All posts tagged: Recommended Home

Lynsey Crombie answers Telegraph Recommended reader questions

Lynsey Crombie answers Telegraph Recommended reader questions

Published by Sam Flores

What are the best eco swaps you can make at home? Bishan, West Midlands I’m a massive fan of using what’s already in your cleaning cupboards at home, rather than always running to the supermarket to buy the latest cleaning product. A juicy lemon and a bit of bicarbonate of soda makes a fabulous scrubber for the oven, for stainless steel and some of those really grimy jobs. White vinegar is absolutely amazing at banishing hard water marks and limescale. Soda crystals, which you may already have in your laundry cupboard, are a really good degreaser. What are your top daily cleaning habits that people can stick to without feeling burnt out? Elliot, London Always air and make your bed every day. If you make your bed, it literally transforms your bedroom and it sets you up for the day. Never go to work with a pile of dirty dishes in your sink. Nobody wants to walk home from work exhausted at 5pm to a pile of breakfast dishes. And always run the vacuum around …

Is the best electric BBQ better than charcoal and gas? I tested five to find out

Is the best electric BBQ better than charcoal and gas? I tested five to find out

Published by Sam Flores

Using an electric barbecue is simple: plug it in, heat it up and you’re cooking in no time. Even the best charcoal barbecues take a while to get going and the best gas barbecues can still run out of fuel (I’ve been caught out mid-garden party by bad planning before). So, electric barbecues are growing in popularity and have the advantage of precise temperature control and fitting in smaller spaces where flames or smoke may otherwise be a concern. The best electric BBQs range from around £80 for a basic model with no lid up to around £900 for sophisticated models, with grill and appliance brands like Char-Broil, Weber and Ninja all entering the market. You can cook on grill plates or griddles and choose portable models small enough to sit on a table or big enough to feed the whole family, like a traditional charcoal one. Some even provide woodchips to get that smoky barbecue taste. The best electric BBQs: At a glance How to choose the best electric BBQ Electric barbecues come in …

The best cordless drills for DIY jobs

The best cordless drills for DIY jobs

Published by Sam Flores

All of the drills were tested at a workshop, where each one was handled and judged by a group of twelve construction students (both men and women, aged 20 to 60) to give a balanced assessment of their drilling and screwdriving performance. I also used the drills at home for tasks such as hanging wall shelves, uninstalling old screws and hanging cabinet doors.  I rated each drill on its ease of use, considering if it is easy to charge, how it feels in the hand, and if you can use it comfortably for extended periods. I also assessed the tools’ versatility across modes including drilling, screwdriving and hammer-drilling (as applicable). For battery runtime, I timed it by using the same drill bit and keeping each drill’s trigger pressed down with a cable tie, and I judged their speed and effectiveness when screwdriving or drilling through wood, metal and plastic. Finally, price, quality and any standout individual features were taken into consideration. The scores from each of the criteria were then averaged to give us an …

The 14 best tumble dryers, according to experts

The 14 best tumble dryers, according to experts

Published by Sam Flores

Our inclement weather makes drying clothes on a line all year round nigh-on impossible, so the Great British public has two choices: a cheap-to-run heated clothes airer, or a convenient but energy-intensive tumble dryer. Or so you might think. In fact, the best tumble dryers these days are decidedly low-energy, costing around 60p per load but the tricky part is weighing up how much to spend up front. Tumble dryers at the affordable end are less energy efficient, so could cost you more in the long-run. Heat pump tumble dryers are more expensive, but don’t require as much electricity to generate heat, making them more energy-efficient and cheaper in the long run. We’ve broken down the differences between heat pump, vented and condenser tumble dryers below and asked experts for recommendations of specific tumble dryers. Where possible, we’ve got hands-on experience with the tumble dryers in question and answered your tumble dryer FAQs. The best tumble dryers: At a glance How to choose a tumble dryer The best tumble dryers have multiple programme settings – …

Best portable air conditioners, tried and tested

Best portable air conditioners, tried and tested

Published by Sam Flores

At-home cooling tech is increasingly becoming a must-have. The best portable air conditioners can help keep your home cool and your sanity intact. But how do they work? While the best fans simply move air around and air coolers chill it using evaporation, an air conditioner actively lowers the temperature of a room by running air through a refrigerating unit and fanning it back out, expelling unwanted heat through a window. They’re fairly pricey, costing between £135 and £800 (and have higher running costs than fans and coolers), but a portable AC unit is more convenient than installing a built-in air conditioner. The running costs of around 25 to 35p per hour will prove good value for money when the temperatures rise, and most have a Class A energy rating. Below you’ll find reviews of the portable units we recommended, but if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at our top five: The best portable air conditioners: At a glance How to choose the best portable air conditioner Portable air conditioners come in …

The best frying pans you can buy, from cast iron to non-stick and stainless steel

The best frying pans you can buy, from cast iron to non-stick and stainless steel

Published by Sam Flores

A good frying pan should be versatile, durable (it won’t end up in the bin after three months) and good value for money, meaning it’s either pleasingly affordable or so long-lasting that it will be the last you ever buy. There are lots of different frying pans out there, so we narrowed our search to three main fields: iron pans, which are highly durable but harder to maintain; non-stick pans, considered easier to maintain but generally less durable, and stainless steel, which are loved by the pros but trickier to use. For boiling or stir frying, you’ll want a saucepan or wok. We’ve tested all the best frying pans on the market and you can read our reviews below, followed by advice from a cookware expert. The best frying pans: At a glance How to choose the best frying pan The most important thing is to decide what you’ll be cooking, as each type of frying pan is suited to different tasks. For example, if frying eggs in the morning, non-stick is the best option …

The best vacuum cleaners

The best vacuum cleaners

Published by Sam Flores

Every vacuum on this list has been tested by our team of expert home product reviewers. They all try several models from different brands, using them at home for deep cleans and quick pick-ups. Each is scored according to the following metrics: Design and build: We judge how durable each vacuum feels and whether it is lightweight and manoeuvrable. Components like the bin and accessories are also assessed for overall usability. Performance and results: Our experts try each vacuum on different surfaces, including carpets, hard floors and tiles. They lay out debris including food crumbs, fine dirt and pet or human hair, to judge whether it successfully picks up everything in its path. Ease of use: The controls should be intuitive to use and well placed, while ideal noise levels are low. Any digital displays or app compatibility are also assessed for usefulness. Finally, we consider the reach under surfaces and into awkward corners. Storage: Our testers consider whether the vacuums can stand unsupported, if they fold away and come with a dedicated wall mount …

The best washer-dryers for a two-in-one solution to laundry

The best washer-dryers for a two-in-one solution to laundry

Published by Sam Flores

A washer-dryer seems the perfect space-saving alternative to buying separate washing machines and tumble dryers, and is usually more affordable. Still, you don’t want to get stuck with a subpar combo, which could run up high electricity costs and leave clothes damp after the drying cycle. If this is the case, you may want to buy a cheap-to-run heated clothes airer. Washer-dryers can cost anywhere from £350 to more than £2,000 but for most people, you’ll still be making a saving compared to buying separate machines. The two main types of washer-dryers are freestanding and integrated, which are fairly self-explanatory, but you can read more about what to look for in a washer-dryer in the FAQs section below. Freestanding washer-dryers tend to be more popular, which is why I’ve focused on them for this guide. I’ve also asked experts for advice and their own recommendations of specific washer-dryers. The best washer-dryers: At a glance How to choose a washer-dryer Choosing the best size and capacity for your home are key when buying a washer-dryer. “It’s …

Best dried flowers for gifts 2026, including Bloom & Wild and Lisa Angel

Best dried flowers for gifts 2026, including Bloom & Wild and Lisa Angel

Published by Sam Flores

Everyone loves fresh, everlasting flower bouquets but they aren’t the easiest arrangements to care for and their maintenance can take up a lot of time. Thankfully, there’s another option: dried flowers. These natural blooms are a more sustainable choice, offering longevity and guaranteeing forever-artful arrangements with low maintenance. Like fresh flowers, dried blooms or preserved flowers are available in a surprising range of vivid tones. As an interiors and DIY specialist, I’ve always found them the easiest go-to option for home decoration. With Mother’s Day approaching, they also make superb gifts, since they’re hardy and travel well. Several retailers across the UK offer beautiful bunches, from well-known names like Bloom & Wild and Lisa Angel to more boutique options such as Grace & Thorn. Prices vary widely, from as little as £11.66 to over £100 for a bouquet. These florals make lovely mantelpiece or side-table decorations, eye-catching centrepieces or simple gifts for mum and dad. You can read my reviews of the best dried flowers below, followed by answers to the most frequently asked questions …