How we research our buying guides

In short: our guides are research-based. Unless a guide clearly says otherwise, we have not bought or tested the products ourselves. We never write “we tested” when we didn’t.

1. Build a shortlist

We start with the models UK shoppers actually compare: best-sellers and well-reviewed listings on Amazon.co.uk, ranges at major UK retailers, and products recommended by independent UK reviewers such as Which?, The Guardian’s The Filter, Expert Reviews, TechRadar and specialist sites.

2. Check the facts

For each product we check the manufacturer’s specifications, the warranty, UK plug and UK-market model numbers, and whether the item is listed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of writing. We open every product page we link to. If we can’t confirm a listing, we don’t link it.

3. Read the reviews properly

Star ratings alone can mislead. We look at how many ratings a product has, what the most common complaints are (noise, reliability, assembly, customer service) and whether problems are recent. Where independent reviewers have measured something (runtime, extraction rate, drying time), we say who measured it.

4. Match products to people

Every pick has a “best for” and a list of watch-outs, because the right choice for a two-bed flat is different to a four-bed house with two Labradors.

5. Keep it current

Models change and stock comes and goes. We re-check links regularly and update guides when something better arrives or a product is discontinued. Each guide shows when it was last checked (currently 19 October 2026).

What we don’t do

• We don’t accept payment to include or rank products.
• We don’t show prices that may be out of date.
• We don’t use Amazon’s product photos.
• We don’t publish thin, auto-generated pages. Every guide is reviewed by a person before it goes live.