn into condensation.

This is why bedrooms are another area worth monitoring. Check windows and cold external walls first thing in the morning for persistent condensation rather than focussing on traditionally damp rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms.

3. Keep ventilating even when it's cold

As much as you don't want to open a window when it's cold and wet outside, and you've just paid to heat a room, ventilation becomes really important once we're spending more time indoors.

'Ventilation remains important throughout autumn and winter, even when it feels counterproductive to let cold air inside,' says Laura Bradbury, Head of Ecommerce at Vonhaus. 'Opening windows for a short period each day can help replace warm, moisture-laden air without leaving the property cold for hours.'

There's no need to leave windows wide open all day. Briefly airing rooms, using extractor fans and ensuring existing air bricks, vents and chimney ventilation haven't been blocked can help.

Tony agrees that 'if you keep the house completely shut up, all that moisture has nowhere to go.'

Pay particular attention to rooms you rarely use, too. Mary recommends regularly checking cold, poorly ventilated spaces for early warning signs such as musty smells, persistent condensation, staining and visible mould.

4. Change how you dry laundry indoors

This is a big one as we head into autumn. Once washing can no longer reliably go outside, all of that moisture has to go somewhere.

Avoid placing wet clothes directly over radiators. Instead, Catrin recommends choosing one well-ventilated room for drying laundry and, if you use a heated clothes airer or standard drying rack, pairing it with a dehumidifier.

I use a heated clothes airer alongside a dehumidifier myself, and I find it a really useful combination during this time of year. Rather than allowing all the moisture released by wet washing to linger in the room, the dehumidifier actively removes some of it from the air.

Keep the door to your chosen laundry-drying room closed too, so you're not simply allowing that moisture to travel around the rest of the house.

Mary stresses that using a heated airer doesn't remove the need for ventilation either. The heat might help your clothes dry faster but the water from those clothes is still being released into the surrounding air.

Shop our favourite heated clothes airers

5. Pull furniture away from external walls

Now is also a good time to look behind wardrobes, sofas and other large pieces of furniture, particularly those sitting against external walls.

Laura recommends leaving 'a small gap between furniture and external walls, so air can circulate instead of moisture becoming trapped behind wardrobes and sofas.'

These hidden, poorly ventilated areas can be easy to overlook until you move a piece of furniture and discover a musty smell or patches of mould.

Pay particular attention to external walls, corners, window frames and the inside of cupboards. Laura also suggests keeping a closer eye on cellars, chimney breasts and ground-floor rooms in older properties.

For smaller condensation hotspots, a passive moisture absorber can be useful too. Mary recommends products such as Minky's 200g Damp Guard, £9.99 on Amazon, for targeted areas including bathrooms, bedrooms, utility rooms and around windows. It doesn't require electricity and works silently, with each tablet lasting up to three months depending on conditions.

6. Get on top of moisture from cooking and showering

It isn't just the weather outside that causes problems. A lot of our everyday activities continually add moisture to the air.

Cooking, showering and drying laundry indoors are three of the biggest culprits, so use extractor fans whenever possible and close the door while producing steam.

Catrin points out that these activities don't stop just because the season has changed, which is precisely why ventilation remains so important through autumn and winter.

It's also worth checking your extractor fans now. Tony recommends making sure they're clean and actually working effectively rather than simply assuming they're doing their job.

And if you wake up to condensation covering your windows like me, wipe it away rather than allowing water to sit against the frames and sills throughout the day. Critically, Mary recommends positioning moisture absorbers (I love Minky's moisture absorber, £25 at Argos and use it in my bedroom) in specific problem areas rather than treating them as an alternative to ventilation or a powered dehumidifier where there is a significant moisture problem.

Shop our top-rated dehumidifiers

7. Monitor humidity and use a dehumidifier

Finally, stop guessing how damp your house is. A simple hygrometer can tell you what's actually happening to humidity levels throughout the day and help identify rooms that consistently struggle with excess moisture.

'A cheap hygrometer is actually quite useful because it gives you an idea of how humid your home is, rather than having to guess,' says Tony.

A dehumidifier can also be extremely useful in a Victorian property, particularly in rooms where you regularly experience condensation or when drying washing indoors.

Laura stresses, however, that it should be used 'alongside suitable heating and ventilation rather than as a replacement for them.'

And that's a really important point as a dehumidifier can tackle moisture in the air, but it can't repair a leaking gutter or a plumbing problem. If one patch of damp keeps returning despite all your efforts, look into the cause rather than simply running a dehumidifier.

For smaller problem spots, Catrin also recommends moisture traps or compact dehumidifiers that can be placed in cupboards and wardrobes, while a larger compressor model is better suited to managing moisture across bigger rooms.

Ultimately, preventing damp in a Victorian house is less about one miracle product (frustratingly) and more about controlling where moisture comes from and giving it somewhere to escape to. And crucially, spotting any potential problems, like rising damp, early.

After months of continuously hot weather, it's all too easy to associate certain appliances with keeping cool.

But as someone who's literal job it is to test the best fans around, I'm finding that I still have plenty of use for the fans I have dotted around my home, despite the cooler temperatures we're now experiencing in the UK. I have one in my office, my living room and my bedroom, and I don't think I'll be packing them away any time soon.

This is why I don't think you should either.

1. It helps reduce stuffiness

Temperatures may be a lot more tolerable now than they were a month ago, but that doesn't mean that the air is feeling lovely and crisp.

Still air combined with the rainfall we've been having lately can easily make rooms feel stuffy, so I've been using my fan to circulate the air, removing any staleness and encouraging fresher air in from outside.

When it comes to how fans can help with humidity, they might not be able to actually reduce moisture levels like the best dehumidifiers can, but the movement of air can help reduce how muggy a room feels.

2. It can help you fall asleep all year round

While experts advise not to leave a fan running all night long, I'm a big fan (pardon the pun) of having a fan on while I fall asleep. It's a combination of the feeling of a gentle breeze across the skin, and the almost imperceptible hum it creates, that sends me off into a deep sleep.

And so even though the nights are getting cooler (although I've not yet swapped to my autumn/winter duvet), I'm still using my fan on the lowest setting (and with a timer so it's not running all night), to help me drift off.

3. It can help prevent damp-causing condensation

While you might not think about using a fan during wetter months, it can actually help keep damp and mould at bay.

Having good air circulation can help speed up the evaporation of moisture, and prevent condensation from forming on windows and walls, which if left unchecked could lead to problems with mould and damp. And I definitely don't want those, so I've got used to sticking the fan on for a bit especially after cooking or showering and it seems like a good idea to me!

For more serious issues with excess moisture, a fan won't be enough though and you'd be better off with a dehumidifier. You can always use your fan to help your dehumidifier, boosting its effectiveness in a shorter amount of time. It might also be worth assessing whether a multi-functional appliance is a more worthwhile investment to give you year-round use.

4. It could help boost my heating (when I turn it on)

OK, admittedly I'm a little way off turning my central heating on for the first time this season, but with the energy price cap due to rise again in October, I'm definitely keen on any low-energy options that will boost the benefits of my heating, without costing me a fortune.

While it can seem counter-intuitive to use a fan in the colder months, it can be a great tactic for helping to circulate warm air around your home, using the same logic as radiator fans.

When the time comes to put my heating on, I plan on putting my fan near my radiator, and on the lowest speed setting, to help help evenly and quickly distribute the heat around the room. If the room feels warmer more quickly, I'm less likely to resort to having it on for longer than necessary, keeping my energy bills as low as possible.

FAQs

Do you need to use a fan all year round?

Whether you'll get the benefits of using a fan all year round will depend on your home and how it handles moisture and heat distribution.

If you have no issues with excess moisture and your heating emitters work like a dream, and burping your home gets rid of any stuffiness, then you might not need your fan over the colder months and you can probably quite happily pack it away.

However, even though you won't need it for cooling, if your fan can keep your home feeling fresh and help your dehumidifier work more effectively then it's worth keeping it at the ready. Fortunately, many of the models you can buy today are relatively unobtrusive, quiet, and inexpensive to run.

Whatever kind of air environment you want to create in your home, you can probably buy an appliance to help you achieve it. Whether it's one of the best fans to help circulate fresh air, a purifier to remove allergens or a dehumidifier to help banish damp, there's a product solution.

However, if you need a fan or air conditioner in the summer, a heater and dehumidifier in the autumn and winter, as well as a purifier all year round, then that's a lot of appliances to find space for and it can easily feel like clutter.

More and more, you can find these functions grouped together in single appliances, which is great from a space-saving point of view, but is a combined appliance really as good as a single function one? As well as having tried individual and multi-purpose appliances myself, I've also reached out to the experts to weigh up the pros and cons.

What are the benefits of having a fan, heater, air conditioner and dehumidifier in one appliance?

There are lots of benefits at choosing an appliance that offers multiple different functions.

Firstly, despite the fact that they are more expensive than single function alternatives, multi-function appliances that offer cooling, purification, heating and dehumidification are usually more cost-effective than buying each of the appliances individually.

Cost-per-use is also usually lower too as you could use the multi-function appliance year round, rather than just for a few weeks depending on the season. For example, Dyson's HP1 combines fan, heater and air purifier functionality in a single appliance. While it costs more than £500, you could easily spend that buying a fan, heater and purifier of similar quality.

In addition to making sense if you intend to use the extra functions over the course of the year, they 'can reduce upfront outlay versus buying separate appliances, cut clutter, and save storage space,' says Meaco's Chief Product Officer, Chris Michael. 'They can also reduce running costs in practice because you can run the mode you actually need at the time.'

What are the disadvantages of having a fan, heater, air conditioner and dehumidifier in one appliance?

But while there are undoubtedly benefits to buying a single appliance that offers a range of functions, there are some downsides to consider before you buy.

Multi-purpose units can be sizable, bulky and heavy, especially if they have air conditioning functionality. While they may still be portable, this can make them challenging to move up and downstairs. This is especially the case when it comes to portable air conditioners.

It may also be that you don't have use for all of the functions your unit provides. For example, if your home doesn't struggle with excess moisture then you might not need a dehumidification function. You might also be able to use a single function appliance throughout the year (I'm not packing away my fan just yet and plan on using it frequently over autumn).

Or if your home is well insulated and holds onto heat well, a heating function may not get used that often, in which case, it may be more cost effective to buy an appliance that is dedicated to the function that you need. You might also already have a couple of air quality appliances, in which case you may be doubling up unnecessarily.

But for me, based on my own experience, the biggest downside is that not all of the functions on a combined appliance are as good as their standalone counterparts. I find this particularly apparent on portable air conditioners with fan and dehumidifier functionality. The air conditioner is usually the star of the show, while the fan especially is louder and not as powerful as a standalone fan. I always tend to see the dehumidifier as a bonus feature rather than of equal standard as the air conditioner.

Ideal Home's Senior Digital Editor Jenny McFarlane (who's been reviewing and writing about air quality products for years), agrees, saying: 'I'm always a little wary of appliances that try to do too many things at once, and that's true of dehumidifiers with built in air purification.

'I've tested enough dehumidifiers to know that more features don't necessarily make for a better appliance, because most importantly, a dehumidifier needs to be really good at getting excess moisture out of the air.

'Having an air purifier function is a really nice bonus though, but it wouldn't sway me to buy a combo appliance if the extraction performance isn't as powerful as it should be.'

Finally, it's important to think about your air quality needs around your home before deciding on a combined or single function appliance. Maybe you need a dehumidifier in a poorly insulated part of your home, and an air purifier in the bedroom to help with allergies. If that's the case then a single appliance may not be suitable.

Instead a dedicated dehumidifier for the room that has issues with excess moisture, and a separate air purifier for the bedroom would be a better and more sustainable set up. Just make sure you weigh up whether a dehumidifier or purifier will be best for your home before you commit.

What is worth buying in a single unit?

If you aren't after something whisper quiet, then opting for a dual purpose fan and heater can be an effective way to get more use our of your appliance over the course of the year. These are available in slimline designs that won't take up too much room and are usually light enough to move around with relative ease.

If you can find an air conditioner that also offers a heat mode, and you are short on storage space then it's worth investing. Air conditioners can be bulky and hard to store, but if you can find use for it over the winter months, then you don't have to worry about packing it away.

For a dehumidifier, where it's effectiveness will be paramount if you want value for money, you may find that you need a standalone appliance. However, we were very impressed with the Meaco Arete Two dehumidifier that has a purification function when we put it through it's paces.

Finding the right heated clothes airer for your home comes down to a few key things, including how much washing you regularly need to dry, the size of your household and, importantly, how much space you have to spare.

I've tested quite a few of the best heated clothes airers for Ideal Home, from compact options for smaller spaces to family-sized tiered airers and speedy drying pods. Through testing them with real loads of laundry in my own home, I've learnt which features genuinely make a difference and which are worth looking out for before you buy.

So I've rounded up the main considerations below so you can decide if a heated airer is worth buying for your family and household.

How to choose a heated clothes airer

1. Types of heated clothes airers

There are two main types of heated airers: heated drying pods and heated drying racks. A heated rack warms the rails to speed up drying, while a drying pod circulates warm air around clothes inside a cover.

In our tests, drying pods such as the JML DriBUDDI Heated Indoor Airer, £79 at Argos and Minky's heat pod, RRP £60 at Argos, were the fastest, drying clothes in roughly three hours. However, their fans make some noise, and they generally hold less washing, making them particularly useful for getting school uniforms and sports kits dry quickly.

Traditional heated racks are slower, taking around six to ten hours in our tests. However, they're silent, generally cheaper to run and can accommodate more washing.

If you're choosing a rack, we've generally found tiered models more effective than winged designs. More of the laundry sits close to the heated rails, whereas longer garments can hang below the heated sections of a winged airer and remain damp.

2. Their drying capacity

Check how much washing an airer can accommodate before buying. Capacity may be given in kilograms of laundry, metres of drying space or, for pod-style airers, the number of garments it can hold.

'The right heated airer size depends on how much laundry you regularly dry, the size of your household and the space available in your home,' says Mary Widall, Product category manager for laundry at Minky.

Mary suggests a compact model will generally suit one or two people, while a larger three-tier heated airer offers more drying space for a household of three or four. Larger families should look for maximum drying capacity and multiple heated tiers.

Catrin Parry, Buying lead for cleaning and laundry at Lakeland, gives a useful benchmark for a family-sized model. The Lakeland Dry:Soon 3-Tier Deluxe Heated Airer, £199.99 at Lakeland, offers 21m of drying space, holds approximately 15kg of washing (around two wash loads) and is well suited to a family of four. Its design is also more accessible from the front than the smaller mini and standard models.

However, bigger isn't always better. 'Avoid overcrowding; leaving space between garments improves warm-air circulation and helps clothes dry faster and more evenly,' Mary advises.

If floor space is limited, a vertical or tower-style airer can also provide plenty of drying capacity without taking up as much room.

3. Size and storage

Don't underestimate how much space a heated clothes airer can occupy once unfolded. Check the dimensions and think about where you'll use it, remembering you'll need access to a plug socket and enough room to move around it safely.

Storage is just as important, particularly if you don't have a dedicated utility or laundry room. 'One that folds up nice and compact' is Catrin's recommendation for homes where storage is limited. Look for a design that's quick to put up and collapse, and always check its folded measurements before buying.

Small practical details can make a difference here too. Lakeland's Dry:Soon models have handles at the top to make them easier to move, and optional wheels are available if you need to transport a loaded airer between rooms.

Some covers can even double up as storage solutions. Catrin explains that the Dry:Soon cover can be zipped flat around the airer once it's collapsed, so you don't need to find somewhere separate to store it.

If you already own a three-tier airer, another space-saving option is a system such as the Minky Heat Pod Pro (£45 at Argos). It sits underneath a standard three-tier airer and adds a cover and warm-air technology, so you don't need to store a second full-sized drying rack. Minky says it can dry clothes up to four times faster than air drying.

4. Covers

A cover is one feature I'd recommend looking for, as it can make a heated rack more effective.

'A covered heated airer can be more efficient than an uncovered one because the cover helps trap warm air around the clothes rather than allowing heat to escape into the room,' explains Mary. 'This creates a warmer drying environment and can help clothes dry faster.'

Catrin agrees: 'We'd always suggest adding the cover. It traps the heat in and dries things faster.'

However, ventilation is important. Look for a cover with vents that allow moisture to escape rather than trapping humid air around your washing, which can leave clothes damp or musty.

5. Energy use

Heated airers are generally much cheaper to run than a tumble dryer, but running costs vary depending on the model's wattage and your electricity tariff.

'A heated clothes airer is generally very economical to run,' says Mary. 'Most heated airers cost approximately 5p-15p per hour to operate, making them a lower-energy alternative to a tumble dryer.'

Lakeland puts the running cost of its Dry:Soon Deluxe at around 8p per hour, compared to approximately 65p for a standard tumble dryer. These figures are based on an average electricity unit cost of 26.11p per kWh as of July 2026, so actual costs will vary according to tariff and usage.

Don't judge efficiency on hourly running costs alone, though. It's also worth considering how quickly the airer dries clothes. A higher-powered model that finishes the job faster could prove more practical than a lower-powered airer that needs to run all day.

6. Features that make drying easier

Heat isn't the only thing that dries clothes quickly – airflow and how you arrange your washing are just as important.

Look for good spacing between rails, multiple heated tiers and enough drying room to avoid bunching garments together. Adjustable tiers are also useful for accommodating longer items.

'Give garments a good spin in the washing machine first, spread them evenly across the airer and leave gaps between items,' recommends Mary. 'Avoid overloading, as airflow is just as important as heat for achieving faster drying.'

A timer is another feature I find useful, particularly if you're likely to leave the airer running for several hours.

Also consider the accessories available for the airer you're buying. Mesh shelves can be useful for drying delicates or items that need to lie flat, while dedicated hangers can make better use of the available space.

7. Ventilation and humidity

A heated airer gets water out of your clothes, but that moisture has to go somewhere. Drying laundry indoors can increase the humidity in a room, so ventilation is an important consideration.

Catrin recommends leaving 'a small space around the airer for ventilation,' adding that heated airers can also make the room feel warmer. Depending on humidity levels, she suggests leaving a window on the latch to allow moisture to escape.

Mary similarly recommends using a heated airer in a well-ventilated space and opening a window or using an extractor fan or dehumidifier where appropriate.

Pairing a heated airer with a dehumidifier is actually one of my favourite ways to dry clothes indoors during autumn and winter. And it's a combination that both experts recommended.

As Catrin explains, 'The airer warms the fabric and the dehumidifier pulls the moisture from the surrounding air, which speeds up drying even more and prevents damp.'

Shop our favourite heated clothes airers

Ultimately, these are all the things I wish I'd known before buying my first heated clothes airer. Get them right, and you'll avoid any buying mistakes and own a model that suits your space, laundry loads and drying routine.

Today, Dyson announced it’s adding a wide range of floorcare appliances to its already-stellar lineup. But perhaps most exciting is its first sub-£500 robot vacuum - a nice step away from the premium price we’ve come to expect from this premium brand.

While the best robot vacuum cleaners have become the new must-have appliance in homes across the UK, they’re not cheap. Many of the top models - including Dyson’s own robot vacuums - retail for anywhere between £700 and £1,000. But the new Dyson R1 Nurovi Dry breaks the mould at just £499.99… and it promises excellent cleaning power, too.

The Dyson R1 Nurovi Dry isn’t alone, though. It’s one of THREE new robot vacuums unveiled by Chief Engineer Jake Dyson at the Dyson Unveiled Event in Berlin today (which I was lucky enough to get an invite to), and you can read on to find out what makes these new robot vacuums so special.

The affordable R1 Nurovi Dry forms part of the new Nurovi range, aimed at offering varying levels of innovation and cleaning power across three very different machines: the R1 Nurovi Dry, R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry and the Dyson R3 Nurovi Spot+Scrub™ UV.

All three offer varying features and price points, but to cut the jargon, I’ve put the information you need into an easy-to-understand table below:

Of course, the cheapest R1 option is undoubtedly the most basic model, and it's worth weighing this up if you’re buying your first robot vacuum cleaner.

But if you primarily have soft flooring in your home and don’t need a robot vacuum that also mops, it’ll suit you perfectly. Especially with the new, souped-up cleaning technology and the side-sweeper system that aims to reach nooks and crannies like never before.

If you do want a robot vacuum that’ll mop your floors, the R2 is the mid-range option offering both wet and dry cleaning with new Reuleaux triangle pads designed to offer an effective and efficient clean that covers every inch of your floor - something that robot vacuums with round pads often miss.

And this is what Dyson wants from this new era of robotics. Speaking at the event, Jake Dyson explained, ‘With the Dyson Nurovi robots, we’ve rethought things from the ground up – from how debris is captured, to how edges and corners are cleaned, and how the machine senses and adapts to its environment.’

‘The result is a range of robots that clean intelligently, precisely, and effectively across every surface,’ he added.

But if you’re not a fan of robot vacuums, you don’t have to worry. Dyson unveiled a whopping 12 new home appliances at the unveiling - including the new Dyson W1 PencilWash (£299 at Dyson), which builds on the success of the original PencilWash by offering a self-cleaning roller dock and a more absorbent roller.

Or if you’re in the market for an old-school vacuum cleaner with a twist, the iconic vacuum brand has also reimagined the Dyson Big Ball Konical Vacuum Cleaner (£399.99 at Dyson).

You’ll probably recognise this classic design as one of Dyson’s first big successes, but this new model has been upgraded to include the Konical head (which can be seen on the Dyson V16 Piston Animal), improved cyclone technology for powerful suction power, and self-righting ball technology - which means it’ll never fall over.

Fans of the best cordless vacuums, and more specifically the hugely popular Dyson V15 Cordless Vacuum, will also be happy to hear that the brand will release its most powerful V15 model ever in 2027.

I’ll share more details on this in the coming months, but from what I hear, it’s going to be extremely versatile and very powerful.

Things are looking exciting over at camp Dyson!

I test vacuum cleaners for a living. And while I know that a large majority of consumers love the convenience of a cordless vacuum, I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’ll almost always favour corded. That’s because these appliances clean… and they clean well.

Luckily for me, Shark just dropped a brand new corded vacuum: the Shark PowerDetect Transformer LX5001UKT Corded Upright Vacuum Cleaner. But this ‘triple threat’ model isn’t like any other model I’ve seen before, so I was desperate to see if it could compete with the best vacuum cleaners out there - not forgetting the best Shark vacuum cleaners.

In a nutshell

While I do love my job, testing vacuums for a living often takes the shine off cleaning my own house. But I can honestly say that testing the Shark PowerDetect Transformer Corded Upright Vacuum - and then using it in my home as my regular vacuum cleaner - has been pretty exciting.

I had assumed that the 3-in-1 transformation was a novelty that would soon wear off. But two weeks on, I’m still marvelling at how one vacuum can offer so much and deliver such impressive cleaning results - and have even mastered the art of transforming it from upright to stick and then handheld in three seconds flat. I dare you to try and beat that.

As a vacuum, it’s powerful, convenient, and smart in a way that makes cleaning incredibly easy, detecting everything from different floor types to the amount of debris it needs to pick up. And the corded nature means it offers boosted power (compared to cordless vacuums) and unlimited runtime, with a lengthy cord that let me stretch from one side of my house to the other without unplugging.

However, I did have some niggles. Not only did I struggle to find the right tool to vacuum my carpeted stairs, but in upright mode it’s also large and heavy, making manoeuvrability and storage a little tricky. Let’s not forget that it’s almost £500, making it one of Shark’s most expensive vacuums on its roster.

Specifications

• Weight: 8kg
• Cord length: 8m
• Bin volume: 1.3L (upright), 0.2L (handheld)
• Physical modes: 3 (upright, handheld, stick)
• Cleaning modes: 4 (Detect, Hard Floor, Carpet/Low Pile/Thick Carpet/Area Rug)
• Noise level (tested by us): 77- 79 dB
• In the box: Floorhead, vacuum pod, wand, handheld unit, accessory posts, anti-odour cartridge, crevice tool, pet multi-tool, pet power brush, accessory bag
• RRP: £499.99

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

It’s quite literally my job to test vacuum cleaners (yes, really!) so I’m no stranger to big-box deliveries. And while the Shark PowerDetect Transformer came in a hefty 11.5kg box that made me glad I had my Wheetabix that morning, I understood why when I opened it.

After all, the box was packed to the rafters - and in eco-friendly packaging, no less - with so many goodies inside. This included the main floorhead, vacuum pod, wand, handheld unit, accessory posts, anti-odour cartridge, crevice tool, pet multi-tool, pet power brush, and accessory bag.

As I pulled everything out of its packaging, two things initially struck me. 1) Everything felt very sturdy and well-made, which is something I’ve come to expect from Shark. 2) I really loved the green colourway. However, as I was assembling everything, I noticed that the green really picked up dust, so I made a mental note to check on this during testing.

Assembly was very easy, though. I started by inserting the anti-odour cartridge into its home on the floorhead, attaching the wand to the floorhead, and then slotting the handheld portion of the unit to the wand. This is where the cord attaches to the unit, so I unwrapped it and wound it around the dedicated cord holder for the time being.

Then, the last step was to attach the accessory posts to the vacuum pod and then slide the vacuum pod onto the main unit. This is by far one of the heaviest parts of the vacuum, but the pod slid on quickly and efficiently, with little wriggling or faff.

With everything assembled, I could then take a step back and assess the vacuum as a whole. My verdict? It looked good, felt robust, and was certainly an interesting concept. I was just a little worried that it would be fiddly with so many moving parts and modes, so I wanted to get started and see for myself.

Luckily, this model is corded, so I didn’t have to wait for anything to charge. I could just get cracking!

Using the Shark PowerDetect Transformer Corded Upright Vacuum

Before I take any new vacuum for a spin around my home, I always complete a few dedicated tests to help me compare models and ultimately assign a star rating that reflects its performance and price. So, I threw some sugar, porridge oats, rice and my dog’s pet hair on the floor to see how well it reacts to - and removes - different types of debris.

For this test, I put the Shark PowerDetect Transformer in its upright form and turned on Detect Mode so it could adjust its cleaning power according to the floor type and debris level. And as you can see in the video, it tackled all the debris incredibly well and removed everything from the floor in a single forward pass.

So well, in fact, that you can actually see the pet hair being sucked into the rollers before it’s even touched them. And as I live with a dog that sheds a lot, this was amazing to see.

I then repeated the same test on carpet, and the results were identical. And when I began to use it as my everyday vacuum, I continued to find that the Detect Mode was extremely responsive and efficient. It reacted instantly when I moved from my hard flooring to my rug, and the edge cleaning and the floorhead lights picked up dust and debris I didn’t even know was there.

And while I did try out the Manual Surface Modes - which allow you to choose a specific floor type on your own - I didn’t feel like I needed to, as the automatic adjustments of Detect Mode always offered the optimal clean. However, it’s nice to have the option to use them if you have particularly delicate flooring.

I also found myself using the upright mode more often than the stick mode, as the large debris chamber makes it handy for deep, whole-home cleans. But having the option to switch into stick mode in seconds? Well, this was very handy - especially when I needed to clean under furniture or wanted to quickly clean up a dedicated spill. After all, the onboard debris bin for the stick portion is pretty small at just 0.2L.

Of course, the elephant in the room is that this new vacuum cleaner is corded and on the heavier side in upright mode - a dealbreaker for some. But Shark has been very generous with the 8m cord, and I was able to vacuum the majority of my downstairs from the same plug socket. It also propels itself forward when you push gently, so it doesn’t feel as heavy as it is.

But if you have a larger home, you will need to get into the habit of unplugging and replugging to ensure you vacuum every inch. And you’ll still need to carry it upstairs if you want to use it in upright mode - but there at least is the option to take off the upright pod and only take the stick portion upstairs.

As I do with all vacuum cleaners, I also test the noise levels using a decibel meter app on my phone. And one thing to note with the Shark PowerDetect Transformer is that it came in at around 77-79db. This is actually very average for a vacuum cleaner, and while the noise level doesn’t change when you switch modes, the sound does.

The only way to describe it is that Detect Mode sounds quite airy, while the other dedicated floor modes are a bit whinier. Personally, I don’t mind this - and neither does my dog - but if you’re sensitive to sounds, this is something to consider.

Using the attachments

Another aspect of the Transformer’s transformation is that it quickly detaches from the vacuum - either in upright or stick form - into a handheld. Of course, this isn’t new and something that most cordless vacuum cleaners offer, but it’s still something I like to test out properly. Especially as the Shark PowerDetect Transformer also comes with a few accessories.

Included as standard are the crevice tool, pet multi-tool and pet power brush. I always find the crevice to be handy for vacuuming down the sides of the sofa, and Shark’s iteration did the job well. The multi-tool was also a particular favourite of mine.

This tool can be used with or without the bristles (you simply press the lock button to take them apart), and worked wonders on the dirty footstool my dog sleeps on. It removed all the lingering mud he brings into the house and most of the hair. However, that hair then got stuck on the underside of the tool, which I had to remove manually.

Then there’s the pet power brush, which I had high hopes for. This one let me down a bit, though, as I was expecting a motorised tool that would rotate of its own accord and work hard to remove hair and debris - especially on my carpeted stairs. It wasn’t like this, though.

It wasn’t motorised at all, and it seemed like the suction power was lacking, so it missed a fair bit of debris on the stairs. This left me in a bit of a loop as I typically use a motorised tool to vacuum my stairs, so I didn’t quite know how to clean them. In the end, I opted to use the multi-tool again.

Of course, the handheld section is once again corded so you do have to be cautious of the length of the cord - but I’m used to this as someone who has tested numerous corded vacuums, and I don’t mind it.

It’s also worth noting that this model is compatible with many other accessories, too. This includes a duster crevice tool, a home & car detail kit, and an under-appliance wand - and a full list of compatible accessories can be found in the instruction manual or on the website.

All in all, the handheld’s cleaning abilities were ok, but my favourite thing was the fact that, after I’d finished using the handheld portion, I could pop it back onto the main vacuum unit (with the upright vacuum pod attached) and it would automatically empty itself into the larger dust bin.

This is a new feature I loved, as it meant I could use it quickly without having to empty it after each use. In fact, I could use it multiple times without needing to empty the larger debris chamber.

You can see this in the video above - just keep an eye on the handheld dust bin if you don't have the sound on.

Cleaning and maintenance

When the time comes to empty the larger debris chamber/vacuum pod, you can easily remove it from the vacuum and empty it directly in the bin. This is a sealed HEPA chamber, so it shouldn’t release any harmful pollutants into the air.

When you do this, you can also see the pre-motor filter, which needs to be rinsed and air-dried every month. The post-motor filter can be found by pressing the ‘Filter Door’ button, which can be cleaned in the same way every year.

The handheld vacuum portion also comes with its own pre- and post-motor filters, which can be removed when you open up the dedicated dust chamber. Again, the pre-filter needs to be rinsed every month under cold water and left to air dry - but the post-motor filter every six months.

As the floorhead has anti-hair-wrap technology, I didn’t need to remove any hair from the rollers at any point during my two-week testing period, which was a massive bonus. Plus, the anti-odour cartridge released an amazing scent that made my home smell clean after vacuuming. These don’t last forever, though, so will need to be replaced when the scent disappears if you want to continue using it.

Aside from that, very little maintenance is required for the Shark PowerDetect Transformer. But I will say that my earlier prediction was correct, and the green colourway does pick up a lot of dust and becomes quite dirty in use - but this was nothing a quick dust couldn’t fix.

It also needs to be stored in its upright form, really, so it is still quite big and might not suit smaller households with limited storage. So, just beware if you live in a tiny flat.

How does it compare to similar models?

The Shark PowerDetect is a first for Shark, so it’s hard to compare it to anything else. However, it builds upon the specs and features of the Shark PowerDetect Powered Lift-Away Upright Pet Vacuum Cleaner I reviewed in November 2025, so it’s a good idea to start there.

The two models look almost identical and offer the same PowerDetect technologies to deliver a deep clean to your floors. The difference is that the original PowerDetect is only a corded upright (with a Lift-Away Pod for smaller jobs), while the new Transformer combines the upright with stick and handheld modes.

So, it really comes down to what you’re after. If you already have a stick vacuum you love and don’t see yourself giving up anytime soon, the OG PowerDetect will still offer that corded power you’re after - and for almost £100 less. But if you want one new vacuum that will do it all and offer multiple variations of itself, it’s probably worth shelling out that extra cash for the Transformer.

Verdict: Should you buy the Shark PowerDetect Transformer LX5001UKT Corded Upright Vacuum?

At my testing facility (AKA my home), I always have at least five vacuums to choose from at any one point. And if I find myself reaching for one vacuum over another even when my official testing process has finished, I know it’s a good’un - and that’s exactly what’s happened with this model.

If you have the money to invest in a new vacuum, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the Shark PowerDetect Transformer. It’s extremely powerful, offers so many effective cleaning features, and is multi-purpose so you’ll never need to buy a secondary vacuum - or even a handheld vacuum. It’s your all-in-one solution for whole-home cleaning.

However, it is expensive, and upright corded vacuums don’t suit everyone. But if you’ve only ever used cordless stick vacuums, I do think this model could be a great gateway into the corded realm, as its corded stick form offers a happy medium that lets you taste a bit of everything... for a price.

As a home tech reviewer, I've spent the best part of a decade testing appliances out in my home. And I've had the pleasure of taking some of the best robot vacuum cleaners out for a test drive.

Recently, I got my hands on the iRobot Roomba Plus 415 Combo, and it's a strong cleaner but a poor driver. Of course, which of those observations you care about more depends entirely on what kind of home you keep. So, this is everything you need to know.

In a nutshell

The 415 sits at the entry point of the new Roomba Plus range, vacuuming and mopping in the same run, with an AutoWash dock that empties the bin, washes the pads, and dries them with warm air at 45°C. Suction is quoted at 20,000Pa, which iRobot says is 2.8 times that of the older Roomba 505, though the number is less important than the two DualClean pads spinning at 200 RPM underneath.

ClearView LiDAR handles navigation, and the map-building is quick, with the resulting plan coming out pretty accurately. Sadly, there's no camera-based obstacle recognition at this tier, and after a day of watching it drag a cat toy into the hallway, that omission is my defining impression of the machine.

In fact, I've learned that there is a specific noise a robot vacuum makes when it detects a charging cable and mistakes it for a rug. A rising whine, then the sound of furniture scratching and, in the worst cases, ornaments dropped to the floor as a table falls over. I heard it three times in the first hour with the Roomba Plus 415 Combo, which is a shame because between those moments it did some of the best floor cleaning I've had from a robot in this end of the market.

​The dock is the other thing worth discussing, mainly for what it isn't. At 33 x 33 x 48.5 cm, it takes up roughly half the floor of the MOVA P50 Pro Ultra I tested in the same flat a few weeks ago, and it went into its corner without anything else having to move. Anyone who has tried to house a self-washing dock in a small flat will understand why that's such an important detail.

Specifications

• Suction power: 20,000Pa
• Mop function: Yes
• Pad lift: 10mm auto-lift on carpet detection
• Navigation: ClearView LiDAR
• Multi-floor mapping: Yes, up to 3 maps
• Dock functions: Auto-empty, pad wash, 45°C heated drying, self-cleaning cycle
• Dust bag: AllergenLock, up to 3 months
• Cleaning modes: Vacuum only, mop only, both together, vacuum then mop
• Robot dimensions: H8.35 x W30.3 x D29.8cm, 2.9kg
• Dock dimensions: H48.5 x W33 x D33cm, 5.3kg
• Compatible with: Roomba Home app, Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant

How I tested

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The packaging consisted of too much cardboard and more plastic than I'd like to see in 2026, but that’s not a knock on iRobot specifically.

The cardboard at least goes out with the paper, but the dock arrives inside a full plastic sleeve, and the smaller parts each get their own compartment on top of that. I've said this about every robot vacuum I've tested, and I'll keep saying it.

What's inside is better organised than the outside suggests. A quick start guide, the dock, the robot, clean and dirty water tanks, an edge-sweeping brush, two pairs of mop pads, a spare AllergenLock bag, and both UK and US power leads.

Assembly is where the price shows itself. Everything goes together, but nothing clicks, and the way the panels sit feels flimsy, making me double-check that I'd done it right. Sliding the dock into its corner, I spent most of my energy making sure I didn't knock the water tanks off the top, which may only be a problem on the first day, but it didn't inspire much confidence.

It did, however, pass the test I apply to everything that arrives in a box: whether I can set it up without reading the instructions. The dock is intuitive, the pads only fit one way round, and the app takes over from there.

The robot itself is nicer-looking than most. There's a faux fabric patch across the top and a minimal set of buttons, which is a welcome change from the glossy black plastic discs that make up most of this category. It looks like something that belongs in a room rather than something you'd hide in a cupboard.

One absence I noticed straight away is that there's nowhere to add detergent. Other models have an auto-dosing compartment that meters cleaning solution into every run, but the 415 washes with water alone. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it's worth knowing about if you're used to a floor cleaner that also leaves a smell afterwards.

Ease of use

The Roomba Home app is clean and user-friendly, and the initial mapping run was quick and accurate. You get four cleaning modes, spot cleaning, zone and room selection, scheduling, and the usual voice assistant support across Alexa, Siri and Google.

Where it fell down for me was in the manual controls. I wanted to trigger an auto-empty and a pad wash on demand, partly to time them and partly because I'd just run the machine through BBQ sauce, and I couldn't find an obvious way to do either. They may well be in there, but after twenty minutes of looking, I'd given up, and a feature you can't find is basically a feature you don't have.

Performance

​As per how we test robot vacuums at Ideal Home, I also put the Roomba Plus 415 Combo through some messy tests.

The BBQ sauce test was a roaring success, and I don't say that lightly, given how many robot mops fail it. A fresh, sticky spill on laminate, and the 415 took it up in a single pass, scrubbed rather than smeared, with nothing travelling onto the cream rug sitting alongside. It just dealt with it, then paused a few moments later to wash its pads.​

Edge cleaning is the other genuine strength. The pads and the sweeping brush get right up against the skirting, and the back corner of my lounge by the cat flap, which is permanently filthy in a way no upright vacuum solves, came up lovely and clean.​

Hair pickup was also strong. In the interests of full disclosure, this was my hair rather than the cat's - Jet having made himself unavailable for brushing at the critical moment - but three good tufts of it went up in one pass with no hesitation.

Carpet detection works, and, more usefully, you can hear it working. There's a reassuring uptick in fan noise as it crosses onto a rug, and the pads lift out of the way, so nothing came up damp the next morning.​

Unfortunately, object avoidance is the worst I've tested this year. It’s not cautious or oversensitive like many robots, but simply absent.

Cat toys were dragged from the lounge into the hallway rather than avoided; the robot got tangled in charging cables almost immediately and, at one point, made a determined attempt to climb Jet's puzzle feeder. It also ate my feet, twice, while I was sitting still.

This is the LiDAR-only tier, and iRobot's own product page claims obstacle recognition that steers around cords, shoes, and toys. On the evidence of a full day, I'd treat that claim with a healthy dose of scepticism. The mapping is genuinely good, and the coverage is systematic, but the machine has no idea what any individual object is and behaves accordingly.

It's also deliberately, methodically slow, which I don't mind at all in a machine that runs while I'm out, but it is a problem when you have to babysit.

Cleaning and maintenance

Following the BBQ sauce test, while I was feeling positive about its performance, I opened the robot afterwards to check the brush and found not only remnants of sauce inside but also every strand of hair from the earlier test tightly wrapped around the roller.

On a machine sold on tangle-free rubber brushes, that's a real mark against it, and the sort of thing that turns into a five-minute job with scissors every couple of weeks (or more if you lose hair as I do).

The dock handles the rest well enough. It auto-empties into the AllergenLock bag, pad-washes between runs, and then dries with warm air at 45 °C. That's cooler than the 75°C wash some rivals manage, and whether it's enough to stop pads going sour is a question I can only answer with more time.

​The tanks lift out easily and refill without fuss, and the filters need to be changed every three to six months. Bags and pads are an ongoing cost, and I'd expect it to fall in a similar range to other models in this class.

How does it compare to similar models?

The MOVA P50 Pro Ultra, which I tested in the same flat, has better plumbing and a genuinely anti-tangle brush, but its dock is nearly twice the footprint, and it split the sauce test that the 415 passed outright.

​The Eufy Omni E25 holds a five-star rating from Ideal Home and delivers stronger raw suction, so a mostly carpeted home is better served by it.

​Within iRobot's own range, the step up to the Roomba Plus 575 adds AI visual recognition alongside LiDAR, which is exactly what the 415 is missing. If your floors have cables, pet toys or anything else it might eat, I'd work out what that gap costs before saving money at this tier.

Verdict: Should you buy the Roomba Plus 415 Combo?

If your home is mostly hard flooring and you're reasonably disciplined about clearing the floor, yes, and fairly happily. The mopping is one of the best I've seen at this price; the edges get proper attention, and the dock is small enough that finding it a home isn't a project in itself.

But the object avoidance is a problem, and it isn't a small one. A robot vacuum earns its money by being something you don't have to think about, and this is a machine you have to tidy up for. Every cable, every toy, every pair of shoes left by the door becomes something you deal with before you press start. Whether that's a fair trade depends on how much clearing you were going to do anyway.

While the most intense heat of the summer may have passed, it's being reported that we could see warmer weather return in September, so don't pack away your cooling solutions just yet.

While the many of the best fans around remain out of stock, handheld varieties are still available and are ideal for those who commute (that tube journey can still feel hot well into the ber months), spend a lot of time outdoors, or simply want a portable way to stay cool whenever they need to.

But when you can spend less than £15 or in excess of £100 on a handheld fan, how do you know what's worth your money? Luckily, I've tested loads of portable fans over this hot summer and this is what you'll get for your money.

What you get with an under £20 handheld fan

You can definitely get a handheld fan for less than £20, and while it'll get the job done, it won't offer the best in terms of wind speed, functionality, cooling potential or design.

I've had a budget handheld fan from Amazon for a good three years, and it's seen me through some roasty toasty times. But would I say it's the best handheld fan I've ever tried? Sadly, no. It has just four ok wind speeds, is quite noisy, and it's quite bulky to fit in my bag. I also unsuccessfully tried to use it as a desk fan, but when I do, the vibrations cause it to slowly spin around, so I was constantly turning it back towards me.

What you get with a £21-60 handheld fan

If you are prepared to pay a little bit more, then you definitely see the aesthetics of the handhelds fans kick up a notch. I've been using Blueair's AlwaysCool Portable Handheld Fan over the summer and love it's clever design, which incorporates a tiltable head so it can easily be adapted from a handheld to tabletop design.

It's also considerably quieter than my budget fan, especially in the lower fan settings. It also has 100 speeds which tops out at 3.8 metres per second (although I couldn't tell a difference between many of them). However, that broader scope of speed settings allows for better personalisation to specific comfort levels. And it is very comfortable to use.

What you get with a £61-100 handheld fan

Being prepared to pay a bit more still, this is where you start seeing some really impressive windspeeds that will offer better relief from sweltering heat whenever you need it. And for me, this is the sweet spot between price and effectiveness.

I've been using the new Dyson HushJet Mini Cool Fan over this roasting hot summer and it's been one of my favourites thanks to its very impressive wind speeds (officially the strongest of any handheld fan I've ever used). I also liked how slimline it was, which meant it was the easiest to fit into my bag, plus I love the dark and bright blue colour combo.

It's really thoughtfully designed too, something that warrants the higher price point. It comes with a neck dock that has little cut-outs for the control buttons, as well as a charging stand with a notch cut out for the cable. I also love that you can twist the fan head from pointing forwards (which is ideal when holding it in your hand), to pointing upwards which is perfect when you use the neck dock.

What you get with a £101+ handheld fan

At the top end of the price spectrum, coming in at £129.99, you have the Shark ChillPill. But if you think that's an outrageous price for a handheld fan, the fan is actually only one of three functions of this nifty portable device.

As well as a handheld fan, you get two other uses that do much more than move the air around you. Firstly, there is a misting head that allows you to aim an ultra fine mist at your face, which when it evaporates, makes the air feel much cooler than a fan alone can achieve.

Secondly, it comes with an InstaChill cooling plate that is designed for direct skin contact. The cooling plate feels like it's just come out of the fridge and offers incredibly effective cooling when swiped across your face and pulse points.

So how much should you spend on a handheld fan?

Obviously your available budget will dictate how much you spend on a handheld fan, but this is definitely the kind of appliance where you get what you pay for.

If you are just looking for a handheld fan for the odd day out, or for a child to take to school with them, then a budget friendly sub-£20 option will get the job done.

However, if the unprecedentedly hot summer we've had is a sign of things to come, then I think it's worthwhile investing in something that performs better and ideally has dual purpose (as, say, a handheld and personal desk fan). That way you can maximise the use you get from it, especially if you have paid more for it.

It's also worth understanding how the functionality differs as the price changes. If you want something with impressive wind speeds or active cooling capacity, then you are very unlikely to find that in a budget device. However, if you don't want that, then you can save your money and opt for a more affordable design instead.

While many air purifiers require regular, expensive filter replacements, Shark has been on a mission to make this must-have appliance more accessible to everyday users. And the filter of the Shark BreatheClear Compact Air Purifier with NeverChange6 doesn't need to be replaced for - you guessed it - a whopping six years.

But does it have what it takes to compete with the best air purifiers out there? I tested it out in my home for two weeks to see for myself.

In a nutshell

The features that sold me on the Shark BreatheClear Compact Air Purifier with NeverChange6 are found in the name: it’s a compact air purifier that clears the air and boasts a filter that doesn’t need to be replaced for a whopping six years. But during testing, I also found it incredibly responsive and easy to use.

This fancy, modern air purifier also uses its sensors to scan the air 3,600 times per hour, automatically adjusting its purification power when it detects pollutants or even someone walking by the appliance. Couple that with easy-to-read air quality data, and you’ve got an air purifier that ticks the boxes for many everyday users.

However, it’s not without its niggles. As it can only be used in rooms up to 27m² to fully benefit, it’s really only suitable for smaller homes rather than larger open-plan spaces. During testing, I also found that it wasn’t quick to react to all pollutant types.

The lack of app and smart home connectivity can also be seen as both a positive and a negative, depending on your personal preference and experience. But if you’re looking for a big-brand air purifier that gets the basics (and a bit more) right, I do think you’ll be happy with its abilities. If you’re already au fait with air purifiers and want something more high-tech, this one won’t be for you.

Specifications

• Recommended room size: 27m² (1 air change per hour), 6m² (4.8 air changes per hour)
• Noise levels (tested by us): 27- 57 dB
• Filter type: HEPA Filter, Activated Carbon, Pet Particle Barrier, Debris Defence Washable Filter
• Dimensions: 23.32 cm L x 23.72 cm W x 29.31 cm H
• Weight: 2.58 kg
• Wattage: 20W
• Smart App connectivity: No
• Timer: No (but does have Sleep mode)
• Auto mode: Yes

Unboxing and setting up

True to its name, the Shark BreatheClear Compact Air Purifier with NeverChange6 arrived in a very compact box. It was lightweight, easy to carry, and, as I’ve come to expect with SharkNinja products, free of unnecessary packaging.

Instead, the air purifier was encased in cardboard scaffolding and the recyclable, fabric-like material that Shark likes to use to protect its products. There was also very little assembly required. All I had to do was open up the base of the air purifier, remove the filter from its plastic wrapper, and re-insert it.

This took all of 2 seconds, so I could plug it in and start setting it up soon after. However, this next step took a bit longer. A lot longer, in fact.

After going through a brief ‘get to know your air purifier’ segment and using the onboard controls to set the day and time, I then got to the sensor calibration stage.

The BreatheClear Compact requires calibration on first use or after long periods without use, but the kicker is that this process takes a whole 48 hours. And for best results, Shark suggests setting the air purifier up in a well-ventilated space while this sensor calibration takes place.

This is the first time I’ve come across an air purifier that requires such lengthy, intensive calibration, so it was a little annoying on my part, as I wanted to start using it as soon as possible. However, I figured this process was designed to make the air purifier as effective as possible, so I decided to suck it up and wait the required 48 hours.

Design

Personally, I’ve always struggled a little with Shark’s air purifier designs. When I tested the brand’s NeverChange 5 Air Purifier last year, I said that it ‘looks more like an alien spaceship than a typical home appliance’ - and the same can be said for this upgraded model. Shark has kept the modern look, and I still think it’ll be divisive in houses that prefer more traditional home decor.

However, I do appreciate the air purifier's size, as its compact design is small enough to remain fairly inconspicuous without drawing too much attention.

It’s also extremely lightweight at just 2.58kg, which means you can carry it from room to room with very little effort.

Shark also sells the BreatheClear Compact Air Purifier with NeverChange6 in multiple colourways if you’d rather it make a statement in your home. I tested the standard ‘Dove’ colourway, but it also comes in a darker Charcoal, Blush, Butter Yellow, or Sage Green (my personal favourite).

Performance

We take our air purifier testing at Ideal Home very seriously, and we conduct four dedicated assessments to evaluate their performance. The first is the smoke test, which shows how well an air purifier reacts to the introduction of smoke (PM2.5) particles. So, with the air purifier in Auto mode and my air quality at 94%, I lit a match and blew the smoke toward it.

Within seconds of my introducing the smoke, my air quality decreased rapidly. And within 28 seconds, it had gone all the way down to 0% - as far into the red level as you can go. You can see just how quickly it detected these changes in the video below.

However, as quickly as it reacted to the negative change in air quality, it worked just as quickly to capture the polluting particles and improve the air quality again. In fact, just 3 minutes and 50 seconds later, my air quality was back up to 95% - which the air purifier rates as ‘excellent.’

This isn’t as impressive as the 2 minutes and 30 seconds it took the Blueair Blue Max 3250i Air Purifier - which is currently the number-one-rated model we’ve tested - to do the same, but it’s still not far off.

I then moved on to the next test, the spray deodorant test. This tests an air purifier’s ability to detect and respond to VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). So, I sprayed the deodorant at the same distance away from the air purifier and noted the starting Air Index level - which was 96%.

The Shark BreatheClear Compact Air Purifier with NeverChange6’s VOC reaction time was slightly slower than in the smoke test, but it was still a fast response, and the air purifier once again took it down to 0% in less than 30 seconds. Two minutes later, it was back in the blue ‘excellent’ category.

Next, I moved on to the dust test, which typically consists of PM10 particles. I emptied my vacuum’s dust bin next to the air purifier and waited to see if it would pick up the dust introduced into the air. However, it didn’t - and that’s more of a testament to my vacuum than anything, as it is already equipped with its own filters to capture these particles.

So, I tried something else and shook my feather duster over the air purifier, as I figured it was full of unfiltered, raw dust. Once again, the air purifier didn’t pick up any change in air quality - although it did briefly decrease by 1%.

From this, I determined that the Shark BreatheClear Compact Air Purifier with NeverChange6 isn’t as effective at detecting and removing larger PM10 pollutants, such as dust, mould and pollen. At least during my independent testing, anyway.

I saved the best test for last: the cooking test. This test sees how an air purifier reacts to gas and cooking smells, as many people now buy air purifiers primarily for kitchen use. So, I cooked up a few rashers of vegan bacon and assessed how well it fared.

Once again, it reacted very quickly to the change in air quality in my kitchen, and I could hear the fan instantly ramp up to combat the additional pollutants. About five minutes into the cooking process, the percentage was firmly in the red at 0%.

Then, it took about 15 minutes after I had finished cooking to go back to normal. The bacon scent also lingered during that time, but when I walked into the kitchen again about 30 minutes later, it was almost completely gone.

However, one thing I did miss during this particular test - and my entire testing process - was the odour cartridge, which Shark included with the older NeverChange5 and within its Shark vacuum cleaners.

This odour cartridge was a highlight during my test of the previous model and made my house smell amazing. It’s a shame that Shark decided not to add it to this model, but it’s not a dealbreaker for me as it was more of a nice perk rather than an essential addition.

After the initial testing period, I continued to use the air purifier for a few hours a day to monitor and adjust my home’s air quality - and it really came in handy when my husband started painting. The Shark BreatheClear Compact Air Purifier with NeverChange6 reacted extremely quickly to VOCs and paint fumes in the air and worked hard to restore air quality to a healthy level when he’d finished.

As it’s so compact, I mostly used it downstairs in my living room and kitchen, but I could see people using it in their bedrooms to help them sleep at night - as long as you keep it on the lowest fan speed or Sleep Mode to minimise noise.

Just be warned that this model isn’t suitable for rooms bigger than 27m². If you need it for a more open-plan space, you can buy it in a larger size from Shark for £299.99. This larger model is suitable for spaces up to 70m², but is also bigger in size.

Ease of use

One thing I will always give Shark credit for - both in terms of their air purifiers, vacuums and even their robot vacuums - is that the products are designed for easy, everyday use. There’s nothing complicated about them, and novices can jump in and use all the features without an extensive learning curve.

But the Shark BreatheClear Compact Air Purifier with NeverChange6 is a slight anomaly in today’s saturated air purifier market - and whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on your own thoughts on the matter. That’s because this air purifier doesn’t have an integrated app, which means all of your controls are on the top of the air purifier itself.

On the control panel, you can turn it on, adjust your device and screen settings, view your air quality data, enable Sleep mode, or manually adjust the fan speed. You can even see the filter life here. And for those who want to understand the basics of their air quality, this should be enough.

However, those who have used air purifiers with apps in the past may find they’re missing a phone-controlled interface that lets them compare historical data, understand what their air quality means, adjust settings without getting up from the sofa, and even buy spare parts straight from their phones.

This new Shark air purifier does come with a few little perks, though - and this can be found in the motion and light detection. And I found that every time I walked past the air purifier, the screen showed a little swirly display, which told me it was boosting air purification and dimming the low light. This does make it more of a hands-off appliance.

Noise levels

Any appliance can be noisy, but air purifiers are similar to the best fans in that they circulate the air. So, I always test the noise levels of any air purifier I test - especially if the brand has made its own claims about the noise levels. In this case, Shark hasn’t.

Using a decibel meter app on my phone, I recorded 27dB at the lowest fan speed and 57dB at the highest. For reference, 27dB is equivalent to a soft whisper or the rustling of leaves. 57dB is the sound of a normal conversation.

This is slightly above average for what you’d expect for such a small air purifier, but it’s also not the loudest I’ve ever tested. Personally, I couldn’t hear it at all over the TV or my music while I was working. I wouldn’t have it on its highest fan speed while I was trying to sleep, though.

Energy use

Running at 20W, the energy usage of the Shark BreatheClear Compact Air Purifier with NeverChange6 is pretty average. It’s not the most efficient air purifier we’ve tested - that honour goes to the Blueair Blue Max 3250i Air Purifier - but it’s also not the most expensive.

When you consider how much it costs to run an air purifier, this model will set you back just a few pennies to run per hour in Auto mode.

However, one thing that is slightly disappointing is that Shark has decided to do away with an Eco mode - something the NeverChange5 entered when it achieved 100% air purification status. The NeverChange6 does lower the fan speed when air quality improves, but it’s not known how this affects the energy usage.

Filter replacement

The main USP of the Shark BreatheClear Compact Air Purifier with NeverChange6 is that you shouldn’t need to replace the air purifier filter for six years. This is a huge advantage for long-term use, as many other air purifiers require replacement filters around every 6-12 months.

So, not having to buy replacements makes it incredibly cheap to maintain, and is a major selling point for those who want an air purifier with minimal hands-on maintenance required. However, you still need to clean the pre-filters.

These are located on the side of the unit, and you can use a vacuum cleaner on low speed or a clean cloth to wipe these mesh filters and remove the dust and debris. You should never use chemicals and ideally not use a damp cloth - but if you do, you need to make sure you leave them to dry for at least 24 hours before reinstalling them.

You don’t have to worry about forgetting this task, either. Not only does the unit alert you when the pre-filters need cleaning, but you can also check the filter life on the onboard display.

Verdict: Should you buy the Shark BreatheClear Compact Air Purifier with NeverChange6?

If you’re a Shark fan and want to add another appliance to your collection to manage everyday pollutants, the Shark BreatheClear Compact Air Purifier with NeverChange6 will tick most of your boxes. It’s extremely quick to react to smaller particles and VOCs, and it’s easy to use and maintain thanks to the 6-year lifespan of the filters.

The motion sensor is also a nice touch, allowing you to witness real-time air purification as it happens. Just be warned that this model, in particular, is for smaller rooms under 27m², so would suit smaller living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms rather than large open-plan spaces.

However, my independent tests found that it struggled to react to high levels of dust, so it may not be your top choice if you are looking for an air purifier that tackles PM10 particles with ease.

Because of this, I see this air purifier as being an entry-level air purifier for those who know they want to improve their overall air quality but don’t have any specific air quality requirements - and don’t mind not having an app to control it.

As it’s literally my day job to test floorcare tools and appliances, I’m under no illusion that these products often look the same. But when I learned of the brand-new Joseph Joseph UltraClean Microfibre Floor Mop Cleaning System (£80 at Joseph Joseph), it's fair to say that its alien-like appearance intrigued me.

My guide to the best mops already includes a Joseph Joseph mop that I rate very highly. But the UltraClean is a first from the innovative brand known for its space-saving, design-led products. It’s their first mop AND bucket set, to reimagine mopping so you’re only ever cleaning with clean water - instead of pushing dirt around.

But while I have a lot of thoughts about the look of this new mop (more on that later), my first task was to try it out for size and see how well the brand’s new SprayClean technology fares in a real home and against real-life messes. This is how it got on - and why I'm not surprised it sold out once already.

Featuring separate clean and dirty water tanks, the UltraClean is designed to remove dirty water from your mop pad while spraying it with clean water every time you rinse. This allows you to use the perfect amount of water, ensuring you don’t make any mopping mistakes or oversaturate your hard flooring.

This was highly effective when I tested it myself, leaving them damp to the touch but not overly wet. In fact, my floors were dry again in just 5 minutes on a relatively gloomy day with the windows closed. That was its first tick.

And while there’s a lot going on in the way of technology, this doesn’t affect the UltraClean’s ease of use. All you have to do is fill up the clean water tank, add your detergent if desired - I love this Wild Rhubarb Method Floor Cleaner (£4.50 at Amazon) - and then pump it a few times to kickstart the process.

When it's time to refresh the mop, simply pump it again to spray clean water onto the mop pad. At the same time, the dirty water will be scraped into the dirty water tank - leaving behind a clean mop head and a satisfyingly dirty bucket of brown/grey water.

And while the new Joseph Joseph UltraClean was only released a few months ago, it proved so popular that it sold out instantly and has only just come back in stock.

Plus, its impressive reviews prove I’m not the only one who appreciates its cleaning power. One reviewer wrote, ‘The clean and dirty water separation is brilliant, and you can clearly see it lifting dirt. It feels solid and well-made, and it’s very satisfying (if slightly alarming!) to see how much dirt collects in the bucket.’

Another raved, ‘The mop is very lightweight, yet gives a brilliant, effortless clean in hardly any time. I never thought I’d ever say this about a mop, but it looks extremely stylish too!’

That last comment is where things get a little murky for me, though, as I’m still unsure on the design front. On the one hand, it’s very on-brand for Joseph Joseph, and I’d definitely be able to pick it out of a line-up. My husband also loves the modern, alien-like aesthetic and even told me he’d be happy to keep it on display if we didn’t have space in the cupboard to store it.

I’m not as convinced, though. I find the look a little weird and a bit too out there for me, but I will admit that it’s grown on me the longer it’s been in the house. And I guess that’s the difficulty of designing something that’s so very different to the other mops on the market; some people will love it, while others won’t.

But, ultimately, most customers want to buy a mop based on its cleaning power, and the Joseph Joseph UltraClean has that in spades. Plus, it makes an impact.

However, I wouldn’t be doing my job properly if I told you that this new mop was perfect. The price is a big issue for me, especially when you consider that, while impressive, the technology isn’t exactly unique. In fact, it’s very similar to another mop I tested recently, the Vileda H2PrO Flat Mop System (£51.50 at Argos).

As you can see from the pictures below, the basic features of these mops are very similar. They both have separate clean and water chambers, they both offer flat, machine-washable mop heads, they’re both relatively compact, and they both use the same clean-water spraying mechanism within the bucket.

The main difference is the price, with the Vileda mop coming up almost £30 cheaper. The Vileda is also much smaller, making it better suited to smaller spaces. But while they both offer squeaky-clean results, I can confidently say that the Joseph Joseph offers more in the way of manoeuvrability.

The all-access rotating mop head, combined with the telescopic handle, makes it extremely easy to clean smaller nooks and crannies. And while it's extremely lightweight in hand, in true Joseph Joseph form, it still feels very high-quality. Although for £80, I'd expect nothing less.

Whatever mop you buy, though, it’s important that you always vacuum before mopping to ensure the cleaning process is as effective and efficient as possible. Alternatively, you could invest a little more into one of the best vacuum mops that’ll do both jobs for you.

Alternatives to shop

So, will you be joining me in my 'weird' mop era?

While we might be experiencing cooler temperatures after an extremely hot summer, seeing as cooling appliances had all but sold out by the start of the summer, I was pleased to see that Meaco had launched a new tower fan.

Most of the best fans I've tested over the last 12 months are out of stock, so if you've struggled to find a suitable option this summer, then it's worth seeing whether this new Meaco release might be suitable for your home, and picking it up so you're ready for the next bout of hot weather.

I've been testing the Meaco Sefte Tower Fan (small) in my own home for the last couple of weeks, and this is what it was like to use, and ultimately, whether I think it's worth your money.

In a nutshell

Fan aficionados Meaco have extended their Sefte range of fans to include two new tower designs.

I tested the small version, which is designed for desktop use, and was impressed by it's powerful wind speeds, and easy controls. It also offers a wide wind channel and multiple oscillation settings to customise the airflow to your preferences. It's also an affordable option, with an RRP of £69.99.

For those who want a floor-standing option, the large Sefte Tower Fan is almost twice the height of the small version and offers app connectivity so you can control it from your smart phone.

I've got to admit, I've avoided tower fans in my own home ever since I had a very cheap one back in my uni days that rattled whenever it moved and proved very ineffective unless you were sat right next to it. But this Meaco offering has definitely changed my mind!

Specification

• Type of fan: Tower
• RRP: £69.99
• Weight: 2.5kgs
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 16.5cm x 49cm x 18cm
• Wattage: 2-20W
• Wind speed (metres/second): 2.2-6.9m/s
• Running costs per hour (based on energy price cap at the time of writing): 0.52p
• Number of fan speed settings: 12
• Noise in dB: 38-69dB
• Smart features: None
• Dual functionality: None
• Oscillation: Horizontal only (45°, 90°, 135° and 180°)

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

As with all of the Meaco fans I've tried over the last 12 months, there's very little if any plastic included in the packaging and the Meaco Sefte Tower Fan is no different. It's all cardboard, paper and even a dust bag for the fan (which I'm definitely holding on to for storing it over the winter). The only bits of plastic I spotted was in the remote control battery compartment, and on the included battery packaging, and they were minimal.

The small tower fan is light enough that it's really easy to get out of the packaging single-handedly, and there was no assembly required on the fan itself. All I needed to do was add the battery to the remote control, position the fan where I wanted, plug it in and I was good to go.

My first impression of the fan was that I liked the neutral two-tone colourway (it's a off white and greige combo) that would be a subtle addition to most homes.

I like that there's no black screen (that I think would take away from the subtle appearance), instead useful information lights up on the front of the fan in a really pleasing way.

It's lightweight too, which meant it was easy for me to move from room to room. I also appreciated the compact dimensions of the base. This tower fan doesn't take up much room when it's popped on a table top, which makes it ideal for smaller bedside tables. This smaller version of the Sefte tower fan (it also comes in a taller version that is 92.5cm tall and app compatible), is just 49cm tall, meaning it's best suited to table top use. I used it primarily in my living room and bedroom, and it didn't feel cumbersome or overbearing in either space.

What's it like to use?

As with all of the Meaco products I've tried, the small Sefte tower fan is really easy to use by either the control panel that sits on top, or the magnetic and glow-in-the-dark remote control (the taller version can also be controlled by the Meaco app).

Both the on-board controls and the remote control are intuitive to use, with an obvious power button, up and down arrows to alter the wind speed, sideways arrows for sideways oscillation and a timer button for, you guessed it, setting the timer. The only button that may not feel intuitive for people who have never used a Meaco fan before, is the three dots, that switches the fan from normal mode, to night mode (where lights and beeps are turned off), to eco mode, which automatically adjusts the fan speed depending on the ambient temperature in the room.

I like that when the fan is connected to the power supply, it shows the ambient temperature in the room in really subtle way on the front of the fan, despite there being no visible LCD screen. Once you turn the fan on, there are small bars that appear around that ambient temperature that indicate which of the 12 wind speed setting you are on, as well as a numerical confirmation that flashes up for a second or two when you adjust the setting. If you are in night or eco mode, you'll also see a little moon or thermometer symbol display too.

The wind speeds are powerful, ranging from 2.2m/s in speed one (which would be ideal for sleep) up to a very blustery 6.9m/s in speed 12, which will seriously get the air moving across your skin and was the one I turned to when it was 36°C outside and I was melting.

While the name Sefte is an Old English word that means quiet, gentle and undisturbed, and this tower fan definitely is quiet in it's lowest speed settings, it does get noisier as you go up to top speed. I clocked it at 38dB (which is equivalent to rustling leaves) up to 69dB, which is like a chat with friends, at top speed.

While the top speed isn't quiet, it's more likely you would only use this speed on rare occasions, and most likely during the day when it's hotter when the sound levels are less of a concern.

When it comes to the actual airflow, it's very impressive, even in such a compact package. Firstly, the tall and narrow design allows for a wide wind channel, which means you can feel it's effects on a larger portion of your body than you may with, say a pedestal fan that has a more concentrated channel. I found that when I had it on a sideboard in my living room, about three metres from where I was sitting, I could feel it's effects from the top of my head to my waist, which felt like it was offering maximum impact, especially on a hot day. However, in my bedroom, where I have a chest of drawers as a bedside table, it was too high to feel the direct benefit (but it's got me seriously rethinking my bedside table situation as a result!).

Secondly, I really liked the varying options this fan has when it comes to oscillation. It offers four different oscillation angles, from a narrow 45° to a broader 180°. When it roasting hot during the testing period, I definitely favoured the 45° angle as this felt like it was mostly aimed in my direction, and not blowing towards the window and making the blinds rattle. However, once it cooled down a little and I was trying to get some of the hot stuffy air out of my house, I preferred the 180° angle, which felt like it was having more of an effect on the room as a whole.

In terms of manoeuvrability, the small Tower fan was light enough to move around single handedly, by either holding the body of the fan in the crook of my elbow and holding on to the base, or by using the integrated handle.

Running costs

Using between 2 and 20W, this Sefte tower fan is very inexpensive to run, costing around 0.5p per hour to run, based on the July 2026 energy price cap.

Using the eco mode, where the speed will automatically adjust based on the ambient temperature (running in speed one and 19°C or under, up to speed 12 when the ambient temperature hits 30°C), will ensure it's used in it's most energy efficient manner.

Cleaning and maintenance

Keeping the Sefte tower fan dust free is key to it working most efficiently. You can easily wipe over the exterior with a dry cloth, but occasionally, it's worth dusting the fan blades themselves.

Making sure the fan is disconnected from the mains, you can remove the grill by unscrewing the screw beneath the handle on the back of the fan, and then unscrewing the screw at the base of the fan blades. Then you can remove the blades, dust them thoroughly and then following the same steps in reverse.

I found the screws to be on the small side so I needed to use a smaller screwdriver to remove them, and it was a little bit fiddly to screw the blades back in place. But with only a couple of choice words and deep breaths, I got it fitted back together.

Who should buy this fan?

If you are after a slimline and powerful fan that doesn't cost a fortune, then the small Sefte tower fan will be right up your street. With it's compact dimensions, it'll fit neatly on any table top, whether it's by the bed or on your desk, and it's quiet lower wind speeds will give you the comfort you need without distracting you from work or sleep. If you don't want to use it on a desktop, then I'd suggest opting for the larger floor standing model instead.

If a pedestal fan is more your speed, then the Sefte pedestal air circulator is one of the best fans I've ever used. It has multidirectional oscillation capability, which means it can direct air flow to ever corner of your room, bouncing air off walls and the ceiling and everything in between. There's also a battery-operated desktop version that is ideal if you don't want to be held back by the location or accessibility of your plug sockets.

If you are prepared to pay more for a fan, then the Shark TurboBlade performed really well in our tests. But it's around £100 more expensive.