
Punteha van Terheyden
Punteha was the editor of Real Homes before joining Homes & Gardens as Head of Solved: The Hardworking Home. Since 2008, she has written and edited cooking, wellbeing, lifestyle, and consumer pieces for the international press, across print and digital newspapers and magazines, including a longstanding column with BBC Good Food, and features in the Daily Mail, Metro, Mirror, Take a Break, Bella, Closer, Woman’s Own, and more. She’s also a Sunday Times bestselling ghostwriter with Penguin, the founding editor of the independent real-life platform Lacuna Voices, and a journalism mentor who delivers guest lectures at universities.
Punteha is an experienced home cook, perfecting and streamlining the processes with which complex family recipes from Iran can be completed more easily and efficiently in a modern home with high-quality appliances and heirloom cookware and tools. She spends her free time at home with her husband, and daughter in the quiet of the tranquil countryside. She is disabled and suffers from chronic pain, so small, adaptively-paced tasks with her family that bring her joy, such as batch cooking, food prepping for the week ahead, and baking with her daughter, are her favorite kind. She has tested a multitude of the latest household technology and items for practical, real-world usage, including kitchen appliances, vacuums, bedding, and home fragrances, from key brands such as IKEA, Ninja, eufy, Ring, SwitchBot, Miele, Crock-Pot, Our Place, Neom, ScentAir, Brooklinen and more.
Latest articles by Punteha van Terheyden
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Goodbye, Damp Bath Mats – This Fast-Drying Stone Upgrade Is the Luxe Bathroom Fix I Didn’t Know I Needed
I’m sick of slipping after showers and have found a chic, easy-dry alternative
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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My Freezer Was a Mess, But I Have Saved So Much Time, Effort, and Money With These Versatile $21 Silicone Trays
This non-toxic gem will free space in my freezer and make portioned cubes with ease
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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Stop Putting These 7 Things in the Dishwasher, Appliance Pros Warn – Avoid Damage and Costly Breakages by Handwashing
Washing these kitchen staples by hand will improve longevity
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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7 Things Minimalists Always Throw Out Daily to Prevent Clutter Avalanches – Pros Agree, It Really Works
Stop clutter and unnecessary mess from building up with this simple daily habit
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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7 Easy Ways to Heat Your House If the Furnace Goes Out – Stave Off Chills and Discomfort
Whilst waiting for a permanent fix from a technician, try these short-term tweaks and consider longer-term insulation advice from the pros
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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7 Things Forcing Your Heating System to Work Harder – HVAC Pros Urge You to Fix Them Now
Tackling these will lower your utility bills, avoid larger and more costly repairs, and make your home's temperature more comfortable
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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5 Heating Myths That Are Costing You Money – HVAC and Energy Pros Explain What Works Instead
Say goodbye to archaic rules that won't help keep you comfortable this winter
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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My Boiler Broke and I Don’t Have Heating – 7 Ways I’m Surviving the Cold at Home Until It’s Fixed
January brings the highest rate of broken boilers all year. Here are the immediate comfort tips to bridge the gap till yours is fixed
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I Stopped Adjusting the Thermostat During Cold Snaps – HVAC Experts Say Panic Heating Can Cost You More
Don't suddenly crank the thermostat up; it'll only waste energy
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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The Guilt-Free ‘Threshold Test’ Helped Me Easily Declutter My Packed Winter Closet in 5 Minutes
I wish I had known about this fabulous organizing trick earlier
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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5 Things Pros Warn You Should Never Store in Plastic Containers at Home – And the Safe Swaps to Make Today
Preserve your items and avoid unpleasant smells, marks, and mold
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I Said Goodbye to the Outdated 66°F Heating Rule: Turning the Temperature Up Really Is Better for Your Home, Health, and the Planet
My bills didn't go up, we've been so comfortable, and all the condensation has disappeared
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I Tried the Upside-Down Decluttering Trick in My Messiest Kitchen Cabinet – It's the Simplest One I've Tried, But it Worked Shockingly Well
Pros say it’s great for neurodivergent minds
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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8 Psychology-Backed Tips to Calm Your Nervous System While Decluttering Successfully in 2026
If stress, anxiety, or a sensation of panic gets in the way of organizing your home, our experts in psychology have tips to soothe and succeed
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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3 Easy Ways I Stopped My Living Room Looking Like A Mess on Christmas Day – Get Ahead of the Chaos and Reclaim Calm in Minutes
A tiny bit of preparation goes such a long way in the chaos of Christmas morning
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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Plumbing Pros Always Remove This 1 Item From Yards In Winter to Avoid Burst Pipes Indoors
It takes seconds to detach your hose and could save you thousands in leak repairs
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I'm Hiding My Sink Mess from Christmas Guests with a 'Sophisticated’ $40 Roll-Up Japanese Drainer That's a Small-Space Gem
It increases usable surfaces, is easy to store, and highly durable
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I Sprinkled This Kitchen Ingredient on the Carpet Under My Christmas Tree – Cleaning Pros Say It’s a Game-Changer for a Quick Clean Up
This common, natural ingredient soaks up sap and saves carpets and rugs
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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The Hardworking Home
The Hardworking Home is where our specialist editors test, review, and recommend the products that make your daily life run smoothly – from the coffee maker you use every morning to the mattress you rest on every night. Our team combines hands-on testing, expert consultation, and real-world comparison to help you make confident buying decisions. We cover the appliances, tools, and technology that keep your home efficient, comfortable, and secure, from kitchen appliances, cookware, and vacuums to sleep essentials, home fragrances, video doorbells, and home audio. Every recommendation we make is grounded in experience: We test products in our own homes, consult industry professionals, and assess performance, durability, toxicity, and long-term value – not just first impressions. Alongside our in-depth reviews, we share practical guidance to help you get the most from what you own, from cookware know-how to sleep optimisation and essential housekeeping tips and buys. The aim is simple this spring: To help your home feel calm, capable, and considered, every single day.
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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Plumbers Say This Holiday Habit Ruins Garbage Disposals and Blocks Drains – Most Hosts Do It Without Realizing
Plus, the planet-friendly fix
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I Took a Chance on IKEA’s Cruelty-Free, Easy-Dry, Down-Alternative Duvet – I'm Shocked at Just How Good It Is for $29
We've tested one at 10 times the price, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say IKEA's felt just as luxurious
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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We Keep Losing Hats and Gloves – This Hidden $14 Over-the-Door Storage Gem Will Keep Winter Gear In Check
Not having an allocated place to store winter essentials means money and time wasted
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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‘I Put This on the Drain Pipe, and It Hasn’t Frozen Since’ – Frost King’s $29 Cable Kit Will Save You From Burst Pipes This Winter
Avoid the drama and headache of a sudden winter leak with ease
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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The 66°F Heating Standard Is Out: HVAC Pro Reveals the Optimal, Planet-Friendly Temperature Setting for Your Home
It’ll save you money in the long run and provide 24/7 comfort
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
