To help you choose from the vast array of products on offer, we awarded more than 200 Best Buys to those that impressed most.
Across our many years of testing and reviewing products in the home, our experts have learned many things to help you make smarter buying decisions and get the most out of your purchases.
Here are our top tips.
Sleep tips
1. How to accurately assess the firmness of a mattress
Mattress manufacturers can use their own definition of firmness.
Lisa Galliers, Which? mattresses expert
'We assess firmness using our independent scale of one to 10, where one is the firmest and 10 is the softest.
'This is why we might describe a mattress in our reviews differently from how it’s marketed.
'It also means you can get a more accurate comparison of firmness for a better night’s sleep.'
2. What pillow suits different sleeping positions
When choosing a pillow, our tests found you don’t need to buy one marketed as beneficial for a specific sleep position.Those rated most highly by our panel were loved by all sleepers, whether they prefer to sleep on their front, back or side.
3. How to get a perfectly firm air bed
Some air beds have a pre-setting to help you get your desired firmness every time you inflate it.Pick from pre-settings ranging from soft to firm and the pump will automatically shut off when the bed has the correct amount of air in it.
Heating tips
4. How to save money on a draught excluder
The most efficient front door draught excluder we’ve found costs nothing.
An old towel over the gap beat shop-bought draught excluders we tested.
5. How to best use an electric heater
Our tests have found electric heaters that use less electricity tend to be the worst at heating.
Joel Bates, Which? electric heaters expert
'Ensure you use your electric heater wisely to avoid energy costs racking up. They’re designed for quick bursts of concentrated warmth for a smaller area.'
6. How to get the most efficiency from your boiler
A boiler marketed as 94% efficient will likely deliver 80-90% efficiency most of the time.This is why we’re dubious about claims that a ‘new boiler will save you £X’. When you get your annual boiler service, speak to the engineer about how to set the controls for maximum efficiency.
7. Why laundry mode on a dehumidifier isn't always worth it
The laundry mode on a dehumidifier can sound fancier than it actually is.Often it’s just the dehumidifier running continuously until your clothes are dry, so it may not be worth paying extra for.
8. How much to spend on a hot water bottle
Paying more for a hot water bottle doesn’t mean it will keep you warmer.
Buy a cheaper bottle and spend more on a thick cover.
Kitchen tips
9. How to save money when using an air fryer
The amount of food you cook in your air fryer or multi cooker plays a part in how much they cost to run.
Sam Morris, Which? multi cookers expert
'Using an air fryer or multi cooker can save money on energy bills as long as you don’t run them several times for one meal.
'To maximise savings, choose one that can fit enough food for your needs, as we’ve found there’s little difference in running costs between large and small models.'
10. What the numbers on your toaster dial mean
Numbers on toaster dials don’t equal minutes.A higher number on the dial means a lower current running through the circuit. This triggers the off switch later, so the bread will be more browned.
11. Why using a fast kettle can save you money
Fast kettles don’t use more energy than slower ones.A kettle that boils in three minutes will use far less energy than one that takes four minutes to boil the same amount, and you get your cuppa more quickly.
12. How to avoid deflated bread dough
If the water inside your bread maker gets too cool before the delay timer switches on, your bread won’t rise properly.Your kitchen needs to be at least 21°C. Check your thermostat, or save the delay timer for warmer months.
13. What to look for when buying a stand mixer
The stand mixer you use shouldn't affect the quality of your finished bake.
Sabrina Sahota, Which? stand mixers expert
'All the stand mixers we've tested produce a light and airy sponge cake.
'The real difference is how often we have to stop each mixer to scrape down the sides.
The best require minimal intervention as the machine does most of the work for you. This is something we highlight in our reviews.'
14. The best way to cook with an electric grill
Many electric grills have lids too heavy for grilling delicate foods, such as vegetables or halloumi.Keep the lid raised instead and flip over foods halfway through to avoid squashing all the juices out.
15. How much to spend on a saucepan set
You can get a decent saucepan set for less than £60, but we found these cheaper sets to be less durable and more scratch-prone.Paying around £100 will get you a more durable set.
16. What to watch out for with cookers
Advertised cooker capacity includes space you can’t use for cooking, such as under the lowest shelf.17. And fridge freezers too...
Similarly, fridge freezer manufacturers state the number of shopping bags’ worth of food that will fit inside. However, these figures are usually based on taking out all the shelves.18. How to get the most space from your dishwasher
The number of place settings a dishwasher is claimed to hold only tells half the story.Look for flexible loading options such as foldable prongs and cutlery drawers, to get more in.
Washing and drying tips
19. How to save on a vacuum cleaner if you're a pet owner
If you're a pet owner, don't restrict yourself to a specialist vacuum cleaner for pets.
Manca Virant, Which? vacuum cleaners expert
'Vacuum cleaners aimed at pet owners can cost significantly more than standard vacs, and our testing shows, at times, they’re less effective at picking up pet hair.
'A standard vacuum cleaner that we’ve rated highly for pet-hair removal is a better bet.'
20. How to care for your wool clothes
Wool programs on tumble dryers are best avoided.In a test of six leading brands, we found that five – including one with a ‘no shrink’ guarantee – significantly shrunk our jumpers on a wool program.
Your best bet is to wash your woollens by hand and dry them flat.
21. How to use bicarbonate of soda to treat clothing stains
Heard that bicarbonate of soda added to your washing machine softens the water so you need less detergent?Our testing has found that it’s effective on stains. However, the British Skin Foundation says it can irritate skin, so don’t add it to your wash cycle. Use it to spot-treat stains instead.
22. Why a bog-standard ironing board is better
Some ironing board covers are claimed to reflect heat and remove creases faster. However, we haven’t seen these claims borne out when we tested them.Buying a stable board is enough to make ironing easier.
23. When to use a drying pod vs a heated clothes airer
Drying pods are faster than heated airers but cost more to run per load.The heated airers we tested cost 8p an hour to run, on average, compared with 28p an hour for drying pods.
A heat pump tumble dryer is best for drying bigger loads quickly and efficiently, although they cost much more to buy.
Bathroom tips
24. How to choose the right electric shaver for your hair length
If you regularly shave short stubble, consider a foil shaver.
Matthew Knight, Which? electric shavers expert
'If you use an electric shaver every one or two days, you’re more likely to get a closer shave with a foil shaver than a rotary model.
'They're also easier to use to get accurate results around the chin, lips and sideburns.
'Rotary shavers are better at capturing longer hairs.'
25. How to save money when using an electric shower
Eco modes on electric showers make a fundamental difference.Switch from high to eco and you could cut the amount spent on energy by half.
26. The real difference between water flossers
All water flossers we tested do a decent job of cleaning.However, we found big differences in battery life and how long a full water reservoir lasts, both of which impact ease of use.
Garden and outdoor tips
27. How to avoid flattened grass
Swap your lawnmower direction of travel each time you mow.
Jonny Martin, Which? lawnmowers expert
'Grass blades tend to grow in the direction they were mowed.
'If you're always coming at them from the same angle, they could end up leaning one way rather than standing upright.
'Remember to change the direction each time you mow to avoid uneven growth of your grass.'
28. How to get the perfect char on your barbecue
A dirty barbecue affects cooking.Burnt-on remnants from previous feasts prevent food from direct contact with the bars. This is needed to achieve the distinctive sear and flavourful char we all want.
29. The secret to perfect pizza in your pizza oven
Any pizza oven with a pizza stone can get hot enough to crisp up the pizza base. However, for the best pizza, make sure it's hot enough before you cook - around 400°C is ideal.That's why an infrared thermometer (approx £25) is an essential extra to buy alongside your pizza oven.
30. What to look for when buying a camping chair
Reduced mobility? Consider a camping chair with solid arms.Our testers found these much easier to get in and out of than chairs with fabric arms.
32. How to make your swimming goggles last longer
Minor scratches on swimming goggles can damage the lenses over time.If your goggles don’t come with a storage case, buy one and use it.
33. How to avoid a leaky tent
Take waterproofing ratings for tents with a pinch of salt.We’ve discovered that when tents leak it’s almost always through the seams. Examine the stitching before you go camping to prevent a washout.
34. Why you shouldn't be concerned about your cool box guzzling electricity
Listening to an electric cool box whirring away, you might think it’s racking up massive bills.However, we found they all cost the same to run - around 2p an hour at 28.6p/kWh.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/34-invaluable-secrets-weve-learnt-testing-air-fryers-fridge-freezers-and-more-a2EBe4t0ZcnN