34 invaluable secrets we've learnt testing air fryers, fridge freezers and more
Everything from air fryers to fridge freezers and from cookers to lawnmowers has come under our scrutiny over the past year as we've tested more than 1,000 home and garden products.
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.
See also: 13 invaluable secrets testing has taught us about tech and security
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.'
Choose the best mattress for a comfy 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.
Discover the best pillows for front, back and side sleepers.
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.
Find out which are the best air beds for comfort and durability.
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.
We compare store-bought vs DIY draught excluders to find the best draught excluder for a front door.
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.'
See the best electric heaters and how much they cost to run.
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.
Discover the best gas and oil boiler brands.
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.
Read our dehumidifier reviews to help tackle damp, condensation and mould in the home.
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.
Hot water bottle or electric blanket – what's best and cheapest for keeping you warm in bed?
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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.'
Head to our air fryer reviews and multi cooker reviews to find the right model for your kitchen.
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.
Read our toaster reviews for a model that will serve up slice after slice of perfect toast
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.
See the best kettles that are speedy to boil, quiet and easy to use.
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.
Discover the best bread makers for delicious homemade loaves.
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.'
We reveal the best stand mixers for whipping up cakes, bread and meringue.
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.
Cook healthy meals at home with the best electric grills from our tests.
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.
Cook up a storm with our pick of the best saucepan sets.
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.
Our range cooker reviews and freestanding cooker reviews highlight usable space only.
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.
Our fridge freezer reviews state the usable volume, measured with all the shelves and drawers in place.
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.
We reveal the best dishwashers that clean well and are easy to load.
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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.'
See the best vacuum cleaners for sucking up pet hairs.
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.
Read our tumble dryer reviews to see the models that dry quickly, evenly and are energy efficient.
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.
Find out which are the best fabric stain removers to remove red wine, curry and blood stains.
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.
Our ironing board reviews reveal whether it's worth buying a cheap one.
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.
See the best heated clothes airers that are the quickest and cheapest to run.
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.'
Get a close shave with our reviews of the best electric shavers.
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.
We reveal the best electric showers for your bathroom.
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.
Discover the best water flossers that can hold a charge for weeks.
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.'
Keep your grass in top condition with our pick of the best lawnmowers.
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.
Cook up an outdoor feast with one of our Best Buy barbecues.
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.
Make restaurant-quality pizza with our reviews of the best pizza ovens.
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.
Read our camping chair reviews for a comfy, sturdy and durable pick.
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.
Our testers took to the water to uncover the best goggles for indoor pools and open water.
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.
See the best tents that can survive wind, rain and even snow.
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.
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