Ideal Home brings you in-depth reviews of all the latest technology, appliances and key pieces of furniture from our expert panel of testers, enabling you to buy your next food blender, steam iron or mattress with complete confidence.
Buying new tech or even furniture can feel daunting, especially when there are lots of new developments and features available. The choice is often overwhelming, with every product claiming to be the best at the job it does.
That’s where our buying guides come to the rescue. Bookmark them, and you’ll always know your UHD from your DAB, which air fryer is the most efficient, and the best cordless vacuum that does the best job at clearing up pet hair.
100 years of expertise
What qualifies Ideal Home as experts? We've been doing it for over 100 years for a start. Ideal Home has been advising homeowners on the best buys for their kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and more since its launch in 1920.
And then there is our carefully chosen reviews panel. As well as our expert in-house testers, we have recruited a trusted group of geeks, parents, bakers, pet-owners, sleep obsessives, gardeners, DIYers, and – most importantly – house-proud experts in their fields. Between them, they have decades of testing experience, with hours of testing under their belts.
Our testing process
We believe that any product should be super-simple to use, look good and work brilliantly, stand the test of time and make your life easier in some small (or big) way.
So when the Ideal Home team of expert reviewers put products through their paces, these are exactly the criteria they have at the front of their mind. Each product featured in our buying guide is tested either at our testing centre or at home (often at both) for several weeks. This gives our testers time to really put them through their paces, making sure they're up to the everyday challenges they'll face in real-life homes across the country.
We are currently working on even more stringent testing criteria to enable us to directly compare products more easily, even if they're been tested by different reviewers. From scientific tests to record motion isolation on mattresses, to measuring air quality to interrogate a vacuum's anti-allergen filters, using expert-led methodology to make sure we're testing the products using robust, quantifiable data is always our objective.
We are discerning in our choices and there are loads of products we won't recommend. Those that deliver on performance, quality and value are awarded a star rating. And the very, very best are awarded our ‘Ideal Home Approved’ recommendation.
To request the Ideal Home Approved winner logo please contact efi.mandrides@futurenet.com who will be able to provide you with costs and available logo use packages.
Ideal Home's Certified Expert programme
The Ideal Home's Certified Expert programme, launched in autumn 2024, is part of our commitment to offering the best product expertise in the market, to ensure our editors are fully qualified to offer advice on choosing, buying and maintaining key purchases for your home, whatever your budget.
Our Certified Expert programme is a rigorous internal accreditation process that matches the demands of choosing products in an evermore complex market. Covering Small Appliances, Sleep, Vacuums, Furniture and Cookware, we have a dedicated editor assigned to each category. These chosen editors are following a clear and carefully designed path to become an Ideal Home Certified Expert in their area, including:
- Hands-on testing Experience testing the bestselling and highest-rated products on the market, adhering to a stringent set of criteria that provides the benchmark against which all products are reviewed and judged.
- In-depth product knowledge Our experts know their product area inside and out, from how it's made, to its wider pros and cons. They are non-biased and able to formulate an honest judgement about the USPs each product offers.
- Insider experience Our experts foster close relationships with industry experts such as product developers and retailers, so they know the market leaders and the growing trends within the industry. They are constantly out and about on factory visits, showroom tours and at industry trade shows.
- Consumer intel The editors regularly contact consumers directly so ensure our testing criteria always meets the most up-to-the-minute buying needs. t
How we test products
Each product we test goes through a rigorous process that has been designed specifically by the Ideal Home testing team for that product type.
How we test mattresses
All of the mattresses in our guide have been tested in person. That means that each mattress has been sent to the home of our reviewer and then slept on for at least one month. In most cases, the time that our reviewers have with each mattress is much longer, which gives us a chance to adjust to the new surface and get used to any changes in firmness.
Long term testing allows us to adequately test for changes in temperature from season to season, and therefore get a real idea of temperature regulation. You can read about the testing process in more detail on our how we test mattresses page.
We aim to test the bestselling mattresses from all of the leading brand names, whilst also covering a good range of material and construction options, and a wide range of price points.
How we test air fryers
Every air fryer in our best air fryer guide has been tested by a member of the Ideal Home team for a minimum of two weeks, with four thorough recipes. When it comes to how we test air fryers, we test a huge range of models at our dedicated test centre, including dual-zone and hybrid models (like those that can steam, air fry and bake at the same time) and then take them home to try them out in everyday conditions too.
We use a standard recipe for air fried chunky oven chips across all air fryers we test. We record details including cooking time, assessing how evenly the chips come out, and how well cooked they are. The second test all of the air fryers go through was cooking bacon. We assess the speed and evenness of cooking to measure how well each air fryer model distributes heat and how fast it circulates hot air.
We then test green vegetables and a variation of other foods, depending on the tester in each air fryer. Ease of cleaning is also considered, as well as value for money, size and how intuitive each air fryer is to use.
How we test vacuums
We know that it's crucial we have had hands-on experience with the vacuums we recommend to you, which is why we've tried out every vacuum in our guides. These tests have taken place either at home, with an Ideal Home member testing a vacuum for up to two months, or at our testing centre in Reading, where we compare different brands side-by-side in test conditions to get a true measure of comparison.
For our approach to how we test vacuum cleaners, we're looking for suction power, debris pick-up, accessories, ease of use and emptying and value for money, so that we can tell you what you'll be getting if you decide to buy a vacuum from our round-up.
We've tested a range of vacuums from every price range on the market - from flashy Dyson models to vacs under £100. We've also tested both bagged and bagless models and vacuums suited to allergy sufferers, so there's a review out there for every household.
How we test dehumidifiers
In order to find the best dehumidifiers and rate them fairly, every model undergoes a set of comparative tests, which looks at factors such as energy usage and performance, to ease of use and noise levels.
Every dehumidifier we review is tested by our expert reviewers in their homes, and we follow a standard testing process so that we compare all the different brands on their performance and value for money. You can read about our review process in more detail on our how we test dehumidifiers page.
How we test BBQs
BBQs can be a costly investment, which is why we've gone to lengths to test every BBQ in our guides extensively. That means we've built, grilled on and cleaned a huge range of BBQs, spanning gas, charcoal, electric and hybrid options.
These reviews were undertaken either at home for a period of up to two months, or during our BBQ testing day, where we built and cooked with six top-rated BBQs in the Somerset countryside.
When we sit down to write up our thoughts on those BBQs, we go into detail on the assembly process, how each BBQ cooks both large and small cuts of meat, veggies and even vegan alternatives, and put a huge emphasis on what the user experience is like, so you know what you're signing up for if you do decide to buy one. Value for money with BBQs is also critical for us, so we always take time to evaluate if a BBQ is worth its RRP.
How we test pizza ovens
We've extensively reviewed every single product in our extensive guide to the best pizza ovens, and now have up-to-date reviews of the majority of ovens on the market. We test each pizza oven for a number of weeks, which involves building them and trying out every fuel option for ourselves.
While we start each test with making and cooking a simple Margherita, we test the versatility of each oven by trying other pizza variations too, as well as testing the oven's capability as an outdoor cooking station. Tests include steak, potato dishes and veggies depending on the tester, so that you can see the array of foods it's possible to cook with a pizza oven.
How we test air purifiers
We’ve tested every air purifier featured in our best air purifiers buying guide, with at-home reviewers taking on the task of evaluating the size, price, controls, features, noise levels, and the all-important air purification performance of each buy. The at-home setting allows us to get a true feel of what it would be like if you purchased one of these air purifiers for yourself, especially when dealing with issues of pollution and allergies.
Meet our Ideal Home experts
Amy is Ideal Home's Certified Expert for Sleep, who's spend over 1,000 hours putting all manner of products through their paces to find the top recommendations for our readers, whether that's sleep-testing the best mattresses, trying out duvets and pillows or sourcing the best sofa beds for small-space living.
Amy’s regularly out and about visiting showrooms to experience the latest products in person, and has had a lie down on over 100 mattresses from brands including Silentnight, Sleepeezee, Sealy, Simba, Nectar, Hypnos and Harrison Spinks.
Molly is Ideal Home's Certified Expert for Appliances and for Cookware. With over 250 hours of testing under her belt, she's our air fryer guru and knows all there is to know about everything from juicers to cast iron cookware.
She loves nothing more than testing out a new buy for your home, and can often be found at the Ideal Home testing facility in Reading, either trying out a new kitchen appliance or brewing up the perfect cup of coffee.
She joined the Ideal Home team in 2022, after previously working at Real Homes, Homes & Gardens and LivingEtc as an Ecommerce Writer.
So far, Jullia has spent over 60 hours testing vacuums for our vacuum buying guides while she works towards become a fully qualified Certified Expert.
She's got hands-on with vacuums from leading brands including Dyson, Shark, Henry, Gtech and Bosch. She's using her testing experience to fine-tune our testing criteria for vacuums, starting with new comparative testing for vacuums for pet hair.
Sara has thrown herself into training to become Ideal Home's Certified Expert for Furniture, recently doing a grand tour of 16 sofa showrooms where she sit-tested 80 models as part of her research for our best modular sofas guide. In total so far she's racked up 25 hours of testing.
As well as furniture, Sara writes about room decor and trends, and donned her Christmas hat for real-life testing of artificial Christmas trees and advent calendars this year.
Helen is a freelance contributor who trained as a Home Economist. After starting her career in the food industry, she moved into home appliance reviews, utilising her cooking skills and experience to put all kinds of products to the test, and over the years has reviewed hundreds of home and kitchen appliances for a variety of publications.
Helen reviews kitchen appliances for Ideal Home from her open plan kitchen at home in a beautiful Berkshire village. She's our go-to expert for all sorts of small and large appliances - from air fryers to air conditioning units.
Linda is a freelance interiors journalist and product reviewer and has tested many products over the past 20+ years, including home tech, gym equipment, garden tools and even mattresses. Literally, paid to sleep!
For Ideal Home, she has tested everything from mattresses to pressure washers, with a particular expertise in cleaning products for the home. She uses her wealth of experience to rate products and give you her verdict on value for money.
Lauren is a freelance contributor who typically reviews larger home appliances. She’s put countless vacuums (and even electric mops) through their paces, testing everything from their ease of assembly to their pickup power.
Currently, she’s on a mission to find a vacuum cleaner that will tackle all of the hair her fluffy cocker spaniel leaves in his wake.
While loving every area of the home, interiors journalist and freelance reviewer for Ideal Home Rachel specialises in all things kitchen and has a passion for any gadget that makes life easier.
She risks life and limb in her endeavours, having survived 1000 cuts from food processor blades and a minor electric shock in her mission to bring you the best and latest small appliances. She also gets to eat a lot of cake, all in the name of work, so don’t feel too sorry for her.
Our shopping links
We work hard to give an honest, independent view of whether a product is worth having, rooted in the expertise of our writers.
We feature a wide range of products on our pages, and we select them because you want to know about them, or because our experts believe they are worth reading about.. Value-for-money is a core consideration when we recommend products.
Much of what we write is shoppable, which means you can buy products as your read about them. When you buy from one of these affiliate links, we may get paid a small amount of money via the company you bought from. This isn’t an extra fee and is included in the normal retail price that everyone sees. The fees have no impact on the pricing information we share with you.
When tracking down the best bargains, we may product edited round-ups of deals and discounts, themed around specific retailers or product categories. We base these on popular products we know you love and would want to save money on. We are diligent about only including deals that are worth shopping – we track down the very best prices on products we have either personally tested, or have been included in our product buying guides due to their performance and value for money.
Our editorial content doesn't promote specific deals based on the fees we get, but if you see the label ‘Advertising feature’, we may have been paid to promote that product.
Our editorial integrity is important to us – please contact us and let us know how we are doing. You can email us at ideal_home@futurenet.com.
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