I am easily the least coordinated person I know, which is not always a winning combination in the kitchen. Glass and ceramic pieces are constantly at risk of being dropped, which is why plastic has lingered in my cabinets for so long.

Among the worst offenders are my old plastic mixing bowls, now scratched and stained from years of use. As part of my mission to create a non-toxic home, they are high on the list for replacement - and the KitchenAid Stainless Steel Nesting Bowls, available from Amazon, feel like the perfect upgrade.

Durable, versatile, and free from the concerns often associated with aging plastics, they offer a practical alternative that is particularly well suited to small kitchens. Better yet, they nest, taking up less space in my tiny kitchen. Here’s why I think they are worth the switch.

Stainless steel is one of the best options for non-toxic cookware. It is inert, meaning that it does not react with food, does not release fumes or leach harsh chemicals when heated, and is free from synthetic coatings.

While your mixing bowls are unlikely to go in the oven, plastic bowls can warp when heated over a pan for a bain-marie, or chip or scratch, especially if you are using an electric hand mixer, flaking microplastics into your meals.

Stainless steel bowls, such as the KitchenAid, on the other hand, eliminate these risks, staying pristine for longer without chipping or melting. Given they are non-reactive, they do not absorb flavors or odors, either, meaning they can be used just as easily for savory food prep as they are for sweet cake mixes − there's no more fear that my chocolate cake will come with a twinge of the weekend's barbecue marinade.

The KitchenAid bowls feature silicone bases that serve a dual purpose: Protecting the stainless steel from cosmetic scratches when nested together in kitchen storage and preventing the bowls from sliding or spinning while mixing by hand.

For someone as clumsy as me, that extra stability is surprisingly valuable. Whether I'm whisking cake batter or working through a thick dough, the bowls stay firmly in place, reducing the risk of slips, spills, and ingredients ending up anywhere but the mixing bowl. If I do drop one, I won't be worrying about cracks, either.

While I have yet to pick up the bowls for myself, I have spent the last few weeks reviewing the KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer, which comes with a stainless steel bowl. It was incredibly sturdy, resisting scratches even against my metal ice cream scoop when portioning cookies. This gives me high hopes for this nesting set of three.

They are small details, but they make baking feel noticeably easier − and a lot less chaotic.

What Else to Shop

Your kitchen is one of the easiest and most impactful places to start when reducing potential toxin exposure in your home. To help you create a healthier cooking environment, I’ve rounded up some of my top picks, from non-toxic kitchen utensils and cookware, to safer drinkware and everyday swaps.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

With your new non-toxic pieces on the way, brush up on how to organize pots and pans to make ample room and avoid a fight through clutter every time you cook.

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For years, I overlooked pan organizers. My cookware lived in stacks on cabinet shelves, and I accepted the daily ritual of digging through piles whenever I needed one. It worked, but it was hardly efficient. In my tiny kitchen, I assumed there simply wasn't a better solution.

That changed by chance when I picked up an adjustable rack like the OXO Good Grips Cookware Organizer from Amazon. What I expected to be a small kitchen organizing upgrade quickly became one of the best things I have bought for my home.

The spend was immediately justified. My pans are easier to access, simpler to put away, and far less likely to get scratched or damaged. More importantly, my cabinets now feel bigger and more organized, without renovation or an extra unit. My only regret is not buying one sooner. Here's why I now consider it a non-negotiable kitchen essential.

At a basic level, introducing smart organizers into a practical space helps to reduce the appearance of mess, even without decluttering a kitchen. The same five pans will look neater and less overwhelming when slotted into a file-type organizer, such as the OXO Good Grips Cookware Organizer, available at Amazon, than when left in odd, precariously balanced piles.

The difference is intention. One looks purposeful and well thought out; the other is a neglected afterthought. It's a tiny change, but one that instantly makes a chaotic kitchen feel calmer. It helps to make a small kitchen look more expensive, too.

That said, the benefits of organizing pots and pans extend beyond reducing visual clutter in a kitchen. I have put considerable time and money into finding the best non-toxic cookware for my home, and the last thing I want is to damage my investments. Stacking can quickly chip delicate enamel and ceramic or scratch stainless steel. Quality organization is a big part of caring for every type of cookware that many of us overlook.

The OXO fixes this, with its adjustable and removable dividers; it can be reshaped to fit any size pot or pan, while the wide base prevents tipping. Two or more organizers can be easily connected, too, for expansive storage that fills a cabinet or drawer without the need to invest in custom solutions.

It's a small upgrade, but one that I now know should never be overlooked.

What Else to Shop

Pans are just part of the problem when it comes to minimizing stress in a kitchen. From utensils to loose packets, I have curated a selection of my favorite organizers to help you streamline your kitchen storage.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

To further streamline your storage, clear out the items organizers never keep in kitchen cabinets.

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Kitchen scraps are surprisingly useful. From making compost to brewing stock, they have a lot of life left in them despite the name. Perhaps one of the most practical uses, however, is as a pest deterrent.

As the summer weather starts to peak, pesky bugs are at their most active, seeking suitable shelter to reproduce. Kitchen scraps can make non-toxic deterrents that make areas less attractive to pests, explains Ed Dolshun, Technical Director at Catchmaster. 'They can help with light activity, but if pests keep showing up, there is usually a food source, moisture issue, or entry point that needs to be fixed.'

These are the three scraps worth repurposing for natural pest control and how to use them to deter persistent bugs.

1. Used Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds can help to keep bugs away and smell fantastic while doing so. Given that good-quality, ethical coffee beans can be expensive, this is a great way to further justify the spend while avoiding creating unnecessary trash at home.

As Ed Dolshun explains, 'Used coffee grounds can be particularly helpful outside around patios, trash bins, or garden edges because the strong smell can make those areas less appealing to some crawling insects. The important thing is not to overdo it. If coffee grounds sit too long and stay wet, they can start to break down and attract pests instead. I would use them as a short-term outdoor deterrent and refresh or remove them regularly.'

Collecting your coffee grounds is easiest with the best non-toxic coffee makers. I use the Bialetti Moka Pot, available at Amazon, and the grounds are simple to tap out of the funnel after each use. The Aarke French Press, from Williams Sonoma, also makes it easy. Made entirely from stainless steel, you do not need to worry about either vessel contaminating the grounds with nano or microplastics that might pollute your outdoor environment.

2. Banana Peels

Banana peels are fantastic for plants, acting as free fertilizer without added harsh chemicals. The added benefit to using this kitchen waste in your garden and pots is non-toxic pest control.

Allan Bossel, operations expert at Bed Bug Exterminator, explains, 'Banana peels are one of the underrated kitchen scraps that homeowners can use against summer pests, especially ants and aphids. What makes it effective is isoamyl acetate, which releases a strong scent when broken down.

'Simply chop the peels into small pieces and then bury them around the base of your plants to avoid attracting fruit flies and rotting in the sun. Also, you can create a nutrient boost from these scraps by soaking the chopped peels in a jar of water for two days.'

This airtight storage jar from Walmart is perfect for this, letting the skins soak without accidentally attracting pests with the sweet smell.

3. Leftover Nutmeg and Mace

There are plenty of spices that deter common garden pests, but for summer, Allan suggests leftover nutmeg and mace, usually found in abundance in pantries and kitchen cabinets after the fall and winter baking seasons. Repurposing them prevents stale spices next season, without them going entirely to waste.

'They contain myristicin, a natural plant compound that seems to deter bugs,' Allan explains. 'Nutmeg can keep termites away and mess up ant scent trails. Simply sprinkle your expired nutmeg powder right along your home's foundation to block bugs. You can even throw it in your pantry bins to ward off grain weevils or simmer it in water to make a quick bug spray for wooden patio furniture.

'However, if you’re a pet owner, keep nutmeg away from your dogs because their bodies can’t metabolize myristicin. It’s toxic for them even in small amounts.'

What Else to Consider

Natural deterrents are a fantastic first defense against an infestation; however, they should not be relied upon entirely. Doing so is one of the most common pest control mistakes.

Ed warns that natural deterrents only work if the basics are handled too. 'Keep food sealed, wipe up spills, take trash out regularly, check for moisture, and seal gaps where pests may be getting in,' he advises.

'If you are still seeing consistent activity after that, then it is usually at the point where monitoring tools or targeted traps make sense. Catchmaster’s window fly traps [from Amazon] are an easy option for kitchens and glass doors where flies tend to collect. For crawling pests, Catchmaster’s glue boards [also from Amazon] can be placed under sinks, along baseboards, in garages, basements or near entry points to help monitor what is actually getting inside. They are pesticide-free and odorless, which is helpful for households that want to avoid indoor sprays.'

What to Shop

Preventing pests requires a multifaceted approach, from the best deterrents to top cleaning tips. These are the essentials to help keep them at bay without harsh chemicals.

All prices correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Experts

Keep an eye out for the signs it's time to call professional pest control to prevent lasting damage to your home and health.

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Cutting clutter is an everyday concern for most households, and a one-size-fits-all approach can be the easiest method to limit overwhelm.

For versatility, you really can't do better than IKEA's TROFAST Mesh Storage Box: Spacious, breathable, and easy to see the contents with a glance, it's no surprise that shoppers are buying multiple for use all around the home.

Here's why they make a worthy addition to any home organizing ideas − and what's even better? They're on clearance right now.

Storage should make your life easier, which is why lightweight, easy-to-carry options such as IKEA's TROFAST Mesh Storage Box are ideal for use all around the home.

The spacious design offers room for everything from books, board games, and art supplies to smaller everyday essentials such as toiletries, accessories, socks, and clothing. The open-mesh construction also makes it easy to see what's inside at a glance, helping you stay organized without constantly rummaging through drawers and cupboards.

The storage box comes in three understated colourways, though the grey-blue option is my personal favourite for its versatility. Smaller sizes are also available, making it easy to mix and match boxes to suit different storage needs. Better still, each box is designed to slot seamlessly into the IKEA TROFAST Storage System, allowing you to build a fully customised organisation setup from a range of configurations, sizes, and finishes.

What Shoppers Say

With an overall rating of 4.7 stars and 265 five-star reviews, it's clear that IKEA's TROFAST Mesh Storage Box is a steadfast hit with shoppers, many of whom have bought multiple.

'Great storage,' says Glenda. 'I added four large bins and two smaller bins, and this has added the storage that I needed to help clean up my sewing room.'

Rebecca shared that they were 'Just what [she] needed,' adding, 'This is a fantastic way to organize the toys. This is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.'

Elsewhere, Mark highlights how well they work with the accompanying TROFAST frames. 'I have several TROFAST cabinets,' he says. 'TROFAST has an excellent idea here: Removable and interchangeable bins organized in a convenient cubby or cabinet. Solid construction with either plastic or grid-metal bins.

'The styling hides clutter − not fancy, but presentable. Many cabinet configurations are available. They are affordable. Yes, I would recommend them as good storage units.'

Finally, a review from Stacia proves the unbeatable versatility of these mesh storage boxes − she uses hers for organizing her upright freezer.

'Shopped a bit and found these, which fit well at a great price point,' she explains. 'They are much sturdier than the plastic “bins” that came in my last freezer.'

More to Shop

Below, you can shop my essentials for overhauling your entire home's organization. With a minimum delivery fee of $35 when shopping at IKEA, you can either bulk buy the TROFAST Mesh Storage Box, or complement your purchase with one of my other favorites.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

These baskets aren't the only IKEA item shoppers are buying in bulk − IKEA's mold-proof laundry basket has also proven useful all over the home.

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There's something about the resinous scent of pine groves that instantly reminds me of long poolside days sat beneath towering Mediterranean pine trees in Crete, accompanied by the busy hum of cicadas and a rustling breeze.

Now, perfectly captured by Diptyque's new limited edition summer candle Pinède, I can bring that same scent straight home and enjoy it all summer long − and there's one unexpected benefit to burning it, too.

As pine notes work to naturally repel mosquitoes, it's also one of the very best home fragrances for creating the perfect atmosphere when hosting or relaxing al-fresco throughout the balmy months of warmer weather.

In my opinion, the best candles combine a beautiful design with an equally beautiful scent, a clean burn, and a persistent, room-filling fragrance when lit. As I've learned to expect, Diptyque's Pinède effortlessly ticks off all three.

It's not just that, though, that makes it such a perfect summer scent. Pine is also a scent that deters mosquitoes, which means lighting it is also an easy way to get rid of mosquitoes in the house naturally and get rid of mosquitoes in outdoor spaces, too, like patios, balconies, and terraces.

For that reason, while I wouldn't usually pair a scented candle with a meal indoors, it's my perfect pick for giving any outdoor dining ideas an elevated look and feel.

There's plenty more to love from the whole Diptyque summer collection, too. The Citronnelle (or lemongrass) Classic Candle is another of my favorites, and lemongrass is another plant that Martha Stewart suggests for keeping your yard mosquito-free. And, for making your house smell nice without burning candles, there's also the option of the Citronnelle Incense, available at Diptyque.

Elsewhere, my favorite Diptyque Figuier, or Fig Tree, candle also enjoys a moment in the summer spotlight.

Of course, when it comes to repelling mosquitoes, a candle, and particularly one that's not specifically designed for the task like Diptyque's Pinède, can only work so effectively (though the scent and gorgeous vessel are enough to justify the purchase either way).

So, for maximum effect and a fragrant boost, I'd recommend pairing any scents with container plants that repel mosquitoes, like rosemary, lavender, and peppermint, or trying your hand at making your own DIY natural mosquito repellents, like a lemon eucalyptus spray, lavender oil spray, or using apple cider vinegar and herbs.

More to Shop

Browse more goodness from Diptyque's limited-edition summer collection below, along with more affordable alternatives for scenting your space all throughout the warmer months.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

If you've found yourself wondering how long you should burn a candle, I usually stick to three hours at a time, which experts agree is the ideal length of time.

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Gone are the days of non-toxic pans costing a small fortune. As we become more mindful of the materials in our kitchen, a growing number of affordable options are proving that creating a healthier kitchen does not have to break the bank.

IKEA is a great example. Their non-toxic cookware is some of the best (trust me, I've tried some of it). Their latest success? A $25 stainless steel sauté pan that handles mid-week meals with ease.

Simple, durable, and refreshingly affordable, it makes cooking cleaner without the eye-watering price tag. It's perfect, according to shoppers. Here's why

Stainless steel is a premium choice for non-toxic cooking. Completely inert, safe for use with metal tools, and suitable for both the oven and stovetop, it offers greater versatility than delicate ceramic coatings or heavy cast iron.

The drawback is that it isn’t naturally non-stick, which can feel intimidating for less confident home cooks. But there’s no need to worry – having once been wary of cooking with stainless steel myself, I can say the learning curve is surprisingly small, with the Leidenfrost effect helping to achieve even sears without sticking.

Heat the pan over low to medium heat for a few minutes, then sprinkle a few drops of water onto the surface. When it’s ready, the droplets will glide across the pan before evaporating. At that point, add your oil and cook as usual – it’s that simple.

Because the IKEA pan is so affordable, it’s an ideal place to start. You won’t be stressing about the investment while you get comfortable with the technique, leading to a more relaxed, confident approach to cooking.

The beauty of the sauté pan is how many tasks you can use it for. From simmering to frying, it can move from stove to oven and from oven to table seamlessly, without adding to the pile of dishes by the sink. It is dishwasher-safe too, so cleaning the kitchen after dinner is a breeze.

While I have not tested this exact pan myself, the hundreds of five-star reviews from verified shoppers speak for themselves.

Verified shopper Jannett shared in their five-star review, 'It is lighter than other brands of 3- or 5-clad stainless steel pans, and the best thing is it is 9”, not 10”. It does not take up much stove space when cooking. It heats up pretty fast as well. Great for cooking one-pot pasta. It is also very easy to clean.'

Cindy added, 'I love all 365 items; they're very durable. I've had the pots for 15 plus years, and they're still in great shape.'

It's a small investment in your long-term health and well-being. What's not to like?

What Else to Shop

As with many smaller IKEA essentials, you can pick them up in-store or unlock home delivery by spending over $35. If you’re anything like me, home ordering is the safer option – an IKEA trip usually ends with three boxes of things you never planned to buy.

To help you reach the threshold, I’ve rounded up six of the best IKEA cookware accessories to bulk out your basket.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

To help you separate fact from marketing fiction, I have created a guide to cookware labels and myths, so you can identify truly non-toxic cookware and choose the best cookware for your home.

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Shopping for food storage is hardly glamorous. It is often the afterthought of the kitchen, relying on tired plastic pots that usually look a little worse for wear.

Now, however, Le Creuset is offering timeless stainless-steel food containers that look just as good as its best non-toxic cookware, combining the brand's signature style with a durable, non-toxic approach to food storage.

The stainless steel pots can be used for everything from on-the-go lunches to arranging a fridge.

As a health-conscious cook, I am always looking for food storage ideas that both help to reduce food waste and limit my exposure to plastics. Stainless steel is one of the best ways to do this as a non-reactive material that is more durable than glass. As a clumsy person, this is essential to me.

The Le Creuset On The GO Boxes are made from the same quality stainless steel as their best-selling pans, including the Essential Stainless Steel Pan I reviewed not long ago. The lightweight design means that the pots are simple to pack and take with you, and are much easier to move around your kitchen than heavier glass containers if you struggle with grip or finger dexterity.

Being metal, the containers are, of course, not microwave-safe, which may prove awkward for those who like to reheat their leftovers in the same container they stored them in. That said, the steel helps to keep the contents warm if added hot, especially if it is preheated in advance, adds one reviewer.

In their five-star review, they shared, 'As someone who avoids microwaves and plastic, this has been a perfect solution. I preheat it by filling it with hot water and sealing the lid while I heat my food separately. Then I dump the water, add my food, and seal it, and it keeps everything hot really well until lunchtime.'

They may be a simple swap, but when it comes to creating a non-toxic home, few kitchen upgrades offer the same combination of practicality, durability, and sleek design while delivering everyday peace of mind.

What Else to Shop

From non-toxic food storage to essential care tools that keep them performing at their best, I’ve curated six healthier kitchen swaps designed to reduce potential exposure and create a more mindful cooking environment.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Looking for something a little more fun for your summer food storage? Le Creuset has quietly relaunched its coveted summer fruit cocottes, perfect for summer hosting.

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Despite being a cookware editor, I will admit that I have always been scared of cooking with unenameled cast iron. With no protective coating to fend off sticking and rust, the maintenance alone was enough to put me off investing in this hardy chef essential.

It was inevitable, however, that my hunt for the best non-toxic cookware would lead me to cast-iron skillets. And I am oh-so glad that it did.

Having used the Victoria 10-inch Cast Iron Skillet, available at Amazon, a few times to prepare my full review, I have been blown away by just how simple it is to use and the stunning results it produces with minimal fuss. Better still? It is our budget contender, at under $25. I think it has potential to be one of the best skillets – here's why.

The best cast-iron cookware has a reputation for being on the more expensive side. The heavy materials used and quality machining to ensure a smooth, durable cooking surface natural puts these pans at higher price points than traditional non-stick pans. Usually, the price is justified by the fact that this non-toxic alternative will last for decades, being passed through generations if you clean cast iron correctly.

Despite being a health-conscious cook, I never saw the appeal of pans that you have to put so much effort into maintaining, only for some foods to stick and burn anyway. I would have continued to think that way if I didn't do this job.

However, after using the Victoria Cast Iron Skillet just once, I was blown away. I'll admit the lower price point gave me lower expectations; however, when frying up some burgers, the pan delivered the most beautiful sear, and all with zero sticking.

I added more oil than I usually would, following general advice for using new cast iron to help develop the fresh seasoning, but the meat came away from the surface without tearing or leaving chunks behind. I was seriously impressed.

What I really loved, however, was the fact that I could achieve this in such low temperatures. My electric stovetop has nine heat settings, and my old non-stick pans usually required setting six and above. The Victoria Skillet, on the other hand, preheated at four and cooked my burger on level two. It's a small difference, but it will save me energy and money in the long run.

I am, of course, going to put it through more tests to explore the limits and potential of the pan before I write my full review, but so far it's incredibly promising. I see nothing not to like, especially at such an amazing price.

What Else to Shop

One of the biggest barriers to cooking with cast iron is the upkeep. To make the process feel less intimidating, I’ve curated six essential tools that simplify cleaning and caring for your cookware, helping you keep your cookware in top condition with far less effort.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Used cast iron before and always found things sticking? There might be a common heat ring mistake to blame. Luckily, it is super simple to fix.

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My One Minute Verdict

The Karcher WD 6 P is not a vacuum for the faint-hearted. At 21.2lb / 9.6kg with a 7.9-gallon / 30-liter stainless steel tank, it most definitely earns its industrial, wet/dry shop title. It's a machine built for the kind of mess your everyday cordless won't touch, like flooded garages, workshop sawdust, post-renovation rubble, and anything liquid or heavy that has no business going near a regular vacuum.

When it works, it really works – and it’s a strong contender for the best vacuum for pet hair in the right setting. The suction is impressively powerful; my chocolate Labrador’s hair disappeared from hard floors and upholstery in a single pass. The blower function is equally effective, making quick work of leaf clearing and even blasting away water balloon debris scattered across the garden.

On carpet, the brushes on the main vacuum nozzle make the head stick and drag rather than glide, and on smooth hard floors, the same brush strips pushed debris around rather than picking it up cleanly.

This made it abundantly clear that the Kärcher WD 6 P is designed for rougher, uneven surfaces – garages, patios, workshops – rather than everyday flooring. Switching to wet mode, where the rubber lips take over from the brush strips, is a much more satisfying experience, and the machine's true strength lies in liquid pickup and heavy outdoor tasks.

Elsewhere, it's not an easy vacuum to build. Setup took close to 20 minutes – longer than any vacuum I've tested. Once built, it's also a beast of a machine and takes up a lot of space, which saw it quickly relegated to the garage.

At $349.99, this is a premium investment in a very specific kind of cleaning. If you have a garage, workshop, or outdoor space that regularly generates mess, it may well be the most capable tool you own. Especially if you have the storage space to match. For DIY fans, the integrated power tool socket on the front lets you plug your sander or drill directly into the machine and the vacuum starts and stops in sync with your tool, capturing dust at the source without any extra effort. Yet it is ultimately a niche recommendation.

If you're hoping for a versatile everyday vacuum that also handles the odd spill – especially if you have a low tolerance for noise and friction – you're better off with a standard wet-to-dry upright, like the Dreame H14 Pro or the Dyson V15 Detect.

Kärcher WD 6 P: Specifications

Kärcher WD 6 P: Design and Features

There is nothing subtle about the WD 6 P. It's unapologetically large, bulky and bright yellow. The 7.9-gallon / 30-liter stainless steel tank sits on five castors and is topped by a yellow motor head that houses the controls, filter system and accessory storage.

As with the rest of the Karcher range, it's a design that says workshop rather than home, which is exactly what Karcher intends – this vacuum is built for the kind of heavy-duty mess that a domestic canister or cordless simply can't handle.

The motor delivers 1,300W of rated input power and 300W of suction power – figures that put it well ahead of the Kärcher WD 5's 1,100W, and on par with the Bosch AdvancedVac 20's 300W suction, despite the Bosch drawing only 1,200W. The stainless steel tank is noticeably more durable than the plastic containers on lower-priced wet-dry vacs and is designed to withstand abrasive debris.

One of the WD 6 P's standout features is its push-button filter cleaning system, which Kärcher calls pulse technology. A single press sends a burst of air through the flat pleated filter, dislodging accumulated hidden dust back into the tank and restoring full suction power. This is particularly useful when vacuuming fine dust without a filter bag.

The flat pleated filter is also designed to stay dry during wet pickup – it sits in a top-mounted filter box that doesn't come into contact with liquid. This means you can switch between wet and dry tasks without removing or changing the filter. You do have to remove the fleece dustbag when switching to wet vacuuming, though (which I have forgotten on several occasions to my despair.)

On the front of the motor head is a rotary dial that you turn left to control the suction/blow power of the vacuum, and to the right to control the integrated power tool socket. This socket sits next to the dial and lets you plug in external tools to either provide power without the need for a separate extension lead, or it can be used to set the vacuum to switch on and off in sync with the tool. This is a useful feature during sanding or drilling and is something its predecessor, the WD 5 lacked.

An 8m (26.2ft) cord and 2.2m (7.2ft) hose then give the WD6 P a total working radius of just over 10m (33.5ft), which is more than enough for most workshops or large rooms. I could vacuum all rooms on my entire ground floor and into my garden without having to swap to different plugs.

The hose connects to two stainless steel extension tubes, a removable handle, and the floor nozzle. The other attachments include a crevice nozzle for baseboards, stair edges, and corners. A 1m (3.3ft) flexible hose is also included for connecting to the dust port on a power tool, and there's a bent handle you attach to the tubes to give you better control across the floor.

The floor nozzle is relatively narrow for a machine this size, which does limit how well it covers open floor areas, but allows it to get into tighter spots. It has a lever on the side that switches between two modes – dry, where brush strips extend down to sweep debris toward the suction inlet, and wet, where rubber squeegee lips take over to drag liquid toward it.

There is no neutral position; the nozzle is always in one mode or the other, so for bare suction without either the brushes or the rubber lips, you need to switch to a different attachment.

Both the cable and hose have dedicated storage positions on the machine, and the floor nozzle has a parking position so it can be hooked onto the body during work breaks.

For wet tasks, a drain screw at the base of the tank allows liquid to be emptied without lifting the machine – a practical consideration given that a full tank of water on the Kärcher WD 6 P will weigh around 66lb / 30kg.

The blower function works by moving the hose to the outlet port on the machine, reversing airflow to dislodge debris from hard-to-reach areas such as gravel beds or patio crevices. It's a small and simple touch, but it's super effective and useful, especially outdoors.

What Is the Kärcher WD 6 P Like to Use?

One of my favorite features of the Kärcher WD6 P is its castors. I never thought I'd celebrate something so innocuous, but having reviewed dozens of vacuums, these genuinely elevated the experience for me.

They make the machine incredibly easy to pull across hard floors and carpet, despite its bulk. I often get frustrated with the cord on upright and domestic vacuums always getting in the way, but the smooth way the castors navigate and pass over the WD 6 P's cord, plus having 26.2ft / 8m of cord to play with, means this was never an issue.

At 9.6kg (21.2lb) without accessories, there's no denying this is a heavy machine, and the weight is still felt when maneuvering in tight spaces or changing direction frequently, but the castors again make it feel much lighter and easier.

Due to the brushes on the floor nozzle, the Karcher WD6 P's performance on carpet and hardwood floors depends on getting the nozzle angle right. You have to tilt it slightly in order to pick up debris, rather than just move it around, and this doesn't always feel comfortable.

On carpet in particular, the brush and powerful suction work against you: the head drags and sticks, requiring real effort to push, and the brush strips tend to bury finer debris deeper into the pile rather than lifting it. This is not a machine built for carpeted rooms, or certainly not without switching to a different nozzle.

Switching to wet mode is a much better experience. The rubber lips glide across hard floors and pick up liquid cleanly and confidently, which is where the WD 6 P really earns its price.

On noise, the Kärcher WD 6 P is loud. The specification lists 73dB, but in my test, it was closer to 89dB on the minimum suction power, and 92dB on maximum. It's not comfortable for long periods.

Test 1: Flour and Sugar

For our flour and sugar test, I scattered a half-cup mixture across carpet, hardwood, and laminate to see how well the Kärcher WD6 P handles fine dry debris. This test is a proxy for the dust, skin cells, and fine dirt that build up across real homes.

On hard floors and laminate, the WD 6 P performed well, with the floor nozzle in dry mode picking up the mixture cleanly. The brushes on the underside of the nozzle come into their own here and guide the dust towards the suction inlet. Residue was minimal after a single pass.

Carpet was a different story. The suction and brush combo ended up simply pushing the flour and sugar deeper into the pile, leaving streaks across the carpet.

Working the nozzle repeatedly at different angles helped, but even with effort, some residue remained. If your home is predominantly carpeted, a dedicated upright or canister vacuum will serve you considerably better.

Test 2: Pantry

For my pantry test, I poured half a cup of cereal and lentils onto the same three floor types as before – carpet, hardwood and laminate.

On the laminate and wood, the Kärcher WD 6 P did an OK job with the lentils but struggled with cereal – you can clearly see in my review videos how the floor nozzle pushes the Cheerios around the surface rather than drawing them in cleanly, scattering pieces rather than collecting them.

Again, this is managed by angling the nozzle slightly, but the trade-off is that this isn't comfortable for long.

The brush strips work well on rougher, more uneven surfaces, such as garage floors or patios, where they have something to grip against, but on smooth flooring, they don't have enough purchase to guide lighter debris toward the suction inlet.

Test 3: Pet Hair

Maisie, my chocolate Labrador, is a dependable supplier of dark, dense, medium-length hair across my hard floors, upholstery, and carpets – and a solid real-world test for any vacuum claiming to be the best vacuum for pet hair.

On hard floors, the WD 6 P performed extremely well. Maisie’s hair vanished in a single pass, pulled straight into the hose without wrapping or leaving stray strands behind.

Suction is more than strong enough to handle even heavy concentrations of pet hair, and the lack of a brushroll means there’s nothing for hair to tangle around. A few strands do collect in the nozzle brushes, but they’re quick and easy to remove.

On carpet, the same angle-dependent performance applies, although longer pet hair is easier for it to lift and capture than fine dust and powder.

For pet owners with mostly hard floors and upholstery, the WD 6 P is highly capable. For carpet-heavy homes, however, a more dedicated pet-focused vacuum like the Miele Guard L1 Cat & Dog, available on Amazon, would be the better fit.

Test 4: Attachments

Swapping between attachments is refreshingly simple – in fact, it was the easiest part of the entire process. Everything twists and clicks securely onto the hose or extension tubes with a firm push, and detaches with a quick thumb press.

Nothing felt loose during use, although the fittings do require more force than you might be used to with a standard domestic vacuum – a reminder that this is built for tougher, more industrial-style cleaning.

The floor nozzle saw the most use. In dry mode, the brush strips are better suited to rougher, more textured surfaces than smooth floors, as noted in the tests above. In wet mode, however, the rubber lips performed noticeably better, giving a more controlled, purpose-built feel for handling spills and wet debris.

The lever switch between the two modes is easy to access and can be operated with your foot, making transitions quick and low-effort mid-clean.

The crevice nozzle proved genuinely useful. Dust in corners and along edges was removed cleanly in a single pass, with the strong suction doing most of the heavy lifting. It also came into its own for clearing the residue left behind during my flour and sugar tests, and it’s equally effective on baseboards, stair edges, and the gaps between appliances.

The bent handle noticeably improves control when pushing the floor nozzle across surfaces, particularly on carpet. It also detaches easily, allowing you to connect a nozzle directly to the hose for overhead cleaning or awkward angles without fuss.

One notable omission is the lack of an upholstery nozzle in the box – surprising at this price point – although a range of compatible accessories can be purchased separately from Kärcher.

Kärcher WD 6 P: Setup and Maintenance

The Kärcher WD 6 P was one of the most frustrating vacuums I’ve tested when it came to setup. Every step introduces more friction than you’d expect, from trying to attach the rotating castors to a wobbly, upside-down base, to repositioning the carry handle just to remove and refit the motor head.

Figuring out where everything goes isn’t intuitive either, and because the manual is mostly illustrated rather than genuinely explanatory, I ended up having to look up additional guidance online. The whole process took around 20 minutes and tested my patience more than once.

Emptying the WD 6 P is very dependent on what you’ve been cleaning. For wet waste, the drain screw at the base of the tank is the cleanest method – simply unscrew it, tilt the machine forward, and the liquid flows out without needing to lift the tank.

For dry waste, you need to move the carry handle forward to unlock the motor head, then twist, lift, and tip the tank into a bin.

Both emptying methods are straightforward enough, although the size and weight of the tank mean the process is less elegant than simply emptying a compact dustbin.

On the upside, the tank takes a long time to fill – unless you’re tackling a particularly large job – so this isn’t something you’ll need to do frequently in everyday use.

When used for dry tasks, the fleece bag does a good job of containing dust and can be lifted out cleanly without releasing a cloud of debris. That’s a meaningful advantage over bagless designs, especially after vacuuming fine dust or sawdust.

Replacement bags are readily available from Kärcher as well as third-party suppliers, and they’re simple to fit when needed.

The flat pleated filter is the component you’ll interact with most regularly. The push-button cleaning system takes care of the bulk of day-to-day maintenance, but when a more thorough clean is needed, the filter box releases with a press, folds open, and the filter lifts out cleanly without requiring you to reach inside the tank.

It can be rinsed under a tap and reused – Kärcher describes it as a lifetime filter when properly maintained – but it must be fully dry before being reinserted, which does require a bit of planning ahead.

The stainless steel tank interior is smooth and easy to wipe out, and shows less staining than a plastic container would over time. The hoses and tubes are straightforward to clear if blocked – disconnect, run water through if needed, and allow to dry.

Overall, the machine feels built to last, with the stainless steel tank and solid connection points giving it a durability that cheaper plastic wet-dry vacs don't match, and which helps justify the higher price.

How Does the Kärcher WD 6 P Compare?

The Kärcher WD 6 P sits at the mid-to-higher end of the wet-dry vacuum market at $349.99, and whether it justifies that price depends almost entirely on what you need it for. The most direct comparison is its predecessor, the $249.99 Kärcher WD 5. It shares the same core wet-dry design, but omits several key upgrades – including the power tool socket, push-button filter cleaning, and drain screw – all of which make a noticeable difference in day-to-day usability on the WD 6 P.

It also uses a smaller plastic container rather than the WD 6 P’s stainless steel tank, and the 16ft / 5m cord feels more restrictive in comparison. At $100 less, the WD 5 makes sense for lighter or occasional use, but for regular DIY work or more demanding wet cleaning tasks, the WD 6 P’s added features comfortably justify the step up.

How We Test Vacuums

We test every vacuum we review in real-world conditions across a range of floor types and debris categories. Each model goes through a consistent set of tests: flour and sugar on carpet, hard floors, and laminate to assess fine debris pickup; a pantry-style test using larger, heavier debris to evaluate general performance; and a pet hair test using real fur from Maisie, my chocolate Labrador, across both carpet and hard flooring.

We also assess each vacuum across setup time, ease of use, noise, manoeuvrability, and ongoing maintenance – including how simple it is to empty, clean, and reassemble. Every attachment is tested individually as well to understand its real-world practicality.

For wet-dry vacuums, we run additional tests covering wet pickup performance, evaluate any blower or secondary functions where included, and measure noise levels using the DecibelX app.

For full details of our testing methodology, see how we test vacuums.

Keeping the surfaces, shelves, and cabinets of your home streamlined can feel like an impossible task, especially in busy households.

I have experienced this keenly as my family has grown and our jobs have moved to a remote-work setup at home. That’s why I am snapping up the $1.25 tray organizers from Dollar Tree, currently available in a bulk-buy offer, before they sell out. Their versatility is ideal for tidying up your whole home with minimal energy or planning.

Applying a simple organizing system, such as matching trays, is one of the best storage ideas professionals use to keep things easy to manage in the long term – a must for busy homes.

The rectangular trays come in an assortment of long and short sizes, and a gold or rose gold trim along the top. This subtle color difference can help you with a straightforward tidying system. Use it to allocate types of items, or to a particular member of the household.

Adding labels, with an easy-to-use, print-at-home label maker available affordably from Walmart, will add further organization to your belongings and be a clever tool you use time and again. This could be because of a change in the function or categories of your storage trays and bins, or because you’re switching things out as the seasons and your household's needs change.

I’ve found it to be particularly useful when organizing my pantry or decluttering kitchen cabinets.

As this is a bulk buy, the retailer notes that some colors may vary. If you’re placing them inside cabinets, this won’t matter, but if you’re planning to utilize them on open cabinets, this may be something to consider so you don't add visual clutter to open storage.

More to Shop

If you like the idea of a home-wide clear-out but would like a few more organizers to choose from, I have selected some other affordable Homes & Gardens favorites, along with streamlining staples that may come in handy.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

I have used the easy-clean, stackable Amazon trays to clear the mess from all over my home, and they are a fantastic budget-friendly alternative.

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To me, welcoming guests for a meal is all about whimsy – making my home and cooking feel that little bit more magical for the people I love. As it turns out, Le Creuset is on the same wavelength.

Expanding on their best non-toxic cookware range, the heritage brand has quietly launched three seriously cute fruit-shaped cocottes – a peach, a strawberry, and a blueberry – that make the perfect single-serving bowls for any summer table. In previous years, similar collections sold out fast.

These new pieces are already selling out across retailers, and knowing Le Creuset's history with retiring even the most popular pieces, you'll need to snap them up quickly if you want to perfect your playful warm-season setup.

This is hardly the first time the brand has launched a playful seasonal collection. Le Creuset's Fall 2025 collection saw the release of charming pumpkin-shaped mugs and cocottes, for instance, and in 2023, the brand launched the first iteration of the fruit pots, with the familiar strawberry and blueberry, alongside an apple and raspberry.

It is hardly surprising that the first launch sold out almost immediately, and I expect nothing less from the most recent, revamped drop, especially as they tap into one of this season's most fun trends – making a home more whimsical. We are seeing it everywhere, with gardeners creating whimsical yards for the summer, too.

The new designs look more polished, with perfectly graduated pastel coloring and improved lid and side handles to increase functionality without ruining the juicy-looking design. They're bigger, too, boasting a 16-ounce capacity over the original's 14-ounce, making them even better suited to personal crumbles, dips, and desserts.

I rarely recommend investing in themed kitchenware. I have a small kitchen, so I understand the hassle of storing seasonal pieces out of the way in the off-season. That said, your serveware doubles as both the best cookware and summer table decor ideas; it is hard to pass up.

Made from Le Creuset's signature stoneware, the pots are safe from -9°F to 500°F, meaning you can chill desserts such as tirimassu or cheesecake overnight to set, or bake single-sized crumbles and stews without adding more dishes to clean up after a dinner party.

When not in use, they're pieces I would happily leave on my counter to turn kitchenware into decor. We are fully in the era of having fun with our food again, and I, for one, am here for it.

What Else to Shop

Whether you're refreshing your summer table ahead of peak hosting season or searching for playful ways to elevate your tablescaping, I’ve rounded up some of the most charming fruit- and vegetable-inspired cookware and serveware to bring a touch of whimsy without sacrificing practicality.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Not sure which Le Creuset color to invest in? Discover the best Le Creuset Color for your birth month as a starting point.

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For people with tiny kitchens like mine, sleek, well-organized storage can feel like an impossible luxury. That was, however, until I saw Yamazaki's compact storage range, designed to fit almost anywhere.

So far as small kitchen storage goes, the Yamazaki Home Slim Rolling Storage Cart, available at Williams Sonoma, is a true gem. It is compact enough to slot in the awkward gaps beside cabinets and appliances, making use of the space otherwise left to dust and crumbs.

Forget sacrificing tons of counterspace to stacked shelving and visual clutter; it's one of the best free-standing additions that won't hamper the visual appeal of your cooking space while organizing your kitchen.

Designed to be ultra-slim, the rolling cart is not designed to replace your main produce or pan storage ideas. Instead, it is for the everyday essentials that otherwise clutter up your counters. Think pantry staples such as oil bottles, dried food canisters and spices.

When organizing a kitchen, the goal is to help you keep counters clear and reduce visual clutter to make cooking less overwhelming, especially when you have just come home from a busy day and want a relaxed evening in.

Crafted from durable powder-coated steel and wood, it is incredibly resistant to rust and stains, meaning it is no more difficult to clean a kitchen. The cart is also available at Williams-Sonoma in black and white to fit into any kitchen scheme seamlessly. At Amazon, you can also find the rolling cart in Forest Green if you want a pop of color in your storage.

The Japanese design is ideal for beyond the kitchen, too. From organizing a bathroom to perfecting home office storage ideas, the cart is truly versatile. For those with an overflow of accessories, perfumes, or makeup, it could even find a home as bedroom storage, tucked beside or behind dressers.

Admittedly, it is not the cheapest storage solution; however, the Amazon reviews speak to the quality. With well over 1,000 five-star reviews, verified shoppers have praised how easy it is to assemble, and how it looks great once in place.

One shopper, Jamie, wrote in their five-star review, 'Excellent product, beautiful design. I was a little nervous to purchase due to the price, but I am glad I got it!

'It fits all my spices perfectly, including my big Costco ones, and a few of my oils and vinegars! I love the metal-and-wood top. When it is free-standing, it has a slight wobble, but it usually isn't out all the way, so the wobble is of no concern. Massive space saver, cleared out my oddly shaped cupboards and made room for other items.'

Now all I need to do is work through a kitchen decluttering checklist to clear the rest of the clutter, and my tiny workspace will be ten times easier to use.

What Else to Shop

Compact units that work with the existing features of your kitchen are some of the best storage solutions for kitchens without built-in pantries. To make the most of smaller, more awkward spaces, I have curated six free-standing storage picks to make the best use of vertical height and awkward corners.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

If you are tired of clutter, consider what to get rid of to create a minimal kitchen that makes cooking easier and reduces stress.

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Finding enough cooking space to feed a crowd can be a challenge, especially in a compact kitchen such as mine.

That is why the HexClad Double Burner Griddle Pan has caught my attention as a potential summer hosting saviour. Designed to span two burners, it effectively doubles your cooking surface without the hassle of juggling or trying to fit multiple large pans next to each other. This gadget makes it easy to fry, sear, and sauté for a group. Better still, it works on induction and electric cooktops.

It is also completely non-stick, non-toxic cookware, and it is currently $30 off in the summer sale. For anyone looking to simplify summer hosting without sacrificing performance, this is a clever small-space solution.

While the best grills offer a practical solution to large-party cooking in summer, I don't want to have to be outside to cook. They can't tackle more delicate tasks such as brunch-time pancakes, either. While I could continue to struggle with several pans in my small kitchen, this approach equals more stress, more clutter, and more cleaning up.

The HexClad Hybrid Double Burner Griddle is the sleek alternative that instantly streamlines the setup. Made with HexClad's signature hybrid stainless steel-ceramic non-stick, it covers two burners to heat the whole plate evenly for a larger cooking surface without refitting my kitchen.

While I haven't used the griddle myself yet, I do have a 10" HexClad Frying Pan and a tiny Hybrid Milk Pot, and can testify to just how sonderful the non-stick truly is. Usually troublesome oil and butter pour like water from a duck's back, making clean up a breeze.

With tri-ply construction with an aluminum core for quicker, even heating, it’s safe to use on any home cooktop or stovetop, including induction, and is metal utensil-safe, dishwasher-friendly, and oven-safe up to 900°F. I can't think of a more versatile investment.

HexClad shoppers agree. Cheryl K gave the griddle five stars, having used it outdoors on their grill, sharing, 'I used it on top of our grill grate to make smash burgers on one side of the pan and assorted grilled veggies on the other. It was a great one-pan meal! I also used it to bake pizzas and stromboli. Can’t wait to try it on my stovetop!'

Kathleen T similarly added, 'Of all the HexClad I own (and I have almost all of the pieces), this one is my favorite. I use it so much that it lives permanently on my stovetop. I am a huge fan!'

What Else to Shop

From other investment-worthy HexClad cookware to essential summer cooking accessories, I have rounded up my top picks to outfit your kitchen ahead of the hosting season.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Your cookware is not your only thing to upgrade ahead of the warm weather. These must-have finds can help to prep your home for summer hosting, too.

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If you are finding it hard to sleep this summer for heat consuming you at night, there might be a simple storage mistake in your bedroom at the root of it all.

Home cooling experts and professional organizers warn that keeping lots of items stored underneath your bed could be the reason you can't cool down at night.

Here, they detail the common storage mistake to avoid, and exactly why it drives up heat-related discomfort at night.

As Kevin Pennington, a member of the Institute of Refrigeration, advises in collaboration with Sharps, the area of concern is, surprisingly, your underbed storage ideas.

'Cold air sinks, so the coolest air is near the floor,' he explains. 'If you have lots of belongings stored under the bed, you are not allowing cooler air to circulate, and it traps warm stagnant air right under where you are trying to sleep.'

In turn, this thwarts any efforts you make to cool down a bedroom fast, and any more general attempts you make to sleep better in hot summer weather.

Amber Taggard, Professional Organizer, Storage Expert and Founder of The Organizer Chicks, agrees. 'Summer is here, and if you’re anything like me, you’re looking for every possible way to make your home feel cooler, calmer, and more comfortable.

'While we absolutely want the space under our beds pulling its weight when it comes to storage, we also don’t want it working against us during the hottest months of the year.

'One surprisingly common storage mistake I've seen repeatedly in my 15 years as a Professional Organizer? Packing the area under your bed so full that air can no longer circulate properly.

'Think of the area under your bed as part of your bedroom’s breathing system. When air can move freely, heat and moisture have a better chance of dissipating. When every inch is packed tight, that airflow is reduced.'

The 30-Second Swap to Keep Your Bedroom Cool

Fortunately, the fix is both quick and simple − all you need to do is clear the space. As Kevin explains, this works because the space under your bed acts as a reservoir for cool air, and keeping the area free of any clutter will help avoid any hidden mattress mold caused by underbed storage, too.

'Cold air sinks, so the coolest air in your bedroom sits right at floor level, and that gap beneath the mattress allows it to circulate naturally and draw heat away from you while you sleep.'

And, if you're wondering what the worst underbed storage offenders are, Kevin warns that solid plastic storage boxes, vacuum-packed winter clothes, heavy spare duvets, and cardboard boxes full of shoes are all listed among those to avoid.

'These are all dense, non-breathable materials, and if you've got the space rammed full of them, you're effectively turning the bottom of your bed into a solid block that traps warm, stagnant air right where you're trying to sleep,' he shares.

Instead, if you can't sacrifice your underbed storage space, opt for breathable, low-profile solutions, such as the Breathable Underbed Storage Bins, available at Amazon. Leave plenty of room around them, and periodically pull items out to clean beneath the bed to prevent dust buildup, which can affect air quality.

'It also comes down to how much you're storing. One or two small items pushed to the middle won't do too much damage; air can still move around them,' continues Kevin.

'But most people are short on space, so they pack those big under-bed drawers wall to wall. If the space is full, you're killing the natural airflow of the room. Even just leaving generous gaps around the edges makes a real difference.'

What to Shop

Alternative, breathable solutions for beneath your bed can be a simple swap you can make today so you don't have to lose that coveted storage space entirely.

Whether you're upgrading or overhauling, when decluttering and organizing the area under the bed, it's also crucial to keep this area clean and free of dust, so I've also included our top-rated handheld vacuum for cleaning behind and under beds without moving them.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Experts

'Remember: having your best nest isn’t just about maximizing every inch of storage,' says Amber. 'It’s about creating a home that helps you breathe easier, sleep better, and live more comfortably.'

These hidden bedroom storage buys also offer a stylish alternative to underbed solutions.

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If your bathroom is feeling cluttered, you’re not alone. I’m ruthlessly decluttering mine as it’s the only solution for the ‘clutter creep’ that has spread across every surface and cabinet in recent months.

Bathrooms are one of the most functional spaces of any home, and the products and potions you’ll find in these rooms largely have to stay put. A great solution to clearing the mess that can silently build up is using smart organizers that do not impede your access, whilst also using the vertical height available to you.

That’s why I am returning to my trusty 76-cent Amazon organizing tray, a product I have used all over to organize my home.

Why Bathrooms Get So Cluttered in the First Place

Jenny Dietsch, Founder & CEO of Getting It Done Organizing, says, ‘Bathrooms get cluttered so easily because we have adopted a "more is better" philosophy, and we see so many products being sold to us on social media. I encourage you to analyze how many different lotions and potions you have and how many you truly use or need.’

She advises asking yourself the following questions to easily remove and declutter your bathroom:

• How many bathroom products do you have that are partially used, that you do not plan to use again, or maybe are expired?
• How many hair tools do you have?
• How many do you actually use?
• How much makeup do you actually use? How many different bottles of hair products do you have?

Jenny adds, ‘My advice is to truly evaluate what you need, want, and use. If you have duplicates and back-stock, store it in a container in a cabinet and shop from your back-stock before buying anything new.’

Ruthlessly decluttering your home will also help form new habits when it comes to shopping so you don't accumulate things as rapidly again.

As for your bathroom, only keep out what you use daily, and keep rarely used items under a bed or a cabinet elsewhere in your home. ‘I do the same thing with holiday dishware,' Jenny explains, ‘We do not keep it in the cabinet with the day-to-day dishes because that would be too crowded.’

Why Easy Stacking Trays Help to Easily Organize Crowded Bathrooms

I use the affordable Amazon trays all over my home, and I particularly like that they stack but are see-through, meaning when you use them on shelves or in drawers, you can still find what you’re looking for easily.

Professional organizer Jenny likes them too. She says, ‘My team of organizers love these types of inserts to store items inside drawers. They are shallow inserts and best in a drawer, not on the countertop.

‘They are a great idea because they allow you to separate your items into usage categories and keep your drawers neat. There should be a home for everything, and inserts are a great way to corral all of your different items. I also love the mesh over-the-door rack from The Container Store.’

More Bathroom Organizing Essentials

Restore order and calm to your bathroom by ruthlessly decluttering, then implementing smart organization systems that allow your household easy access to everyday essentials without overwhelming surfaces and storage areas with clutter.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Expert

Ensure the functionality of this busy room isn't compromised by brushing up on the mistakes to avoid when organizing bathroom cabinets.

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As the Sleep Editor here at Homes & Gardens, I'm lucky enough to enjoy a steady influx of new bedding to test for our buying guides. While this has filled my linen closet with a whole host of beautiful sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers, it's also left me, less fortunately, with a distinctly messy storage space.

That's why I'm picking up this four-pack of SpaceAid Bed Sheet Organizers, available at Amazon, to quickly and simply overhaul my sheet storage.

Proven to keep shoppers' best bed sheets neatly organized and accessible (and praised in over 3,000 five-star reviews), they're sturdy, durable, and effortlessly easy to use.

It's the common consensus that organizing a linen closet is one of the most awkward, tricky areas to tackle. In particular, it's fitted sheets that pose the biggest problem, and often end up bundled up, wrinkled, and stacked in towering piles, which is why I'm upgrading my storage with the SpaceAid Bed Sheet Organizers, available at Amazon.

Sturdy and durable, simply fold your bedding, zip the organizer around it, close the lid, and use the included labels to fix your frustrating tiny linen closet storage in an instant. Each organizer is large enough to hold one Queen or King sheet set, one duvet cover, and two pillowcases.

Then, each organizer can be placed side-by-side on a shelf in your linen closet, keeping every item easily accessible, identifiable, and neat.

What Shoppers Say

As Michelle details in her five-star review, the SpaceAid Bed Sheet Organizers, available at Amazon, are a 'game-changer' for linen closets.

She says, 'I love these SpaceAid Bed Sheet Organizers for my bedding! They keep my sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers neatly folded and organized – no more messy stacks tumbling over. The bands hold everything securely, and the labels make it easy to grab the right set quickly.

'They're sturdy, fold flat when not in use, and transformed my chaotic closet into something tidy and beautiful. Highly recommend!'

Another shopper, Erin, also similarly calls them a 'closet game-changer,' and adds, 'So good for organizing. No more bulky, messy sheet sets − everything stays neatly folded and easy to grab. Makes the closet look way cleaner and more put together. Simple idea but makes a huge difference.'

What to Shop

Interested in more small linen closet storage ideas? Shop from a selection of top-rated options below to keep this hardworking space neatly organized.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Next, I'm going to take inspiration from Martha Stewart's linen closet organization method, which involves cardboard rolls and lavender sachets and costs less than $9 to recreate at home.

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I have a fair amount of floor space in my kitchen-diner, but a limited amount of cabinets. This has left my newly built home in a storage deficit, and the clutter in my kitchen kept piling up, no matter how many times I decluttered.

After learning it would cost at least $25,000 to overhaul and add more kitchen cabinets to suit our needs, I looked for an affordable alternative. I ended up buying an ever-popular IKEA cube storage system, which starts from as little as $34 for a two-cube setup.

I opted for a spacious $129 12-cube KALLAX, and it’s been a game-changer for organizing my kitchen, leaving my cabinets streamlined, every rattan cube satisfyingly tidy, and my most-used cooking essentials easily accessible. I'm buying four more variations for use across my home.

What I particularly love about the unit is how easily you can personalize the storage potential to suit your room's exact needs.

My new unit immediately doubled the amount of practical storage space I have in the kitchen, allowed us to declutter heavily-used wall cabinets, and, crucially, made my brilliant non-toxic cookware more accessible for everyday cooking.

The IKEA KALLAX Has Been My Most Useful Kitchen Storage Addition

I have been working to create a non-toxic home, starting in the kitchen, and cleared out potentially hazardous non-stick pans that were scratched and replaced them with high-end Our Place cookware sets that are non-toxic but heavier than I'd like. I was struggling to get them out of the lower kitchen cabinets where we had previously kept our cookware.

Now they are at shoulder height, on top of my KALLAX, in the included organizers, seen above, and I no longer have to get my husband to get out what I need to use.

Additionally, the kitchen cabinet that had held our cookware previously now has oodles of space. Nothing is stacked vertically or nested inside each other, just to fit. Everything from our Caraway stainless steel mixing bowls and strainer storage sets to Souper Cubes I use weekly to save space in my freezer.

It Was So Easy to Put Together

My husband put the unit together in under an hour, and we opted for the IKEA KALLAX base frame to lift it off the ground a few inches. This not only provides extra hidden storage underneath for all those pesky kitchen items such as spare grocery bags and trays, but made the unit feel instantly elevated in style.

The baskets were also easy to put together, and we chipped away at those over the course of a week or two, as there were 14 to put together.

I added a non-toxic BPA-free shelf liner from Amazon to the top for scratch protection from our heavy metal cookware handles, and to make it easy to clean.

Keeping the KALLAX Organized

,To help our household keep the Kallax unit from descending into chaos, I allocated each cube for something in particular and labelled it as such. This helps us all maintain a simple organizing system moving forward.

It also means I no longer spend my days frustrated with mess on countertops that spilled over from jammed cabinets – or the lack of enough shelves to work with. It’s been truly transformative, and now my initial budget for a new kitchen will be put towards our dream forever home.

Investing in a little label maker, available at Walmart, was one of the best things I ever did for organizing my home as it's such a handy item for organization. Most of our rattan cube inserts from IKEA have their own marker to let everyone, including our cleaners, know where to find or put away what they need.

What Shoppers Say

I’m not the only one now to be obsessed with the IKEA bestseller, and planning on bringing four more to organize my small home, which is lacking in storage. IKEA shoppers have loved it for years, keeping it a constantly top-purchased product.

Shoppers have endless uses for theirs, including storing records, crafting items, adding storage across their home, keeping out-of-season clothes, exercise equipment, using it for decluttering home offices, playrooms, kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, and more.

There is no end to the versatility. Rating it on average 4.6/5 stars, the KALLAX has had thousands of reviews from verified shoppers in the US and across the world.

Alexis recently wrote that it ‘holds the Multiverse,’ and added, ‘The storage unit is uncanny and amazing! I bought it to store my comic omnibus and collected editions and more. Between DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, etc., this thing holds worlds upon worlds between them. The unit is strong and sturdy. Some of these omnibus books are quite heavy, and this unit appears to have no issues holding them. The look and feel exudes confidence and well-built quality. You've got a fine product here! ‘

Sandra reported that the ‘KALLAX versatility is limitless’ and I wholeheartedly agree. She says, ‘The unit is perfect storage for crafts and fabric. Quality is great and easy to put together. Love these shelves.’

Another, Juliana, reported that it’s the third 4x4 KALLAX she has purchased. ‘I purchased the first units 10 years ago to store and organize my heavy paper-based work materials. I bought a second one to store off-season clothes and exercise equipment. I had no problem assembling the Kallax units, and they have held up perfectly despite being heavily loaded.'

The endless five-star reviews go on like this, confirming its durability, usefulness, and how it fits so much in without taking over your space.

What to Shop

Catering your storage to your particular requirements at home is a smart way to help you maintain order moving forward. Here are some useful items I've used in my kitchen project and extra alternatives.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Next, delve into the most stylish storage ideas for your home.

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It is safe to say that every kitchen collection outgrows its storage at some point. Whether it is a surplus of pots and pans or food containers losing their lids, when space starts coming at a premium, it can become frustrating to find what you need, when you need it.

The instinct is often to invest in large-scale and complex systems to corral belongings. However, choosing one or two smart tidying essentials often has the best and quickest payoff when organizing your kitchen.

The IKEA VARIERA Pot Lid Organizer is a perfect example. It brings order to one of the most awkward categories of kitchen storage, keeping items neatly arranged and increasing accessibility. The result is a calmer, more functional kitchen that feels effortlessly organized day after day.

At first glance, the VARIERA is extraordinarily simple. It is an extendable stainless steel rack that fits practically any cabinet or deep drawer, keeping everything from delicate glass pan lids to unwieldy food container lids.

A large part of the problem with storing pot lids is how to do so and reduce visual mess in your kitchen. Even a handful of container lids scattered loosely at the bottom of a drawer can make your storage feel chaotic and the cooking experience a little less calm.

As you can rarely reduce how many items you need to store, requiring differing lids to match every pot, vertical stacking saves the day. By introducing a divided organizer to line lids up neatly, no matter their size, you keep them within easy reach and group them for a more considered kitchen.

In short, it creates visible order, making a kitchen feel more expensive, and all for only $7.

What Else to Shop

A tidy and clutter-free kitchen rarely comes down to a single storage solution. To streamline your space, I’ve rounded up the kitchen organizers our editors swear by, from clever cabinet upgrades to countertop essentials that make everyday cooking simpler.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

To help avoid any storage blunders, avoiding the things people with tidy kitchen cabinets never do will establish order and maintain it.

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An overflowing under-sink cabinet, brooms spilling out of cupboards, and enough cleaning cloths to last a lifetime: If this sounds familiar, you may need a compact and versatile cleaning system to help reclaim your storage space.

As I'm currently in the process of a house move, I'm streamlining my cleaning tool clutter once and for all, which is why I am glad to have spotted the $24 IKEA PEPPRIG Cleaning Set.

With a cleverly compact design, it's perfect for storing in even the smallest of apartments, and comes complete with all the essential cleaning tools everyone needs to refresh your whole home at an impressively affordable price.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

A cleaning tool that's clever, compact, and convenient to store − just like the IKEA PEPPRIG Cleaning Set − ticks all my boxes for a decluttered utility room or undersink storage area.

When deep-cleaning your house, having a 'one-stop shop' with you as you move around will save you so much time and energy, especially when paired with our expert cleaning tips.

The IKEA kit's telescopic handle is adjustable from 30 to 50 inches (handy if you're small like me) and makes cleaning up high, down low, and under awkward spaces like beds, fridges, and cabinets far more accessible than traditional tools. The smart lock mechanism also makes it effortlessly easy to change the cleaning head mid-task.

As the cloths are microfiber, they work well for dusting, polishing, and shining surfaces, even without detergent, and have the added benefit of being machine washable, too. Just remember to skip the laundry softener, as this will coat the microfiber hairs and reduce its ability to absorb liquid.

And, when it comes to small, storage-less home solutions, the included hangers mean you can attach the tool to your wall, keeping it out of the way yet easily accessible at all times.

The price of the IKEA set is one of its biggest draws, as I've been a long-time devotee to the Joseph Joseph CleanTech kit (and do very much feel it's worth the $80 price tag), but if you're on the hunt for something a little more affordable, the IKEA PEPPRIG Cleaning Set is a perfect alternative. It's also an excellent set for a second home, dorms, or a guest house.

What Shoppers Say

'A great set!' reads a recent five-star review on the IKEA site from verified buyer Kim. 'This is an all-inclusive cleaning set which is designed to make your life easier and cleaning more efficient. The multiple attachments meet a variety of different needs in your home.

'A welcome addition to your own housekeeping routine or makes a great housewarming gift for friends or family.'

I couldn't agree more − pair it with some beautifully scented cleaning products, like the Method Pink Grapefruit All-Purpose Cleaner, available at Walmart, and you'll have a thoughtful gift that any new homeowner likely doesn't already have, and would be delighted to receive.

Another, from Maria, calls it a 'must-have,' and adds, 'I love this, it literally has everything you need to clean. We just bought a new house, and the master bathroom has tile up to the ceiling, nine feet high. This helped me reach everything without needing a stepping stool,' while a third, from Shelise, echoes, 'I can get so many cleaning jobs done with just this one set.'

It's worth noting that some reviews say the adhesive storage hooks do not stay on, but many reference a short window for curing. Punteha van Terheyden, Head of Solved, advises, 'Place the adhesive on a dry, clean surface, press hard to remove air bubbles, and then leave it for 24 hours. Do not load it a minute sooner. I've never had an adhesive drill-free mount fall off with this installation method.'

So, if, like me, you're looking to cut your housekeeping clutter for good, upgrade your set-up with the IKEA PEPPRIG Cleaning Set for a versatile and affordable fix.

More to Shop

Ready to give your housekeeping routine a serious upgrade? Our selection of expert-approved tools and products will smooth the way.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

If you're not quite ready to fully upgrade your setup just yet, even taking the time to organize under your sink can make a world of difference to cleaning efficiency.

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When it comes to even heat distribution and flavorful sears, few pans rival cast iron. But with that performance comes upkeep, and it is hardly the most convenient cookware for everyday use.

For years, the fear of rust on my best cast iron cookware kept me away from this much-loved kitchen staple. Now, however, I’ve found the Lodge Rust Eraser, available from Amazon, which has made me far more confident about diving into cast iron cooking.

Designed to remove rust and help restore older pans to new again, this $9 tool is one of the simplest yet most effective additions to any home chef’s maintenance kit. Here’s how it works and why I wouldn’t use cast iron without it.

Understanding how to clean and care for every type of cookware can be overwhelming, leading many of us (myself included) to stick to one simple type that we can toss in a dishwasher and forget about. Cast iron is decidedly not that, requiring gentle washing, thorough drying, and regular seasoning to prevent rust and pitting.

The idea of rust scared me so much that I avoided the material altogether until I stumbled upon the Lodge Rust Eraser. This sturdy rubber block was designed to sand away rust and smooth out the surface of your pans, grill grates, and more. By stripping the pan down to bare metal, you can reseason it and use it as if it were brand new.

The shape of it allows precision removal, too, so you are not stripping away the general and protective built-up patina unnecessarily.

Given that it can be all too easy to miss a damp spot when cleaning cast iron or to make a mistake with seasoning as a beginner, the rust remover offers extra peace of mind that your investment won't be going to waste.

What Shoppers Say

With over 2,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, it is the saving grace for many a cast-iron chef.

One verified shopper, Jinxie, shared, 'Minimal effort and rust is gone! For real. I was even able to save the multiple, inherited cast iron pans which had been languishing in bins, collecting dust, until this bad boy came into my life. I’m an even bigger fan now of actually using my insanely huge amount of cast iron now that I don’t need to worry about someone not drying them well enough.'

Another added, 'Quick and easy, like erasing pencil with a rubber eraser, or using a pumice stone on a swimming pool. My hobby is metalworking, and I have spent many hours de-rusting iron and steel over the years, using everything from phosphoric acid to power tools, and for a small job (like a pot or grill), this is just the ticket! So easy to use, just rub it on the metal!'

What Else to Shop

From cleaning a burnt pan to restoring a well-loved patina, I’ve rounded up six essential cast iron tools to help keep your cookware performing at its best for decades to come.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

To prevent prematurely damaging your cast iron seasoning, brush up on the heat ring mistake that can ruin your cookware.

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Jo Malone's new Veggie Collection has perfectly captured the nostalgia of the summer scent of a vegetable patch in full flourish. These kinds of earthy, sweet, ripe scents take me straight back to long, hot days spent in my grandparents' garden and provide a welcome fragrancing break from the citrus notes we usually see enjoying a reprise over the warmer months.

I was lucky enough to recently be among the first to sample the scents from the brand-new, limited-edition Jo Malone Veggies Collection, inspired by traditional British gardens.

With summer just around the corner, I am certain that the fresh, bright, yet unexpected scent profiles, such as Velvety Butternut, are set to become among the best home fragrance picks for a balmy season.

Come summer, I'd argue that there's no better scent profile than fresh vine tomatoes − I'd even go so far as to say it's my favorite fragrance of all time. I'm not the only one, either. Anyone who knows anything about the tomato girl summer trend will know that it's an enduring staple for a refreshing space that brightens and uplifts.

The Malin+Goetz tomato candle already appears in my guide to the best candles, and now the Jo Malone Green Tomato Vine Townhouse Candle is sure to become a firm part of my scenting rotation to make my home smell nice all throughout the sunnier seasons. Available in two sizes and housed in a gorgeous green ceramic vessel, it promises that same punchy scent distribution and clean, even burn that made Jo Malone a household name, this time with a vibrant, herbaceous aroma.

If you prefer to make use of the best reed diffusers instead, there's also a Green Tomato Vine Townhouse Diffuser, available at Jo Malone, for a more low-maintenance way to make your home smell nice without candles, and there's a Green Tomato Vine Diffuser Oil Refill and Tomato Leaf Hand Wash, too.

In terms of perfumes, the new limited-edition collection also sees a Carrot Blossom Cologne, Scarlet Beetroot Cologne, and Velvety Butternut Cologne entering the Jo Malone line-up this summer. I've smelled them all, and they're all equally as interesting, unusual, and beautiful.

The collection makes a delightfully refreshing departure from the usual clean citrus notes that rise in popularity for summer home scenting, and it smells luxurious and unique.

What to Shop

If something from the limited-edition Jo Malone Veggies collection has caught your eye, you can shop my top picks below, along with some affordable alternatives for bringing the refreshing scent of vegetables into your home this summer.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

If you're feeling inspired to explore more from Jo Malone, this candle is Kate Middleton's signature scent, so much so that she even burned it in Westminster Abbey on her wedding day, and Catherine Zeta-Jones swears by Jo Malone's Lime Basil & Mandarin candle and has done so ever since she was first gifted it by Elton John.

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In the height of summer, a breakfast smoothie is often the only thing that persuades me to eat before starting the day. It’s quick, cooling, and refreshing. However, my blender is easily the loudest appliance in my kitchen, making early-morning smoothies less than ideal when the rest of the house and the neighbors are still asleep.

Thankfully, my dad came up with a surprisingly simple fix. Using nothing more than a pair of scissors and a $6 sheet of rubber matting from Amazon, he found a way to significantly dampen the noise of my best blender without affecting performance.

The upgrade is virtually invisible, doesn't detract from the look of my kitchen, and makes an immediate difference to the sound level. Better still, it can be used for almost any countertop appliance. Here's how to easily recreate it at home.

Since reviewing the Ninja BlendBoss Tumblr, I have been obsessed with smoothies. The Stanley-style cup, with its impressive blending power and overall adorable design, makes it a joy to use each morning. However, it is far from the quietest blender. In fact, it is so loud it almost hurts.

As I spend so much time in there, my goal is to make my kitchen more relaxing, and this includes limiting unnecessary noise where possible. After complaining to my dad about it, he came up with a quick fix. Adapting a trick he relies on to make a laundry room quieter, he pointed me in the direction of rubber non-slip mats.

The rubber helps protect countertops from scratches and everyday wear while absorbing vibrations to make usage noticeably and instantly quieter. What I love about the Wideskall mat from Amazon is that it can be cut to size, allowing me to trim it precisely to the footprint of my appliance so it remains invisible on my countertop and doesn't disrupt the look of my kitchen.

Better still, the leftover material doesn't go to waste. It can be used to line drawers, placed beneath my best stand mixer, or cut to fit under the best espresso machines to help dampen noise throughout the kitchen.

More to Shop

Of all the small kitchen appliances, blenders are among the most likely to end up collecting dust at the back of a cabinet. To help you get more use out of yours, I’ve curated six of my favorite essential accessories as Kitchen Appliances Editor that make them quicker, easier, and far more convenient for everyday use.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

With the noise dampened, brush up on how to clean a blender the easy way to make using this appliance even more enticing each morning.

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Taking your washing to and from the machine is one of the easiest parts of laundry day, but that certainly doesn't mean it's not without its difficulties.

From dropped socks to sopping wet piles, the IKEA TORKIS Flexible Laundry Basket is the cure for all laundry-related woes – and it's only $9.99.

Large, durable, easy-to-carry, and mold-proof, it's makes doing laundry that little bit easier.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

The IKEA TORKIS is universally appealing. If you have a dryer, you can use it to carry items to it from your washing machine, or to hold items securely while you wait for a load to finish.

If you prefer to enjoy the benefits of air-drying laundry, you can carry items in and out of your backyard and around your house with comfortable ease as it's lightweight and has ergonomic handles.

And, in any case, you can use it as a laundry basket, or simply to transport items to and from your laundry room, and the plastic materials mean there's no worry of mold and mildew developing.

For that reason, it's the ideal laundry accessory, whatever your set-up. What's more, it costs just shy of $10, and there are four pretty, poppy colors to choose from.

What Shoppers Say

It's no surprise, then, that verified shopper Cathy crowns the IKEA TORKIS the 'best laundry basket.'

'Highly recommend this great quality laundry basket,' she says. 'I have purchased four of them. Perfect.'

She's not the only reviewer to buy multiple, either. 'Obsessed,' says Jillian,' who has purchased eight in total. 'Started with one for each kid as a laundry basket. Quickly realized that I needed one in my trunk and several more for laundry and toting items to and from home. I am I LOVE with these!'

Additionally, the versatility of this basket doesn't just stop at doing laundry.

As Catherine details in her five-star review, she uses one for dog toys, and another is needed for holding everything needed for painting outdoor pot plants. 'We have special outdoor paints, paint brushes, terracotta pots, and garden gnomes all set for when the kids in the family come to visit,' she explains. 'We just grab the tub, put all the supplies on the patio table, and we all paint away. I absolutely love these tubs!!'

Others note that it's perfect for bottom-watering houseplants, and can even double up as a high-sided cat litter box.

With four colors to choose from, I'm tempted to order one in every shade, just like fellow reviewer Arron, who adds, 'I have this basket in every color.'

What to Shop

If you're currently looking to upgrade your laundry set-up, shop from my selection of essentials and recommendations below.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

These organizing tricks to make laundry easier help prevent overwhelm.

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Air-drying may be the best way to keep laundry smelling fresh, but smaller items can be tricky to keep in place, whether on a line or rack, even with pegs.

That's where IKEA's PRESSA Hanging Dryer comes in handy. With 16 pegs for socks, underwear, infant clothes, and other small items, it can be hung up anywhere and conveniently folds for storage in small spaces when not in use.

Here's why it's the perfect aid for doing laundry.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

When smaller items such as socks fall from your washing line, ending up crumpled, musty, and smelling damp, it's a nuisance, making you retrace your steps or redo a batch in the washer.

But it can be avoided altogether with the IKEA PRESSA Hanging Dryer, with room for 16 small items, or eight pairs, which can be used both inside and outdoors, hung up just about anywhere, and folded away for convenient storage when not in use.

To me, this is the kind of laundry accessory you never knew you needed, until you use it for yourself.

Satisfied shopper Sarah agrees: 'I love this little octopus! This incredible little find is essential in my life from spring through fall − and hangs out on my porch and holds bras, underwear, and socks that I don't want on the clothesline in the backyard.

'I've had mine for [over] 15 years, and I'm finally replacing it only because two of the clips have failed...I'm not getting rid of my old one though − it's coming inside and going on trips with me.'

Another review, from Nancy, echoes Sarah's. 'Love my octopus,' she says. 'This octopus dryer is now home to keep company with my red octopus dryer that I've had for about 10 years or so,' she enthuses. 'Perfect for drying wool socks and bras − stuff that fares badly in the electric dryer,' with all the added benefits of air-drying laundry.

Additionally, as Nancy highlights, not only is the IKEA PRESSA perfect for air-drying in warmer weather − it also has an unexpected benefit in the cooler seasons. 'Also helps to humidify the home in winter − a bonus!'

What to Shop

If you're looking to give your laundry routine some love, shop our selection of essentials below to successfully swerve any bad laundry habits ruining your laundry and washing machine.

Knowing how to organize a laundry room is key to a stress-free laundry day. Our expert-led guide details everything you need to know.

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During a recent trip to Spain, where many compact residential homes were designed to sacrifice kitchen space for more outdoor cooking and living areas, I noticed one clever feature that instantly cleared clutter inside.

Instead of dish drying racks next to the sink, they were hidden in wall cabinets, allowing you to double up your drying and dish storage space and keeping the area around your sink clear.

The cabinet above many Spanish sinks I saw allowed space for water to drip into the basin below, but you can easily and quickly recreate this space-saving kitchen storage idea with IKEA’s KUNGSFORS $45 dish drainer, which comes with a drip tray and can be wall-mounted.

I visited Iran a lot as a child to see my family, and this vertical storage trick was also a common feature in apartments across Tehran and beyond. Keeping dish racks tucked into cabinets above sinks was a space-saving design feature that served multiple purposes, and I saw it this week in Spain too.

The benefits of this setup I’ve often spotted in hot and humid countries include:

• Instantly clears sinkside clutter.
• Opens up extra countertop space for food prep in small kitchens.
• No more manual drying of dishes is required.
• As you wash items, you’re also putting them away, reducing chores.
• Removing sink-side drainers allows space for washed pots and pans to dry.

Design Experts Agree It’s a Genius Dish Rack Replacement

Head of Interiors at Homes & Gardens, and our resident design expert, Hebe Hatton, explains the problems switching to this style of dish rack can solve.

She says, ‘You could invest in the chicest dish rack, which looks fine when empty, but as soon as you actually put it to use and stack it with dripping dishes, any potential design statement is gone.

‘It's clutter, and it's noticeable – right at countertop level, which can be a busy place at the best of times. If your kitchen design does allow for a dish rack to be taken up off the countertop, it can make a lot of difference, especially if you make it part of a shelving display with shelves above it that you can style with crockery and cookbooks.’

If you need to store wider items, the IKEA item’s separator spikes can flatten down, transforming it into a shelf, while the IKEA KUNGSFORS Suspension rail and shelf combination comes with a shelf for exactly this.

Hebe adds, ‘This IKEA product frees up space around the sink and is more subtle both when not in use and when filled with dishes.’

The fact it has a drip tray and can be moved into a hidden spot makes it extra useful in busy hosting periods.

How the IKEA Drainer Can Help You Replicate This Design Feature

As it can be placed sink-side, inside a cabinet (it has a drip tray) or mounted on the wall, it allows you to corral wet dishes in a multitude of ways to best suit your compact kitchen or busy sink area.

It’s made from non-toxic stainless steel, and the steel wire has a galvanized coating for longevity. The tray that catches the drips from your wet dishes is also made from stainless steel, making it easy to clean lowers the risk of mold, which makes keeping it hygienic all the easier. Simply wipe clean with a spot of dish soap and dry with a clean cloth.

Avoid any harsh chemicals or rough scourers that can impact the surface, however, or it might become scratched.

You can also pair it with the KUNGSFORS suspension rail for an alternative mounting route.

More to Shop

Sinkside clutter is an issue for many, even in bigger kitchens, as the items there are in permanent rotation and a constant cycle of wash–dry-use. Here are some clever sink-side solutions to keep yours as functional as possible without creating an eyesore.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Say goodbye to the traditional dish rack with a clever alternative.

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If you haven't done so already, now is the perfect time to switch bulkier winter bedding to something a little lighter for the summer months.

The Whitmor, Inc Plastic Storage Bag, available at Wayfair, is the perfect solution for packing away items you don't immediately need, as it's lightweight, conveniently transparent for easy identification, and, most importantly, affordable. Plus, it'll make the perfect linen cabinet extension for those bulky beach towels and extra guest essentials when they're not required.

Here's why we recommend it for storing away your best duvet inserts until fall and winter roll back around.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Even the most organized linen closet usually doesn't have space for extra bulky items, such as comforters, duvet inserts, and thick blankets. That's why the Whitmor, Inc Plastic Storage Bag, available at Wayfair, with it's large capacity and durability, alongside the strong handles for convenient portability, is a simple and instant way to expand your storage.

The material of this storage solution will ensure your bedding remains free from dust and any mold and mildew, as well as keeping pests at bay, too. Keeping your bedding free of dust is an essential hypoallergenic storage tip for allergy sufferers.

What Shoppers Say

As shopper Megan attests in her on-site rating, there's plenty of space for all your bedding storage needs.

She says, 'Holds up really well, I've packed and unpacked the same large padded mattress cover in and out of this bag to the max capacity and there are no tears in the plastic and the zipper holds up well.'

Another shopper, Candace, notes it 'can fit two queen duvets in it with room to spare,' and plenty more reviews comment that it's particularly well-suited for underbed storage.

I'd agree − that way it's a storage ideas that's easily accessible but conveniently hidden from view. Its also equally useful for seasonal storage when transitioning your wardrobe, such as a fall wardrobe swap or spring closet swap, for example.

'I purchased several of these bags when they were on sale,' adds verified shopper Kathleen. 'I was able to store many winter sweaters, summer tops and other clothing items in these bags.

'I like that they are clear so you can see what is inside. The bag can really be stuffed and zipped up. Good value, very happy with the purchase.'

What to Shop

Once you've washed, dried, and cared for your comforters and duvet inserts, perfect your bedding storage with my Sleep Editor-approved selection of essentials.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Don't forget that it's essential to air out your bedding, particularly before and after storing it away for long periods of time. Never store it away unless clean and fully dry.

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The windowsills in my kitchen often have items lined up on them, especially our empty glass milk bottles. But fire safety experts warn that storing glass in this spot can pose an alarming fire risk.

Especially in the summer months when the sun’s power is more keenly felt, light entering your bottle and exiting concentrated on fabric such as curtains, upholstery or even paper towels could spark a fire in your home.

Here, our experts explain the fire risks and what to do instead with glass jars and bottles to keep your home's windowsills from sparking an inferno any time of year.

Keeping glass and reflective kitchen items stored in a cabinet or a chic countertop storage bin from Wayfair will stop sunlight from traveling through and posing a risk.

Former firefighter and managing director of Fire & Evacuation Services, John Duthart, explains, ‘Incidents involving sunlight passing through glass objects are not as rare as people might think, with many fires in the past decade caused by the sun's rays.

‘A simple glass item like a condiment jar left on a windowsill can focus sunlight onto nearby surfaces like blinds or fabrics and lead to a devastating fire under certain conditions.’

Why Glass Objects Can Easily Cause Fires Fast

Glass objects and reflective surfaces can act like a magnifying glass, concentrating the sun’s rays into a focused hot spot. If that heat is directed onto flammable materials for long enough, it can cause smouldering, which may then develop into a full fire.

John adds, ‘In strong direct sunlight, nearby materials can begin to heat up within minutes. The exact timing depends on the strength of the sunlight, the type of glass involved and how close combustible items are to the focused light.’

The Household Materials That Pose the Most Risk

Curtains, bedding, paper, cardboard, clothing and soft furnishings are among the most vulnerable because they can heat up and ignite more easily once sunlight is concentrated onto one small area.

John explains that proximity plays a part. He says, ‘A mirror, glass ornament or jar placed on a windowsill may only need to focus sunlight a short distance onto nearby curtains or furniture to create dangerous heat build-up.’

Reduce this common fire risk by placing glass items, whether empty or full, out of sunlight year-round.

Where Else This Can Happen Inside Your Home

Safety and environmental expert, Brian Dunagan, is Chief Investigator for fire, electrical, and explosion cases at IFO Group.

He adds that in investigations of these sorts of infernos, they usually come about ‘because sunlight passed through curved glass, acted as a lens, and the energy focused on combustible materials like paper, cardboard, fabrics or dry wood.’

Brian warns that it’s not just glass on windowsills that can cause a spark. He explains, ‘Countertops, shelves, sunrooms and patios, garages, and vehicle interiors can cause similar incidents when direct sunlight hits a transparent container.

‘The thickness of the glass alone is usually of minor importance compared to the shape of the container, clarity and contents. Ignition is not based on outdoor temperature. The intensity of the direct sunlight, angle of the sun, exposure duration and type of material being heated are all critical.’

Keeping these items out of the direct path of sunlight anywhere in your home, and having a fire extinguisher available from Amazon in the house, is vital for your household's safety.

How to Safely Store Reflective Objects Instead

‘Mirrors, crystals, glass ornaments, bottles and similar reflective items should be kept away from direct sunlight,’ former firefighter John adds, ‘and ideally stored in shaded areas, drawers or against walls where sunlight cannot hit them directly.’

If you don’t have storage space in cabinets, consider a chic fluted wall-mounted recycling bin from IKEA or hanging storage baskets from Williams Sonoma, which you can place on a wall or behind a door in a permanently shady spot.

I now have a spacious and sleek recycling bin from Caraway for used jars and bottles, and have recently expanded my kitchen storage with an IKEA Kallax Unit so no glass has to be left out in our sunny, south-facing kitchen.

What to Shop

Meet the Experts

Next, reduce the fire risk around your home by never putting particular items items on your porch.

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If you’ve ever forgotten a key ingredient in the fridge and fetched it mid-prepping your chicken or other meat for the grill, you’ve likely also cross-contaminated your appliance’s door handles in the process.

Professional cleaners warn that your fridge handles are one of the most easily forgotten areas for kitchen cleaning, but one of the most important to prevent avoidable illness, especially in the hotter summer months.

Here, experts explain why sanitizing this area is vital, and how to do so adequately without the need for harsh chemicals, so you can maintain the non-toxic home you have created.

Rosa Picosa, a Fabuloso® cleaning expert, explains, ‘We tend to use the fridge multiple times a day, and throughout the swirl of the day we can pick up germs unintentionally and then, we go to touch our face, food, and utensils without realizing our hands may not be as clean as we may think, which can potentially lead to spreading bacteria.'

This cross-contamination can be a key carrier for spreading germs in the kitchen, especially if you touch raw chicken or unclean produce and then proceed to open the fridge and other appliances. In one study on cross-contamination, it was reported that 'good hygiene practices in the kitchen are crucial to reducing the risk of foodborne diseases.'

To help prevent that spread from happening, Rosa adds, 'When cleaning the kitchen, I like to finish the area by wiping down the spots people touch all the time, like fridge doors, cabinet handles, and the faucet. These little details don’t take long, but they help the kitchen feel clean and keep germs from spreading too far out of our control.’

Why Fridge Handles Are Often Forgotten When Cleaning

Despite fridge handles being a high-traffic zone, they’re often forgotten, with professional cleaners identifying this area as a grimy spot they always notice in clients' homes.

Rosa adds, ‘I find people often stick to cleaning high-traffic, visible areas such as countertops, stovetops, and sinks. I always recommend spending no more than 10-15 minutes each day tackling one zone – I love to set a timer – wiping down counters and stovetops, spot-cleaning cabinet fronts, refreshing the sink area, or cleaning kitchen appliances such as the fridge.

‘The key is cleaning consistently to avoid the build-up of grime and sticky fingerprints before they turn into bigger cleaning jobs. These mini refreshes help the kitchen stay cleaner longer and make weekly deep cleans much easier.’

Keeping a regular and achievable cleaning schedule will also help, but washing your hands well when handling raw produce and before touching handles is the best preventative measure you can take.

How to Keep on Top of Fridge Hygiene in Busy Hosting Periods

Little and often works best, so that your kitchen’s hygiene remains an ongoing project. You don’t have to do it all at once; chip away at the tasks, zone by zone, regularly to ensure everything is tackled without your cleaning chores feeling overwhelming.

Rosa adds, ‘The main takeaway is that cleaning frequency is really about consistency, not perfection. My top tip for maintaining a frequent cleaning routine is to start small and be consistent.

‘Focus on managing daily cleaning tasks by doing a little bit each day, then conduct deeper cleans with what best fits your schedule – whether weekly, biweekly, or even monthly. For me, consistency helps ground me and determine what is essential.’

For easy upkeep of your fridge:

• Clean the handles when you wipe your countertops, so it becomes a habit-stacking task that's easy to keep the momentum going. Of course, if you have cross-contaminated the handles during meal prep, sanitize those immediately. Clorox wipes, available at Amazon, will eliminate all bacteria.
• Wipe down your fridge shelves as groceries run out and space clears, or just before loading your new haul of food.
• Clean the shelves inside your fridge's door once every week or two, especially if you store drinks and open jars here.
• Don't forget to tackle your fruit and vegetable drawers, as that forgotten-about tomato or lettuce will release liquid and become a hot spot for mold and bacteria, even in the chilled environment of your fridge. Using hot soapy water and a clean microfiber cloth, and drying the drawer fully will work just fine. You can also remove these and wash them by hand in the sink with a spot of dish soap, such as Dawn, from Walmart.
• Sanitize your water dispenser weekly to avoid 'pink mold', which is actually a common household bacterium that thrives in damp spaces.

The Realities of Sanitizing Without Harsh Chemicals

While harsher commercial cleaners work more quickly and efficiently, studies have confirmed the efficacy of natural cleaning products when used correctly and at the right concentrations.

A study in BMC Microbiology in 2020 found that vinegar at a minimum concentration of 10%, with 1.5% citric acid, kills many household germs, including strains of E. coli. Both vinegar and citric acid are available to buy at Walmart.

The exception to this natural cleaning rule, and where more astringent solutions may be needed, is if a member of your household is ill with a viral or bacterial infection that could spread.

In this case, make sure to use an adequate disinfectant such as Clorox wipes, available at Amazon, which eliminates 99.9% of germs.

What to Shop

Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting bring different levels of germ-busting, and it is possible to use gentler cleaners and natural ingredients with adequate effect if you leave them on for long enough.

Here are a few sanitizing essentials to help you achieve this without resorting to harsher chemicals while still cleaning well.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Expert

Fridge door handles are not the only place you might be forgetting to clean. There are vital spaces in the bedroom easily forgotten, which also require regular sanitation.

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The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini is an entry-level, budget-friendly video doorbell that I've come to appreciate for what it is – an affordable Ring alternative that will enhance home security and convenience on a budget.

I've been a user of video doorbells since we bought our first home almost 10 years ago, with some a more permanent fixture than others. I was excited to try the Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini, to see how it compares with the other video doorbells I've tested and make full use of the features.

It's usually around $49.99, but currently on offer for $34.99 at Best Buy, and I've been impressed by the video and audio quality, and it was so easy to install. It's not without its quirks, though. As far as affordability goes, it's a contender for one of the best video doorbells on the market.

My One-Minute Summary

Overall, the Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini is a brilliant, budget-friendly doorbell that I found easy to install and use. With just some DIY know-how, a screwdriver and a smartphone, it's been a seamless experience through 14 days of testing.

I've been particularly impressed by the video and audio quality, both daytime and nighttime. The video quality can be adjusted to 2K or 360p to preserve battery life, which has dropped from 100% to 84%, so I'm not convinced it'll make it to the 180-day battery life expectancy.

It can detect people and motion as they enter a 25ft detection range, which is helpful if you're expecting a visitor or delivery, but not so helpful if you're planning on using the D205 as a means of surveillance beyond this modest distance.

The app is really easy to use, with the ability to engage in two-way audio, set privacy zones to block out a neighbor's property, and access stored activity in the Tapo Care Cloud storage. This storage is an ongoing cost that'll set you back $3.49 per month after the free 30 days. You do, however, have the option to use a 512GB microSD card to avoid these costs.

Equally, the eufy E340 and the Lorex 2K, both of which we've reviewed, are great alternatives if you want to avoid paying a monthly fee.

I admit, I am more familiar with Ring video doorbells and security cameras because they are a permanent resident at my home address. The cost of those devices are closer to $100+, which is double that of the D205, but if you want even more customization and detection with a fantastic range, then the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is a good backup option, but with a higher upfront cost.

Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini: Specifications

Installation and setup

The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini arrives in a neat, compact box that contains everything that you'll need for installation. In the box you'll find the video doorbell, mounting bracket, mounting wedge, 3M adhesive, foam pad, screws and anchors, USB cable, mounting template sticker, and the all-important quick start guide.

Before installing any hardware or software, the battery needed a charge. The guide estimated that this would take about 6.5 hours. However, my sample took around seven hours to charge.

Once the doorbell was fully charged, I set it up and installed it on our gated fence using only the essential DIY skills. I downloaded the Tapo app and connected it to the home Wi-Fi. I then followed the on-screen instructions and it went without a glitch.

To install, I first attached the mounting wedge to the bracket because I wanted to achieve a better view of looking down our drive. Make sure it's facing the right direction, and watch out for the screw underneath as it's tiny and easy to drop.

You can then attach the bracket in your desired spot by either sticking it to the wall or mounting it to the wall. I opted to install on the wooden fence next to the gate, the side access to our house. I used the screws for this, but if you're securing to masonry, the relevant plugs are also supplied.

It's advised that the doorbell be placed 4ft above the ground, and the 15° mounting wedge be used for a more focused view from a specific side.

The Tapo D215 then simply clicks into place, and a tiny screw underneath is all that holds it in place. This would be easy to remove; good for recharging, but not good for thieves. The use of a release pin, such as eufy models, would've made it more of a challenge for those up to no good.

Overall, it took me fewer than 10 minutes to set up and install the D205 by myself.

Video Quality

After using the Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini for 14 days, I have found that the video quality was consistently good.

Daytime: I could clearly recognize the faces I know at the gate, and larger branding on packages as they enter the 25ft motion detection range. However, small details on packages and number plate detailing were not as clear, unless this filled the 145° horizontal, or 83° vertical field of view.

I couldn't see the floor in front of the lens, so this, sadly, will put a lot of packages out of view. Ring and eufy doorbells often have package detection, so you're able to view the floor at your doorstep with the camera, and set alarms if anyone tries to remove it, which can help deter porch pirates. But those video doorbells cost more upfront, so on this budget-friendly Tapo, that's an area of functionality you won't have.

However, the 10x digital zoom of the D205 was exceptional; it didn't appear grainy, and details were just as clear as they were when zoomed out.

Nighttime: The video is in black and white at nighttime, enabled by two 850-nanometer infrared LEDs to allow the D205 to capture footage in low light conditions.

Overall, the picture was still clear, but a lot of detail was lost; faces needed to be close up to the camera lens for me to recognize them, and I could not read any packaging. It could, however, detect people just as quickly as during the day, which still makes it a viable security measure for the house.

In both daytime and nighttime, the D205 survived lashings of rain throughout the test period. It's an IP-54 rated device, which means that it is water-resistant, but it isn't fully waterproof.

Dynamic light: The front of our house gets a lot of sun throughout the day, which is balanced well; there is no beam of light behind a moving person, animal, or vehicle, and facial details remained clear in these bright conditions.

Audio Quality

I could clearly hear people outside standing next to the Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini, and they could clearly hear me when engaging in two-way communication with no echoes or delays.

However, when viewing live or stored footage, I noticed that the background noise (wind, traffic, etc.) sounded amplified. There was a constant low "hum" of this noise, but this doesn't interfere with the clarity of communication through the video doorbell.

This is where you feel the cost of more affordable video doorbells, as their higher-end counterparts have very effective noise cancellation to avoid wind, traffic, or background noise being picked up.

App and Smart Features

The Tapo app is simple and intuitive to use. It can be downloaded by scanning the QR code found on the box and Quick Start Guide, or direct from Google Play (Android) or App Store (iOS).

You can link it to Google Home or Amazon Alexa devices, such as the Echo Show, as another smart home gadget that receives notifications when motion or a person is detected, or when the doorbell is activated.

I found that the app was stable while using it and quick to load. I could customize how I viewed and engaged with footage easily, too. For example, you can opt to capture footage in 2k or 360p and set custom privacy zones so that you're not surveilling a neighbor's land. This is important as capturing areas of your neighbors' homes where they might expect privacy (for instance, their bedroom windows) could land you in trouble.

You can also talk through live footage, engage in two-way audio when the doorbell is activated, or, if you're not around, opt for a "quick response" to automatically respond if the doorbell isn't immediately answered.

If you're signed up to Tapo Cloud Storage, then you can also playback and download activity detected in the app. Activity is stored for 30 days, video clips can be made into a short video summary, weekly reports can be viewed, and rich notifications with snapshots will be received. I found it useful to look back through the activity outside our gate.

The D205 can be shared with up to five family members in the app so that you can manage the smart device together. Invitees will have limited permissions, and they can not modify camera settings, but they'll still be able to live view and talk.

Motion Detection and Notifications

The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini can detect people when they come into range using AI algorithms, and motion within the cameras view. If either of these are enabled, you'll receive an instant notification to your phone.

To test the accuracy of the people detection and motion detection, I switched off motion detection. I waved my hand in front of the camera and received no notification. However, when I stood in front of the camera, I received a notification that a person was detected. This is good.

Both motion and people were detected as they entered the specified 25ft motion detection range. However, in reality, this range often felt a lot shorter. Neither motion nor people were detected as they approached the drive, and the camera stopped rolling as the subject was close to being out of range.

It's worth noting that, unlike the Tapo D210 Video Doorbell we reviewed, you can't set a Detection Tag in live view. This feature would draw a box around the subject (person, package, animal, vehicle) and track its movement while it's within range. I liked this detail, especially in low light levels, and it would be good to have the same access to software across all Tapo devices for consistency.

Increased sensitivity results in fewer missed recordings and notifications; lower sensitivity results in fewer unwanted recordings and notifications. By lowering the sensitivity, you will help to preserve the battery power, but I fear that this may miss some important events if you are using the D205 as a means of security.

The only time when I felt that the notifications were on overdrive was when I was taking out the trash. The D205 is located next to the trash cans, so if I were in this proximity to the camera for a couple of minutes, my phone received a notification every 20 seconds.

When the doorbell is activated, I also receive a notification on my phone. I noticed a lag time of a few seconds between pressing the button on the D205 and receiving the notification on my phone, which looked as though I was receiving a phone call.

It was quick to answer the doorbell and see who was standing outside the gate. Similarly, when motion or a person was detected, I found that I could quickly load the notification to see the activity.

The D205 can work with Amazon Alexa and Google Home to receive doorbell activations, too. As someone who has yet to set up a smart home and isn't too confident with how voice assistants can be used, I won't be compromising on how I use the device.

Power and Battery Life

The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini is battery-powered, making it a fantastic renter-safe home security option. As we've previously explored, I found it easy to install and I imagine that it'll be just as easy to remove as and when needed.

It was installed next to the side gate for 14 days, and, in that time, I didn't have to recharge it, and the power levels haven't dropped as rapidly compared to other Ring-alternative video doorbells, such as the Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery), which dropped to 41% within just 10 days.

Within the time I tested the D205, the battery level depleted from 100% to 88%. Tapo suggests that the battery can last for up to 180 days, which I feel is an optimistic expectation. On the tested rate of battery usage, it would last just over 100 days.

It took more than seven hours to charge the battery when it arrived, so I'd expect it to take this amount of time (perhaps longer) to recharge. A USB charging cable is included, and you'll need to remove the D205 from the mounting plate to charge because the battery is built in. This is a long time to be without a video doorbell while it's charging, so it would be better to do this when you're at home if you're concerned about security.

Connectivity and Reliability

The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini has been one of the more reliable Ring-alternative doorbells that I have tested. It didn't detect a poor signal or lose connectivity, as with the others.

It requires a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi for a stable wireless connection. In my home, our Wi-Fi router is located behind thick, external stone walls and inside a cupboard under the stairs. With the D205 located around the side of the house on a fence, the signal had some distance to travel, and yet it remained stable.

The D205 pushed notifications to my phone when activity was detected; it did this 25 times within 24 hours, as an example. For contrast, our testers found the eufy E340 to have quite a severe lag despite being in a moderate range of the Wi-Fi router.

When subscribed to Tapo Cloud Storage, activity will also be recorded for playback and download; it'll record the activity in snippets of up to 20 seconds. It'll do this if you have a 512GB microSD card installed instead. And I could watch live footage from anywhere. I experienced fast load times and a steady live view with clear audio.

If you find that the Wi-Fi connectivity is poor or that you're missing activity, the Tapo Smart Hub with Built-In Chime ($22.99 at Amazon) can be bought to boost signal across a lower frequency broadband, so it can reach the device without interference.

Privacy and Security

The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini has a couple of home privacy options, including zones to block out a neighbor's property, and Privacy Mode to disable streaming and the recording functions to protect your privacy.

I enabled a privacy zone to block footage of my neighbors' homes, opposite. I could set multiple zones, if I wanted to, and it was simple enough to move the custom zone while editing.

I also activated Privacy Mode during testing, and it worked easily. I couldn't live-stream or view any stored footage during this, as it gets automatically disabled.

Unlike other video doorbells, including the Tapo D210 Video Doorbell, I had to sign up to the Tapo Care Cloud Storage off the bat, rather than enjoy a free trial period and sign up once that ends. This means that no data will be stored unless you sign up. While the first 30-days is free, you'll be looking at paying upwards of $3.49 per month after this time to continue with access to stored footage.

If you'd prefer to not have the ongoing cost, local storage on a 512gB microSD card – like this SanDisk 512GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I Memory Card (Amazon) – is another option.

Post-installation it is unclear how my data is handled with nothing obvious to read on the app. The app also doesn't support two‑factor authentication which would provide extra login protection.

Price and Value

The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini comes with everything that you need (aside from a screwdriver) in the box. You may feel that you would benefit from the addition of a Chime. This will ensure that you hear when the doorbell is activated.

It doesn't look as though there is a compatible chime with the D205, so either the Amazon Echo Show 11 or the Amazon Echo Dot Max would suffice. The Echo Show 11 will also display footage as you answer the activated video doorbell.

The D205 can also be connected with the Tapo Smart Hub with Built-In Chime ($22.99, Amazon) if you need to boost the signal. This can make it part of a 64-strong ecosystem of Tapo devices, so you can control and access your video doorbell, security camera, and smart lighting all from one central hub.

Aside from the small upfront cost of the Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini, which is typically 49.99 on Amazon, but sometimes discounted as low as $34, you will also have the ongoing cost of the Tapo Care Cloud Storage.

This is typically around $3.49 per month when the free 30-day trial ends. During the trial, you'll get 30 days of cloud video storage for events, video clips that can be made into a short video summary, weekly reports and rich notifications with snapshots.

This is notably cheaper than the Ring subscription plans, starting at $4.99 for the Basic plan, which includes up to 180 days of event history, person, package, and vehicle alerts, and video preview alerts. However, Ring video doorbells are generally more expensive than Tapo.

For example, I have the Ring Wired Doorbell Pro installed next to my front door. This costs $229.99 when not on sale at Amazon. The image quality is comparably crisper day and night, and the 1536p head-to-toe HD+ video means that I can see a complete person standing right outside our front door, rather than just the head and shoulders that I see with the D205.

If you'd prefer to avoid paying any subscription fees altogether, then I'd opt to install a 512GB memory card for local storage. This will mean that you'll get a good, affordable video doorbell for a fraction of the price of a Ring video doorbell.

Alternatively, look into buying the eufy E340 video doorbell instead. On test, we found that the eufy footage is crisp, audio is clear, and it's easy to install. Plus, you can access all features without a monthly subscription. Subscriptions will get you more storage and allow longer recordings of doorside interactions.

Installing a video doorbell is a good way to start improving your home security. Learn how else smart tech gadgets can help transform your home, and check out these home security tips to make your home safer and more secure.

I am a fairly clumsy person, which does not always pair well with everyday cooking. As a result, I have long had a love-hate relationship with glass containers: They offer non-toxic storage, but come with a constant risk of breakage.

Looking for safer, non-toxic food storage options that wouldn’t leave me worrying about accidents, I came across these minimalist stainless steel food containers from IKEA. They are durable and highly versatile.

For anyone with a small kitchen who wants to avoid shattered glass and the inconvenience of carrying heavy leftover containers on the commute, they offer a practical, low-stress alternative.

Food storage is one of the simplest places to start when creating a non-toxic home. Many plastic containers, when exposed to heat from hot foods, dishwashers, or microwaves, can potentially leach so-called 'forever chemicals' into food.

For instance, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified PFOA, (a type of PFAS commonly found in older manufacturing processes) as 'carcinogenic to humans.'

For this reason, it is generally recommended to opt for non-reactive storage materials such as glass or stainless steel.

I previously relied on IKEA’s 365+ glass food containers. While effective, they are heavy and can be prone to shattering if dropped on hard kitchen floors. They also add noticeable weight when used on the go.

On the other hand, stainless steel alternatives offer a lighter, more durable option, reducing the risk of breakage while remaining practical for everyday food storage and transport. Unlike some glass containers, these can also be used in the oven.

Doubling up functionality will help to declutter your kitchen over time as you make your non-toxic swaps.

The stainless steel containers are safe for use in the oven, fridge, and freezer, making storing and reheating leftovers far more convenient. One drawback compared with their glass counterparts is that they are not microwave safe. However, in my view, this is outweighed by their overall practicality, as food can easily be transferred into a microwave-safe bowl when needed.

Because they are metal, they are also well-suited to oven baking smaller portions, delivering crisp edges and bases for single (or two small) servings of dishes like baked oats or roasted vegetables.

Unlike glass containers, the stainless steel versions also nest neatly inside one another. For a small kitchen, this is a significant advantage, saving valuable cabinet space and avoiding stacks of glassware that could topple every time you open a cabinet.

What Else to Shop

To help you create a safer kitchen, I’ve rounded up the best non-leaching accessories, stainless steel essentials, and non-toxic kitchen appliance swaps.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

If you are keen to limit your exposure to potentially harmful coatings and materials in your kitchen, consider the best non-toxic cookware next.

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I am currently in the process of planning out my summer hosting, picking out the essentials and planning the menus for evenings spent in the yard with friends. One thing I already know for certain is that I do not want to be standing over a slow-heating grill while everything else is happening around me.

The solution is a cast-iron griddle, such as the Le Creuset Alpine Griddle. It heats quickly, retains heat efficiently, and delivers consistent, even cooking. Even compared to the best grills, it is especially useful when timing matters, and you are cooking under pressure.

It is proof that flavourful summer cooking does not need to be complicated or slow.

All prices correct at time of publication.

In the grill-versus-griddle debate, a griddle is often the more reliable choice for consistent, controlled cooking. Think of it like a frying pan. It is essentially a large cooking surface that can span multiple burners or be placed over a grill or campfire. It offers a flexible setup for both indoor and outdoor cooking.

This versatility makes it especially well-suited to summer hosting. It heats quickly and evenly, offering a more predictable cooking experience when your focus is divided between dinner, drinks, and guests. There are no flare-ups to manage, either, and when used indoors, no open flame to contend with.

While a griddle may not replicate the smoky depth of an open flame grill, it significantly simplifies the process. Flavour can still be built through marinades, seasonings, and finishing oils, after all, mitigating the risk of burns and scorches ruining your hard work.

The Le Creuset Alpine griddle is our top pick because it does not require seasoning, relying on the heritage brand's enameled cast iron, used on its best non-toxic cookware, to limit the time you have to devote to cleaning and caring for cookware. This removes the risk of rust at the same time.

Finding it to be 'polished, study, and well-balanced,' our expert chef, Lydia, loved how easy it was to use on her gas stove. Onions grilled evenly and didn't stick, but still had that slightly smoky scent, burgers came off juicy with a crisp edge, and brioche buns toasted evenly. There was nothing to fault. It's the perfect solution to speedy yet considered summer hosting.

What Else to Shop

From more affordable options to essential care tools, I’ve curated six summer cooking must-haves to get you fully set up with your griddle this season.

If you do not have an outdoor kitchen or cooking setup, this portable induction burner fix might be the perfect way to keep hosting social this summer.

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When offered the chance to review the eufy Omni E25, I was delighted to oblige. Anything that can help keep the constantly-building layer of dust and hair at bay and leave my kitchen and bathroom floors sparkling is an excellent floorcare upgrade for a busy home such as mine.

As I live in a cottage with wonky floorboards and nooks and crannies that collect all manner of hair and debris that comes from a busy life as a family of four, including two young children, I'd always imagined that even the best robot vacuums would find my higgledy-piggledy home something of a nemesis.

However, I have been deeply impressed with how well this sleek and efficient automatic appliance performs, handling all floor types and obstacles with ease, and saving me around 80% of my usual manual cleaning.

My One-Minute Verdict

On the whole, I found the eufy Omni E25 did a great job of keeping on top of my day-to-day cleaning, and, as it's so easy to use once you've set it up, whether from home, remotely, or with the scheduling option. I cleaned far more regularly with this than when I have to use a manual vacuum or mop; my house definitely feels cleaner.

It's not perfect, of course, and despite the corner-roving arm feature, there was still some dust and dirt to deal with manually in those pesky crevices, and spot cleaning after an accidental spill was more fiddly and time-consuming than simply getting my trusty old cordless Dyson out.

I won't be giving up my cordless vacuum for quick cleaning tasks, but it is also fair to say that I haven't gotten my stick vacuum out once since owning the eufy Omni E25 - a testament to its ease of use and efficiency. The dual brushes have also saved me the usual hair-wrap frustration, disposing of hair cleanly and neatly by itself. This feature will be a big win for pet owners, too.

Plus, if you suffer from chronic pain, a robot vacuum like this could be life-changing. No more bending and reaching into awkward spaces, as it does the work for you.

Eufy Omni E25: Specifications

eufy Omni E25: Setup and Maintenance

On delivery, the box was very heavy, and I was unable to lift it myself, so you might want to ensure that you have someone on hand to help you put it in place for unboxing. The eufy Omni E25 was very well packaged with a handy quick-start guide right at the top of the box, featuring a QR code for the e-manual and app download.

Inside, another smaller box, with a handle, was easy to pull out, and contained the vacuum itself, along with the power cord, base plate from the Omni station and a bottle of mop cleaning liquid (a nice bonus, as some products require you to buy these separately from the outset at extra cost).

The base station could then be easily lifted out and placed in position. I'd recommend choosing a designated spot for this before you start unboxing, as eufy suggests a 1.6ft clearance on either side and 4.9ft in front.

In my small cottage, finding a spot with the right clearance proved tricky, but it's worth noting from our other eufy robot vacuum testers that if you don't have the larger clearance on each side, the appliance will still function as expected. The clearance in front, however, is a must.

I positioned mine in the corner of my kitchen near the bins (with a much smaller clearance space) and haven't experienced any issues. The video below shows the robot locating and docking in the base station.

The power cable was too short to reach my socket on the kitchen counter, so I had to use an extension cable. It's not a deal breaker, but a minor irritation and worth considering before positioning.

Once I'd filled the clean water tank, the circular ring light lit up, indicating it was ready to go. I slotted the robot into its charging position and got to work downloading and exploring the app.

I added my eufy Omni E25 as a device on the eufy app and it indicated over 90% battery power, so it was good to go straight out of the box without the need for charging. All in all, I'd say the setup and mapping took me around 1-1.5 hours, but it's a one-time job and worth spending the time to get it right. Read on for more details, or jump to design and features, or the results of the tests we ran to determine its vacuuming performance and mopping power.

Then I followed a series of voice commands, triggered by the app, including connecting the device to my WiFi network, which was easily done, then mapping my floor to create 2D and 3D maps of each room.

When you select 'start mapping', the robot does a cursory sweep of the space, using its cameras and laser sensors to detect any furniture or obstacles. Eufy's advice is to remove as many obstacles as possible, such as power cables, toys, shoes and lightweight furniture, such as dining chairs, for the initial mapping to give a full scope of the area to be cleaned. Once complete, a map of my ground floor appeared on my phone.

This wasn't as accurate as I'd hoped initially, and the map indicated additional rooms where there weren't any, but luckily, there's an 'edit' option which you can use to merge, divide, rename, and expand rooms on your map. Additionally, the map updates with each cleaning to improve accuracy, and it produced a much better representation of my space after the first full floor clean.

Once happy with the map, you can create cleaning tasks and schedules for individual rooms or zones, adjusting the settings to vacuum, mop, or both, and the suction power and water levels to suit your floor surfaces.

The vacuum also automatically recognises when a surface changes from hard floor to carpet or rug and raises the mop head accordingly, but you can also add elements to your map, such as carpet, and even update the specific floor material to wood, marble, tile, and terrazzo, for more tailored cleaning.

Adding furniture, no-go zones (like staircases), or vacuum-only zones to your map allows for an even more tailored result. This does take a little time, but once it's done, you shouldn't need to repeat the process, and you can make small tweaks at any point.

There's no messy dustbin emptying to do with the eufy Omni E25 as it automatically collects dust from the vacuum into the dust bag in the base station after every 15 or 30 minutes of cleaning, or after every clean, which can be adjusted in your settings.

This is the loudest it gets at nearly 80dB, but it's very short-lived, and the clever 'do not disturb' setting will ensure this doesn't happen between certain hours of the day, such as when the children are asleep, or overnight.

The 3L dust bag is large enough for 75 days of continuous cleaning, according to eufy (but it does only come with one bag included, so you'll need to buy replacements, which come in a set of three 3L bags directly from eufy for $16.99).

I can't comment on ease of emptying yet, as I haven't had it for long enough. However, others on our team who have been using eufy robots for over a year say it's as simple as opening the compartment lid on the dock, pulling the bag up and out, and then slotting a new one in its place. The eufy app also provides a prompt and visual step-by-step for all maintenance as it arises, making switches fast and simple.

The self-cleaning mop scrapes away dirt and washes the extra-long brush in real time whilst in use, then performs a more thorough wash and dry afterwards – this can take as long as five hours, but it's quiet enough that you'll barely notice. This stops mold and bacterial growth, causing any odors or sanitation issues.

You can cut short the drying time if you want to perform other tasks, but it's advisable to revert back afterwards to complete the process, as it will prolong the life and hygiene of your mop.

You can empty the dust, clean or dry the mop in the app easily, at other times, too. I haven't had to empty the dirty water tank yet, even after two weeks of use, but I only have a small area to mop, and eufy says this usually needs emptying around once a week, so it will depend on how big your mopping area is.

Our colleagues who have tested for longer tend to empty it weekly to avoid odors building up inside that area, although this is not something you can smell unless you open the compartment.

The high-performance filter is easy to remove and clean with running water, which eufy recommends doing every two weeks, with a full replacement every six months.

There's a handy maintenance guide in the e-manual, which recommends manually cleaning the mop and brushes once a month and replacing them every six months.

While this sounds like a substantial outlay, the most cost-effective way of doing this is to buy a eufy accessories package for $69.99, which includes at least one of everything, and actually works out as quite a good deal.

Design and Features

The eufy Omni E25 has a good range of features, as you'd expect for the $1300 price tag, including a 250% improved turbo suction power of 20,000ps, compared to the brand's previous generation models.

Then there's the HydroJet™ Self-Cleaning Roller Mop, which distributes water evenly through 32 ports, cleans as it mops (120 times per minute).

And, as it removes the dirty water as it goes, my floors were nowhere near as wet as they are when I use a manual mop, even on the high water level setting, meaning they dried quickly, too (no more being banished from the kitchen for hours when I'm craving a coffee).

The 11.4" brush head is nearly the full width of the vacuum itself, allowing for the maximum cleaning area, and it applies 1kg of downward weight as it goes, designed to replicate the pressure you'd apply with a manual mop.

The Edge-Cleaning CornerRover™ Arm extends from the vac body and has thin, flexible bristles that navigate around corners and baseboards, where dust, hair, and crumbs gather, and flick them underneath the vacuum to be sucked up. I found this to be reasonably effective, but sometimes larger debris was flicked away from the vac and missed if it didn't do a second pass of the room.

The AI.See™ Obstacle Avoidance claims to offer superior object recognition, enabling the robot to dodge over 200 common objects as opposed to getting stuck or attempting to climb over things.

It did successfully dodge rogue toys and cables, but proved a little tricky when I actually wanted it to vacuum larger debris, such as in our cereal tests.

However, for the most thorough clean, you'll want to pick up any obstacles before starting a full room vacuum. On the plus side, this has meant I've been keeping my floors tidier and clutter-free more regularly – one of the unexpected benefits of owning a robot vacuum.

The eufy Omni E25 also has built-in carpet detection, automatically increasing its suction power, which is audibly noticeable, and it worked perfectly in my living room, which has wooden floors and a large rug.

And if, like me, you have an ongoing battle with hair, from people or trying to keep your house clean with pets, the DuoSpiral™ Detangle system is a revelation.

As the name suggests, it features not one, but two roller brushes, which direct collected hair into a gap in the middle, where it's sucked up, rather than getting wrapped around repeatedly and caught up.

Head of Solved and cat owner, Punteha Van Terheyden, also wrote about how her eufy robot vacuum was a game-changer for tackling pet hair, too.

Before this robot, I was having to constantly manual unravel hair from my old vacuum's brushroll, which was a deeply unpleasant task.

What Is the eufy Omni E25 Like to Use?

Once the app and mapping were set up, I found the eufy Omni E25 really simple to use. I simply selected 'start' on the app to begin cleaning, or choose a room and tailor the cleaning preferences (mop, vac, turbo etc).

I also liked the option to add custom cleans by room, as this allows for pre-programming cleaning preferences. Another option is to 'draw' out a zone, which is handy if you want to just clean a specific area, like under the dining table, rather than the whole room. I also enjoyed setting it to clean from the comfort of my car (via the app), while I was travelling back from a weekend away, then coming home to a freshly mopped kitchen.

Whilst the vacuum re-charges automatically whenever it's in its base station, I've not noticed it drop below around 80% during my testing period, so losing charge during a clean hasn't been an issue for me. However, I will caveat that by saying that my home does have a relatively small square footage compared to some.

The manufacturer says that the standard run time for the E25 is 125 mins, which is comparable to most of its models and only a touch less than the older, but more expensive eufy Omni S1 Pro at 140 mins.

One of my concerns was whether I'd be able to use the eufy Omni E25 on different floors of the house (I have friends who have invested in one robot vac for each floor).

This proved surprisingly easy with the multi-map function, which allows you to create and edit up to three different maps. I carried the E25 upstairs and placed it on floor, then put a physical barrier at the top of the stairs so that it didn't fall down during the initial mapping process, though it has anti-tip technology to prevent this anyway.

I also added a 'no-go' zone as an extra precaution. Once the cleaning upstairs was complete, the robot returned to where it started, so I could carry it back down and place it back in the base unit to empty and recharge.

The eufy Omni E25 navigated corners and edges really well, stopping short of my wooden furniture and baseboards by a hair's breadth, meaning no bumps and scratches, but allowing for close cleaning.

It even managed to get in between the legs of my dining chairs (with enough force to slightly nudge them out of the way), as well as under my sofa without getting stuck – if you do encounter this problem, these easy ways to stop your robot vacuum getting stuck could help.

The corner rover arm did whip up most of the dust and debris stuck around the edges of the rooms, but this feature isn't faultless, as some larger debris was simply flicked too far away from the machine for it to register, meaning it gets missed. I do like that you can visibly see where it has vacuumed on carpeted floors – like stripes on a freshly mowed lawn – as it adds to that 'just cleaned' feeling.

Whilst the eufy Omni E25 coped well with the transition from my wooden parquet flooring to the central flat rug in my living room (auto-adjusting the suction power when it recognised the change of surface), it did struggle with my smaller, more lightweight rug, which has a fringed edge and got tangled in the brushes.

I followed the advice in the app to tuck it underneath, and the vacuum attempted to get up and over the edge before giving up and going around it, instead.

If you're concerned about noise, it's not loud – around 51-55dB for normal cleaning (which equates to 'quiet home' noise levels according to the decibelX app that I used), and 59dB at maximum in turbo mode. It certainly wasn't enough to interrupt my work or even a call if I closed the door. This is also considerably less than comparable robot vacuum models, like the Dreame X50 Ultra which runs at 73dB.

The mop function coped with day-to-day surface dirt well, but did struggle to remove more dried-on stains (like coffee) even after a few attempts on the same spot. Having said that, I think it did loosen the stains as they wiped cleanly away with a damp cloth afterwards. I also liked the fact that the floors weren't sopping wet after use, thanks to the excess water being vacuumed up, meaning they dried almost instantly.

It's a huge improvement on manual mopping.

Vacuuming Performance

I performed three specific suction tests (sugar, lentils, and cereal) on two different surface types (tile and carpet), to gauge how successfully the eufy Omni E25's vacuum function performed.

At Homes & Gardens, we carry out the same standardized vacuum tests to create an even playing field for comparing and rating performance.

Here's how the eufy Omni E25 got on.

Test 1: Sugar

I poured a quarter of a cup of sugar out onto my kitchen flooring for the first test to see how the eufy Omni E25 coped with fine debris. The thing I found most fiddly about this test was working out how to clean a small area. There is a spot cleaning function, but it's quite well hidden in the settings part of the app. This cleaned around a 2ft square area, but I did find it difficult to pinpoint where I actually wanted the vacuum to go.

I found the most effective option to be the remote control function, which gives you freedom to decide where the vacuum goes. With this option, I cleaned up most of the sugar, but some did get stuck in the grooves between my kitchen tiles, and I had to finish the job manually.

The same test on the carpet was more successful (no tile grooves to contend with), and the turbo suction cleared the fine sugar from my thick-pile carpet with ease, although it did need a few passes to get all the granules.

Test 2: Lentils

This time, I scattered a quarter of a cup of dried lentils on my tiled kitchen floor, ensuring some landed in the grooves and along the baseboards.

Using the remote control function again, the eufy Omni E25 crunched through the lentils, sucking up most of them, but quite a few were scattered further away thanks to the brushes on the corner rover arm.

When you're in spot cleaning mode, the vacuum doesn't detect the debris that has been flicked to the opposite side of the room, but with the manual controls, I was able to pick up all the loose lentils.

On the carpet, the performance was similar, and the lentils seemed to prove tricky to suck up from the thick pile, even in turbo mode. I did manage to clean up most of them, but the weight-to-size ratio of the lentils made this a more challenging task.

Test 3: Cereal

For the final vacuuming test, I spilt a quarter cup of O-shaped cereal on the kitchen floor and another on the carpet. Initially, the eufy Omni E25 backed up when it encountered some of the large pieces of cereal, acting as if they were objects to avoid (small Legos, perhaps) rather than clean up.

But when I switched to remote control mode, it actually coped better with this larger debris than with the lentils and crushed the cereal into a powder before sucking them up from the tiled flooring.

On the carpet, the odd few Os were flung into corners, but again the remote control function allowed me to go back and forth over the same area a few times to pick most of them up.

It's also worth noting that a few days (and a few bin empties) after all three tests, I was still finding remnants of sugar, lentils and cereal in the base unit, and when I took the filter out to clean it, there were lentils left in the vacuum's small dustbin compartment, indicating that they hadn't been sucked into the main unit, so I did have to empty it manually.

How It Performed on Hair

While this isn't a specific test, it's worth a mention here, as hair can be troublesome for vacuum cleaners, getting tangled in the brushes and negatively affecting performance. It's especially important if you own pets or have long-haired members of your household who are constantly shedding.

I fall into the latter category (no pets, but three long-haired family members, me included), and one of my most heinous chores involves taking apart my vacuum brushes to untangle handfuls of tightly wound hair from the mechanism.

I was interested to see how the eufy Omni E25 would tackle this, having read about its dual brushes, which claim to prevent tangling. Well, this was one of my favorite features.

When I turned the robot upside down after vacuuming the whole of my first floor (all carpet, and the worst offender when it comes to hair), the brushes were clean as a whistle. I picked out a very dense hairball that was in the middle of the brushes and about to be sucked up for disposal, and one or two of these were also dropped on my carpet during the process (which were easily popped in the trash), but – crucially – none in the brushes themselves.

I did notice a little bit of hair tangled around the wheels, though, which I had to unwind, but compared to the alternative, I can live with that.

Mopping Performance

To put the mopping power of the eufy Omni E25 to the test, I put it through its paces with Ketchup and mustard spills – the same tests Homes & Gardens use for all robot vacuums with a mop function. This helps us to make a fair comparison and you to decide what to spend your money on.

Test 1: Ketchup

The eufy Omni E25 features a built-in camera to detect stains. For this test, I squirted a quarter cup of ketchup across my tiled kitchen floor and set the mop to work. There's no mop-only function, so the only option is to vacuum and mop. Before it starts cleaning, the base station performs a mop clean in situ, dispensing clean water and cleaning fluid onto the roller.

While the robot did seem to detect the spillage, honing in on it (in the zone cleaning mode), it did leave a fairly substantial smear on the floor, with more between the tile grooves, before returning to the base station. Once a mopping task is complete, the base station auto-cleans the mop, and you have to wait until this is finished before starting another task. It then moves on to drying the mop, but you can interrupt this to do more cleaning, which is a good thing, as a full dry can take up to five hours.

I was able to start the mop again in remote control mode and cover the ground that it had missed before, but I still needed to wipe the remaining Ketchup up from between the tile grooves with a kitchen towel to complete the job.

Test 2: Mustard

The eufy Omni E25 did a good job of cutting through the thick mustard spillage (again, around a quarter cup's worth), on the tiled kitchen floor. It didn't seem to smear it around as much as it did with the ketchup, but it did still leave some in the grooves and a slight residue on the tiles.

When I flipped the vacuum over, I also discovered a fairly sustantial about of ketchup and mustard in the brush and the tread of the wheels. This was a concern as I didn't want to risk vacuuming the rest of my home afterwards, without thoroughly cleaning off the residue, for fear of smearing sticky sauce on my other floors and carpets.

Whilst in general I really like the mop function of this robot vacuum, and think it's really effective at day-to-day cleaning, I think it has some way to go in terms of being effective at spot cleaning. It's also worth noting that the spot clean and remote control options aren't available in mop mode, so you'll need to rely on full room or zone cleaning to tackle spills like this.

How Does the eufy Omni E25 Compare?

The only difference that you'll find the eufy Omni E25 and its upgraded sister model, the eufy Omni E28, which we're in the process of reviewing, is the lack of a detachable portable deep cleaner, which puts the price tag up by $100.

This would be useful for tackling problem areas and dried-on stains, but it depends on what you're looking for in a robot vacuum and how much you want to spend.

If you do like the versatility of having a stick and handheld vac as well, you might want to try the eufy 3-in-1 E20, which includes all three options that share a canister for dust collection. It's around half the price and will save on storage compared to three completely separate items, but the robot vacuum power is considerably lower than the eufy Omni E25, with 8,000pa compared to 20,000pa.

The eufy Omni S1 Pro is a good bet if you have cats or dogs. This robot vacuum still comes highly recommended for pet hair, by Home Tech Editor Dan Fauzi, despite being an older and less powerful model.

But, the eufy Omni E25 swings it for me thanks to the higher suction power (20,000pa vs 8,000pa), more rotations per minute, and the improved detangling brushes, as well as for its more compact base station (the S1 stands at over 26" tall, compared to the E15 at 17"). The E25 is also $200 cheaper, so it's a win-win. It can often be discounted by hundreds of dollars at a time during retailer events, so look out for good deals.

If you have a lot of hard flooring, you'd do well to check out the newer, but more budget-friendly eufy Omni C28, which has similar functionality but slightly lower suction power (15,000pa), for around half the price of the E25.

As for other brands, the Dreame X50 Ultra comes at a similar price point to the eufy Omni E25, and our reviewer said it offered 'outstanding' cleaning performance, was 'a breeze to set up,' and she liked its 'lightweight design'. It's a bit louder at 73db, compared to the much quieter eufy Omni E25, which maxed 55db on turbo mode. But if that's not an issue, this is a good alternative.

How I Tested the eufy Omni E25

At Homes & Gardens, we have a dedicated and thorough procedure for how we test vacuums. We recreate real-life circumstances by putting each vacuum through its paces, making note of how it performs with different substances on different surfaces.

I tested the eufy Omni E25 with sugar, lentils, and cereal on both hard and carpeted floors, using various vacuuming modes (from spot cleaning to zone cleaning and remote control) to find the most effective, and recorded how successful it was at vacuuming each substance. I noted down any issues and where the vacuum struggled or excelled in my home, and took photos and videos to give an accurate representation of daily performance over the course of two weeks.

To test the mopping functionality of the eufy Omni E25, I spilled ketchup and mustard on a tiled kitchen floor, and recorded how effectively it cleaned the spillages up. I noted whether it left smears or residue between tiles and whether it required an additional clean to finish the job, as well as what was left on the vacuum after the task was complete.

Once you've mastered using the eufy Omni E25, (or a different model, if you prefer), you'll want to know how to clean your robot vacuum to ensure it performs at it best and lasts for as long as possible.

The Yeedi M16 Infinity robot vacuum is one of the most feature-packed automated floor cleaners you can buy, with its advanced roller mop, hot-water self-washing capabilities, and intelligent cleaning options making light work of even the toughest stains on my floors.

It quite easily ranks among the best robot vacuum cleaners available, even if it’s a bit large.

At a retail price of $999, it’s expensive, but not nearly as expensive as competitors, from Dreame and eufy, and has been seen on sale for as low as $599 in the two months since it launched.

One-Minute Summary

For those who like to take full control of their house cleaning, the Yeedi M16 is for you. Not only does it offer superb vacuum and mopping performance, but the app also allows you to customize a wide range of settings to help you find the perfect cleaning setup for your home.

Like most other flagship robot vacuums from the past several months, it uses a new roller-style mop that delivers a much better clean than the traditional pad or scrubber mops. The dock completely cleans the vacuum, both emptying the dust and thoroughly washing the mop during and after each mopping run, saving you from having to complete the dirty jobs yourself and preventing odors from building.

It is simple to set up and use, and is quite intelligent about mapping and avoiding obstacles. It’s not perfect, and it's best to first remove smaller toys and clutter from floors before commenting on a clean.

While the plethora of options and settings in the app are great for fine-tuning your cleaning regimen, it can also be quite overwhelming for someone just wanting to set and forget it. Overall, it’s a great option for families who need some low-maintenance automated cleaning help.

Specifications

Setup

Setting up the Yeedi M16 Infinity was quite simple. I was pleased to see a very minimal amount of styrofoam in the box, with all the components well packaged. I was less pleased to see the lack of additional accessories included. Aside from a bottle of cleaning solution, there’s nothing else included. Even the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal, which was quite light on accessories as well, came with an extra side brush.

Once unboxed, the setup process in the Yeedi app is simple. Connect to your home Wi-Fi, tap through a few screens, and you’re ready to begin mapping. The mapping process was surprisingly quick and took less than 10 minutes to get through my entire 1-story, 1,800 sq. ft. home.

It is recommended to fully charge the vacuum before mapping your home for the first time, but you could manage it on less battery if you needed to. The app also recommends cleaning up the floors and moving curtains and such, but I noticed it only really moved through the middle of each room and spanned around to scan, so you won’t need completely bare floors to get up and running.

Design and Features

I personally like the design of the Yeedi M16 Infinity. The slightly two-tone white and beige color, combined with the matte finish, looks very premium and looks much better than many of the cheap black plastic-looking models.

It's a bit larger than some other models on the market, so if you're worried about it fitting into smaller spaces, make sure to check the dimensions of the spot you intend to place it in, my specifications table above.

The vacuum itself has only a large button on top with a panel that lifts to access the power and reset buttons, and the removable dust bin.

Around back are the charging connectors as well as the dock connections for emptying and refilling the mop water and emptying the dust bin. Underneath are the wheels, side brush, roller brush, and extendable roller mop. The Yeedi M16 Infinity is a bit thicker than some other models I’ve tested, but it never had a problem getting under my furniture.

The dock contains the dirty and clean water tanks on top, and popping off the front door reveals the disposable dust bag. The bottom of the dock, where the robot sits, houses the mop washing system, which is impressive at cleaning the mop roller thoroughly, so you don't have to. There’s also a tank for the cleaning solution.

The Yeedi app is where most of the controls live for the vacuum. From here, you can create cleaning schedules and fine-tune the way your vacuum cleans your home. When you select the Yeedi M16 Infinity in the app, the first thing you’re greeted with under the map is an option to immediately start a clean or to turn on Agent Mode.

Agent Mode uses AI to intelligently build cleaning patterns based on the cleanliness of your home and when you typically send it to clean. After a few uses, the app will automatically set whether to just vacuum or vacuum and mop, which suction power to use, the water flow rate for mopping, and a variety of other settings you would normally set manually.

The idea is that the Yeedi M16 Infinity will learn your home and your cleaning schedules and patterns, to quickly make the process even more hands-off over time.

In my testing, this worked pretty well but I have young children, which means lots of unpredictable messes. I had to exit out of Agent Mode to manually adjust settings, probably every three or four times I sent it to clean to better suit my household's floorcare needs.

In the same place where you turn on Agent Mode in the app, you can switch tabs between the vacuum and dock settings. Up front, you can tell the station to empty the dust bin, wash or dry the mop, and both tabs take you to more advanced settings at the bottom.

This is one area where the Yeedi M16 Infinity sets itself apart from the pack. There are more options in the settings menu for both the vacuum and the dock than I’ve ever seen in all my years of testing the latest robot vacuums.

There are all the expected settings like scheduling, auto-resume, do not disturb, and more, but Yeedi also gives you several additional useful options, like letting you select the order of rooms to clean, suction settings for the type of carpet you have, and even the sensitivity of obstacle sensing.

Most people won’t need to change the default settings, but it is impressive to see just how deeply you can customize the settings on the Yeedi M16 Ultra.

Vacuuming Performance and Tests

To test the vacuuming performance of the Yeedi M16 Infinity, I ran a series of our pantry tests using sugar, lentils, and cereal to represent fine, medium, and large debris.

Starting with tiled floors, I spread a bit of granulated sugar in a small area, but was sure to put some near the edge of the wall to see how well it could reach there. The results were not surprising; the Yeedi M16 Infinity picked up all the sugar in the first pass with no issues.

One thing I appreciated is that by default, the vacuum will clean long-ways across the area, then double back and clean in a perpendicular direction. This ensured that even the sugar that had fallen into the cracks of my tile was picked up, which is not something I can say for many other vacuums I’ve tested.

The lentils were also cleared away well, though, being large, some were pushed around a bit during the vacuuming. However, it did get them all in the first pass, and there were none left behind or pinged out of the cleaning path.

Cereal presented the hardest challenge on my tile floors, but again, the Yeedi M16 Infinitely performed admirably. As with the lentils, some of the cereal pieces got pushed around a bit on the tile while cleaning, and it missed a few on the first run.

However, the vacuum continued to clean the area until all the cereal was gone. If you typically deal with larger-sized debris like cereal, our best Dyson alternatives also handle large debris quite well.

My rugs offered a bit more of a challenge for the Yeedi M16 infinity, but once again, I was impressed with the results. On the standard suction, I could still see a few sugar granules left in the carpet after the first pass, but using stronger suction, it cleaned them up fine.

Once again, the lentils were picked up with no issues. It did push a few around again, but the extra pass got everything. Vacuuming in both directions in one pass provides an extra thoroughness I don't often see with other vacuums.

As expected, cereal debris presented the toughest challenge for vacuuming on the rug, but once again, I was impressed with Yeedi M16 Infinity's performance.

I had to run two passes to get it all picked up, but nothing was left behind after the second pass. Admittedly, I also spilled more on the floor than is likely to be the case with a typical spill, but it still shows the cleaning power of this robot.

Max suction power is typically only necessary for cleaning thick carpets or rugs, but I did run it just to see how it was, and it was honestly a bit loud. Granted, it would be quieter on a thick carpet, but it was still louder than I expected it to be at 88 decibels, which is as loud as a motorcycle.

Standard suction, which is the mode I most often left it on, registered at 66 decibels via the DecibelX app.

If you're more sensitive to noise and don't have much carpet, you might prefer one of the best cordless vacuums, which often offer quieter operation on area rugs.

Mopping Performance

For the mopping tests, I used ketchup and mustard to simulate stickier substances that might trip up some robot cleaners. Also, instead of cleaning the entire floor, I did a spot clean in only the area where the stain was. I was pleased to see that you can adjust the size of the spot cleaning depending on the size of the mess.

Also, similar to the Yeedi S14 Plus from late last year, the roller mop brush extends out from the side of the vacuum to get into all the corners and edges, which was much more effective than I thought it would be.

The Yeedi M16 Infinity had no problems cleaning up the ketchup. In just one pass, it cleaned up the entire spill without any residual mess left behind. This is the first vacuum I’ve tested with a roller mop instead of a pad mop, and I have to say it makes quite a difference.

Other vacuums have still been able to clean up similar messes, but not nearly as well as the M16 Infinity. Some, like the eufy X10 Pro Omni we have reviewed, didn't manage to clear ketchup and smeared it around. This performance from the Yeedi shouldn't be underestimated.

What impressed me most about the Yeedi M16 Infinity was how well it handled the mustard. Mustard is a thicker, oilier substance than ketchup, which makes it harder to clean, and it often leaves a smell behind.

With other vacuums, it took at least two, sometimes three passes for all the mustard to be cleaned up, but the Yeedi handled it in one go. I was truly impressed with just how well it cleaned.

One thing to note is that the M16 Infinity returns to the dock to clean the mop much more frequently than other mops I’ve seen. You can adjust this a bit in the settings if you want, but personally, I prefer it. It may take a few extra minutes to finish clearing, but it ensures the mess is cleaned more thoroughly, and it helps keep the mop from staining.

Overall, it performed better than most other vacuums I’ve tested, and for mopping your floors daily, it will do a superb job. This might make it particularly useful if you have lots of hard floors or have pets to contend with when keeping your house clean.

Ease of Maintenance

One of the biggest benefits of robot vacuum cleaners is that they mostly take care of themselves, and the Yeedi M16 Ultra does just as good a job at that as all the other top robot vacuums we’ve tested.

The OMNI dock empties the dust bin and dirty water after every clean and even washes the mop roller as well. The docking area would sometimes show pet hair or other dirt left behind from the cleaning, but that stuff never ended up back out on my floors.

My wife has long hair, which can often be a robot vacuum’s biggest challenge, but after a couple of weeks of testing, I never had to cut hair off from the vacuum brushes, which proves its anti-tangle technology is working exactly as expected. Even so, regularly checking the brushes as part of regularly cleaning your robot vacuum is a good idea.

Emptying and refilling the water tanks is very simple, as they both easily slide in and out from the top of the OMNI dock. I do miss the bag-less dustbin of the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal, as it’s easier to maintain and I have fewer parts to purchase, but having to replace the bag is just part of having a robot vacuum, and it’s certainly easier than having to vacuum the house myself.

Unfortunately, like the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal, replacement parts are not easy to purchase directly from the app. This is likely due, in part, to how new the vacuum is to the market, and thankfully, there are easy-to-find parts on Amazon, and the app notifies you when it’s time to replace them, but it’s still a bit annoying not to be able to purchase in-app.

Overall, the Yeedi M16 Infinity, even with having to empty the bags and manage the water buckets, cut my cleaning time effort by at least 80-90%.

How Does the Yeedi M16 Infinity Compare?

The Yeedi M16 Infinity cleans exceptionally well and has more than enough features and settings to give you a fantastic cleaning setup. The launch price was $999, but we’ve seen it for as low as $599, and the current listed retail price on Amazon is $799.

That’s almost the same price as another one of our favorite vacuums, the eufy Omni S1 Pro, but the Yeedi M16 looks a bit more premium and has more features and settings options.

Another favorite, the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra, typically runs closer to $1,200, but it also includes a roller mop that physically cleans itself while in use, so it does a better job of mopping.

How I Tested the Yeedi M16 Infinity

We’ve built a robust approach to how we test vacuums to ensure that every appliance we review endures the same in-depth and unbiased performance and benchmark tests. We also live with and regularly use the products for several weeks, giving us a good look at what it's like to have them in our homes.

I tested the Yeedi M16 Infinity for about three weeks in my single-family home with two adults, two young children, and a large dog.

I used the same materials for each test, including sugar, lentils, and cereal to represent fine, medium, and large particles as well as ketchup and mustard to represent a variety of liquid stains. Noise levels were measured using the DecibelX app, and I used a mixture of the scheduling and manual cleaning modes.

This process gave me a comprehensive look at how effectively it can replace the bulk of manual vacuuming and mopping chores around my house.

Next, explore our best vacuums for pet hair to better remove dust, fur and dander from your floors.

After investing in a quality induction cooktop, the last thing you want is to notice unusual noises or a noticeable 'buzz' during use.

The good news is that the issue is rarely the stovetop itself − more often, it is your cookware. In fact, experts note, this can be a clear sign that your pans need replacing.

Switching to the best induction cookware with a flat, fully magnetic base can reduce the noise and improve efficiency. Here's how.

How Damaged Pans Can Cause an Induction Stove to 'Buzz'

The short answer is that your stove will often audibly 'buzz' when a pan is too thin, lightweight, or warped, preventing it from sitting flush on the induction ring.

Compared to electric cooktops, induction stoves rely on flush contact to efficiently transfer energy to the pan. Rather than heating the hob itself, they heat the cookware directly, improving both efficiency and safety. The resulting sound is caused by electromagnetic vibrations passing through the metal and is rarely a fault with the stove itself.

Luckily, this common induction hob mistake is simple to resolve, says Mike Williams of Kenyon. It is simply a sign you need to replace your pans.

'In order for an induction stove to work, you need cookware that contains iron or has a magnetic base, and a flat bottom to ensure full contact with the surface for efficient magnetic connection,' he explains. 'Those high-frequency electromagnetic fields used for heating cause the metal in the pan to vibrate rapidly.'

A thicker, flat-based pan, such as the GreenPan Spectra Thermobond Ceramic Frying Pan, or the All-Clad D3 Everyday Stainless Steel Set, will help dampen the sound, often reducing the sound to near silence while improving efficiency.

What to Shop

To quiet your cooktop and elevate your evening meals, I’ve rounded up some of the best non-toxic cookware you can invest in, along with essential induction accessories that will instantly upgrade your kitchen setup.

All prices correct at time of publication.

Not sure if your cookware is safe for induction? This quick induction magnet test can help you work it out in seconds.

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In small kitchens, when space is at a premium, finding compact and clever storage solutions becomes more important than ever − and it doesn't get much more clever than a multi-tiered, movable solution.

Enter the Simple Houseware 3-Tier Rolling Cart, available in 11 colors at Amazon, which provides ample spacious open storage with an impressively small footprint.

Here's why we think it earns its spot among any stylish small kitchen storage ideas.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

The storage in your kitchen arguably has to work harder than any other room in your house. Between pots, pans, glassware, ceramics, food, and more, keeping things behind closed doors is the easiest way to reduce visual clutter in the kitchen.

In small spaces, though, and particularly in rentals, built-in storage is usually scarce. So, why not embrace a more laidback, lived-in look with the 3-Tier Rolling Cart, available in 11 colors at Amazon.

Admittedly, I'm a rolling cart enthusiast − the easygoing, flexible storage solution slots into any space, and looks good while doing it. I've seen them used in the past for storing books in a small space, small bathroom storage, and even for houseplants, but it's in my kitchen that I've found they work best.

Offering additional space, with three spacious baskets, for everything from mugs and glassware to dried and tinned goods, their rollable design means they can be pulled out when needed and sleekly pushed away when not, either into a corner, under a counter, or even into a cabinet. The curved top handles make portability even easier.

You won't need to worry about any items growing mold or going bad, either, as the mesh basket design works to ensure optimum airflow and helpful visibility.

What Shoppers Say

With over 27,500 five-star reviews, shoppers highly rate this designer-recommended small-space storage buy.

'So useful I bought two − perfect for organizing everything,' reads one recent glowing review. 'I love this rolling cart. I actually ended up buying two because they’re just that handy.

'The shelves are sturdy, it rolls smoothly, and the design is simple but super functional,' it continues. 'Such a great, versatile cart for organizing just about anything.'

This is a common consensus. 'Amazing cart,' says Penny. 'I love this cart. It was so easy to put together, and the color is great. I am using this cart for my craft paints, and the size of the shelves was perfect for what I needed them for.

'I can sit at my desk and roll the cart right up to where I need it with no trouble. The wheels lock in place, so there is no movement of the cart while I am using it. It rolls around nicely. I am so pleased with this cart that I am getting another one. It is a very versatile cart and could be used for anything.'

In a pinch, you could even use it as an outdoor bar cart when hosting al-fresco this summer − to make mixing up your favorite summer cocktail recipes easier (and better looking) than ever before.

What to Shop

Interested in shopping for more rolling storage solutions? Shop from a selection of top-rated picks below, which seamlessly blend useful functionality with style.

While perfect in the kitchen, a rolling bar cart is also an ideal solution for organizing art supplies.

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As a Cookware Editor, I can safely say that few brands do it quite like Le Creuset. The heritage label has built its reputation on heirloom-quality cookware that performs beautifully – but at a similarly premium price point.

So, while hunting through the best Memorial Day deals, spotting the Le Creuset Signature Deep Dutch Oven at Williams Sonoma marked down by $170 felt like striking gold.

With every standout shade included – including one of the newest colors, Forêt – and prices dipping below $290, it is one of the best opportunities of the season to invest in one of the best Dutch ovens.

All prices correct at time of publication.

I will admit that once upon a time, I was sceptical about whether or not Le Creuset was worth the price. However, having reviewed the Le Creuset Modern Heritage Dutch Oven (and used it most weeks since), I can assure you that it is worth every penny. With the added sale, it is arguably one of the best steals for your kitchen.

The Dutch oven stands out for three key reasons: First, and most importantly, when choosing the best cookware, the performance is unmatched. The smooth enameled cast iron is virtually non-stick, crisping and browning evenly when cooking chicken, sauteeing vegetables, or baking bread. It does it all.

An icon, the Dutch oven's silhouette is also one of the most practical yet chic ways to make a kitchen look more luxurious. Le Creuset is instantly recognizable, whether placed on the counter or the stove, with a design that feels decorative enough to leave on display rather than tucking it away in kitchen storage.

Finally, while some of the best non-toxic cookware is designed to last for years, Le Creuset is widely recognised for its decades-long durability, an investment piece that can be passed down through generations, even with regular use.

While the upfront cost can feel significant, the longevity offsets the initial spend, as fewer replacements are needed compared with standard cookware. With a $170 discount, the value is undeniable, making it an especially good moment to invest in a piece built for both performance and permanence.

What Else to Shop

Any Le Creuset pot is a big investment. Having used my own for several months, I have established some must-haves for maintaining the fabulous pot and enamelled interior, making cleaning and caring for cookware a breeze. These are my top picks, and an affordable alternative for those looking to save a little more.

To make the most of your new cookware and prevent damage, brush up on the most common Dutch oven mistakes before cooking.

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I'm currently in the process of preparing to move house, and before making my mind up between endless wall colors, rug options, and couch choices, I'm turning my attention swiftly to bedroom storage.

As such, my hunt for chic options that are suitable for small-space living led me straight to this Natural Rattan Storage Box Set, available at Wayfair, which is warm, charming, and bursting with character.

It proves that storage ideas need not be boring. Instead, finding tasteful ways to hide clutter ensures they blend with your decor while making a stylish statement.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

I'm a firm believer that bedroom storage should complement a space, rather than detract. For that reason, unless tucked away under a bed or in a closet, I tend to avoid more practical, plastic solutions and look for something a little more stylish − like the Natural Rattan Storage Box Set, available at Wayfair.

Most notably, and cleverly, these stackable boxes are a space-saving way to use vertical storage. With a footprint of just 19.9 inches by 12, they'll slot into even the smallest of small master bedrooms, without taking up any precious space when it's at a premium. When not in use, they can also be nested within the larger box.

They look gorgeous, too − I love the natural look of rattan, and these boxes are handcrafted and handwoven to bring a warm, organic texture to your bedroom space. The solid construction and woven lattice design make them sturdy enough for storing bulkier items, while the metal latch closures add a touch of vintage-inspired detailing that ensures the contents are safely stored.

The best part is, these boxes arrive fully assembled, so there's no need to fuss over your DIY tools. Instead, they're ready to store and style in your bedroom straight away, and will work equally as well to make your entryway storage look nicer or blend with your existing living room storage ideas, too.

What to Shop

These rattan storage boxes aren't the only stylish solution I've come across in my search. Below, you can shop a handpicked selection of my other favorites for transforming a space and adding storage, without ever compromising on style.

If you're in need of some more small storage-less home solutions, these saviours easily work to corral clutter.

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After spending a few months cooking with the Le Creuset Essential Stainless Steel Frying Pan, I have fallen in love with stainless steel cooking. Having previously avoided the material, fearing burnt dinners and hours spent scrubbing at the sink, the heritage cookware has proven that with patience, even pans that are not naturally non-stick can produce simple yet delicious results.

In terms of the best non-toxic cookware, the heirloom quality offerings from Le Creuset are the perfect investment, promising long-term health benefits in a move away from 'forever chemicals' in a pan that you can safely use for decades without replacement.

Here is exactly how I got on with the Le Creuset Essential Stainless Steel Frying Pan during my testing, the tiny snags and how I worked around them, and why I think this is one of the best stainless steel pans you can invest in for your home.

Product Specifications: Le Creuset Essential Stainless Steel Frying Pan

Design and First Impressions

As with other Le Creuset products I have unboxed, the Essential Stainless Steel Frying Pan came in recyclable packaging, with a sturdy cardboard box and tissue paper wrapping. There was one sticker inside the pan, which did prove difficult to get off, however after cleaning with olive oil to break down the adhesive naturally, this came away easily, allowing me to rinse the pan with warm soapy water before first use.

The pan is ready to use straight out of the box, and looks wonderful on the stove. I tested the 11-inch pan, which comes with a helper handle, helping to balance out the weight. I am able to support this pan in one hand with relative ease, but the helper handle is nice to have for moving the pan when it is particularly full, or it has been in the oven.

Cooking Performance

Cooking with stainless steel is not as simple as using non-stick, but with the right technique, you can achieve superior crispy results without the risk of 'forever chemical' contamination. The secret, I learned, is to use the Leidenfrost effect, allowing the pan to heat up enough that when you sprinkle water onto the surface, it beads and rolls away, rather than boils and steams off immediately. This indicates that you have enough of a heat barrier that food will not instantly adhere to the surface.

This does take some practise and getting used to, and is the same story with every stainless steel pan at any price point. I noticed that the three-ply Le Creuset pan, however, made it marginally easier as (when heated slowly) it heated evenly across the whole surface, preventing hot and cold spots.

To test the pan, I ran my usual delicate tests:

• Gyoza: Dumplings are one of my favorite foods, and gyoza are at the top of my list. When cooking in the Essential Stainless Steel Frying pan with a splash of oil, the dumplings browned and crisped evenly, and released without the delicate bottoms tearing.
• Tofu: Tofu is another great, delicate test, as it can tear easily and can be tricky to brown. Every time I cooked tofu in the Essential pan it did stick; however, it stuck and tore less with practice. The secret is to press as much water out as possible before adding to your oiled pan, and searing until it releases naturally. Any sticking was easily scraped away with a firmer touch, and it did not burn. Otherwise, the tofu crisped wonderfully.
• Onions: Onions are an essential test for any pan. In the Essential Frying Pan, they sauteed evenly, cooking down without scorching or sticking.
• Fried Eggs: Frying eggs took some trial and error, with one egg sticking slightly and the other releasing with ease. I think this came down to user error and not using an even coating of oil in the pan. It wasn't the easiest process, but the pan still delivered, giving crispy bases, and the stuck-on residue was easy to remove with my spatula once cooled.
• Sauces: In my liquid tests, simmering bolognaise, the liquid bubbled evenly across the surface, demonstrating wonderful heat retention and even heating, even on a stove ring smaller than the diameter of the pan.
• Pancakes: Pancakes were surprisingly easy in the pan. The batter bubbled quickly, and the pancake lifted and flipped easily without tearing or sticking, as you can see in the video below.

Cleaning, Storage and Maintenance

Despite food occasionally sticking, cleaning and caring for the cookware was straightforward. After letting the pan cool, I would clean it with warm soapy water and a soft dish sponge. Nine times out of ten, this delicate approach was more than enough to remove residue. When a more thorough approach was required, soaking the pan in warm soapy water often loosened the debris enough to be wiped away later.

There were two occasions where user error (i.e., heating the pan on too high a heat for too long) resulted in oil burning onto the surface. This was more difficult to remove, even after cleaning with lemon juice. Because stainless steel is so tough, however, a small amount of Barkeeper's Friend from Amazon on a soft cloth helped to buff away residue and restore the pan to new.

Storing the pan was also simple. Although it is large, and the long handle and protruding helper handle on the 11-inch model give this pan a large footprint, you can stack stainless steel pans easily without the fear of damaging delicate coatings. If you wish to prevent cosmetic scratches, you can use a standing cookware organizer like my Umbra Peggy Organizer from Walmart, or felt pan stackers from Amazon to help save space.

How Does the Le Creuset Essential Stainless Steel Frying Pan Compare?

The Le Creuset Essential Stainless Steel Frying Pan fares well against similar competition. While it is on the more expensive side, given the nature of the brand heritage, it promises heirloom quality.

In comparison to cookware such as the recently reviewed All-Clad D3 Everyday Stainless Steel Cookware Set, another on-par brand for quality, the Le Creuset pan performed just as well in every test, except for frying an egg, where the All-Clad just had the upper hand on easy release. That said, the All-Clad pan is more expensive at the recommended retail price, costing $139.99 compared to the Le Creuset at $125 (at the time of writing). When you consider the tiny difference, I think it makes the Le Creuset pick worth it.

My Verdict: Should You Buy The Le Creuset Essential Stainless Steel Frying Pan?

After using this pan religiously for several months, I can strongly recommend the Le Creuset Essential Stainless Steel Frying Pan to anyone looking for a durable, heirloom-quality stainless steel pan to upgrade their kitchen.

So long as you select stainless steel with the knowledge that it takes more work and practise than non-stick, you are sure to see promising rewards across a range of dishes. That said, for very delicate tasks such as fried eggs, I would still suggest a ceramic non-stick pan, especially for those new to stainless steel cooking or who want a quick, fuss-free breakfast routine. Otherwise, I cannot fault the performance, nor the quality.

How We Test Cookware at Homes & Gardens

The best cookware has to tick all the boxes: Versatility, manageable weight, safe materials, brilliant cooking performance, and, crucially, ease of cleaning.

You can read more details about how we test cookware at Homes & Gardens, including how long we vet each piece for and specifically which recipes we trial.

I test all cookware in my own home under real-world conditions – usually mid-week meals cooked after work, putting the pans through regular use over a range of recipes to get a good understanding of how these pans perform and fit into the everyday, hard-working home.

What Else to Shop

If you are considering stainless steel for the first time when choosing the best cookware, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite accessories to help you make the most of your new pans, with fewer of the learning curves I had to work through.

All prices were correct at the time of publishing.

If you are looking to detoxify the rest of your kitchen setup, next consider the best non-toxic kitchen appliances.

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I was never sure ceramic pans would be worth the money. However, after testing the Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware, I can firmly say I have been converted.

Offering superior non-stick performance without the risk of 'forever chemicals', the titanium-reinforced ceramic non-toxic cookware offered both peace of mind and simpler mid-week cooking, with delicious results to boot. My only concern? Longevity.

This is how I found using the Zwilling Milano cookware set, specifically the saucepan, frying pan, saute pan, and wok, over the last month, and the small niggles that knocked off a star.

Product Specifications: Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware

Design and First Impressions

There is no denying that the Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware looks good. Available in matte black, blue, and brown (all with brass-effect handles), the pans cut a fine figure on my cooktop, giving them their first win.

Each pan was boxed individually and came in 100% recyclable packaging, with no plastic or tape getting in the way. The careful folds of the box and the pretty tissue paper protected both the pans and the glass lids from knocks and damage in transit.

One thing I did notice right out of the box was the weight. These are premium pans, and they feel it. The larger pans, notably the saute pan and wok, were tricky to hold in one hand for too long, even for my partner, who is a climber, meaning he has fantastic grip strength. This is accounted for in the design, with the larger pans having helper handles.

Each pan was washed with warm soapy water as instructed before first use.

Cooking Performance

Using the Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware was a dream. It was my first time using ceramic non-stick, but I found it easier to use than traditional PFAS-based non-stick cookware. The added peace of mind they gave me made the whole process far more enjoyable.

Each pan heated evenly, all the way to the rims, and retained heat as I cooked, which led to a few scorched onions during the first few uses when I forgot to turn down the heat accordingly. I found that I was generally able to use lower temperatures, as the cold-forged aluminum cores did most of the work for me. The long handles came in useful here, as the edges of the pan were searing to the touch, even on stove rings that were smaller than the diameter of the pan.

One thing to note is that each pan gave off a slightly strange smell on the first use. Even after washing, there was a slight 'factory' smell as it heated. This occurred with every pan on the first use, but not beyond that. It did not affect flavor, either.

Besides cooking, serving was also slightly cumbersome due to the weight of the larger pans. The saute pan, for instance, was difficult to hold in one hand, even for my gym-going partner, meaning we could not pour from it into bowls. A serving spoon fixed this (specifically a silicone spoon from Walmart, as metal utensils can damage the coating), but it is something to note if you have lessened grip strength. This is not as much of an issue with the smaller saucepan and frying pan.

To help you choose the best cookware, we test the same foods in all of our pans, to give you a fair overview:

• Gyoza: I always joke that dumplings are my favorite 'food group', so this is an important test to pass. The Milano frying pan handled the delicate challenge with ease, crisping the bases and releasing perfectly. No complaints.
• Tofu: Tofu is another great, delicate test, as it can tear easily and can be tricky to brown. The Milano wok handled it with ease, developing a wonderfully even golden edge with no sticking.
• Onions: Onions are the base of several cuisines, so it is important for a pan to caramelize them without sticking and scorching. The wok, frying pan, and saute pan all handled this with ease. The only scorching occurred as a result of user error and heating the pan too much.
• Pancakes: Pancakes bubbled evenly in the frying pan, released with ease for neat flipping, and did not stick.
• Fried Eggs: Fried eggs developed a crisp base without sticking. The pans were so nonstick that it was actually difficult to pick them out of the pan with a spatula (see the video below).
• Chicken Stir Fry: Chicken browned evenly, developing great color and flavor, and the added vegetables and noodles were easy to stir up, thanks to the large capacity.
• Sauces: In our liquid tests, simmering bolognaise, the liquid bubbled evenly across the surface, and when left to cook, it did not stick or burn.
• Rice: When cooking rice in the saucepan, it boiled evenly, and the grains were light and fluffy. The rice was easy to serve, with no sticking to the edges. Starch also washed off easily afterwards, too.

Cleaning, Storage and Maintenance

Cleaning the Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware was a breeze. Zwilling states that the pans are dishwasher safe, but I hand-washed the pans with ease using a soft dish sponge and non-toxic dish soap (such as Attitude dish soap, from Walmart). Residue came away easily with zero scrubbing, taking only a few seconds per pan.

When storing the pans, you must avoid stacking them to prevent damaging the delicate ceramic coating. For this, felt pan stackers, available at Amazon, can come in handy, especially if you are short on kitchen storage.

During the review process, I stored the pans with their glass lids on. After a few weeks, I noticed some damage to the rims of the most-used saute and saucepan, where the blue ceramic had chipped away. At first, I thought this may be from balancing the metal handles of my silicone utensils against the edge of the cookware on the stove, but the chips can also be found on the saucepan, in which I have only ever used wooden tools, which debunks this theory. I am left under the assumption that the damage is from the lids.

This does raise concerns about the general longevity of the cookware, especially at the premium cost. What's more, I did experience some water getting stuck in the edge of the lid, which I could not get out again.

How Does the Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware Compare?

The Zwilling Milano cookware stands up well against similarly positioned ceramic cookware. As with the Our Place Essentials Cookware, reviewed by Punteha van Terheyden, the ceramic coating is wonderfully non-stick, washes well, and cooks evenly. They are similar in weight, too. The difference lies in the longevity promise and price.

In her review, Punteha had no quality issues with the coating, with no reports thus far of chips or damage with frequent use. At $349.95 for an 11-piece set, they also come in significantly cheaper than the $599.99 five-piece Zwilling Milano set (at the time of writing).

Customer reviews on Zwilling's site largely agree with me. Verified shoppers around the world praise the excellent non-stick qualities, beautiful design, and ease of cleaning. However, there are similar mentions in a review by Ilona, of chips around the rims after a few uses, even after washing, which supports my concerns about long-term longevity. What's more, several reviews mention water sticking in the rims of the glass lids.

My Verdict: Should You Buy The Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware?

All in all, I do generally recommend the Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware, even with my concerns about longevity and water sticking in the lids. The results cannot be argued with, offering crisp bases at lower temperatures, even searing, and delicious, non-toxic results. They also look and feel premium, offering a wonderful pop of color to my counter.

The chips on the rims cannot be ignored, of course, but they have not, thus far, affected the cooking surface itself. I am going to try to test the pans for longer to monitor for additional damage, and will hopefully report back if needed. All in all, now understanding the true fragility of the coating, adjusting care by maintaining hand washing over dish washing, and avoiding balancing metal-handle tools or lids on the rims when cooking and in storage should hopefully mitigate future issues.

All in all, despite the price, they are a good investment, and I cannot fault the cooking experience and delicious results. With careful use, they are worth it; however, I would recommend waiting for a sale to find more value.

How We Test Cookware at Homes & Gardens

The best cookware has to tick all the boxes: Versatility, manageable weight, safe materials, brilliant cooking performance, and, crucially, ease of cleaning.

You can read more details about how we test cookware at Homes & Gardens, including how long we vet each piece for and specifically which recipes we trial.

I test all cookware in my own home under real-world conditions – usually mid-week meals cooked after work, putting the pans through regular use over a range of recipes to get a good understanding of how these pans perform and fit into the everyday, hard-working home.

What Else to Shop

To help you get the best performance from your ceramic non-stick cookware, I’ve curated six essential accessories and care tools designed to protect the coating and streamline everyday cooking.

All prices were correct at the time of publishing.

Looking to make your cookware investments last for decades to come? Brush up on how to clean and care for every type of cookware.

Love the latest product news and helpful shopping advice? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

If you're curious as to what scent keeps mosquitoes away, the answer, say entomologists, is citronella oil − non-toxic, all-natural, and featuring fresh, uplifting, citrussy notes.

For that reason, it's perfect for use throughout the warmer months. After all, long summer evenings spent outdoors are one of life's simple pleasures, but hosting and relaxing can quickly be ruined by the buzzing of bothersome insects.

Here, pest experts explain why the vibrant aroma is a scent that deters mosquitoes.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Whether you're looking to get rid of mosquitoes in the house naturally, keep mosquitoes away from the front door, or get rid of mosquitoes from your al fresco hosting set up, the answer, say pest experts, is as simple as citronella oil, available at Amazon.

Brandon Runyon, Board Certified Entomologist at Swat Pest Management, explains, 'Citronella is a great way of repelling mosquitoes because it works to cover the lactic acid, CO2, and heat given off by humans. The strong odor of citronella works to overcome the receptors of the mosquito, actively pushing the mosquitoes away from where the people are congregating.'

And, to make it even more effective, you can always plant some mosquito repellent plants around your garden and patio to boost the natural repelling qualities of citronella oil.

How to Use Citronella Oil to Repel Mosquitoes

To use citronella oil, Brandon advises, you can apply it topically, make your own mosquito repellent, or use it in your best essential oil diffuser. My favorite is the NEOM Wellbeing Pod Luxe, which is larger than most and suitable for outdoor spaces. You can also keep mosquitoes away from windows by lightly spritzing them with citronella oil using a spray bottle.

Alternatively, you can also use citronella to repel mosquitoes by burning citronella candles, available at Amazon, or using a Citronella-Scented Torch Fuel, available at Walmart.

And, if you prefer something completely fragrance-free, the Zevo On Body Insect Repellent Aerosol, available at Walmart, is odorless, lightweight, non-greasy, and lasts for up to eight hours.

What to Shop

Below, you can shop from a selection of citronella mosquito-repelling essentials for summer, from the best candles to keep them at bay to alternative citronella oil picks and a very unexpected solution that I love for adding a touch of fun and whimsy to your patio space.

Meet the Expert

Does burning coffee grounds get rid of mosquitoes? Our experts reveal everything you need to know.

For more helpful pest advice, you can sign up for our newsletter so you never miss the latest features.

After recently spending two weeks travelling between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and more rural spots along the Southwestern coast, every shop, temple, onsen, and hotel I entered all had one thing in common − they all smelled incredible.

Most noticeably, it was clean, citrussy, and fresh scents that I noticed: Think floral sakura, warm hinoki wood, and aromatic notes of green tea. Everywhere I went was a calm, curated, fresh-smelling space.

Eager to replicate the results myself, I spoke to scent experts to learn their favorite Japanese-inspired ways to make your home smell nice.

5 Japanese Home Fragrance Favorites

1. Yuzu

As Maiko Shimazaki, founder of Revitalist15, a wellness brand rooted in Japanese relaxation rituals, shares, yuzu has long been used in Japanese baths, especially during the winter solstice tradition called yuzuyu, where the fruits are floated whole in hot baths.

'Compared to Western citrus scents like lemon or grapefruit, yuzu is softer and more nuanced, with a gentle bitterness and subtle herbal undertone,' she explains. 'The scent feels fresh and uplifting without being overpowering, which is why it’s so commonly used in Japanese homes, spas, and wellness spaces. It’s often associated with relaxation, warmth, and emotional calm.'

To enjoy this lightly bitter, citrussy scent at home, the LA JOLIE MUSE Yuzu & Neroli Blossom Candle, available at Amazon, will make a worthy addition to any best candle collection.

Alternatively, if you're green-fingered, you could also try your hand at growing yuzu at home, which will flower in late spring next year.

2. Hinoki

As we walked part of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route, the subtle smell of hinoki wood lingered beautifully in the air, and quickly became one of my favorite parts of the trip − so much so that we bought some home to fill a bowl in our bathroom.

'Hinoki, a Japanese cypress wood, is one of the most iconic scent notes in Japan,' says Mint Pattanan, founder of Kandlery, an eco-luxe home fragrance brand specializing in Asian inspired scents. 'It is commonly used in temples, onsens, and traditional bath rituals.

'The scent has a soft woody aroma with subtle citrus and earthy undertones that many people associate with calmness, mindfulness, and relaxation. It creates a spa-like atmosphere and helps make a home feel peaceful and uncluttered.'

For that reason, it's particularly perfect for making a bathroom smell like a luxury spa. Both hinoki essential oil, available at Amazon, and this hinoki reed diffuser will hit all the right notes.

'These scents are popular because they feel clean, restorative, and mentally calming,' adds Maiko.

3. Green Tea and Matcha

'Tea scents are deeply connected to Japanese culture through tea ceremonies and everyday moments of pause,' says Mint. 'Notes like green tea and matcha are popular because they feel soft and balanced.

'They bring a subtle freshness to the home while also creating a comforting and meditative atmosphere.'

This Rewined Gourmand Matcha Latte Tin Candle, available at Anthropologie, perfectly captures the warming, earthy, creamy scent of matcha, which I enjoyed each and every day in Japan, and regularly drink at home, too.

4. Sakura

I was lucky enough to experience Japan at the start of spring, and blooming cherry blossom was a frequent sight − and smell − throughout our stay.

'Sakura is one of the most culturally symbolic scents in Japan because cherry blossoms represent both the arrival of spring and the fleeting nature of life,' says Maiko. 'The scent itself is soft, delicate, and slightly powdery.

'Unlike heavier floral fragrances, sakura creates a gentle ambient softness rather than dominating a space. It feels calming, nostalgic, and quietly optimistic, which is why it remains such a beloved home and personal fragrance in Japan.'

I have the cherry blossom and rice milk RITUALS The Ritual of Sakura Candle, available at Amazon, in my own home, and it's also the scent I wore every day on the trip. You can also grow flowering cherry trees in pots for bountiful blooms next spring.

5. Musk

Finally, says Mint, 'In Japanese fragrance preferences, musk is often used in a lighter and cleaner way compared to heavier Western interpretations,' and it's perfect for fragrance layering.

'Soft musk adds warmth and softness to a space without becoming overwhelming. It helps fragrances feel calming, skin-like, and minimal.'

The Honeypot Fresh Neroli & Vanilla Musk Glass Candle, available at Anthropologie, combines those more subtle notes with uplifting floral neroli, while the LA JOLIE MUSE Ginger & White Musk Candle, available at Amazon, features spicy ginger and fresh lemongrass.

What to Shop

If you want to bring a touch of Japan into your space, these quick ways to make your home smell nice are easy to add and enjoy.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Experts

These Japanese sleep secrets pair perfectly with a beautifully fragranced home.

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Transforming awkward cabinets in your kitchen will do wonders for maximizing your storage space and speeding up tasks in the heart of your home.

As someone who has a small kitchen and mobility issues that make it difficult to bend down, I’m using this Pre-Assembled Solid Wood Cabinet Organizer Drawer addition from Wayfair to easily create a pull-out pantry.

In place of a beautiful, small pantry idea, this is the perfect organizing workaround that will revolutionize this compact space. It could have many uses in yours, too.

This premium pull-out kitchen storage idea is exactly what will improve the most annoying parts of your cabinets. The areas you cannot see at the back will be able to be reached with the pull-out trays, whilst accessibility remains sturdy.

In my awkward storage spaces, I currently have plastic baskets that have to be manually pulled out to access, which is heavy and difficult for me to do alone.

These well-built trays, however, sit on side-bolted runners that allow smooth movement without compromising on organization – the low sides will keep everything in place, be it pots and pans, appliances, canned food, plates, or more.

Plus, you don’t have to have any in-depth kitchen fitting or DIY experience to install it with ease. It comes with all the hardware needed, and you’ll only need to secure four screws to mount it securely in your cabinet, either on the sides or underneath. Simply identify if you have a face-frame cabinet or a frameless one, then measure your cabinet’s opening, and select the appropriate width as instructed.

Be mindful of any door hinges or internal fixtures in your storage space that might get in the way of the tray being able to fit or be pulled out easily to optimize this useful addition.

What Shoppers Say

It’s no wonder that it’s garnered an average shopper rating of 4.7/5 stars on Wayfair, where the item is available to purchase fully assembled and ready to fit.

Verified buyer Samantha, who gave it five stars, said, ‘This was pretty easy to install and so worth it. Makes a cabinet so much more useful. Measurements are pretty exact. Smooth glide out. Works perfectly and quick to install!’

Joanna adds, ‘Easy to install. I am absolutely enjoying the convenience of these pull-out tray drawers. Great investment!

Others praise its fast installation, how well designed they are, and the premium feel. Claudia adds that it’s been a game-changer for accessibility, explaining, ‘Great device, well-made, and really helps to keep my cabinet organized. I’m 5 feet and can never see what’s in the back of my shelves.’

More Cabinet Organizers

Regardless of how large or small your pantry, kitchen shelves or cabinets are, if you skip organizers, the content will quickly devolve into an unhelpful mess.

Here's a roundup of the most useful organizers for busy kitchens.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Next, explore organizing tips experts swear by.

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In my opinion, there is no better summer appliance than a pizza oven. But after months spent outside or in outdoor storage over winter, you might return to find the all-important pizza stone has cracked.

The culprit is often moisture, says pizza expert Vickie Hawley, founder of Delivita. Repeated exposure to fluctuating temperatures – especially during early spring use – allows moisture trapped in the stone to expand and contract, eventually causing it to crack and bringing this year’s pizza parties to a halt.

Fortunately, the fix is simple: A well-fitting cover that protects your best pizza oven year-round. Here’s how to keep your oven safe and ready for summer cooking.

One of the biggest pizza oven mistakes is assuming that, because many models are designed for outdoor use, it is fine to leave them exposed year-round or simply tuck them into outdoor storage. In reality, temperature fluctuations can quickly damage the stone – especially if you do not clean a pizza stone properly after its last use.

Vickie, founder of Delivita, explains, 'Pizza stones can crack due to thermal shock caused by rapid temperature changes and moisture exposure. If a hot pizza stone is left outside and temperatures suddenly drop, especially overnight, the combination of retained heat and moisture can weaken the material and lead to cracking.

'Moisture can also cause the stone to crack when reheated, as any trapped water expands under high temperatures.'

The trick is to find the perfect cover for your pizza oven, so that it seals tightly around the base to protect against harsh temperature fluctuations, she explains. A durable, weatherproof cover helps shield the oven from sudden temperature swings and keeps moisture out, protecting the stone and ensuring your oven is ready for use.

Beyond choosing the right cover, Vickie also stresses the importance of curing your stone after prolonged disuse, before the first use, and after cleaning a pizza oven.

'The curing process involves gradually increasing the oven's temperature using kindling and an eco firelighter, maintaining a steady temperature of 200-250°C (392-482°F) for four to five hours, and avoiding hardwood logs during this time,' she explains.

This slow, controlled heating process helps evaporate any residual moisture trapped in the stone, reducing the risk of cracks.

What Else to Shop

To perfect the art of artisanal pizza at home, you need more than just the perfect pizza recipes. I have rounded up six of my favorite tools and accessories to help elevate this summer's Italian-inspired entertaining.

All prices correct at time of publication.

Meet the Expert

Did you know that your pizza oven is for more than just pizza? We have rounded up a chef-approved list of other things you can cook in a pizza oven to make the most of your appliance this summer.

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One of the biggest draws of summer grilling is the flavor and texture that only open-flame cooking can deliver – think caramelized crusts and perfect sear lines.

So it is understandably disappointing when protein comes off your best grill looking no different from something cooked in a pan. According to experts, the reason is often lingering residue on your grates, which prevents proper contact and even heat distribution.

Fortunately, the fix is quick and inexpensive. With a simple $9 brush from Amazon, you can restore your grates in minutes. Here’s how the pros achieve perfect sear marks at every cookout.

You can reach the best temperatures for grilling meats by preheating your appliance, or mix the perfect seasoning for your proteins, but without clean, well-seasoned grates, you will never achieve the perfect sear lines, warns Ryan May, grilling expert.

'A dirty grill is a cold grill. That layer of burnt-on carbon insulates your grates, and you end up burning propane to warm up last week's residue instead of getting bare metal rod-hot. If you can't see clean metal when you open the lid, you will not get sear marks.'

Cleaning yours after every use is paramount. While you can clean without a brush, a tough nylon brush and scraper, such as the Kingsford Brush from Amazon, is the quickest and most effective treatment. The tough bristles dislodge debris and residue for a smooth cooking surface. Just don't forget to clean both sides of the grates for even heating.

Beyond cleaning, season the cast iron with quality grapeseed oil (also from Amazon) to ensure the protein doesn't stick or tear when flipping.

When cooking, Jesse Montalva, grill master at LongHorn Steakhouse, then adds, 'My best advice to achieve a nice sear when grilling steaks at home is to make sure your steaks are as dry as possible before they hit the grates. Pat them down first, then season right before cooking so excess moisture doesn’t build on the surface.

'From there, start your steaks in the back, flipping them forward every three to four minutes so each steak hits a fresh hot spot. This guarantees hotter grates, a better sear, and that rich, bold flavor that LongHorn Steakhouse is known for.'

What Else to Shop

To help you perfect your summer cookouts, I’ve rounded up a selection of expert-recommended accessories – from precision thermometers to high-heat seasoning oils.

All prices correct at time of publication.

Meet the Experts

While you are preparing for your cookout, brush up on the summer hosting mistakes to avoid to impress your guests and ensure a smooth-running party.

One of the most heralded laundry practices is drying linens and garments in the great outdoors. Effective at combatting musty odors, sun-bleaching lingering stains, and leaving laundry dry and fresh for free, it's a simple way to get multiple loads dry in minimal time.

And, with the IKEA JÄLL Drying Rack, it's easier than ever. The clever design, typical of the retailer, folds completely flat for storage when not in use, and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor drying − all for just $11.99.

It's a budget-friendly addition to your routine that will mean you can enjoy the benefits of air-drying laundry throughout spring and summer without the space-zapping clutter of a large rack that's hard to hide.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

One of the easiest ways to make laundry smell better is drying it outdoors, particularly on a warm, breezy day. The crisp, fresh results simply cannot be replicated by artificial dryer sheets and softeners, and the sunlight also has the added benefits of killing any lingering bacteria and brightening whites.

It's not just banishing odors that drying laundry outdoors is good for, either. It's also an effective way to save money on your laundry, reducing energy costs and entirely eliminating how much it costs to run a tumble dryer, all while effectively getting mildew smells out of clothes and towels.

If you're in the market for a new rack, the IKEA JÄLL Drying Rack is a perfect contender − compact, lightweight, and easy to store and carry, it can be conveniently used both indoors and outside, and is gentler on both your clothes and the environment. No wonder shoppers love it.

What Shoppers Say

'Fits perfectly in our laundry room!' beams one recent review on the IKEA site. 'This is exactly what my laundry room has needed! I've used it both indoors and out. Holds a lot more than you might think for the size and folds away to store easily when you're done,' highlighting that it's suitable for even the smallest of laundry rooms. 'Thanks for a great and useful product!'

Another, from Angela, dubs it 'perfection,' and adds that it's excellent for air drying outside and inside, holds a lot of items, and is great 'where space is premium,' to maximize space in a small laundry room and help avoid any small laundry room mistakes.

A third, from Karen, echoes that it's brilliant for spaces where adding one of the best clothes dryers isn't an option.

'This is so convenient to use and to put away,' they write. 'I use it indoors when the weather is bad outside. When the weather is nice, I use it outside. Lightweight and so easy to fold up and store. Plus, the price is fantastic.'

As Karen highlights, as it can be used both inside and outdoors, it's ideal for drying clothes in a small space, meaning you'll get plenty of use out of it throughout fall and winter, too.

What to Shop

Below, you can shop from a curated selection of laundry room accessories, all of which sit among the things organized people have in their laundry rooms and serve to elevate your everyday laundry routine.

Explore our smart ways to do less laundry to lighten the load.

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I'm a big believer that the way you fragrance your home should blend seamlessly with your decor. From gorgeously intricate candle vessels to fluted glass diffusers with statement reeds, the scents you choose should become an intrinsic part of your interior design, not a standalone aspect.

One area where I've noticed this takes on a particular tune all of its own is essential oil diffusers, where models tastefully designed to look like stone sculptures blend into surrounding spaces without the usual bulky, plasticky look of more traditional options.

This is something we're coining as 'Botanical Minimalism,' in an ode to the way they blend with biophilic design, and interior designers agree that these elegant essential oil diffusers work to make a home feel cohesively sophisticated.

Why Stone Home Fragrance Diffusers Look Effortlessly Stylish

There are so many ways to make your home smell nice, but they're not always necessarily the most attractive additions to your space. While I love the look of a lit candle, and, in my experience, the best reed diffusers tend to combine style with functionality, it's essential oil diffusers that I feel often fall short when it comes to being design-forward.

Of course, though, like with anything, there are exceptions to that rule − sculptural diffusers, such as the Vitruvi Stone Diffuser, available at Williams Sonoma, are thoughtfully designed to blend with the natural elements of your home, like flowers and indoor plants, which make a living room smell nice, for example. This is what we're calling 'botanical minimalism.'

Kanika Bakshi Khurana, Founder and Principal Designer of Kanika Design, works on residential interiors where small details like scent and objects are carefully integrated to feel cohesive with the overall design.

'Diffusers that have a stone finish work beautifully because they match natural materials used throughout the house,' she says. 'The materials, the weight, and a matte finish give them something of a sculptural feel that makes them more like decor as opposed to a device.

'On the other hand, plastic diffusers tend to come across as mostly utilitarian. They can break the visual rhythm of a space, particularly as interiors become focused on more natural materials and a calmer palette.'

And, in terms of styling this non-toxic way to make your home smell nice, 'Placement is key,' advises Kanika. 'We know stone diffusers are meant to fill a home with fragranced air,' she explains, 'but I like to think of them as decorative objects that I place on trays, shelves, or side tables near art books, ceramics, or other elements from nature. It makes them feel part of something instead of separate.

'Sticking to a palette for the surroundings also helps. The use of neutral tones, soft textures, and organic materials, like wood and linen, reinforces the botanical minimalism aesthetic. And to achieve that, it helps not to crowd the area and allow the diffuser to be a light show.'

What to Shop

Below, you can shop from a selection of beautiful stone ceramic essential oil diffusers and essential oils for a perfect pairing to scent your home all spring and summer long, without open flames or any high maintenance.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Expert

If you prefer the flicker of a flame when scenting your space, shop my selection of the best candles for spring and summer.

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When cooking for a crowd, how you prep ahead can make all the difference. We all want to be effortlessly elegant hosts, avoiding visible last-minute panic that can make guests feel like an inconvenience.

That’s why professional chefs rely on 'mise en place' – preparing and measuring ingredients in advance so everything is ready to go before your best non-toxic cookware even hits the heat.

Prep pods, such as the stainless steel container set from Williams Sonoma, make the process simple. With non-toxic silicone lids, they’re perfect for holding sauces, toppings, and pre-measured ingredients so everything is within reach and ready to toss straight into the pan without juggling tasks and measurements mid-recipe.

While using several dishes will marginally increase the amount you have to clean after a dinner party, the peace of mind it brings while hosting is indispensable. Prep pods are essential to making meal prepping quicker and easier.

JD Alewine, professional chef and co-owner of Them Bites, explains, 'You're able to get a huge bulk of your work out of the way before you have to start entertaining. If you have all your meat broken down and processed, your veggies chopped, and your herbs measured, you can step up and cook while chatting with guests.

'If you're having to prep in real-time while cooking, there are too many things going on at once that you're either going to be a bad host, or you're going to cook a bad meal,' two summer hosting mistakes you'll want to avoid.

How you use your prep pods when getting a kitchen ready for hosting is important, however. Putting everything in tiny containers will not always streamline your process, JD warns.

'They’re especially useful for recipes with quick cooking windows, such as stir-fries, sauces, pasta dishes, tacos, salads, and anything grilled,' he explains. 'Once the pan is hot or the food is on the grill, you don’t want to stop and chop an onion.'

You should avoid separating ingredients that go into the pan together to save time and space, or mixing ingredients that need to be cooked with those used for finishing (for instance, keep raw meat away from finishing herbs). Otherwise, keep your countertops clear to avoid overwhelm.

What Else to Shop

Whether you are looking to minimize stress when hosting or master your meal prep at the start of each week, having the right tools in your kitchen can make all the difference. I have rounded up six of my top picks for simplifying prep and keeping your kitchen running smoothly.

All prices correct at time of publication.

Meet the Expert

To keep the rest of your pre-hosting preparations stress-free, consider the GFD basket method.

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Stacking organizers vertically is the ultimate cheat for space-saving functionality. That’s why IKEA’s clever pine food stacker is perfect for busy kitchens.

Not only do the curved lines add visual intrigue and allow easy access for cooking, but the materials used are non-toxic and ideal for safe food storage and, therefore, a healthier home. No wonder shoppers love IKEA's CHOKLADHAJ food boxes.

Use them side by side or stacked, in a pantry, drawer, or on your countertop – this compact $14.99 set is so useful for clearing clutter across multiple areas when organizing your kitchen.

The materials of this item are perfect if, like me, you’re switching out harmful plastics in your kitchen to help create a more non-toxic home.

Forever chemicals and microplastics in cookware can leach into or onto your food, which is why IKEA’s pine offering has caught my eye. It’s finished with natural oils, and with stainless steel nails and hardware. This makes the entire set safe for contact with food.

Though, of course, you don’t have to use it for food. It’s a great small kitchen organizer for your smaller utensils and accessories, or even as an easy-access herb and spice storage option.

Why Smart Organizers Keep Kitchen Clutter at Bay

Having simple organizing systems in place so every item in your home has a permanent place is the key to keeping your space tidy long-term. If items don’t have a set home, especially in busy rooms such as kitchens, they’ll end up cluttering your counters, jamming up drawers, or worse, going to waste at the back of your pantry or fridge.

That’s why IKEA’s CHOKLADHAJ food storage boxes are so handy. They’re not oversized, so they can live on your counter if you wish without blocking the space you need to prep meals. They’ll also stack neatly on a pantry shelf, inside an accessible drawer, or on a rolling island. This makes it a useful addition to small kitchens without feeling like you’ve had to sacrifice vital prep and serving space.

To clean, use a damp cloth. The pine is lightweight, and the non-toxic steel fixings make it a sturdy organizer for those heavier produce items. Avoid making it too wet or using harsh soaps, as the oil that’s been used to protect the pine provides a protective layer to stop it cracking or splintering over time.

You can refresh it with food-safe wood oil, such as Howard Products Food Grade Mineral Oil for Wood, available on Amazon. The oil is also perfect for maintaining wooden butcher blocks (our in-house chef loves the Boos Block available at WILLIAMS SONOMA), oiling your wooden countertops, and for taking care of cooking utensils.

What Shoppers Say

Rated an average of 4.5/5, IKEA shoppers love how handy and compact these stacking organizers are in the kitchen, using them for decluttering, space saving on items in the kitchen, or on the table, and even at their home office desks.

Several shopper reviews note the size being smaller than they were expecting from the photos, and note that the boxes will hold enough produce for two people, so if you have a larger family, consider buying two or more sets to allow enough room for the volume of fresh produce your household will go through in a week.

Sheryl did just that. She gave the set 5/5 stars for ‘great’ counter storage, adding, ‘I bought two sets. Needing something for potatoes and onions. Along with somewhere to stow my mortar and pestle. At first sight, they look small, but these are perfect. It is a great solution. I'm going to be getting some more for my pantry.’

Donna, who also awarded the item five stars, says they are ‘so useful and cute’, and bought multiple sets for her home. She says, ‘Bought three and loved them up side by side, perpendicular to the wall, to create a 6” wide “slot” behind them to hold my cutting boards. Bonus: Bread knife slips between two of them, so it’s handy instead of being shoved into a drawer. Love these!’

Megan used it to instantly fix her countertop clutter problem: ‘I bought these for fun because I was annoyed by how much fruit would spill over out of a previous fruit bowl, and I cannot believe how much capacity this has while still taking up so little space on my counter! I bought two sets, and it's plenty of storage for apples, garlic, onions, etc. I have a small kitchen, and it feels like I got a whole new space because of how beautiful these are and how much counter space this saves.’

Others use it as a makeshift coffee station, holding their Keurig K-Cup coffee pods without sacrificing ‘a lot of space on my counter’, cementing the set's versatility.

More Useful Non-Toxic Kitchen Organizers

Keeping your kitchen streamlined is a constant, evolving process as your cooking style changes from season to season, and new small appliances and non-toxic cookware are brought in. It’s important to declutter your cabinets every six months to ensure that your storage’s functionality still matches your lifestyle.

Here is a selection of my most useful and favorite organizers that enable long-term tidiness in my kitchen.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

IKEA's non-toxic bamboo fruit storage tower is also excellent for space-saving organisation of fresh produce, and pretty enough to leave in view.

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It's one of the best investments for your kitchen, and now Made In has joined the cast-iron game with their first dedicated collection.

I've long appreciated the best cast iron cookware for its unrivalled durability, flavorful results, and non-toxic construction, but the Made In pieces have caught my eye with their beautiful vintage design, handcrafted for heritage performance without requiring years of seasoning and use to develop character.