
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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These space-saving $19 bins from Walmart are perfect for adding storage to small bedrooms – the limited capacity forces me to declutter ruthlessly
They're renter-friendly, too
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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8 easy things I did to make my tiny home office calming, clutter-free, cozy and comfortable to work in
Simple changes have made all the difference in my tiny space
By Punteha van Terheyden Last updated
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I live in the countryside surrounded by farms, and people say the Zevo Flying Insect Trap is the answer to my pest-busting prayers
The Zevo Flying Insect Trap and its refills were bought 130,000 times in the last month alone
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I'm chronically ill – this 1 simple low-energy daytime bedroom hack stops pet hair and dander from triggering my allergies at night
It reduces the need daily bedding changes
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I’ve saved money by swapping pungent commercial window cleaner sprays for this gentle, effective and luxury-smelling DIY recipe
You don’t even need vinegar
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I learned how to keep my house permanently tidy when living in Iran with my grandma – the art of 'dido-baazdid’ permanently altered my brain chemistry
This cultural practice embedded manageable tidying into my daily routines
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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Homes & Gardens discussion: What is your most hated household chore?
Take a peek as we lift the lid on our group chat
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I tested the eufy Robot Vacuum 3-in-1 E20 and am impressed – it's light, compact, and perfect for small homes
eufy makes some of the best-in-class robot vacuums, and this combination vacuum is versatile and powerful
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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What to pack first when moving house – from a homes editor who has relocated 12 times, including between states and to another country
Here are the items I pack first (and last) when moving
By Punteha van Terheyden Last updated
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The versatile rolling storage trolley system every small bedroom needs – enjoy customizable brilliance from as little as $30
I tripled my hair styling storage space with this handy organizer
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I've just discovered blue laundry detergent is toxic to humans and the environment – this is the safer, plant-based alternative laundry experts recommend
I’ve switched to Ecover dye-free liquid detergent to knock unnecessary toxins out of my laundry cycle for good
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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eufy vs. Ring – I was sick of monthly fees for my video doorbell, so I swapped to this superior subscription-free eufy one and have zero regrets
Video security is an essential, but paying to store the footage was a nuisance
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I always get my small space storage from Wayfair – and these discounted $35 Martha Stewart storage boxes are the perfect fix for my tiny vanity
I'm going vertical for tiny space storage success with this Early Way Day 2025 bargain
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I tried this one easy dishwasher trick and made the annoying need for manual drying a thing of the past
If you hate those little pools of water left on your cups and crockery, this towel trick is for you
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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Using my Iranian grandma's fridge trick keeps my crisper drawer pristine – and fresh produce lasts twice as long
It's amazing how a simple tweak can make such a big difference
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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My grandma's 'chimney effect' bedroom cooling trick brought goose-pimple inducing relief to help me sleep on the hottest nights in Iran
Use air pressure and temperature differentials to your benefit and beat the heat
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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It’s a concept straight out of a fashionista's playbook, but I used the Sandwich Method to organize my kitchen shelves – it’s never looked sleeker
It transformed messy to mesmerizing in a matter of seconds
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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I’m a homes editor and these are the 4 vital storage items I’m 'adding to cart' this spring – and why you should too
I've learned a few hard lessons in recent weeks and these storage solutions will help
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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This tiered Joseph Joseph dish rack solved the constant sink-side traffic jam in my kitchen
I wish I’d swapped to it sooner
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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My easy-to-maneuver and lightweight Miele C1 vacuum is perfect if you have back or arm pain
Even though I love my robot vacuums, I won’t be letting go of my Miele
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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My cheap dehumidifier makes easy work of air drying laundry indoors despite the humidity of spring showers – get yours on sale for just $49 now
It's useful for lots of things around my home
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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This slim $22 shoe rack from Amazon solved the storage snag in our tiny entryway
It was a temporary solution but has been so functional for four years
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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My large patio furniture is taking over my small outdoor space – this dining set from Walmart is the perfect swap (and it now has $200 off)
Get it while stocks last
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
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This cheap pet hair-removing tool makes easy work of shedding season in my cat-friendly home every spring – my $16 bulk buy lasts a whole year
I use them every day but they're particularly handy in the spring and fall
By Punteha van Terheyden Published
