LIVE: I'm a product tester – these are the best October Prime Day deals to shop now

Welcome to our coverage of Prime Big Deal Days. I'm Alex and I'm head of ecommerce here at Homes and Gardens. I've been a product tester and shopping writer for several years, and I'll be covering the best offers of the Prime Big Deal Days event live - as they happen.

Phillips Essentials Compact Air Fryer| Was $179.95, now $79.96 on Amazon
The 4-quart version of the Philips Essentials XL, we loved the bigger version of this air fryer when we put it to the test. It's easy to use thanks to simple cooking modes. Our biggest issue with the larger version was the price, so 56% off makes this a bargain. 

Our Philips Essential Air Fryer XL review has more information.

Mellanni Queen Sheet Set | Was $50.97, now $29.72 at Amazon
These sheets run from twin to Cali king, and with 40 different colors and patterns there's a design for everyone. It's one of our picks for the best affordable bed sheets, with hundreds of thousands of positive reviews. 

KitchenAid Artisan 5 Quart | Was $459.99, now $379.95 at Amazon
The best stand mixer in the world is now on sale. On test, it excelled at mixing cake batter, dough, and whipped cream. This model also includes a pouring shield to stop your mixing getting too messy. 

However, quick insider tip on this one - the Artisan is just four cents cheaper at Amazon than it is at KitchenAid. If you buy a KitchenAid Artisan directly from KitchenAid, there's free laser engraving, so you can personalise it for a gift. 

Should I buy a Dyson or a Shark?
When it comes to Shark vs Dyson, the annoying answer is that it depends. The general rule is that Dyson are better and Shark are cheaper. 

For most people – and outside of sales periods – Shark are a smarter choice. They're usually hundreds of dollars less expensive, and they clean almost as well. Unless you're on your hands and knees with a magnifying glass, you won't tell the difference. 

However, Dysons are quieter, easier to store, and simply better. When I've measured out fake dust and pet hair and measured the difference, Dyson remove more dirt. It's honestly a tiny difference - think 98% vs 99% - but if you're a cleaning obsessive with money to burn, I'd opt for a Dyson. 

Something else to bear in mind - Amazon doesn't always have the best vacuum deals. Walmart's Shark Days promotion has far better deals on Shark vacuums, and the cheapest Dyson deal I've seen so far: 

Shark Vertex Cordless Vacuum | Was $399, now $199 at Walmart
I've tested vacuums for years, and this is still one of my favorites. After years of testing these I think it offers near-Dyson performance at a much more reasonable price, and now it's even less. My biggest bugbear is that the compact folding storage a bit of a gimmick (it actually takes up more room like this) but being able to bend at the neck makes it unbelievably easy to clean under furniture. 

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Cheapest Dyson

Dyson V8 Vacuum Cleaner | Was $419.99, now $249.99 at Walmart
The cheapest Dyson deal isn't at Amazon. There's a huge $170 off the Dyson V8. By comparison, it's $50 more expensive at Amazon. This is one of Dyson's oldest cordless models, but when I've tested it over the years I've found that it's still pretty great on all floor types. If you want a Dyson without breaking the bank, this is your chance.

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Vitamix Explorian E310 | Was $289.95, now $189.95 at Amazon
Vitamix blenders never get cheaper than this. In fact, this is the lowest price we've ever seen for the Explorian. It's a professional-quality blender and especially good at crushing ice. This is a refurbished model, so it's not brand-new, but it's a smart way to save $100.

There's more detail in our Vitamix Explorian blender review.

Tahiti Inflatable Hot Tub | Was $649.99, now $329.99 on Amazon
Amazon isn't the obvious place for hot tubs, but there's a surprising number of deals out there. The Tahiti Hot Tub is selling for just 45% of its RRP. Each tub comes with an easy-to-reach digital control panel, with one-touch settings to control temperature, jet pressure, and even the filtration system. It's not the fanciest tub out there, but it's a good deal. 

NutriBullet NBP50100 7-Cup Food Processor | Was $119.99, now $79.99 at Amazon
This food processor is one of our favorites and a great choice if you want to save a little money. It might be cheap, but this processor has a wealth of blade and disc attachments for chopping, slicing, shredding, spiralizing and kneading dough. It might struggle a little with very heavy ingredients like ground beef but it will tackle everything else. 

Another of my insider tips is that Prime day isn't just good for tech and small appliances, but large appliances, too. Retailers like Best Buy and Home Depot take advantage of the traffic to drop their prices and clear out old stock. In short, there's thousands off major appliances if you know where to look:

LG French InstaView| Was $2,899.99, now $1,499.99 at Best Buy
With savings of $1,400, this is an incredible deal. The useful see-through door is perfect for all your drinks; you can access them without opening the main door, helping to keep the rest of your food cold. 

Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer, 500W, Black, SM50BU | Was $210.58, now $162.35 at Amazon
We've argued for years that the Cuisinart Precision is almost as good as the iconic KitchenAid Artisan. It's usually hundreds of dollars less than the Artisan, and this deal makes it an incredible deal. It's actually better at making bread dough than the Artisan too, because it's slightly sturdier. 

Instant Vortex Plus Dual Air Fryer | Was $219, now $169.95 at Amazon
The Instant Vortex Plus Dual is our pick for the best air fryer for large portions. It's just like our favorite air fryer the Instant Vortex Plus, but rather than 5 quarts, two 4qt. baskets combine for a great eight quart capacity, so you can cook for the whole family.  

Martha Stewart Kyra Duvet | Was $84.99, now $71.04 at Amazon
This Prime Day has seen exceptional demand for bedding, and one of the best brands for savings is Martha Stewart Home. Unlike other budget bedding brands, the sheets in this collection are almost all made from quality cotton rather than poleyester. We're especially big fans of this blue floral duvet. Not only is it soft and comfortable, but it's also reversible, so you have two patterns for the price of one. 

Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker | Was $99.99, now $59.99 at Amazon
There's $40 off this little single-serve coffee maker. We liked the K-Mini Plus when we tested it, and K-Mini is the even cheaper version, lacking the removeable water tank and 'strong brew' button. If you're a real stickler for good coffee, I'd avoid this. You can obviously make far better espresso at home. But if you want something compact and cheap and fast that can make a serviceable cup of coffee in the morning, this is your best bet on a budget. 

Deal warning:

Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner | Was $639, now $539.99 at Amazon
I loved testing this grill just before summer - it's great value and cooks fantastic burgers, hot dogs and chicken. I think it's probably the best grill you can get – a great balance of price and performance.

However, even though I love this grill, this isn't actually a deal - it's usually this price, and it was at its cheapest in July five years ago. It's still worth buying, but you won't be saving anything.

KitchenAid Artisan Mini 3.5 Quart Stand Mixer| Was $379.99, now $259.99 at Amazon
If you want a KitchenAid Artisan but are tight on space and budget, this is your best bet. It's a compact little stand mixer that, while limited in capacity, offers excellent mixing. A full-sized Artisan can make 9 dozen cookies. If 108 cookies sounds like overkill for you and your family, it might be worth saving money and storage and grabbing one of these. 

Instant Essentials 4 Quart Air Fryer | Was $79 .99, now $49.99 at Amazon
If you're in an apartment and want something cheap, this is for you. It's no exaggeration to say that this made some of the best roast asparagus I've ever had. It's very old-school - it has analogue timer and a single drawer, but it's fast and made great fries. If anything, it's almost too fast, and it's easy to overcook your food. However, at $50, you probably won't find anything better.

PRICE DROP ALERT

BISSELL PowerGlide Pet Slim Cordless Stick Vacuum | Was $247.19, now $99.99 at Amazon
We've not been able to test this yet but it's the lowest price it's been all year, so I simply had to include it. I won't vouch for the performance, but it's a good option if you're on a budget.

iRobot Roomba j6 Robot Vacuum | Was $799.99, now $399.99 at Amazon
This is our favorite robot vacuum and it's the cheapest it's been all year, including the last Prime Day event in July. It's a capable vacuum that's great on pet hair and can identify and avoid pet waste, saving you from a gross cleaning job.  

Magic Bullet Mini Juicer | Was $59.99, now $45.99 at Amazon
This was really fun to test, and it's a fun little gadget, but a word of warning - it doesn't really make juice - it's not powerful enough. I got a nice orange smoothie out of it, but if you're expecting a pulp-free glass of juice, look elsewhere. If you've got a little extra money, I'd opt for the Nutribullet Slow Juicer, now $50 off at Amazon.

Breville the 3x Bluicer | Was $299.99, now $149.98 at Amazon
This is one of our favorite appliances – a blender and a juicer all in one product. Even better, it's not just a gimmick – it's a great blender in its own right and it also makes excellent juice. 

Samsung Frame TV 55" | Was $1,497.99, now $997.98 at Amazon
This TV is always popular around Prime Day and it's one of the few we recommend, because where other TVs can totally throw off your interior design, this one displays matte artwork like a real painting. 

Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine | Was $699.95, now $599.95 at Amazon
We really enjoyed testing this machine. It has a built-in coffee bean hopper and grinder, and it makes incredible espressos. However, our barista Laura found that it's a steep learning curve if you haven't used an espresso machine before. 

PRICE DROP

Martha Stewart Button Tufted Ottoman | Was $359, now $187.15 at Amazon
This beautiful blue ottoman was already on sale, but it's just dropped nearly $50 for almost half off. Martha's collection has proved incredibly popular this Prime Day so I'd grab it before it sells out.

PRICE DROP

KitchenAid Artisan 5 Quart in Aqua Sky | Was $459.99, now $301.99 at Amazon
We've just caught the lowest price all year on the KitchenAid Artisan. You'll have to buy it in Aqua Sky, but it's a deal that will save you nearly $158 on the best stand mixer in the world. 

Nate Home Cotton Bedding | Was $71.99, now $57.59 at Amazon
We're huge fans of Nate's design at Homes and Gardens and his bedding is no exception. Made from 300-thread-count cotton sateen, these sheets are wrinkle-resistant and heat-regulating, making them suitable all year round. The sateen gives a luxury sheen finish. Opt for this 'Quartz' shade for a modern look. This set includes x1 flat sheet, x1 fitted sheet, and x2 pillowcases.

Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker | Was $279.99, now $169 at Walmart
We've found throughout this Prime Day that some of the best deals are actually on Walmart. For example, the viral Ninja Creami Ice Cream makers, which sold out last year, is on sale at Walmart. When we put it to the test, we found that it's a good investment for quick homemade ice cream. 

You can find out more in our Ninja Creami review.

Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde | Was $749.99, now $474.99 at Amazon Simultaneously one of the best fans and the best air purifiers on the market, this smart model has all you need for a fresh home. It detects and destroys the formaldehyde released from household items, alongside using a range of clever features to monitor and adjust your house's air cleanliness and temperature.

PRICE RISE

Hoover ONEPWR Pet Max | Was $309.99, now $183.99 at Amazon
This was cheaper yesterday but it's still one of my favorite deals. I actually use this vacuum at home. It's very, very far from perfect. The runtime isn't amazing and hair gets wrapped round the brush-roll. However, it's really powerful and does a great job on carpet. If you live in an apartment and want to save some money, I'd buy this.

Philips Essential XL Air Fryer | Was $199.95, now $94.96 at Amazon
The Mini version of this air fryer was one of the first deals announced, but it was an invite only deal. This offer on the XL version is even better, bringing an excellent air fryer under $100. It's the lowest price it's been all year and cheaper than last Black Friday. When we tested this air fryer, we thought it was by far the easiest model we've ever used, and it has a great capacity for big households. 

Roomba s9+ Robot Vacuum | Was $999, now $739 on Amazon
This Roomba is selling for just 30% of its RRP. It comes with extra-wide Dual Rubber Brushes, which are designed to optimize cleaning into deep corners and along edges. On test, we found that if anything it was too powerful - it will clean your carpet thoroughly but it might knock over a floor lamp.

GE Profile Opal Countertop Nugget Ice Maker | Was $679, now $529 at Amazon
We're yet to test this but I love the look of it. It makes more than a pound of ice an hour and you can control it with your voice through Alexa-enabled devices like the 4th-Gen Amazon Echo.

Smeg Cream 50's Retro Style Electric Mini Kettle | Was $190, now $149.95 at Amazon
We've long admired Smeg appliances for their reto 50s designs, but we usually feel they're too expensive. Their kettle is on markdown in several colors, but you'll have to move fast, as every color is starting to run low on stock. 

Nest Holiday Scented Candle | Was $48, now $35 at Amazon
Amazon isn't just for air fryers and other boring essentials. You can also get great deals on finishing touches like this scented candle, packed with mandarin, pine, cinnamon and cloves for a festive fragrance.